Posted by Lieutenant Commander Royal Sinclair (Counselor) in Pre-Sim: Doctor? Don’t mind if I do…

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Royal Sinclair (Counselor) in Pre-Sim: Doctor? Don’t mind if I do…
It had been a grueling year. Between his constant course work, writing, rewriting, studying, research, reading, and interviewing - not to mention his normal ship duties and the transfer to the Saracen - Sinclair was mentally exhausted. But he only had one thing left to do… the dreaded thesis defense. Once that was finished, successfully he hoped, then he would be an actual Doctor of Psychology. Royal leaned back in his chair in his office and laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all. Turning to look at the Marine Corps Distinguished Service Cross set on the high shelf behind his desk, he spoke softly to no one who was present in that particular reality.

“Seanair…” he said, and the image of his grandfather filled his mind. “Who woulda thought it, eh? Big, dumb Rugger me; a Doctor…” and he laughed again, but this time there was a slight melancholy aspect to the sound. “You always said the galaxy is a big, strange place. Guess you weren’t wrong there…” and he sighed. Taking his eyes off the medal, he turned and looked down at the desk interface. Taking a deep breath, he tapped a few commands and waited for the subspace communication to link the Saracen to Star Fleet Medical. A few moments passed, and then the familiar face of Admiral Turner appeared, a big smile on her face. “They aren’t here yet, but just arrived. You ready, Royal?” she asked excitedly. “Yes, Ma’am. You know I am.” he said with the dazzling smile of his. She laughed in response and said “Good. This shouldn’t be too terrible… but it will be demanding. Bring your A game, ok Commander?” “Always, Admiral. You know me.” and she laughed again. “That I do.” and there was a sound from behind her. Her face turned and she said something away form the screen and then turned back. “Ok, they are here. Wait one while they get settled. Good luck.” and she left the console where she was seated and went off the screen.

Royal waited for several minutes and then the shot on his comms shifted. He could now see the Admiral seated to the side of three other individuals: A human male, a Vulcan female, and a Betazoid male. The Admiral stood and addressed the three and Royal for the record. “Good morning. We are here today to complete the doctoral thesis defense process for Lieutenant Commander Royal Sinclair, currently serving as Ship’s Counselor aboard the Star Fleet vessel USS Saracen. Commander Sinclair is joining us via subspace from the ship. Present for the interview are Captain Marcus Wellby, Chair of Star Fleet Academy Psychology Department. Doctor Mu’tah, Board Certified Psychologist and Senior Fellow of Psychology of Star Fleet Medical. And finally Doctor Damol Rissn, Director of Psychology Administration and Certification, Federation Medical Services. I am Admiral Melissa Turner, Commanding Officer of Counseling and Mental Hygiene for Star Fleet Medical.”

“The purpose of this meeting - ” she continued, “- is to allow for the Doctoral Candidate to defend his final thesis and complete the requirements for an award of PhD in Psychology with an emphasis on Counseling, Social Work, and Mediation and Conflict Resolution. Prior to this defense, I have reviewed Commander Sinclair’s thesis and given it my approval.” and she turned from addressing all those present and looked directly at the three new arrivals. “Doctors. Please confirm that you have read the candidates thesis and are ready to ask your questions.” After an affirmative acknowledgement form each, the Admiral then said “Very well. Let us begin. Doctor Mu’tah, please ask your questions.”

She couldn’t have been listening, and in most cases, or would she deign to . Cori still had a sense of privacy, even if it was very hard to fully extend under the circumstances. And yet, here she was, focusing her vast and complex attention to the impending predicament of someone she had come to trust. She had no choice but to trust him, really, but it mattered a great deal that he saw beyond what others did. And though he wouldn’t know she was there, she wanted to be there to cheer him on in her own small way.

What followed was ninety minutes of strict inquiries into Sinclair’s knowledge base, research, application of scientific standards; and a drilling on his bibliography and conclusions based on those sources. Royal answered each question as thoroughly and logically as possible; even going so far as to admit that while he disagreed with a supposition on the part of one of his sources, he did not have sufficient evidence to directly contradict the source. After her time, Doctor Mu’tah simply said “Thank you, Lieutenant Commander Sinclair.”

