Saron sat in the mess hall eating Nelix' latest offering, a human dish called 'spaghetti'. It wasn't as bad as he'd expected it to be and he enjoyed watching the people coming and going. He wasn't normally one to hang out with the other crew members, often taking his food back to his quarters. Saron just wasn't the social type. Ensign Kim approached his table looking all smiles as he took a seat "Hi.....Haven't seen you here before."

Saron just nodded, going back to his food. The ensign just wouldn't shut up though. "I'm Harry, Harry Kim....I think I've seen you in Engineering, with B'Elanna?" Saron nodded again. "You don't talk much do you?" Harry mused. "I am Saron." The Vulcan signed, his sound receptor and voice modulator kicking in a second behind to translate.

"Oh....you're deaf?" Harry looked puzzled by the realization as the Vulcan nodded, continuing to sign "I was born deaf." Harry blinked "Why didn't your parent's just...." Saron held up his hand cutting off the ensigns question

"My parents wanted the decision to hear to be mine." It was Harry's turn to nod. "Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like to hear?" The Vulcan shook his head "I do not miss what I have never known, though the surge of emotions can sometimes be.....difficult."

"Emotions?" Harry looked confused. "I thought Vulcans were taught to control and suppress emotions and feelings."

Saron nodded vigorously, signing almost faster than the vocal translator could process "Deafness separates you from people. Spoken word, inflection, tone.... Being able to feel emotion helps me to process the intent behind a persons words more easily, are they angry, happy, excited?"

"I get it." Harry chuckled, almost nervously. Suddenly Tom and B'Elanna, followed by Ensign Duncan descended on the table. "Watcha doin' Harry?" Tom elbowed the Ensign as he sat.

"Talking with Ensign Saron.." Harry grinned. B'Elanna nodded at Saron "Ensign.." He returned the nod, seeming slightly intimidated by the Klingon female. 

 "How's it going, Saron?" Tom stuck out his hand for Saron to shake. The gesture confused the Vulcan who didn't return it, signing 

"It is well...and you?" The table, save for Harry and B'Elanna looked confused

 "He's deaf." the pair said almost simultaneously. 

"Doesn't Saron mean 'his song'....funny name for a Deaf Vulcan.." Ensign Duncan finally spoke up. B'Elanna shot the ensign one of her famous ' shut up before I eat you' looks, causing him to leave the table quickly. 

"A song is different things to different people..." Saron answered "Sometimes a song is music, sometimes a song is the sound of silence. I embrace my song."