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"Lost in Universal Translation" Rating: PG-13 Author's Notes: The information about Broca's area, Wernicke's area and Wernicke's Aphasia (and how the brain processes language) can be found here. Please leave a review! Thanks! Seven The Esaarian Medical Academy was located farther up the shore, away from the docks. Malcolm hailed a uk'vek, which looked like a chariot being pulled by two fuzzy yaks. Hoshi gave them a suspicious look as they clambered into the cab, but looks were deceiving, as the two animals took off at a fast gallop. She gripped the edge of the cab as they careened around a corner; Malcolm wrapped an arm around her to keep her from flying out into the street. “Du'hai, s'roibe della'hu, Eraiina,” said the driver. Your husband cares for you much, Lady. Hoshi's face flushed crimson. “Fa, de'naicht se Du'hai.” He's not my husband. The driver gave her a surprised look, then drew his attention back to his fleet-footed animals. “Pu'riden,” he commented. Pity. “What'd he say, Hoshi?” Malcolm asked. “He was just commenting on how he'll get us there as soon as possible,” Hoshi lied. Malcolm swore under his breath as they dashed through an intersection without stopping for incoming traffic. “That's if we don't run into a transport first.” Minutes later, the uk'vek screeched to a stop in front of the Medical Academy. As Malcolm helped Hoshi to the ground, an Esaarian in a white lab coat hurried toward them. He was a close duplicate of of Theros the Archivist, except his mustache and hair were a sandy brown instead of blue-black. The bright green eyes reminded Hoshi of Jon Archer: eager and brimming with intelligence. “I am Doctor Relnus,” the man introduced himself. “Phlox was one of my students on Denobula. He's expecting both of you inside. Please, follow me.” Hoshi stared at him as they went through the highly ornamented walls of the Academy. “Phlox was one of your students? You don't seem a day over two hundred, Doctor Relnus.” Relnus laughed and raised his eyebrows at her. “If that is a kind way of saying 'Doctor, you are old', then you are right. I just celebrated my six hundred and twentieth birthday yesterday.” His casual tone struck her speechless. “Wow,” was all she said. “Six hundred and twenty?” “Well, I've always considered Phlox a young mindek, Ensign. He's got a lot of potential, still.” Relnus waved them into a private room. “Please, come into my office.” Relnus's office was crowded with people: Captain Archer, T'Pol and Trip were gathered around a readout on a large wall screen, while Travis hung back near the entranceway. To Hoshi's surprise, Travis reached out and squeezed her shoulder in a gesture of support. “I thought you were rock climbing with Theros's sons, Travis.” The helmsman shook his head and replied, “This was more important.” Phlox looked up from his conversation with Jon. “Ah, good. You must have taken an uk'vek from the Archives to get her so promptly. Ensign, come over and look at his schematic.” Hoshi recognized the picture as of her own brain in three-dimensions, with each lobe highlighted in a different color. “What's this?” she asked, pointing at a glowing section with a box around it. “Your cerebrum, Hoshi. There's an increase in neurotransmitter activity here and here. They control speech, Broca's area and Wernicke's area---” “Wernicke's Aphasia,” Hoshi said, suddenly understanding what Phlox was trying to say. “That's when a person can't comprehend what others are saying to them, and they also have trouble with vocabulary. I couldn't remember certain words and everyone seemed to speak gibberish to me.” “And Broca's area deals with the physical ability to use language,” Relnus put in, “as well as remembering complex grammar structures. It seems that whatever it was affected both areas of your brain to the point where the neurological signals were confused. You couldn't speak or comprehend until those signals resolved themselves.” “Kinda like an energy overload,” Trip mused, “and the failsafes kickin' in.” “Exactly, Commander.” Phlox agreed. “Broca's area is in close proximity of motor function controls, so Ensign Sato's temporary clumsiness in walking is understandable as well.” “But she doesn't have any problems now,” Travis pointed out, “with either understanding us or moving around.” “That is true, Ensign,” T'Pol concurred, “but her most recent brain scan revealed a remarkable increase in her brain function, and it is not limited to the language areas. The cerebellum, which controls some motor function, for example. If this growth continues, Ensign Sato's coordination and sensitivity will increase exponentially.” Hoshi blinked. That explained Na'lai's 'tactical sensitivity'. “Whoever Na'lai's people were, each one had a special skill...Na'lai was able to feel the vibrations of other's movements and any changes in temperature.” Relnus glanced sharply at Phlox. “Yes, that certainly makes sense with these readings, Phlox. I would say that your ensign has 'inherited' these skills.” “Is this permanent?” That came from Jon. “It's hard to say, Captain. That may be, since the actual physical make-up of her brain is changing, but we don't know.” Malcolm took this in with a look of grimness. “Then the question becomes why this is happening now? And how will this affect Hoshi in the future?” Hoshi glanced down at her hands, for they began to tingle in an uncomfortable way. It was if her fingers had minds of their own. Without her conscious effort, she reached for the screen and switched its functions. Her medical scans disappeared to be replaced by four different star maps. “Ensign, how did you access the astronomical charts? That is not possible from this work station,” T'Pol asked. Her tone had no judgment, only curiosity. “I don't