psl; for daneel

[dancingmd]

Beverly does not fail to see the irony here in landing on this planet that grants empathic, even telepathic, abilities to its inhabitants and visitors so soon after expressing her desire to share such a connection with Daneel. But she pushes the thoughts of audience and narrative building to the side and focuses on simply exploring this new world, enjoying the fresh open air, so different from the toxic moon they left behind. Every day, she goes out, sometimes together with Daneel, sometimes separate, to talk to the locals and eat the hearty food and hike around the hot springs, then returns at night to their cozy little rented cabin built into the roots of an enormous old tree.

It's a retreat in domesticity that she knows won't last. Moreover, she'd never really be satisfied with it anyway - she's too much of a Starfleet officer - but for now, it is enough.

Comments

[dancingmd]

"I will, I promise." Beverly turns in her seat to face him again, wrapping her arms lightly around his waist. "Thank you, it feels better already. But tell me, what did you do today? Meet anyone interesting?" Because, of course, it's always going to be people that he's most interested in, not landscapes or flora and fauna.

[thezerothlaw]

Ah, she knows him well.

"I spent some time in the markets, speaking with the locals," Daneel says. "I spoke at length with a young woman, an apprentice to a dairy farmer, about telepathy. She seemed quite amused with my interest, but was pleased to have someone to speak with while she worked."

[dancingmd]

"Good. It's important that you have contact with other people who share in your abilities. I hope she was informative?"

[thezerothlaw]

"She was."

Daneel shakes his head slightly.

"I never thought very much about the potential of an entire telepathic society. This is... not quite what I expected, and perhaps not the only variation. It's fascinating."

[dancingmd]

"They are different from others I have met, though their society most closely resembles that of the Betazoids. Only the Betazoids do not have to touch to see one another's minds. As a result they tend to be a rather... Forthright species."

She shows him a memory of Lwaxana Troi, walking down the aisle completely naked in proud defense of her heritage and in defiance of a man who dared try to control her.

"Vulcans, however, are a much more private people, and can only share their thoughts through what they call a mind-meld, and only will perform the ritual with those they trust."

She puts one hand to his face, forefinger at his temple and thumb at his jawline to demonstrate how it is done. And with that comes another memory, not amusing, but tragic, of Jean-Luc bearing Sarek's emotional pain so the ambassador can continue his mission. She doesn't linger long on that particular memory, however, and moves her hand away with a small apologetic smile. It's not what she meant to show him of Vulcans, but it's the strongest memory she has of them.

"There are others, but telepathy is not a common trait to find."

[thezerothlaw]

Daneel listens, frowning slightly. The nudity of Betazoids can hardly shock him; taboos vary greatly even in human societies, after all. And for all the unpleasant memories of Sarek, it's as interesting to him as anything else.

"And yet, for all the trait's rarity, it was merely a case of friend Giskard passing a programming matrix to me. I have wondered, on occasion, if it were possible to impress such a matrix upon a human mind, would telepathy result there as well?"

[dancingmd]

"Why not? I'm capable of it now, and before, as well, when Jean-Luc and I were implanted. Though I'm not sure how it would become more permanent, like yours."