A Field Study in Interpersonal Relations, Part One

Posted on Tue May 21st, 2013 @ 2:55am by Ensign David Brody & Crumm Widdy & Lieutenant Anandra Delair & Lieutenant JG Aidan Murphy
Edited on on Tue May 21st, 2013 @ 2:56am

2,934 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Mission 83 - Recovery
Location: Counselor Delair's Office and then the Skyline Lounge
Timeline: Following the conclusion of Mission 82

ON:

Anandra looked forward to the last appointment of the day with only slight trepidation in comparison to what she'd felt when she first met Talan. Anan had spent much of the time since their last appointment questioning herself, beating herself up over the way she had reacted. Ashamed by her inability to keep her personal baggage out of the situation, she vowed to take on a new approach next time she saw him - this time she would not allow her history or his lack of interpersonal skills affect their interaction - she would approach him with fresh objectivity this time and do her best to interact with him the same way she would with any of her beloved friends and crewmates. After all, he deserved fair treatment just as much as anyone else, and it would be difficult to reintegrate him if she constantly felt at odds with him. It would take a great deal of mind over matter for her to not let him get under her skin, but she resolved to deal with her problems on her own time, giving Talan every bit of the attention he deserved when the time was his.

She'd devised a plan of sorts to throw Talan into some much needed social interaction in a setting that would allow for him to intimately observe the coming together of personalities and how they interact with each other. It was Ensign Brody who worked out all the details, and with him in charge of populating the little event, Anandra could only imagine the array of personalities that might show up. It would certainly prove to be interesting, to say the least. And with any luck, the others would engage Talan, and he would engage them..and ultimately learn something from his observations on that night. Anandra suspected that this experience overall would be as much of a learning curve for her as it would be for Talan, and she hoped that she could succeed not only with helping him, but with changing herself for the better as well. She did not like the feelings she'd experienced - fear, distrust, loathing - in Talan's company on the first meeting. She reminded herself even now that if she were to help him integrate himself back into society, she herself must first separate him from the horror bestowed upon Talan, herself, and of course the countless others at the hands of the Borg.

Sitting behind the desk in her office, Anan checked the time, then tapped her commbadge. "Delair to Brody - It's almost time, where are we meeting you?" She wanted to iron out the necessary details before Talan walked through her door at any moment.

Ensign Brody was finishing getting ready in his quarters when he heard Delair's voice come through. He tapped his commbadge in response. "We'll be in the Skyline Lounge conference center. I was able to book it for the night. Crumm and Aiden will meet us there after you've arrived with Talan."

Anan smiled, pleased that she could count on him. "Thanks Brody, we'll be along in a bit. Delair out." She turned on the console at her desk, drawing up her file for Talan, more specifically her notes from their last meeting.

Talan had arrived at Delair's office once again. He had been given an assignment at their last meeting which required him to observe social interactions aboard the station and record his observations. He had brought along a PADD with his findings. He stood at the door for a couple minutes, again waiting for his internal chronometer to indicate the specified time before activating the chime to the Counselor's office.

"Enter!" she called, glancing at the time display on her console - Talan was flawlessly punctual yet again. She switched off the screen as he entered, standing to greet him. "Good evening, Talan." she nodded respectfully, then gestured to one of the seats in front of her desk. She intended to touch base on the 'homework' she'd given him before filling him in on their plans for the evening.

Warrant Officer Talan took his seat and wasted no time presenting his PADD to Delair without exchanging the customary pleasantries. "I have completed my task. I took the liberty of collating my data and sorted my findings by species, gender, age, location and subject matter." He stared straight ahead and waited for the Lieutenant to check his work.

"Alright," she said, taking the PADD and reading through some of the data presented. His level of detail and organization said a lot about Borg efficiency, but left much to be desired in terms of Talan's social perceptions. Not that she'd expected much different considering his case. "This is impressive work, Talan. I appreciate the efficiency and organization as well as the amount of data collected." She set the PADD on the desk, looking at him. "I assume you also did the reading I'd asked? Do you have any perceptions or observations to share in regards to that?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact." His eyes darted back and forth as he accessed the information he had assimilated. "El-Aurians have a reputation as being a race of listeners. But the trait goes much deeper and borders on true empathy. El-Aurians are affected and subconsciously inspired by the tales of others." Talan scanned the office and keyed in on the artwork meticulously placed within. His attention was drawn to a painting of a moon rising over a solar horizon. "This piece for example. It is very likely that the desire to select this artwork for your office was not your own. One of your patients may have shared a personal story which planted a seed within you. Fostered by your own emotions, the notion for this particular painting to be mounted on your office could have developed." He looked at Delair, a look of indifference about him. "Is this revelation what you had intended when you gave this assignment?"

