<USS Avalon> "Sleepless In Sickbay"

"Sleepless In Sickbay"
Braelin and Meg
 
    
It was the middle of the night shift, and Braelin had waited patiently for  
the results of Tavi's genetic testing.  Even with modern technology,  complete 
gene mapping for an individual took several hours.  She downloaded  the 
results to a PADD and was sitting at her desk reading through the many pages  
of 
diagrams when a soft footfall in the corridor caused her to look up.
 
"I couldn't sleep."  Meg padded, stocking-footed, into Braelin's  office.
 
"I know."  Brae nodded sympathetically.  She, too, went through  periods of 
time when sleep was difficult and no amount of meditation really  helped.
 
"So do you have Tavi's tests done?"  Sleeplessness could be dealt with  by 
reading, playing games, or some other activity that wouldn't draw too much  
attention to an insomniac twelve-year-old, but Meg had more than her own share  
of 
curiosity.  "Is that the analysis?"
 
"It is," Braelin responded equably.  "I was just reading over the  pertinent 
parts.  But I owe answers to her guardian before I share them  with you, Meg.  
Do you understand why that is?"
 
The girl hesitated, then nodded.  "Is it the same reason why you had  to 
actually do the test instead of just finding out the answer?  Wouldn't  it be 
easier to just know things?"
 
"It might be easier," her aunt agreed.  "But would that make it  right?  What 
are some reasons not to do things that way?"
 
"Because it's not fair when other people can't do it that way?" Meg  guessed. 
 "Maybe because it's kinda rude?"
 
Brae nodded agreement with the responses.  "It's unethical," she  summarized.
 
"Finding out people's private stuff without their permission isn't nice,"  
said Meg.  "It's like spying on them.  And you might find out  something you 
really didn't want to know."  She was enjoying thinking up  these answers.
 
"Very good," Braelin approved.  "So what happens when you find out  something 
you didn't want to know?  Are there ways not to find out  things?"
 
"Well... you just don't look into people that way," Meg said  slowly.  
"Remember when I started looking and knowing things and then I  figured out 
what I 
was doing so that I could choose not to do it."
 
"That's exactly right," said Brae.  "So I'll tell you about Tavi's  test 
results after I tell Captain Skyler."  She grinned, the smile that  startled 
people who expected her to be an emotionless Vulcan based on her  appearance 
and 
the mannerisms from her schooling on that planet.
 
"But meanwhile is it okay for me and Tavi to talk with our minds?"   Meg had 
developed telepathy very early, and was in the habit of using it to  converse 
with her parents and siblings.
 
"Yes," Braelin told her.  "It won't hurt either of you."  She  smiled again 
as Meg yawned.  "Do you think you could sleep a little  now?"
 
"Just a little," the youngster agreed.  "Thanks, Aunt Brae.  I'll  try to 
work on that 'ethical' thing, too."  And she padded away, back to  their 
quarters 
to try and rest.
 
Braelin looked at the test results again.  They were not exactly what  she 
had expected.  A quick and mostly ethical glance through spacetime told  her 
Skyler was sleeping; the news would have to wait until morning.
 
 



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