JP - Lt. Cmdr. LTJG Nilsen, Ens Yinn - Don’t Leaf It Alone

[Mike Vago]

[Chronologically, this takes place just before shore leave, and provides some background to my earlier Klingon-eating-toxic-leaves sim. I forgot that no one else had yet read this JP about those leaves!]

((Science lab Number 4, Deck 10, USS Octavia E Butler))

The only time Nilsen would be found in a science lab would be if he was bringing some kind of equipment to them, or if his ops duties demanded it for whatever maintenance issue they had. He didn’t tend to stick around, knowing he stood out like a sore thumb. 

Nilsen: The Antani had been growing them for years, it was part of their plan. Something like getting everyone all connected, and the soil or something being perfect for them. 

There was a bunch of the leaves that the Antani grew sitting on the table in the middle of the lab.

Peri’s attention turned to the leaves in question. Outwardly, she could determine nothing unusual about them — they were just leaves. However, she also understood that vision was limited, and further testing was needed to see whether or not there was any truth to Nilsen’s theory.

Katsim: I…see.  

Echo peered at the leaves, tilting her head one way then the other, as if she was trying to determine whether or not they would make a tasty snack.  

Yinn: (rubbing the ridge on her nose) So you think these heightened your telepathic abilities?

He walked around the lab as they talked, looking at the different experiments and almost poking one, like a cat…HCO’s are cats.

Nilsen: They said so, but I think they got lucky with me, Sherlock didn’t experience anything with these, but Etan and Toz did but to a much lesser extent. I guess my experience on Alpha Brenkelvi II made the effect of the leaves work better on me I guess.

Katsim: Your mind has been open to telepathic possibilities by that experience.  

Which she felt was rather odd, but then again, there were many things in the universe that were just odd.  

Nilsen: Somethin’ like that

Yinn: That stands to reason.  

Nilsen: The thing is, human’s ain’t meant to have telepathic imagery-ness, and yet here I am with this gift. 

He was grateful for what the Bajorans of Alpha Brenkevi II had given him, even if it did come with some early teething problems such as the pounding headache and temporarily forgetting how to speak federation standard.

Katsim: While humans aren’t generally telepathic, I know that occasionally one is born in the species. 

She’d heard of it, though Peri had never known anyone personally who was human and a telepath. As far as she knew, the ability had never popped up in either Bajoran or Cardassian people. Regardless, it just meant that Nilsen’s ability wasn’t completely unique among humans. 

Nilsen: There are?

He questioned that. He had not heard of humans being born telepathic.  Peri nodded.  It was rare, but one that came to mind had been mentioned in one of her history courses at the Academy, Miranda Jones. 

Nilsen: What about my siblings? All six of them? Would they have this too? And where would it come from? 

Yinn: I don’t think we can assume there’s a genetic predisposition without extensive research. Although it’s possible someone else has done that research.

She pulled out her PADD and started tapping away.

Katsim: I don’t have answers.  That field isn’t my speciality.

She could try to do research, but Yinn had already started bringing up information on her PADD in that regard.  

Nilsen: So It works though images, I can send and receive visual images, like you might see in your minds eye, you know when you imagine something,..Like…I did this with Horque, if I wanted to send you a recipe, let’s say for a pasta of some sort, I’d have to send each bit as it’s own picture. So the pasta as one, the sauce as another and so on…but I can’t just do it whenever you know. 

So how could he do it?  Did that mean he was limited to certain people?  Or species of people?  She knew telepaths could not read Ferengi minds, but what did that mean for him?

Katsim: You can’t?

Nilsen: I’ve…like Horque is a telepath, he taught me how to defend against other people trying to…connect I think is the word with me if I didn’t want them to…but I could only send an image when he was ready to receive.

He kept moving around the science lab. He couldn’t keep still, he picked up a loose PADD and had a look at it, but upon seeing the contents about something to do with the compounds of various materials, he put it back down. 