Anan listened, her chin resting on her palm as she looked across the desk at him, impressed by his 'chosen' observation. She could not recall what exactly had drawn her to that particular painting - even as she looked at it now it did not impress her as much as it used to - but his observation was astute nonetheless. She lifted her chin off her hand, smiling wryly at the question - she had expected somesuch question would likely follow. "Perhaps the only intention was to garner a revelation in the first place."" she responded evenly, standing from her seat. Her true intentions, of course, had been met exactly - she wanted Talan to recognize and focus on any particular aspect of the El-Aurian species, then she could make her own observations on what his choice might have said about his own individual humanity. Whether or not he was able to recognize it as of yet, Anan knew there was an individual in there, and asking Talan to make choices and observations was a subtle beginning in helping him recognize himself. At least, that was her hope. "I do appreciate you asking questions, Talan, and I will encourage that throughout our work together - but please, for your own benefit, do not take any assignments under scrutiny of my intentions. I have no intentions or expectations for you, I simply want to guide you through your integration." She moved around the desk, passing behind Talan's chair and over to the ante room, where she'd left her bag. "Now, if you have no objections, I'd like to take you one a field study, of sorts." she said, scooping her bag off of a chair. She then went to a small table on which she'd left a couple of PADDs, which she collected and put in her bag, turning to face Talan. "This will be the first in a series of exercises in social interaction. Again, you will have no expectations. I simply want you to observe and interact as you normally do. Are you ready?"

"I am ready for any and all challenges, Lieutenant," said Talan. He was completely unfazed and showed no indication that he might have been challenged.

Just then, Brody's voice came over the comm. "Brody to Talan. Please report to the Skyline conference room on the double. And be sure to escort Lieutenant Delair."

Talan tapped his commbadge. "Aye, Mr. Brody. We will arrive shortly." He looked over to Delair and raised a brow. "If you will follow me, Counselor, we are due in the Skyline Lounge."

Anan arched a brow herself as Brody came over the comm, then shot a look at Talan in a futile attempt to read his response. "Of course, after you Talan." she said, gesturing with a sweep of her hand toward the door. She followed closely behind, falling in beside him when they got out to the hall. An awkwardly silent turbolift ride and a few moments later and they were on the Promenade, making their way toward the Skyline Lounge. Anandra took particular note of the way people looked at Talan as he passed, some of them whispering amongst themselves in discreet attempts to confirm whether he was a separated drone - and she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. She could only hope that over time she would be able to help him prove himself as an entirely separate entity from the Borg. "Have you had the opportunity to spend much time here on the Promenade?" she asked him just as they approached the entrance to Crumm's establishment.

Talan scanned the lounge, scrutinizing its every detail. "I have not had a chance to frequent this particular location. Although, it has come highly recommended by Ensign Brody."

Just at that moment, Crumm arrived as he no doubt spied Lieutenant Delair making her way through the crowd. He was all smiles per usual until he caught a glimpse of Talan. His grin did not just fade, it outright became a grimace. Crumm had never encountered a Borg, freed or otherwise, but he knew several of his kind whose live had been directly affected by their goal of galactic conquest. Minding his manners, he forced his smile to return. "Welcome as always Lieutenant." He could not help but stare at her companion. "And what, er who, do we have here?"

"Has it now?" she asked, arching a brow wryly at her companion - though she did not really expect an answer as their attention were soon drawn to the approach of a jovial blue man.

"Hello, it's lovely to see you, Crumm!" Anan tried to conceal her horror at Crumm's reaction to Talan, but she was face-palming on the inside. She greeted him with a nod, forcing a smile as she began to make introductions. "Well. Crumm, this is Warrant Officer Talan, Master at Arms. Talan, this is the owner of the Skyline Lounge, Crumm Widdy." she said, then gestured to Brody. "And of course, you know Ensign Brody - by the way, it's lovely to see you as well." She said directly to Brody with a smile.

Brody had been coming out of his shell lately and was glad to see Delair. He still hadn't gotten used to calling her by her first name just yet. He cracked a smile and managed a wink. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Lieutenant."

"Well I certainly hope so." she jested with a grin, turning her attention back to the others as Crumm inadvertently threw her to the wolves.

Crumm was still trying to get used to the idea of a one time Borg drone in his midst. He was naturally uncomfortable, but knew that the Starfleet uniform he wore meant he was friend and not foe. "Well, Mr. Talan, I'm glad you could make it. I understand this evening is in your honor."

