Telepathic Tango

Posted on Wed Jul 10th, 2019 @ 3:06pm by Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Commander Sonak

Mission: Fractured Fairy Tales
Location: USS Hera, Deck 4, Main Flight Deck
Timeline: 2396, Dox and Mona's Wedding

As the lovebirds all but fell together into each other's arms in a passionate kiss, the auras of the bonded couple continued to flare and swirl between them in a beautiful lavender tornado. Then the swirls of lavender energy seemed to flare brighter than ever, before being pulled inward, absorbed into the two.

Standing off to the side with Asa, Rita paris watched the physical representation of their two energies coming together, and her eyes widened. Something about it struck a chord with her, though she couldn't put her finger on it at the moment. If she was sensitive like Sonak she might have felt something, a disturbance in the psionic plane or something. But to her, it was the visual representation of the bonding of souls that meant... something.

As soon as the ceremony was over, Rita had changed into her traditional gold minidress uniform circa 2268, with black knee high explorer's boots over insulated black tights. The starched whites were dignified, but hellish to try to eat anything while wearing them. Particularly for a gal with her shelf space for food catching, as it were. Miradonian and Romulan wedding traditions, or at least this blending of the two, seemed to include none of the whimsical crap of her basic white girl upbringing, for which Rita was grateful. There was a buffet line, then there was music, then there were a number of heartfelt speeches and declarations.

Unusual and alien cuisine was sampled- some delicious, some politely went into a napkin. She sought out Samuel Clemens and danced a reel with him, to some folk song from Atlair IV. She danced with Asa, neither of them leading nor following, just working to move in rhythmic concert with one another. Then Rita nipped off to the reclamator to washe her hands and rinse out her mouth- something greyish green was stubbornly trying to cling there, she could see in the mirror. Running her damp fingers through her short shock of hair, Rita made herself presentable.

Then she strode out to find her husband, observing the rituals of this unique blending of alien cultures with rapt fascination. Observing him, she called out to him, in her mind, as she once did when he could hear her. But it wouldn't work, not coming from her. Rita had the psychic potential of a doorknob, so her pushing her ability produced nothing. Nothing plus nothing is still nothing, after all.

But Sonak... once upon a time, a universe away, he could sense her emotional extremes or cries of help from standard orbit, on the leeward side of the planet. The telepathy that was his birthright was powerful, but with her, it had been unbelievable. She knew him, felt him as he moved about the ship. The golden girl could just start talking to the stoic Vulcan in her mind and he listened. Unless under extreme duress he could carry on a mental conversation with her with ease as he multitasked. More than once he had guided her through complex tasks of science or engineering by explaining in detail what to do next. As a team, they had been unparalelled.

Since coming to the Prime Universe, Sonak's telepathy was limited to touch, as were the local Vulcans. Even so, his had been a very wild talent- the entire reason for his induction to the Masters of Gol training and the path to pure logic was begun when he was a child, to protect others from the potential ravages of his mental power. Having mastered logic, Sonak had remarkably precise control over his abilities, thus he spent much of his mental energy reining it in so as not to harm or intrude upon others nearby.

Selfishly, she admitted it. In her heart of hearts, Rita missed their bond. She loved the touch of him in her mind, even when they were parted. He was her T'hy'la, her One. Never was a time when she did not wish to be with him, to feel him close. Now they could still be together effortlessly with the slightest of touches. The time that they spent together was 1/4 of their lives, as when they were asleep she refused to be parted from him for long. Were he to rise in the night, she would try to hold him, to grasp at his arm to pull him back to her. Were he to be absent for more than a moment, she would awaken and look about, feeling for him although she could not perceive him that way any longer.

By day they would spend time together as couples did, engaging in familiar rituals yet changing elements to keep it interesting and refreshing. Both of them found comfort and appreciation of the other in time spent as such, and thus they continued to strive to have dinner together, occasionally breakfast or lunch. While she was often unprepared for it, her husband was a lively luncheon conversationalist, and it kept her on her toes.

In her mind's eye, Rita could see that swirling energy of Mnhei'sahe and Mona... that bonding of their souls. It had been... strengthened by the ceremony.

Could... their bond, as T'hy'la be strengthened?

