Erich Jaenke

Reopening Old Wounds Something Keb and something Erich Keb brought Erich to her quarters and set up some emergency lights to supplement the dim backup lighting. She wore a soft blue dress that floated around her ankles as she tried to make their rations palatable. Erich sat motionless on her couch. The earlier plasma-electric shock made his senses all wonky. The past day felt foggy...murky. Every action drifted in time. Thoughts faded in and out. He felt her intense worry. “I’ll be fine Keb. Don’t worry,” he slurred. If only she could feel his disappointment and guilt. “Good,” Keb said. She was coping with the knowledge that he could read her thoughts by speaking as little as possible. It ironically made her thoughts louder, but the whole idea was still new to her. She was wondering how Dr. Scott had managed to mold her into some kind of nurse for Erich--and yet she couldn’t let him spend the evening alone after his injury. Someone had to keep an eye on him, and she would rather it was her. Setting the meals on the table in front of her and filling a couple of goblets with water, she sat next to him. “With the replicators out of service, this is the best I can do,” she apologized. “It’s fine, Keb.” His head bobbed as he followed her movements. “I’ve consumed plenty of interesting food in my time. I’m glad I can simply sit down. My mind is...” He stared blankly at her. She put a hand on his forehead. “You’re not feverish, are you?” Her touch was electric to him--though not quite as electric as the earlier shock. He saw Keb’s father, slumping on the floor, for an instant. Then he could smell the perfume that Nurse Elanna had worn when she’d brought a younger Erich his drugs. He felt pain that must have been Keb’s, and the dizzying silence the drugs had always brought him. And for an instant, both their childhood fears filled his head and heart. Erich jumped back. “What was that?” Keb’s concern for him was overwhelming even as she pulled her hand away. His breathing was heavy, but slowing. He struggled to understand what happened. “Did I hurt you?” she asked in panic. “No,” he lied. “I was not prepared.” His eyes watered, surely from all the stress. “What did you do?” She looked at her hand as if there were something growing on it. “I--I was just checking if you were warm,” she said. “Like my mom used to when I was little.” “As when you got sick with Altarian Pneumonia and they couldn’t figure out what it was because you were human. You were in the ship’s sick bay for weeks. Right?” Keb gazed at him for a moment and then turned away; she’d been remembering that time, but she hadn’t said anything out loud. It was disconcerting. “Yeah,” she whispered. She couldn’t help feeling vulnerable, knowing that he could see inside her head and dig out her most painful memories. She’d been thinking of how her father had tried to be there for her when she was sick and the doctors were probing her, procedures she’d had to be awake for. He’d fainted at the sight of his daughter’s blood--a brave officer who had led many an away mission, but couldn’t withstand watching his little girl under a knife. She was left alone at the doctors’ mercy despite his best intentions. He looked down. “I’m sorry, should not have said anything.” He looked to her. “Ask me something...anything.” It was hard to decide what to ask. “Tell me about your family...what would they think about your having a candlelit dinner with a human?” “My parents have never been off Betazed.” He smiled. “They would read your good intentions as I do. My father fixes timepieces, both mechanical and electronic, in his shop. My mother sings in a band...still. Guess that is where I got my engineering and vocal skills.” Keb smiled; he cared as much for his family as she did hers. “You sing, too?” “Yes, just don’t ask me to sing. It’s embarrassing,” Erich admitted. He felt relaxed. No ship, no crisis -- for this moment at least. Both of them were more relaxed--perhaps for the first time together. Several minutes passed as they ate in quiet repose. In the silence, her thoughts flowed freely. It took some effort not to answer her inner thoughts, reassure her he was fine. Erich took his last bite. “So, I’m not sure what to ask you. Even sitting there you said volumes.” He turned to look at her. A great deal could be told about a person through their eyes, even for mind readers. His smiled turned into a tiny laugh before he looked away. “You have a very beautiful mind Keb, I wish you could see it.” Keb couldn’t help blushing in response, and put a hand over his. Again her touch poured through him like water down a stream. He inhaled deeply, held it, and then exhaled as his heart rate slowed. His eyes dilated, his expression froze. For him, the room changed. A woman in white walked through a swinging door. She carried with her a medical tray and a smile. “Time for another treatment Erich. You’ve been such a brave boy. I’m sure they’ll release you soon. But as long as you are here, I’ll take care of you. How are the voices today?” Erich looked up at Elanna with huge eyes. “Good. They are not as loud. I think I can sleep now.” “Good. It’s important for the voices to slip silently into the background. That reminds me of the book I gave you to read. How’s that line go?” Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. “Well,” Elanna interrupted herself, “That’s not the happiest line from that book, but promise me you won’t let anyone take your gift away. You’re one in a million, you understand?” A young Erich nodded. “We’ll silence the voices, okay?” Another nod, then the hypospray’s hiss. Erich jumped out of his seat, knocking his knees against the table as he stood. “I-I need to go.” He was crying as he broke the dream state she’d somehow placed him in. He turned away from her and started for the door. Keb ran after him, completely confused and scared that his injury was affecting him. She grabbed his arm and he turned toward her; she started to apologize. He took her hands and looked into her latte-colored eyes. “Y-you didn’t do anything wrong,” he stammered. She could see that he was still shaking. She wrapped her arms around him. He froze in dream once more. Keb? He thought harder. Stop. She still held him. Keb...stop. How could she hear? She was human and he couldn’t bring himself to ask out loud. KEB! She jumped. He hadn’t said anything, but she’d heard his voice--something like his voice--filling her mind. Erich’s disembodied voice resonated throughout her body. Her eyes grew wide as she gazed back at him in shock.

