RP Log: The Guardian Knows Best, Not Mom
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| 2022-09-01 11:23 | |
- Symbiosis Commission - Lobby <Trillius Prime>
- The lobby of the Symbiosis Commission is very simple in decor, having only room for a few modest plants, and a reception desk where guests must check in before proceeding into the building.
A very petite Trill woman walks towards Kellen's room. She's got gunmetal gray hair and looks to be in her later years.
Sawyer follows along, falling in with the Trill woman. "Ma'am. Howdy there. I'm Doctor Sawyer. Kellen's a friend."
She fixes Sawyer with a gaze as she looks him over, "So you're the one who's been keeping him from finishing his duty then, Doctor?"
Sawyer shakes his head. "I've been trying to save his life, Ma'am. But I don't plan to argue Trill philosophy today," he says, adding his usual smile.
She stops where she is, "He knew his duty. His duty was to give up his life so that his symbiont would be unharmed. Instead, he was led astray, possibly because of Starfleet."
"Let me guess. Are you his mother?" Sawyer asks. "I mean, he did steal a ship to get here, if that counts better fer him."
"I birthed Kellen, if that's what you are referring to," Lena Monx replies. "But my son died somewhere out there with Starfleet and forgot the ways of his people. I intend to correct his error."
"Have you seen him since he got here?" The doctor asks, not combattively. "Have ya spoken with your son, ma'am?"
Lena shakes her head, "I don't need to. Starfleet has a long history of meddling with our ways. In fact, the Commission is considering barring any hosts from joining Starfleet, because the harm you cause is so great to our people and our ways."
The doctor takes this in without bristling. "On the other hand, your Trill that've gone out there have brought home a lot of new knowledge. I've been reading about some of them. You ever know of Dax?"
Lena scoffs, "Don't even bring up Dax. Between Jadzia and Ezri, Starfleet meddled quite a bit in our affairs. And ignoring our wishes with Odan is what led to Doctors like you interfering with a life form you don't understand, Doctor."
Kellen hears the conversation from his room, but stays out of it for the moment.
"I see you've heard of Dax. How is Dax, these days?" He asks. He smiles. "Ya know, Ma'am, here's the thing. Every lifeform, every single one, starts out as something a doctor doesn't understand. We don't know everything and we don't try to know it all, and when you're stuck on a ball of ice out in the Delta Quadrant trying to nursemade a sick Pentapod with five legs and nine eyes that contracted a flu, well, you do your best." He chuckles. "Now as to you joined Trill folk, here's the thing, ma'am. Wouldn't it be more sensible, if yall are gonna come out into the galaxy to play, that you bring along some medical info so that poor working stiffs like me can try and heal ya up when someone with a bad attitude tries putting holes in ya? Sure it does."
"And what was your plan out in the Delta Quadrant if something had befallen Coil while the Pathfinder was out there, Doctor?" Lena asks. "You probably didn't have one with so small a crew. Starfleet put Kellen Coil into repeated risk and now we're going to rectify the problem." She resumes her journey and stops at the doorway to Kellen's room, "It's time."
"My plan is to borrow some textbooks while I'm here,," he says wryly. "It's unfair for joined Trill to go out there while their homeworld puts them at risk by sitting on the most basic information that could save their lives. By which, I mean the symbionts you charish so highly, madam. Think about it. Now, let's go see /your/ boy in there, shall we?"
Ki'Vek arrives just in time to hear Sawyer's comment, but not the one before it. She notes some tension in the room though and pauses at some little distance.
Kellen sighs at the tone of his Mom's voice as he sees her in his doorway. He gets up from where he was sitting and says, "Doc, that's an argument that has been lost since the Starfleet first discovered the truth about us. Prior to that, we either didn't travel or we took the risk and seldom ran into trouble." He finally turns his gaze to Lena, "Hello Mom. Here to kill me at last so you can forget all about your disappointment? How's Dad? Or have you conveniently forgotten about him before you change hosts?"
