Mind Games: To Defeat Another Psychic (backpost)

Posted on Tue Apr 9th, 2024 @ 3:30am by Boso Gane & Lieutenant Commander Lahki Bakshi Dr

755 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: I-402

Previously, on Star Trek: Missouri:

"I'm getting a third signal straight ahead," Akira added, indicating to her tricorder. "Perhaps I should head that way, make sure we cover all our bases?"

Eradaar kept firm mentally in reassurance of her life, her purpose, and her happiness. The darkness was kept away by it. She shared her insights, whispering almost, as she followed the group.

"Remember to keep positive and not let any negative thoughts in," she said. "We are Starfleet, we have purpose, and our purpose to keep our friends and Captain safe."

And now, the continuation:

Boso knew the Starfleet officers were just moments away from finding the blonde. As such, he needed to use her as strongly as possible to lure the Betazoid away from the rest of the team.

Fortunately, the ruse worked: After calling out in the blonde's voice as loud as he could, the Betazoid fell for it, giving the correct path to the blonde to the Gorn while she came directly to him. The fact that he had managed to send the midget off in a different direction was an added bonus.

Lahki followed the signal. She was cautious, careful. Her phaser was out and ready, but she wasn't in combat mode-yet. Her face remained straight, as if she was willing to hear some kind of good story about where they were and why. She had raised two kids, anything she heard today would be a cake walk compared to the wild stories the kids would tell when they didn't want to get in trouble for something they'd done.

The signal led Lahki face to face with a young man of Cardassian appearance. Boso Gane did not hide in the shadows like he had for the Gorn. Lahki was already well aware of his psychic presence. Instead, Boso stood calmly in the center of the corridor. He was, by conventional warfare, unarmed, but he was still prepared for a fight. If he was going to get to the rest of his prey, he was going to have to overpower the Betazoid.

"You know, for being men of peace; the Federation sure are quick to arm even their doctors with guns and instructions to point them at whatever has been labeled an 'enemy' this week..." He said.

"Well, first off, I am not a man," she said, plainly, ignoring the underlying meaning. "And secondly, I am Betazed. I learned as a young child that violence touches everything, and you can't be too cautious," she said. She'd seen the war, and the death, but also the recovery and the good. So she knew. She kept her phaser trained. "Where are your friends?" She asked.

"That AI is not my friend; she is my employer: There's a difference. " Boso clarified. "I believe a term best used to describe me is a 'soldier of fortune:' My sister and I work for whomever is looking to undermine the Federation's interests in any given week."

Lahki nodded. It made sense. "I see. Why do you wish to undermine the Federation?" The answer would help her to determine where she went from here. For now, she had her mental and emotionally walls up, and was being very cautious.

"Simple:" Boso responded. "The Federation killed my parents and refuses to take responsibility for the fact that it mercilessly slaughtered its own citizens during the war! Sure, they declared the Hebitia campaign a massive success, but at what cost? How many Federation lives did the Federation end in the name of driving back the Dominion?"

Lahki sighed. "My people, too," she said. "The Federation killed many of us to "save" us from the Dominion. And the Bajorans, and so on. Yet none of US feel the need to destroy other peoples' lives, too. I can help you to overcome...." She said.

"That won't be necessary:" Boso said as the scene appeared to shift from a space station to that of a desolate wasteland. "I just need you out of the picture."

Lahki simply nodded. "Good luck," she said, simply. Lahki was skilled at both marksmanship and ducking out of the way. She'd raised two rowdy children AND a husband who thought that he was her third child. Plus, she'd seen a lot in her years in the Fleet. Nothing she couldn't handle. She might not be uninjured, but she'd not die. She hoped.

To be continued...

Posting by

Lieutenant Commander Lahki Bakshi
Chief Medical Officer
USS Missouri

Boso Gane
Antagonist

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