STF

Holodeck 1 - Attn. Vock

Posted April 23, 2019, 10:16 a.m. by Ensign Jazzin Lauren (Medical Officer) (Alex Lorien)

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

Posted by Lieutenant Seddk Vock (Chief Medical Officer) in Holodeck 1 - Attn. Vock
Posted by… suppressed (14) by the Post Ghost! 👻
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?”

“Indeed.” came the single-word reply.

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.

“Silence can very well make some species quite uncomfortable… both emotionally and in some cases physically.” Vock observed. He was looking very intently around him, as if he was in the process of trying to see everything and analyze it in some fashion.

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.

“Similar to the posture of most of my people.” Vock observed with just the faintest hint of irony.

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.”

“Such infrastructure I am sure requires significant resources. And children, regardless of species, are not known for their ability to recognize what is uncommon for those they do not know.” he said in an agreement - type fashion.

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.”

Vock remained silent, but cocked an eyebrow in response.

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

Vock looked intently at the simulated teen Jazzin and the surrounding students. His hands were still clasped behind his back and his face was expressionless. There was however a hint of something around his eyes… resignation? Sadness?

“Children and adolescents are also not known for their empathy with others… especially those different from themselves.” and he paused, still looking at the simulated scene. “It seems it would be most problematic, being of a race known for empathy, to experience such lack of understanding and compassion. Perhaps it is because being empathic does not necessarily mean a being is empathetic. Simply because one has the capacity to do something does not necessarily mean they are something.” he said, his eyes still never leaving the paused scene. “For instance. I have a personal acquaintance, a Bolian. As I am sure you are aware, that particular species has the capacity to ingest and digest almost anything for sustenance. Spoiled meats, raw minerals, rotted vegetation. But this individual, a Star Fleet Engineer, is a renowned chef as well. He has the ability to eat anything. He chooses to refine that into something special.” and he took his gaze away from the scene and looked directly at Jazzin.

“I hope that your classmates chose to refine themselves in a similar fashion. Although I have found institutionalized racism is a difficult thing to overcome.” The statement was worded harshly, but there was no sense of animosity or even real emotion behind the words. He was simply commenting on the overall, not judging the specifics.

Vock, CMO

Jazzin tried his best to mask his surprise. He wasn’t surprised at the Vulcan’s insight; Vock was articulate, extremely intelligent, and despite Lauren’s reservations, really seemed to be willing to go a bit extra for his staff. His analogy using the Bolian was simple, but it fitted near perfectly.

“Well,” he wasn’t quite sure what to say. “Thank you, sir, for … well … getting it!” He glanced back at the frozen scene. “Things didn’t really get better. My Trill markings were a constant cause of derision from the other children, but you make a good point … an excellent point about the difference between empathic ability and the ability to be empathic.” He looked back to his chief. “My father doesn’t like Vulcans; he actually advised me not to even go through with this, but he was a complicated man who had suffered a great deal of discrimination during his time on Betazed. He was very cynical about people … all people. I didn’t agree with him, especially as I got older. While he insisted on staying here, I looked to Starfleet, where my racial heritage didn’t matter one bit.”

He glanced down. “I fear I may have been … influenced by him, more than I know. Growing up with a man so bitter made me not want to be like him, and yet I suppose the imprint your parents have on you as a child stays with you … at least in my case. I am also sorry that I had a preconception that you, well …” he shifted, uncomfortably. “Wouldn’t understand. But you seem to grasp it better than most of the people I grew up with who had the ability to sense emotions and probably should have gotten it more.”

“You’ve certainly given me pause for thought, sir.” He said, giving a tension relieving chuckle. “There are other scenarios I had had in mind, but this one … it has stuck with me through all these years.” He looked up to Vock. “I hope that when it’s your turn to show me something on Vulcan, I can be as insightful. Thank you, sir.”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

Vock again nodded once, but it was slower… almost as if it was almost a bow of respect. “Offspring incorporate the views of those who raise them without knowing it. It is difficult to sometimes know where that influence ends and our own agendas begin. It takes time, and perspective, to know where that change lies.” and then he turned and looked at Lauren.

“It is… unfortunate… your father takes such an ill view of Vulcans; although he is not alone in his mistrust of my species. It is not hard to grasp that we tend to make others, especially the more emotional species, uncomfortable. An unfortunate repercussion of our teachings.” and he looked back at the scene, but his vision was somewhere else entirely. “I have often pondered how some of Vulcan’s historical figures would view the repercussions or their teachings. Whether they would believe them to be worth the… tension… our ways instill in others. That is not, however, a question that can be answered by logic.” and he looked back at Lauren. “It would take a much more empathetic point of view to intuit the potential solutions to that question.” and he again looked back at the scene.