know, Sub-commander,” she answered, but she sounded distracted. Her eyes narrowed at the four maps; there was something there, some kind of music that only she could hear. Hoshi placed the palm of her right hand onto the first map, but it was silent. No, that wasn't it. Then she moved to the second, then the third. She closed her eyes to “hear” and “feel” it better. When she touched the fourth map, electricity seemed to crackle between the image on the screen and her skin. She opened her eyes and said, “That's it. This is the place.” “Are you sure?” asked Jon, with a hint of skepticism. “You can tell by just touching it?” She gave him a sideways look. “Of course, I'm sure. I can feel the vibrations.” “How---” Jon's question was interrupted by an excited gasp from Travis. “What is it, Travis?” The Boomer pointed at a glowing sphere just above Hoshi's fingertips. “This is a pulsar, Captain. Cargo pilots use 'em like navigational beacons, 'cause each pulsar has its own cycle. You can set your watch to 'em. If this pulsar is one that we can see from Esaaria, then we can figure out the fastest way to get there.” Malcolm kept his gaze upon her. “Na'lai's system, where her planet used to be?” Despite herself, Hoshi's eyes began to fill with tears and her throat closed up. She could only nod. Malcolm's hand squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. Jon and Trip glanced at each other, and Hoshi saw that Trip's eyes were misting up too. The engineer was a sensitive man, and he felt her loss as deeply as she did. “Travis, figure out the fastest course to that system. We'll take a look.” “Aye, sir.” Travis gave Hoshi a sympathetic look, then left. Trip smiled at her and added, “Just tell me where to go, and Enterprise'll get ya there, Hosh.” “Thanks, Trip.” Phlox put a hand on her other shoulder and said, “With your permission, Hoshi, I'd like to monitor your biosigns from here on out. Neither I nor Relnus can predict how these changes will affect you. I want to make sure we're prepared for any contingency.” “Of course, Phlox.” “Then it's settled. We'll leave in an hour.” Jon nodded at Trip and T'Pol, who both left to make preparations. Malcolm moved to follow, but Jon held up his hand. “Stay here with Hoshi, Malcolm. I'd like you to keep an eye on her. Ensign Mueller can handle Armory duties for an hour or two.” Malcolm opened his mouth, closed it again, then said, “Thank you, sir.” Hoshi thought he saw a twinkle in Jon's eye, and felt a blush creep up her neck and face. As Phlox and Relnus fussed over the Esaarian imaging chamber, she heard Na'lai's voice whisper to her again, “They know. They've all known for some time.” Hoshi sighed and squeezed Malcolm's hand as the two doctors gently helped her onto the moving biobed of the imaging chamber. “It'll be all right,” he reassured her. “I'll be here.” She nodded and held her breath as the bed began to retract into the chamber. Travis was as good as his word; Enterprise would reach its destination in a day and a half. In the meantime, Hoshi spent most of her time with translating and indexing Na'lai's language. Its similarity to Esaarian made the work easier. Doctor Relnus asked Jon permission to join Phlox for this trip; his specialty was neurobiology, and his knowledge would be valuable for Hoshi's case. “Ensign?” She looked up in surprise to see T'Pol standing in the doorway of the lounge. “Sub-commander?” she replied. “What can I do for you?” “You are agitated. I could feel your emotions from several decks away. It is most...disconcerting.” Hoshi winced. “I'm sorry, Sub-commander. I didn't mean to disturb you.” “Considering the circumstances, I hold no blame.” T'Pol arched an elegant eyebrow. “If you would permit me, I may be able to help you find a sense of calmness.” Hoshi blinked in surprise; T'Pol didn't make such an offer to just anyone, and her training in the mental disciplines would certainly help her regain some peace of mind. “Thank you, Sub-commander. I would appreciate your help.” “Then let us begin here.” Ten minutes later, both women were sitting on cushions pulled from the couches, facing each other with T'Pol's meditation candle between them. Hoshi closed her eyes as T'Pol led her in a breathing exercise. In her mind's eye, she saw the candle flame jump and dance as its light expanded to include the entire lounge. Then she found herself meeting Na'lai's eyes. The young girl smiled as they gazed at each other for a long moment. Then Hoshi asked, “Why are you still with me, Na'lai?” “I am a part of you, as you are a part of me,” Na'lai replied simply. She reached over and grasped Hoshi's wrist in a gesture of welcome. “We are both wanderers, but now I wish to return home. It is cold and lonely in the darkness of space. I am tired of just existing.” “So we're bringing you back to where it all began,” Hoshi whispered. “That's why you merged with me.” “You were dying, Hoshi. I needed to save your life.” Her smile vanished and the color steadily drained from her face. “You have to warn the others. Great danger is ahead for them, and as I have saved you, you must save them.” “Na'lai, you're talking in riddles! I don't understand!” “What befell my world could happen again to your ship. History does not need to repeat itself. If we work together, we could change it.” “Whatever destroyed your planet could do the same to Enterprise?” Hoshi's voice shook. “What should I do?” “Listen and I will tell you what you need to do.” So Na'lai talked and Hoshi listened, and when Na'lai was done, Hoshi understood the risks, but was willing to take them. There was no question in her mind...she would do this for her own “family” and her love. “Are you sure you understand all this?” Hoshi met Na'lai's gaze squarely. “Yes.” |
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