[USS Charon, Brig]
The young Vulcan sat quietly, letting Lamont contemplate the new reality he found himself in at his leisure. Contrary to common belief, Vulcans do in fact have a rather vivid imagination, and if they insist on reining it in to the point of denial it is often because they know that once let loose, it will near literally run away with them and never look back.
Still, in silence even the most ardent of Surak's green blooded followers will allow for the chains of logic to weave with theories, consider possibilities and ponder what might be. And by that token, experience meshed with observation in Sakarra's mind, creating a string of probability.
Or to be precise, one could assume with reasonable certainty that the good ambassador felt as if the bottom had dropped from under him.
Even if his facial expression and posture had not given him away, the indecision in his voice – fear of the unknown combined with the tentative but irrepressible urge to explore, to know – was unmistakable.
Wishing for that which is not is quite illogical, but even so Sakarra would have been most grateful to have an experienced trensu (Master of the mind-disciplines) at hand right now, or a kontush (monk, spiritual person) able to offer guidance. As it was, the only person available to Lamont was a t'naehru with few years of studying at T'Shen to fall back on. One might as well toss a straw to a drowning man.
Into the middle of her musings on how to possibly assist the ambassador with his dilemma came the sensation of a gentle nudge, or more precisely a near imperceptible tug at the residual thread established earlier, followed by the instinctive knowledge of another … seeking. And finding.
Without any other lead to follow, the other zoomed in onto the sole familiar mind available, bumping into it with unfettered enthusiasm.
Well, it was not as if she had not experienced something like that before. In fact, it was precisely what one had to expect when dealing with young Vulcans, although those rarely focused their efforts on a single person. Her firmly established mental shields would have easily shrugged off the unskilled approach, but just as she would have with a young relative Sakarra merely buffered what her father called the 'happy-go-lucky' energy and … observed.
Once more it seemed Lamont's subconscious had gotten ahead of him and though the young Vulcan's face remained as placid as Voroth at dawn, a silent chuckle briefly sparkled in her eyes.
Where before there had been only the wide plains and the relentless fires sleeping in the Vulcan heart, there was now the forbidding fortress of the trained mind, inaccessible and impenetrable, unless …
She did not want to shock him so the nudge was returned, gently and politely, making him aware that his approach had been noted and accepted, but still the reaction was immediate. The ambassador's head jerked up and his strangely luminous green eyes focused on Sakarra.
'Another reason why you might wish to consider controlling your instincts in this matter,' her silent voice was laced with patient humor, even as she allowed the thread to anchor itself and become a conduit, thinner than the finest spun silk 'is that once you open the metaphorical door, there is nothing that may stop another from reaching you as well. Not that any Vulcan or Betazoid bound by the ethics of their kind would willingly exploit this, but not all feel so compelled to uphold the integrity of the other.'
Lamont swallowed. It was silent at first, but like dropping a rock into a deep well, there was no sound until the rock hit bottom with a resounding splash. He hadn't done anything! Had he? He wasn't sure. Or was he?
He just stared at the commander with wide eyes. He was too embarrassed to speak and choked with a sense of guilt for not being able to control himself. These feelings were coupled with the powerful experience of hearing another's voice within his mind. It was new to him being exciting and terrifying all at once.
However her words or warning were not lost on him. Lamont suddenly felt extremely exposed as if he stood naked before the commander. He had somehow opened the door yet she could easily see through it and perhaps beyond into a place no individual had ever seen. Lamont had no idea how to close the door. Part of him didn't want to, yet it terrified him that she might see his fears, his insecurities, his feelings being so exposed.
'How do I turn it off', he quickly thought simply as a reflexive action to something unknown unaware he could speak to her without speech as easily as she had communicated to him.
Like a newborn bird, Lamont felt compelled to leave the nest, spread his wings and see where the breeze carried him, but gravity to the untrained rookie could prove to be a dangerous if not fatal force. There was a cavalier energy within him driving him, compelling him to step forward whatever the risk and there was his conscious self that was reserved, disbelieving, and cautious. The two forces within him were diametrically opposed to one another and Lamont felt as if Sakarra was standing on his doorstep listening and watching as he quarreled with a family member in her presence.
He searched for words to speak holding the Vulcan's gaze mesmerized unable to break their contact. Something deep within him didn't want to and for the moment Lamont held no power to influence it. He felt like a bystander as something he had no understanding of surfaced. How he had done this eluded him and how to stop it was equally elusive.
"Yes, I could." The young woman stated levelly, having followed the ambassador's chain of thought – or at least that which he seemed to offer freely. There was much he was obviously deeply uncomfortable about showing, and she decisively turned away from it. Like specters in the fog, it was possible to see the shapes of embarrassment and helplessness, the near panic of finding ones deepest thoughts at the fingertips of another. But she at least had a choice – to move in and examine or to respectfully retreat.
"And you should be aware that to a Betazoid, you have just spoken an invitation to 'enter your house' so to speak and given the other leave to get comfortable in your living room while examining the décor. In turn of course it will be assumed you know a similar invitation is available to you as well. A Vulcan will be more cautious, although this is mostly due to the fact that … how shall I put it…" she studied the ambassador's face in the garish lighting that Starfleet obviously felt appropriate for the brig, a cold, pale yellow tinge that did little to alleviate the all permeating chill "I believe there is a human phrase concerning bulls and shops with fragile items. It is much like that for a Vulcan when moving within another's mind. One learns to be rather careful lest something irreplaceable takes damage."
One of the things she did not like to make known, nor did any other of her kind, was that there was nothing to stop them from waltzing in to do as they pleased under any circumstance. Although the very idea of violating another in this way was revolting to say the least, the possibility was always there – and it had been known to happen. Rarely, yes. Rarely enough in fact to be statistically negligible. But if only one person mistook Lamont's instinctive reaching for an invitation …
"You cannot 'turn it off', Ian. However, there are ways to control the instinctive impulses, as there are ways to shield from intrusion. Both require instruction and practice, however …"
Silently, Sakarra sighed. She was ill equipped to teach such things, but the basics at least she was capable of relaying to another.
'Will you let me show you?' her hand reached out, careful, inviting. It would be much easier with physical contact; in fact a meld would be the most expedient way to demonstrate. But he was unsettled enough. For now, a less … intense approach would have to suffice.
Ian opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly stopped short of uttering any words. He broke his gaze of the commander for a moment to think. He could turn her away and attempt to cope with this himself or he could accept her offer. Both had substantial risks. If he refused it was possible he would have great difficultly coping his current issue and could possibly damage his friendship with Sakarra by illogically rejecting her assistance. However, if he accepted… He had certain things within him of which he was not proud. Every person carried with them some form of baggage. Such things would be uncomfortable to share, yet they were not the source of his anxiety; his feelings for her - were.
[To be continued …]
Ambassador Ian Lamont
And
Lt. Commander Sakarra Tyrax