“I am sorry your classmates could not see beyond their own small perspective. It is unfortunate that such narrow-mindedness is still taught by some. Perhaps one day you can study at the VSA. You can rest assured, your race is of no consequence within that educational entity.”

Vock, CMO

Bump

OOC: Thank you

IC: Jazzin glanced from the frozen holodeck scene to his chief. “Really, sir? If I’m honest, I’ve heard stories that there’s a small, but significant number of Vulcans who are …” he shrugged, perhaps nervously. “A little … purist? When it comes to who trains in their institutions. But I would be fascinated to see it. Father always thought I would go on to study Pharmacology, rather than Medicine, and it was certainly a subject I did best in at medical school. But my mother’s influence on me meant that I wanted to be a position to care for people, and not just know all I could about medication and drugs.”

“There are… purists… in any culture, I believe. In any case, I have yet to see any evidence to the contrary. And you are correct, there are those who feel Vulcan education should not be shared outside of our species. I find that belief highly illogical, as do the vast majority of Vulcans. What good is information and discovery if it is not disseminated, after all. Scientific progress is not a single event isolated form the rest of reality. It is a series of events based on the events preceeding it. To isolate oneself from those past events is to limit one’s potential.”

“Perhaps you should have been a scientist, sir!” Jazzin smiled. “But you make a good point.”

An arched eyebrow was the only response from Vock.

He looked back to the scene. “However difficult that time might have been, it got me to the Asimov, so in a sense, I am grateful. If those other boys and girls had not been so hard on me, I would not have looked to Starfleet as a way out. And, I found much more than just a ‘way out’; I found a place where I was accepted … I mean, there’s always the odd officer who would prefer not to have a telepath treating them, but I had always known that would be the case. Some people aren’t overly keen on the idea that I might dig into their thoughts at any time.”

The Betazoid ran a hand through his hair. “Computer; end simulation.”

As the scene faded and the walls of the holodeck became visible. Jazzin took a deep breath. “It wasn’t very pleasant, seeing that again. Thankfully I couldn’t sense their dislike of me, because that was much worse than all the words they could throw at me.” He turned to Vock. “I suppose it’s your turn now, sir, or whenever you have the time. Unless you have any questions, of course?”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

“I have the time now, Ensign.” Vock replied. “Computer. Run simulation Vock Bravo-Sierra-Zulu-Nine-Eight-Six-One.” There was a momentary pause and then the pair of medical officers were suddenly standing in a huge dark, stone room lit only by lights from various interface screens and the occasional overhead light. The screens were set in holes in the floor, each hole being a sort of roof-less ‘classroom’ for a single individual who stood in front of the displays. In each room, Vulcans ran tests, answered questions both verbally and in writing, and read copious amounts of materials on a wide variety of subjects. Instructors walked around, peering down into the holes and making corrections or answering questions. The speaking lent a low murmur to the environment, but there were no raised voices or arguments, although close observation would show when an instructor and pupil were not agreeing on a particular issue.

“This is where my studies began. The Vulcan Science Preparatory Academy. This is where all Vulcan youth go for education prior to moving on into their specialized fields, careers, or studies. This is a model of the classrooms as they are today. Little has changed since I was a student here. Feel free to look around. You can interact with the simulation staff and students, if you so desire. But know that I am showing you this because I want you to understand where we as a species are now. When you are done, I have another simulation for you to see.”

Vock, CMO

Lauren nodded as he looked around with wide eyes. He had heard of this place, of course. Vulcans were one of the more prominent members of the galaxy, and so it was difficult to go through a life in Starfleet without hearing about the Preparatory Academy. “I’ll look around,” he said. “Though it will be strange for me … as I won’t be able to sense any emotions,” he thought for a moment. “Though I guess, this being Vulcan, I don’t expect I would sense all that much.”

He wandered away, looking down into the holes. The fact they they were holes did raise a few questions. “Are they put in these holes for a reason? It seems a little … well, like showing them that they are ‘less than’. Is that the point? Humility?” He might be way off the mark, but he was here to ask questions.”

“It is to limit distraction. Minimize interference from other students. And, of course, to ensure that one’s work is one’s own. Remember that you are dealing with a culture very different from your own, Doctor. Humility is not something that Vulcans believe need to be taught in an academic setting. Meditation, introspection, self-analysis… these are areas where humility can be learned and integrated into one’s interactions.”

Each boy and girl he encountered seemed just like miniture versions of the few Vulcans he had met in life. Their faces blank as they answered questions or solves puzzles in a methodical and stoic manner. As one of the assistants passed him by, he knelt down to look at the young girl working inside. He didn’t want to tower over her; that felt wrong. “Hello.” He said. “My name is Jazzin. I’m a Betazoid here learning about your culture.” He realised he wasnt sure what even ask. “How are your studies going?” He settled on.