Maybe... baby steps.

A rather clever idea came to the mind of the unconventionally improvisational officer.

An experiment.

A smile spread across the face of the Starfleet siren as she closed in on her handsome husband. For the thousandth time she thanked her lucky stars that the fleet had still kept science blue, because the sight of him standing upright and sharp-eyed in that blue that brought out his eyes still made her heart melt. Who could not fall for that guy, she sighed to herself, still as smitten as the first time she'd laid eyes on him. Raising her index and ring finger together in the traditional erotic approach of the Vulcans, Rita Paris opened her big blue eyes to take in the calming steely grey eyes of Sonak.

He raised his own fingers in response at the exact same moment she offered hers. The moment their skins came in contact, his dry, unemotional mind touched her own. Even more; as their souls touched, their toughts mingled, thoughts he would never share with anyone else, from a mind like none other in this or any universe; feelings he would never accept but from her.

The sight and feel of their bond move you beyond them and back to us,his mind told hers.It stirs your Human heart, Rita my wife. You wish for things past, that seemed could never again be.

Your logic is unassailable as always, Sonak my husband, and your perception is accurate, Rita replied as she moved beyond tradition, and her hand slid into his, gripping it and lightly tugging him toward the dance floor. When we came to this universe, we accepted that reality was different here, and that our bond was simply diminished.

Not diminished; altered. And the only thing that is truly constant in any universe is... change.

What if that was simply a setback? When have we ever simply accepted reality, you and I, when so much of our career amongst the stars have shown us so much more? Moving as she communicated, she brought her willing mate out to the cleared area of the dance floor, and peered hopefully into his eyes. I miss this... all of the time. I try not to let it bother me, but... I miss your presence when we are apart. I... desire more. What once was, as you say.

Looking to Lieutenant Pacci, who was serving as the musical engineer for the wedding, Paris called out. "Rena! How about a Tango for Paris?"

Sonak had felt silent for a long moment now; even between their shared minds, she suddenly felt as if a wall had come to isolate them from one another, like two silent people in a dense fog. It lasted only for a moment, before one thought came out clear as a ringing bell.

There are always... possibilities.

In that singular statement, her logical love encapsulated so very much of their adventures and service spent together. When she had first met him, he had explained that he wished to understand his emotional shipmates. As an emotionless being she imagined it to be impossible, but he had expressed that belief. When she had asked the shadow he’d left in her mind if there was a chance for them together, he had expressed the same sentiment. When she had managed to get a message to him that indicated where she was lost to him in space and time, he had said it then. Any time in their lives they had faced insurmountable odds, the master of logic had replied with a statement that held hope, and allowed for the universe to surprise them.

There are always… possibilities.

The Tango, in the Argentine style that the young Rita Paris had learned years ago in dance classes she was forced to attend, was a 4/4 rhythmic time signature song, stringed instruments lending a slow, simmering urgency to the atmosphere. As it was basically walking with a partner and the music, it was perfect for the occasion, as she knew the steps of the dance, and he could grasp them from her mind. Dancing appropriately to the emotion and speed of the dance was essential to a tango, as one needed to transmit a feeling of the music to their partner to lead them effectively through the dance.

In their lives together, he had never wavered from his choice- she plotted the course, and he supported her choices and decisions. Thus the dance upon which they now embarked was quite the illustration of this practice in action.

Moving counterclockwise around the outside of the dance floor, she stepped into his arms, holding him closely as she made her proposal. This is a dance of varying distances, and the occasional break in contact. I think… I feel that we can overcome this. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I don’t think so. As she spun out from him, their fingertips parting briefly, she continued speaking to him in her mind, confident that if there was even the remotest chance for success, he could do this.

Because you are Sonak of Vulcan, and I have never seen a challenge she continued as she folded into his embrace, that you cannot overcome

You are correct.

It took a moment for her to realize that she had perceived his thought clearly; yet at that precise moment, they had followed the dance steps and were not in contact.

A brilliant smile, ear to ear, spread across her face as she spun back into him, taking an aggressive step forward, then another, then stepping apart as they orbited one another. It was abundantly clear to all involved that Rita Paris was apparently having the time of her life. A matter of willpower, my husband? Or... the curvaceous chrononaut stepped beside him, the two circling closely without touching as the dance allowed, is it that we simply had not made the attempt?

