Lt. JG T’Fearne - A Hazard of One
Teayl Thorn
((Sickbay, Deck 10, USS Ronin, orbiting Endicronimas V))
T'Fearne: I never confirmed whether Ensign Valo experienced the same. But afterwards, my empathic range increased notably. I was rated an E3/T0 touch-only empath, despite my parents’ hopes and extensive tutoring on Betazed. It was determined that further development of my mental abilities would be… impossible. Yet now I can sense emotional auras without physical contact. It started as just a few centimetres, but has been subtly increasing. Lately, I can reliably sense empathic auras up to five meters—multiple individuals at once. On two… possibly three occasions, I believe I accessed surface thoughts during moments of extreme distress. ::quietly:: Do you think that could cause slight recurring headaches—especially given the timing?
She had watched Beck intently as she spoke, registering his empathic aura since she entered sickbay, and she noted the shift from orange flecks of amusement to something more like threads of deep blue intent and white prismatic reflections of clinical focus. Some dark red veins of concern pulsed, but were chased by his yellow curiosity intertwined with sparkly tinsel excitement. She frowned, blinking her eyes to try and turn off the flow of empathic information that impacted partially on her visual senses. She couldn’t.
Beck: What you're describing… sounds an awful lot like spontaneous development of not just more robust empathic contact but full blown telepathy. I'd say that's a helluva compelling argument as the source of the headaches.
T'Fearne: :: after a measured pause:: That shouldn’t be possible. Betazoids develop their telepathy and empathy through adolescence. It doesn’t randomly happen in their thirties.
Beck made another human mouth noise that she couldn’t interpret before raising the tricorder’s handheld sensor. She held still, sitting on the biobed in almost a meditative pose as he reached the sensor around her head. She watched the small diagnostic light dance in and out of her vision as he swept the scanner slowly around her cranium.
Beck: How long after your exposure to the s-waves did you notice this happening?
T'Fearne: Within days. At first, it was just a few subtle sensations I dismissed as residual stress or heightened vigilance. ::frowns faintly:: I was simply standing near someone and felt the bleed of their emotions. Weeks later, at DS9, I noticed it more clearly—during interviews, while walking the Promenade, and even when passing people, I would pick up emotional impressions without any physical contact.
The doc seemed to be taking on information as he continued to scan her brain, something in the medical data seemed to catch his full attention.
Beck: This is… wild. It's been a while since I looked at your brain scans from just before joining the Ronin, but I don't remember them looking like this. There are signs of extended activity right where I would expect them to be for a full telepath. And not just a touch telepath, I mean a full telepath.
T’Fearne felt the skin at the back of her neck prickle with unease. Beck’s curiosity—even excitement—was unmistakable. But the implications unsettled her. She knew what a powerful, untrained telepath could do. She’d spent several months as a prison guard at the high-security facility on Betazed’s sister planet, Darona. Betazed’s worst mental offenders and those who couldn’t be allowed to remain with the rest of the population were detained there. Those who wouldn’t or couldn’t control themselves. She had seen the damage they caused—to themselves and others.
T'Fearne: I hope you are wrong about that, Doctor. ::softly:: I’m not properly trained to use telepathy safely—for myself or around others. I’ve seen how dangerous a full, untrained telepath can be to even a prepared Betazed society.
Beck paused mid-scan, lowering the tricorder slightly as he met her eyes fully. His mouth drew into a serious line. The intensity of his focus made the muscles around her eyes tighten reflexively.
Beck: My biggest concern is this might be happening too fast. That it could cause damage to your brain, be it the paracortex itself, or something else on the periphery. I think we need to keep an eye on this.
Strangely, that reassured her. If her telepathic abilities burned themselves out, perhaps she wouldn’t be a danger to anyone. But then again, if something important burned out, she might end up a vegetable. Still, it was reassuring that Beck didn’t seem afraid of her—and that mattered.
T'Fearne: It isn’t always accurate. In fact, it can be wildly unreliable. Unless what I sense is clearly supported by observable behaviour, I cannot trust it enough to act on it. ::a quiet scoff:: Some full empath I would make.
She caught Beck watching her again, with a thoughtful rather than judgmental expression.
Beck: Brain scans once a week at a minimum. Twice would be better, if we can arrange it. And I'd like to see if you're suffering any ill affects from your exposure to the s-waves.
Her eyes widened before she could stop herself. Two fingers lifted in silent confirmation. She winced at his nod.
T'Fearne: I see. In that case, I have a few questions. :: pressing her lips together:: Will any of this preclude my return to full duty?
T’Fearne silently admitted she really wanted to be cleared. And it was also clear that Beck knew it.
Beck: Response
T'Fearne: Very well. I will comply. We can have that conversation if it becomes necessary. ::pause:: This is my private medical information, yes? Am I afforded the courtesy of handling this discreetly? Are you required to notify my CO or command staff?
Beck: Response
T’Fearne exhaled slowly through her nose.
T'Fearne: ::after a beat:: Perhaps you should. I’m concerned about the safety of the crew. I could be a risk factor here.
A knot tightened in her abdomen, and she unconsciously folded her arms around her torso. Beck’s earlier caution echoed her own fears.
Beck: Response
[Tags / TBC]
===============================
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14