Ens. Lauren.
Sci

The small girl, probably no more than six or seven Earth years old, paused the simulation and looked up at Jazzin. “They are progressing at the optimum efficiency. Is there a specific inquiry you are pursuing with regards to Vulcan society, or are you performing a generalized study?” she asked in a flat and succinct fashion.

Vock, CMO

Lauren gave a short laugh. “A very … proficient answer!” He told her. “I’m taking some time to learn about your culture. I’m a Betazoid,” he explained. “I can usually tell what people are thinking and feeling, but not at the moment. So I am going to ask a few questions, if that’s okay with you?”

Still kneeling, he thought what he would ask a Betazoid of this girl’s age: How’s school? Are you enjoying your classes? Have you made any friends? Maybe that last one …

“I assume you’re not always in these … erm … holes,” he had no idea what to call them. “Have you made any friends here? And do you do anything fun … I mean, recreational, together?”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

The girl responded flatly. “It is not a hole. It is a study center. It allows me to focus entirely on my studies with no distraction. I am monitored by the instructors, and I can request their assistance by pressing this.” and she indicated a single button set off to the side of the terminal. I have some regular acquaintances within my peer group. For recreation, I play baseball. Do you require any further information?” she asked.

Vock, CMO

Jazzin sighed, but gave the girl a smile. “no … thank you. You’ve been very helpful. Thank you for your time.”

Straightening up, he made his way back to Vock. “Well, sir …” he glanced around. “You have to understand that as a Betazoid, I don’t just take in informaiton with my eyes and ears … I would probably have gotten more from this if I was able to sense what a developing mind was experiencing. Holodecks are different for empathic races; the absence of emotion and thought is jarring.” He looked back to the Vulcan Chief Medical Officer. “What would you have liked for me to have taken away from seeing this?” He asked, honestly.

OOC; Don’t forget to sign off on your posts. Not a big deal, we all forget form time to time. Just a friendly reminder!

OOC: Blimey! It’s been MANY years since I made that rookie mistake! Thank you, kindly :)

IC: Vock paused a moment and then said “You rely a great deal on your empathic abilities, as one who posses those abilities should. But what I hope you take away from this section of my presentation is that emotional cognizance is not a requirement for all… indeed for some it could prove to be an impediment.” and for the first time, Vock looked at Lauren not as an Ensign or a Doctor or a coworker, but simply as one being talking to another. “We are all unique, Doctor Lauren. We each have our own strengths and weaknesses; each with something valuable to contribute to the whole of society. Where we come from, how we are raised, our very biological predispositions serve as a basis for what we become in life. The lack, or societal prohibition, of a particular trait you possess does not mean that the other individual is less than you. My race’s need to suppress our emotions does not put us at a disadvantage; just as your race’s comparative lack of training in logic does not make you less intelligent. They are simply two separate but equally valid approaches to how we answer questions and interpret our realities.” and he turned back and looked at the simulation. “All of these children you see before you are actual students at the Academy. And many will make great contributions to the Federation over the course of their lives. Those contributions would be lost if they didn’t contain their emotions…” and he turned and looked again at Jazzin, “… just as your contributions would be lost if you did the opposite. We all have our respective positions, Doctor. Our strength comes from acknowledging those positions and learning how to best utilize them for the greater good.”

Lauren listened intently as Vock spoke. The Betazoid had an air of the innocent about him; it was what made him an endearing character; instructors always gave him a helping hand, co-workers all helped him through the bad times, his patients took to him because of his earnest compassion. Right now, that kind of innocence was as plan on his face as he listened. This was not exactly news to him; that one species may possess abilities that strengthen them, but are not lessened by the lack of an ability possessed by another, but it was because Vock … his Chief … was taking the time to teach Jazzin. That is how he suddenly felt. He didn’t feel that Vock was the enemy, for the first time they had come aboard. He felt, even without his empathic abilities, Vock’s way of reaching out and working with his junior officer.

After Vock spoke, Jazzin looked around the room. He looked at the young Vulcans hard at their studies, with the overseers moving to and fro. “You know,” he said, after a while. “If you jumble this scene, then you could easily have a bunch of Betazoids sat in front of focusing stones, trying to hone their abilities … block out telepathic ‘noise’, become stronger.” He shrugged. “I guess every species works hard to help their young improve and contribute …” He wanted to say something more … and he would, but now was not the time. It did not stop the question buzzing round his head: Was telepathic ability the only thing that made Betazoids special, in anyway, especially when compared with species so advanced in science and technology. Was telepathy all a Betazoid was?

But he turned his eyes back to his Chief. “Thank you, sir. That was very … profound, and not something I shall easily forget.”

