Planet of Silence
Chapters Seven and Eight
Chapter Seven
Mriana entered Sickbay the next day. She wanted to talk to Doctor Crusher, but the doctor spoke to her first.
"I'm sorry Mriana, but I don't have time to discuss an implant with you right now."
Mriana shook her head. "I'm sorry, Beverly. This is so frustrating for me. I can't understand everything people say. All I can do is sense feelings, strong emotional thoughts also, especially from those I know well and if spoken to slow enough, I can catch certain words that I lipread. However, I can't always piece it together. I can't wait for a terp."
Beverly sighed knowing Mriana did not get a word she had said to her.
"I sense you are more frustrated than I am."
Beverly picked up a PADD and began to type. Then she showed it to Mriana. "Why didn't I contract any symptoms of the illness? I've had the most contact. What was it that prevented me from getting it?"
Beverly returned to her computer screen and continued to scan over the information she had gathered.
"Maybe, Beverly, something in your system fought it off?"
Beverly shook her head. "No, no. That's not it." There was a brief pause. "Maybe." Beverly picked up the PADD again. "It wasn't exposure time at all. Maybe it was the soil."
Mriana nodded. "There are a few school children who have it." Mriana commented.
"Mriana! Some of that soil with plants, and rocks was sent to some of their classrooms. That's it! It has to be in the soil!" Beverly quickly rose from her position and rushed out the door.
"What? Where are you going?" Mriana asked completely confused.
"To get some more of that soil!" Beverly shouted, forgetting that Mriana was deaf.
"Well, thanks for the wonderful conversation." Mriana said sarcastically as she watched the doctor leave. "I guess I'll go back to my quarters since I'm relieved from my duties until the terps and teachers for the deaf arrive." She thought to herself.
Geordy heard the chime to his quarters ring. "Come in." He invited. "Oh, hi, Counselor. Have a seat. I was just getting some breakfast. Want anything?"
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
"So, what brings you here?"
"I know it's early and everything, but I was thinking." She began slowly trying to choose her words.
"Yeah?"
"I was thinking I can't really help Mriana, because were family. I can guide her, give her support, and make sure she is capable of doing her duties, but I can't really counsole her."
"What are you trying to say, Counselor?"
"Well, you can help her more."
"I'm afraid she's not talking to me." Geordi informed her.
"Still, I think if anyone can get through to her, it's you."
"Mriana and I are close too. How could I be of help?"
"She knows what you are capable of, Geordi, but she doesn't know what your struggles were and are. Sometimes it takes someone with similar, but different problems to help the other person over the first hurtle."
"You know, Counselor, you maybe right, but she has almost closed herself off from me. Except for our duties and when we work with Data."
"She will eventually open up to you, Geordi. I'm sure of it. She knows your feelings for her. Don't give up." Deanna encouraged him. "I have an appointment, so I'll see you later."
Deanna started to leave, just as Geordi was thinking about what she was saying. "Counselor?"
She turned around. "Yes, Geordi?"
"Thanks."
She nodded with a smile, then departed. After she left he decided it was time to try and talk to Mriana again. He left his breakfast and went to her quarters.
When he arrived he rung the chime. At first she did not respond, but this time he was persistant.
"Computer, where is Counselor Mriana Troi?"
"Counselor Mriana Troi is in her quarters." The computer stated.
"Oh, so we're playing this game this time are we?" He said to no one in particular. "Well, I know you're in there and I also know you sense my presence."
He rang the door bell again and Mriana again saw her lights flash. His persistance was getting very annoying to her. "Oh, alright! Come in."
Geordi entered her quarters.
"These damn lights are worse than hearing the rings." She signed.
"You don't mean that." He signed back to her.
"No, but alone prefer I." She signed and then started to walk away.
He stopped her by reaching a hand out to her. She turned to reluctantly face him. "You don't mean that, either." He signed.
"How do you know!" She yelled. "You are not empathic!"
He looked at her puzzled. He did not understand why she kept taking her anger out on him.
"You don't understand." She signed and again turned to leave the room.
"Mriana." He said as he stopped her again. Then signed, "Yes, I understand."
"No you don't!" She shouted again. "And how dare you claim that you do!"
