The Anomaly
Posted on Sat Apr 12th, 2025 @ 5:03pm by Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Lieutenant Vura & Captain Edmund Merrick & Sergeant Audie Fitch
Edited on on Mon Apr 21st, 2025 @ 12:13pm
3,056 words; about a 15 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Counselling Offices - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD007 1000 hrs
The working theory that Pioneer's staff had regarding the Silence was that empaths and telepaths were being solely affected by their influence. That made a certain amount of sense, as those seemed to be the only people affected. However, as far as Vura knew, Llaxia was not affected and she was not affected. Granted, they were touch telepaths, so that could be somewhat explained away.
What could not be explained away was that she heard the tale of a human female that seemed to be affected similarly. She was somebody that she had already met: Sergeant Audie Fitch. Curious about Audie's situation, Vura called for her to report to her office.
As much as she wracked her brain, Audie couldn't figure out why she was being called to the counselor's office. Hopefully it was just a social call, but she still couldn't help but feel anxious. At the door, she paused, taking a deep breath before pressing the chime to announce her arrival.
Vura came to the door and with all the enthusiasm she could muster said, "Welcome, Audie! We meet again!"
Audie could see that at the entrance of Vura's office, there were placed some blooming lavender plants, which gave off a pleasant soothing smell. On a wall, over a couch, she had put up a copy of Katsushika Hokusai's "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" above a periwinkle couch that swooped up and then down in the middle and then back up again. The couch had definite sensual innuendos written all over the convenient shaping.
The walls of her office were of a deep rose with hints of purple hues. From there, she opted only for a small desk, so the desk would not set a barrier between her and her clients. It was a semi-circle and she placed it carefully in such a way where she could swivel on a chair and quickly type something on a computer or PADD and not interfere with her relationship with her client. The color of the desk nearly blended into the wall but was more mauve on closer inspection.
Warm wooded mahogany chairs were available in case her clients did not prefer to be on the couch. There was a small glass circle table between the chairs. The table contained a small Zen sand garden and rake for clients to manipulate.
Vura watched Audie to see what her reactions might be.
"So," Audie commented as she looked around the room, "This is the Inner Sanctum? It's nice. Violets and pinks, to soothe the nerves?" She knew enough of psychology that some studies showed that those colors tended to be calming, at least to Humans.
"Lavender, too! Good taste!" Grinning, she lightly rubbed some of the purple-grey leaves to bring out the scent, then sighed and settled in a chair. "So, what sort of trouble am I in this time?"
Well, that was a first. Nobody had ever rubbed her plants before. But taking a chair, that was so typical of someone that was called over and was slightly on guard. "No trouble," Vura assured Audie. "Though, I have been hearing that you have been experiencing issues with sleep and nightmares."
Odd question, one they'd touched on briefly at their first meeting, but at least it meant she wasn't in trouble!
Audie took a deep breath, the scent of lavender calming. "Well, I guess you could say the nightmares are the problem," she replied, grinning, "without those, I'd sleep just fine!"
She shook her head, a bit more sober. "I just hope this 'mission' we're on works. It's getting pretty bad."
"This is going to sound strange, Audie, but do you have any empathic or telepathic abilities? Did anyone in your family have them?"
"No," Audie shook her head, thinking it over to be sure she hadn't missed something. "I mean, sure, we all have a degree of empathy for what others are feeling, but nothing outstanding. Why?"
"Because as far as I am aware you're the only non-telepath or empath being affected. So, I would like to know why, and I would like to be able to assist you as much as I can."
"Really?" Audie frowned, still trying to figure out what might be 'special' about her. "Of all the things I could have that would set me apart, I get nightmares!" She chuckled, a bit nervously. There was only one thing she could think of that might be different, but it didn't seem likely.
Vura shrugged helplessly. "You could be a Deltan and not be able touch anyone for as long as you are in Starfleet." She sighed and leaned forward. "So, nightmares, which are likely temporary, is a small burden in the grand scheme of things. I just wish I knew what to make of your situation and why you're having these issues when I am not."
"You should be glad that you're not," Audie commented, "and I hope they're only temporary." Indeed, she couldn't imagine living the rest of her life like this. "So, are all the telepaths and empaths affected?" According to how it sounded, it should be all or nothing, right? And did Audie's time in the Mirror Universe have anything to do with this?
"Anyone that is not a touch telepath, like me, or a non-empath, other than you, as far as I am aware has not yet been affected, which is why I'm so very interested in you. There has to be something unique about you. Are you sure that there's nothing that you can think of in your genetics?"
"No, we're just plain old Earth Humans." Audie shrugged, still trying to think of what might set her apart. "Buster seems to have dreams, too, as much as cats dream, but he might just be sensing me." While not formally empaths, cats were known for sensing emotions, especially extremes.
