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When most people think of Betazoids, they imagine a people living in a peaceful culture, who embrace life with joy and accept others for what they are. For the most part, they would be right. However, virtually no history is complete without its acts of violence and blood shed.
When Grandma receives an urgent message on my second night in her house, I sense another sad chapter for Betazoids playing itself out. "I hate leaving you after only a day," Grandma says. "But the Iliatti are disputing a colonizing agreement in the Marzet sector and an ambassador has to be there to mediate. If all goes well, I should return in time to escort you to your first class at All Souls tomorrow evening."
"And if you're not, I'm sure I'll manage," I say and step forward to kiss her on the cheek. 'Your people need you to protect them."
"How did I get such an understanding granddaughter?" She gently squeezes my chin and examines my hair her smile showing her approval of my choice to shorten it to shoulder length. "Goodbye dear," she says before picking up her data padd and stepping out the front door.
Once she leaves, I slip into her bedroom and attempt to access her files on the Iliatti. I don't doubt that she's telling me the truth about their dispute, but some inner sense tells me that there's more involved than she's told me. What I find is worse than I could imagine. Seven Betazoid citizens were killed early this morning during a riot on a moon colony about four light years away.
As I read further, I learn that the Iliatti are a far more aggressive people than believed by the majority of Betazoids. An interracial colony was proposed by the leaders of both people over five years ago with the expectation that their cultures could mutually benefit from the history of the other. Grandma had been one of the lead supporters of the agreement and the first to sign the contract. It had been her hope to see Betazed grow in power in the Alpha Quadrant by peaceable means. In the first few years, her expectations were met with wonderful results.
Betazed has had few wars in its history and for many decades has served as a liaison planet for negotiations. Telepaths make excellent mediators and disputes they become involved with are often solved quickly. Although a culture of mediators is a commendable way of life, Grandma has always wanted more for her people and five years ago was enthusiastic about the opportunities the Iliatti presented for her people.
The Iliatti's history is somewhat uglier than Betazed's. Nearly two centuries ago, they were embroiled in a civil war that almost brought them to extinction. Despite her knowledge of this history, Grandma believed the Iliatti to have grown up and away from such brutality.
Until the riot broke out.
Grandma calls me the following morning from the third moon of Balhi where the colony resides. She is standing inside what looks like a storage area and I wonder why she is not calling me from a private room. "I'm sorry, dear," she says. "It's impossible for me to make it back in time for your orientation. "You'll have to introduce yourself to the group on your own, dear. Keep in mind that it's important for your first interaction with your teachers be spontaneous. They will evaluate your raw telepathic talents and choose your training from that." I sense that she is hoping I will become actively involved with Betazoid culture and forget about the Continuum, despite what I told her last night.
"I've dealt with far more insidious situations, Grandma, " I say. " I can handle this."
"I won't pretend to understand your conflicts with the Continuum or your interest in it. I simply think you should give your Betazoid side a chance before dismissing us mortals completely."
"If I had, I would have chosen to take Q up on his travel plans.
"How can I make up my absence to you, Little One?"
"Just come home in one piece," I respond. "I know about the riots and I don't want to lose you, because some head-strong alien disagrees with your tactics. It would be pointless. Nothing would be solved."
"Don't believe everything you read or hear," she tells me, though I sense she is down playing the severity of the situation. "I will have this little fiasco under control shortly and return to Betazed to spend lots of time with you. I hope you enjoy your first session at All Souls and I look forward to hearing all about it tomorrow."
"Be careful, Grandma," I say before disconnecting our link.
*****
Since All Souls is not far from Grandma's estate, I take a walk that evening and enjoy the pleasant weather and the scenery along the way. Yet this pleasure is clouded by thoughts of Grandma and the conflict at Balhi. If all is not resolved well over there, how will it effect life on Betazed? Will we soon be going to war?
Arriving at the school, I enter the building.
The entrance way is dimly lit and I strain to see ahead. Which way should I go? In one direction, candles decorate a large ornate room. I take a step toward the room when someone calls out to me. * Shannara Rozhenko * I hear. The speaker does not step forward, so I begin searching for her.
"Who are you?" I call out. "Where are you? I thought this was supposed to be a classroom. Where are the other students?"
* Don't speak with your mouth. Use your mind. You have the ability to find me through telepathy. *
I have the ability to turn you into a toad, also, I think. Holding my breath, I hope she hasn't sensed my sarcastic remark. * I'll find you, if you insist on playing this game, but I don't see what you think it'll accomplish.* Although I'd chosen to come to Betazed over travels through the Continuum, apparently they play the same games here.
