Siphon stopped at the Lieutenant's office door, taking a moment to smooth down the back of his hair. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled. These human's put a lot of stock into these psychological evaluations, and he did not want to mess up his. He knew that his people were open emotionally by nature, and he wondered if having a Betazoid interviewer would compound that. She most likely would only pick up on hints of his own telepathic abilities, as they required quite a lot of concentration by an Aquarian to use. When the time put him at exactly 15 mins. early, he took another deep breath to calm his nerves and rang the door chime.
When the door chime sounded, at her desk, the counselor shot a brief glare to the chronometric display on her console, as if the unexpectedly early arrival of her next appointment was somehow its fault.
Suppressing a sigh, she drew up the Aquarian's file onto her console and perused it, reminding herself of the particulars as she called out, "Please come in."
As the door slid open, Katriel kept reading just for a detail or two more before coming to her feet as Siphon entered. "Lieutenant," she greeted him. "And how is your afternoon going?"
Suppressing a sigh, she drew up the Aquarian's file onto her console and perused it, reminding herself of the particulars as she called out, "Please come in."
As the door slid open, Katriel kept reading just for a detail or two more before coming to her feet as Siphon entered. "Lieutenant," she greeted him. "And how is your afternoon going?"
Siphon's eyes widened as he recognized Katriel. His mouth dropped agape for a brief second before snapping shut tightly.
"Lieutenant, I hadn't though I'd see you so soon after...," Siphon's shoulders sagged as he seemed to be recalling the incident. He closed his eyes and shook his head. The weight of what he feels as his responsibility over the loss of the changeling and missing Serrat by inches is palpable in the air. Yet, the first thing from him was
"Are you alright?"
"Lieutenant, I hadn't though I'd see you so soon after...," Siphon's shoulders sagged as he seemed to be recalling the incident. He closed his eyes and shook his head. The weight of what he feels as his responsibility over the loss of the changeling and missing Serrat by inches is palpable in the air. Yet, the first thing from him was
"Are you alright?"
Katriel blinked long and slowly as her senses slowly parsed Siphon's rapid-fire inundation of thoughts and feeling. It took her a moment to digest it all and to compose herself enough for a civilized response.
"I'm managing, Lieutenant, thank you for your concern." Her tone was, perhaps, a bit more stilted than usual, but still maintained a polite and professional core. It turned more solicitous as she continued.
"Truth be told, I'm more concerned about you, your involvement in the proceedings was at least as harrowing as mine, if not worse. How are you faring?"
"I'm managing, Lieutenant, thank you for your concern." Her tone was, perhaps, a bit more stilted than usual, but still maintained a polite and professional core. It turned more solicitous as she continued.
"Truth be told, I'm more concerned about you, your involvement in the proceedings was at least as harrowing as mine, if not worse. How are you faring?"
Siphon's eyes seemed to gain intensity in their focus. His instincts told him that she was honest about her condition, and any telepathic probe to verify would be completely inappropriate. Also, he had to remind himself that while concern was appreciated it was not his place to go so far to ensure her well being. Not all beings were of the great ocean.
He attempted to shift the currents of his mind for her benefit, not hiding what he felt, but not pouring out in torrents either. Physically he took a moment to inhale before answering her.
"It...has not been easy. I have never so directly lost a patient before," he said realizing the grief in himself and reining in under control. "He was so...determined not to be helped, and to prevent us form helping the chief." he continued. "These...nanites he was injected with, such thought put into such an invasive and horrendous thing."
Siphon's gaze was cast on the wall behind Katriel before returning to her. After a moment he added, "I am sure I will survive, of course." The corners of his mouth twitched in an *attempt* to flash a re-assuring smile.
He attempted to shift the currents of his mind for her benefit, not hiding what he felt, but not pouring out in torrents either. Physically he took a moment to inhale before answering her.
"It...has not been easy. I have never so directly lost a patient before," he said realizing the grief in himself and reining in under control. "He was so...determined not to be helped, and to prevent us form helping the chief." he continued. "These...nanites he was injected with, such thought put into such an invasive and horrendous thing."
Siphon's gaze was cast on the wall behind Katriel before returning to her. After a moment he added, "I am sure I will survive, of course." The corners of his mouth twitched in an *attempt* to flash a re-assuring smile.
The counselor's gaze was more speculative than anything else as she surveyed the alien for a moment in silence. She sighed, over what is harder to say, and her glance turned down towards her desk as she searched through stacks of PADDs for a suitable one.
"So we have something in common, then. I believe I'm more well-acquainted than many physicians when it comes to beings who need help, but refuse to accept even the idea of it. It happens more often than I'd like, on the counseling side of things."
She had come out from behind the desk and gestured, PADD in hand, towards the more comfortable couch setup in invitation.
"So we have something in common, then. I believe I'm more well-acquainted than many physicians when it comes to beings who need help, but refuse to accept even the idea of it. It happens more often than I'd like, on the counseling side of things."
She had come out from behind the desk and gestured, PADD in hand, towards the more comfortable couch setup in invitation.
