Talea straightened her uniform and neatened her hair just before the turbolift doors parted, revealing the Bridge of the /Avalon/. With confidence she didn't feel, she strode down-deck toward her station, her time-sense screaming that she was very late indeed.
Sitting in the middle chair was becoming quite the norm for Skyler. The longer Keith was away the more comfortable it became. She was looking at the view screen when she heard the lift doors open. Without turning to see who it was, she waited until said person passed by to their station. "Glad you could join us, Ensign."
Talea hesitated just a split second, uncertain of the Captain's true emotions from the tone. She then quietly took over from her in-shift reliever, who briefly glared at her, unaware of the reason Talea had been late.
Skyler waited to see if the new ensign was going to report in or just take her place at OPS. She was, after all, late for her first shift. The least she could do is explain why. "Is there a reason as to why you are late for your first shift?" She was trying not to be sarcastic but she had a feeling it was coming across that way.
Talea turned to the Captain. "Pardon me, Captain, but you may not be aware of events of this morning." She almost, but not quite smiled. "I regret to report that I was assaulted in my quarters this morning, necessitating a visit to Sickbay that just recently ended." Internally, she was trembling. While the report was indeed true, she wasn't sure the Captain wouldn't take it as sarcasm.
Listening to Talea, Skyler was not happy at what she was hearing. She looked over at the most senior officer and informed them that they had the Bridge. Standing she looked at Talea, "Please join me in my office." Skyler then turned and walked across the Bridge to her ready room.
Talea sighed, then turned her station back over to her reliever, half-frightened now that she'd really get it from the Captain. She hoped that none of the uncertainty showed as she did as ordered without another word.
Having entered her office, Skyler leaned against her desk. "Please tell me what happened this morning. Whoever attacked you will pay for it dearly. This upsets me greatly, as I had higher expectations for this crew than this." Seeing how nervous Talea was, Skyler tried not to act too upset or angry.
Talea said quietly, "All I know for certain, Lady Captain, is that the man sounded the same as the one who called me an ice princess. I was able to disable him before he actually did anything to me other than try to yank me out of the chair in front of my comunit. I had just closed a personal log entry when he struck." She knew the man was in the Brig, but wanted to give the Captain as much information as possible. "You may wish to check with Doctor Cazook; she tended me after the attack."
"Are you okay? I thought I had taken care of that jerk already. I guess I will have to deal with him again. I am sure that Dr. Cazook took excellent care of you. Did you call security? Also, there is no need to call me Lady Captain. Captain is just fine."
Talea almost laughed, but held it in . . . barely. "You might say that. The way I disabled him was via something called a stun-scream. It's typically audible throughout a deck, if not more." She was a little embarrassed, in fact. "And my calling you Lady Captain is a term of respect, actually." She smiled. "However, will make a note not to do so in future, if it bothers you." She also knew that K'etrall had almost been disabled by Talea's own pain after the event, and this shamed her.
"It doesn't bother me, just seems a little more formal than need be. I must admit I am not all that well versed in the ways of your people, so you will have to forgive me if I seem to question a lot of things. Dr. Cazook informed me of your current problem and the need for a shield of some kind in the near future. Could you explain that a bit more to me?" '/Apparently, I have a lot to learn about this woman and her species . . ./'
Talea bowed slightly. "My people are an ancient race, tracing our history back nearly 60,000 Terran years, much of which is still documented, if one reads the languages in which the early records were written in, which many do not." She thought for a moment, then stated, "We are a highly active species psionically, and when a block is placed like has happened to me, it poses a very curious problem. To an outsider, it is as if the victim has an impenetrable shield, when, in fact, there is no shield at all. All psionic abilities are utterly blocked." She swallowed nervously. "I know that I have managed to use them at least twice in the last ten hours, but it hurts like the Furies to do so. Obviously, I've managed to do it, but the second time, during the stun-scream, it knocked me out quite effectively." She very carefully ignored the lingering scent in the room, although it both intrigued and bothered her.
Listening intently, Skyler was impressed with the way Talea was handling herself. "If you have been able to use these abilities twice now, does that mean that your abilities are slowly starting to return? If that is the case, what is it you need from me?" Skyler got the sense that Talea was bothered by something. "Is there something else bothering you? You seem . . . somewhat distracted."
Talea said quietly, "What I need is someone to help buffer me, for lack of a better term, when my abilities do free back up. The backlash of it can be pretty extreme; I've heard it described as a tsunami of psionic impressions, especially for one as I am, a telepath and telempath." She grinned slightly. "Understandably, I'm distracted, trying to figure out how to prevent the return from disabling me."
"I've heard of telepaths, seeing as I have some of those abilities, however, I don't believe I have ever heard of a telempath. Just exactly what is that? Let me also guess that you are picking up what happened in this office earlier today. Is that what is distracting you, besides trying to figure out how to prevent this onslaught of abilities?" '/What is it about everyone knowing what went on in this office??/' "What can I do to help you shield yourself against this bombardment?"
