"Yes, well... I am here. Lets begin." Esox readied one of the crystal scanner machines. "Which one first, pixy.... red or blue?"
She scowls at him. "The name's Tinker and I ain't no pixie!" She leans forward and levels her drill in his direction. "Now don't you be forget'n that, or else you is gonna have a serious discussion at the working end of this here contraptionl..." Tinkers eyes narrow, she raises the drill, and it comes to life with a whir. Only to be followed by a shower of sparks, grinding whine, and pop as drill breaks off leaving Tinker holding a smoking rod.
"Well, um, would you look at that? heh." She smiles sheepishly and tosses the remaining piece over her shoulder in a random direction. Then she gives a wide, innocent smile while removing her pipe. "They, um, don't make drills like they used to, huh? Gee, since that plan's a wash, um, I think we should try your idea. Um, maybe the blue one? Sound good?" Tinker concludes with an ever so innocent childish smile.
"Well, um, would you look at that? heh." She smiles sheepishly and tosses the remaining piece over her shoulder in a random direction. Then she gives a wide, innocent smile while removing her pipe. "They, um, don't make drills like they used to, huh? Gee, since that plan's a wash, um, I think we should try your idea. Um, maybe the blue one? Sound good?" Tinker concludes with an ever so innocent childish smile.
Esox moved quickly to pick up the large vanadium lined gloves and move the blue crystal to the scanner. He knew that several minutes in close exposure to the crystal could cause nausea in non-telepaths. That.... was exactly what they were trying to prevent.
He turned on the scanner and stepped over to the readout screen. The flying holographic fairy hovered near by. As the readout started to show the results of the scanner, Esox felt himself talking to the pixie, forgetting for a moment that she was a hologram. "... seems like low levels of neurogenic radiation out of phase with..... hmmmm. We should adjust the polarization plates and scan it again. That radiation might have something to do with it? So where's the doc this morning, Tink?"
He turned on the scanner and stepped over to the readout screen. The flying holographic fairy hovered near by. As the readout started to show the results of the scanner, Esox felt himself talking to the pixie, forgetting for a moment that she was a hologram. "... seems like low levels of neurogenic radiation out of phase with..... hmmmm. We should adjust the polarization plates and scan it again. That radiation might have something to do with it? So where's the doc this morning, Tink?"
Tinker looked at the readings and shrugged. "Radiation usually messes with organics. Phased neurogenic would indicate that these crystals are communicating via subspace somehow. So these aliens brains not only communicate telepathically, but interphasicly. If the brain waves aren't on codeterminant planes, it would naturally produce side effects."
Then Tinker pauses and stretches. "At least that's my opinion. And I think the doc is still sleeping. We were up watching a terran movie called Queen of Blades last night. You can try and wake her up if you like, but she can get awfully grumpy sometimes. Which is why, yours truly, usually handles the mundane stuff. I know, boring as boring is, but a fairy's got to earn a living somehow. Right?"
Then Tinker pauses and stretches. "At least that's my opinion. And I think the doc is still sleeping. We were up watching a terran movie called Queen of Blades last night. You can try and wake her up if you like, but she can get awfully grumpy sometimes. Which is why, yours truly, usually handles the mundane stuff. I know, boring as boring is, but a fairy's got to earn a living somehow. Right?"
Esox points at Tink with a definitive finger. "Ha! You just called yourself a 'fairy' there miss Pixie!"
Turns back towards the machine. "Lets reconfigure it and see if the radiation is Polarized."
A few moments later the machine is finishing up its calibration after being reconfigured. Esox puts down a small PADD he was looking at.. He turns the scanner on and runs it, again. "So... I'm picking up the same neurogenic radiation. It appears to be radiating at around 1170 mHz with no polarization."
Esox flips through a PADD quickly. "Hrmmm... says here most neurogenic radiation is produced mechanically and is almost always is polarized."
He leans back scratching his head. "I believe you're correct, Miss Tink. This energy could be causing the issues with no telepaths. I think we should consider having a telepath come in and read the crystal as we monitor the neurogenic radiation. that might explain to us why they aren't having the same side effects?"
Turns back towards the machine. "Lets reconfigure it and see if the radiation is Polarized."
