4. B'RENT
Riker, Troi, Crusher and Data were listening to the explanation Denise Rank was providing about their arriving guest from Salusa Secundus.
"He's a Vorat. I don't think there is an appropriate Standard word for it, but maybe a possible translation could be 'healer'" she said.
"Healer?" doctor Crusher repeated, emphasizing the word. "You mean some kind of…wizard?"
Denise shook her head decidedly. "Not at all". She folded her arms before her chest, preparing for a long and difficult explanation. "You know that many Salusians are gifted with particular mental powers".
"The Foresight" Riker put in.
"Right. Even if in our case it doesn't mean precisely predicting future events, some perceptions might be quite disorienting or disturbing" Denise specified.
"It wouldn't be nice for me to live with the knowledge of future events involving myself or my loved ones" Deanna said.
"That is exactly the point. Not everyone reacts in the same way to negative perceptions. As for humans, psychological reactions are absolutely different for each person. Vorats must handle this kind of problems" Denise concluded.
"Then they are more like counselors?" Troi asked, fascinated.
"In some ways they are similar" Denise confirmed, offering a smile to her friend. "Vorats are empathic like you, Deanna. But their principal skill consists in getting away others' pain, absorbing it at first at then expelling it like a toxic waste".
"How do they choose these Vorats?" Data asked, moved by his scientific curiosity.
"It's a natural capacity and only a minimum percentage of the population possesses it" Denise answered. "Salusian children which show potentials receive a special training to get to know their skills and to learn how to use them".
"Interesting" Data commented. "It is as if the society itself had developed such a genetic peculiarity to correct any possible problems due to the inhabitants' mental abilities".
"True" doctor Crusher concurred. "A product of the species natural evolution".
"What else can you tell us about this scientist we're going to pick up at the star base?" Riker asked.
Denise's face brightened as if she were about to speak about someone she really cared for. "B'rent is a very talented Vorat and also a brilliant scientist. So, when Admiral Picard told me of this mission, I asked the Salusian Government to grant him authorization to leave the planet".
Deanna Troi studied Denise very carefully, like she used to do while probing other's emotions. "Your feelings for him are very strong, Denise" the counselor said finally.
"I can't deny it" the captain replied. "B'rent is my brother".
The others exchanged stunned glances. "Your brother?" Beverly asked, puzzled.
"Not biologically" Denise specified. "As children we both shared the spiritual guidance of Master I'sed. So we developed a very strong bond and eventually became brothers according to Salusian traditions. I'm convinced that B'rent will be absolutely useful to this mission".
"What kind of scientist is he?" Riker asked. He found very interesting and strange the fact that a single person could embody two roles so different from one another. One so rational and the other so mystic in many ways.
"He's a cellular biologist" Denise answered.
Suddenly Picard's voice propagated through the inter comm.. "Picard to Captain Rank, please join me in the Transporter room. Picard to Riker, report to the Bridge".
Both officers acknowledged and executed the admiral's orders.
Admiral Picard was waiting before the transporter platform, aware of the presence of his senior officers behind him. Only Riker was not there, having taken command of the Bridge.
A great deal of curiosity and an intense desire to meet that mysterious man was emerging inside Picard, after the many conversations he had with Denise Rank. Salusa Secundus' culture and history fascinated Picard's intellect. Never in his studies of archeology the man had faced such a contradictory society. At first sight so primitive with its ancient and mysterious rituals, but so technologically advanced to be considered a precious allay for the Federation. It was a paradox. Usually, scientific progress had a great impact on the mystic evolution of populations and that was an empiric undeniable fact. However, the model could not be applied to the society of Salusa Secundus. Surely, according to Picard's hypothesis, that fact was mostly due to the world's isolation which avoided any outer contacts for millennia. And now leading those people toward a new way of life, to watch them interact with other life forms for the first time was a real privilege for Picard.
The admiral abandoned his considerations when heard Denise Rank walking to his side. He turned, knowing that she had something to tell him.
"Sir, keep in mind that B'rent is not what you could expect" Denise murmured.
"What do you mean?"
"He's not the typical average Salusian you have become accustomed to deal with".
"Denise, there's something you have to know about me. I never use to expect anything in an undiscovered country" Picard replied.
In that very moment a luminescent column took shape on the transporter platform. What emerged from it was a humanoid male in his thirties, absolutely alike to a human being. He kept a small suitcase across his shoulders, probably containing some scientific equipment, and an handbag.
When the young man stared at Denise, his lips widened in an open smile. "It's been a long time, Denise" the man said. His voice was warm and pleasant.
The first thing the admiral noticed was that the newcomer had not addressed Denise using her Salusian name, D'rel. The same name Picard had the chance to hear many times during the negotiations of the last months.
"B'rent" Captain Rank replied, with the same warmness but with a little uncertainty in her voice.
"Is that all?" the man asked, pretending to be deeply disappointed. "I expected much more of my little human sister, after almost twenty years".
Hearing that, Denise dropped her hesitation and reached B'rent on the platform, hugging him.
"You changed in appearance but from any other point of view you're always the same" Denise told him when their embrace ended.
"Denise, if you say so all these people will think that we did not stay in touch. And that is not true" the Salusian said, simulating a reproach.
"Of course not" Denise replied, stepping off the platform.
Picard cleared his throat to gain attention. It was the moment for diplomatic protocol.
"Welcome aboard the Nimitz, Ambassador" Picard began. "I am…"
"Admiral Picard, I presume". The other interrupted him. "Denise told me much about you".
Picard was taken by surprise. "Oh" he murmured. "I am honored, Ambassador".
"Please, Admiral" the man replied, smiling. "I have been appointed ambassador only because it was the only legal way to leave my planet. However, I would be grateful if you and all your officers addressed me simply as B'rent. It is my name and so more than sufficient to identify me".
Picard nodded. "If it is what you wish."
"It is" B'rent replied.
Then the Salusian was introduced to the other officers. He shook everybody's hand and talked briefly to each one, showing a very high sociality attitude that amazed Picard. He lingered a little longer with Troi, perceiving her empathic abilities and asked some questions to Data, as if he were curious about him.
"So, you re the Science Officer, aren't you?"
"Correct, sir" Data answered.
"And you are not a biological being".
"Correct again" Data repeated. "I am an android".
"Incredible" B'rent commented.
After the introductions, Picard underlined that they were running out of time and supposed to leave as soon as possible. So the small group left the transporter room heading to the Main Bridge.
B'rent waited for Denise at the end of the line and staring at her with complicity, he asked "Is it him?"
"B'rent!" the woman exclaimed harshly.
And the conversation was over even before it began.