Everyone's standing in the corridor outside of Kellen's dorm room. Lena gives Kellen a slap across the mouth, "You watch your tongue, young man!" She regains her temper, "Your father doesn't see you for what you've become, selfish and self centered." She turns and heads down the corridor, "Time for us to get Coil into a better behaved host and put an end to the harm you've been doing. Regardless of Starfleet and it's ever growing collection of ships showing up to try to interfere."
Sawyer draws in a breath as Lina slaps Kellen. But he lets Kellen handle it. "If we wanted to interfere, we would have already done it," he says a bit harder. "We're here paying our respects to one of the most decorated of your kind ever to wear the uniform, a scientist who's seen more in the last year than I reckon you have in all of your lifetimes."
Ki'Vek goes ridged and rises about half a foot. The hood around her head flairs slightly and the slits in her dark yellow eyes narrow, but she, like Sawyer, manages to constrain herself from reacting beyond that to the slap.
Kellen doesn't even blink at being slapped, let alone react in any other way. He merely says, "Are you sure that you're not letting your prejudices influence your decisions, Mom? You're not exactly setting a good example for my friends and fellow officers, not if you want them to think better of our people."
Hauser slips in the door. She's come to see the science officer she once made a cartoon of. But where is he? Then the scrum at the end of the hall, which has all the looks of an argument, catches her eye and she heads that way, speeding up. "Scuse me," she says, dodging around a Selay, "Sorry," she says, bumping into a fleet doctor, "Are you Coil? THe Kellen Coil, sir? My skipper won't shut up about you guys. But then, I asked him what Phoenix was really like and ... You know what? I'm just going to shut up now," she conludes after a beat, pausing next to Coil.
"O shit," Sawyer mutters to Ki'vek. "Save us from eager ensigns." He grins, not bothered in the least.
Lena stops and turns on Kellen with growing fury, "A good example? That's rich coming from the person who harmed his symbiont and refused to return immediately when requested, young man!"
Ki'Vek regards the unfamiliar Ensign oddly as it passes. A ripple of annoyance visibly runs through the Selay's body. She's apparently more easily irritated than is the Doctor.
Kellen pauses in riposting with his Mom as the Ensign rushes up to him. He looks at her, "Yes, I'm Kellen Coil though I'm not sure I'm deserving of being called The Kellen Coil, Ensign. What can I do for you?" He totally ignores his Mom, which probably won't go over well.
Hauser takes one of Coil's hands in both of hers. "Skipper Temple explained it to me, sir. I don't get it, but who cares about that. I just ... wanted to pay my respects. Maybe there's something I can do for you?" THen she recalls that she needs to add her name. "I'm Jessica Hauser, sir. Engineer."
Sawyer falls back to Ki'vek's side, noting the snake's ripple. "On Earth, we call it a fan club," he tells her quietly.
Lena looks even more incensed at being ignored in favor of yet another Starfleet officer.
Ki'Vek glances down at the Doctor, then back at Kellen. "She doesn't appear to be fanning him," she notes quietly.
Kellen pauses briefly at the name, but he smiles, "A pleasure to meet you, Ensign Hauser. Unfortunately, I have a date with destiny that may preclude an opportunity to talk further."
She squeezes his hand a bit tighter and smiles back. "Yeah, that one. I'm his daughter ... I know you can't stay. Sir. If it means anything, there are thousands of us here. The Phoenix is up there, and the Buran too. And my ship, and a diplomatic courier, and an admiral's flagship. I forget which admiral though."
Sawyer smiles over at Ki'vek. "We'll have to take special care of that ensign over there," he tells her very quielty. "She's had it rough."
"That is quite enough!" Lena snaps. Another Trill walks up and says calmly, "Indeed it is, Lena Monx."
"I trust the Ensign she isn't suggesting that we are prepared to intervene on Commander Coil's behalf," says the snake to Sawyer. "This it does seem to be, after all, an internal Trill matter."