The Amazing Captain Jaenke: Romulan Menace Impressive Abbingdon and Impeccable Jaenke Tess braced against the bulkhead as energy beams sprayed a net from one end of the corridor to the other. “Captain Jaenke! Captain Jaenke! Are you all right?” she called into the shadows. No one answered. Smoke from extensive damage blurred her vision, but she strained against it, hoping beyond hope that she wasn't the only one left. Suddenly the barrage lulled and the smoke cleared. Dropping into a semi-crouch, she glanced up and down the passageway before zig-zagging toward the j-tube access panel that should take them to the bridge - unless the bridge was gone, which was entirely possible. Fighting had been hot and heavy for hours, their team whittled from seventeen to three in short order. Now there were two: Erich Jaenke, valiant Captain of the premiere Starfleet BlackOps ship, USS Manticore, a highly decorated officer, expert marksman and bodybuilder par excellence, and Tess Abbingdon, his trusty sidekick and Number One, holding back a horde of Romulans that swarmed the ship from stem to stern. The captain’s bloodied hand suddenly reached out from under a mangled bulkhead. “Over here Commander! Th-they mustn’t be allowed to find the Caffieneigenic weapon in our cargo bay. The fate of the galaxy is at stake!” Finally spotting her captain, her leader, the man whom she admired above all, Tess scrambled down the hall in his direction, dodging debris until she skid to a stop, kneeling beside him. “Thanks Tess, I can always count on you.” His breathing came in heavy gasps, more from the intense firefight than from any injury he had endured. He only required a bit of help. “We need to get to the bridge, but I need your phaser first.” He held out his hand. Tess handed it over. “What happened to yours?” “Down the throat of that Romulan SubCommander on deck 20.” Erich reached out with his mind and knew the Romulans were closing in. He turned his head to fire a single shot at a Romulan just exiting the turbolift down the corridor. The single burst hit the ill-fated invader square in the forehead. “You’re the greatest shot in the sector,” Tess said, her eyes steeled in admiration. “I’m probably the best in the quadrant, but I don’t like to boast,” Erich smirked. Without looking, he fired off another shot, hitting another Romulan right in the gullet. “We need to get control of the ship. This way.” Grabbing her hand, he led her to the j-tube access panel. It drew them closer to the Romulan-filled lift, but the Captain covered the Commander as she attempted to remove the access cover. It wouldn’t budge. She ran her fingers over it, grabbing at every corner and the only side accessible. No manner of gnashing of teeth opened the panel. Nothing. “What’s the problem?” “This door. It must be sealed with a superconductor,” Tess replied as she pulled with all her might, then slammed her fist. “It won’t open,” she said finally. Meeting his gaze, her eyes resolute, she said in earnest, “There’s only one thing to do, Captain.” She hesitated, then pressed ahead, “No matter who sees it, you must use your secret power. It’s the only way.” “Who told you of my dark secret? No matter. When the galaxy is counting on you it’s not the time to ask questions.” Captain Jaenke then gave one of his legendary smiles. Women from Betazed to Talos recognize its effects, but are powerless to resist. Certainly not Tess. “I’ll get the panel,” the Captain boasted. “Hold my phaser.” He handed over the weapon and grabbed hold of the panel with both hands. With a single decisive pull and his secret 12-cup percolating power the panel released its hold. Erich tossed it aside with little effort. “Good to the last pull.” Tess fired a shot down the corridor. Erich used his toned body to shield her as she ducked into the j-tube. “Ladies first.” “Aye, Sir,” she replied, rendering a smart salute to her hero, the man who would some day rise to great heights in Starfleet, in the Federation, in the galaxy…. Her chest heaved as she breathed an audible sigh and ducked into the J-tube, the captain following close behind. “What’s the plan, Sir?” she breathed. “I know you have a plan. You always do.” “Get to the bridge where the Romulan scum have taken over the ship and destroy the Caffieneigenic weapon, all in less than 3,000 words.” Tess stopped and looked down in disbelief. “In less than 3,000 words, Sir? Only you would have such an audacious strategy. We’ll make short work of them.” As they reached the ladder going up, his perfectly white teeth glinted in the bright j-tube lighting, the torn portion of his uniform tunic revealing his signature bulging pecs that rippled as they laughed in triumph. Tess took the rungs swiftly as he closed the hatch behind them; not even scattered debris and white-hot rungs deterred them. Despite their anguish, they pushed on, vaulting from one level to the next when the rungs gave out. Out of her view Erich grinned, enjoying the view as she climbed ahead of him. Though he’d never tell, it was one of her finer assets. “Looking good. We should be at the bridge in no time. We don’t want to rush in too fast. Steady as she goes.” He kept pace, but focused more on Tess than his climbing. Another grin and two rungs later he missed his grip and fell two bars down. “Oof!” He cried out, catching himself before falling all the way to the bottom. His vision returned. “I’m alright. Keep going!” Erich doubled his efforts. The bridge was only one level up. “Almost there, Captain,” called Tess, tossing her flaxen hair to the side to glance down. “I can see the hatch; it’s partially open. Midshipman Atragon must have damaged it when he defended the bridge with Ensign Sovak. They must be recommended for a commendation.” Captain Jaenke climbed up beside her, the shaft barely enough room for two. “Their deaths will be the inspiration for a glorious song I will compose right after these varuuls are defeated. Reach into my pants pocket.” He stared at her nose-to-nose. “You speak Romulan,” she sighed, looking deep into his eyes. “I wish I spoke Romulan.” Without another thought, she thrust her hand into his pocket and grasped the grenade. The Captain grunted, then bent in closer. “I’ll open the hatch a little more while you yank the pin and toss their surprise onto the bridge floor. It will be the biggest boom this side of Antares.” His gazed remained fixed to hers. “Let me know when you are ready.” “Oh, I’m ready now,” she sighed, reluctantly tearing herself away from him to climb the last few rungs to the hatch. “Fire in the hole,” she mouthed as she rolled the grenade through the hatch, then slid down the ladder and into his arms. With no hesitation Captain Erich Onak Jaenke drew Commander Tesla Abbingdon into a firm embrace and kissed her with a passion unmatched in the galaxy. As if his lips were not enough, he used his incredible Betazoid mind to whip her into a frenzy, hardly disturbed by a series of explosions rocking the deck directly above them. *** “CUT!” came a shout from above. “Ughhhhhh.....” Erich moaned as he laid spread eagle on the floor. A powerful blast ejected him from an EPS access, forcing him into the middle of the room. He felt a strange tingling sensation throughout his body. “Ohhhhhh.....” “Cut the reserve power!” Dr. Scott shouted, pointing someone toward the panel. “Erich! Are you all right?” The shadow of Tess hovered over him. “You took quite a jolt. Are you all right? Are you hurt?” “My e’lev, is that you?”

The Manticore is a Dark Wizard - Tesskeberich Erich had been true to his promise to try to keep them separated for a bit so Keb could have some mental space to herself. She’d gotten some rest--though she didn’t feel much better for it--and finally come on for a different shift. Things had gotten worse around the ship, and she managed to get to a shelter just as life support was starting to shut down everywhere else. Her frustration soared. She searched for work to distract her from thinking too much about Erich and her own failings. The Manticore offered no lasting diversion. “What in the holy rings now!” Erich exclaimed from across the shelter. His engineering PADD chirped another ship failure. He looked up at Dr. Abbingdon for some helpful reassurance. “Erich,” the doctor replied, her hand resting softly on his shoulder, “stressing over it will not help the situation. Take a deep breath, calm down, and do the best you can. That’s all anyone asks of you; that’s all you should demand of yourself.” “We are going to run out of shelters at this rate. I’m wondering if we need to evacuate nonessential personnel to the nearest place off-ship. Poor Manticore.” “Erich,” Tess repeated, hoping her touch would be as calming as it usually was with humans. Apparently it wasn’t. “Doctor...” He tried to focus on her as he did Keb. “I am sorry,” he said, breathing heavily. “So many things to do and not able to do them. The crew is upset and understandably so. Plus I have not been able to take any kind of suppresant, but no coffee” he added waiting for her disapproval. “How are the people doing here?” “They are fine, Erich,” Tess replied, “and they will be fine. Keep that as a focus and take one thing at a time; eventually everything will fall into place.” In the darkness, an officer was passing, holding an engineering toolkit that rattled as she walked through the maze of crowded bodies. He grabbed her arm, thinking she was one of his engineers. “Hey, I need--,” he stopped mid sentence. “Keb?” Erich let go as if he’d touched a hot plasma rod. “Erich?” Keb asked, looking at his shadowy figure. His touch had affected her--for a moment the frustration had vanished and she’d stopped trying to remember what seventeen was in Klingon. “I did not see it was you. The entire ship is stressed. I could not sense you over the noise.” The room had been quiet for some time, well before he entered. “I tried to keep away,” he offered. “I know--you put me on a different shift,” Keb said. She took a half step closer, though her stance was awkward. She’d missed being with him, even if she was feeling uncomfortable about what he knew, what he could do. “Have you met Dr. Abbingdon?” Erich asked Keb, not aware if they had. Of course, the moment he asked, he could feel her emotional response to the doctor’s presence. They had met, and Keb had regular appointments as part of her treatment plan. It was a mix of feelings; Keb liked Dr. Abbingdon but hated having to see her. “Of course,” Keb said aloud, nodding to the doctor’s shadowy form. “Tess.” “Hello, Keb.” Coming from the semi-dark, the doctor’s voice seemed strangely disembodied. Erich was getting peculiar thoughts from both of them. Keb’s were stronger unless it involved coffee. “Doctor, I have a question regarding my enhanced ability when this is all over. It’s about Keb.” He felt a sudden emotion. “And should perhaps not be asked.” He saw how Keb stiffened when he said it was about her, and had to stop himself from reaching out to her. But she reacted to his sudden shift of tone, too. “Y-you can ask Tess whatever you want to,” she said. “You don’t have to stop just because…” She trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence. Because it was weird? Because he could tell Tess everything she was thinking? It killed Erich to have this second voice in his head, a ghost Keb floating somewhere around her. He glanced at Keb with a slight nod. It would be so much easier if she could read his mind. Moving her shift was the right thing to do, but he had hated doing it. Damned this weather problem and damned this broken ship. He’d take a shuttle now with Keb and head, well, anywhere to be with her. But duty called and all that Starfleet junk. He looked at Tess. Keb caught the look and understood some of his conflict, even in the darkness. “I’m gonna find out if I can get to Stellar Cartography without suffocating,” she offered. Erich could read that she was giving him and Tess space to talk about her--as uncomfortable as it was for her. “I’ll see you later, Tess.” He suddenly reached out and took her hand for just a moment--he needed that physical connection with her--and she paused and gave him a weak, shy smile. She wanted to be with him, too...and that would have to be enough for the moment. He let go and she made her way to the door.