*Listen not with your ears. Shannara, open your mind. There are others nearby. Their thoughts and feelings can become one with yours.*
Concentrating, I picture their thoughts inside my mind as though they are tangible objects. One by one, their images appear before me and I walk up to a closet here, a room there, and even a hatch in the ceiling, discovering a student or two with each open door. Congratulating me, they follow me to the next until there is no one left to be found.
We gather inside the library, twelve students besides myself and three teachers, and sit at two large tables pulled together as though we are about to begin a delegation. "Is this how you conduct your lessons?" I ask.
*Speak only with your mind* one of the teachers orders. *Let everyone introduce themselves, so you may begin to understand what we're trying to accomplish here.*
For years, Mother has been trying to teach me that it's impolite to probe the minds of others and now I'm being instructed to use telepathy as the only means of communication. Why is life filled with so many contradictions?
I listen, or rather tune in, to the minds of the other students as they introduce themselves and share a little about why they joined All Souls and what they hope to gain from the experience. This exchange reminds me of Parkin and the telepathic gift she offered me. Could I ever become comfortable living among those who only communicate through telepathy? Would the silence drive me crazy?
*I am Renee Casanau,* a girl across from me projects. *I'm fourteen and my first telepathic experience was nearly five months ago when my mother received a phone call from my father. He'd told her that he was leaving her and she didn't want to tell me, because she had hopes that she could change his mind. She couldn't. Neither of us could.*
As they continue , I realize two things: They are all older than I am and none of them have been actively telepathic for more than a year. Do they know that I've been empathic since the day I was born and used telepathy before I even began school? When they learn of this, how will they react toward me?
*Shannara, now that we've opened ourselves to you,* Tobiuse, the younger female teacher begins, *would you be kind enough to tell us what brought you here?*
"I--" I say aloud. Immediately causing my faux pas, I avert my eyes to the table's surface. For someone who has had this telepathic ability for as long as all the others combined, I don't behave much like a veteran. Should I tell them that I will outlive them (and their grandchildren) as well? Certainly, Grandma has told them nothing of my adventures inside the Continuum. I might as well rack up enough points to completely alienate myself from them. *Sorry. Where I come from, most people aren't telepathic, so I'm used to communicating by voice. I'm Shannara Rozhenko. I was born on the Enterprise, the Federation flagship. I'm thirteen.*
*Your father is a Klingon* Jonnaih interrupts. Why do they view this as a weakness? Are they afraid of Klingons?
*Yes, and I am not ashamed of him!* I refrain from bearing my teeth.
*Klingon's have no telepathic abilities and your mother is only half Betaziod.*
They're implying that I'm weak because I'm a mixed breed! Why, with the interaction of so many races, does prejudice still exist? I sense their curiosity over my ease in communicating with them and know I cannot brush off the issue. *You're wondering why my ability is equivalent to a full Betaziod's. I'm sure you've all heard of the Akodians. When the Federation first encountered them, my mother was pregnant with me. Interaction with their wormholes somehow hastened my telepathic maturity, perhaps even enhanced it.*
*You could read minds when you were a baby!* Shari, the girl to my right exclaims at me.
*Perhaps. Certainly, not much after. Mother believes I could sense feelings from the day I was born, probably even in the womb.*
None of the students are sure how to respond to this. They are intimidated by me and probably will not want to become my friend. I wish I could take it back. If they knew nothing about the true me....if I could make up a past for myself, maybe they would treat me as they think the granddaughter of the holder of the Sacred Chalice of Riix should be.
*You think you're better than us!* Jonnaih exclaims. *You're not.*
Several others hurdle thoughts my way and I am unable to sift through all of them, but one clear message rings through: They believe Klingons are barbaric and incapable of functioning with dignity. Covering my ears defensively as though I can physically shield myself against them, I scream in protest.
*That's enough!* Robiayre, the male teacher demands, standing to enforce his authority. *We at All Souls do not judge others because of their race or culture. Now, if everyone is ready to settle down, we will begin today's lesson.*
I participate with the lesson, though it's quite elementary compared to activities Data's had me perform. If Q is watching me now, he is probably laughing at the ludicrousness of my humoring these poor mortals. With a snap of my fingers, I could show them how superior I am to them and none of them would ever joke again about mixed Klingon breeds.