Kellen gives the Ensign's hand a squeeze, "I know that everyone is supporting me, Ensign." He turns to look at the new arrival.
Hauser also turns to look at the newcomer. Her face suggests she doesn't yet know what she thinks.
Sawyer smiles at Ki'vek. "Naw, not a bit." He studies the third Trill with interest, waiting.
Lena turns on the newcomer and snaps, "The Commission has already made it's decision. The Guardians need not get involved."
"The Commission's decision does not take into account the healing of the Coil symbiont," the Guardian says in a calm voice. He turns to Kellen, "I can see that you have had another troubled life, haven't you?"
Ki'Vek tips her leathery head to one side with interest. "The Guardians," she hisses to herself, though those close enough may also hear.
Hauser looks fascinated and a bit hopeful. She looks from Kellen to the guardian, but listens.
"Kellen told me a little bit about them," Sawyer tells the snake very quietly.
Kellen nods in greeting to the Guardian, "Indeed I have, though not as troubled as Darias had. Do you think I may be healed as I am?"
Lena hisses, "Selfish child!"
Sawyer steps forward to stand on Coil's other side, one hand resting on his doctor's bag. He nods respectfully to the guardian.
Ki'Vek lowers herself back down to her usual height, apparently relaxing somewhat. She simply keeps a watch on events as they unfold.
"Kellen is not the one being selfish here, Lena Monx," the Guardian states. "His report and subsequent reports from his doctors indicate that he took every step he could to preserve the life of the symbiont in a situation that would otherwise have resulted in the death of both host and symbiont. Your ideology has blinded you to the care of the symbiont and delayed treatment."
Kellen stands at the center of the confrontation, Starfleet officers surrounding him and his Mom and a Guardian confronting each other.
"Sir, I think we're gonna get along." The human extends his hand to the guardian. "I'm doctor Sawyer, one of the physicians who tried to give Kellen Coil a help." He smiles warmly.
Worthington notices the rather large crowd in the room as he approaches, so tactfully keeps his distance, opting for the moment to aurally observe from the corridor and visually engage with the people inside.
Ghandriane quietly walks in behind the crowd, listening, watching. She has heard of Coil, but did not expect such a following.
Lena looks about ready to have a coronary with as red as she's getting in anger. "I'm looking to save the symbiont. Starfleet has caused more damage to symbionts than any other organization or species we've run into. They've got a number of ships in orbit just ready to take over and control our way of life all because of this man!"
Kellen shakes his head, "Mom, Starfleet isn't the villain." He gestures to the officers around him, "These are the people who I serve with, the people who have helped me save many lives out there, and were there when we discovered many wonderous things that I couldn't even have dreamed of when Loran was peering through his telescope at the stars above."
The Guardian says, "Such anger ill becomes one of our senior Commissioners, Lena Monx, as well as this hatred against Starfleet which serves the Federation at the behest of all members." He bows slightly to Sawyer, "Greetings, Doctor. Hopefully you will learn the answers to some of the questions you have raised in your quest to heal Kellen Coil."
"Ma'am," Sawyer says not unkindly to Lina, "Paranoia is not only unhealthy, but it could be a sign of a larger issue. Have you consulted your doctor lately?" He turns back to the Guardian and smiles. "Just think of me as a ready pupil."
Worthington continues to listen from his place near the door, not wanting to butt in, not thinking he has anything to offer. He salutes and nodds to the admiral head of the diplomatic corps.
Hauser stifles a giggle, but not so much the grin.
Ki'Vek offers a respectful bow to the newly arrived Admiral, then slithers out of the way to let her pass freely.
Ghandriane nods to those who have acknowledged her, but she does not butt in, yet. Those observant may have noted her about to speak with this angsty Trill woman belittled Starfleet, but she held her tongue. The diplomat in her.
