Posted by Fleet Captain Drudoc Andone (Commanding Officer) in If it’s not chocolate, it’s not breakfast.
[snip]

Sipping the tea then a moment, Drudoc then seemed to consider something else, “..Do you regret that I promoted you, Lieutenant?” She inquired obviously wanting Fayth to be open and free in her reply.

Drudoc Andone CO

Sharah made note of the suggested programs, and after the captain would leave Sharah would pull up the programs and begin working her way through them.

Fayth took a very long slow sip of her water contemplating her answer. Trying to put voice to how she felt and what she thought. “The short answer is no. Maybe, the first few days, I did. I’m a doctor, not a scientist. That’s how I felt at least. But what I told you at lunch is true. I want to advance my career, I just wasn’t expecting it to happen so fast. Not after the push back I received on my first posting. I expected those reviews to negatively impact my options. Dr. Zarath and Lt Marsh, I know had given me glowing reviews, but, well,” she shrugged, “apparently the others didn’t matter. Once I came on board I realized how much I enjoy the science department. Not that I was expecting not to, but I was…afraid I guess, that my science expertise was too narrow because of my medical training. And it’s not. I mean honestly right now I end every day feeling like I competed in an Iron Man competition, and there is some new responsibility added that I was never aware of. I don’t regret it though, and I’m enjoying the challenge.” And then the truth of it for her. “And then there are days where I can be so overwhelmed by the input I can barely function. Like the night at the bowling alley. Dr Marshall ended up sedating me for the pain. Where does that leave my department?” And then she’s not quite rambling about her job being more about making sure the department can run without her in those instances and the logistics of it. It’s obvious she has a quick mind that can process it all at speed and that she’s already put much thought into the problem to ensure her own medical needs are not a hindrance to her department. Drudoc had asked for an honest answer and she probably got more than she bargained for.

She stops suddenly. “Sorry Cpt. But no I don’t regret it, I’m enjoying the challenge and the experience.”

Lt jg Fayth, CSO

Drudoc sipped her drink again. Considering the words Fayth gave. “..Lieutenant feel free to ignore my question if it is too personal, but what other methods have you considered for controlling your stronger telepathic abilities?” Drudoc inquired. They were obviously getting off track from the original topic of plants but concern for her crew’s well being obviously was equally important to the Captain.

Drudoc Andone CO

“Early on the doctors tried medicines, inhibitor’s but found, like with others like myself, the dosages would have to be so high they were dangerous. I’ve studied with Ullians, Haliians, I tried studying with the Cairn once. And of course I studied with Vulcans. None if it ever really made sense to me, until after I was on Challenger.” Sharah fiddles with her ring a moment. “They always told me to imagine a quiet and peaceful place. Or to simply turn the noise down or off. When I was on Challenger I was very sick. I was infected with an unknown parasite and it fed off the psilosynine in my paracortex. By the time Dr Mika figured out what was wrong the parasite had created several lesions on my brain. When I woke up I could hear nothing, feel nothing. Until then I didn’t know what it felt like to have silence and peacefulness. It sounds like such a simple thing, but with no point of reference I didn’t know how to imagine it. It was a foreign concept to me.” Sharah sighs softly. “I never thought I would try Vulcan techniques again after my time there. But I’ve modified one of their meditation techniques for myself and I’ve had some success. I can’t turn it off. I don’t think that’s possible, but I can, for a few minutes at a time, turn the volume down. I hope, with practice, I’ll get better at it.”

Fayth points to the map mounted above her desk. “I’ve been researching for a cure or a treatment since I was 12. That map shows every location an oversensitive telepath has been born, where they lived, where they travelled, where we’ve intersected. I was trying to find a common cause or maybe something that helped. Those who found some relief,” Sharah shrugs. She has a theory but not one she’s willing to share with anyone. “There is nothing in common for them. And those accounts are very old and not well documented.”
Lt. jg Fayth, CSO