Sinclair, CNS

The Admiral nodded at Doctor Mu’tah and then said “Doctor Rissn, if -” and she was suddenly cut off by the Academy Chair, Doctor Welby. “Admiral, if I may. I have a few… pressing questions… that I would like to make sure the candidate has time to answer. With your permission, I would like to go next.” The Admiral gave the Captain a hard look, but said “Very well. Doctor Welby, ask you questions.” Welby nodded once and then looked at the screen.

“Commander, I want to discuss a certain issue that is unique to your vessel and, by association to your duties, you specifically. The Saracen possesses an AI unlike any other. If my sources are correct, it is modeled on a deceased crew member… one Lieutenant Dalton. Have you interacted with the AI? And if so, how would you perceive it’s modeling to be accurate as to a real person?”

If she had been standing there, Corinne’s brows would have lifted while she gazed at them flatly. It was one thing to have assumptions about how people perceived you. It was quite another to have them so easily confirmed.

Sinclair’s jaw clenched. His eyes moved to Admiral Turner, whose eyes went a bit wide in surprise. It was obvious that she was unaware of the Department Chair’s line of questioning. Taking a breathe, Sinclair replied in as flat a voice as he could muster “Admiral Turner. Am I to assume that this line of questioning on a wholly and completely irrelevant topic to my thesis is both going to be allowed; and that this will be considered classified?” and he looked back at Welby. “Without those conditions I am, of course, not permitted to discuss such matters.... Captain.” Admiral Turner held up a finger and the screen went blank for a moment. A minute or so later, the screen came back on and Turner said “Captain Welby has made his case for such questioning as he believes it is germane to your knowledge and ability to use such knowledge in a real-world scenario. So it will be allowed, under the conditions you prescribed, Commander. Please answer the questions, Commander.” she said, obviously not happy at the situation. Sinclair scowled but again took a deep breath.

“Captain. I am afraid that your sources are mistaken. The Saracen possesses no AI. It does, however, house the full consciousness of Lieutenant Dalton. I have not only interacted with the Lieutenant, but I have conducted a psychological assessment and filed that as I would for any crew member, sir. To specifically answer your question, I do not perceive it to be a model at all. Therefore your question is in error, Captain.” and he stared hard at the man.

Captain Welby looked shocked for a split second and then said “Wait a moment, Commander. Am I understanding you correctly? You are saying that you honestly believe that the AI is actaully Lieutenant Dalton?” and he huffed and puffed a bit. “That is simply ludicrous, Commander.”

Sinclair’s head cocked to the side a bit and he said “I have spoken with the Lieutenant on several occasions. I have questioned her, listened to her responses, and asked very specific questions trying to ascertain if she is more than just an assembly of processors and data. And she is. Lieutenant Dalton’s consciousness is not only intact; it is quite normal. That in and of itself is remarkable considering what she has gone through.”

“And what, exactly, is that Commander? Hmmm? What has she gone through to make you such a believer?” Sinclair leaned forward slightly and said “Patient confidentiality, Captain. I’m sure you can understand that.” with just the slightest hint of annoyance and sarcasm. Welby’s face took an a slightly red hue momentarily, but then faded. “Commander, I expect you to answer these questions. The fate of your thesis is very much based on what I hear from you today.”

Sinclair chuckled slightly but audibly. “Captain. With all due respect… I don’t care what you expect. This crew and their interactions with me are confidential. That’s the law. I have given you my assessment. It is the job of those above me to determine if my assessment is correct. And again, with all due respect Captain, I simply do not work for you. I answer to the Commanding Officer of the Saracen and Admiral Turner. If you have a problem with my responses here, I strongly suggest you take it up with them.” and he leaned back and folded his arms across his broad chest. Admiral Turner held up the (same) finger again, and the screen went blank for a second time.

“Well, looks like I’m done.” he growled to himself.

Sinclair, CNS

As if from the ether, Cori’s voice sounded softly in the office. “No, I don’t think you are. You’ve only just challenged them on their own principles. That can be a bit of a gut-punch at times, but we know, and they know that they can’t penalize you for having convictions and sticking to them. Not as mental health professionals. It would break all of the oaths they swore in one fell swoop. People might pick away at them over time, but it’s unlikely that they’d toss all of them out so easily.”

“Good job, by the way. I think you’ve acquitted yourself rather well so far,” she said, her tone taking on a lightness that was not amusement, but more pride. He was, if nothing else, one of their own now.

~Corinne Dalton