<snip>

Sharah thought about it. “Perhaps my CMO on Challenger felt bad for me and made the request. A mind I am familiar with is easier to rest around than someone new. I was very sick while on Challenger. But there is a great deal of us arriving from Challenger, so there may not have been much of a choice but to put some of us together.” Sharah took a sip of water, unknowingly immitating someone very close to her, and thought about the next question. “Making friends is always hard for me. People don’t like that I seem to be distracted and not pay attention. I have a very good memory despite that appearance, and they tend to assume I’m reading their thoughts when I can actually recall the conversation on my own. They think I wasn’t paying attention. I don’t do that. It all comes too fast in my mind for me to process it all anyway. Well unless they WANT me to hear and then the thoughts get louder.” Sharah was sure that Lt. Nox understood what she meant. “But I am eager to make new friends. And my room mate is in a totally different department, so I won’t be seeing her that much anyway.” Sharah smiled.
En Fayth, Doctor

Sienna seemed satisfied with the ensign’s responses. It was possible that the CMO had made such a request. It was unusual but not unheard of. She made a note to herself to keep an eye on that situation just in case for both parties mental health. Sharah finally had broached the subject of her abilities. The way she spoke of them was almost dismissive. Probably a defense mechanism for all the times she had been accused of not paying attention. “How have you handled those moments when someone has accused you of not paying attention or reading their minds?”

Nox, CNS

“When I was little, I used to get mad, and I would yell a lot. The other children didn’t have their telepathy yet, and it was hard for them to understand. But I spent a lot of time with doctors and I didn’t spend a lot of time with other children. After my parents took me to Vulcan when I was 10 it got some better. I was able to control the…distractions some. Now though, I try to recall the conversation, including small things, like hand gestures, or when they stopped to take a sip of their drink. Physical parts of the conversation that wouldn’t be picked up with telepathy. Sometimes that puts people off, thinking I’m showing off, but I would rather that, than someone think I was invading their privacy.” Sharah pauses, “That hasn’t happened in a long time though. I’ve gotten very good and letting people think I’m distracted. But now that I’m older, people seem to take some telepathy in stride. They know I’m Betazoid and just assume that we pick up on stray thoughts floating around. Or maybe they seem to accept it because we are taught tolerance in the Academy. I’ve never listened to find out if it’s an act that they are accepting of differences or true. Though unless I tell them, no one knows I’m more sensitive than most Betazoids.”
En Fayth, Doctor

“I feel like adulthood will be a great eye opener for you. Granted, perhaps tougher than some people’s, but not a bad thing I think. Vulcan can be a very peaceful place for a chaotic mind. I have visited there several times.” She could imagine that the child Fayth had found some comfort there. It had been smart of her parents to go that route. Many that end up born as a telepath and empath become psychotic and non functioning. Some, became extraordinary. “How do you think your extra perceptions are doing in conjunction with your chosen profession?”

Nox, CNS