Talan looked back at Delair. "This is the social experiment in which you would have me participate?"

Before Delair could speak, Brody clasped a hand on Talan's shoulder. The physical contact clearly made uncomfortable, but Brody seemed insistent on friendly physical conduct. "Relax, Copper. This was my idea. Well, the specifics at least. The Counselor wanted to get you involved with your fellow crew. So I booked the Skyline conference room for an evening full of social interaction." His smile indicated he had something up his sleeve.

Anandra was relieved as Brody stepped in for her. "And from that look on your face I'm going to assume we're in for an interesting night." She commented.

As the others were getting introduced, Aidan finally arrived, his presence announced boisterously as he shouted a greeting on his approach. "Evening fellas," he said, nodding to the group, a look of recognition about him as he spotted Delair. "Well, hello there Counselor!" he said as he moved to squeeze between Talan and Anandra. He did an obvious double-take when he got a look at Talan, however, his attention easily shifting from Anandra to him instead. "Bloody hell, that's got to hurt." he said, gesturing to the top of his own head where Talan's cranial implants were located. "What does it do?" Anandra couldn't help but smirk - he was still the same Aidan that she recalled.

Talan had not even begun to master the concept of sarcasm. He was not quite sure if this new arrival was genuinely interested in his implants or making light of the situation as his demeanor might suggest. Either way, Talan would have responded the same. "There is no pain associated with my implants, Lieutenant." He ran a finger slowly over the metallic devices, describing them as he went. "The cranial tubules regulate the flow of biochemicals to my neural interface. The ocular node enhances my corneal implant and allows me to see my environment through a number of tactical filters. My auditory transceiver permits me to process sounds and frequencies indistinguishable to the naked ear."

Brody stepped in again, seemingly coming to Talan's rescue. "This guy got to keep the goods when he was separated from the Collective. I'm helping him develop his abilities to work against the forces of evil." He let out a comically menacing laugh.

Crumm received a wave from Sheela, who had been stationed on the other end of the lounge. He made his way to the center of the group. "I've just been informed your room is ready. I hope you don't mind, but when Brody told me what was planned for this evening, I kindly invited myself to participate. I hope everyone finds that acceptable?"

Aidan listened and looked as Talan explained his implants, his expression one of mixed fascination and disgust - at least until Brody brought the comic relief. "Oh boy in that case we're all doomed." he teased after Brody's menacing laugh.

"Of course it's acceptable, Crumm!" Anandra assured him in a kind tone, a bit bemused that he could even venture to think he wouldn't be welcome.

"Oi she's a pushover, you're actually not allowed," Aidan teased, moving to put an arm around Crumm's shoulders, as if the two of them went way back. "Unless of course, you provide the drinks for the evening.." he added with a touch of persuasive charm, and the two of them began to chat as they moved toward the conference room. Anandra overheard that and the counselor in her was a bit troubled to hear he was still drinking these days, but tonight her focus would not be put to Aidan.

"Well, onward I suppose." she beckoned to Talan and Brody as Aidan and Crumm were ahead of them, and the entire group migrated to the other room.

Crumm opened the conference room doors with a wave of his hand. The room was dimly lit per Brody's specifications and had been organized with a large circular table in the middle. The table was dressed in green felt and had a raised leather number around the periphery. There were several stacks of small, colorful discs and a deck of playing cards. Crumm turned to Brody, "I hope his is what you had in mind?"

"It's perfect, Crumm," Brody replied. He motioned for everyone to enter. "Come on, lets get this party started." Crumm selected his seat before retiring briefly to arrange for refreshments. Brody also found his chair and eagerly started shuffling the cards.

Aidan was close behind Crumm as he passed through the conference room doors. He circled the table once, grinning ear to ear as he checked out the setup. "Now this is how it's done!" he said, finally taking a seat next to Brody, where he began counting and stacking chips.

Talan seemed hesitant to join the group. He turned to Delair and sounded unsure for the first time she had met him. "Are you certain this is necessary, Counselor? I don't see how games of chance are to assist in my integration process."

Anan watched off to the side as the others were seated, Crumm went for refreshments, and Talan seemed to hesitate behind. She looked at him expectantly, her response coming quickly to her. "This will be a new experience for you - it may not seem necessary but these people are your crewmates and it's important to connect with them in order to serve most efficiently together - and you may learn something unexpected in the process." she put a hand on his shoulder, encouraging him toward the table. "Why don't you just give it a try? You can always excuse yourself if you determine it's a waste of time."

OFF.

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