I knew it was rude but we needed food/sometimes you have to lose.

Posted on Sun Nov 28th, 2021 @ 6:02pm by Ships Doctor Hiram Maitland M.D.
Edited on on Thu Jan 27th, 2022 @ 10:46am

Mission: Elsewhere
Location: Comer Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: 2395
838 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

"I fail to understand the logic behind these groups," Rael told the Council liaison flatly, arms crossed over his chest. "They resolve in violence over 50% of the time, and frankly I don't think that-" he trailed off, watching Maitland's eerie, glowing gaze flick back and forth rhythmically in metronomic nystagmus.

"This is a challenging assignment for you," was what Maitland said, addressing the real concern behind Rael's words.

"I am not inexperienced. I have been on either side of the desk, so to speak." Rael was blunt. "I have never seen anything like this. Tevar is lucky he isn't being brought up on charges. Katrin is in critical condition."

"Surely you have interacted with violent patients in the past?" Hiram's head tilted. As far as he was aware, his friend did work at Longview. It was a minimum-security facility, but there were still many elements of criminality and aggression at play.

"Of course I have, but I cannot help but think that the structure of how this is oriented is the reason behind these outbursts. It's not just the patients that are at risk, Dr. Riel was in that room, as well. She could have lost her life. All of this comes across to me as extraordinarily irresponsible."

"There is no structure that can prevent it," Hiram said, making sure his tone of voice and expression were sympathetic. Rael could tell the difference-proximity telepaths-and a particularly powerful one at that. But he'd never expressed judgment for his friend's deficits. "This is already a locked facility, and we do have effective security measures. We have been doing this for a long time, Ray." He put his hand on the Vulcan's shoulder. "It's not traditional. It's not familiar. It's not linear. It does work."

"How can you make that guarantee?"

"Because I am not dead, homeless, or in jail." Hiram touched his own chest. "There is no program in the galaxy that can take a group of children like this, put them in a room, and have them magically behave in a prosocial manner. It won't happen, especially when you factor in things like hishuri or an ECC. That's beyond behavioral psychology."

"He couldn't have been much older than eleven or twelve." Rael waved a hand in front of his face. "I have never encountered an individual that I could not get a read on. Even you have some type of-sensation."

"He is from Iro. The ECC totally alters your neurological structure and in telepaths that can have catastrophic consequences," Hiram explained. "I've had a lot of rehabilitation. From programs like this. I'd encourage you to try and keep an open mind. We are dealing with a very big problem. Clinical management can only take you so far."

"And here I had thought you were becoming a politician," Rael's lips pursed, dry.

"Maybe I am." Hiram smiled back. "You will see the progress. These kids want to learn. They want to go to school, to have friends, to be beneficial citizens in their community. But un-learning this type of conditioning takes time, and we cannot shy away from the reality that violence has been both a negative and positive factor in their lives up until this point."

"It's not unfamiliar," Rael responded, eyes unfocused in thought. "I thought that I understood what I was getting into-" But the real issue as always, was more complicated than its initial surface presentation. Vague, crunchy recollections of blood and bone and the sulphuric whizz and crackle of energy beams, the sizzle of skin and iron.

And Vulcan egoistic states. Admitting he was unprepared, that he might be wrong, that he might not have as full of a grasp of things as he'd initially anticipated-being caught off guard by that explosive flurry of movement and the eye-catching glint of a silver-blade-

Rael's reaction was quick. He subdued Tevar easily. Subduing the sudden slam of frenzied sensory input from the top of his head to the tips of his toes wriggling in Starfleet-issue boots was another story.

"It is not easy, for anyone. I imagine you are having a very significant emotional reaction, and that's entirely ordinary. As much as you need to decompress, I am here for you." Hiram halted momentarily, lips pressed together. "And if you find that this is something closer than you realize-" he taps at his right arm.

"Kroykah," Rael stated, flat and immediate. "Not today, Hiram."

"You need to take care of yourself. I have absolutely zero doubt that you can handle this, but focus on acting smart. Not noble. The more stability you have, the greater your successes will be."

OFF:

Ensign Rael
Group Facilitator
Chicago, Illinois

Dr. Hiram Maitland
Liaison, Office of the Prosecutor
Palais de Concorde