*What is wrong, Shannara?* Tobiuse asks. *you're participating in the discussion, but I sense there is something bothering you.*
I nod. *Yes, I'm worried about my grandma, Lwaxana Troi.* Maybe they will feel some respect for me, knowing that Grandma is an important ambassador. *She's away for a couple of days, trying to settle the conflict with the Iliatti at the colony in the Marzet Sector.*
*What conflict?* Jonnaih thinks angrily at me. The rest of the group share his look of puzzlement.
*Don't any of you read or watch the news? Seven Betazed citizens were killed yesterday morning in a riot! My Grandma is there now trying to settle the dispute before anyone else is hurt. She's placing her life in danger!*
*Calm down,* Robyaire tells me in a soothing tone. *I understand your frustration and worry, but taking it out on the students will not help anyone. Perhaps it would be best if you were dismissed for now and rejoin the group at our next session in two days.*
I glance from one student to the next, hoping to see a glimmer of comprehension from one of them. Some look sympathetically back at me, but none of them truly perceive my predicament despite their telepathic abilities. They have no connection to the conflict at Balhi. To them, it exists in another world.
"I suppose you're right," I say aloud, using my voice as a way to distance myself from the group. I stand up, push my chair back and its resounding scrape against the floor fills the room. "I'm sorry for disrupting the peaceful nature of your class." I cannot help the edge of sarcasm creeping into my voice.
*****
As I walk back home, I tread with failure and consider never returning to All Souls. Grandma wants to see me make friends and learn to socialize, but I doubt I will ever fit in with the students at All Souls.
Replaying their reaction to the conflict at Balhi, I wonder how many other citizens are unaware of the potential danger to their peaceful existence. Betazed has had few disasters in its history that a war would catch most people unprepared. Potentially, that could bring more casualties than during any past disaster, natural or otherwise.
I have to be certain that this worst-case scenario will not play itself out. By the time I walk through the front door and up the stairs, I've made an important decision. Reaching into my closet, I pull out my away bag and pack enough clothes and other paraphernalia to last me for a couple of days. I can help Grandma solve this problem without any more casualties. Then maybe everyone can see that the powers of the Q can be used for a righteous cause.
I drape the away bag over my shoulder and using a Q-flash, transport myself instantly to the third moon of Balhi. I require a brief moment to orient myself. Although I've used the Q-flash many times to travel within the Continuum, I've rarely used it to travel within this universe. Somehow, it feels different. Quickly, I scan the area and see little evidence that a battle has taken place. The Iliatti obviously used no space weapons to overtake the colony and most likely met with little resistence from the colonists. Why had they given in to the siege so easily?
"They didn't," I mutter to myself. Otherwise, there wouldn't now be at least seven dead Betazed citizens at the hands of the Iliatti. So where is the devastation left behind by the riot?
"Don't stay out in the open!" I hear a girl scream hoarsely. "They'll see you and you won't like what they do to little girls."
I spot the child hiding under a fallen log. She is a full Betazoid, no more than five or six-years old and is frightened by what she's seen in the past forty-eight hours. She's spent her short life believing the world is a peaceful place and now she is facing a harsh reality. Like the majority of young Betazoids, her telepathy will not begin to develop for several years yet, but I sense an innate empathy within her. She cares for my well-being though I am a complete stranger to her.
I walk closer to her and crouch down to her eye level. "What is your name, sweetheart?"
"Bekha."
"Bekha, have the Iliatti taken control of the colony?" As soon as I have the words out, I notice a small boy hunched beside her, perhaps her little brother. I suddenly feel a pang of loneliness for my own little brother. I wonder if Eric thinks of me and wishes I were back with him on the Enterprise.
She nods. "But some of us got away, like me and my little brother. I miss mommy. What if she never finds us? What if she's hurt!"
I reach out my hand to grasp hers. "What is your mommy's name?"
"Amanda Fossi. Most grownups call her Mandy."
"I'll find her for you, I promise." I make to stand up, but her grip on my hand strengthens.
"You're not going out there!"
"I have to," I reply as calmly as I can muster. "You see, my Grandma's also out there and she needs my help. She's the ambassador of Betazed and she came here yesterday to help negotiate peace."
"Who will protect Latti and me while you're gone?"
Pulling my hand free from her grip and standing, I wave my hand to use the power of the Q to place a Q-net around them. "I will. No one will be able to get at you until I remove this net."