Keb-o-Deck A Keb and Erich thing Erich turned to leave Stellar Cartography after an exhausting shift when he saw a pair of boots sticking out of an open service access. Someone was sleeping on the job. “Hey buddy, there’s no sleeping in here.” He tapped the crewman’s leg, then jumped. The officer’s thoughts, muted by sleep, felt familiar. “Keb...Keb? Are you out cold?” Erich scanned the room and spied an underling nearby. “Lieutenant, I need a blanket for our helm officer. I'd rather not move her.” The Chief turned towards her. He could hear Keb’s voice inside her head, politely asking the computer to bring up a program, as if she were on the holodeck. She was dreaming. Erich grinned. The officer paused to give him an update before the Chief insisted she fetch the blanket. Erich found the officer’s chatter made it harder to focus on that floating feeling of Keb’s sleep. He knew he shouldn’t be listening, but... In her dream, Keb could see herself as if she were another person for a moment, wearing a shimmering red and gold ballgown. Her program was a ballroom, with soft music that was in beat with the thrumming of the ship that surrounded her sleeping form. It was a waltz of the ship’s lifeblood pumping through its arteries. The blanket arrived. Erich unfolded it. He stooped down to cover her, but she was too far in the wall. He lay on the floor and pushed himself into the service access beside Keb. A tool rested by her hand. The circuit panel above emitted a pleasing hum, which might have caused her to drift asleep. Now, two pairs of boots jutted out from the service access. With some effort, he tossed the blanket over her. Keb’s dream shifted as he moved beside her. She was dancing with someone close to her, someone familiar. A warm smile crept over her sleeping face. The man leading her around the dance floor began nameless and faceless -- until she looked at him. Dark black eyes, curling hair--the name and face of Erich filled her mind. He realized she was dreaming of him, and unable to resist seeing more. He laid comfortably beside her, resting his head on one arm as he watched her dance with himself. It seemed he was falling in and filling in his place in her dream. He spun her under his arm, and then brought her close with a bemused expression. “I can dance in dreams. Wow.” They continued to twirl to the waltz playing all around them. “How am I here?” Keb laughed in her dream. “It’s the holodeck, silly,” she said. “It’s a magic place--Manticore’s a magician.” Erich laughed softly and closed his eyes to concentrate. “It sure is. I can’t read your mind here, but I am in your mind. Fascinating.” He peered into her eyes. “You look great!” The compliment interrupted the flow of the dream; her body stirred as she stopped dancing in the dream. “Th-Thanks. Wait, what do you mean, you’re in my mind?” “Uh, I wouldn’t mind more dancing,” Erich said brightly, urging her on. “Let’s dance the night away.” He pulled her closer as he attempted to resume, trying to keep the dream going. Neither of them moved. Any control he believed he had did not exist here. His real face showed concern. Dancing while lying on the floor proved fruitless, but it did not stop him from pulling the sleeping Keb in tight. Keb gasped, her eyes fluttering open. “Erich? What--why--” She pushed his arm off her side and backed away to get a few inches between their bodies. “What in the galaxy are you doing?” A half-conscious Erich spoke. “Mmm, what-t...no more dancing? I was,” he yawned, “just getting to the mambo.” He flopped his arm over. His hand searched for a moment. Nothing. His eyes opened. Keb was alert, and gave him a suspicious, almost fearful look. “You were listening to my dream?” she accused, half asking. His eyes met hers. “What? No--Well, see, you had fallen asleep and were resting so comfortably. You just needed a blanket, but--” “You were!” She was angry and embarrassed all at once. He’d know that she had been dreaming about him, and… “I--I’m not your personal holodeck!” “I am not a Peeping Erich and had no idea I could see in such detail! I’m--” He lurched up, only to hit his head on the low circuit board she’d worked on earlier. “Ow, ow.” He reached to rub his latest boo-boo. “I didn’t mean anything.” Keb paused, checking to see if Erich needed a medic. When she saw there was no blood she seized her tool bag and started sliding out of the access panel. Two people in a space for one made getting out awkward. She fought angry tears. She got out. She needed her distance. “Pagh, wa’, cha’, wej...” Keb counted in Klingon under her breath as she stalked to the turbolift. She imagined everyone’s eyes upon her. The door opened and she entered. “Computer, deck 9, please,” Keb said, her voice shaky. She turned as the doors started to close, but his hand reached through, grabbing her by the wrist. Erich entered after her. The door clipped his heel. At first he didn’t say anything, hoping that his touch would bring back the strange connection he’d felt between them. He kept hold of her wrist and let it relax at her side. If she pulled away now he’d get off the lift. Her eyes went to his hand. She was hurting because of what he’d done, but she didn’t pull away from him. Questions bubbled in her brain. Had he done anything besides listen? Did he realize how that must’ve looked--the two of them nestled in the wall like that? Was he actually a good dancer? What made him think he had any right to listen to her dreams? What if it had been something less--innocent? Erich heard it all. “I wish there was a way you could hear my thoughts. Words--don’t often fit just right.” He took a deep breath. “I can answer any of those questions you have if it’s important for...us.” The color had faded from his face. She tensed under his hand. “What us?” she asked. “Just because you--know everything about me, just because you know I--I’m interested--doesn’t mean we’re a thing. I hardly know anything about you, though I’m sure nobody’s got the slightest doubt now that we are...together.” She was blushing even through her anger. Her growing affection for the engineer made his listening to her dreams feel like a betrayal of some unspoken promise. “You are completely right. I should have left you by yourself down there and not taken advantage of your rest.” Erich derived no pleasure from her exposure now. He held on to her, keeping himself together, but shaking inside. His heart fell yet again. “I don’t know what to say other than sorry.” She commanded the turbolift to stop. “Why did you?” she whispered, looking at him with lowered eyebrows. “I sensed happiness and contentment, more so than when you are awake. It’s like standing on a beach, closing your eyes, and letting the sounds of the surf carry you away. One might call it hypnotic. I should have stopped. The detail was so real. The dream so lucid, at least for a time, and I could dance there with you.” Her anger faded somewhat; he made it sound so beautiful that she could almost understand. “How can I feel...safe around you, though...if you can be inside my head that way?” His eyes watered. “I don’t know if you can.” He admitted. “Among Betazoids, there is an understanding. But you’re human, so...it’s different.” He swallowed hard to pull himself together. “I never meant to harm you, Keb.” She was weighing his words; his gentle grip on her wrist felt as if he were hanging on for dear life. She could tell he was sincere in his apology, but she still felt confused. “Can’t you...turn it off sometimes?” “Most of us can...but I was not trained. I am trying to work with T’Prise and Dr. Abbingdon to gain more control, but it’s on hold due to the...weather.” “I just feel like I’m naked in a room with a one-way mirror...you can see me and I can’t see you.” “An apt description.” He looked her over. “How about this...we go about our duties, I stay away and refrain from reading you as best I can until this is all over. Deal?” “And then what?” she asked, tilting her head. She had been enjoying working with him, getting to know him. “A proper date with real food...and dancing. So you can get to know me, too.” She looked at him hard before her mind answered for her. Deal. “I’ll think about it,” she said aloud.

