Posted by Lieutenant Seddk Vock (Chief Medical Officer) in Holodeck 1 - Attn. Vock

Posted by Ensign Jazzin Lauren (Medical Officer) in Holodeck 1 - Attn. Vock
Having spent most of his afternoon off the day before tweaking the program, Jazzin was finally pleased with what he had put together. It wasn’t much different from the simulations he would often spend his off time inside. But he wanted this one to be a bit different; not just a get away, or a nostaligic view of home, but something a little more … informative.

He grabbed a PaDD and started compiling a message to Vock (he didn’t want to call him over the comm, in case he was doing something more important than an invitation to a holodeck simulation).

-Lieutenant Vock, Chief Medical Officer.

-Good morning, sir. I hope you are well today. I just wanted to let you know that I have finished putting together a simulation, based on the idea you brought up over our last talk. I have booked a slot for this afternoon at 1500 hours. If you are busy, I am quite sure someone will happily snap up my time, but if you can make it, just let me know and I will wait for you there.

-With regards,

-Ensign Jazzin Lauren, Medical

With that he put some music on and took to cleaning his room, which he always let get quite cluttered (especially now he was not under the scrutiny of the inspections of the Academy), to while away the time. He couldn’t deny he was nervous. The scenarios he had created were quite personal, but hadn’t that been the point? Or was Vock likely to be taken aback at such a candid look on the life he had had before joining Starfleet?

Lauren shook his head, as if that could shake out the doubts, and got to cleaning.

A few moments later, the PaDD beeped with a received message. It read:

Ensign Lauren, Medical Section

I am well, thank you for the inquiry. I have cleared my schedule for that time. I will meet you then.

Vock, CMO

*

Although he assumed Vock would come in uniform, he himself dressed once again in clothes of his home province on Betazed, sash included. He made his way to the holodeck, stopping briefly to chat to a medical technician about nothing in particular, before hurrying along to ensure he wasn’t late.

Arriving early, he gave a quick, knowing, smile to a Human who had stepped out, his clothes and hair quite ruffled and his cheeks flushed. “Commander,” he inclined his head, respectfully. He didn’t need to be telepathic to know what kind of simulation had just taken place.

The senior officer cleared his throat. “Ensign,” he said, moving off quickly and straightening his uniform.

Biting his lip to resist a chuckle, Jazzin waited for his chief to arrive.

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

Vockk arrived exactly on time. Lauren had guessed correctly, Vock was in uniform. Stepping up to the doctor, hands clasped behind his back, his inclined his head slightly and said simply “Doctor.” in acknowledgement. “Thank you for taking the initiative and preparing the program. I am looking forward to learning more about you and your culture.” he said flatly.

Vock, CMO

Lauren nodded in return. He was getting used to the flat tone of his superior, and it was grating on him less and less, though he still wished the Vulcan could have shown a little more enthusiasm at this little project. “Not a problem, sir. It will be good to be back on Betazed, even if it’s a holodeck simulation.” He turned to the small console beside the door pressed a button and said: “Computer, begin simulation Lauren Alpha 6, scenario 12.”

As the computer affirmed activation, Jazzin took a deep breath, but turned to Vock with a smile. “Shall we, sir?”

The doors swooshed open onto a scene that one might expect from a gentle race, such as the Betazoids.

It was a village, judging by the short buildings and wide streets. People went here and there, all wearing a variety of colourful clothes. It was oddly quiet, even though there weren’t that many people around. The only voices consistently heard were those of children.

Jazzin stepped through with Vock. “This is Tarran. It’s the village I grew up in. I brought a Human friend here once and he said the quietness was ‘eerie’, but that is because everyone, other than children who haven’t developed their abilities yet, speaks telepathically. Tarran is part of a province that is very … traditional.” He explained, as they made their way down a road.

People wore a variety of clothes with little consitency. Lots of colours and intricate patterns. The women wore their hair in elaborate braids and even the men seemed to have taken quite a lot of time on their appearance. If one noticed, you could see that younger adults wore sashes; silver, just like the one Jazzin was wearing at the moment.

“I wanted to take you to a place that is important to me, Lieutenant.” Jazzin said, as they passed a couple walking hand in hand. The looks they gave the two didn’t say much. “I’ve switched off interaction for the time being. This is more of a scenario I want you to see. Ah,” he said. “There.” He pointed across the road, along which cylinder shaped transport vehicles moved slowly past.

There was a two adults, one male, one female, and a teen boy.

“That’s my father,” he said, motioning to the older male. Unlike like the rest of the people around him, he had the visible markings of a Trill. The boy beside them, dragging his feet a little and complaining about something, also had similar markings, but seemed ‘faded’. “His name is Tashan. He looks older now but, still retains that posture.”