She barely has a moment to smile at me when a loud uproar from several meters away interrupts us. Ducking down, I hope I haven't been seen. I watch as three iliatti toting phaser rifles force a group of Betazoids to cross the street toward a large stone structure. The colonists are in shackles. The Iliatti easily stand a meter above the tallest Betazoid and have neck ridges that shape into their shoulders, similar to Cardassians. Their faces, however, are formed unlike any I've ever seen, with sunken cheeks and reptilian eyes. Their noses are long and thin. Despite the lack of structural damage to the colony, the situation now appears worse than Grandma let on. What if she has also been made a prisoner? Kneeling back down, I wait for them to enter the building before proceeding in their direction. I channel my telepathy to my fullest ability, using it to search out Grandma's location. Several of the colonists cry out to me telepathically and although I sympathize, I do my best to filter out their pleas.
*Little One!* Grandma calls out to me. *Go back home. This is not the place for you.*
*Nonsense, Grandma* I send back to her. *They can't hurt me. Tell me where you are and I'll bring you out safely.*
A long moment of silence passes in which I sense Grandma's indecisiveness. *I'm inside the warehouse. It's the long, brown building at the center of town. There are at least a dozen Iliatti in here with phaser rifles. Please be careful, Little One. You may be impervious to injury, but there are over a hundred colonists inside here who are not.*
Remembering the time I tried to rescue Father from an imagined fate, I think about how Q interrupted my mission. He'd used the power of Q to allow me to watch the away team without their being aware of my presence. *I shall make myself invisible.* With a click of my fingers, I transport myself to the warehouse. No one notices my arrival. Even Grandma does not look in my direction or acknowledge my presence. Scanning the room, I notice that about half the prisoners are children and wish I knew the face of Amanda Fossi so I could tell little Bekha that her mother was all right. My hope grows dimmer as I count nine guards, all with powerful phaser rifles. I move in toward a couple Iliatti soldiers, deep in a heated debate. Fortunately, I had the grace to remember my universal translator.
If they cannot see how pathetic these creatures are, then maybe our little show will convince them of otherwise," one says bearing his crooked and sharp teeth.
"Yes or there'll be no more of these creatures left anywhere to contend with. Either way, we will no longer have to live among their repulsive form of communication. How funny it is they cannot understand us now without their communicator devices."
How funny, indeed, I muse. If they only knew I am standing only three meters away, they wouldn't be talking so freely.
"The necks of these creatures are so puny, I could snap them with my bare hands. They told us we could learn from these telepaths, that they would enrich our lives. They've only sickened me." His companion grunts in agreement.
Are they saying that their government is opposed to their actions? If I can free Grandma, maybe she would negotiate with their ambassador or president to resolve this conflict. With the power of the Q, I could transport her out of this warehouse instantly, but that would jeopardize the lives of the colonists. Bekha and Latti are safe as long as I don't remove the Q-net, but what possible torture will they device for their mother if their hideaway is discovered?
Moving away from the captors, I head for Grandma and carefully channel my thoughts toward her. It is imperative that no one else becomes aware of my presence. *Grandma, I'm here, right next to you,* I send. *Don't let on as though anything is different. I'm going to get you out of here somehow, but I have to find a way to transport you without alerting anyone.*
Without a word, a thought, or even a nod, Grandma stands up and approaches an Iliatti posted guard by the door. After some scrutiny, I realize this alien is female. She appears as tall and brawny as her male counterpart. She is a formidable enemy for Grandma, but Grandma approaches her with the confidence of knowing I am following close behind ready to aid her with my superior powers.
"Excuse me," Grandma says. The Iliatti female swings around to slam her rifle into Grandma's shoulder. Quickly, I click my fingers and place a shield around Grandma. The alien recoils, nearly falling to the ground before she catches her balance. The other captors rush to the female's aid. What is Grandma accomplishing by this scene? I meant to draw attention away from her, not toward her.
"She is different from the rest of them, this proclaimed ambassador," one says. "She is even more stupid." The group laughs and each points their weapon at Grandma.
*What are they saying, Little One?* she asks.
*Don't send your thought to me, Grandma. We'll place everyone in danger. Please, sit back down and let me handle this.*
Instead of complying, she moves closer to the nearest male Iliatti and despite the sudden outbreak of phaser fire trying to penetrate her shielding, she rubs against him and says, "Has a woman ever told you how sexy you are?"
