2008-03-20: Cataloging Memories

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Mohinder_icon.gif Sophie_icon.gif

Sophie meets with Dr. Suresh to see if she can find out more about her abilities.

March 20, 2008

Cataloging Memories


Dr. Suresh's Apartment

Brilliant minds can get away with a few things, like being scatterbrained, focused and single-minded. Hence Mohinder's absence from Pinehearst's labs today. Of course it helps when facilities like theirs don't operate on traditional work schedules, and he can claim that there's research he can do from home. Whether or not he gets away with this practice in the future, that's up in the air. The reason for playing hooky today? He has a meeting with a friend of Joule's. A meeting he's not comfortable holding anywhere but at home or at his mobile lab. Taking into consideration Sophie's association with Joule, he's invited the woman to his home for this meeting. Everything he thinks he may need is already set out and situated for easy access and use while he waits for her arrival.

There is a tap at the door. If a knock can sound hesitant or worried, this one does.

With Molly at school and Matt at work, the apartment is quiet and the tapping is easily heard. It's only a few moments before the locks can be heard disengaging and the door opens. "Miss Petrov?" Mohinder asks as recognizes the woman from the park.

Sophie nods quickly. Should be noted she is very modestly dressed, including gloves. Of course, that could be due to the chilly weather. "Yes, Mr.. or is it Dr. Mohinder?"

Mohinder steps aside, inviting the woman inside. "Just Mohinder is fine." He's a fairly formal person, but not insistent upon doctor being used. He gestures towards the office area of the apartment. One of the dining room chairs has been dragged over to his desk. "Won't you have a seat and get comfortable? We can start as soon as you're ready." It's belated, and almost comes across as an afterthought, as if he's suddenly realizing how nervous Sophie might be. "Don't worry, just relax as best you can."

Sophie nods slowly, listening. Then she moves over toward the chair, sitting and trying to relax. "I'll do my best. I've gotten to do things since we met. I have some idea of how it works, but.. well, I am not sure if that's all."

Mohinder settles into his chair across the desk once Sophie's seated. He smiles reassuringly as he pulls over his notepad, preparing to write things down. "Let's start at the beginning then shall we? What is it that you can do? We can work from there, exploring possibilities. You're not alone in wondering the limits of your ability. Many find their abilities develop with usage and practice, and they can do more than what they initially thought."

Sophie nods, "Well.. I seem to deal with memories, mainly." she decides, trying to put it into words. "I know I can sort of.. I sort of can experience memories, sometimes, when I touch people. Even if I don't want to." She makes a face, "Always pretty.. well, strong memories. Let's say its not usually about a trip to the grocery store or something."

"Is this only when you touch a person? I think I may have asked if these memories surfaced when you touched an object. I know of what's called a psychometer. This person can recall the memories attached to an object, and tell you of its history." Mohinder sits up a little straighter and leans slightly over his desk. He looks over Sophie in a studious manner, taking in the gloves she wears.

Sophie thinks a moment. "Not that I've ever noticed. Only people." she says, "Not animals, either. Well, or hasn't happened yet, at least."

Mohinder smiles as he takes down a few notes, careful to not put Sophie's name down. "There's always that possibility, yet I can see how it could be difficult to gain an animal's memory." Language barrier between species, if you will. "When did you first notice you were able to see the memories of others?"

"Sudden manifestation of an ability is normal. Some people have been able to recall using their ability all of their lives and others are unaware until adulthood." Mohinder sets his pencil down in favor of rifling through some of the folders he's prepared for today. "Here is research that my father and myself have done on similar abilities. Let me know if any of it is too technical for you." The documents are carefully put together, names and locations withheld. The folder is handed across for Sophie to peruse, "Tell me, do you know if the memories you've taken, does the other person still retain them? Or do you take them as your own, leaving them without it?"

Sophie takes the folder, careful even with gloves to not touch hands. She then says, "Well.." thoughtfully, "I guess.." she pauses, "I can also search memories, can sort of.. hold them and transfer them. But unless I erase a memory, they still have it." thoughtfully. "Which I haven't, though. I can, I guess, tell real ones from fake ones too."

"So, you can erase memories as well?" Mohinder asks the question in a thoughtful manner. Knowing how useful and dangerous this ability is shaping out to be, his mind is busily working over the situation. "When you say transfer, do you mean, transferring from your target to yourself, or to a third party?"

Sophie pauses, "I can, well.. yes, to another person." she admits. "But.. they know it is someone else's memory."

Mohinder isn't sure if the Haitian can do that or not, at least, his ability was never employed in that particular manner. "I see.. Well, with practical application, something like that would definitely be useful." For all the right /and/ wrong reasons. "How have you been practicing or experimenting with this ability?"

Sophie says, "At first, well, unintentionally. That's the thing, I can't think of many ways to practice that are ethical." she sighs, "I mean, it means another person takes a risk, since it doesn't work on my own memories, and even if it did, how would I know? Take my own memory? Erase it?"

"An ability such as yours is one that presents itself with that sort of difficulty," Mohinder says a little bluntly. "Take care with it, keep it secret, tell only those you trust. You could be easily used and manipulated for your gift." Which could be more of a curse. He looks across at Sophie, again in that studious manner as he thinks.

