Tuvok sipped his tea and studied the PADD in his hand with half a mind as he sat in the crowded mess hall during the morning rush. In the weeks since his mind-meld with Suder had forced him to come face-to-face with the darkness that lurked within him, he had gained a deeper appreciation for the traditions of his people as well as a strange kind of empathy for the rest of the Voyager crew. Though they did not experience the deeply passionate and turbulent levels of emotions that were part of the Vulcan psyche — emotions that had nearly destroyed their race before their embrace of logic saved them — they managed to keep themselves on an even keel under very trying circumstances. Tuvok wondered if he would be able to adjust so well were he stripped of his emotional control and unable to regain it.
His musings led him naturally to consider Lon Suder and Ensign T’Loran. Since the second mind-meld, Suder had become much more controlled, rational, and empathic. He was able to experience guilt and remorse for his actions and often expressed a desire to make some kind of restitution. He accepted his permanent confinement to secured quarters without complaint but desired to be able to do something useful so as to not be a drain on the ship’s resources during the long voyage back to the Alpha Quadrant. He had also expressed a wish to help Ensign T’Loran with her own telepathic abilities. Sipping his tea, Tuvok pondered the best way to broach the fraught topic with the woman. Logically, having a Betazoid tutor would be the best solution. However, he did see that she might find it difficult to lower her guard enough for such a situation to be viable. Perhaps, in time, she would be able to accept Mr. Suder’s offer.
Glancing over, Tuvok saw T’Loran and Vorik enter the mess hall together. He wondered at that. The two of them had been spending an increasing amount of time in each other’s company since her attack. They did work together and, having gone over her history and records, Tuvok could understand that the two of them might naturally see each other as fellow Vulcans on a ship dominated by humans. Thus far, they had done nothing inappropriate — friendships between crewmembers of equal rank were not forbidden — but he was unsettled by the idea that there might be more going on between them. The two of them gathered their trays, received their meals from Neelix who, knowing they were both vegetarians, had prepared protein-rich salads for them and pressed a nutrient-dense soup on T’Loran.
“It would do you good to eat it,” he heard Vorik say telepathically. “Our sessions leave you drained and you will require a higher caloric intake as well as an increase in folic acid and vitamin B.”
“It smells heavily of capsaicin,” T’Loran sent back. Tuvok’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I have noticed that Mr. Neelix attempts to add his own artistic touch to any dish he prepares,” Vorik replied mentally. “I supplied the parameters of this soup but he has taken the liberty making some minor adjustments. I do not believe they will impact its purpose, though.”
“It is not your digestive tract that will be suffering the effects of Mr. Neelix’s ‘minor adjustments,’” T’Loran quipped.
The two ensigns sat down at an empty table and continued their telepathic conversation as they dined. Occasionally, T’Loran struggled to hold up her side, broadcasting images or sensations instead of words or imbuing her words with more than she obviously wished to communicate — a common occurrence when Vulcans were first learning to communicate telepathically. They were both also broadcasting their conversation so that any telepath could ‘hear’ it — another event frequent to Vulcan children early in their training. Tuvok, feeling more and more as if he were eavesdropping, rose from his seat and walked over to them. They both moved to salute him but he gestured for them to remain sitting. “As you were, Ensigns,” he said aloud. “You may wish to shield your conversations better so that not everyone can hear them,” he added mentally to both of them. T’Loran gaped and then flushed bright red, looking down at the table. Vorik, on the other hand, appeared a trifle annoyed. He managed to control his expression better than T’Loran but the tips of his ears had a distinct green tint to them, indicating some degree of anger.
“A word in private if I may, Lieutenant?” Vorik requested politely but his voice held a hint of cold steel to it. Tuvok could sense that he had sent a telepathic message to T’Loran who seemed to be gathering her control and now appeared much calmer. Tuvok nodded, acceding the younger man’s request and the two of them walked over to an unoccupied corner of the mess hall. “With all due respect, sir, Ensign T’Loran received no training in telepathy during her childhood on Vulcan. As a Betazoid, she would not have displayed any telepathic ability until many years after the rest of her class mates had already begun training.”
“I am aware of those things, Ensign, as I am aware of her unusual background,” Tuvok said coolly. “However, one of the earliest lessons we are given is in keeping our thoughts and conversations private.”
“I am aware of that, sir,” Vorik replied, just as coolly. “And I have begun teaching her those things. However, it often takes a Vulcan child several months to master those skills. Ensign T’Loran has been practicing only eight hours a week on average when we can have our shifts allow for us to meet and go over those lessons. It was my suggestion that she and I begin speaking telepathically more frequently so that she would find it easier to do so and might find it easier to learn other skills — including how to shield her thoughts — more quickly in the future.”
“And why have you taken it upon yourself to train her, Ensign? Surely there are others more qualified to train her?”
“There are only two other telepaths on Voyager, sir — yourself and Mr. Suder. Mr. Suder is imprisoned and under house arrest, confined to quarters indefinitely. He also attacked Ensign T’Loran. You are our superior officer and we have no standing to approach you with such a personal request. T’Loran was planning to attempt to teach herself when I came across her and offered to help her.”