"Mriana." He said as he removed his visor and continued without signing. "What colour are your eyes?"
"What?" She asked aloud.
"What colour are your eyes?" He asked again.
"Not funny!" She signed. Then realized he could not see anything she signed. "This is not funny, Geordi!" She finally said aloud.
"Eyes?" He signed slowly. "Colour. Yours. What?"
She sensed he was trying to communicate something to her, but she could not figure out just what it was yet. All she could understand was that he was asking her what her eye colour was.
He replaced his visor and reached for a com padd. He explained how his visor worked and that it did not pick up fine details such as eye colour. Then he handed it to her to read and once she had finished reading it, she studied him.
Finally, he took the padd from her, placed it aside, and again signed, "Eyes yours colour what?"
She began to drop the wall she had put up between them and sensed he was being honest with her. "You do understand." She said softly and a tear started to roll down her face. "Sorry." She signed. "I guess my human side was interferring with my empathic sense or I was letting my own feelings get in the way."
"Hold me." She sent to him with tears in her eyes.
He was getting use to her silent unspoken messages. So, without hesitation, he pull her close to him and held her in his arms. She cried hard onto his shoulder.
"That's it. Let it all out." He thought to her as he held her in his arms.
"I'm so sorry!" She thought to him through the tears. "I've been so awful to you!"
Even though he knew she could not hear his whisper, he softly said, "Shhh. It's OK."
She cried for a few minutes. She was releasing all the frustration of the past few weeks and for her regret for pushing the closest person to her away. For pushing her Imzadi away. The man she had come to love so very dearly.
Once she stopped crying, Geordi gently pushed her away and signed. "We. Have. Lot. To learn. From. Each other. But. In the meantime. Data. Let's meet. Class. Almost time."
"Geordi." She signed as she laughed. "Pigeon sign. You sign faster."
Geordi really was improving with his signing skills, but when he tried to sign Federation Sign Language, he became very slow as he tried think which word would be first. Where as, he signed faster if he just signed the sentence leaving out unnecessary words. Never the less, Mriana did appreciate his efforts.
He also laughed. "Let's go, before we're late."
They were smiles as they walked out of Mriana's quarters and headed down the corridor to Data's class.
Mriana stopped momentarily and turned to him. "By the way." She signed. "Eyes brown."
Chapter Eight
Captain's Log
Stardate: 46298.3
"It's been about a month that we have been circling the planet Syrina. Doctor Crusher found that the soil is the cause of the illness that has spread to the away teams, scientists, and school children. The dust is inhaled. It then goes from the sinuses to the eustation tube and then to the hearing centers of the brain. As of yet, she has not found a vaccine for this illness. Doctor Crusher has further details on this ominous illness in her logs.
Mriana Troi has asked me a couple more times to go back to the planet surface with Data. She wishes to make contact with the people on this planet. Their society and technological development appear to be very primative compared to the Federation's, therefore, permission has been denied each time.
The Cardassians are on the verge of war and I've asked them to come aboard for a meeting. Mriana Troi will attend. This will be her first assignment since her hearing loss. She's not particularly happy about this assignment, but has accepted it even so. The reason for her reservations is because the Cardassians would rather see deaf people dead than alive. However, I have the ultmost confidence in her to help with this meeting. Maybe we can set an example that people with impairments can function in society as well as anyone else."
*Crusher to Picard.*
"End Captain's log." He ordered the computer. Then he tapped his combadge. "Picard here."
*It took me a while, but I've finally found the innoculant.*
"Very good. Distribute it at once."
*Aye, Sir. Crusher out.*
Picard finished up in his Ready Room and headed for the conference lounge.
In the conference lounge everyone was taking their seats. Mriana Troi walked in and immediately one of the Cardassians started to rant and rave.
"What is she doing here? She's deaf! She has no idea what's going on at this meeting!" He insisted as he pointed at Mriana. "And what is this Federation Sign Language? Some kind of joke on us? She can't possibly understand what is happening here, so get her out!"
Data spoke. "Contrary to your popular belief, she does understand a lot more than you think she does. Not only does she read sign language, she is also an empathic Betazoid and this Federation Sign Language is a mixture of American Sign Language also known as ASL and other forms of sign that meet Federation Standard requirements. There are at least fifty acceptable forms."