Sophie looks puzzled. "I don't understand." poor innocent. "I did get to help someone with it. Help her sort out, I guess, fake memories from true ones. I don't know what sort of use it'd be, though."

Mohinder sighs softly as he raises a hand to rub at his face with. "It can be a helpful ability, but one that can be easily misused." Eager to shift the track of discussion, he leaps upon the fake memory subject. "When you say fake memories, what do you mean? Was this person tampered with mentally?"

Sophie thinks a moment. "Not, you know, with any abilities. She'd been drugged, and her memories were kind of confused."

"Ah yes," Mohinder says in the manner of someone familiar with such a situation. "That was a helpful application of what you can do." Picking up his pencil, he taps the point against the paper for a few moments before sketching out a few more notes. "What is it you're wanting to do now? About your ability? Practice more, learn more about it? How it works?"

Sophie nods, "I guess a little of all of that. One of the things is.." she pauses, "When I get or give memories, well, it isn't like you watch a video, or they're there to access for later, though they are, afterwards. Its like you LIVE through them. All the feelings, thoughts, all of it." she makes a face, "It isn't always pleasant." Well, and yeah, that opens up whole new unpleasant applications, likely.

"I can imagine. The person I was telling you about, who could tell you the history of an object? They would have such a violent reaction if a negative history was attached to an item. This person would sometimes be unconscious for hours." Mohinder knows well, given that he carefully chose the objects for Mara to touch. "I understand exactly what you're explaining about the memories."

Sophie nods, "I would like to find out if I can give a memory without, well, that happening." thoughtfully. "That'd make it more handy."

"I would have to say that it might depend on the memory you're reliving and taking." Mohinder says as he settles back into his seat. "It just takes practice, it also depends upon your body's capacity to handle the influx of information."

Sophie nods as she says, "It can have an almost.. physical effect at times. I guess the trauma?" Yeah, this could definitely have scary uses.

Mohinder inclines his head in a nod, "For example, say I had witnessed a murder. You touched me, and received the memory, it would be the same as if you were seeing what I had. There is also the matter of willpower, if you have a stronger fortitude than others for particular scenarios."

Sophie nods, as she says, "Oh, that's true. But.. " she pauses, 'If you, for instance, had been beaten? I would experience the memory as if I were being beaten myself, at that time. What you felt, physically and emotionally, what you smelled, heard, all of it."

"Then I recommend you not touch me," Mohinder says with a small smile on his face. He looks as if he could be joking as much as he looks serious about the matter. "I'm getting a better understanding of what you experience when you take a memory. I need to think about the best way possible to help you with what you can do."

Sophie nods as she says, softly, "I don't want to hurt anyone just to get practice."

"There may be no other way around it in this case. I'll volunteer myself if need be." Mohinder leans forward a little once more so that he can write down more notes on his pad. "A lot of the equipment I may need to use once we get under way are not here in my flat. I do have a secure lab that we can use. If you don't mind Joule's presence, I'd like her to assist."

Sophie sighs and nods, "I guess so. I mean, I worry, but.. I wouldn't /try/ to hurt anyone." she then pauses, her curiosity sparked. "I wonder if I can get memories postmortem."

Mohinder thinks about the last and is silent for a few moments. "The dead are dead. Just a shell with nothing left behind. Any information they hold dies with their body. I could be wrong of course, that's not a door I've opened in my research." Rising from his seat, he smiles at Sophie, "No, I can't see you willingly hurting someone."

Sophie nods as she says, 'Not if I can help it.' she smiles, relieved. 'I'm glad you believe me. When would you like to do that?'

"I'm not as skeptical as I once was," Mohinder says, "As for when we get started. Let me get with Joule, we'll schedule this together. It's probably best if I work through Joule and don't get any of your contact information."

Sophie nods to that. "I don't feel it'd be good to tell you about other people. Not fair, without them saying I can."

"It's also a safety issue, deniability. If anyone asks me about you, I can't answer." Unfortunately, that leaves a trail using Joule. Not the best of ideas, to be sure, but Mohinder's had worse. "Go ahead, take that file I gave you. It's safe for you to have that information. It also might be helpful in aiding your understanding of what you can do. When I speak with Joule a little later, I'll work with her on clearing my calender for the most convenient time and day for you."

Sophie nods as she says, "Do you have my number? You can call me about it."

"Does Joule know how to contact you? I'd rather not have your number unless it's necessary." Mohinder, while wanting to help, isn't the safest person in the world.

Sophie pauses, "I don't think so. But I can give her my number, if you wish.." she chuckles, 'If I can figure out how to get ahold of her.'

Mohinder hesitates, then prepares to write, "What's the number you feel comfortable with me calling?"

Sophie thinks, then she says, "The college has a switchboard that keeps messages for dorm students. You can call that, I imagine."

Mohinder nods, and takes the number down when its given. "That should be safe enough." Even if the geneticist knows one can never be too careful or underestimate those he works with. "Until we meet again then."

Sophie nods as she rises, "Thank you for all your help." warmly, and sincerely. "You've been very kind, taking time like this."

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