All Yinn’s PADD showed her at first glance was that Earth had an extensive mythology around telepathic humans, but if there was actual scientific evidence, it was buried under a lot of fiction. But that was something she could research later. Better to get as much information as she could from Nilsen while he was right here.

Yinn: If you can consciously block people trying to reach you, it’s possible you could learn to deliberately reach out to someone else. I understand Betazoids learn to do both at a very young age, so as not to be bombarded with other people’s thoughts.

Katsim: Then…how do you know this is an ability you’ll retain once away from Cheyd’lang?

He had it with Torka, but afterward?  He’d been on another planet with a species that had such capabilities.  Maybe it wasn’t that he was a transmitter, but more of a receptor. 

Nilsen: I don’t…I mean, Horque’s lessons were after Torka gave me his people’s gifts, while we were still on the moo moo::smiles:: The Oumuamua I mean.

He paused for a second to think of his next sentence. Echo landed near him and he held out his hand and stroked under Echo’s chin. 

Nilsen: Who's a good dragon? It’s you, yes it’s you. You’re a very good dragon!

The creature purred, quite happy with the attention.  Lhandon then returned back to the topic at hand. 

Nilsen: What I do know is that I can do telepathic communication thanks to Torka’s people, but I can’t control it. I can only do it when the environment is…I don’t know, when the environment is my favour. 

Yinn: Is there any pattern as to what environment is favorable?

Nilsen: Not that I’ve noticed, I could control it in the galley with Horque, we could do it in that spare room he used for the defense lessons on the Oumuamua. I was able to do it in the King's Path mine but I’ve never been able to just switch it on.

Peri’s head tilted slightly as she considered the situation.  There he was with some latent telepathic ability come to light, or maybe one that was given to him by that Torka he had met on a previous mission.  Which it was, she couldn’t tell, and wondered if they would have a better time bringing someone else in, someone more of an expert.  

Katsim: You want to…get stronger?

Nilsen: Like…I don’t mean to sound like I’m moaning or ungrateful, I am flipping grateful for the Bajorans from Alpha Brenkelvi II, they gave me so much. I just want to know…what its variables are, what its limits are, and those leaves were the first that meant I could spark it independently. I could tune into the Antani so quickly, I was a part of their hive mind. 

Yinn: I want to know those things too! I think we need two courses of study — you, and the plants. If you can better control this ability, we can likely better understand it. And if the plant enhances telepathic abilities, understanding how will likely make it easier to understand your specific abilities.

Yinn was right, but while those two paths of research would at some point intersect, they also deserved study individually and separately.  They had to come up with a baseline and control variables.  

Katsim: Can you describe what it was like when you were in the mines? 

Nilsen: It was just like being back with Torka’s people, it was a thousand voices, a thousand bits of communication, arguments and debates over in minutes. Complex ideas shared in seconds. 

As he spoke, it was clear, perhaps unconsciously through his speech, that he missed that interconnectivity. 

Yinn: I might be getting ahead of myself here, but if we can give someone the ability for that kind of instant communication… the effect could be revolutionary. Speech takes time, and leaves so much room for misinterpretation. Imagine two or more minds working on a problem by sharing their thoughts directly. Or a captain giving orders instantaneously when reaction time is crucial.

Yinn’s mind reeled at the long-term possibilities. And in the short term, she got excited at the thought of all the research she had in front of her. Betazoid telepathy, Vulcan mind melds, the ghosts on Brenkevi, and now these Antari, which the Federation knew very little about. She’d be one of the first scientists to learn anything at all about them. And from the sound of it, there were plenty of other hithero-unknown species in that mine. Once again, a lifetime of research possibilities they’d have to leave behind when they flew off to the next mission.

Nilsen: I bet there a couple of captains out there that would love that ::Slight laugh::

Peri wasn’t sure about that.  While she could understand the excitement on Yinn and Nilsen’s parts, she also understood that such a thing could backfire.  It could prove not only difficult to control, but difficult to determine the long term effects of something like that.  

