<USS Avalon> "To Q or Not To Q"

"To Q or Not To Q"
Captain Skyler
Dr. Braelin
 
 
Looking out the window the sky was as dark as it could be. Even the stars  
were emitting little light. Going over her thoughts in her head she kept  
reliving her night with Moreya. It was....remarkable. Still something else was  
bugging her. Tavi and Meg. Whoever she was. It was time to find out. After  
checking to make sure Tavi was asleep, Skyler left their quarters and made her  
way 
to sickbay. Maybe a talk with this girls Aunt, a Dr. Braelin would help. She  
had checked the manifest and found out the Dr. was working the night shift. So 
 she made her way to sickbay wondering the entire time what she was going to  
say.
 
It was a quiet  night in Sickbay.  It was often quiet on the night shift, but 
this one was  exceptionally quiet.  There were no patients staying in for 
treatment, and  so far not so much as a stubbed toe tonight.  The night nurses 
were talking  quietly at the reception desk.  Braelin was taking advantage of 
the quiet  to catch up on reading medical journals in her tiny office in the 
back of  Sickbay, with the door open.
 
Outside the sickbay doors Skyler stopped before entering. Memories of her  
time as CMO started to flood her mind. It had been a time of learning, yet it  
had also been a time of growth. She wouldn't be where she was now if it wasn't  
for her time in sickbay. Taking a deep breath she entered sickbay, looking  
around she realized it was quiet. She stood took in the essence and wondered  
where the Dr. was. 
 
"Can we help you,  Captain?" the duty desk nurse asked, as the other two 
night nurses pretended to  be busy.
 
"Yes, I am looking for a Dr. Braelin. I was told she was working  tonight." 
 
"She's in her  office... is it a medical issue?" the nurse inquired, ready to 
summon the doctor  if needed.  If it wasn't a medical issue, the Captain 
would probably prefer  to speak to Dr. Braelin in her office rather than out 
here.
 
Looking around Skyler commented, "Actually, it isn't a medical issue. It  is 
more of a.....personal issue. Is the Dr. Available?"
 
"Certainly,  Captain.  Did you want me to page her, or would you rather go on 
 back?"
 
"Actually, if you don't mind I think I would prefer to speak with her in  
private. If you could just show me to her office I would appreciate it." Skyler 
 
knew her away around sickbay but she didn't want to seem overbearing and just  
barge in. 
 
One of the other  nurses stopped pretending to be busy and stepped over.  
"This way,  Captain."  She led Skyler through the main treatment area, past the 
private  rooms, and down the back hallway where the doctors' offices -- aside 
from the  CMO's office -- were located.
 
Following the nurse Skyler looked around. This sickbay was definitely  bigger 
than the one she started in back on the Avalon-A. That was a long time  ago 
she thought to herself. "Thank you nurse. I appreciate your help." 
 
Braelin looked up  to see, through her open doorway, one of the nurses 
departing and Captain Skyler  standing in the corridor.  She set aside her PADD 
and 
rose, not quite  coming to attention.  It didn't seem to be a 
coming-to-attention sort of  visit.
 
Looking at Braelin Skyler wasn't sure what to make of her. "Dr. Braelin.  I 
hope I'm not intruding or keeping you from something? I was wondering if I  
could have a moment of your time?" Skyler didn't enter until invited. 
 
"Certainly,  Captain.  Please come in."  Brae pushed a wisp of hair back off 
her  face, tucking it behind one elegantly pointed ear.  "Can I get you  
something to drink?  Tea?  Juice?"
 
"Actually I wouldn't mind some water if you have some." Skyler looked  around 
the neat office with her hands crossed behind her back. ~Why is it I  haven't 
met this woman?~  
 
The Vulcanoid  doctor retrieved a glass of cold water and a tall mug of tea 
from the  replicator, and set the water in front of Skyler before taking her 
seat  again.  "What can I do for you, Captain?"  Actually, she had a very  good 
idea what this was about, but it wouldn't do to say so.
 
Taking a long sip of the cold water soothed Skyler's parched throat.  "Well, 
Dr. I thought it was time that I meet some of the crew that I have yet  to. It 
wouldn't do to not know who your crew is now would it? Please, call me  
Skyler. So, how do you like serving on the Avalon?" 
 
