'An Interesting Accent'

My eyes went back to the Commander, shining, I knew they were, but I didn't care. It was such a compliment, well for me anyway.
'Thank-you Commander, it truly means a lot.'
'Wait, wait! Hold up! I must have missed the debriefing. You mean to tell me this language expert, is deaf? Not only that, she's a child!'
Of course I could not tell how loud the Doctor was yelling, but it appeared his voice was indeed raised, but he was not talking to me, he was facing the Captain, as he walked towards him, his arms wailing around, and in my direction too.
'You didn't miss the debriefing Bones, that's where we were heading, after we met with the Ensign.' The Captain simply smiled, but the Doctor still appeared confused, almost angry.
I turned to Walters, my hands moving fast and sloppy, I knew that but I also knew he'd still understand what I was saying. He shook his head.
'Don't worry Kai, it's fine.' He said, he always did prefer to speak than to sign. I turned back nervously to the three men who stood in front of me, though more like towering over me, this really didn't make me feel any better, even if Arthur said so.
'What's wrong, what did she say?' The Captain looked past me to Walters, almost worried. I didn't turn around to see his reply, I didn't need to, and he'd just be repeating what I'd signed to him. 'Ensign Ceril, please don't think this is a mistake, we really do need you for this mission, the reason will obviously become clear in the briefing, and just ignore Dr McCoy, he's just like that.' One of his blue eyes gave me a wink, but the Doctor crossed his arms.
'Cause someone needs to be 'like that' around here. We all know you ain't the most sensible person, so excuse me for being a little defensive about sending a kid on the away mission.' Again his hands were in the air waving about to emphasis his point. It was frustrating to not hear the emotions in their voices, and although I'd developed a very good habit of picking them easily, it made a conversation that much easier when you could hear and convey emotion.
'I'm not a kid.' I tried to sound as defensive as I could, but it most likely came out monotone, though my eyebrows furrowed to show him that I did not like being called a 'kid.' The Doctor looked me up and down, yes I was aware that I was short, and my appearance may be that of a young person, but I was certainly no kid.
'Look, no offence, but you certainly look like one to me, I mean you'd be no older than 19.'
'True, but I am in fact over 200 years old, granted I have not exactly lived all of those years, never the less; I was born a long time before you. Besides, if you're such a good Medical Officer, how did you not picked up on me being deaf?' I raised both my eyebrows at him but before he could give me an answer, Kirks head flew backwards, and I could tell he was laughing, but my attention was then drawn elsewhere.
Arthur gave me a stern look, almost disappointed, almost. The frustration that had been building disappeared, only to be replaced by guilt and shame.
It was the first time I had ever met the Captain of the Enterprise and his bridge crew and I had already tried to pick a fight with his CMO. This was really not off to a good start.
I apologised to Arthur, and explained to him how I was finding it difficult meeting these people for the first time without my battery, and that the Doctor was quite rude. Arthurs eyes softened and he let out a small laugh.
'I am aware Kai, perhaps he will understand after the briefing.'
'He'd better; I didn't defrost just to be judged by some country doctor.'
 I watched Arthur converse with the Captain, the Commander and the Doctor, but I did not pay attention, I didn't want to. This would have been so much easier with my battery, but stupid me in my frenzy forgot it; I can only hope I have time before the briefing. A hand on my shoulder brought my head up.
'Go get your battery and meet us in briefing room 4 Kai.' I nodded before facing the bridge crew. The Captain motioned his head towards the turbolift, and with that, I spun around and left.

Despite still feeling frustrated and actually angry towards the Doctor, I also felt embarrassed with myself. How could I have let myself go like that? I mean I was with the Captain, and that was the CMO, they are my superiors, I have no right to say those kinds of things to them. Do I? I remember being told it would be difficult to adjust, I just didn't realise until now just how hard. I thought going to the Academy and being with Arthur on the Enterprise would allow me to simply conduct research and let me get better acquainted in the world I now live in and see how vastly different it is from the one I came from. But it wasn't as though the Doctor understood that, then again why would he, and if he wasn't even aware that I was deaf, then he certainly wouldn't be aware of how I came to be here. I tried to calm myself, taking a few deep breaths, before grabbing my battery and slipping the plug into my head near the back of my left ear. As soon as I flicked that switch a surge of electricity ran through my body but only for a second before I could suddenly hear all the noises made by the ship. That was one good thing about being deaf, not having to hear the ship live and breathe, not having to listen to others walk down a hall or hear them mindlessly chatting in a rec room.
I made my way to briefing room 4 where I found the Captain and the Commander. On instinct I took a step back, again overwhelmed by their tall looming presence.
'You're quite...jittery aren't you Ceril?' This apparently amused the Captain as he smiled at me, but it was friendly causing me to become more at ease.
'I'm sorry, if that's a problem for the mission, I will understand you not needing me, it's fine, I mean I...'