Okay, focus. Telepathy. That was the most immediate problem to explore, and the one she could keep working on. After all, Lhandon was right here. There were Vulcans and Betazoids on the ship. And this plant.

Yinn: Can we acquire more of this plant for research? Or some native soil so I can grow more of it in the lab? Or both? I’m dying to study it and its effects.

Nilsen: They grew it all over the place, they were planning it for such a long time, the plan was to get every slave linked mentally and do the escape in one big coordinated movement 

Katsim: I’m certain some of the samples must have seeds or something so we could cultivate it. 

That was likely the easiest part of the entire thing.  Doing the experiments, especially if they involved people, would prove far more difficult.  

Yinn: Of course, I’d also like to study one of the Antari. And a Vulcan. And a Betazed. And you, Lt. Nilsen. But I can start with the plant.

Nilsen: I can always make a trip back if ya want more, we’ve at least got a few friends back there.

Katsim: To Cheyd’lang? 

That idea, while it could result in good samples, wasn’t necessarily the best idea.  Although they had rescued a good number of refugees, Peri knew that there were plenty more people on that planet, factions constantly at odds with one another, and should they return, it could sour any progress they had made with the Cheydalanga. 

Nilsen: I mean if ya want scans. Brzezinski enjoyed prodding and poking around in my brain, I think she took like a million and one scans, so maybe that’s data you can use?

Yinn: Yes, I would love to look at the inside of your brain! oO Did that sound weird? It was true! Oo

Peri, for her part, actually giggled softly at Yinn’s exuberance.  She was familiar with Brzezinski, a woman who made her a little uncomfortable, but she just sort of gave the neuroscientist tasks and let her do her thing.  That was pretty much Peri’s approach to the entire science department, really.  People did their things, she checked reports, made sure people weren’t misusing resources, and the likes. 

Lhandon continued moving around as he thought out loud and found a counter which he lifted himself onto and sat on. 

Nilsen: You wanna demo?

Yinn: Oh, absolutely. Let me just set up your million-and-second scan.

Yinn scuttled around the room, grabbing several pieces of specialized equipment she placed in a halo around Nilsen’s head.

As Yinn got the ‘subject’ prepared, Peri pondered over what Nilsen had shared with them thus far.  

Katsim: Could you tell me what you go through when you…try this ability out?

Nilsen: So what I normally do, when things align, is I really imagine that thing, like full on visualize it, I mentioned that before right? Then I shut me eyes and focus on you and send you that image.

Yinn: Well, hopefully we can see some brain activity when you do that.

Katsim: I am curious to see that. 

While Peri wasn’t a biologist, she was curious to see what the scans revealed.  Perhaps her knowledge of physics could come in useful.  And…perhaps it wouldn’t.  Either way, she was intrigued. 

Nilsen: But of course, unless either of you have suddenly developed mind reading powers in the last 12 seconds, you’ve no idea what I was thinking. 

Yinn: Hmm. Good point. 

Right.  As much as Nilsen liked the telepathy, Peri didn’t want to have any of it.  Not only did she not want to read the minds of all the people around her, she didn’t want the chance that someone else could read hers.  The only person who would be an exception would be Wes, but even then, telepathy didn’t sit well with her. 

Nilsen: The only variable I can think of that would make any degree of sense is I need to tag along with someone who does has these abilities. 

As he spoke, the cat…sorry the HCO picked up this strange tool that was on the side near him, it was somewhat like a pair of tongs with a wide plastic-like handle on each side. He clipped them together a couple of times and his brain was very happy with that, he then put them back down as the two scientists spoke.

Yinn: I was thinking the same thing. You need to be sending images to someone for us to be able to observe the full effect. Commander, is there someone on the ship we can get him to talk to, so to speak? Any Betazeds in the crew? 

Katsim: I know of a couple.  

Though would they wish to engage in this sort of experiment?  They could request, but this was not something she could order them to do. 