It is a bit more complicated than that, Sonak sent back, making her twirl then bend and forcefully rise up straight in front and close to him. For one, the genetic markers for superior psionic abilities are still there; in this universe, they simply did not express themselves fully. I hypothesize it is because of it's basic quantum structure. But even here, the Vulcan mating bond is still boundless; hence the basis for possible enhancement.

They turned away from one another as far as their outstreched hands could keep contact between them before he made her spin back into his arms, her back to him. All the time his thoughts came clear to her mind as if he spoke in a small silent room.

Despite my initial efforts, my mastery of Vulcan mind techniques was insufficient to express my latent potential any further... until we met Dox... and the powerful mind connected to her.

He let her go and stepped back, hands on hips, head high and one foot forward, a mirror image her own posture. They were not touching anymore; yet, a good meter away, she still could hear his thoughts.

I read that Ambassador Spock was exposed to powerful psionic energies at the galactic barrier. Although non psionic humans were deeply altered beyond human nature, he, a born psionic, apparently was not... until came the meta entity called V'Ger... and he alone could sense it, even parsecs away.

They stepped close again, turning around one another without touching; and yet still in the meld.

Apparently, my mind meld with those here in contact with other meta entities triggered some similar effect on my genetic make-up. It is yet far from my original level or not yet close to Betazoid standards; but, at least with you and a few others, already surpassing that of other Vulcans.

Stepping closely in time with him, first advancing in a prowl, then giving ground just as quickly, they continued to step in time with one another around the edge of the dance floor in perfect synchronicity. The more you use it, the more contact with powerful minds, the more it awakens your literally latent potential. Stepping in closely, she ran her fingers across his jawline, along his cheeks, briefly caressing those points she knew ignited the contact of a meld before she ran her fingers through his hair in an intimate step of the dance.

This is a joyous day indeed, for both our friends and for us, my husband, Rita swooned back as Sonak's arm encircled her waist, then spun her to the floor, holding her hand. Smoothly he reeled her back in, bringing her up into his arms with a start before he thrust out his left hand to drive them across the floor cheek to cheek. So we can foster this? Practice and focus, meditate and harmonize?

That would be the next logical step, he answered as they came at the end of the dance floor and sharply turned around still holding her.

You are truly the most remarkable individual I have ever encountered in my travels, Mr. Sonak. Rita expressed to her logical mate as she took one languorously slow step, which was then followed by another before the pace changed to two rapid steps in succession.

So are you to me, Thy'la

As they took another long and slow step, Rita’s thoughts matched the pace, although she couldn’t stop smiling. The expansion of their connection, the bond which had endured through separation like no other, affirmed her faith in the universe, as so often embodied by the stoic scientist in blue to whom her heart belonged.

Without reserve, she loved him, admired him, and adored him. His presence filled her with joy, and his touch brought her contentment which soothed her as no other ever could or would. He was her hero, the scientist explorer for whom the oddities of the universe were fascinating, and held no fear.

How could a gal as unlucky as me ever manage to convince an emotionless master of logic to fall in love? she mused as the dancing duo took two sharp stomp steps before stepping apart dramatically and slowly to circle one another in a half-orbit spin before coming together again.

Luck is only the subjective interpretation of a lack of all the proper parameters to provide precise calculation and prediction, he objected. As for love, it is more than simply an emotion. It is an act of sharing, support and respect aimed at bettering the nature and life of more than just oneself; when one plans to truly achieve fulfillment, it is the logical path to achieve through, and with, another.

In his eyes, as much as in his mind, it was quite evident that he had himself achieved this fulfillment... thanks to her.

Hooking her leg up and around his waist, the Starfleet siren caressed the face of the stoic scientist. Pointing her toe to release the grip her boots tended to exert on the floor, he drew her back with him along the edge of the dance floor. It's different here, but... it's good. It's an optimistic future, and they are a good and able crew. Unhooking her leg and spinning out away from him, they eyed one another as they took slow prowling steps back toward one another.


