I do not own Star Trek: TNG (at least not on paper or in the eyes of the law, but in my heart...)
Kirkian Legacy
Stardate: 43542.4
Counselor Deanna Troi stood ready to great the newest crew additions and guide them through their orientations to life on the Enterprise. She had briefly scanned their photos on her PADD (Personal Access Display Device), but she preferred to not review their Academy files until after she had met them and led them through the first day. Troi felt this allowed her to fully assess the 'newbies' without prejudice – it was her way of giving them a chance to create their own path.
As the transporter buzzed with life, bringing the graduates from floating molecules to complete flesh and blood, Troi stepped forward and started her traditional greeting, "Hello, I'm Counselor Deanna Troi and I will be your orientation officer. For the next week, you will-"
Deanna's gaze had swept across the four and stopped on the blonde with the very non-regulation outfit, and for a moment she forgot what the words to her well rehearsed greeting.
In an effort to be kind, Troi averted her gaze and continued on with an impromptu change of plans. "Why don't we proceed to Comfort Lounge 2, it's not far and you all can freshen up before we begin."
The small group trouped out after Troi. As she led them through the corridors, Troi was extremely aware of the attention that the women was attracting. Very casually, Troi pulled her PADD up and used the journey as a chance to identify the cadet's name. When she opened and scanned the file that matched her photo, her name was Shawnay Kirk, rank Lieutenant JG. Then Troi chided herself for not having reviewed the file sooner, if she had she would have seen the uniform waiver that was so clearly noted and flagged. This was quite outside the norm for humanoids. But even with the waiver, Troi felt the cadet's apparel would have to come up to acceptable standards.
Troi stopped at the door and ushered everyone in, sending a telepathic message to Lieutenant Kirk, "Please follow me to the side conference room." While at the same time she said aloud to the room, "Please make yourselves comfortable and freshen up, we will begin your orientation in approximately fifteen minutes."
Then Troi stepped through the door immediately to the right of the main entrance and Lieutenant Kirk followed. Troi walled to the head of the table with her back to the lieutenant and took a deep breath before turning around to face the young woman.
Lieutenant Kirk stepped fully inside the room, allowing the door to close and stood at ease, then calmly replied into the Counselor's mind, "You wanted to speak with me?"
Troi was momentarily taken back, again lamenting that she had not been more knowledgeable about this particular new arrival – she had no idea that the was a telepath. Telepathy was very rare among most humanoids and usually latent and weak. To be able to send a clear and directed message as she did meant she was at least a level 4. Okay.
Troi took in Lieutenant Kirk's total demeanor and emotional state. The woman had assumed the military position 'at ease', her emotions were calm, or at least they seemed calm, as Troi could not truly read her to find out. Okay maybe she's a level 6. They are extremely rare, but possible.
Collecting her thoughts, Troi began, "Lieutenant we need to speak -"
"About my attire," the lieutenant finished for Troi.
Troi stopped mid-sentence and stared at the young woman.
"Permission to speak freely counselor?" Lieutenant Kirk asked.
"Granted," Troi replied with surprise.
"I think I can clear all of this up rather quickly if you will allow me," to Troi's nod Lieutenant Kirk continued, "my uniform waiver is based upon my physiological makeup, to put it simply wearing the regulation uniforms would affect my health as well as limit my ability to sense my surroundings. My tribe has unique abilities and heightened senses. My tribe have are amphibious resulting in denser muscle and skin more nerve endings than other humanoids. In and out of water, I sense with my skin and require patches of it to remain uncovered to aid in both breathing and sensory awareness. As a courtesy to my tribe, the exact details were not included in my transfer records."
Well that's one question down, now I just have to find out about her psychic abilities.
"In answer to that, my abilities exceed level 12 on Starfleet's current assessments," the lieutenant replied to the unspoken question.
Troi stared into the smirking lieutenant's face, "You expect me to believe that you surpassed every known Starfleet psychic? I'm a level 10 and there are less than 5 with people in all of Starfleet that outscored me to earn an 11."
And that's when Lieutenant Kirk knew it was probably a very good time to shut up.
Riker walked up to Picard's side as they both headed towards the bridge. His face was alight with a mischievous grin that Picard could not miss.
"Welcome back Number One, I trust everything went well on Mr. Crusher's tour?"
"Thank you, sir. Yes everything went quite well." Riker replied.
Picard noted a particular bounce to his step and asked, "Is there something going on Number One?"
"To tell you the truth sir, I'm looking forward to today's orientation, I think this group will offer us some refreshing challenges."
"Ah, yes I am aware of Lieutenant Kirk's conformity issue and heritage..."
"Yes , sir. I'm just looking forward to seeing how Deanna handled it and how the Lieutenant took it. I had the distinct pleasure of arriving on the same transport in and was able to witness first Deanna lose her composure."
"Counselor Troi was flummoxed?"
"Only momentarily, sir. She recovered well and instituted a detour under the guise of a break. But I have to admit that even though it was small lapse, I'm looking forward to teasing her about it," Riker finished with a bright smile.
Picard agreed with his first officer, it was the rare occasion that a human could catch Counselor Troi off guard because of her ability to sense emotions. It must have been quite interesting to see.
"Right well back to business."