Lena glares at Sawyer, "I don't need no offworlder who understands nothing about our way of life giving advice about my health." She turns her attention back on the Guardian, "And the Guardians should be doing more to preserve our people, not give into Starfleet every time they want to interfere with the proper way of things ever since they learned about the symbionts. The Commission will be making Starfleet offlimits to all Joined Trill, if it's the last thing I do."
Kellen shakes his head, "Mom, I don't know what has gotten into you about Starfleet, but the experiences I've had with Starfleet are a wonder that I did not experience in most of my past lives. Staying here where it's 'safe' is dull as a regular life."
"And this after we've just lost so many lives to a battle caused by bigotry," Ki'Vek hiss with irritation, though not very loudly.
Worthington tends to get rather passionate about things he believes in, but does not feel it is called for here, as any betazoid in the room would sense from him. He continues to hold his tung, remaining a visual show of support to the joined trill at the center of the raging argument over commission policy.
"We can't bar our people from experiences and lifestyles that they choose to have, Commissioner," the Guardian says simply. "Now, if you'll pardon us, I must see to the long overdue healing of Kellen Coil."
Sawyer looks ready to roll. "Where to?" he asks the guardian.
Lena glares all around before she turns and stalks away, her petite form not in her favor with so many taller people around.
Worthington stands out of the way of the door to make room for people exiting the area.
"I thought she'd never leave." the tall admiral says with a smile. "I apologize for the intrusion. Commander Coil, a mutual friend mentioned your situation. I thought I might stop in to see if you needed anything. It would seem you are in capable hands." She looks around at all those assembled. "It is heart warming to see so many who are also in your corner."
Kellen looks around and finally notices the Admiral, who he nods in greeting to. "Hello Admiral. My apologies if my situation has created a diplomatic issue for you and your people." He looks in the direction his Mom stalked off in, "I'm afraid I don't even know what has caused this hatred for Starfleet in the years since I last talked with her."
The Guardian says to Sawyer, "We'll be going to the Pools, Doctor. If there's healing to be had, it will be there with the symbionts."
"A swim on Trillius Prime. Let's do it," the doctor says.
Hauser looks up at Coil. "Could the Coil symbiont ever ... talk it out with the Monx symbiont and resolve it that way? ... Is that a stupid question?"
Worthington smiles. "From what I know, they do not communicate like that ensign," he says from near the door. "Not joined trill at any rate."
Ki'Vek moves to take a place next to Worthington. She takes out a PADD from her jacket pocket and types something into it, then shows it to him like kids passing notes in class.
"Not at all, Commander." Ghandriane replies. "and I suspect fear, it is often at the root of such behaviour, though what instills it is not evident. Fear of loss of a son perhaps." She shakes her head unsure. "Regardless, you have places to be." she nods to the rest present. "You all honour Starfleet and its ideals, I thank you."
The Guardian comments, "Interesting lady. I wonder if she has ever considered becoming a Guardian when she retires." He turns and heads for the exit, "This way. It is not normal to have so many guests in the Pools, but if Kellen permits, you are all welcome to come and observe."
Chill's antennae wiggle, but he steps back, "Good luck Kellen."
Kellen nods to Chill, "Thank you, Chill. And I have no problems with my friends observing." He turns and follows the Guardian.
Worthington makes to follow, nodding to Ki'Vek and handing the padd back to her.
- Caves of Mak'ala <Trillius Prime>
- Buried beneath the planet surface is a series of interconnecting underground caves. Within these caves are kilometers of interconnecting pools of a milk-like substance. There is no natural lighting here, however the pools themselves sometimes flicker with electrical pulses. The air is cloudy with mist from the pools.
Kellen disappears for a short time after arriving at the caves before returning dressed in a white robe. He gazes down at the pools, looking at the symbionts appearing and disappearing as they swim through the murky liquid.
Sawyer keeps near Coil, quietly observing him as well as the guardian.
Worthington arrives with the others and finds a place to wait.
Samar is rather excited to see this side of things. It is not often seen by outsiders. She also hopes whatever they do here, works.