"It's a good  ship," Braelin said, a little cautiously.  "A good crew, those 
I've met  working the night shift, anyway."  She wondered to herself how long 
Skyler  would take to get to the point.
 
Pausing for a moment Skyler looked at Braelin. She got the feeling she  knew 
what Skyler wanted to talk about. "I don't know if you know it or not but I  
have a young girl, Tavi, who I am going to adopt. She has been talking to me,  
only briefly mind you, of a friend of hers. Another young girl named Meg. Do 
you  know anything about this?" She hoped she didn't sound too defensive or 
upset, as  she really wasn't. 
 
Brae smiled  faintly.  "Meg is my niece.  She joined me on board the Avalon 
because  she was having some difficulty at home and needed to get away."
 
"I hope everything is okay? Tavi has apparently grown quite fond of her.  In 
fact she seems to be able to speak to her without being in her presence. Do  
you know anything about this?" 
 
How much would be  appropriate to reveal?  Braelin nodded.  "Meg has a rather 
unusual  talent," she began.  "It's all quite unconscious; she activates 
latent psi  abilities in those around her who have them."
 
Smiling Skyler nodded. "I would say it is unusual. I got to experience it  
first hand not to long ago. Until that point I had no idea that Tavi had any 
psi 
 abilities. Neither did she and to be honest, I think it frightened her a 
little  bit. Let's  just say it did startle me to say the least." 
 
Brae took a sip  of her tea.  "Captain Skyler," she said softly, "I know you 
have no idea  what Tavi's genetic background may be, and I know your 
background as a  physician, but I don't know whether you've kept up with recent 
publications...  Were you aware of the recommendations for genetic testing of 
all 
children of  mixed or unknown heritage?"  She didn't want to be too specific in 
her  questioning.  It would be very easy to frighten people with this line of  
inquiry, and Skyler seemed to be the type of person who would balk at the  
implications.
 
Listening intently Skyler had to agree with the Doctor. She hadn't kept  up 
with her medical reading like she should have. "Actually, you are correct. I  
haven't kept up like I should and that is something I should remedy. As for the 
 current recommendations, I was not aware of them." Reaching down she picked 
up  her glass and took another drink. "Exactly what are these 
recommendations?" 
 
Picking up the PADD she  had set aside, Braelin paged through to the article 
in question.  That it  had been authored by her own sister, she didn't 
mention.  It was  irrelevant.  The genetic sequence for potential "Q" type 
abilities 
was  clearly defined, and recommendations given for testing all children of 
mixed  race or unknown parentage.  "Apparently this genetic sequence is 
relatively  common in people of mixed race," she said as she handed over the 
PADD.   
"But it requires some unknown trigger to become active.  However, with  Meg's 
unconscious ability..." she let that trail off, and waited for Skyler to  read 
the synopsis. Taking the PADD in hand Skyler sat there in silence and read.  
She was surprised how much things had changed since she was an acting 
physician.  She was going to have to do more to keep her skills up. Placing the 
PADD 
back  down on the desk before her she looked up at Dr. Braelin. "So how does 
Meg 
fit  into all of this as well as Tavi?" She was concerned about how it would 
affect  Tavi and hers relationship. 
 
It was difficult  for Braelin to say what had to be said.  It made her feel 
very  vulnerable.  Skyler's reaction could result in her being removed from the 
 Avalon, removed from Starfleet which was the only home she'd ever really  
known.  Braelin didn't have it in her to lie, though, any more than she  would 
have the frame of mind to change circumstances to prevent these things  from 
happening.  What would be, would be, and she would deal with the  consequences. 
 
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "I don't  know whether Tavi 
carries this genetic sequence," she said.  "But Meg does  -- and it is active."
 
"This may sound stupid, but explain exactly what is going on with Meg.  And 
this genetic sequence. I want to understand what is going on so I can better  
help Tavi deal with it. As well as deal with it myself. You see Dr. , since I  
met Tavi my life has changed for the better and I don't want to lose her. I 
want  to do whatever I can do to help her. So...I need your help." It was easy 
for  Skyler to ask for help but she knew in this instance she needed it. 
 
It wasn't easy for Skyler to ask for help but she knew in this instance  she 
needed it.
 
