PNPC Dr Karise Indobri: Let's try a different approach
Serala
Karise had set the environment to something soothing. The lights, while not dark, were dimmed to a relaxing level and she’d set some soothing incense around the room. From the reports Captain Serala had sent to her, Hana Wright had somehow managed to get through the Academy as an untrained telepath. It was extremely rare, but it did happen. She’d been working with an Ensign who’d had similar issues, although in his case, his ability had suddenly awakened during a mission. Karise was by no means a counselor, but she was a very powerful, skilled, and trained telepath. She’d been subject to unwanted telepathic leakage for years until she’d learned to be able to control it and tune it out. And so, she knew the struggle and could help untrained telepaths deal with that while learning control at the same time.
She heard the doorchime and seated herself at the table, her voice relaxed and calm as she responded.
Indobri: Enter.
The young woman entered and Karise stood slowly and met her eyes in Rodulan tradition. After a moment, she released the gaze, fully aware of how the Rodulan stare was perceived by non-Rodulans who had a hard time understanding the tradition, not to mention the fact that she had no apparent pupils, only solid black eyes.
Wright: Um...Hana here. I have an appointment.
Karise just stared at the young woman following Rodulan culture. As was expected, Hana Wright seemed uncomfortable with this and spoke again.
Wright: Hi...um. I assume you're the one I'm here to see.
Indobri: Yes, come in and have a seat :: gesturing to the seat opposite her :: My name is Karise. I think we can drop ranks and titles for this. It’s going to be helpful if we see each other as mentor and pupil rather than Commander and Lieutenant.
Wright: Okay. I don't like titles much anyway.
Karise nodded.
Indobri: This is not going to be a quick process, Hana. I am going to teach you some basic techniques and leave you with some guidelines to help improve your control, but it’s still going to take a while to get full control of those abilities.
Wright: I'm not optimistic, if you want the truth. I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with me, but sure. I'll try.
Karise smiled and crossed her legs under her while Hana crossed her legs and began petting her tribble companion.
Indobri: Let us begin. The first thing I would like you to do is clear your mind of all distractions and thoughts. Think of only a white light and a white room. There is nothing else in this room.
Wright: Okie dokie.
(( timeskip ))
They spent the next minutes trying to help Hana visualize a variety of meditative concepts, but to no avail.
Wright: ::Frustrated:: I can't. There's too much. I can't sit still. I can't stop thinking and imagining a white room just makes me so bored I start thinking of other things. I'm not meant for this.
Indobri: Take it slowly, Hana. This is not easy for beginners regardless. What exactly is causing you concerns?
Wright: I'm sorry. I have tried this before, you know. Briefly, when I was a kid and more extensively with Is'kah and Stoval. I'm just...I might be a lost cause, ma'am. Something in me just doesn't work they way it should.
It was uncommon for these techniques to not work, but not completely unheard of either. There were a few other techniques she could try, so she settled on one that made the most sense to her.
Indobri: I would like to try something else then, if you’re willing. It will require an active mental connection on my part, and I won’t be able to sustain it for long periods of time because it can cause synaptic damage if I do. But for short, guided sessions it could work.
Wright: Response
She nodded. Hana Wright had been referred to her because of an incident on Ah’rak IV where her uncontrolled telepathy had led to undesired difficulties. But the advantage Karise had was that she was four-lobed and therefore naturally resistant to other telepaths. And hers was strong enough that she could also ensure that Hana didn’t do anything that Karise didn’t want.
Indobri: You won’t be able to force me, and I can observe and guide. Instead of just focusing on visualization, what I am considering is observing your thoughts and helping you to focus on just one of them. It will take time and practice, but if we can manage it, this will have the same effect as visualization would for the average student.
Wright: Response
Indobri: I would expect that you will have some questions or concerns before we begin. Would you like to address those now?
Wright: Response
Starfleet Chief Medical Officer
Paldor II Lunar Base
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