The Guardian stands at the edge of the pool as he awaits Kellen's preparations. When Kellen returns he says, "If healing is possible, then this is where it will happen. The trauma you experienced is one that hasn't been seen since Coil's youngest days, before he ever Joined. When you are ready, please enter the Pool."
"Need a hand in, Kellen?" Sawyer offers quietly.
Kellen nods in acknowledgement of the Guardian and takes a deep breath before taking a step and slipping into the Pool, beneath the milky liquid. He comes up a short while later before Sawyer might worry and lays on his back, floating away from the edge.
Worthington keeps listening, moving to stand near the young ensign and the betazoid who was formerly his coleague for many years.
There is movement within the Pool, and the occasional blue flicker can be seen approaching Kellen.
Samar stands on her tip toes to see into the pool better.
Sawyer has come to stand beside the guardian. "Are those other symbiotns?" He asks, pointing to the flickers. "Interacting with Coil?"
The Guardian nods, "Those are symbionts, though whether they're interacting with Coil is not certain. It depends on the nature of the injury."
Sawyer touches his medical scanner and looks to the guardian. "May I?"
Worthington nodds to the guardian. "Those are unjoined trill then?" He asks. "As in, symbionts that have yet to bond with a host?"
Kellen suddenly arches and groans before slipping under the surface.
Samar sees the flickering blue and whispers 'cool' to herself, before gasping as Coil disappears.
Hauser looks concerned. She steps forward, but almost everyone here is a stranger to her. So she keeps still.
"They are the symbionts, some are too young to be Joined, some are those who have not sought a Host, and still a few who have experienced great trauma themselves," the Guardian replies. He doesn't look surprised at Kellen slipping under, "It looks like there is hope for Kellen Coil."
Worthington nodds. "I hope you are correct guardian," he replies. "I take it that Kellen Coil's outcome is in the hands of the other symbionts, or Coil's at the least."
Samar looks like she is about to go for a swim herself, diving after Kellen, but the Guardians tone and reassurances give her pause.
Kellen rises back up to the surface as if pushed, gasping for a breath as blue flickers around his torso. He suddenly relaxes and slips back under again.
Sawyer runs a med scan on the pool, looking to the guardian in case this is somehow a no-no. He tunes the scanner in for a close-up on Coil.
The Guardian nods slowly, "Very promising. I do believe he will be out of danger now, at least from his health."
Worthington nodds to the guardian once more, and nodds reassuringly to the others around him. "Thank you," he says, and continues to observe.
Kellen returns to the surface again and shakes the liquid from his face. He gasps for a moment as some more blue flickers around him and he slowly makes his way back to the edge of the Pool, "Now that was an experience."
Samar comments, "It looked it."
Sawyer steps forward, bending down to offer a hand. "If all I needed to do was throw you in the right pool," he quips.
Worthington doesn't laugh, but smiles at kellen. "I'd be interested to hear about it commander," he says.
Kellen lets Sawyer help him out of the Pool and he sits on the edge for a few moments. "I relived my time on Volan III, including the periods that I couldn't recall before," Kellen says softly. "I did not realize just how close I was to dying."
Sawyer trades one scanner for another and grabs a scan. "Maybe you didn't, but Nolan and I had some idea you were one hurtin' unit."
The Guardian nods, "The trauma persists until it can be confronted and overcome. You were dealing with it in different ways and now you're able to deal with it together."
Worthington smiles again at kellen coil. "I hope your path to healing is on the right course now," he remarks.
"Are you saying," Sawyer asks the guardian, "that it was mostly ... psychosomatic? That the solution was in the mind rather than the body?"
Kellen shakes his head, "It's not that, Doc, though it might seem that way to your experience." He sighs and starts to climb back to his feet.
"The mind and the body can't exist in disharmony, Doctor," the Guardian says. "That's even more true with two minds and two different ways of dealing with the trauma. They were harming each other as they wrestled with what they went through."
