by Dabin Reece
80808.2308
Morning, the day of Vol's wedding
-=Center for Telepathic Research, Betazed=-
80808.2308
Morning, the day of Vol's wedding
-=Center for Telepathic Research, Betazed=-
Dabin paced back and forth outside Trulil's office. February exchanged a grin with the female assistant who had informed Dabin that Trulil would be with them in five minutes. That was fifteen minutes ago.
"He's just a little anxious to hear what the researchers found." February said.
"Sir, can I offer you a drink? Or something to read while you wait?"
"What was your name?"
"Caliopi!" The woman said perkily.
"Yes calliope, I would love a drink."
*This woman sounds like a calliope.* Dabin thought.
"What's a calliope?" The woman asked. Dabin winced, realizing his thoughts were not being shared with February alone.
"It's a beautiful ancient Earth instrument, associated with the most brilliant musical minds on the planet." February said.
"Why thank you! Aren't you sweet." Caliopi disappeared leaving the Trills alone.
"Wow you really can think on your feet." Dabin said, impressed with her ability to weave such a rich tapestry of bullplop on a moment's notice. "And in front of a telepath, no less."
"If you didn't keep trying to inspire people to slap you, I wouldn't need to think so fast." Bru said, leaning back in her chair and tapping her pink high tops on the floor.
"What do you think he'll say?" Dabin said, staring at the door to Trulil's office.
February rose from her seat and brushed his hair aside lovingly. "That we can only hear each other because we are a little crazy." She said, smiling to punctuate her sarcasm.
Dabin leveled his eyes on hers, "Just crazy for you, February Grace." He thought about kissing her, but Trulil's assistant quashed that idea by returning with a glass of ice water for Dabin.
"Thanks." He said enthusiastically.
The intercom at Caliopi's desk chimed, and Trulil's voice came over the speaker. [You can send them in.]
Dabin slammed the water in one gulp, then held the empty glass up to Bru. "I'm sorry, did you want a sip?"
"I'll get one later, thanks." She replied. The two Trill entered Trulil's office, leaving Caliopi on her own.
"Computer." She spoke into her terminal. "Tell me everything we have on the Earth instrument called a calliope."
-=Trulil's Office=-
Dabin and February shook the man's hand, and sat down across from him at his desk. The walls were covered with schematics and artwork depicting the Betazoid mind. The tone of the decor changed from clinically sterile to simplistically beautiful depending on where one's eyes fell.
Dabin was particularly taken with one piece of art that depicted two minds, one red and one blue, that emanated trails of matching iridescent colors towards each other. In the center the red and blue colors melded into purple as the thoughts became one.
"So, are you ready to hear what we found?"
Dabin brought his attention back to Trulil. "May I have the envelope please?" He requested.
"I'm sorry?" Trulil asked, confused.
"It means yes, February said."
Trulil handed each of them a PADD. "You'll find here all our data, calculations, study results, meeting notes between myself and my colleagues, and conclusions. Feel free to keep those for your own use."
Trulil picked up his own PADD and skipped to the conclusions. "In short, Dabin and February, your link is a once in a lifetime occurrence. You each carry a gene in a normally dormant part of the Trill mind that occurs in only about one in one billion of your species. The gene, if properly stimulated, can activate the dormant part of the brain and allow telepathic communication, but only between two minds that have the same gene, where the gene has been activated."
"That's why we can only hear each other, and no one else?" February asked.
"Correct. Your telepathic link is like opposite poles of a magnet. You mind attracts his thoughts, and his attracts yours. Everyone else without the active gene is like a magnet with no charge. There is no attraction for your mind to theirs."
"How were the genes activated though? I haven't been struck by lightning lately." Dabin said.
"It was your symbionts. The latent attraction between Grace and Reece, when combined with the," Trulil cleared his throat, "obvious affection between Dabin and February, was so intense that it caused an electrochemical reaction in your minds that activated the gene. Basically the intensity of the emotion between the symbionts and the hosts was so great it caused the change."
Trulil continued, "Considering how rare the gene is, the odds of both of you being joined, and the chances you would even find each other and fall in love, the unlikelihood of this having occurred between you two is beyond astronomical. It defies mathematical comprehension that it happened, and chances are it will never happen again. In short, your connection is unique.”
“Unique.” Dabin said with a smile. February put her hand on his, and she looked sad.
“I’m sorry, I know you were hoping to help our people.”
“No, Bru, don’t apologize. We are unique. We defied the odds. I love this, I couldn’t ask for a better conclusion to our studies.” Dabin rose from the table and shook Trulil’s hand once again.
“Thank you so much for your help. This is a true gift.”
“No, thank you both. If you don’t mind, with your permission, I’d like to further study this data. We can learn so much about the Betazoid mind by comparing it to the Trill.”
“I have no problem with it.” February said, “How about you Dabin?”
Dabin pursed his lips, contemplating the offer. He had no problem allowing Trulil to use the data. Instead, he was wondering what may be in it for him. Trulil began to nod slowly as he heard what Dabin was thinking. He turned around, and looked at the painting Dabin had been studying earlier.
“That?” Trulil asked.
“Yeah, I want that.” Dabin said.
“My sister painted that for me three years ago.” Trulil said.
“Oh,” Dabin said, his shoulders slumping.
Trulil continued, “She also stole ten thousand credits out of my account when I left her in here alone to hang it. She spent three months in prison. You can have it.”
Trulil plucked the painting off the wall and handed it to Dabin. “This is going in our quarters, thank you so much!”
“Don’t mention it. I’ve been meaning to put that thing in the closet for the last three years. Is there anything else I can do for you both?”
“I don’t think so,” February said.
“Me either,” Dabin added. “Now, if you excuse us, we have a wedding to undress for.”
*******************
Commander Dabin Reece
The Scientist
USS Serendipity/Alchemy
Commander Dabin Reece
The Scientist
USS Serendipity/Alchemy