Lt. JG T’Fearne - Take the Con
Teayl Thorn
((Shuttlebay Main Level, Deck 9, USS Ronin))
The turbolift deposited them on the Flight Deck, and the cavernous space unfolded around them filled with purposeful motion. In the distance, the bay’s forcefield shimmered faintly against the void beyond. Deck crews moved with practiced efficiency between vessels, their voices low beneath the hum of idling systems and the distant whine of diagnostics cycling through pre-flight checks. Five Valkyrie Mk-one’s parked in bays loomed in front of them.
T’Fearne adjusted her bag slightly against her shoulder and stepped out, naturally taking the lead into the cavernous space. Her pace remained measured, and attuned to Taj’el’s as she guided them along the line of fighters before reaching a smaller craft further along. A Type-9 shuttle. The Oliphant. She sent a brief message to Flight Ops to request clearance and note she would have a passenger aboard.
Her attention returned to Taj’el as they walked.
T'Fearne: You ask about Betazoid abilities being overwhelming with… specificity. What prompts your query? Do you find emotional environments… challenging?
The Vulcan’s control seemed to slip for a moment. Undetectable to most. To T’Fearne it registered as a faint emotional fluctuation leaked through their mental defenses. It flickered a dull yellow of insecurity, but then they seemed to grow resolved.
Taj’el: I have found that, yes, I do find emotionally charged environments challenging. ::they spoke carefully, glancing toward the surrounding crowd with visible discomfort:: As for your question, put simply, I inhabited a Betazoid’s body for a month and found the experience… painful.
T’Fearne reached the shuttle and triggered the opening sequence. At Taj’el’s revelation she turned around quickly to look at the medical officer.
T'Fearne: You inhabited a Betazoid’s body? ::brow raised:: How fascinating. How are you now?
oO Vulcan mental abilities can result in some interesting accidents. Oo
Taj’el: I am still attempting to process the experience, as it was… quite difficult for me at the time. I felt as though I was a burden to my team, though I also learned considerably about my commanding officer. I was already struggling to manage my telepathic sensitivity around emotionally expressive individuals.
((Shuttlecraft Oliphant, Shuttlebay Main Level, Deck 9, USS Ronin))
T’Fearne listened as she stepped over the threshold and into the shuttle and ran the pre-flight checks. She caught Taj’el’s slight apprehension, the way they briefly closed their eyes and steadied themself. She didn’t know the officer very well, but they seemed to be struggling with self doubt.
T'Fearne: That sounds like a very trying experience.
Taj’el: Forgive me, I do not intend to burden you. I only wished to clarify the reasoning behind my inquiries.
She held up a slowing hand.
T'Fearne: Doctor, you are far from a burden, you have my word. I can’t say I know exactly what that would be like, but I did have an interesting experience recently. Exotic radiation I was exposed to de-aged my cells, I looked about twelve years old for several weeks. I’ve only just recently completed the treatment to return me to normal. ::brows scrunching together lightly:: But, for that time I didn’t feel like myself, stuck in a younger body with different capabilities and needs. It was disconcerting. At least it was my own younger body though, I can only imagine the challenge of navigating life as a whole different species.
Taj’el: Response
T'Fearne: Perhaps the experience has a benefit. You mentioned you learned some things about your CO. It sounds like you had an opportunity to learn.
Taj’el: Response
T'Fearne: Then the experience, while difficult, was valuable if it helped gain an understanding of one of your crewmates and perhaps yourself.
Taj’el: Response
After a slight tilt of her head, T’Fearne looked over the shuttle controls. The system was greenlit across the board and flight operations gave departure clearance. A glint came into her dark eyes. She shifted smoothly to the co-pilot seat, gesturing to the pilot console to Taj’el.
T'Fearne: Why don’t you take the con Lt. Taj’el. We have a flight path logged to the Azure Horizon Resort landing zone, but we can take a cruise over the ocean on our way there.
Taj’el: Response
[Tags / TBC]
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14