"If you see Tumnus around, he likes to stay here. I made a bed for him back there." She pointed off in the direction behind her desk. "Technically the ship's cat. In any case, if you know of nothing, I might suggest a medical exam. Because, if, as you say, there is nothing special about you, then I have a greater reason to be worried about the ship's safety. On the other hand, if there is something special about you, we need to know."
Audie frowned, not liking the direction this was going. She tended to try to keep a low profile and stay out of the spotlight, so the idea of being 'special' didn't sit well with her. And she was never keen on seeing a doctor, especially 'just because.'
"Really?" Her nose wrinkled up. "A medical? Do you think I might be a threat to the ship?" There was a thought she didn't like at all! "I'd never do anything..."
Well, Vura should know that. "There's nothing that stands out in my file?"
"I do not think that you are a threat to anything, except men," Vura answered with a small laugh. "Probably slaying hearts everywhere, there."
The Deltan then heaved a sigh. "The reason I want to examine you is to see if others are going to suffer and to discover why they are suffering. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah, I guess so." As much as she didn't like it, Audie felt a bit like a petulant child. Yes, she understood, no, she didn't like it.
"All right, then, do what you have to, but I want a milkshake when you're done."
"A milkshake?" Vura asked laughing. "A reward for a medical test? Should I start training you, that way?" she wondered teasingly.
"It's worked before," Audie chuckled, "and you should see what I'd do for a steak dinner! Let's get to this before I have second thoughts."
"I'm more curious what you will do for the steak dinner," Vura replied thoughtfully. "But, you're right. Let's take you to see Hermia." The Deltan got up gracefully and then started leading Audie out her door and over to medical.
Once there, Vura called out, "Hermia, darling. I require a consult with you."
Hermia appeared from her office. "Vura, Sergeant Fitch, what a lovely surprise." She said. "So, who's the victim...I mean patient?"
Reluctantly, Audie went along with Vura, bracing herself for the exam, although she thought it was pretty much 'much ado about nothing'.
"Doctor." Audie nodded to the woman, then shrugged. "I suppose I am, but I'm not really sure why." Vura could be more specific in what they were looking for.
"Audie's the victim, and perhaps in the most awful way," she started explaining to Hermia. "As far as she is aware, she is a normal human. However, she has been experiencing similar nightmares to our empathic and telepathic crew. She's an anomaly, as far as I am aware, and that has ramifications that I have no desire to face."
"Interesting. Some humans have been known to possess latent psionic abilities, in fact Starfleet Medical used to test everyone for psionic potential. In most cases where these powers become active an external trigger is required." Hermia said. "I could do some tests, to see if this is what's happened here."
"Please," insisted Vura. "Because if Audie has such abilities then we need to identify others with such abilities." She paused and let the words linger, "If not...."
Vura didn't have to finish her sentence, Hermia was well aware where it would lead. "Sergeant would you please sit on this biobed." Hermia said. "I'll just get a cortical scanner. I'm going to use it to monitor your brain waves while you view a series of images on the biobed's attached screen."
"If not...what?" Audie grumbled as she sat on the biobed. "Really, I might be a tad psycho, but none of the tests ever showed any psionic traits." She shrugged, then asked, "What about restricted info in my file? Do you have that?" It was a long shot, but the only thing she could think of that set her apart. Well, besides cat hair!
"Why would there be anything restricted about you in your file?" Vura wondered aloud.
"Genetic alteration, exposure to certain chemicals, forms of energy and/or species, etc." Hermia replied. "Are things that tend to be restricted." She explained. "I'd have to get permission from the CO or Intel." She added.
"I think that you should. We have to know if this is a bigger threat to the ship or not."
Audie sighed and shook her head. "No, I've not been exposed to anything, at least that I know of." Had something happened going to or from the Mirror Universe? Or in just meeting another her? "Ask Captain Merrick, he should know." It wasn't as if, to her thinking, there was anything that was top-secret, or would affect anything to do with operations, and it was certainly not a security threat.
"Why would Edmund know anything?" Vura asked familiarly.
"He's my immediate CO?" If he didn't have access to that, he could boot the request up the chain. "It's probably nothing, maybe see what the tests show?" If she had to be special, why couldn't it be something useful, like stumbling on a fortune?
"Edmund is your immediate CO." Vura gave a mischievous grin towards Audie. "This is good to know. Yes, let's see what these results show. I may have to chat with him after this."
"O'Rourke to Merrick, could you please report to Sickbay at your earliest convenience, please." Hermia said into her comm. badge.
Vura moved closer to Hermia and then whispered in her ear, "What are you doing, Hermia?"
"Getting the info from Edmund." Hermia said.
"Right, but, um, this way?" The Counselor shuffled uncomfortably.