"Well we," the doctor considers. "We knew they, Kellen and COil, we knew they weren't ballancing. But we didn't know why not. SO we couldn't help them."
Worthington nodds. "I think I understand," he says. "With 2 minds, they needed to be in concert, in agreement with one another to resolve the trauma, and they were not."
Kellen shrugs, "As good an explaination as any, I guess." He looks at the Guardian, "Thank you for giving me a chance for healing." Looking over at Sawyer, "So am I healed, Doc?"
Sawyer looks at his tricorder, snorts, and drops it in his bag. "Stubbornness all present and acounted for," he says. He smiles. "So, what ya gonna do now, Kellen? Space is still out there, ya know."
Samar chimes in loudly, "Don't do what your mother says, and hide here."
Worthington nodds. "You're too good for that," he chimes in.
Hauser approaches Coil and comes up to him. "So, you're ok? You're not going to ... die?" The last word comes out more quietly.
Sawyer mutters something, something, in which the words too damned stubborn to do that, are audible somewhere. he harumphs and smiles at the ensign.
The Guardian says, "You took extraordinary measures to protect Coil. You deserved the opportunity to heal." He pauses and adds, "The Commission's approach would not have provided healing, but passed the problem onto a new Host, one who wouldn't have been prepared for what you dealt with." He bows to all present, "I hope you all were enriched by this experience. If you will excuse me, I have duties to attend to."
Worthington smiles and nodds to the guardian, then attends to his uplink.
Samar slumps down onto a rock. "Well, that was exciting, and I'm glad Kellen is going to be ok, but, its over?"
"So do we," Sawyer says. TO no one in particular he adds, "Let's get the hell outa here."
Worthington nodds to the doctor. "Commander coil, Phoenix or Buran, your choice. We're technically stood down, and both ships will be returning to Spacedock shortly."
Kellen bows in return, "Thank you again. I may yet come back, to learn how to deal with this and previous trauma." He plucks at the robe he's wearing as he turns to his fellow officers, "It's over, other than I need a shower." He says to Worth, "Any chance I can get a lift to the Hegh'ta before we report to Spacedock? There is something I need to do before the next assignment."
Hauser smiles once more and quietly heads back up the steps.
Worthington considers, thinking. "We're technically ordered to stand down, and I don't want to get us in trouble. We could in theory take the runabout over there, but Starfleet might ask why we're going so far out of the way of Spacedock given our present location."
Sawyer chuckles. "Don't want to be barked at by any more admirals, Jim?" He teases. He grins at Coil. "By the way, Commander points has been reassigned. The Buran's Jim';s ship for the next ten minutes."
Kellen raises an eyebrow, "The Cardassians are still out there, James. A runabout may not be the safest option."
Worthington smiles to sawyer. "Though I also don't want to miss a particular something your lovely ops officer mentioned to me in passing. Whichever ship we take, it'll look quite conspicous parking briefly in empty space. If we get called on the carpet for it commander, you get to explain your logic to command. The Ursa major could do the trip more diplomatically, if it was not observed doing so."
"You mean Ki'vek?" Sawyer inquires of Worth's comment.
Worthington laughs. "No, I mean the other selay engineer turned operations officer Phoenix has. Don't you have like, a supply of them?" he says with a grin.
Samar shrugs, "Eyes everywhere, but likely not where you think." She walks over to Coil and gives him a hug. "I am glad you're well Kellen. Take care if I don't see you." She waves bye to the others as well.
Kellen hugs Samar back, "Thank you, Samar. Be sure to keep all these officers on their toes on your next ship."
Worthington turns to coil. "Meet me in my office aboard Buran, we'll discuss it there. I believe you need to change first," he says, nodding to the others. "I will be going for the time being."
Sawyer harumphs. He claps Coil on the shoulder. "I'm gettin back to Phoenix. See ya around, now that we'll have the chance."
Kellen nods, "Thank you, Doc."