The Aquarian took long graceful strides to the couch before lowering himself in it. He allowed his body to sort of sink into the curves of the couch, trying to appear relaxed.
"I am relieved that you understand the frustration, though I certainly wouldn't wish it on you," he said after sitting. His eyes met hers in uncertainty. "So, is there anything you wished to ask me counselor?" He opened a webbed hand facing upwards and waved it in her direction.
"I am relieved that you understand the frustration, though I certainly wouldn't wish it on you," he said after sitting. His eyes met hers in uncertainty. "So, is there anything you wished to ask me counselor?" He opened a webbed hand facing upwards and waved it in her direction.
Katriel quirked one brow and smiled faintly as she sat herself in the armchair that faced the couch at a comfortably non-confrontational angle. She flicked the PADD on and started to navigate around on it.
"Quite a few things, actually, Lieutenant. For one thing, there's rather a dearth of information about your species in Task Force databanks. Do you suppose you could give me a broad understanding of your species, for starters?"
"Quite a few things, actually, Lieutenant. For one thing, there's rather a dearth of information about your species in Task Force databanks. Do you suppose you could give me a broad understanding of your species, for starters?"
"A broad understanding, hmmm." he repeated. "Well, we began as land dwellers living on the sparse island chains on Aquarius. Over time we evolved into the mostly aquatic form that you see." Siphon nodded to her before continuing, "We still retain some land dwelling characteristics, such as being able to breathe air. Speech is a tad difficult for us to learn. Under the waves we communicate through a mixture of echo location and telepathy. A mild form of telekinesis helps us to manipulate objects under water. In the open air like this, it's really only useful for giving object that I can't push a good shove. My people are not exactly built for might," Siphon chuckled.
He digressed for a moment, "I find the challenge of learning and the tactile sensation of 'saying' new words to be ex...ex..," he seemed to think for a moment "Ex-hil-er..ating!" he smiled at the result of his own effort.
"Historically, we like to be pacifists. Although, we have had a few attempts at invasion in the past," Siphon leans in a bit before going into the next part of his description.
"Now, as to the essence of us," He paused to ensure that the counselor did not think he was rambling, spreading out both hands in a gesture that seemed to ask permission to continue. Siphon inclined his head to her and awaited her response.
He digressed for a moment, "I find the challenge of learning and the tactile sensation of 'saying' new words to be ex...ex..," he seemed to think for a moment "Ex-hil-er..ating!" he smiled at the result of his own effort.
"Historically, we like to be pacifists. Although, we have had a few attempts at invasion in the past," Siphon leans in a bit before going into the next part of his description.
"Now, as to the essence of us," He paused to ensure that the counselor did not think he was rambling, spreading out both hands in a gesture that seemed to ask permission to continue. Siphon inclined his head to her and awaited her response.
What sort of counselor stops a subject from speaking? Katriel quickly nodded her acquiescence.
He flashed a genuine smile. "We tend to be very emotional, we also tend to be free in expressing those emotions to others in various ways. It has been somewhat of adjustment for me to learn to. .. contain them for the comfort and functionality of other species. However, I believe I've managed". Siphon interlocked his fingers and rested his chin on them. He was both excited and happy that someone wished to know more of Aquarians. It seemed to show in the way the muscles around his eyes contacted, widening them just a bit. He realized that he found the tonal resonances in her voice complex and interesting, but quickly decided that saying so would be unprofessional.
After just a moment he swam back to where he was going. "Spiritually, we have no diety. We rather worship the water, especially that on Aquarius, much like some early human cultures worshipped nature itself. This has lead to a philosophy of social responsibility, in which we feel obligated to help one another however we can". He laughs, "sometimes to the point of being intrusive by most other species' standards. We all swim the great ocean. It is similar to the human phrase of we're all in the same boat." He ran his chin over his fingers before continuing, "we can tend to be a bit hard on ourselves. Also being emotional is not always the most useful or socially comfortable thing, but we take it in stride and value it for its expressiveness. It makes us all closer".
Siphon shrugged his shoulders a tad, and let the counselor drift in what he'd said. He sat back and eagerly awaited the next part of their discourse.
After just a moment he swam back to where he was going. "Spiritually, we have no diety. We rather worship the water, especially that on Aquarius, much like some early human cultures worshipped nature itself. This has lead to a philosophy of social responsibility, in which we feel obligated to help one another however we can". He laughs, "sometimes to the point of being intrusive by most other species' standards. We all swim the great ocean. It is similar to the human phrase of we're all in the same boat." He ran his chin over his fingers before continuing, "we can tend to be a bit hard on ourselves. Also being emotional is not always the most useful or socially comfortable thing, but we take it in stride and value it for its expressiveness. It makes us all closer".
Siphon shrugged his shoulders a tad, and let the counselor drift in what he'd said. He sat back and eagerly awaited the next part of their discourse.
In disposing herself to listen, Katriel crossed one leg over the other and had carefully balanced the PADD in her inclined lap. But it remained mostly untouched as her gaze remained watchful on Siphon, curious and considering all at once.