The posture he was referring to was straight-backed and almost a little angry.

As they got closer, they could hear the conversation.

“I don’t care if they look at me like that,” the teen said, defiantly. “Papa can’t hear us without trying and it’s not fair.” There was little doubt that the teen was a simulated version of Jazzin, himself.

“You have to keep practising, Jazz.” The female spoke. She wore her dark hair in a long braid. It seemed Jazzin had inherited his blond hair from his father. “So it comes easier. When you speak with your mind, you tend to shout, darling. You don’t want everyone listening in. What if you have something private to say?”

There was a moment of silence.

“Oh,” the real-Jazzin said. “I forgot this bit. Computer, change parameters so that telepathic communication is audible.” He glanced at Vock. “Though I can’t be completely sure what they said, I made some guesses based on what I was told later. This is mama and papa talking to each other, mind to mind.”

• ‘I don’t see why he has to go to this damned thing, Linia. He can learn everything he needs to at home with you.’
  His father didn’t seem happy to be going wherever it is they were walking to.

• ‘When children develop their abilities, it’s important they learn to control them. The teachers here will do a better job than I can.’
  Linia, Jazzin’s mother, reached out to stroke her son’s head affectionately.

• ‘They’ll tease him.’
  Tashan replied, pointedly.

His mother did not reply.

Real-Jazzin watched the trio as they neared a larger structure, just off the main road. It was bound by beutiful gardens filled with muktok plants; a common species of flora that existed all over Betazed but was much sought after on other worlds. Their colour ranged from deep purple to a dusty blue. When Linia reached out and brushed her hands against the flowers, they let out a soft chime. “This is a training centre, sir.” He said. “Not all villages as small as ours had one, but all towns do. We were lucky, but I didn’t think so at the time.”

The trio made their way to the entrance, a set of doors painted with various abstract characters, four prominent ones of striking colours stood out. “The four deities of Betazed,” Real-Jazzin pointed out. “Our village was very traditional, even though most of the planet was mainly an atheistic one. My mother used to pray, something that my father never bothered with, even though he was born on Betazed himself.”

They followed the family through the doors and into a wide reception area. It was all very beautiful, with holo-pictures on the walls of stunning vistas, waterfalls and forests scenes. A man stood behind a desk and gave them a smile, as they entered, though it slipped slightly when he looked at Tashan.

• ‘Good morning. We have an appointment under the name Lauren. This is Jazzin.’
  His mother said.

The man glanced to the teen, that same half-smile on his lips. “We actually communicate verbally here, until the children are ready to speak exclusively by mind,” he glanced between Tashan and Jazzin. “Provided they can, of course.”

This seemed to touch a nerve with his father. “We manage just fine, thank you.” Tashan replied, irritably.

Real-Jazzin spoke up. “Computer. Skip to scenario 15.” The scene changed before them and the two officers found themselves in a food hall.

Teen-Jazzin was sat at a long table with other young adults around his age. All of them wore simple clothes of teal. The young Jazzin was eating his food, looking entirely miserable, and it soon became clear why.

“Hey Jazzin,” a girl sat a few places down called out to him. “You have a little something on your face.” This brought a round of cruel laughter from the teens sat with her.

Real-Jazzin turned to Vock. “My Trill markings were a constant source of torment for me as a child. Tassan is a very traditional village, like I said, and people didn’t hesitate to point out their opinions on mixed-race individuals. Look …”

Teen-Jazzin said nothing, though his face flushed with either anger or embarrassment.

“I hear most mongrels can’t even speak telepathically,” she said, loud enough that Jazzin would surely hear. She looked back down the table. “Can you? Or are you a mute?”

• ‘I can.’ Teen-Jazzin, replied, defiantly.

“Ugh!” The girl made a noise and screwed up her face. “It sounds terrible!” Another wave of laughter. “Your tainted blood makes you sound like a baby!”

“Why would anyone breed with someone who isn’t even a Betazoid?” Someone else asked. “It’s creepy.”

“It’s unnatural.”

Real-Jazzin spoke up. “Computer, pause simulation.”

As everything around them went still, real-Jazzin took a moment to look at the teen version of himself, sat alone, his eyes fixed on his food. “I could show you a hundred more examples. My father went through the same when he was being trained. I suppose they were ‘purists’ …” He shook his head, sadly. “For a species known for their empathy … literally … there were still cruel people on Betazed. Some of the other medical students I trained with were surprised by this; as if Betazed were some paradise where everyone hugged each other and got along all the time.” He turned to Vock. “I just wanted to show you this because … I don’t know, really. Maybe to show why I can be defensive, at times. I felt like I had to earn my place on Betazed more than other people, and maybe that defensive nature has stuck with me somewhat. Do you have any questions? Is there anything in particular you’d like to see?”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor