Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Joseph Rainns (Incoming Chief of Security) in Side Sim- A quiet dinner in the Mess Hall

Posted by Cadet Sharah Fayth (Doctor) in Side Sim- A quiet dinner in the Mess Hall

(snip)

Out of the corner of his, Joseph spotted Fayth enter the room, and he was silently relieved, as he had been worried that he might simply be reading all night alone. When she made her way to his table he looked up and took in her appearance, she looked quite lovely and he was glad he had changed out of his uniform. “It’s 1984,” he responded, turning the padd so that she could see it, “Classic earth novel about individuality, probably my favorite book.” He smiled, “Now that you are here though, I can get some food.” He stood up and motioned toward the replicators, “after you.”

Lt. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah looked, “I read it once. Many year ago. I remember being in awe of the cultural expectations expressed in the novel.” She walked over to the replicator and ordered Oskoid and Jestral Tea. Traditional Betazoid dishes. She was feeling a little nostalgic for home. She took her tray back over to the table and sat down. She took the time to notice that Joseph looked more relaxed in civilian clothing than he did in his uniform at the mixer. The color of the shirt suited him. She wasn’t sure what to say so she asked the first thing on her mind, “Why security?”

Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph retrieved a plate of ravioli from the replicator and took a seat at the table. He took a bite of food and was about to ask a question when Fayth asked her own. Joseph finished his bite and replied. “Well, I want to help people, and I think the best way to do that is to keep them safe. I was raised to believe that evil is a real thing that exists in this world and some people are called to confront it so evil does not consume a group or society.” He paused briefly, “In security, I am tasked with protecting every single person’s life onboard this ship from harm and evil. It is a sacred responsibility that I feel I am best able to perform due to my skills and abilities. Not every life form we meet is going to shake our hand and smile, a few might frown and shoot at us, when that happens, I want to be there to protect my friends and crewmates.” Joseph took another bite and digested it. “How about you? what drew you to medicine?”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah liked the passion she heard in his voice. She could feel small waves of it, but she had to work really hard to keep it at bay. She wasn’t fully recovered from the other evening. “I like to heal people. I feel like there are those of us that are good at it and we,” she smiled glancing over at him, “have a sacred duty to heal those we can. I never could stand for anyone or anything to be in pain, even when I was a toddler. It was difficult to feel…” Sharah paused, how much to say? “I don’t like feeling others in pain. So I can help, so I do.” She took a bite of her food and looked disappointed, “Replicators just aren’t as good as the real thing.” She laughed a little before taking another bite, “but it’s close.”

Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph took another bite, “I’ve never minded it as much as most,” he paused for a second before talking again, “Umm, you don’t have to answer this, but I assume you at some level feel other people’s pain even when you don’t want?” He wanted to know more about Fayth’s condition, and hoped this question would gradually ease her into discussing it.

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah took a sip of her tea, trying hard not to answer his question before he asked it. She nodded slowly, “Yes, all the time. It was very difficult when I was young. There was very little I could do to control it. I was told once it made me a good doctor.” Her professor was trying to encourage her, but she would have rather been a good doctor because of her skill, not some fluke of genetics. “What do you think makes you so good at security?” She wanted to learn more about this person who so readily communicated with her. She had a sudden horrid thought, ‘what if it’s because he thinks I might hurt the crew. It’s happened with others…oh no…or what if…’ she stopped the rapid fire thoughts to herself and reminded herself that she was always her own worst enemy.

Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph took a sip of water while Fayth responded, “Well for one, I believe I consider myself to be competent in leading others and analyzing situations. I also have a set of principles that I always stick to, one cannot protect others without first knowing what kind of person he or she is. I’m not afraid to stand up for what I believe is right, no matter what everyone else tells me.” Joseph noticed that Fayth had not taken the bait, and decided not to push the issue at the present moment, he would make another attempt some time later. “I also find that I am more skeptical than my colleagues, and I always have a plan, for example, if you had stood me up tonight I picked the corner table to avoid attention at walking out alone in front of everyone in here.” He smiled, “Always have a contingency plan.”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

“I can understand that. Medicine is like that. You have a plan and it doesn’t always work out.” She sat back against the seat. “I like the corner. Most people gravitate towards the middle. It’s safer over here.” A couple other crew members entered the mess hall, though quiet their thoughts were boisterous and loud. Sharah grimaced slightly and rubbed her forehead. She forced a few breathes and sipped her tea, focusing on the aroma and taste to give herself focus. “I guess both our departments depend on contingency plans.”

