Posted by Lieutenant Symar (Chief Medical Officer) in Knock, knock, knocking on Symar’s door [tag: Symar]
(Snip)

“I would appreciate that, sir,” replied Kastarak. He noticed that he felt more comfortable when Symar spoke more “normally”, like a “normal” Vulcan. He did of course not share that sensation with his conversation partner, and he wished that he did not feel like that: Symar ought to be able to be just as he needs and wants to me. Why did it bother Kastarak so?

– Ensign Kastarak (doctor / counsellor)

Symar seemed to notice Kastarak’s hesitation and smiled slightly, ‘If you’d prefer, I could arrange for you to meditate with Commander T’Aria?’

-Lieutenant Symar: Chief Medical Officer-

Kastarak felt a slight embarrassment but before he could analyse it too much, he purged it. He needed to be fully serene and in the moment now. Nothing could disturb him. Yet, there was something oddly comforting with Symar’s suggestion. But how could he accept it, when he had asked Symar to help him? Symar, who apparently had lots of emotions, and felt them vividly and expressed them – how would Symar react to this?

Kastarak remained quiet for a few seconds, processing the situation.

“Perhaps that would be logical – we have experienced a cognitive intimacy before,” he replied, hoping that Symar would not be offended.

But why was Kastarak concerned about Symar’s feelings? Was that really logical? Surely concern was some kind of emotion? Why did he experience it? Why did he feel like he needed to be careful with Symar?

He then understood: He has interpreted Symar as more fragile and delicate than before – the trauma and emotion that surfaced from the otherwise stoic and rather quiet CMO in the conversation today… Kastarak felt empathy, a sense of responsibility for the CMO, like a younger brother would feel responsible for a sick older brother.

But Symar wasn’t sick! Kastarak’s thoughts went all over the place. He was confused, and it aggitated him. Why was he aggigated? Why did he start feeling things? Was it the Romulan-ness in Symar? The Romulans – who had destroyed his planet and forced him to live in exile? But the Romulans did this to Symar too? What would it be like to have the mark of one’s tormentors inside oneself?

He wanted to leave the situation but could not come up with a logical reason to leave.

Unless the flight response was a logical one?

No it wasn’t. It was an emotional response.

Suddenly, Kastarak’s mouth went wide agape, and he let out an anguished scream, while still sitting still: “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

– Ensign Kastarak (doctor / counsellor)