'Whoa there.' He interrupted my rambling. 'That won't be necessary, and it won't be a problem, you'll soon be more relaxed, trust me. We actually just wanted to talk to you quickly before the briefing, we told McCoy to bug off and Lieutenant Walters is gathering some extra information about the mission.' Ok now that didn't help to relax me.
'Oh. Of course Captain.'
'The Captain and I would like to know the capacity to which you are able to communicate. Of course on the bridge we have established you are well trained in reading lips as well as speaking verbally yourself, but we would like to know your restrictions.' The Commanders voice, finally with emotion, actually more like devoid of emotion. No wonder his lips formed his words perfectly, his voice monotone, like my own is so often. It was quite an easy question at least.
'Well, I can read lips for the English language as well as Japanese, though my verbal Japanese is not very good, and I admit a difficulty to understand your Chief Engineer, while I am aware he speaks English, some of his words are not pronounced in a way I can understand, but if I'd had my battery at the time I would have heard him just fine.' The Captain and Commander shared a look before returning to me.
'Yeah you mention this battery back on the bridge, what is it?'
'It would be best for you to ask Lieutenant Walters that question as I'm slightly confused to about its nature; all I know is how to use it. Watch.' I reached for the back of my head to the left side; I flicked the switch, found the small box and removed the plug from my head.
'Hold on, where does that part go?' The Captain asked as he bent down to inspect the piece of gadgetry more closely, yet cautiously, pointing to the adaptor on the end. I grinned. 'Watch closely Captain.' I spun around so that my back was now face the Captain and Commander, my hands reaching around my head and pulling back the long dark brown hair that would obstruct their view. I then took the battery in my hand, guided the adaptor to the metal hole near the back of my ear and gently pushed it in, flicked the switched and suddenly heard gagging.
'Oh my goodness!' I turned back around to see the Captain bent over with his hand around his mouth, his face pale and almost green.
'I am so sorry Captain, I didn't mean to offend.' I gasped at the site of the Captain practically dry retching. I really was screwing things up today.
The Commander placed a hand on the back of the Captain, to this I raised an eyebrow, but he either didn't notice or didn't care.
'You have not offended; the Captain simply has a weak stomach for medical procedures of any kind.' Finally Captain Kirk hauled himself straight again, putting his hand on the Commanders shoulder.
'I should have warned you. I'm sorry.' He offered a weak smile, but still appeared ill.
'Nah that's alright, I mean I did ask after all, I just didn't think it would actually go in your he...' He covered his mouth again and could not finish his sentence. The Commanders hands were again clasped behind his back, but I noticed the Captains fingers delicately and lightly brush over the skin near the blue tunic and almost immediately his face regained colour. As fast as his recovery, his hand pulled away and he straightened out his golden shirt, just in time too. The door opened to reveal Arthur, the Doctor, Lieutenant Sulu, Lieutenant Uhura and the Engineer Scotty.
'Ah, good ta see you again lass, ya sure ruffled the feathers of our Doctor here.' His loud friendly voice booming, as he nudged an unamused Dr McCoy in the side before striding over to take a seat at the table.
'You are Scottish.' It was not a question, merely a statement of my findings.
'Aye, that I am lass.' He grinned at me.
'Sorry, I could not quite tell back on the bridge, accents don't exactly come through when lip reading.'
'That's fine lass, now Captain, the mission?' Captain Kirk turned and sat in his own seat follow by Spock, and the rest of the crew present, quickly I sat by Arthur, not wanting to be near the Doctor, who had not met my gaze since entering the room.
'Very well, it's another simple diplomatic mission, in which we are to beam down to the planet Nei Balso, and convince them to join the Federation. Of course we are all aware many things can go wrong on a simple mission such as this, but the important thing is Ensign Ceril. The Balsos that inhabit the planet are without voice boxes, therefore cannot speak, I mean they do have voice boxes but they don't work anymore. They originated from Earth and have developed into a silent race, as they found not talking to be peaceful. Attempts have been made to communicate with these people, but so far the Federation just keeps hitting a brick wall. There are other ways to communicate with the Balsos, but they find it highly disrespectful to discuss negotiations via pen and paper and will only agree if we can communicate in their language. Sign language. That is where you come in.'
The Captains fingers pointed towards me, and in turn caused everyone else to look at me too. I could feel myself becoming more and more nervous.
'With all due respect Captain, is there no one else in Starfleet who knows SSL? Surely your communications officer would.' I began to fidget with my hands under the table, digging my fingernails into my palm.
'Lieutenant Uhuras knowledge in SSL is very limited, as are most at the Academy, not to mention, you are familiar with older Earth customs, and have a better chance of communicating with these people than anyone else.' I was starting to feel the responsibility of the mission at hand.
'Jim you said yourself that even simple missions such as these can have something go wrong, what if something happens down there?' The Doctor spoke up, turning to his left to face the Captain.
'That's why you're coming down too Bones.' He smiled.
'Dammit Jim, I haven't dealt with mutes or deaf patients before, there's been no need for it, at all, they don't even allow them to join Starfleet, which brings me to the question of how she's on board the ship.'