Edmund was surprised to get a summons from Hermia, well he will answer. "On my way Commander" when he arrived in medical the marine was a little bit surprised to see Audie and Vura there. "Something going on?" he asked walking over towards the three ladies. Edmund seemed to be much calmer at the moment despite being in the same vicinity as Vura. His focus was more on Audie.
"Yes, there is," Vura replied evenly. "Audie here says she is a pure human. As you may be aware, telepaths and empaths have been suffering from our external sources." Vura did not want to mention anything yet about the Silence. "Yet, Audie here suffers from the same symptoms. She suggested that there may have been a mission where you were her commander that might have affected her. So, Hermia called you here."
Edmund looked at Audie, then back to Vura. "I am her commanding officer right now. This is the only time I've been that. She is from Poseidon Station, wherein the staff there consisted of Captain Harrington, Commander Cara Letsul, and Colonel Patton. Maybe those three can help out with this puzzle or even talk with Colonel Tremble."
Audie sighed and shook her head. This was the problem with 'management', so much confusion and red tape. "Yes, it was a mission I was on when I was assigned to Poseidon Station." She glanced at Edmund. "I just thought you might have access to that part of my record, and make a judgement on what can be revealed?" Just this conversation was awkward enough!
"I will have to find out, I will ask the Colonel as this sort of thing might be out of my paygrade. Tremble maybe he can find out. I am sorry I am not able to truly help on this one." Edmund giving an apologetic look towards Audie.
Vura tried to not make her feelings known regarding Neil but a small disgusted sound escaped. "Excuse me," she said, hoping to cover it up as a cough or belch.
Whether Edmund took notice, it didn't seem that it did. "That is about all I can offer in this matter. Sorry I can't be much more help than that."
"That's alright. Will you be contacting Tremble or should Hermia?" Vura asked Edmund. "This matter is of some urgency."
"Before I do that, let me ask you something, Audie." Edmund said looking at her. "Are you recalling the nightmares or is it just waking up and knowing you had a terrible dream but didn't know what it was? I can tell you this, I do know I have been having nightmares and, when I wake up, I don't remember them, but I do know that I had one. It's not just happening with those who are empathic but it's happening with those who are not. I've been hearing such occurrences happening."
"Exactly," Audie agreed, "just...wisps, vague feelings. But I do know the dreams don't have anything to do with...well, any past things in my life." She was relieved to find out that Edmund was having dreams, too, and that she might not be so special!
Edmund pulled out his PADD and plugged into Audie's file. He read about her going on a mission, a rescue mission. "The mission that she went on, it was to rescue someone and that was all that it was." He frowned slightly, then closed the PADD back up. "Not everyone wants to mention that they were having nightmares, maybe thinking that they might be just brushed off as something to be scoffed at. I had spoken to Zhara about my nightmares as well. Well, more like not remembering them, and I do know they were rather intense. I thought I was going to have a heart attack on the last one." Edmund gave a shrug.
Edmund's voice was rather calm, as he looked at Vura. "There you go, more pieces to a puzzle. Those who don't have empathic or telepathic abilities are having nightmares they can't explain, the lack of sleep everyone is experiencing. This is causing people to become short tempered as a result of it, including me." He drew in a breath to let things stay calm and cool.
He looked at Audie, then back to Hermia and Vura. "I'd like my marine to be excused, and I need to get back to work as well."
Vura's eyes widened and she visibly looked as if she had been punched in the gut when Edmund said that he spoke to Zhara. You didn't come to me? One fight and you go elsewhere? Maybe you are not the person that I thought that you were, Edmund. "I appreciate your lay opinion as to what the causes may be, Captain Merrick. I will give your opinion the weight that it deserves," she told him coldly.
She then turned to Audie and pleasantly said, "Thank you for coming, Audie. I appreciate your time. If you wish to go, you may."
Edmund noticed Vura's reaction as to him mentioning Zhara. He was visibly surprised at her reaction. Didn't Vura go through records to see who was being counseled by whom? From the moment Edmund came onto Pioneer, it had been Zhara who was his counselor. A rapport had been formed between the two of them, and Edmund has kept seeing Zhara due to that connection.
"Aye, sir." Audie was more than happy to escape, she was starting to feel like she'd been called to the principal's office but didn't know why. But before she dashed, she glanced at Vura. "You owe me a shake!"
Vura laughed and then shook her body. "There, a shake...." She laughed again. "I know. I know. You want a milkshake. You're something else."
Edmund gave a nod to Vura and Hermia, "Lieutenant Vura and Commander O'Rourke, I will take my leave as well. Thank you for looking after Audie." Edmund turned to take his leave, giving a wave towards them as he left.
"That's my job," Vura replied simply. However, beneath her exterior, she was boiling. We will be having a chat soon, Edmund.
A Joint Post By
Captain Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Sergeant Audie Fitch
Corpsman Team 2, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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