Will the Real Captain Ramson Please Stand Up

[A Davis 0]

Will the Real Captain Ramson Please Stand Up

Amanda Davis and Captain d’Ka

 

As soon as she stepped from the lift, Amanda stopped to catch her breath as the most enticing aroma drifted in from the corridor. Darjeeling? She was certain. It had to be.

 

“Counselor Davis.” Captain d’Ka greeted her with a gracious nod as his office door slid open. “Please come in. May I offer you tea?” he asked, leading her toward a set of exquisitely upholstered chairs that were arranged casually in an inviting alcove not far from his desk.

 

“Yes, thank you, Captain,” she responded pleasantly. “Darjeeling?”

 

“As I recall, it is your beverage of choice.” Waving her into a chair, he took the one opposite while the yeoman brought tea, then retreated to another room.

 

The captain’s office decor was far from utilitarian, the exact opposite of Captain Chirakis’s imposing style, rife with her coveted weapons display. It interested Amanda that the two should be such opposites. His voice and tone were as smooth and soothing as ever. Hers, on the other hand, tended to be rough and often laced with sarcasm. Captain d’Ka’s impeccably fitted uniform bore not only his Starfleet insignia, but the insignia of the Sindarin Defense Council as well as several small ribbons for heroism and distinguished service. He was the only Sindar in Starfleet, and one of the few his people allowed out of their territory. He was seldom seen, except when he visited Aegis or other secure ports of call. Amanda decided long ago that that was probably was a good thing.

 

The Sindar are a reclusive race and their home system was a closely guarded secret, so it was best to keep a low profile. He seldom came aboard the station when Missouri docked, and when he did, he stayed away from public areas. With a stature of 6’ 8”, a silent, smooth step, delicately pointed ears, silken hair, and the solid, commanding presence reminiscent of an elven king, he could not go unnoticed in a crowd, and that was probably why he had invited Amanda to his office on Missouri for the meeting.

 

“Commander Lei’ri informed me that you might need my assistance?” His smooth lilting cadence brought Amanda back to reality.

 

“Yes, Captain. It’s about Captain Ramson, and it has to do with your telepathic abilities.”

 

D’ka’s expression turned serious. “Surely you have many telepaths on the station, Counselor,” he said cautiously, a brow raised. “Are they unable to help you?”

 

“Well, yes, we do have several telepaths, and Lt Commander Lawliet is El-Aurian. He is very capable, but he does not have the… talent, the... ability that you have.”

 

D’ka sat motionless, studying her for a moment. “By ‘ability’, you refer to ‘telepathy’?”

 

“Yes, Captain. Because of recent events, there is some question as to the true nature of Captain Ramson. At Commander Coleridge’s orders, I have given her a complete psychological profile. But I’m still concerned. I’m worried that she might have the residual effects of the droid core inside her. Without the objective observation of someone outside the crew, I can’t be certain.”

 

D’Ka breathed deeply, his lips slightly pursed. He paused, his hands steepled and pressed against his forehead, and his head bowed. After several minutes, he looked up and inhaled deeply as his eyes narrowed.

 

“Counselor, are you asking me to probe Captain Ramson’s thoughts?”

 

“Captain, I am asking you… begging you… to do whatever you can to help me determine whether or not the captain is… not a threat to station security. And, with the limited profile I have of you, I know that you have abilities well beyond anyone else in Starfleet.”

 

D’ka sighed profoundly, closing his eyes momentarily before answering.

 

“Counselor,” he began, then rephrased, saying, “Amanda,” with a soft intonation she had not heard before. “I would like to assist you, but the Sindar code is a sacred trust. It forbids probing thoughts unless I am given permission by that person, or that person’s thoughts are directed toward me to do me harm.” He straightened up, greatly concerned, and uncomfortable. “I see many things. And I know many things. But I cannot, and I will not, even contemplate breaking that code. If I do, I not only dishonor myself and my family, but the Sindar Supreme Council will know immediately, and their punishment will be well beyond anything you can possibly comprehend.”

 

Taken aback, Amanda swallowed hard, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Captain,” she whispered. “I….” She left off when he gently raised his hand.

 

“No need to apologize. You could not have known. But now that you do, I must ask if there is a good reason you are asking me, instead of the telepaths on the station.”

 

“Well, yes.” She cleared her throat. “Two reasons, actually. All Captain Ramson’s psychological tests show nothing unusual, per se. However, they match the results of her previous tests almost perfectly, which is definitely unusual. Also, the droid core wasn’t detected by the telepaths who were with her on the Treevian planet, so I cannot be certain that they would be able to detect either the droid core or any possible residual effects of the droid core.”

 

“I see,” d’Ka responded, giving a slight nod. “In this case there is no problem. It doesn’t take a mind probe to determine that.” His hands spread as he relaxed into a smile. “Just being close to her tells me that all effects of the droid core are gone. She is, indeed, the ‘real’ Captain Ramson.”