Whatever - Part I

Posted on Sun Jul 20, 2025 @ 12:53am by Lieutenant T'Lul & Commodore T'mpest Michaels

1,692 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD15, morning

It had been several days since T'mpest last spoke with the counselor and she wanted an update on how T'Lul thought the station personnel was doing now that repairs were nearly done and life was settling down again.

T'Lul received the message from the Commodore. She had been exceptionally busy still sorting through the backlog of psychological fitness exams for much of the time between their last meeting and this one. However, it was one that she was anticipating. After all, their last conversation left their discussion unfinished and T'Lul was interested in knowing more about how the half-Vulcan was able to balance emotions and logic. Having arrived at the designated moment, she rang the chime and awaited being permitted into the Ready Room.

T'mpest stood and walked around her desk before telling the computer to open the door.

T'Lul greeted T'mpest at the door, her hand raised in the traditional Vulcan salute, "Live Long and Prosper, Commodore."

"Prosperity and long life," the commodore replied. "Please have a seat." She indicated the conversation area away from her desk.

T'Lul did as she was asked and sat down primly. She took a moment to look around the Ready Room before settling back on the Commodore.

T'mpest sat down opposite her. "What is your impression of how the crew is adapting to the new normal?"

This was one thing that the Vulcan did not like. There were no data points that she could specifically indicate what was better or worse. She had to give an ambiguous answer but one that meant something to the Captain. Sometimes counseling could be decidedly difficult to quantify. "I have seen some people regarding battle fatigue and potential PTSD from the most recent incident. However, if Ace Cannon is any indication, then most of the crew seems to have adjusted with little trouble."

"I met him once, but from what I saw, I doubt much would bother him." Ace was far too cocky for T'mpest, but he did know his job. "What have you done to help those suffering from PTSD?"

"That is a fair assessment of Mister Cannon," T'Lul agreed readily. He was a bad guidepost. "I have not decided to utilize the Doctor at this time for potential prescriptions. We have started some group and individual cognitive processing therapy. I will adapt if these do not prove to progress individuals as much as I would expect."

"A wise approach. Therapy is often more effective for long-term recovery. Have you set this up with both the civilian population and the Starfleet and Marine personnel?"

"I am attempting to do so; however, my staff is and always has been a bit light. It is fortunate that I am Vulcan and do not require as much sleep as many species."

"Yes, that is an advantage but can be problematic if taken to extremes." T'mpest herself had gone two weeks with little to no sleep when necessary, but then she had to sleep for a day to recover. Counseling has been small, but we can bring in others to fill out your department."

"Deep Space 5 has not been a priority for Starfleet when it has come to counseling."

A small smile danced on T'mpest lips. "Until now. Starfleet regrets not listening to the warnings leading up to the attack and now, I am taking advantage of that to get whatever upgrades and personnel I can. And so, if you wish to set up smaller counseling centers among the civilian population, I am able to facilitate that."

"It would reduce my caseload," T'Lul admitted.

"Then I will request for..." she paused, doing a mental calculation. "Six additional staff. That will allow you to help more people without overtaxing your resources."

"If you are fortunate, you will get two," T'Lul replied practically.

"We shall see." T'mpest expected at least four but hoped for the full six. "Do you have anything else you wish to report or ask?"

"I do," T'Lul answered, straightening in her chair and moving to its edge. "Though I believe that we had discussed having dessert during this topic."

A slow smile spread across T'mpest's face. "Indeed. What is your preference? I could replicate something, or have something delivered from the Promenade."

The corner of T'Lul's mouth barely cricked upwards. "I do have a preference for the anise bread from the bakery that Pierre runs. As I said before, he delivers me a loaf every week. I may have found that I am lacking sufficient bread to get me through this week. Perhaps it was smaller than usual?"

T'mpest nodded. "Very well." She went over to her computer and put in an order for a selection of breads and pastries from Pierre to be delivered to her ready room. When she was done, she went back to the chair. "It will be here in ten minutes."

"I hope that you will enjoy them," T'Lul told T'mpest. "I was wondering, have you done any research on my background?"

"Nothing beyond a basic read," T'mpest said. "Is there something specific you wish to point out?"