Rollercoaster Left hand of Keb, Right hand of Erich. Once Erich had the Engineering team organized to keep the ship’s systems bearing the heavy responsibility of controlling earth’s weather system for a week, he turned to Keb. The commands she’d put in to try to create a relay had caused one an older satellite to reboot unexpectedly--right over home. She was counting in Klingon, controlling her sudden fear as she waited for it to come back online. Erich put a hand on her shoulder, startling her; she turned to look up at him. “Keb, you’re counting again.” He looked at her work. “Let’s link Stockton, Sonoma, and Brentwood. They can take over until the one you restarted comes back.” He typed in more commands, but being this close to her fears raised his own. Her emotional quotient could rise like a tsunami and take Erich along for the ride. Any and all emotion. As his mind had grown accustomed to hearing the minds of the crew, Keb’s managed to bubble to the surface. A non-telepathic mind loud enough to overshadow all others on the Manticore. “Look, there are no spikes in the weather over Starfleet HQ. It’s okay.” Keb nodded, her fingers trembling on the console. “I’m...sorry about the counting. I know it makes me sound crazy. The counselor at Starfleet Medical suggested it as a way to deal with my emotions, so I...wouldn’t get to that point again.” She didn’t say it out loud, but the paralyzing, vivid memory of facing the lizard filled her mind. That couldn’t happen again, or she’d be out of Starfleet. Erich, sensing danger as her thoughts turned to her trauma, grabbed her upper arms to bring her back to the present. In that instant he cast aside his concern for her privacy. “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission,” he silently quipped. The torrent of emotion building up in Keb could boil over, dragging both of them down. The current mission needed them working together. He locked his eyes to hers, not knowing if that made a difference. “Keb? I’m sorry..I don’t know what this will do to you, but I need you back.” He concentrated on her thoughts and winced. He closed his eyes, but saw the Manticore bridge, not darkness. A reptilian creature materialized in front of him, turned and stabbed the operations officer. He reached for his phaser. A scream poured out of his mouth--not his own. His phaser fell to the deck. An acute sense of fear followed as the officer slumped to the deck. Then the scene shifted. He was in deep sorrow, sobbing as he leaned against a console. What was he feeling now? Guilt. Failure. Again, this was not him. Not his hands, body, or hair. His vision had locked to her memory. No matter how he tried he remained in her world of panic and self-blame. Could he pull her from these depths? He made an effort to break the chains. Keb trembled under his hands, even though her own mind felt as if dark clouds were clearing. Erich had to let go, falling off his chair. “Oof!” He laid there looking up at Keb, his vision returning to his eyes. “Holy rings...” Keb slid down to the floor next to him, and touched his cheek to turn his face toward her--concern for him in the present overshadowing what he just saw. “Erich!? Are you okay? What--what was that?” His eyes were wide and he jumped to his feet. A mix of shame and guilt washed over him as he rushed for the exit. He stopped just outside the door and crumpled against the wall. He tried to process the violation upon Keb’s mind. Her thoughts so fascinated him, he wanted to help so much, but not like this. Her emotions mixed with his own, and it was too much. He held his head and cried. Keb, stunned, sat there on the floor, staring after the door he’d run through. She wasn’t the only one staring--the other crew members in Stellar Cartography were all gazing after their chief in equal astonishment. Keb realized she was now the ranking officer in the room and stood. “Get back to work,” she barked. “I’ll--I’ll make sure he’s okay.” She wasn’t sure she was okay, when it came to that. She was shaking as she strode out the door after him. She found he hadn’t gone far, and knelt next to him. “What happened?” she asked, her voice soft. For a moment Erich did not answer. “I saw and heard what you experienced. I tried to help. I dove in too deep. I had no idea what you felt. I saw the creature materialize on the bridge. I felt it all. I violated your privacy. Please tell me you are okay after what I did?” He wiped his eyes clean. Keb bit her lip and looked down at the carpet. Her voice trembled as she spoke at last. “Everyone on the bridge saw it when it happened,” she said. She knew she should be angry, but she wasn’t. She was more worried about how it had affected him. He looked away. Somehow the fact that she wasn’t angry made it worse. “I wanted to help, but I don’t know enough about myself to know how. I also made a fool of myself in there. This will pass. Can you help me up?” He lifted his arm. Keb nodded, rising and taking his hand. “If...if I’m causing a distraction, I can go back to the bridge,” she offered. There wasn’t much to do at helm--wouldn’t be for a week--but it would be better not to be in the way of the more important work in Stellar Cartography and Engineering. “No. I have to work through this, if not now, then later with possibly even greater mental distractions. At the very least I should make this up to you. Something that does not involve Betazoid tricks. I want to make sure you are okay.” She offered him a dimpled smile, rare for her since the lizard attack. “I’m not,” she said. “But I’m trying to be.”

Into Darkness A log something of Keb and Erich With the weather control system online and the engineering staff managing it, Erich and Keb headed toward their respective quarters for some desperately needed rest. The helm officer found herself walking down the same corridor as the engineering chief, half on purpose. She was worried about him; he still looked shaky. “What did that doctor give you?” she finally asked. "An inhibitor and anti-caffeine medication," Erich said as they walked down a nondescript corridor. "I can't feel anyone; the ship is empty. You,” he gazed upon her face. “You are different." A part of Keb disappeared. He heard her words, but their soul, the thoughts dancing alongside while she spoke...gone. Keb could not understand what his world twisted into. This was Keb’s reality he shuffled through now. A protracted moment passed before he spoke again. "You do not need to follow me around, Keb. I'm just in withdrawals. This is my own damn fault. I did not do myself what I ordered you to do. All I needed was a long nap." Erich could feel a sensation of shaking. Did it manifest itself to others? He did not know. He looked up before rounding a corner. Keb took his arm to steady him; he definitely did not look okay. “I just want to make sure you’re okay. I’ll sleep better knowing you made it to your quarters. Besides, mine are this direction anyway.” “Really?” he spoke under his breath. Erich squinted as if struggling to remember where he was. “I can’t believe that this idea worked.” Keb smiled, supporting him with her arm wrapped around his. “Hey, it did work, though,” she said in a soft voice. “Everyone on Earth is safe...well, safer. My family’s safe.” “Oh?” Erich perked up. “Where do they live? I can make sure the area is fine. Do they like telepaths?” Why did he ask that? Talk about putting the warp field before the ship. Keb squeezed his arm. “They’re in San Francisco,” she said. “Don’t worry about it now. We got that covered--Starfleet Command was a high priority area anyway.” She wondered about his question regarding telepaths. Sometimes her father had interesting ideas--though he was usually diplomatic about it. “My...father’s an ambassador,” she added after a moment. “Retired admiral.” Erich swallowed hard and coughed. “Admiral?” He looked at the numbers on the door. “Oh, here we are. My quarters.” He waved a hand as if it was the entrance to a grand palace. The door opened and remained so, even as he teetered slightly. “This is my stop I suppose.” Keb didn’t let go of him; in fact, she had to catch him as he wobbled just a little too far. Whatever they’d given him, between the drugs and the exhaustion, he was dead on his feet. “I...” he said as the medicine sedated him further. Something Dr. Scott warned him about. Suddenly Erich collapsed against her; he would have fallen to the floor if not for her support. She leaned against the door to support his weight, and adjusted her hold. “Erich?” she asked, scanning the room beyond to see how difficult it would be to get him to his bed. His accommodations were modest. Keb wondered if this was the broom closet. The bed sat against the far wall, straight ahead. “Mmm,” he murmured. “What happened?” His legs felt rubbery. Keb wasn’t sure how to answer, as she didn’t know. “Lean on me,” she ordered, pulling his arm around her shoulder and wrapping her arm around his back. “Just a couple steps.” Half carrying him like this, she managed to get him to the bed, where she helped him sit down; the effort was equally exhausting for her, and she sat down at the foot of the bed, leaning against the wall to catch her breath. He stared at her in confusion and smiled like it was the first time he laid eyes on her. He blinked. “Commander, what are you doing in my bed? I did not hear you enter.” His head bobbed a bit, his body caught between wake and sleep. “I’m not in your bed, I’m on your bed,” Keb said. “Get your boots off and lie down. You need it.” She closed her own eyes, not moving, using the wall for support. “How are you doing that, keeping your secrets from me?” He felt off his nacelle. Was he dreaming? he asked himself. His own mind did not realize the suppression it was under. “Keb...Kebbers, Kebberly...Uhm.” Erich awoke, his body delivering a parting shot of adrenaline . “I should remove my boots,” he said with a big smile. “Are you awake?” “I’m here,” Keb murmured, shifting slightly against the wall. She didn’t open her eyes; she was barely conscious and hadn’t heard most of his rambling as she’d been slipping in and out of microsleep for the past few moments. After some tugging one boot flew into the air, flipping end over end until it landed with a plop. A thud came from the far side of the bed from Erich’s head hitting his pillow. The world he once knew blackened in sight, sound, and thought. The exhausted engineer made an indistinguishable moan; a body so tired the mind could not get him comfortable. Meanwhile, the sounds had almost no effect on Keb, who had drifted off against the wall without meaning to. Both of them were completely asleep. *** When Keb finally woke up, she felt embarrassed to find herself still on the end of Erich’s bed, her hair mussed and matted from shifting against the wall. As she slipped out of his quarters to go to her own for a shower, she passed Ensign Tim Tam, and quickly turned her reddening cheeks away, counting in Klingon under her breath.