A few moments later the machine is finishing up its calibration after being reconfigured. Esox puts down a small PADD he was looking at.. He turns the scanner on and runs it, again. "So... I'm picking up the same neurogenic radiation. It appears to be radiating at around 1170 mHz with no polarization."
Esox flips through a PADD quickly. "Hrmmm... says here most neurogenic radiation is produced mechanically and is almost always is polarized."
He leans back scratching his head. "I believe you're correct, Miss Tink. This energy could be causing the issues with no telepaths. I think we should consider having a telepath come in and read the crystal as we monitor the neurogenic radiation. that might explain to us why they aren't having the same side effects?"
Tinker nods. "It might do good to get some test subjects in and do a comparison. By the way, how are you feeling? Any side effects yet?"
Shakes his head back and forth. "I'm fine. If things change I'll take a break but last time it took several hours before the non-telepaths felt anything, so I assume I have at least that long."
Esox taps his chest, activating the comm device. "Lt Sedai, this is Ensign Esox in science. If you are available to come to AG-21-8 Lab 3 we could use your assistance."
Esox taps his chest, activating the comm device. "Lt Sedai, this is Ensign Esox in science. If you are available to come to AG-21-8 Lab 3 we could use your assistance."
"And Captain Evaric, he happened to be in Security to meet with the Chief and he stopped when he saw me and asked how I was doing!" the Ensign gushed. "Oh, I know he's just checking in on me because I'm ... a liberated borg, but he's usually so reserved, so it was surprising to have him ask after me. And nice. I mean, super nice."
The counselor was seated on a couch, watching her new patient with veiled amusement. Ensign Muire was recovering from her experience of assimilation slowly, but surely. She was still on a medication to keep the physical symptoms of depression at bay, as she continued to suffer acutely from loneliness, but Muire's previous counselor was hopeful that they could begin weaning her off of it sooner rather than later.
It was unfortunate that Muire's physical recovery was not quite matching up to her potential emotional one, as the visual proof of her assimilation was still very much in evidence. The counselor imagined that no matter how good Muire felt when she woke up in the morning, it must always be a sobering minute or two when the ensign looked in the mirror. But at least her hair was starting to grow back.
"It was nice of him," Katriel agreed belatedly and then she happened to glance at the time. "Oh, I'm sorry Ensign, our time is up. It was a pleasure meeting you, will the Moirai be --"
"Lt Sedai, this is Ensign Esox in science. If you are available to come to AG-21-8 Lab 3 we could use your assistance."
The two women paused as the comm ask came, then Ensign Muire rose to her feet abruptly. "Oh, you should go! I'll contact you when the Moirai has returned and we can schedule another session, is that okay?"
Katriel relaxed enough for a smile. "Yes, Ensign, that would be perfect."
So shortly after, Katriel could be found on AG-21-8. It took her a moment or two to locate lab 3, but when she found it, she stepped in directly.
The counselor was seated on a couch, watching her new patient with veiled amusement. Ensign Muire was recovering from her experience of assimilation slowly, but surely. She was still on a medication to keep the physical symptoms of depression at bay, as she continued to suffer acutely from loneliness, but Muire's previous counselor was hopeful that they could begin weaning her off of it sooner rather than later.
It was unfortunate that Muire's physical recovery was not quite matching up to her potential emotional one, as the visual proof of her assimilation was still very much in evidence. The counselor imagined that no matter how good Muire felt when she woke up in the morning, it must always be a sobering minute or two when the ensign looked in the mirror. But at least her hair was starting to grow back.
"It was nice of him," Katriel agreed belatedly and then she happened to glance at the time. "Oh, I'm sorry Ensign, our time is up. It was a pleasure meeting you, will the Moirai be --"
"Lt Sedai, this is Ensign Esox in science. If you are available to come to AG-21-8 Lab 3 we could use your assistance."
The two women paused as the comm ask came, then Ensign Muire rose to her feet abruptly. "Oh, you should go! I'll contact you when the Moirai has returned and we can schedule another session, is that okay?"
Katriel relaxed enough for a smile. "Yes, Ensign, that would be perfect."
So shortly after, Katriel could be found on AG-21-8. It took her a moment or two to locate lab 3, but when she found it, she stepped in directly.
