Chapter 2: Vulcans do not adapt.
"Sub-Commander, why don't you get up on the bio bed. Let's see what we're dealing with shall we." Phlox began scanning immediately. He had noticed a strange dynamic between the two officers as soon as they had entered sickbay and was more than a little intrigued. He looked at the scanner results and raised his eyebrows at Sub-Commander T'Pol.
"It would appear you have recently been exposed to Trellium, Sub-Commander. Care to explain how that came about, hmmm?"
He could tell by her entire bearing that she did not care to explain. Her focus flicked up to a point just over his shoulder. He was well aware that Commander Tucker was standing there, arms folded and posture rigid. Usually he would ask a third party to leave in order to ensure the privacy of the patient but he sensed the Commander knew why she was here and would not be going anywhere until she had explained her condition. Phlox watched as she took a breath and fixed her expression.
"I have been deliberately exposing myself to Trellium." She stated blandly.
Phlox's many years of experience treating patients of a variety of species provided him the discipline to school his expression. Even under the influence of Trellium the Sub-Commander would not respond well to an overt show of emotion. "You are well aware that Trellium is deadly to Vulcans, it eats away at the neural pathways. What motivated you to do something so foolish"
"When I was exposed to trellium aboard the Seleya, although the initial effects were overwhelming as they began to wear off, I discovered I was able to access certain emotions. I later realised it had been a positive experience for me. I was able to meditate less and my interactions with the crew improved."
Phlox watched as she looked to her hands in her lap and, uncharacteristically, began to fidget with the cuffs of her suit. "Go on."
"Recently I was experiencing some... difficulties meditating. Crew morale was sub-optimal and my workload had intensified due to the circumstances we were experiencing at the time." Once again she glanced over Phlox's shoulder to the man standing behind him. "I had less time to devote to meditation and the quality was compromised due to... internal emotional conflict. I reasoned that, as an alternative, Trellium may provide an outlet for emotions I was unable to suppress through meditation. I began to experiment by ingesting small amounts."
Phlox had an idea where all this was heading and had a very strong feeling the Commander was not going to like it one bit. "How long has this been going on Sub-Commander"
With another quick look over his shoulder before she replied. "Three weeks."
A snort of disgust from Commander Tucker drew their attention. "Three weeks, well I don't need to be a doctor or the Science Officer to work out the 'circumstances' that caused your 'internal emotional conflict'. Sim!" Tucker spat the final word like a curse, turned on his heal and departed sickbay.
Phlox watched the departing officer and sighed internally. He was no clairvoyant but he sensed a difficult conversation in his future, which was no less than he deserved.
He turned back to T'Pol who was staring at the sickbay doors with a typically unreadable expression. "I believe the Commander may also have some 'internal emotional conflict' with regard to Sim. But, in fairness, don't we all."
He almost could have chuckled when the Vulcan turned her wide eyed stare towards him. "Now Sub-Commander, I believe you may have 'dodged the bullet', as our human friends would say." He resumed scanning her as he continued. "There are only small amounts of residual Trellium in your system and I am not detecting any permanent damage to your neural pathways. But I think we might just put a stop to self medication, shall we. Perhaps we need to take a look at the circumstances that led you down this path."
He looked at the scanner again, tapping some menus on the screen. "I do notice some fluctuation in your neurolytic enzymes. It looks like we may need to make some slight adjustments to your serum. That could also account for some of your difficulties with meditation." Phlox turned to his cabinets to prepare a hypospray.
"I assume you have also not yet resumed neuro-pressure with the Commander? I believe those sessions are very helpful with both preventing progression of the Pa'nar, and your emotional suppression. I suspect the Trellium may be more of a symptom of a larger problem wouldn't you say?"
T'Pol tipped her head to the side so Phlox could administer the hypospray then returned her attention to her sleeves, which, Phlox mused, must hold data of great scientific import given the attention she was paying them.
"I believe I am ill equipped to cope with the unique conditions of the Expanse." She finally said "I have found it increasingly difficult to suppress emotions as time has gone by. My behaviour would be considered illogical by other Vulcans and they would be right to censure me."
"Yes, well, whether or not that may be true, considering that every other Vulcan that has entered the expanse has died in homicidal psychosis, one would hope the fact you have, thus far, survived with your wits would be considered in your favour." Really, Phlox tried not to judge other species, but Vulcans could be persistent to a fault in their unyielding belief that there was only one logical way to approach any situation.
"You must also consider that the previous record for a Vulcan advisor on a human ship was just two weeks! You have already remained amongst humans for two and a half years, which is no small achievement. Let's not forget that during the last six months, you have been exposed a mutagenic virus, experienced a second brutal telepathic assault, and suffered the effects of a toxin that completely inhibited your ability to suppress your emotions, something which is a cornerstone to your cultural identity. Any one of these events could have proven psychologically crippling to a person of less robust character. You have shown yourself to be a uniquely adaptable example of your species."
"Vulcans do not adapt. When faced with complexity we rely on logic and discipline."
"Yes!" Phlox flashed her one oh his trade mark Denobulin smiles. "And failing that, they retreat or descend into a paranoid, psychotic, homicidal rage. I'll leave to you decide which of your options is the most logical in your current circumstances, Sub-Commander."