It is an observed fact that the lighting is much brighter on these ships, he thought back to her, an echo of her own witty frame of mind shared through the meld.As for optimism, it is the only attitude that makes us move forward. And on the matter at hand...

She felt a tingling sensation in their joined hands, like the feeling of a fine hot rain in her palms.

My telekinetic ability is also returning, he explained. For now, I can barely move a needle a centimeter or so from me; but that ability has never been particularly powerful to begin with. However, in this universe, even this little progress is quite significant.

That is both exciting and troublesome, my husband, Rita replied as she slid her shoulders sensually past his own athletic build, as they circled one another back to back, then sliding by on the side, simulating pursuit and temptation. As I recall, exercising your telepathy never seemed to affect you, but you were mentally taxed by using your telekinesis. It was… worrisome for me to see you so debilitated.

The kolinahr made her spin away, to arm's length on the uncrowded dance floor, then back to him with the slightest of tugs.

I understand your feeling, even if I cannot share it. Of course we only wish the most happiness possible, with the least possible harm to one another. But life is always a struggle. That struggle is even more worrisome when shared, yet paradoxically lessened when shared. We must have the serenity to accept both halves of the equation, as no equation can exist otherwise.

There was no arguing with his flawless logic. Sonak was a master of his own mind and body after all, knew his limitations, and always acted within them to insure his continued survival and mental health. That did not, however, prevent the memory of him rescuing her from her father then collapsing from extreme exhaustion afterward- from exercising his telekinesis. His vitality was a constant in their lives, and seeing him so vulnerable had always left her distrustful of that particular discipline.

While her logic was not necessarily sound, her feelings were honest; thus shared with him, as always.

But there was no uncertainty in his mind, linked to hers as they walked side by side, she in his arms, with long, sinuous, energetic steps.

Telepathy is akin to talking, but with psionic wavelengths instead of soundwaves. The energy expenditure is minimal; unless you attempt to make contact over great distances. Hence why it is the most common psionic ability in the universe.

Telekinesis, on the other hand, is far less common. It is a great rarity among modern Vulcans; and it was barely more common on ancient Vulcan, when psionics were part of warfare. Even then, it often required technological assistance such as the psionic resonator found by Captain Jean-Luc Picard a few decades ago.

Even the Platonians required an enhancing chemical in their environment to utilize telekinetic power, although a lifetime of exposure made them more powerful than most. In point of fact, the discipline is as tasking to the mind, as physical exertion is to the body. It requires the same energy, to affect the same mass at the same distance; as the laws of gravity and motion still apply whether it is muscular or psionic energy applied. So yes, even in my limited capacity, it was tasking; as it should be. So the only logical response is to accept and compose with reality. That is what we will do.

With a flourish, they both spun and came right against the other, face to face, eyes locked.

Caressing his cheek with her well-manicured nails, she smiled at himas she circled around him, maintining the beat of the tango- slow step, slow step, fast step fast step, slow step. You're right, of course. By voicing my misgivings we may address them, which satisfies me. You acknowledge my feelings, and I acknowledge your logic. Spinning in a half circle, she reversed direction, placing the same steps as she circled him again.

A dozen different thoughts and ideas all tried to make it to the surface at the same time- her gratitude for him finding her, her comfort in his presence, the fact that he would simply come and dance a tango with her while educating her about telepathy, the way he looked in the blue uniform top, that gleam in his steel grey eyes that told her more than words could say what she meant to him, the way his strong arms felt around her slender waist, his fearless brilliance and infinite patience, the eternal calm of his mind. All of those thoughts and emotions collided at once trying to be expressed.

Instead of giving any of them expression, Rita took the face of her love in both hands, closed her eyes, and kissed Sonak tenderly, there on the dance floor.

It was not the professional distance that they maintained from day to day. Public displays of affection they kept to their quarters, almost exclusively. But it was a wedding, and a dance floor, and a joyous event in so many ways. It was the future- a bright and optimistic one, and she somehow intuitively knew to mark the moment in their minds, to forge a good memory of a wonderful day.

When Rita finally let Sonak go and they were eye to eye once more, his left eyebrow rose quizzically.

''I do not recall this particular move in classical Tango.''

"We accept and compose with reality," Rita replied with a sly smile.