Brae smiled  nervously.  "This isn't easy for me to talk about," she 
admitted.  "I  understand, and you'd be perfectly within your rights, Captain, 
to 
order me --  and Meg -- off your ship and out of Starfleet."  She hesitated.  
"But 
 you really ought to have Tavi tested, for your own knowledge and peace of 
mind,  and I'm more than willing to help you with her if it turns out she does 
have  what Starfleet is calling "Q-class psi abilities" -- I've had those 
abilities  since I was a very small child, and Meg does also.  That's partly 
why 
Meg  is staying with me, because I can teach her how to deal with the abilities 
she's  growing into."  It was a very long speech for Braelin, and she sat  
nervously awaiting Skyler's reaction.
 
Sitting there stunned Skyler didn't know what to say or do. Q-class psi  
abilities. Why hadn't she heard of this. "You don't mean Q as in the Q who was  
well known to bother Picard?" 
 
Nodding slowly,  Brae said, "That is exactly what I mean."  She had never 
felt so exposed  and vulnerable in her adult life.
 
 
Standing Skyler crossed her arms across her chest as if trying to hug  
herself. Was it possible that Tavi had these abilities and how would it affect  
their relationship. Walking back and forth Skyler didn't know what to do or 
what  
to say. How was she going to be able to care for Tavi? "I must admit that this 
 has thrown me for a loop Dr. How were you able to get through the academy  
without anyone finding out?" 
 
"I was brought  up, in Starfleet, by someone who was able to teach me to be 
discreet," said  Brae.  "I must admit, this is the first time in a very long 
time that I've  let anyone know there's more to me than just a mixture of 
Vulcan 
and Romulan  genetics."
 
Sitting down again, Skyler took another long pull of her water. It didn't  do 
nearly enough to quench her parched throat. "Your secret is safe with me  
Doctor. If Tavi does have these abilities I have a feeling I am going to need  
your help. I'm not sure now if I am the one who should be raising her. Her  
abilities would far out match mine." Sighing she looked at the PADD on the 
desk.  
"What do I do? How do I help her?" 
 
"The first thing  is to do the gene testing," Brae pointed out.  "It could 
very well be that  she has garden-variety telepathic abilities, which have been 
activated a little  earlier by contact with Meg.  And if it is more than that 
-- well, I  survived growing up, and if I could do it, so can Tavi.  And it's 
good for  Meg to have a friend here.  As much as she insisted she ran away to 
escape  her bossy foster-sister, I know she has missed being in a large  
family."
 
"When can we do the testing? I know that Tavi has been bothered lately  and I 
am wondering if all of this is part of it. The sooner we know what is  going 
on the sooner we can deal with it. Also, since I suspect we are going to  be 
dealing with each other quite often I suggest you get used to calling me  
Skyler. No point in keeping up formalities unless needed." 
 
"The testing is a  simple cheek swab -- it could be done by scan, but there's 
no point in making a  child lie still for several hours of scanning at the 
genetic level, when a  tissue sample is every bit as good.  Tavi can stop by to 
be swabbed at any  time."  Braelin smiled, relaxing just a little.  "I'll make 
a note in  her file so that the day shift will leave the tests to be run by 
me."  
 
"Thank you Dr. I will bring her in first thing in the morning. I  appreciate 
your candor and rest assured you have nothing  to fear from me.  I am just 
glad that there is someone aboard who can help her...help us both if  that 
should 
be the case. She has become very special to me, in ways I never  dreamed of." 
Standing Skyler extended her hand. "I look forward to talking to  you more in 
the near future. You will run those test's ASAP won't you?" 
 
"Of  course!"  Brae took the offered hand.  "And -- Skyler -- you will have  
to call me Braelin, or Brae.  Please.  Informality works both  ways."
 
"Thank you Brae. I will leave you to your work now. I am glad we had this  
talk and I look forward to meeting Meg." With a quick turn Skyler walked out of 
 
Braelin's office her mind trying to form itself around what she had just  
learned. She hadn't been expecting to hear what she had and she had to admit it 
 
was a lot to take in. Upon reaching her quarter's she entered and made her way 
 across to Tavi's room. She quietly opened the door and stood there watching 
the  young girl sleep. She thought to herself as she watched her sleep that 
there was  nothing that she wouldn't do for Tavi. They would get through 
whatever lay ahead  together as that was what families did. And she and Tavi 
were a 
family  regardless of what the tests would show. 
 
 
 



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