Here a Scan, There a Scan, Everywhere a Scan Scan

Posted on Fri Feb 22, 2019 @ 4:04pm by Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho & Commodore Michael Aravan
Edited on on Fri Feb 22, 2019 @ 4:05pm

Mission: On Slippery Ground
Location: Various
Timeline: MD 1 || 0900 - 1230 Hours

One-on-one meetings were one thing. But the best way to investigate was to just walk about the ship and scan the minds of the people as he went. His goal was the civilian promenade. People might tend to be a little less guarded in a relaxing environment. As he headed down the corridor, he could see a male and female crew member each dressed in Medical teal. Alex immediately begin scanning their brains.

I really hope Warrant Officer Tanila pulls through her surgery one of the Medical people was thinking. The other, a pretty female glanced at the man beside of her. I bet he's thinking of Tanila again she thought bitterly. Tinala this, Tinala that. What do I get? Hand me the laser scalpel.

Alex ignored them as the walked by each other. There was nothing in either mind that betrayed, well, betrayal of their current mission. He entered the turbolift, "Deck Ten," he announced. The lift whirred to life but then stopped a moment later and opened. Two men dressed in civilian clothes entered and Alex stepped to the side. He once again started his mind probe.

The Promenade was filled with many different species, some of whom didn't have human thought patterns or speech from their own worlds that he no longer had a Universal Translator interpret them. A group of Ensigns passed by him to head into a holosuite.

Man, I really hope that the Scarlet Witch pulls off this scene.

Twenty credits say Ensign Ortega is thinking about the Scarlet Witch another thought. My credit is on Quicksilver saving the day.

It isn't fair that Commander Weisz has such beautiful red hair, a female half Vulcan thought, but hesitated a brief moment when she thought she felt another presence in her mind.

Come on, move it, Pointy Ears, an impatient Bolian thought as he waited his turn to get into the holosuite.

Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you, never gonna make you cry a human male sang to himself as scenes of the last holoadventure came to his thoughts. Never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you!

Alex quickly got out of the Vulcan's mind before she caught him. Though, a red witch and fast moving silver...he wondered if perhaps someone was angry with Maddie and created a holo-program to that effect. It wouldn't be the first time. But Tom? Quicksilver? The Ullian made mental note to research those names and maybe even the holo-program. Moving on, he found nothing of consequence in the Bolian and then... Alex let out a sigh and slumped his shoulders. Was there ever going to be an end to this. Alex decided to put the holosuite behind him and stroll to another venue on Deck Ten.

Scores of random thoughts ranging from young Ensigns worried about The Badlands to junior grade Lieutenants looking to advance their own careers and wondering how to do it on a flagship. Others were concerned about personal matters and some seemed to simply be content to go about their browsing mindlessly.

After that interesting stroll, he took a seat on a bench outside the Darkstar Ink Tattoo Parlor. Resting, however, was not what he had on his mind. That was occupied by the thoughts of the patrons getting inked and looking through portfolios.

A Bolian came out of the tattoo parlor with one sleeve rolled up and was admiring his new tattoo. Now all I need is one more and I'll be able to go home with honor he thought, a swell of pride and hope coming with the thoughts. Others seemed concerned with how painful the process was if the artist would do justice to the piece of art that they wanted and other related thoughts.

While the thoughts of those inside had been an interesting deviation from the holosuite, there was still nothing regarding a big score or their current mission. His random scans had so far turned up nothing. But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Alex got up and decided to pay a visit to the ship's local night club, Subspace Sounds. It would actually be his first time going there and he wasn't sure if there would be anyone inside. Let alone what to expect.

I really hope I can see Michael tonight, a distinctly female thought was heard and an image of a handsome Security officer came to his mind. Maybe we can sneak into the Security Complex tonight and test out some of the surfaces for endurance.