Caffeine and Betazoids Don't Mix - A decaffeinated journey of Abbingdon and Jaenke Betazoid: A telepathic humanoid species originating from the Federation planet of Betazed. Caffeine: A bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid and a stimulant drug. Caffeinated Betazoid: A betazoid with elevated telepathic abilities and an inability filter out the mental chatter. See also: Erich Jaenke Erich Janenke: See also Caffeinated Betazoid. Within seconds, Dr. Scott recognized the problem, but it took a little longer to decide the best approach. The crew had to be at peak performance to get earth’s weather control satellites working again, but could he put the life - or the sanity - of one of the crew at risk for the sake of the goal? Engineering Chief Erich Jaenke, a Betazoid, had a rare condition that had confounded medical science for generations. The neurotransmitter, psilosynine, was one of the main chemicals responsible for a Betazoid’s telepathic ability. Normally, a Betazoid’s telepathic skill developed during adolescence, but for some the psilosynine transmitter became active at birth. This often made the individual extremely creative, but it also inhibited the ability to filter unwanted telepathic signals. Simply put, Lt. Jaenke could not think because the noise in his head from the crew’s thoughts was overwhelming, like one person trying to reconcile a complex mathematical formula in the middle of a screaming crowd at a rock concert. “I have been up for hours and need to be up for more. Is there anything stronger than this Klingon Coffee?” Dr. Scott’s brows shot to his hairline when the engineer’s call came through the inter-ship comm. So did Dr. Abbingdon’s. Both knew Lt. Jaenke’s condition, and neither was about to give him any more stimulant - coffee or otherwise. “I don't believe it's wise to douse yourself with caffeine, Erich,” Tesla replied, alarmed. “Perhaps you should take a break.” “If only Earth had that kind of time. Hail is hitting the great pyramids as we speak,” he shot back. Tess gave Dr. Scott the please take this call look. Jeremy shook his head. “It's not wise,” Tess replied, “and I cannot dispense medication. I'm not that kind of doctor.” “I’ve had 12 cups.” “Oh... my... glory,” Tess sighed, her eyes pleading with Dr. Scott. “I'll be right there,” she said, then cut the communication. Jeremy met her gaze for a moment, then sighed. “I’ll go,” he said as he turned to open a secure medical cabinet. “I have a psilosynine inhibitor, formulated by Enterprise’s Dr. Crusher. It’s not for common use… or knowledge,” he said, giving Tess a serious cautionary look as he inserted a vial into a hypospray. After careful calibration, he turned to face her. “It’s not to be used without strict, close medical observation because it could have some questionable side effects, but…” he considered the vial for a moment, “according to Dr. Crusher, it’s safe for short-term use, and it might be enough to get him through this present crisis. I’ll stay with him until he’s finished.” He closed and locked the cabinet to secure its contents. “Call me if there’s an emergency that no one else can handle.” * * * * * The inhibitor given to Lt. Jaenke took a bit longer to work into his heavily caffeinated system than Dr. Scott anticipated. However, most patients do not drink 12 cups of coffee, some Klingon, over the course of 24 hours either. Any of the Manticore doctors would consider it reckless. Engineering, or rather one particular engineer, found it necessary. Not every day did the plan of one person affect so many lives. Few people’s actions touched billions. No pressure. As soon as the weather started going haywire Lt. Jaenke could not help but brainstorm solutions. His resolve grew once the root issue became evident on the Saturn moon of Titan. He spent hours reading up on Earth’s weather modification network. Few failure scenarios involved total loss of control facilities. Even in those few instances, the network should have been able to work on its own. Someone must have set something in motion before the control center vanished. No matter the cause, control needed restored. The first major hurdle was to replicate the original control facility function by using technology designed for another purpose. Erich, along with the work of many others like Keb and Drae, got this done in a day. This deed came with a price - the Chief Engineer’s sanity. “I’m feeling strange, Doctor,” he said, staring oddly motionless at a diagnostic console in the back of stellar cartography. “Has it become quieter on the ship and I failed to notice? I’ve been so busy with the project.” He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. No amount of pressure helped with the sensation coursing through his head. “The inhibitor’s taking hold,” said Dr. Scott, watching him closely. “You may experience some disorientation, maybe a little confusion. Depending on how the inhibitor is… inhibited by the amount of caffeine you ingested, you might lose consciousness, and that’s why I’m here.” Jaenke held tightly to the railing that lined the wall. His breaths were heavy and measured. Coming down from the elevated psilosynine was bad enough, not to mention the caffeine. “So I can stay and work in stellar cartography with this inhibitor? So many are counting on this to work.” A tiny bit of this plan really needed to work for his own sake. “After it’s over I’ll sleep, honest.” “Good, because you’re going to need it.”