“None of that answers my question, Ensign. Why you?”
“Because there is no one else. And because she would do the same for me if the situation were reversed. It is only logical that I help her since I can and no one else is willing or able to do so. And again, with all due respect, sir, what we do when we are off-duty is no one’s business but our own.”
“Very well, Ensign,” Tuvok said. “I would appreciate it if you kept me and the doctor informed of your progress and if both of you agree to submit to routine examinations.”
“That is reasonable,” Vorik agreed.
“And Ensign,” Tuvok added as Vorik turned to go back to his meal. Vorik looked over his shoulder at his superior officer. “No mind-melds without my or the Captain’s consent.”
“You should not take Lieutenant Tuvok’s criticism too harshly,” Vorik said quietly. He could sense that T’Loran was very out-of-sorts over what the chief of security had said to them. Though she had excellent control of her emotions and her expressions under normal circumstances, the mental fatigue and the physical strain that came with using her telepathy so frequently for so long had broken down some of her barriers. “You are making progress. In time, you will be able to target only those you wish to send your thoughts to.”
“You are certain that not everyone can hear us?” she asked again.
“Only other telepaths and only if they are in the same room,” he answered for the third time. “You do not have the skill or strength to project your thoughts to non-telepaths nor can you send them beyond a certain range. Even Lieutenant Tuvok could not broadcast his thoughts very far.”
“Can you hear everyone else’s thoughts, Vorik?” she asked curiously.
“No,” he answered, unsurprised at this question. He had been waiting for her to ask it. “It is one of the differences between Betazoid and Vulcan telepathy. I can only pick up the thoughts of other telepaths. Betazoids, on the other hand, can detect the thoughts and emotional states of non-telepaths as well as telepaths. You may also find yourself detecting the thoughts and emotions of non-sentient beings such as animals.” T’Loran stared at him. “I did some research,” he explained. “It was quite fascinating. Apparently Betazed has always had a very peaceful society due to their telepathy. They also have a very strict code of ethics regarding the treatment of all life-forms as they can sense the emotions of many of them. There is much to admire about that aspect of your background.”
“I have been focusing on the more technical aspects of Betazed telepathy,” she sighed. “I will have to expand my research to include Betazed history. At least now I can block it out,” she added.
“It must have been overwhelming at first.”
“It was very disorienting,” she admitted. “I am relieved to have gained some control over it.”
“And soon you will have more control,” he said encouragingly. “T’Loran, have you considered speaking with Mr. Suder?” She shuddered, a logical if unhelpful reaction. “I understand that it may be difficult to consider but he is the only Betazoid on board. He may be able to offer you information and guidance that I cannot provide.”
“I will consider it. I know that the lieutenant has been counseling him. Perhaps if he indicates that Mr. Suder has truly undergone a major behavioral change for the better, I will risk it. For now, I don’t think I could control my reactions were I to be in a small enclosed space with him.” She yawned sleepily. “I had best return to my own quarters. My room-mates will be wondering where I am. Thank you for allowing me to come to yours. I’m not certain I could have handled their questions right away. I hope I haven’t imposed too much on you.”
“It was no imposition. Perhaps we could conduct your sessions here in the future? It would be more private than the labs,” he suggested.
“I would find that satisfactory,” T’Loran agreed. She yawned again. Vorik smiled slightly. “I almost regret volunteering to work on the transwarp project with Mr. Kim and Mr. Paris.”
“How is your work on that progressing?” Vorik asked curiously. “No, don’t tell me,” he prodded gently. “Show me,” he said telepathically, sending her a series of images that played out like a small holo-movie in her mind. T’Loran sighed and closed her eyes. She was, as yet, too inexperienced to be able to send such complex information without blocking out as much sensory input as she could. Vorik waited patiently and was soon rewarded with a series of complex images — schematics, diagrams, computer models, T’Loran’s imaginings of what transwarp might look like from within a ship, the mathematical models she’d used to construct her models, and more. He also received what she had learned from the others on the project regarding ship design, the kind of fuel they would need, engineering problems they were encountering in their simulations. A wealth of information flooded his mind and he sent back his own questions, delving into her mind to pull up her own mental images and use them to illustrate his questions or to point out something he thought she had missed. Their conversation continued for another hour before her sendings began to grow hazy and foggy. They started to flicker, causing to Vorik to grow mildly concerned. When he stopped receiving them entirely, he switched to language-based telepathy. When that elicited no reply, he opened his eyes and shook his head in abashed embarrassment. He did not remember closing them. T’Loran had nodded off. The lengthy sessions had taken their toll on her and her body had succumbed to exhaustion. Rising from his place on the floor, he lifted her gently and laid her on his couch where she could rest more comfortably. After a moment’s thought, he removed her shoes and then fetched an extra blanket from his closet. Satisfied that she would be comfortable for the night, he retired to his own room to meditate and sleep as well.