Esox looks at Katriel as she walks in. "Thank you for coming by Lieutenant. We are at a point where we might have a lead on what is causing the non-telepaths to develop nausea around the crystals. It may be neurogenic radiation."
He holds up a small metal band that would fit on the crown of a person's head. "Ma'am, if you would be willing to put this on and access the crystal here, we wish to see how your brain handles the neurogenic radiation that the crystal seems to emanate."
He looks at the metal band again, then back at Katriel. "Its purely passive. It will detect the interactions of your brain waves and the radiation. Completely safe."
With a sideways glance he looks at the pixie for just a second.
He holds up a small metal band that would fit on the crown of a person's head. "Ma'am, if you would be willing to put this on and access the crystal here, we wish to see how your brain handles the neurogenic radiation that the crystal seems to emanate."
He looks at the metal band again, then back at Katriel. "Its purely passive. It will detect the interactions of your brain waves and the radiation. Completely safe."
With a sideways glance he looks at the pixie for just a second.
In actuality, Katriel had spent the majority of Ensign's Esox's explanation staring at the strange fairy-pixie hologram assistant in plain astonishment. She glanced towards Esox as he finished speaking and a strange expression crosses her face, as if she wants to ask if she's seeing things.
But eventually she just shut her slightly open mouth and nodded, stepping forward to take the device and fitting it carefully onto her head. After fiddling with it for a few seconds, her fingers released their grip and when the device remained steady, the Betazoid took a few steps towards the blue crystal sitting on the scanner. She reached her fingers towards it and lightly touched the surface, instantly triggering the mental message in her mind.
Lt Sedai of the Federation, this is the Waydi. We wish to talk with you again...
But eventually she just shut her slightly open mouth and nodded, stepping forward to take the device and fitting it carefully onto her head. After fiddling with it for a few seconds, her fingers released their grip and when the device remained steady, the Betazoid took a few steps towards the blue crystal sitting on the scanner. She reached her fingers towards it and lightly touched the surface, instantly triggering the mental message in her mind.
Lt Sedai of the Federation, this is the Waydi. We wish to talk with you again...
The message is almost instantaneous, and the data collection the same. Esox studied the readout on the screen. "Interesting. It appears the transfer of information happens in conjunction with a spike in neurogenic radiation. As the data is received, it appears that your telepathic powers filters the radiation to let through only polarized right energy."
He looks at Katriel. "I presume you didn't feel anything different that time, Lieutenant Sedai?"
He looks at the counselor, then over the holographic pixie for a moment. "If we were able to build a mechanical filter perhaps non telepaths would be able to receive the message? What do you think, Tink?"
Esox shakes his head quickly, realizing that he is becoming too comfortable thinking of the holographic pixie as a lab partner
He looks at Katriel. "I presume you didn't feel anything different that time, Lieutenant Sedai?"
He looks at the counselor, then over the holographic pixie for a moment. "If we were able to build a mechanical filter perhaps non telepaths would be able to receive the message? What do you think, Tink?"
Esox shakes his head quickly, realizing that he is becoming too comfortable thinking of the holographic pixie as a lab partner
Before Tinker can answer, a familiar voice echoes from somewhere in the room. "How're things going? Is it ready yet?" With a hiss, what should have been a power regulator on the other side of the room opens to reveal a concealed sleeping pod. With a yawn and stretch, A'Printa sits up and looks around.
"Pretty good, your majesty! We have a willing test subject for the brain zapper all she's being fried as we speak!" Tinker blurts out with a giggle while waving 'hello' in A'Printa's direction.
A'Printa calmly looks around and smiles widely at Esox and Katriel. "Oh, I see everyone's really here. Why didn't you alert me sooner?" A'Printa sighs and pulls herself out of the regulator. She reaches out into the air and a large cup of steaming liquid appears in her hand. With a smile, she takes a sip, frowns, and holds it out in front of her. Instantly, Tinker flies over, taps the air above the cup, and small purple cubes materialize, falling into the beverage one after another. With another wave, Tinker places her wand into the cup, stirs it, and waits. A'Printa takes another sip and smiles. "Excellent. Your magic always does the trick."
"Why thank you!" Tinker blushes and gives a polite bow.