Stages of Embarrassment: Jaenke Keb and Erich, A joint effort The conference had accomplished much in establishing the crew’s next priorities, but it had also dissolved into semi-chaos in small pockets. Fresh grief and stress were causing the crew to act more rashly than they might ordinarily. When they were dismissed, Keb saw how quickly Erich bolted for the door; still clutching the remnant of black ribbon in her hand, she rushed after him. She needed to thank him, as well as coordinate with him on the engineering project of converting Manticore to a weather control station; she also needed to get away from Kansas before one or both of them wound up in the brig. “Erich, wait!” she called as she pushed through a few people to catch his upper arm just as he boarded the turbolift. “I need to go Keb, please,” Erich replied as he stepped into the lift. He looked dejected. The door closed without another word. The door reopened and the sad engineer with pursed lips regretted letting it close and waved her in. He realized they shared the same destination and shutting her out would not help. She stepped cautiously into the lift as though it could shut her out again, standing directly in front of him. “Stellar cartography,” he commanded the lift. It pulsed to life. They both locked eyes until Erich broke the hold and looked to the lift floor. “I..um,” he hesitated. The conference had shaken him. “I am very sorry for my outburst at the meeting. Everything was so intense, but it’s no excuse, nor was reaching out to cover your mouth. I felt what you were going to go on and say. Please...” Keb shook her head. Without the ribbon, her curls fell loosely around her face. “Erich--you don’t need to apologize. In fact, I--I wanted to thank you for it. You...probably saved me from going to the brig just now.” He shook his head. “Well, I needed your talent in engineering for this plan to work, so I couldn’t exactly let you get locked up. By the rings I can’t believe what I did in there,” he said as his back crashed against the wall of the lift. He pressed both hands together against his face in an attempt to hide. The voices would still sound in his head of course and oddly enough hiding a bit of his shame from Keb seemed valid. “I can’t believe what she did,” Keb said, holding up the ragged ribbon. “She attacked me with her knife in the middle of a meeting while she was suggesting shooting crew members!” She realized that her emotions were probably bombarding him again, and put a hand gently on his shoulder. “But you kept me from fighting back...which would have been a really bad idea. We still have to save the people on Earth.” Erich looked up and managed a smile. “You have a very strong emotional...drive.” He looked both at her and past her, then to the ribbon. “What’s with the ribbon?” “We’ve been having a longstanding argument about what the regulations say on hair ornamentation,” Keb said. “I love Starfleet, but sometimes looking the same every day is dull...so I’ve been perhaps dancing on the line a bit to express myself.” She blushed lightly. Erich felt the blush in a different way. It reminded him of a first kiss, but not quite. It made him bite his lower lip. “I can’t really be so much more emotional than other humans, can I?” she asked. She was thinking back to some of the things Jami had said to her back when they were on the ship together. Sometimes Jami had answered her thoughts when she was sure she hadn’t said anything out loud. “Just those on the Manticore.. damn it. Computer, halt lift.” The pulsing lights froze in place. Time for confession. “The entire ship has been so emotional since evidence of the Admiral’s death surfaced. When I entered the room every emotion from the ship compressed itself into a singularity. Since the storms on Earth, I have been thinking about what I need to do to fix this. I made my position known... to T’Prise, to Shelton... to Sovak.” Lt. Jaenke sat on the floor. “I’m the new guy... Anyhow, the thoughts started to flare up, the fighting, then you and Kansas.” He started to get upset. “Then I yelled out, to both of you. No one else knew what was going on...but I could feel it.” Erich pounded his chest. “Here.” Keb suddenly hugged him tightly. “I’m so, so sorry,” she said. “I tried counting in Klingon...but...it’s hard to control my emotions. I never realized how much I might be hurting those around me.” He hugged back. “Don’t worry about me. This is merely something I have to work out. I was taking something to suppress my ability, but since I can’t get it any longer it’s turned up much louder than it should.” Her embrace seemed to silence the relative background noise the other crew members poured out. The ribbon, or what was left of it, laid against his back as she held it in her hand. Her tie to it remained strong, like a precious toy animal would be to a child. He’d not ever tell it to her in that way. For a time he did not speak nor let her go. The silence of the crew proved too tantalizing to abandon. “I don’t understand what’s going on,” he spoke aloud, though it was more for himself. “What do you mean?” Keb asked, stepping back, though her hand lingered slightly on his shoulder. She glanced over at the turbolift console for a second, realizing that they were wasting time when they really should be setting up the new control structure. But if she was going to work with Erich--and she realized now that she really wanted to--they did have to find a way to keep her emotions from disturbing him. “Right,” he said as the voices and emotions returned. “Time.” Erich manually unfroze the lift. “I’ll have to describe what happened exactly. In short, the voices subsided, but I don’t understand why.” The work to be done started to mount up in his thoughts, the hours it would take setting up. Luckily he felt much better now. He looked at her and smiled, wondering what exactly the ribbon did for her and why it’s an odd soft spot. “Thank you...for the now and the later.” The lift stopped. Keb didn’t quite understand still, but she knew lives were depending on the work they needed to do. “We can talk more about it once we get the controls linked up to Manticore’s,” she said softly. She slid the ribbon into her pocket...black for mourning. “Where do you want to start?” “Well, we need to get the specifications of the control center computer system and replicate them on the Manticore. What one would call a virtual machine. It will be like moving a large couch into a tiny room. We are going to have to move the furniture to the walls, so to speak.” They walked into the stellar cartography room. The largest screen on the ship including the main viewer. He stopped just at the threshold of the door. “I hope you like it here as this will be our new home for a while.” Keb smiled at Erich softly. “I do like it here. I’ll get to work getting the specs if you start the heavy lifting.” He nodded.

Five Seconds of Awkwardness Joint Recap Log of Tess, Drae, and Erich The Chief held up his index finger to Lt. Shelton and pressed his comm badge. “Jaenke to Abbingdon.” He waited for the computer to route his call, giving his assistant the ‘just wait’ look. Doctor Abbingdon heard the Chief's call over the sickbay’s comm, breaking her out of the coffee and soft chair relaxation. She sat up and tapped her own comm badge. “This is Dr. Abbingdon.” “Are you drinking coffee again Doctor?” She sat back in her chair and opened her eyes wide. “Actually yes. Yes, I am,” she said, brows shooting to her hairline.... “I already knew, just wanted the confirmation. Thank you doctor.” Intrigued, Dr. Abbingdon pressed on. “Do you mind if I ask how you knew?” “My Betazoid mind powers.. I can smell it.” “Oh. Hmm,” she thought and unmuted the audio. “Would you like a cup?” Now that was too good to pass up. Drae poured on the beta waves: Yeah, and one for DM. “I like a cup each time you have one...” In main engineering the Chief looked to his assistant. He felt his desire for a cup as well. “I can bring one to you, then,” she added to the open comm. Getting to Drae’s want. “Make that two.” She checked the cupboard for cups. “Two it is. I'll be right down.” The comm channel closed. Back in main engineering, Shelton blinked thinkin' the chief had a pretty good order system. The Chief spoke first, “For you Shelton, or do you not drink coffee?” The young assistant's grin broadened. “Oh.. I drink coffee," like it was a given. Yeah, the chief had it made. It wasn’t long before Dr. Abbingdon stepped into main engineering carrying three cups of steaming coffee. “Hello, Erich,” she said, setting the tray down on the least cluttered table. “And you must be Drae?” “Yes, ma'am. Ltjg Drae Shelton, assistant engineer," he said, pulling himself to his full six-foot-one. “Good to meet you, Drae.” Tess handed him a cup. “I'm Dr. Abbingdon.” Oh yeah, we got it made. “Great coffee, ma'am." Paying more attention to her than the mug, he caught the spill just in time. “Glad you enjoy it.” “Dark roast,” the Chief asked. “Exactly! However did you know?” “There are several things I know,” he answered plainly, before realizing how Chief Creepy that sounded. “To be sure,” she answered hesitantly, quickly adding, “Why don't we sit down for a bit?” Sure. Drae kicked back, cup in hand, his eyes and mind more on the good doc... her hair, the way she tossed her head, her smile, the... fit... of her uniform... "Ow!" A swat from Erich’s hand came out of the blue. Direct hit, back of the head. Gibbs had nothin' on him. “Sorry, ” the force to the back of his assistant’s head surprised even himself. He felt the confusion in the doctor’s mind "No problem, Boss." Damn, that guy packed a punch. Whoever said he was laid back sure missed the target. Tess tried to ignore the exchange, but it's always harder to not do something than to do it. "So, how have things been down here?” she ventured, purposely changing the subject. Their simultaneous, "Fine," was surprising. They exchanged glances. Drae cleared his throat and began to study his coffee. Erich preferred to down his with a vengeance. “Oh. Well. That's good,” Tess pressed on, somewhat awkwardly. “How's sickbay?” asked Erich after several minutes. “Quiet. It's been fairly quiet since we got back to Sector One.” Drae watched Erich. Erich watched Drae. Tess tried not to, but found herself watching both.

