Nightshade - Laurell K. Hamilton [65]
‘Klingons are not sensitive to empathic messages,” he said.
‘True,” Troi said, “But then Klingons have never come up against a race of empaths with such horribly powerful talents.”
‘We have dealt with Betazoids before.”
‘You have dealt with me, Worf. I’m only half Betazoid. There are people on my home planet that could read your mind, your emotions, or plant their thoughts in your mind.”
‘Truly?” he asked.
‘It is all illegal, of course. We have very strict rules governing what empaths and telepaths are allowed to do. But without those laws and the ability to enforce them…” Troi shrugged. “It would be a very dangerous world. A world where a few powerful individuals could control most of the population. The Orianians have the potential to do just that, Worf.”
‘I understand that I need your input, but what is to keep her from possessing you again?”
‘I can fight it, now that I know what it is.”
‘Will there still be danger to you?”
‘Yes, but minimal.”
He frowned. “I do not like it.
‘I am a Federation officer whose captain is imprisoned. You wouldn’t deny me the chance to help save him, would you?”
Put that way, what could Worf say? She was speaking of her duty and her honor. “You may accompany me to question Colonel Talanne, but if you begin to feel ill, you must leave.”
‘I will, Worf, believe me. I have no wish to repeat what just happened. It’s horrible for a Betazoid to lose themselves.”
‘To die with honor in defense of duty is a proud way to die. To lose one’s self, as you put it, seems less honorable and more. horrible.”
Troi flashed him a quick smile. “I agree, Worf. Believe me, I agree.”
‘I did not mean that your sacrifice would not be as great. I meant that by not dying, your sacrifice would be greater.”
‘I understand you perfectly.”
He honored her with one of his rare smiles. With so many of the crew, even his friends, Worf often felt out of step. But here with this gentle woman, he was understood, perfectly. No explanations were needed. In the midst of chaos Troi was like a center of peace. In many ways Worf valued Troi for the same reasons Picard did. Though neither captain nor lieutenant would ever have guessed it.
Chapter Seventeen
Colonel Talanne sat in a small square interrogation room. She was almost completely lost in her cloak and mask. Nothing showed of her, even her small hands were gloved. Was it some subconscious hint that she meant to hide things?
Troi sat in the far corner of the room, as far away from Talanne as she could physically get and still be in the room. Talanne had asked after Troi’s health, hoped the mind-healer was better today.
Yes, Troi was better today. But fear trickled low in her stomach. She had to force herself not to clench her hands into fists. But she had the training for it. It was part of her job that no matter what was said or done in a session that she, the counselor, could remain outwardly calm. Troi hoped fervently that she would be able to maintain that calm.
Troi had barricaded her mind. When Betazoids first got their powers at adolescence, many were too untamed talents. If you worked with them, to help them train, you had to be able to block your mind beyond anything required for daily interaction. But she had never worked with children. Since she was half human, her mind-shielding was not up to the challenge.
Of course, Troi had not mentioned that fact to Worf, fearing he’d refuse her access to Talanne. The woman knew something. Troi was sure of it and they would find out, now, tonight. Captain Picard was running out of time.
Worf stood near the door, arms crossed over his chest. He stared, unblinking, at Talanne. He watched her as if she were some new form of life that he had dedicated himself to studying. The mask was useless before his concentration.