Inside, a holographic nebula spun in place of a dance floor and couples gyrated to the music, their thoughts syncing to the beat. A variety of species, some immune to telepathic scanning danced, sat at the booths lining the walls, or at the bar which took up one entire side of the club. A woman with spiked blue hair moved and served with fluid efficiency behind the bar, bantering with customers and moving on to the next without making the previous customer seem dismissed.

Alex watched the events transpire inside and listened to the thoughts. When the name 'Michael' came up with an image of the man, the Intel Chief almost dismissed it. But then came sneaking into the Security Complex. Instead waiving it as a desire between significant others, Alex filed the name and image away for further investigation. There was nothing there that screamed treachery, but sneaking into the Security Complex for a rendezvous was enough for Alex to keep an eye on Michael's late night access to Security. After all, if a trained Starfleet Security officer would be willing to give in to the advances of his civilian girlfriend to pound around in Security, what else might he do?

It was time now to check another establishment on this deck, The Black Hole. This place, he'd heard, was a combination restaurant and bar. It was also another place that Alex hadn't gone to. When he entered, the first thing he noticed was how severely dated the place was. It was ancient Earth nostalgia. And Alex wasn't one for nostalgia of any kind. He saw the bar to the left along with tables, a dance floor, a gaming area, and a door labeled The Escape. This place seemed to warrant a bit more attention from the Intel Chief. He took a seat at one of the tables and began scanning the immediate area.

The place was full of people and the thoughts were mainly centered around food; what they were ordering, liked, didn't like and everything food related. A few thought about their careers on the ship while others debated if they wanted something milder. A random thought came through about how stupid everybody on the ship was, but it was colored with a heavy alien taint that he hadn't encountered before.

A waitress with The Black Hole logo on her shirt approached with a smile. "Can I get you something to drink or an appetizer to start you off?" she asked.

"I'll have a Firenut to drink," said Alex. "And some information. I've never been here before, so what's The Escape over there?"

"That's our gaming room," she responded as she entered his order on a PADD. "It has multiple poker tables, dart boards and pool tables for those who like to place a friendly wager. For those who want to be kids again, various arcade games line one wall, including but not limited to Dance Dance Revolution, Pacman and Ms. Pacman. Completing the activities offered are beer pong and ping pong tables, pinball machines and air hockey tables for your entertainment."

Alex nodded, "Gaming room. So, The Escape room is a place to escape life on board for a while. Perhaps some other time, when I'm in a gaming mood." The Ullian had no idea what many of the things were that she referenced. Maybe it would be a good place for him to wander after he had his drink in hand. Well, after that and probing the minds for that unknown alien thought pattern from a moment ago.

"Can I interest you in an appetizer before I get your drink?" she asked.

"Perhaps another time," said Alex. "Hunger isn't so much what I'm trying to satisfy at the moment. The drink will be fine." He smiled and nodded at the waitress.

The waitress nodded and headed off to get him his drink. Meanwhile, the thoughts of others continued to invade his seeking mind. Should I get the pork or the chicken? Does Ensign Lavell like me? Am I ever going to get promoted? Why does my department head always dump the hard work on me all the time? I wonder if I'll ever make it to the bridge? However, none of them had the same feel of the other pattern he had picked up a minute earlier.

Alex listened to the thoughts of the others and wrote them off. But that one, that interesting one... He scanned the crowd for the thought pattern. Even if he couldn't understand the alien thoughts, there would still be memories and images to access. If nothing else, it would give him a base pattern for a new group he hadn't come across.

The waitress returned with his drink, but the alien mind did not. Only the mundane thoughts of the crew. "Is there anything else I can get you, Sir?" she asked.

Alex smiled and shook his head. "I don't think so, at least not right now." He picked up his cup and took a drink. The mind he was searching for had disappeared and that saddened him. "Perhaps another time."

She nodded, then headed off and despite his best efforts at locating the alien mind again, there was no further trace of it until he was called to the bridge.

Alex finished his drink in silence. While this walk about the ship hadn't produced anything specific, he'd learned a little about some specific individuals. One could never have too much intel.