Chief Coffee Officer Joint log of Tesla Abbingdon and Erich Jaenke Great decisions are often made in the most unlikely places. Lawyers argue in the courtroom then reach life-changing compromises at the corner hot-dog stand. Corporate executives face off in the board room, then finalize mergers on the golf course. Political factions threaten each other around the table, then turn around and forge agreements in coffee shops. The difference in venue makes a difference in mindset, which in turn makes a difference in emotion and in the willingness to negotiate, or, in the case of Counselor Tesla Abbingdon, the willingness to share. For that reason she was a frequent visitor to Ten Forward, where the mindset tended to be more relaxed than in her office. Of course, times of day made a difference. In the evening when music was loud, karaoke was rampant, drinks flowed freely, and space came at a premium, the extroverts appeared. The lulls between breakfast and dinner or during mid-shift drew more introverts who kept to themselves, hid in corners, usually ignored other patrons by burying themselves in a book, a PADD, or by… hovering over several cups of steaming coffee? “Italian,” Erich uttered, pointing at a far cup. “Blonde? Latte...wait.” No amount of concentration would jolt his memory of these beverages. His drink of choice remained tea, even after getting over the bitterness of coffee. “Just what was that smell.” Again he spoke to himself, not caring if others heard. It helped him think through problems more complicated than priming recycling systems of starships. He brought a drink to his lip and drank. “Eww.” “Are you sure it isn’t French Roast Peruvian,” Tess suggested as she bent into his field of vision. “That’s it!” Everyone in the mess looked at the chief engineer as if he needed help. He only looked up at her. “Sorry, how did you know?” “It’s one of my favorite blends,” she confided, “along with Rich Azteka, which is quite difficult to come by nowadays. But if I can’t find that, I take Kona Dark. May I?” Tess gestured to the chair opposite. He greeted with a nod. “I don’t believe we have met. Chief Jaenke, Erich Chief Jaenke...I mean Chief Engineer Erich Jaenke.” Nothing like botching his own name and title. He put down the cup, embarrassed. The minds of the other quieted as he drew his attention towards her.. “Very nice to meet you, Chief Jaenke, Erich Chief Jaenke, Chief Engineer Erich Jaenke,” she said with a lighthearted smile. “I’m Counselor Abbingdon, Tesla Counselor Abbingdon,… oh, bother. Counselor Tesla Abbingdon.” she laughed. “We both need shorter names,” Erich retorted, returning the smile. “I figure my mental profile must have crossed your desk.” “Oh,” she waved it off, “they all do. But… if I may? That one cup you tasted?” She leaned forward to whisper. “It’s bitter because it was not properly roasted. I can tell from its smell.” He picked up the cup once more and sniffed. “I’m more of a tea drinker, but...wait. It was you. I was sensing your mind. That’s where I got the urge to search out that taste.” A minor horror crossed his mind. “I am so sorry. It’s bad etiquette to read someone’s mind without permission. I did not know it was yours.” “Oh, pish-posh. Sometimes it’s difficult to block things like that, especially when it comes to food and drink.” “I guess you know I’m the mind-reading engineer.” He slumped in his seat. “They call me the Warp Core Whisperer.” “Oh? Then you can even read the warp core?” Erich laughed out loud. “I wish. It only says if you don’t keep containment I’ll breach.” He looked past her. “I’ll take it over Staenky Jaenke.” “Staenky Jaenke? I’m sure there’s a story behind that one.” A half smile, half embarrassing expression. “The story was all around, the ship...literally. A noxious gas.” He shook his head. “I can’t imagine you want to hear.” “Well, as long as everything turned out alright.” “I came out smelling like a rose.” Erich realized the bad play on words. “Sorry. So,” he swallowed. “What did your report tell you about me?” He tried a random cup of coffee before they all went cold. Tess paused to allow the server access, thanked her, and waited until they were alone. “Well,” she said after a sip, “it told me you are Betazoid, very intelligent, and capable. It told me that you are sensitive, that you care very much about the welfare of your subordinates and the rest of the crew, and that you are well suited to your post in engineering. Is there something else I should know?” Who’s file was she reading? Must have been those thousand of questions on the psych profile form. “It should say he self-medicated for years so he’d not have to deal with his overactive debilitating ability. Also joined this ship in the menial engineering task of waste and recycling to avoid people only to be thrust into the Chief Engineer post far faster than imagined.” He stopped, wondering if he said too much. “Really.” The counselor’s expression didn’t change; she wasn’t surprised, she wasn’t amazed. In fact she seemed just interested. “And what kind of medication was this engineer taking?” “Loradril, a psilosynine inhibitor,” he shrugged. “In a sense it made me human.” “Human, as in not able to hear the noise from others’ thoughts?” Erich nodded as if in trouble in a principal’s office. “And did it work?” “Well,” he started. “It did. It really worked, but the prescription came through unofficial channels. But my source dried up.” “And what do you plan to do now?” “I’m asking a friend, or at least I think they may be a friend, for help. A fellow telepath.” For some reason he did not look her in the eye. Tess studied her cup for a while, then set it gently and precisely on the table, as though she were thinking. “Erich, what you have is called Hyperactive Paracortex Syndrome, and yes, I did read it in your file.” She looked up. “I must tell you that the drug you were using does work in the short term, but in the long term it can be debilitating. And by that I don’t mean addictive, I mean it can cause permanent damage to your cerebral cortex.” “Permanent damage?” He started to break down and placed his head in his hands. “I had no idea. What have I done to myself?” “Erich,” she put her hand in front of him to get his attention, “I said it can cause permanent damage. There is nothing in your medical file that indicates you have any cortical damage whatsoever. You are fine.” “However, I would like to propose that you allow me to do some research into other methods of control while your friend explores other avenues. Perhaps with two of us looking, something will surface that will help you even more than what you have tried before.” “Will you allow me to do that for you, Erich?” He went silent in contemplation and swirled his coffee around in a cup. “Sure. I have no wish of medication for, um, HPS? I just want to avoid sickbay.” The thought stopped him momentarily. ”If I’m ordered to see them, I guess I don’t have a choice. Anyway, I’m not sure T’Prise will be helping me. She was preoccupied and did not stay for dinner on Earth. It really distressed me. Oh, don’t tell her I told you that.” His face reddened. He should stop while he’s sliding back. “I would be grateful for anything you can do for me.”