A'Printa glances over at Esox and Katriel, raising an eyebrow. "Um, don't mind us. I always have a drink after waking up. You can try some if you like." She pauses and takes another drink. Then she giggles a moment. "Sorry. The metal headband's a new look. Not one I expected."
"Pretty good, your majesty! We have a willing test subject for the brain zapper all she's being fried as we speak!" Tinker blurts out with a giggle while waving 'hello' in A'Printa's direction.
A'Printa calmly looks around and smiles widely at Esox and Katriel. "Oh, I see everyone's really here. Why didn't you alert me sooner?" A'Printa sighs and pulls herself out of the regulator. She reaches out into the air and a large cup of steaming liquid appears in her hand. With a smile, she takes a sip, frowns, and holds it out in front of her. Instantly, Tinker flies over, taps the air above the cup, and small purple cubes materialize, falling into the beverage one after another. With another wave, Tinker places her wand into the cup, stirs it, and waits. A'Printa takes another sip and smiles. "Excellent. Your magic always does the trick."
"Why thank you!" Tinker blushes and gives a polite bow.
A'Printa glances over at Esox and Katriel, raising an eyebrow. "Um, don't mind us. I always have a drink after waking up. You can try some if you like." She pauses and takes another drink. Then she giggles a moment. "Sorry. The metal headband's a new look. Not one I expected."
Katriel appears to be doomed to have a perpetual confused frown on her face for the duration of this encounter, as she watched both the spawning cup and the fairy-hologram's magic trick.
She just rolled her eyes when A'Printa comments on her headgear, and only responded, "No, nothing feels different."
She just rolled her eyes when A'Printa comments on her headgear, and only responded, "No, nothing feels different."
Esox has grown a tolerance to the craziness but even this leaves him speechless for a moment. He eventually turns back towards Katriel with a nod. "Good."
He starts running some quick calculations on the waveform, then uploads them to a computer. He turns to Captain and the Pixie. "I've uploaded some frequency polarizations that if you can build into some similar type of band, we may be able to polarize the radiation BEFORE it gets to the non-telepthic individual."
He starts running some quick calculations on the waveform, then uploads them to a computer. He turns to Captain and the Pixie. "I've uploaded some frequency polarizations that if you can build into some similar type of band, we may be able to polarize the radiation BEFORE it gets to the non-telepthic individual."
A'Printa walks over to the screen, takes a look, and continues sipping her drink. "Well, that might work... if you want the Waydi to wear them. Then again, by polarizing the neurogenic radiation, if that works, you could actually prevent the Waydi from communicating to each other. What you want is a way for..." She pauses while Tinker floats over with some fresh danishes, which A'Printa takes one and begins eating. "Help yourselves..." She motions and looks back at the display.
"As I was saying... you want a device that removes the effects for one species, while maintaining them for the other, and without it looking like some horror device. What we could do is setup a simulation between two Waydi brains, make the adjustments, and then determine if what we're proposing to do is safe for them. I mean, without knowing what effects our device has on the Waydi, we could do all this work, come up with an awesome design, walk up to the Waydi and 'poof'..." She embellishes with and arm wave... "Their heads pop or their brains melt. NOT a pleasant way to start diplomatic relations, I assure you."
She pauses, clicks a few buttons, and leans back. "Do you have a medical workup on the Waydi brain? Were we able to get anything like that?" Then she turns towards Katriel. "Are these crystals emotionally charged? Are the messages static or do you get an actual impression?"
"As I was saying... you want a device that removes the effects for one species, while maintaining them for the other, and without it looking like some horror device. What we could do is setup a simulation between two Waydi brains, make the adjustments, and then determine if what we're proposing to do is safe for them. I mean, without knowing what effects our device has on the Waydi, we could do all this work, come up with an awesome design, walk up to the Waydi and 'poof'..." She embellishes with and arm wave... "Their heads pop or their brains melt. NOT a pleasant way to start diplomatic relations, I assure you."
She pauses, clicks a few buttons, and leans back. "Do you have a medical workup on the Waydi brain? Were we able to get anything like that?" Then she turns towards Katriel. "Are these crystals emotionally charged? Are the messages static or do you get an actual impression?"