I open my mouth wide and nearly lose control of my thoughts. *Grandma, what are you trying to do?* I scan the warehouse quickly, looking for any sign that anyone other than Grandma has picked up on my projected words. Most of them are huddled in fright, children hovering under the arms of their parents. All share a look of shock and disbelief that their ambassador is still standing, uninjured.
Grandma, despite all this, does not falter in her charade. "Your manliness really turns me on," Grandma continues as she runs her hand down his arm.
Making a sound of disgust, he pushes her away. I am surprised he is able to do this in regards to my shielding. Is it possible that Grandma is somehow fluctuating the frequency of the shielding? If so, why is she purposely making herself vulnerable to those monsters?
"Place her in the holding cell," the male she propositioned growls. "Give her only sponge cakes and water. See how she enjoys living like a grubber."
A female and a male Iliatti soldier each grab Grandma on opposite sides. As they force her to walk out of the building toward wherever the colony's jail is located, I realize the intent behind Grandma's actions. Once she is isolated, I can easily Q-flash her out.
I follow them outside and a few hundred meters down the road inside a small building that served as the colony's jail. It has three cells and the Iliatti male pushed Grandma into the one closest to the door and then activates the forcefield.
"Now let's see you get at us, you repulsive creature!" he says.
Although Grandma cannot understand his words, she grins evilly at him, showing that she is not through playing games. The two who brought Grandma leave, but there is a third alien who had already been here standing guard. He hadn't been here already to keep people out, I assume, so I explore and discover a young Betazoid male in the third cell. I peer at him nearly touching the forcefield. He looks tired and bruised and I sense he has given up. For whatever he did to be brought here, I wonder why the Iliatti showed enough mercy not to kill him. As I continue to stare into his glassy eyes, I realize he does not fee any gratitude about his treatment and would rather be dead. I turn away from him, knowing I will have to focus on rescuing Grandma if I am to save him and all the other colonists.
How can I Q-flash Grandma out of here without the Iliatti soldier immediately alerting his comrades? I need to buy more than a few minutes if I hope to resolve this conflict without any further bloodshed. The Iliatti soldier is pacing the length of the room, eyeing each of his prisoners as he passes. His phaser rifle remains posed as if he expects one of them to effortlessly walk through the forcefield. I could easily kill him with my powers, snap his neck or plunge my fist through his chest and remove his heart. I hope such a drastic action is not necessary and contemplate a way to render him unconscious. Studying his phaser rifle, I slowly shift the setting from kill to stun. These Iliatti are not worthy of my kindness. Focusing on the internal mechanisms of the phaser, I rig it to backfire on him. I then will myself to glimmer into visibility. Startled, he immediately reacts as I expected, firing the weapon at me. He recoils from the blast, landing unconscious hard on the stone floor. I look toward the male prisoner. "Don't tell anyone you saw me here." With a click of my fingers, I transport Grandma and myself back to her house on Betazed.
Once I am certain she is safe and over the disorientation of the Q-flash, I concentrate on a little girl and a little boy for whom I have an unfulfilled promise to keep. Bekha and Latti appear beside my bed.
"What are you doing, Shannara!" Grandma exclaims. "You can't bring all the colonists here."
"I'm not. Just these two." I approach the children and wrap my arms around them. "I'm sorry, but I haven't found your mother yet. You will stay here until I do." Both children eagerly nod, for even though I'd placed an impenetrable shield around them, it could never release them from the grips of fear. I only wish I could free all of the colonists as simply. Doing so, however, would risk going to war.
Lifting Latti onto the bed, I say, "Both of you sit quietly here for a while. The ambassador and I need to discuss how to handle the situation from here." The boy begins to cry. A wave of my hand and the production of two lollipops help calm both of them down.
I turn toward our ambassador. "Grandma, I think this is the actions of a small group, a faction from the Iliatti government. Have you spoken with their ambassador or any other official from their homeworld?"
"I haven't had the chance," she responds. "Everything happened so quickly. One minutes I was negotiating with them, thinking we could work out a reasonable solution and the next I was being forced into the warehouse with some of the colonists. My experience with the Iliatti before this incident led me to believe they were capable of eliminating such violence from their culture. That was one of the objectives of this colony." She walks over to the console on my desk and sends a transmission to the Iliatti homeworld. "If they have acted out of dissidence as you say, then perhaps the Iliatti main force will persuade them to lay down their arms."
A red light begins flashing on the console, signaling an incoming message. An Iliatti male in a highly decorated uniform appears on the tiny screen. "Ambassador Troi," he says. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
He doesn't know!