A Long Way for Help - A T'Prise and Jaenke Joint Log The historic “Mall of America,” a centuries old center of commerce, was a poor choice of location for a Betazoid incapable of filtering emotions. Now a hub for interstellar peddler of wares from around the quadrant, The crowds filling the shopping center were staggering. So many minds, so many emotions and feelings, that Erich Jaenke could not block. His senses realed. “That merchant made me so angry...” “I’m walkin on sunshine...oh oh...” “Why was that man so mean to me?” Too many voices in his head. Too much. Like a photon torpedo he exited the mall and launched himself into a nearby transport. Anywhere but here. After taking on other passengers the transport lurched forward, taking the Betazoid away from the mob of emotion. He focused on himself as best he could, trying not to weep from the mental assault. The transport hovered to parts unknown. The voices in his head subsided, but his own nagging voice emerged. What do I do now? Who do I turn to in order to function? The Manticore doctors? “No!” Erich shouted into the cabin. A few people turned to see if a mad man traveled among them. He could feel their questions. “Sorry,” he murmured. Pulling out his PADD, he checked the transport's course heading wondering if anything would look inviting. The land known as Minnesota seemed littered with quite a number of quiet places, but he would not be able to hide there forever. Who was the question. Who else does he know that may have worked past this type of problem? Another fellow telepath. As far as he knew there were no other Betazoids on the Manticore. He pulled up the roster on his PADD. Many names. Numerous choices. One name looked familiar: T’Prise. She seemed a normal enough Vulcan for the few times he worked with her. She could keep a secret and not run back to the doctors. He linked his subdermal comm to his PADD. “Computer, establish a link to Commander T’Prise, low priority.” The PADD chirped. The transport started its high-speed run. The engineer drifted into sleep as the motion of travel took hold. *** Moving at a pace that made distinguishing specific features dizzying to the naked eye, the accelerator spun around and around moving in perfect synchroneity to the hum of quantum matter engine which powers it. Perched smartly on her chair, posture perfect, and PADD poised for note taking, the Vulcan science officer watched the apparatus with an unblinking gaze. It continued to spin, gathering data with each pass. Use of the quantum accelerator was very strictly governed and monitored; only her status as a lead researcher on certain projects allowed her access at such short notice. The purpose of this particular experiment was to prove certain theories, originating from discoveries made aboard the Manticore, in a controlled environment. Although months had passed since their multiple entries into parallel universes, it was quite apparent that the discoveries made in those realities heavily influenced certain members of the Manticore crew. Discovering a stable portal into alternate dimensions could very well play a crucial role in reestablishing the equanimity of those affected. The slight chirp of her communicator caused the stoic physicist to blink and shift her attention away from the experiment. “This is Commander T’Prise.” Jaenke’s PADD beeped repeatedly. At first he thought the Manticore was on red alert. “What? Stations everyone, I... oh. Commander? Did I call you?” Her live image, tiny as it was, looked just like her Starfleet profile complete with lab coat and data PADD. “It is rational to assume that you did, as the communication was initiated via your comm credentials,” T’Prise stated, arching a brow quizzically. “What? Oh...oh yes. I know you don’t know me very well, but I need help with a personal matter, a telepathic matter. I know you’re not Betazoid, but perhaps you can relate.” He fixed his hair, as if it mattered. “You infer from my ethnicity that I may be able to assist you with issues related to your mental capabilities and telepathic aptitude? It is a logical yet presumptuous speculation. To what do you surmise that I will be able to relate?” Vulcans. “I can’t shut people’s emotions out. I hear all of them in my mind at once. I thought you might have some techniques that would help beyond what I can read. Anything you have to offer. But the grand scheme of the universe I matter not, so if you are doing something important than pretend this call never happened.” “Are you suggesting that I dismiss your plea for assistance, or is this some type of an appeal to emotional sensibilities? Believing that I have the emotional capacity to empathize with you is an error. I wonder that you do not seek the care of a physician or psychiatrist, if the situation is as unseemly as you suggest. What is your motivation in contacting me and then attempting to dissuade me from assisting you? What do you wish to achieve?” Vulcans. “I’d just rather not get the Manticore doctors involved. They are not telepaths.” He should not do these things over the comm. “Tell you what Commander. How about dinner, my treat?” Perhaps he could explain himself better in person. “Your inability to coherently state your purpose for contacting me is perplexing, however you suggestion that we meet merits attention as your behavior suggest you require assistance. Where do you suggest that we partake of this meal?” **** Where indeed? She informed him she was not on Earth yet, but at the Daystrom Institute facility on Mars. He told her to contact him when she arrived. This gave him hours to choose a suitable location. Even for him choices numbered in the thousands, but for a Vulcan the palatability of Earth cuisines narrowed that considerably. What did she like though? Holy rings, he hardly knew anything about her. All to get help for himself while bypassing proper medical attention. He now felt dirty about asking. “I have been invited to dinner by the Manticore’s trash recycling man.” Surely that’s what she must be thinking now, just too polite to decline. Jaenke needed to get out of this negative thinking if anything she could suggest to help would work. “What have I done and what will I wear?” he said to himself. “I look like a peasant.” Erich had a few credits floating around in his account. Time for shopping.

Ten Days Prior - Psilosynine “What do you mean the supplies are low?” Erich asked the Betazoid on the other end of the subspace transmission from Betazed. “Just what I said Mr. Jaenke. Betazed’s medical facilities are now getting the only supplies of the drug. Due to the nature of the supply problem shipments off world are very limited.” His long time supplier could offer no immediate solution. As far as he knew, he got the drug through legal means. The black market carried too great a risk even if it could be the fastest way. After a pause the man continued, “I’m not sure why you feel the need to take this anymore. Just think of the advantage you have over non-telepaths. Even Vulcans don’t have some of the abilities we do.” “It’s Ensign now and I could not take the voices. Could not concentrate. You and I have been over this,” Erich added. “Congratulations Ensign. You have been hiding this from nearly everyone for years. Tell you what. I’ll see what I can do. As soon as I know something, you’ll be the first to know. From what my contacts tell me it could be some weeks or months before more off world deliveries can go out. Stay clear of Vulcans and Betazoids if you can.” The new ensign looked distracted, “Yeah.” “I mean it. Once your abilities resurface the psilosynine levels will rise rapidly and you’ll hear things you’ve not heard in a long time and probably project your thoughts. Keep busy and on task. Take care.” The transmission flickered out, replaced by the Starfleet crest. Erich felt a sense of dread. Over the next few days, the mist would begin. First, he would hear white noise. Calming waves beating on a shore. Then, without warning, the tide would come in. Waves stretching over his head would roll in. Normal Betazoids learn to filter this out just as people can hear a single voice at a dinner table in a crowded restaurant. Ensign Jaenke took his last pill and hoped for calm seas ahead.

STARFLEET PERSONNEL FILE Name: Erich Jaenke Rank: Lieutenant Department: Engineering (Waste and Recycling, Utility networks) Current Assignment: Chief Engineer Species: Betazoid Gender: Male Age: Mid 20’s Hair: Curly brown Eye color: black Build: Average EDUCATION: Primary and secondary education in the capital city of Rixx and first two years of university studies at the University of Betazed. Initially took courses in applied physics, but a professor suggested engineering may be a better fit for this fresh student. Transferred to majors related to utility networks (data, fluids, power) captured his interest and garnered him an Associate’s degree. He took a quarter off to decide how to proceed with his education, but his issues with living among a vast majority of telepaths weighed heavily. After narrowing down several choices, the next class at Starfleet Academy accepted his application. He was off to San Francisco on Earth for training in various engineering fields. Four years later he emerged somewhere in upper middle of his class in recycling and waste utility work, with minors in network and power distribution. He waited a few months for his first Starfleet posting. MEDICAL HISTORY: Normal health for a Betazoid his age. One thing of note is his either dormant or subdued telepathic abilities. The medical history of this ailment is vague. No known treatments have been applied to help him, but otherwise nothing is wrong with him at this time. PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: A quiet introvert who often goes out of his way to avoid large crowds and people in general. Telepathic abilities untested and thought to be dormant or very subdued. Has a keen interest in structures both on small scales (fits into the hand) to large ones (buildings, large stations). Spends a lot of time reading fiction and engineering publications. No known girlfriend or significant other. Childhood on Betazed appears bereft of either tragedy or bliss. While most of his classmates of Betazed origin procured medical or counseling fields of study, his interest remained in the engineering disciplines.