Joseph Rainns noticed the cadets arrival and Fayth’s subsequent reaction. “You can’t stop yourself from hearing others thoughts can you?” he asked gently, trying his best to sound as lease intrusive as possible. “Well, you’ll find this one is quiet machine that never stops running, he placed his finger on his forehead. “I’m always contemplating something up here.”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah shook her head whispering, “No, no matter what I do.” She looked him in the eye. Swallowed her fear and dove right into what she needed to say. Like everyone else she expected him to distance himself. There really was no consequence to tell him, she supposed. He already knew. She had put her thoughts into his head, without permission. It was wrong and didn’t matter that she was sick. He had every right to report her. “I’m really sorry, Joseph. I didn’t mean it. I would never listen on purpose. I shouldn’t have answered your thoughts. I got really disoriented and didn’t realize what I had done until you chocked on your drink. I try really hard. See I can usually dim the sound a bit, but I haven’t been around big groups of people in a long time. because I can’t stop it. I really am sorry. I know I’m sick and I have to be careful, I just..” she spread her hands out in front of her in a helpless gesture.
Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph took another sip, processing what he had just been told, he briefly considered putting his hand on hers to comfort Fayth, but felt that was not wanted, and dismissed that thought. “I’ll be quite honest with you,” the young man began, ” I was more than shocked when it happened, but I’m glad it happened, I find the idea of being able to communicate with somebody without using words an excellent, and I enjoyed doing it, although it did give me a slight headache.” He put his glass down on the table. “And introverted people all struggle with large crowd, your struggle is just more physically manifested than most, but my social battery drains exponentially when I’m a crowd, so I know exactly how it feels to be overwhelmed by so many people.” He looked Fayth in the eyes. “What you have, whether or not you understand it yet, is a gift that many people would kill to have. You have the ability to look into people’s soul, it’s a great power that comes with even greater responsibility. But you are more than welcome to look into mine, I have nothing to hide.” He smiled, “I wouldn’t be much of a man if I did.”

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

Sharah saw his hand moved and thought it might take hers, but he didn’t. Well he hadn’t run from the table, so that was something. “Physical contact doesn’t increase my ability. Some telepathic cultures it does, but not Betazoids.” She tried to smile but it didn’t really work. “It’s not a gift, it’s a sickness, a malfunction, what have you. Most people born like me, go insane, they don’t survive. Our doctors can’t help us, and the training and psychological work doesn’t always help. I’m lucky. No one thought I would make it through the Academy. It was…lonely.” She sipped her tea, “Oh my don’t I sound like the aweful damsel in some horribly old book. I’m lucky, I managed the training and four years of the academy.” She did laugh then, “And though your offer is…kinder than I deserve I can’t. My…ability is all or nothing. I can’t look or listen to just one person. That’s why I left the other night. It was better than having a seizure in the middle of the holodeck.”
Cadet Fayth, Doctor

Joseph finished his meal and looked back at Fayth, “I know what its like being lonely, I know it isn’t fun. But that isn’t the only way to live life, you may not be able to handle large gatherings, but that doesn’t mean you can barely function, heck I can’t read anyone’s mind and I still struggle with being in large crowds.” He paused for a moment, “Your affliction has taught you valuable lessons in life. You already have fortitude, hard work, and dedication instilled in you, those are values that many people do not have and suffer because of it, so in some ways, its been a way for you to grow and be strong.” The more Joseph talked to Sharah, the more his fascination with her became an attraction, and he wasn’t sure what to do about it. He knew she could sense it, and pushed it out almost as soon as it came into his thoughts.

LT. J.G. Joseph Rainns- COS

“You wouldn’t have recognized me at home. On Betazed no one is afraid. We are all rather honest about everything. I had friends, not a lot, it was too much, but I did. I even had a few when I first joined the Academy, but then there was an incident, and well that changed. ” She actually blushed a little at the praise he gave her. She really never saw it that way, she simply did what had to be done. Sharah easily picked up his attraction, and flinched a bit. It was a rather powerful push. “You don’t have to push so hard with your thoughts. You have a rather formidable mind. You seem to have some natural skill, besides I like you too.” She sat with her head back and eyes closed for a moment and then groaned, “I did it again....”

Cadet Fayth, Doctor