driftfleet | (no subject)

[Seeing him react like that... for that moment, she worries that something has short circuited. She folds his hand into both of hers when he speaks again. She's torn still, not wanting to involve him, yet knowing how unfair it is to leave him in the dark. Finally:]

Tell me, what do you know about Tek, if anything?

[Daneel waits; he is nothing if not patient.]

I know very little of him. He is the one who has threatened you?

Yes. If Robin hadn't been there to stop him, I don't... know what would have happened. But I also don't believe he will seek me out. [Though there's definitely some uncertainty there.] And I won't be going anywhere near him, if I can help it.

If he doesn't plan on actively seeking to harm you, that is a relief.

[Still, there remains the distinct possiblity that the two of them would come into contact accidentally. The Fleet is only so big.]

It might be appropriate for you to have an escort in circumstances where you might encounter him. I would, of course, offer to fill this role.

[Even though she is touched by the offer, she shakes her head.]

I don't think that's such a good idea. Tek is a being so different, so beyond what you and I have experienced in our worlds, and I refuse to let you get hurt because of me. Besides...

He has been attacked before, in the fleet. It might aggravate him further or trigger his paranoia if he has any idea that you're serving as some sort of... protection.

It would be better to arrange a truce than to further aggravate him.

[Daneel gives a sigh, frustrated and puzzled.]

What sort of being is he, if he is not human?

[She takes a deep breath before plunging in.]

He's a dragon - obviously a shapeshifter of some sort, but his true form is that of a dragon. That aspect of him is not what concerns me though. He has some... power or ability, I don't fully understand it, all I know is what I saw in his memories, what I felt there with him, and ... Daneel, he can simply take a life, take thousands of lives, with ... with -

[Her voice cracks and she's shaking again, remembering all those people dying over and over again in her head. And with that, she her formidable control breaks and she finally gives into the fear and the anger and the hurt and simply... cries.]

[For half a second, Daneel pauses, sorting out what is best to do and what he knows of Beverly, and then he shifts to put his arms around her and pull her close. What she says is troubling, perhaps even frightening for him.]

I... may have met him, then. At least, I met a dragon in the desert. We... 'spoke' is not a precise term, as we communicated telepathically and wordlessly. But we did communicate.

[His voice is very soft.]

I don't wish to ask you to dwell on this, Dr. Crusher, but what did you see?

[Beverly doesn't so much step into the hug as fall into it, burying her face in his shoulder. She hates being like this, wishes she could have maintained control, but... Daneel makes her feel safe and the hug is reassuring - she's not alone. So while she still cries more than she'd like, it's not for very long. Even when she's ready to speak again, she doesn't break out of his embrace just yet. It's easier to say if she's not looking directly at him. Her words come slowly, with long pauses in between her sentences.]

There was a war. I don't know the details, all I know is it was between dragons, with humans - or humanoids at least - as the pawns. Whatever side Tek was on it just felt... wrong, sinister and he knew that too. He didn't even believe in what they were doing, simply left before the war ended.

[Another deep breath.]

He has the ability to bring instant death to mortals and he... he slaughtered thousands of people, just by releasing some sort of... energy upon them. The worst part is I could feel every individual death as it happened, as he took all those lives.

[He waits through the crying patiently. The sheer physicality of human emotion is a strange thing for him, or at least one entirely alien to his nature. It's best, he's found, to let these things happen, even if it seems so unpleasant to him.]

That is... upsetting.

[He's rather grateful he didn't experience that particular calibration, actually.]

And he is angry that you know of this, angry enough to threaten you. If he left the war, does he regret his actions then?

I don't know.

[With a frown, she pushes away from Daneel to stalk the room.]

It's not as if he really talked to me, is it? I would have listened - won't ever condone or forgive, no - but I would have tried to understand! But he didn't even - he just tried to turn it all on me, as if it was my fault for being there, as if I was the one in the wrong!

[She stops pacing, turning to face Daneel again.]

You want to know what the ridiculous thing is? I believe he is scared. He is so used to putting on whatever mask he wants with people that the fact that I saw under one of them terrified him. And when people like that are scared... You don't know what they might do.

Fear can provoke unreasonable responses. At least, this is true for humans. It would not surprise me to know it can be true for other races, as well. His fear may pass in time. It may also intensify. I don't know him well enough to say which.

[That is to say, this could resolve itself, or it could get worse.]

I don't either... which is exactly why I don't want you getting involved.

That isn't a sufficient reason.

[Daneel shakes his head. He's gentle, but he's very firm.]

It would be extremely unwise for you to proceed to act alone. You may have nothing to fear, but that may not be true, and this is not something anyone should be facing without assistance.

[Beverly heaves a long sigh and leans back against the nearest table with her arms crossed. He's right, that she shouldn't be dealing with this alone - hadn't she said as much to Finrod, in his calibration (and oh god, Finrod... what is she going to say to him about all this?) - but she had wanted to give herself more time to process before talking to anyone. Nor does she want to see anybody hurt, especially not a friend, because of her.

She should have known though: you can't hide from empaths.

Besides, there is a very significant part of her that wants him here, wants the comfort and reassurance. Even simply letting her cry on his shoulder was helpful.]

Fine. I can see I'm not going to dissuade you. But please, please can you promise me you won't try to approach him or go talk to him on your own?

I can promise this.

[If Tek comes to speak to him, that's another matter, but he can at least promise not to aggravate the situation. Whether tampering in this situation would be helpful, well, that's another question altogether.]

Dr. Crusher. You must not hesitate to ask me for my help, either.

I won't.

[Of course what she most needs is counseling and who she most wants right now is Deanna.]

I don't suppose you happen to have any psychiatric programming, do you?

I do not. I have the advantage of experience and observation, but that isn't something I was ever intended for.

[He's almost apologetic.]

It would be a useful thing for me to learn, perhaps.

Perhaps...

[She sinks to the floor with a sigh and rubs her temples.]

I just can't stop thinking about it.

That is understandable.

[Daneel comes and kneels on the floor beside her.]

What can I do, if I cannot intervene directly?

[She gives him a sad smile.]

I don't know. Though the hug was a very good start.

If you want more, it is no trouble.

[Yes, he's serious.]

[There's only the tiniest of hesitations before she nods. Yes, that would be a very welcome thing right now.]

[He hugs her, then, gently. It's not much, but it can at least make her feel a little better. The rest will... have to wait.]

[Grateful, she wraps her arms around him tightly. Despite her efforts to protect him and keep him out of all of this, in the end she is glad that he's the one who found her. There are only a few other people in the fleet she'd be willing to be this emotionally vulnerable with. Softly:]

Thank you.