If she was catching any of these stray thoughts that the Aquarian was thinking, her expression made no indication of it. But it did lift into a faint smile when Siphon finished.
"I can certainly appreciate that sentiment as well," she noted. In fact, Katriel imagined Aquarians and Betazoids might have a lot of cultural similarities when it came to emotions and honesty, but now wasn't exactly the time to go into an extensive discussion on it.
"Are Aquarians officially members of the Federation? How did you personally come to join Starfleet?"
If she was catching any of these stray thoughts that the Aquarian was thinking, her expression made no indication of it. But it did lift into a faint smile when Siphon finished.
"I can certainly appreciate that sentiment as well," she noted. In fact, Katriel imagined Aquarians and Betazoids might have a lot of cultural similarities when it came to emotions and honesty, but now wasn't exactly the time to go into an extensive discussion on it.
"Are Aquarians officially members of the Federation? How did you personally come to join Starfleet?"
As her questions washed over him, Siphon turned his gaze sideward. He submerged in his thoughts, attempting to plumb their depths for where to begin. He was pleased with the question and the inspiration that came, and inflected his voice to reflect it.
"We are indeed members, though very new ones." Siphon stood and began to gracefully pace the office. He did so slowly and in a manner that would not force the counselor to constantly turn he r head. "I joined to glide through a new current. I was a medic on my world. I loved healing so, that I decided to pursue medicine. Itseemed, and still does, a wonderful combination of doing what I feel passionate about and being able to experience the uniqueness within the rest of the universe around Aquarius".
At that point he had returned to the couch. Siphon fluidly relaxed back into it and watched the counselor to see her response. A smile rugged at one side of his mouth at remembering why he had chosen this stroke in life.
"We are indeed members, though very new ones." Siphon stood and began to gracefully pace the office. He did so slowly and in a manner that would not force the counselor to constantly turn he r head. "I joined to glide through a new current. I was a medic on my world. I loved healing so, that I decided to pursue medicine. Itseemed, and still does, a wonderful combination of doing what I feel passionate about and being able to experience the uniqueness within the rest of the universe around Aquarius".
At that point he had returned to the couch. Siphon fluidly relaxed back into it and watched the counselor to see her response. A smile rugged at one side of his mouth at remembering why he had chosen this stroke in life.
Katriel kept her casual and highly introspective gaze on Siphon as he paced. She inclined her head a little as he sat down again.
"So you attended the Academy proper? Then Starfleet Medical? Could you highlight your career history for me, up until your transfer to Argo?"
"So you attended the Academy proper? Then Starfleet Medical? Could you highlight your career history for me, up until your transfer to Argo?"
The doctor nodded towards Katriel. "That's correct," he said with a pleasant inflection. "I graduated after four years". As he spoke the words, he couldn't help but reminisce on the feelings of that voyage. The excitement of so many new and different peoples, the slight envy for the instructors who seemed to have experienced so much, the wonderful frustrations of his studies, they were warm currents to float before he allowed the nostalgia to subside.
He inhaled. "I then studied at star fleet medical. My previous training as a medic allowed me to become a physician after another four years". His memories of that period were much more about wonderful frustrations of his studies, he mused silently.
"Next for me, was the Preserver". At the mention of the name, he admited a soft echo location. However, it was different than his salutation. It sounded more whale than dolphin-like. It rolled outward with bass and had a slight mournful quality to it.
He inhaled. "I then studied at star fleet medical. My previous training as a medic allowed me to become a physician after another four years". His memories of that period were much more about wonderful frustrations of his studies, he mused silently.
"Next for me, was the Preserver". At the mention of the name, he admited a soft echo location. However, it was different than his salutation. It sounded more whale than dolphin-like. It rolled outward with bass and had a slight mournful quality to it.
Katriel's expression remained impassively neutral at the mention of the Preserver. She glanced down at her PADD, at the Aquarian's dossier, to confirm.
"You are referring to the U.S.S. Preserver, I presume? And how did that tour of duty go for you?"
"You are referring to the U.S.S. Preserver, I presume? And how did that tour of duty go for you?"
A smile played across his face, yet his eyes betrayed sadness. "It...was very interesting. I had never before lived in such a small an environment as a starship. We, went through a lot. The crew became very close. I miss them at times". Siphons eyes seem to re-focus from far away back to the counselor.
Katriel sat back in her seat, expression turning speculative and she hummed a little before her response.
"That can be very difficult, moving on from a circumstances where you feel so at home. So what was it that made you transfer to Argo?"
"That can be very difficult, moving on from a circumstances where you feel so at home. So what was it that made you transfer to Argo?"
Siphon pursed his lips a but and absently scratched his coral. "That may or may not be difficult to explain. The posting was offered because this outpost is supposedly a bit understaffed for physicians. The Captain had said that he was reluctant to see me go, but that it would be a very good chance for me to learn. The best way that I can think to describe my decision is that I felt this is where the waves were trying to carry me." He blinked at the counselor, hoping she understood his explanation of an Aquarian "gut feeling".
**pursed his lips a bit, certainly not a but*