Talea was mightily puzzled now. Weren't Betazoids empaths? She shrugged it off, then said, "An empath is one who can receive others' emotions. A telempath can, at need, broadcast emotions, usually to help lower tensions or defuse a situation that's about to erupt." She sighed, uncertain the other had the ability to actually assist. "I need someone who has the ability to extend their shields across me. Preferably one who can do so without it affecting their ability to work." She smiled slightly. "Obviously, if one is not used to doing it, it can distract from the work that one is doing. There is no shame in not knowing how to do this. It can be trained, although I haven't the ability at present to actually accomplish the training in the quickest way."
"Now I understand. I have the abilities of an empath, just never heard it called telempath. I am more than willing to help to the best of my abilities. I believe that Lieutenant K'etrall in engineering is also able to assist. Is there anyone else on the ship that would be able to assist in this process?" '/She doubts that I will be able to help her . . . /'
Talea was hesitant now. "I believe Sergeant Ranger may be able to assist in this; most Regellians are taught from childhood how to shield others in the way I need to be shielded. For that matter, the more powerful the shield, the better it will be." She shook her head. "As to me doubting your being able to assist, Captain, it is merely uncertainty that you have the proper training. Many telepaths and empaths only know how to shield themselves. Since I do not know what you are trained in, I am erring toward the low side. Forgive me." She bowed her head, resisting placing her wrists back to back just in time.
"There is nothing to forgive you for. You are just making sure that there is someone available to help you when it is needed. I suggest you make arrangements for Sergeant Ranger to be close by for the next few days. I would hate for you to have to endure this alone. I will of course, offer my help, what little it may or may not be. If K'etrall and this Walker all work together we should be able to shield you, should we not?"
Talea nodded. "Yes, ma'am. And you've met Walker before. He was the marine who assisted in reviving me, ma'am."
"Yes, I've met him. He seems . . . knowledgeable. I will leave it to you to coordinate things so that there is always someone around. Do you have any questions about anything for me?"
Talea nodded. "How much trouble am I in for being AWOL for this shift? Even though it wasn't my fault precisely, some officers commanding are very much sticklers for promptness."
Skyler paused before speaking. "Under the circumstances, I am surprised you are on duty. You are not in any trouble as far as I am concerned. In fact, if you feel the need to take the remainder of your shift off, you have my permission to do so. Nothing will be held against you. You have my word on that."
Talea was frankly stunned, but controlled her expression just in time. "Then, if I may observe my reliever as he works the station?" She wasn't exactly used to doing Ops, after all, but wasn't sure she understood precisely what Skyler was offering. She actually didn't want to return to her quarters, nor did she want to take the shift off. Doing so would not necessarily help, although she was aware her apartment was one of the safest places for her to be until her powers returned.
"Why are you stunned, Ensign? As for observing the current OPS officer that is fine with me, as long as you feel able to do so. If you feel the need to leave, you may do that as well. Just let me know in advance." /I'm really not as bad as you may think or may have heard given the chance./
Talea whispered, her voice nearly inaudible, "I'm not keen on returning to my quarters right now, Captain. They were the scene of attempted violence." She swallowed convulsively before remarking in a more normal voice, "I really don't think you're an ogre or anything like that. It's just that I was honestly not certain of your reaction to my having missed part of my first shift. I am not a slacker, even if this morning's events seem to have painted that picture."
"I have no doubt that slacker is not a word to describe you. As far as I am concerned, you are free to observe as long as you wish. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. If there is nothing else, I believe I have kept you from your job long enough." Skyler hoped in time this woman would learn to trust her and not be so frightened to speak her mind. Skyler admired those who stood their ground when the cause was right and just.
Talea nodded. "Thank you, ma'am. And I really am not normally this way." She knew the truth of this, and wondered if later on, her sometimes overly blunt manner would gather her trouble, as it usually did.
"No problem. Since there is nothing else, might I suggest we both return to our duties? Again, if I can be of help, please don't hesitate to let me know. You can also rest assured that your attacker will be taken care of, even if that means removing him from this ship and putting him in a more proper environment."
Talea nodded. "Thank you for that assurance that I won't have to take matters into my people's courts of law. Rest assured, he would not be pleased to be counted guilty there, but he would never do the crime again." She then asked, "Am I dismissed, Captain?"
Nodding her head, Skyler looked at Talea. "He won't be doing the crime again when I am done with him, or when Starfleet is done with him. Yes, you are free to go. I will be out shortly. Again, I apologize for the behavior of this crewman. It won't happen again."
Talea bowed again, this time in a very Oriental way, then did a perfect about face and proceeded back onto the Bridge.
Watching as Talea exited her office, Skyler made a mental note to herself to learn more about Talea's race. She had a feeling she would need the information in the coming months. After what seemed an appropriate time, she too returned to the Bridge and resumed her duties.