"I have detected a flaw in basic Vulcan reasoning. The purpose of kolinahr, as expressed by Surak was to suppress our emotions and to follow logic as our guiding light. However, when taken to the logical extreme, Surak would have Vulcans acting as a computer would: making decisions solely based on logic. Yet, that is what a computer does. No Vulcan, no matter how talented, can calculate or make decisions as quickly as a computer. So that led me to the conclusion that Surak's teachings are incorrect or that Vulcans have misunderstood them. It makes little sense to emulate a computer. Vulcans would be inferior."

T'mpest raised an eyebrow. "I take it your theory was not well received."

"It was not," T'Lul answered simply. "However, since my logic was not flawed, I received my doctorate but was encouraged to find my place elsewhere."

"Is that why you did not continue your education?" T'mpest had wondered why T'Lul entered Starfleet so young.

"I would not say that I did not continue my education. That would not be accurate. It would be more accurate to suggest that I stopped my formal education on Vulcan. I continued to learn at Starfleet and I seek data to prove my theories. I believe that half-Vulcans and Vulcans who were raised off Vulcan and do not follow Surak's teachings may provide the most useful data points. Romulans, while interesting, would not assist. They eschewed Surak from the beginning."

"Most Vulcans are not content with a basic education. I, myself, graduated from the Vulcan Science Academy and then stayed on as an instructor before joining Starfleet. Since then, I have added advanced degrees in communications, history, and archaeology. My father would have been disappointed if I had not continued to learn as he is currently a professor."

"Yet you left. Why?"

"I chose both. Academia did not allow me to explore as much as I wished, and Starfleet did not allow me the learning I wished. I was still teaching at the Vulcan Science Academy when I was your age." She shrugged. "I personally believe that as long as one continues to learn, one continues to grow."

"I agree," T'Lul answered simply. "And the path that I have chosen with regard to my studies has proven to be daunting. However, I do not think that anything I discover will permit me to teach at the Vulcan Science Academy. There is rigidity there despite what is professed."

"No. Not with your current choice of study. However, there are many paths to higher learning that are not on Vulcan. You may get more support for your studies if you do so elsewhere."

"Starfleet has provided some resources; however, at this juncture, as I stated earlier, I believe that I need data for my theories. Of course, that brings me to you and others on the station. Of course, if you would prefer not to participate, that is your right to choose. I will still watch you for my personal curiosity."

T'mpest still felt T'Lul would benefit from a formal study of Vulcan history and tradition from a non-Vulcan institution, but it was not her place to say more than she had already. "What sort of data are you acquiring?"

"I am trying to acquire data that shows that demonstrates that the suppression of emotions is detrimental to Vulcan's long term health. I believe that pon farr is a symptom of that. There already have been studies that show that what some call snap decisions can be more accurate than those based on a thorough analysis of logic. The theory is that there is a recognition of patterns in a snap decision, making it easier to sift through the information. However, if Vulcans or any other being were given emotions, it would be illogical to suggest that they serve no purpose and must be suppressed as Vulcans. I seek data that shows that emotions can be merged with logic for superior results. The control is obvious: Vulcans themselves. However, trying to run tests on Vulcans and those who have Vulcan blood and do not follow kolinahr is problematic. Also problematic is creating definitive results as emotions do not have set data points."

"The problem will be getting a wide enough group of test subjects. Most traditional Vulcans will have nothing to do with your study."

"No, they won't," T'Lul agreed. "However, it is simple to project that Vulcans will solely act rationally and logically based on facts presented. Not having them will cause harm to the study, but it would not completely invalidate it."

"The more rigid Vulcans will, yes. But we are spreading out across the galaxy and intermarrying with other species. That is changing some of the dynamics,” T’mpest countered.

"Indeed," T'Lul replied. "Which is what makes individuals like you so fascinating."

T'mpest gave the counselor a half smile. "Fascinating is not the word I would use. I do not believe there is a typical half Vulcan."

(To be continued...)



Commodore T'mpest Michaels
Commander
Deep Space 5

Lieutenant T'Lul
Chief Counselor
Deep Space 5

 

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