"Yes, Data. That's all fine, but we need to get on with this." Picard insisted.
"She communicates in this way?" Asked Captain Tomalak.
"With non-telepaths and non-empaths, yes." Data informed.
"Hey!" Mriana interrupted verbally and slightly irritated. "No disrespect intended, but I'm here and I'd appreciate it if someone would interpret for me."
"Yes. Of course." Replied Picard as he looked directly at Mriana. "So sorry. Data would you please do the honours?"
"Aye, Sir." Data answered him and from then on he signed everything for her.
"So what is this bacterial/virus you talk about? Where is it supposedly contracted and what is this vaccine you have come up with when our medical staff has not?" Asked Commander Sark.
Worf growled softly, half expecting a confrontation from the Cardassians.
"Curb your dog, Picard!" Sark ordered.
"Gentlemen. Let's get through this peacefully and let the doctor speak."
"Yes. Let's." Tamalak agreed as he glared at his commander.
Beverly Crusher began to brief them on how the illness was contracted. "It comes from inhaling the soil as it blows on the planet's surface. Once it is in the body it invades and distroys everything in it's path. In this case, everything that has to do with hearing, including the hearing sections of the brain. It grows in the mucus parts of the sinuses and becomes very powerful. Then it gains strength again in the fluid that is in the cochlea. After that it attacts the part of the brain that makes sense out of what one hears, called the Wernicke's area in humans and other names in other species. Thus, the vaccine was developed to counter act and kill the bacteria and the virus right where it starts, much like the cold vaccine only different."
"Lies! All lies!" Said Sark. "Don't believe a word these people say, Tamalak!"
Mriana made her first non-verbal comment. "On the contrary," Data interpreted. "Why would we contaminate ourselves, especially when it does so much damage emotionally and physically? It would seem illogical."
"Now you sound like a Vulcan!" Sark accused. "Even Vulcan's experiment on their own people sometimes and I still say you are doing this to our people somehow."
"Yes, but to cure people, not to harm them. What I don't understand," Mriana continued. "Is why your people kill your own because they become deaf or blind or."
"Yes, well." Picard interrupted Data's interperting. "I think we are digressing here."
"No. No. I'll answer her question." Tamalak stated. "Because they are not fit for battles and confrontations."
"That sounds like Klingons." Mriana now accused with mild arrogance as she glared at Worf. "And discrimination."
"Mriana!" Picard scolded. "I think this has gone far enough."
"So, Picard." Tamalak began. "How do you propose to help us?"
"If you consider this planet off limits, we can help you, but if you continue to try to possess this planet." Picard informed. "We can't help you."
"We'll consider your offer. For now, we will return to our ship." Said Tamalak. "We will then contact you in one of your hours, with our decision."
"Very well." Picard replied.
All departed except for the captain and Mriana. At the last second, Data realized Mriana wanted to talk to the captain and returned to his seat.
"Captain." She said aloud.
"Mriana, if you're about to ask me again what I think you are about to ask, permission is still denied."
"OK, but that wasn't my question." Data translated Mriana's signing. "My question was, what can we do to convince these people that they are wrong in their practices?"
"It's not our affair." Picard informed her. "I realize how this may affect you, but we still have to follow the Prime Directive."
"But Sir." She said aloud.
"No buts! I know your record and how you made lieutenant I'm not sure, except you are very impressive with your work as a counselor. However, on my ship you will follow orders. Is that clear?"
"Yes Sir." She said demurely.
As she turned to leave, Data touched her arm and told her the captain had more to say to her. She then turned back to face Picard again.
"Mriana, I'm not without compassion for your endeavours. That's why I asked you here today. I feel if we can set an example for their people, maybe it could convince them to change their ways without us interferring and breaking the Prime Directive."
"Doesn't the Prime Directive include not influencing other cultures?"
"They are not technologically inferior to us. This has nothing to do with our influence on them to advance to our level."
"Doesn't it?"
"That's not the issue!" Picard said louder than he meant to say it. "The issue is that you need to stop being so arrogant in your views."
"I don't know, Captain." Mriana began. "I think knowing my Aunt Lwaxana, you may find it to be a hereditary trait."