Once he and Jazzin had finished this section of the simulation, Vock said “Would you care to see the second half of the simulation? Or do you want to continue this at another time? I am somewhat certain the next section will be, perhaps, the most important… but also the most difficult… for you. Although that is most certainly not my intention.”

Vock, CMO

The Betazoid took a breath. “Well, we’re here, sir!” He said, trying to lighten the mood … despite the warning that it was likely to get a bit darker with the next simulation. “And I have the time, and I really do have an interest. If you are happy to continue, then so am I.”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

Vock looked at him and simply said “Very well.” and he looked out over the scene before them, an odd look in his eyes just visible behind the stoic face. “Computer. End simulation. Run simulation Vock Omega-one.” and the scene vanished. Suddenly the two doctors were standing on top of a mountain, looking down on a vast forest. The scene moved quickly, as if it were some kind of time-lapse vid. Here and there, towns were sprung up, visible in openings in the canopy. Each town was unique in it’s layout. Some built out with low sprawling buildings of concrete, some built tall spired structures of metal and glass. But on feature each had in common was large walls and a heavy presence of military-like facilities. The walls were scarred with signs of battle, and patrols came and went from each place, and when they encountered each other there was fighting. This continued for some time, with the scale of the conflict growing ever greater.

Jazzin nearly lost his footing as the scene played before him. Though the ground beneath his feet was solid, the whirring of events made his head spin and he he had to tae a moment to steady himself.

But that was nothing to what he was seeing; a history lesson told in mere moments. A moving snapshop of Vulcan history, presenting a species so far removed from what the whole galaxy knew today. It reminded him of ancient history simulations of conflicts on various planets … even his own, though never to this scale.

Inadvertently, he took a step forward from Vock’s side, as if that one step closer could take him closer to what was happening … not that he wanted to, but he felt a compelling push. “By the Sacred Rings,” he breathed.

Suddenly, a flash of light and the forest and towns were gone… replaced by desert and barren rock. No signs of life could be seen. Things stayed like this for some time, until a lone figure could be seen moving from a cave opening below them. The figure moved from cave to cave, and soon some more figures came and began following him; moving back and forth between the different caves and now visible groups.

The Betazoid visibly flinched at the flash of light. Surely it could mean only a thermonuclear detonation? Or something similar. Something so powerful it had turned a planet to … this.

“This is the result of my species not controlling their emotions. We destroyed our ecology… and nearly ourselves. Surak’s teachings saved us, but not before we obliterated our planet with atomic devices.” and he paused and watched his planet’s history unfold. “It is, perhaps, ironic that Surak himself was a victim of the initial atomic attacks. But his teachings survived, and those teachings ensured the Vulcan species would as well.” and he took his eyes off the scene and looked at Jazzin. “You see, Doctor, Vulcans are not just emotional at our core. We are extremely violent. Overly aggressive. Indeed… even homicidal. Many of the ancient rituals were based on combat… to the death. Our ancestors prayed to gods of war and death. It is through logic that we contain these emotions, these… predilections for self-destruction and the drive to inflict pain. Betazoids are fortunate, I believe, in that your emotional range is much more… civilized… than so many others.” and he turned and looked back.

“Perhaps we are,” Jazzin said, at last. he took a moment, then looked at Vock. “When I am around Vulcans, I sense very little; your … suppression, of emotion means that I can feel your presence, but not much more. But … one time, in the Academy, I pushed a little deeper,” he cleared his throat, nervously. “Nothing invasive. I would never … anyway. What I felt was something … extreme beneath the surface. Something that made me a little uncomfortable.”

“It should be noted that the end results of our nature is not entirely negative, however. Vulcan has never, in the recorded history of any species we know of, been conquered. There were invaders, but they were always soundly defeated. Indeed, until the formation of the Federation, Vulcans as a species had no concept of what a conqueror even was, the idea was so foreign to us. So there is, at least, one advantage to our violent tendencies.”

Vock, CMO

That was not something Jazzin was aware of; he had never studied Vulcan history. “During the Cardassian War, Betazed was occupied.” He said. “I was a child then, so I have no memory, and our village was barely affected. My people used their telepathic abilities to fight back; we weaponised our ‘gifts’ … no decent Betazoid speaks very highly of that time.”

The planet was so desolate; such a a contrast to the rolling hills and valleys of his our country on Betazed. He turned away from it and looked to Vock. “If this is your past, sir … how much of it is truly gone?” He wanted to be careful not to be accusatory or imply anything, but … “If I were to dig deep into the Vulcan mind … would I find a homicidal brute just waiting for a chance to kill?” He meant no disrespect in his question. It was genuine. He was even afraid as to what the answer might be.

Ens. Lauren
Doctor


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