Yinn: Well, invite them down to have their brain examined! Who’d say no to that?

For a minute there, Yinn sounded an awful lot like Brzezinkski. She blinked at the unfettered enthusiasm of the Bolian woman, smiling a bit in the wake of it.  

Katsim: I’m…not sure if that’s exactly an alluring notion.  

Nilsen: I mean…like, we can’t go full Bre over here. We can’t just force ‘em and this buggers with mind. I was lucky when I got this, I had people around me. 

Lhandon kept walking around, but his pace slowed, like something was on his mind.  

Yinn: Oh, I didn’t mean… I don’t want an unwilling subject.

Katsim: What about Horque?  You’ve done this before with him, Nilsen, and his culture is used to using images to communicate.  Wouldn’t he make the most sense? 

Nilsen: He would but Horque stayed with the Moo Moo. 

Yinn: I can look at the crew roster and see if there’s anyone we can ask to volunteer.

Peri nodded, as if giving Yinn the go ahead, though really she didn’t need her permission.  Though, maybe she did since this was technically an experiment and she was the CSO?  Perhaps, Peri tried not to really interfere with most experiments unless they used resources unwisely or were too dangerous. 

Then Lhandon’s energy seemed to drop and he thought out aloud yet he struggled for the words. 

Nilsen: Folks, what if…

Yinn tilted her head, waiting to see where this was going. Peri, too, turned her dark gaze to Nilsen and remained silent as she waited for his response. 

Nilsen: What if…we’re doing the wrong thing? 

Yinn: Wrong how? We’re just trying to better understand what happened to you. Not to mention the science behind whatever made this possible.

Peri’s gaze turned thoughtful and she regarded Nilsen silently for a moment.  Yinn was correct, and she herself could not see anything wrong with asking questions and doing research and experimenting.  That being said, something had come to his mind, and she inquired softly.

Katsim: Why do you think this? 

Nilsen: I dunno it’s just, bringing someone else in, poking around in their head, to find out about my head. Will they erm…

Yinn: What’s erming?

Katsim: He’s thinking. 

And since he was thinking, Peri elected to remain silent and allow the man to process his own thoughts to formulate a response.  

Nilsen: It’s just when I got this, I had people around me and I was lucky but it wasn’t smooth. Like I had the worst headaches, I still get the most trippy dreams and for a while, I lost how to speak common…like what if that happens to someone else? 

Yinn: We’re not trying to change the other subject. We want someone who already has established telepathy of some kind. Just to see what happens to your brain when you’re in contact with someone else.

She could see his concern, and she had heard about losing his ability to speak Standard.  Somehow, he had managed to speak Klingon instead. 

Katsim: From what I understand, telepaths have safeguards, and since you are not…

She trailed off, trying to say words that wouldn’t sound like she was belittling him, but he leapt into her hesitation. 

Nilsen: Can you do this with…just me?

Yinn: I feel like we’ve already reached the limits of what scanning your brain passively can tell us. You need to be engaged in communication with someone else.

Yinn stepped away and took a walk around the lab, rubbing the ridge on the back of her head in frustration.

Sensitive would be the wrong word to use for Lhandon, but he picked up on Yinn’s frustration. Maybe he said the wrong thing, he didn’t know.

Nilsen: I mean, I didn’t mean to frustrate you, I just…I’ve had my fair share of pain with this and I don’t want to subject anyone else to it.

Katsim: I can understand that.  However, remember that we would ask, not order someone to do this, and that person can make their own choice.  We can make sure they know about the side effects you had. 

Yinn came back around to the work table and paused for a long minute before speaking up.

Yinn: What if I were the second person?

Peri paused and blinked over at the other science officer.  As far as she knew, Bolians had no telepathic abilities, so she was uncertain where Yinn was going with this.  

Nilsen: But…how would that work? Don't tell me you've got this thing too?

Katsim: Could you expound, Yinn? 

Before she said yes or no to anything, Peri always sought out information, and in this case, she wanted to see where Yinn was going with her idea.  