"If you do anything! Anything to cause any problems with these people I will personally throw you in the brig! Deaf or not! Is that understood?"
Mriana received the words from Data and sensed Picard's frustration with her. "Yes, Sir. I understand, Sir."
"Very well. Dismissed Lieutenant."
Mriana departed and Picard continued his conversation with Data. "You know, Data, and I expect you to keep this confedential, but that woman has had more reprimands on her record for her arrogance and every other trait similar to Lwaxana. I just don't understand how she has made it this far in Starfleet, except she is one hell of a counselor, just as her cousin is. You would think this loss she has experienced would have taken it out of her. At best, she only been a bit tamed by the loss and no more."
"Sir, isn't it only natural that people stand up for what they believe?"
"Yes, Data. Up to a point, then it becomes something that is forced on others."
"Ah! Like the Native Americans who were forced to assimilate into the European-American culture."
"Something like that." Picard replied. "I must get back to the Bridge. I'll see you later, Mr. Data."
"Yes, Sir."
After Mriana was dismissed, she headed for her cousin's quarters. Only to find that her Aunt Lwaxana had contacted Deanna and was on screen. Deanna had sensed Mriana coming and made arrangements for her to view the conversation on the screen.
"Hello." She voiced, trying to keep her voice even without loosing intonation, which was sometimes amiss now.
"Hello, dear niece." Said Lwaxana. "I'm so glad you came by Deanna's quarters. I'm coming in a few days to see you two."
"Oh, no." Mriana thought.
"Why so concerned?" Lwaxana asked.
"No reason, Mother. Mriana is going to be on assignment and may not get to see much of you."
"Your mother asked me to tell her how you're doing. She sensed something was very wrong."
"I'm fine, Aunt Lwaxana."
Lwaxana looked at her and then Deanna with doubt. "You two are hiding something. No matter. I'll find out soon enough when I arrive. See you both in two days, my dears."
The screen went blank and the communication was severed. Mriana breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks for remembering to ask the computer to type everything that was being said before you answered her call." Mriana sent to Deanna. Mriana was not ready to tell their family yet, for fear they would insist she return to Betazed.
"Mriana." Deanna sent back. "You have to tell Aunt Briana sooner or later."
"I know. I'll tell my mother later. I'll tell Aunt Lwaxana sometime after she arrives aboard the the Enterprise."
"Sooner than later would be better, Mriana."
"Don't worry, Deanna. I'll tell them." She replied firmly with irritation.
"Alright." Deanna thought at her in resignation. "I will leave it up to you to tell them, but I won't cover for you anymore than one day after my mother arrives."
"Thanks, Deanna." Mriana sent with a smile and hugged her. "Now, I have a meeting with Data in a few minutes, but afterwards would you like to meet me in Ten-forward?"
"Not tonight."
"OK." Mriana sent in disappointment. "Poor Data. Until the interpreters on the Reliant II arrive next week, he has so many extra duties."
"Yes, but Data has taken them on voluntarily."
"That's true. Well, I'd better go. Don't want to be late." Mriana sent as she rose to leave.
"OK. Rain check on meeting in Ten-Forward?"
"Sure. Catch you later." Mriana then exited Deanna's quarters and headed to Data's class.
As she walked down the corridor, she felt the emotional pain of her loss again. She saw young children walking with their parents. Laughing and giggling, but did not hear any of their laughter. She did not hear their sweet little voices and it begun to hurt deep inside. It was then she realized, that she would never hear any of her future children's voices, if she ever had any children.
She leaned against a bulkhead. She slid to the floor, buried her head and cried.
"Mriana?" Geordi sat down beside her and touched her arm. "Mriana?"
She raised her head and quickly wiped the tears away. "Yes?" She sniffed.
"You OK." He signed.
She nodded.
"Somehow, I don't believe that."
"Really. It's nothing. I really don't want to talk about it right now." She signed back to him.
"OK. Well, shall we go to Data's class?" He asked her in sign.
"Yes." She signed with her closed hand facing him and bending back and forth like a head would if it were nodding.
Geordi helped her up and they walked the rest of the way together in silence. What little conversation there was, was in sign language.