Katriel shook her head and then abruptly stops when she remembers she's wearing potentially delicate equipment. "No, these crystals are all we have."
"And I don't get an emotional impression from this one, but I distinctly remember that the other one, the red one, does. Nothing very complicated, just basic ... sincerity."
"And I don't get an emotional impression from this one, but I distinctly remember that the other one, the red one, does. Nothing very complicated, just basic ... sincerity."
A'Printa pauses a moment in thought, then calmly waves her hand towards Tinker. Tinker nods, floats over, and removes the headband from Katriel's head. "Now, that's interesting. In order to imprint emotions on anything requires some form of cellular memory, which is typically found only in living organism. Crystals grow through a process called nucleation and there are some species that are crystalline in nature. This suggests a living process of some kind in the creation of these crystals. As they grow, perhaps that's how they imprint memories telepathic species can retrieve. The question is, did this crystal form in symbiosis with the Waydi or did they find a way to make it symbiotic to some degree?" A'Printa muses.
"See? Radiation affects how creatures form and develop. If these crystals can harness the telepathic imprints of the Waydi to the extent of cellular memory, then we could use this to our advantage." She looks over at Tink messing with the metal band. A'Printa shakes her head and sighs. "Everyone always wants to make fashionable head wear. Why? I have no idea. Ya know?"
"See? Radiation affects how creatures form and develop. If these crystals can harness the telepathic imprints of the Waydi to the extent of cellular memory, then we could use this to our advantage." She looks over at Tink messing with the metal band. A'Printa shakes her head and sighs. "Everyone always wants to make fashionable head wear. Why? I have no idea. Ya know?"
Esox pauses a moment considering the entirety of the conversation. The idea that the pixie is a hologram sticks with him a bit longer now that Captain A'Printa has arrived from her coffin-like sleeping apparatus.
He looks at the two of them holding the metal headband. "I don't want ANYONE'S head to explode. I was thinking, rather than having the Waydi wear it, we could just have the non-telepaths wear it? And, although it may not be.... fashionable, its easier to work with at this point. Perhaps once we refine the solution we can develop a... a.... a.... scarf?"
He pauses a moment. "I don't know much about cellular growth and crystal formations in this situation, though. I'm curious as to using that to our advantage in solving the issue, I just don't understand how."
He looks at the two of them holding the metal headband. "I don't want ANYONE'S head to explode. I was thinking, rather than having the Waydi wear it, we could just have the non-telepaths wear it? And, although it may not be.... fashionable, its easier to work with at this point. Perhaps once we refine the solution we can develop a... a.... a.... scarf?"
He pauses a moment. "I don't know much about cellular growth and crystal formations in this situation, though. I'm curious as to using that to our advantage in solving the issue, I just don't understand how."
A'Printa pauses a moment, finishes her danish, then polishes off the drink. She sits down in a nearby chair, leans back, and tosses her cup across the lab, high into the air. Tinker laughs, races over to the flying cup, transforms her wand into an over sized baseball bat, and smashes the cup midair into a dozen tiny sparks of light. A'Printa seems unfazed at the event, but slowly raises an eyebrow to regard Esox. "So, tell me Ensign, do you live in the land of the creative? Metal headbands..." She sighs in disgust. "Might be fine if we're to limit our interactions. But what happens if a Waydi is welcomed aboard, oh, say this starbase? We have no way to determine how long lasting... or even the range of their mental influence. So, Esox, what will happen if it turns out that their natural radiation corrodes the brain over time? That it lingers, oh, say 500 feet from their body? Maybe lasts days naturally. Causes long term exposure? Are you seriously suggesting that we pass out metal headbands to EVERY non-telepath that comes into contact with a Waydi? Really? The only folks I can think of who would benefit from that arrangement would be the Ferengi. They'd sell the headbands at a premium, I assure you."
(Esox and Katriel notice that A'Printa's demeanor changes as she talks, slowly taking on a more authoritative tone)
Tinker flies over, grabs a book off a desk, and flies over to A'Printa. "Thank you, Tinker." A'Printa reaches up with a smile, takes the book, and sets it back in her lap. "I'm not a believer in temporary solutions. If there's a problem, you try to fix it the first time. The very notion that you're thinking... easy to work with... refine the solution... tells me that you're looking for the quick solution. The trial and error tactic so many bad scientists rely on. Ensign, the moment you settle for less than perfection, is the moment you cease to attain it. Remember that lesson well. It comes from several lifetimes of experience."