Yinn: No, no, I’m thinking of a different approach. We suspect the green plant from Cheyd’lang amplifies telepathic abilities, and that’s something I’ve been wanting to study. What if I consume the plant, we study its effects on me, and then to test the effect, I try and communicate with Lhandon? That way we’ve got a willing test subject, we can still study your ::indicating Nilsen:: abilities, and better understand the plant. All I have going on at the moment is my duty rotation, extra lab shifts, chroniton study, yoga, and an hour of swimming a day. Plenty of time for another research project.

Nilsen: So…a self experiment? Do I do anything?

As was usual for her, Peri didn’t reply at first.  Instead, she considered Yinn’s idea carefully.  It had merit, but should she approve something that would put the science officer at risk?  Then again, wouldn’t that be the same as if they had asked someone who was not a science officer?  Obviously they could do much to learn about the planet, but to study its effects on a biological system, the computer could only estimate and predict so much.  To have true, accurate results, they needed a live specimen to consume them. 

Katsim: It is an option. 

She finally said. Yinn volunteered, it was up to her.  

Yinn: I mean, in the short term, you wouldn’t have to do anything. Commander Katsim and I can research the plant, I can start eating it once we’ve established some safety parameters, we can study its effect on me, if any, and if there is a noticeable effect, we bring you back in and test your abilities. ::beat:: Or would you rather not wait? Because we could still find a volunteer and observe you first.

Nilsen: I think..erm…that could work if you’re allowed to do that ::looking at Katsim:: the others in the party ate the leaves too and they are fine, as far as I know.

Once again, Peri paused to ponder.  This was where she struggled the most, trying to decide when an experiment shouldn’t be done based upon what she was told. In this case, they had seen what the plant did to Nilsen and it had not caused any ill effects.  While Bolians were a much different species, others had consumed them as well.  

Katsim: I will leave the decision up to you, Yinn.  

He didn’t know what to think of this whole situation, he wanted to know what was going on inside his head but the enthusiasm of others, including that of Brezinski who was often just a bit too eager for comfort. That’s not to say he didn’t trust them but…he wondered, was he just anxious and reading far too much into all of this?

Peri inhaled deeply and let it out slowly.  

Katsim: But before you consume them, we must study the plant further and run some computer models to make sure it will not adversely affect you.

Yinn: Well, sure. Standard safety protocols. That goes without saying.

Nilsen: I don’t know much about science but don’t some people react different to this stuff

Lhandon's internal voice spoke. What an amazing sentence from Nilsen, the top marks in science on full display, move aside Einstein, Nilsen is here.

Smiling a little, she shook her head.  She had considered that as well, but hadn’t voiced it earlier. 

Katsim: I know, but none of them were Bolian.  Your genetic makeup is much different, so it would be best to remain cautious.

Yinn: I also have a stronger stomach than either of you. I mean, metaphorically. I don’t actually have a stomach. Is it weird having a stomach?

Yinn was endlessly fascinated with other species’ strange biology, especially humans, with their insistence that meat be extra fresh and that eating spicy foods was some sort of fearsome challenge. But she was getting off topic, something she knew she had to work on.

She straightened up. Starfleet. Be professional.

Yinn: Of course I’ll exercise caution at every step. I plan on analyzing the plant exhaustively. And Dr. Toz has no doubt already studied the crew members who ingested the plant in the mines, I can reach out and see if she found any significant results, adverse or otherwise.

Peri nodded.  She would allow the experiment as long as they took the proper steps, and she knew that Yinn was not a careless officer.  Truthfully, she was interested to know what discoveries would result in their research.  She supposed they would find out soon enough.

-----

Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen

HCO & Acting Asst. Chief

USS Octavia E Butler

O240007LN1

He/Him/His (Both player and character)

&

Lt. Cmdr. Katsim Peri

Chief Science Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

M239008AD0

&

Ensign Yinn

Science Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

O240011Y12