A Welcoming Plan

Posted on Sat Sep 22nd, 2018 @ 7:29pm by Lieutenant Asa Dael & Lieutenant Commander Sonak

Mission: Holographic Horrors
Location: Sick Bay
Timeline: 2395 Stardate 72708.3

The doctor was a bit nervous about their next appointment. Having already met Rita, Asa could only imagine the kind of man that force of nature would marry. Reports of Sonak's aptitude at the Vulcan Science Academy and Starfleet also spoke to a keen mind that the El-Aurian looked forward to working with. They hoped he would consent to aiding in research regarding Rita's spatial and temporal instability, but first things first...time to clear the lieutenant for duty. They were organizing the sick bay storage cabinet when the Vulcan entered.

Sonak went straight to the El-Aurian and stood at attention, hands behind his back.

"Lieutenant Sonak reporting for examination as per regulation, Doctor."

He looked at Dael without any sign of the infamous impatience, sometimes even annoyance, of Starfleet officers with medical examination. Of course impatience and annoyance were utterly alien concepts to a kolinarh master used to meditate for hours on end exposed the the scorching desert of his home planet. But Sonak understood perfectly the neccessity of checking the physical, mental and emotional fitness of anyone in acting service; and also that, being personally responsible for each individual on board, the ship's doctor and counselor had to personally check and vouch for it, regardless of Starfleet records and recent examinations done elsewhere. As a fellow scientist, he expected thoroughness and professionalism from those health officers and so dutifully and willingly submitted to regulation.

Preparing for this mandatory meeting, he even offered Dael the isolinear chip containing the last examination he underwent just before being sent to the Hera.

"This will give you a baseline comparison to help you perform your duties, Doctor."

“Thank you, Lieutenant Sonak. I am pleased to formally meet you. Please, have a seat.” Asa motioned towards a chair across the desk from them and reviewed the medical data.

The Vulcan sat as requested.

"It is agreeable to make your acquaintance as well, Doctor."

Once they were complete, they moved towards the Vulcan and scanned with their medical tricorder. “Your records were quite complete, and I see your immunizations are up to date. There are standard supplements usually recommended for Starfleet personnel, but they would be superfluous in your case. However, there is something else I would like to discuss with you.”

The doctor brought over two glasses of cold water, placing one in front of each, and waited on his response.

Sonak was a bit surprised by that, as the very slight lift of his left eyebrow showed. The reaction of course did not escape the attention of the doctor. But his expressioneless feline face did not betray anything, nor his even tone of voice.

"Indeed Doctor? Please let us proceed."

Asa was a bit nervous now. Although they knew their proposal to be a sound one, a small part of their mind screamed at them for wasting the brilliant mans time.

"I understand your psionic capabilities have changed since coming to this universe. While I see you underwent testing on Vulcan, I have concerns that perhaps some undetected changes to your physiology may have occurred, or may occur in the future. I would like your permission to monitor your bio scans from the Hera to establish a baseline for you. Lieutenant Commander Paris has agreed for herself, and I think this may be important. Furthermore, I would like to give her peace of mind by discovering the cause for her transporter instability. Would you be willing to research this with me? It likely has a medical and technological basis," Asa concluded in an even tone.

"That is quite correct, Doctor. In my native universe, I was born with the psionic abilities of some of our distant ancestors. I could read minds without the need for physical contact, as Betazoids naturally do, except that my abilities manifested at birth. And I was able to even perform limited telekinesis. That is why I was entrusted as a child into the care of the Masters of Gol and the disciplines of the kolinarh; so that my powers would not drive me insane or become a danger to others or myself. The attainment of kolinarh purged me of all emotions and taught me such rigorous self disciplines, even Starfleet training seemed like what you would call a wild vacation in comparison."

He made a pause to let Dael think about the implications of what he suggested before continuing.

"Once I emerged in this, your, universe, I immediately sensed something was different. I would compare it to you finding yourself suddenly nearsighted or deafened. It did not take me long to find out that my psionic abilities had been severely stunted. Now, I can only perform touch telepathy and mental projection as any other Vulcan; and no telekinesis at all."

He looked at the doctor with unwavering grey eyes and a hint of obvious curiosity on his otherwise blank face.

"I am understandably curious about it all. Duty does not allow for work of personal interest. And I do not think I would have the time or competence to properly research the matter on my own, except through my off-duty meditations. Your professional help is therefore most appreciated in this. The answers may indeed prove of consequence for my duty on board the Hera. I will thus comply with your monitoring proposal."

He looked away a moment as he spoke next.

"As for she who is my wife; again, I would not have been allowed to do such an inquiry on duty; and I have rather limited opportunities during off-duty hours. But if you would make it an official medical project, I could add a proper scientific research proposal into what happened to her. We certainly could work on this within the boundaries of protocol and with the ship's ressources at our disposal. "

He made another pause, obviously thinking, before looking back at her.

"May I suggest a joint study of quantum fluctuations in teleportation effects and consequences on organic matter? Or if you already have a project laid out, I would be honored to contribute to your efforts."

All this time, he never even glanced at the glass of water set in front of him.

“Your idea is a sound one, but for her mental health, and also to avoid any further possible negative transporter consequences, I do not want her in a transporter bodily until the cause is revealed. It may not be avoidable, but it should be avoided if at all possible.”

"Understood," the Vulcan simply acknowledged with a nod.

The doctor pulled out a PaDD with a proposal loaded. It detailed creating a scanning bracelet for both of the Universe-travelers to wear that would monitor their biorhythms above and beyond what the ship already did at all times. The scanner would pay special attention to quantum fields surrounding them both, as well as even a minute genetic change.

“We need to start with baselines. I need to know where you both are right now, and I will compare that to what data I have from your past. First, we look to see what changes have occurred. I could use your help constructing the scanning device. Is that something you are comfortable with? What do you propose for first steps? Then we need to see if your quantum signature is any different when transported than people native to this universe. I would also like to take some samples from Rita of her stem cells to use in testing with the transporter so she is not exposed. Thoughts?”

Sonak's eyes seem to loose their focus for a moment as he obviously considered what the doctor had said. Then he looked at the schematics on the PaDD.

"Since I have studied extensively the quantum signature of our original universe and timeline as well as this one, I can easily provide the system's programming. A link for these devices with the ship's computer would provide the best effective monitoring, recording and analyzing data in a continuous stream. I could work on this phase of the study."

His grey pupils fastened once more into those of the El-Aurian.

"You are obviously the one between us both most suited for the biomedical phase. Using the stem cells to experiment on the data we have and then what we will gather with your devices, once properly calibrated, will indeed provide the best way to research and experiment on this. Valid study will be made without actually involving her and risking any other such strange mishap she seems so prone of experiencing. A brilliant idea, Doctor. it had not even occured to me to look down this path."

His tone, if possible, became even more formal. Yet there was a subtle, strange, decidedly not quite vulcan warmth in his words.

"I offer you my gratitude for your efforts on our behalf. We are both in your debt."

Asa beamed with pride to have their ideas well received. The Vulcan was, simply, brilliant, and his endorsement of their skills gave them a much needed confidence boost. "You are both welcome. I am here to serve."