A'Printa sighs and looks up at Tinker, who suddenly regards her with a disappointed frown. "You're gonna make me work, aren't you?" Tinker mutters. A'Printa doesn't say a word, places her hand on the book, and injects tubing from her hand into it. A moment later the book shimmers, melts, and reforms into a circular device full of advanced gears, devices, and probes. "A while back I had the opportunity to study metamorphic life forms in some detail. Made a few gadgets to help analyze items. Kept the best ones for myself. Ok Tinker. You and April had your fun. Come on."
Tinker pouts a moment, sighs, and nods. "Ok." The hologram fades to reveal a floating metallic orb about six inches in diameter. The orb floats over, inserts itself into the device on A'Printa's lap, and the item whirls into life, emitting a faint yellow glow. "Integration complete. Systems online. Reformatting to desired parameters." Tinker responds from out of the device.
A'Printa sets the device down next to her and smiles. "Ensign, please hand me the first crystal. Lt. Katriel, please replace the headband. We can use it to get a reading of your brain waves as the crystal interacts with you on an emotional level. Tinker, establish a connection. Modulate for the radiation, likely at +23 polar, subnucleonic, with a dispersal of, oh, let's try 18 zeta. Might be too small, but I have a hunch."
"Understood. Adjusting. Interfacing." Tinker responds as snakelike tubes extend from the device and connect themselves to the console Esox was using.
A'Printa nods, stands up, and stretches. "It'll take a few minutes to calibrate." Then she pauses and regards Esox with a whimsical smirk. "Oh, you really didn't think Tinker was just any old hologram did you? Or that all of these books were actually just books? If you think that's shocking... wait until you see what happens to my boots!"
(Esox and Katriel notice that A'Printa's demeanor changes as she talks, slowly taking on a more authoritative tone)
Tinker flies over, grabs a book off a desk, and flies over to A'Printa. "Thank you, Tinker." A'Printa reaches up with a smile, takes the book, and sets it back in her lap. "I'm not a believer in temporary solutions. If there's a problem, you try to fix it the first time. The very notion that you're thinking... easy to work with... refine the solution... tells me that you're looking for the quick solution. The trial and error tactic so many bad scientists rely on. Ensign, the moment you settle for less than perfection, is the moment you cease to attain it. Remember that lesson well. It comes from several lifetimes of experience."
A'Printa sighs and looks up at Tinker, who suddenly regards her with a disappointed frown. "You're gonna make me work, aren't you?" Tinker mutters. A'Printa doesn't say a word, places her hand on the book, and injects tubing from her hand into it. A moment later the book shimmers, melts, and reforms into a circular device full of advanced gears, devices, and probes. "A while back I had the opportunity to study metamorphic life forms in some detail. Made a few gadgets to help analyze items. Kept the best ones for myself. Ok Tinker. You and April had your fun. Come on."
Tinker pouts a moment, sighs, and nods. "Ok." The hologram fades to reveal a floating metallic orb about six inches in diameter. The orb floats over, inserts itself into the device on A'Printa's lap, and the item whirls into life, emitting a faint yellow glow. "Integration complete. Systems online. Reformatting to desired parameters." Tinker responds from out of the device.
A'Printa sets the device down next to her and smiles. "Ensign, please hand me the first crystal. Lt. Katriel, please replace the headband. We can use it to get a reading of your brain waves as the crystal interacts with you on an emotional level. Tinker, establish a connection. Modulate for the radiation, likely at +23 polar, subnucleonic, with a dispersal of, oh, let's try 18 zeta. Might be too small, but I have a hunch."
"Understood. Adjusting. Interfacing." Tinker responds as snakelike tubes extend from the device and connect themselves to the console Esox was using.
A'Printa nods, stands up, and stretches. "It'll take a few minutes to calibrate." Then she pauses and regards Esox with a whimsical smirk. "Oh, you really didn't think Tinker was just any old hologram did you? Or that all of these books were actually just books? If you think that's shocking... wait until you see what happens to my boots!"
Esox hands her the red crystal.