A Meeting of the Minds

[Cptn Moose 0]

A Meeting of the Minds, Stardate 10407.27

 

Even before he entered, Gowan Varden knew that the Benai Moset and Melora were already in the chamber. Perhaps it was the subtle popping that Melora's index finger made, or the faint odor of rasha spice that indicated Moset had over-indulged in the local delicacies again. Varden had been Benai Prime of this triad for so long, he had stopped noticing these details long ago. He sensed they were there, as he always sensed their presence.

 

No greetings were exchanged on his arrival. None were needed. He proceeded to sit cross-legged in the center of the featureless chamber and extended his hands, left palm up, right palm down. Melora was Secondary Benai and sat next to Varden, placing her right palm in Varden's left, holding her left palm up for Moset. Moset was Tertiary Benai. He sat down and laid his palms onto the un-joined hands to complete the circle.

 

For a moment, no one spoke. They focused, taking their cue from Prime Varden, adjusting their heart rates to his and matching his breathing. The existed this way for several moments, with the rhythms of their body in perfect synchronization. Finally, they were ready to begin.

 

"We are here to discuss the status of our Federation projects," said Prime Varden. His lips made the motions, but no sound escaped his lips. The physical moments to produce audible sound would only slow them down. It did not matter. They heard each other through their bodies. Their pulse and their breathing remained in perfect harmony. "Melora, begin."

 

"Ambassador Moose and his Delegation have met with Captain Moose and the Arcadians," said Benai Melora.

 

"The Arcadians are searching the city for the Revelation Device," offered Benai Moset.

 

"Ambassador Moose has given them sensors to detect stable protomatter," said Varden.

 

"Decoy protomatter samples have been set all over the continent," said Melora.

 

"I followed one team on a public transport as they were successfully led to a decoy," said Moset.

 

"During the journey from Paktar, we discovered their Lt. N'Dak was a powerful telepath," said Varden.

 

"He has been recovered," said Melora.

 

"Drs. Indi and Nile are working with him," said Moset.

 

"Can he be properly conditioned?" asked Varden.

 

"In spite of his talents, he was very susceptible to my voice," said Melora.

 

"Rowan Moderi should no longer be necessary for the test," said Moset.

 

"Then we must find the device," said Varden.

 

"Hayden Dacotah looks exactly like Rowan Moderi," said Melora.

 

"She has been arrested and brought to Gio Moderi," said Moset.

 

"He will take her to where the device is hidden," said Varden.

 

"We will follow with N'Dak," said Melora.

 

"And we will determine if the Revelation Device can be detonated by a telepath of our manufacture," said Moset.

 

Varden did not speak, although it was his turn. Their pulses had begun to vary by a millisecond. He paused, giving the triad a moment to re-synchronize.

 

"We must still be able to transport telepaths into Federation Space if the Revelation Device is to be used to impede their advancement," continued Varden slowly once they were re-aligned.

 

"Readings were taken of the telepath Kelly Quest during the voyage from Paktar," said Melora.

 

"She was not immune to folding space travel," said Moset.

 

"Her son David is still the only known telepath to survive unshielded," said Varden.

 

"Then she can not be cloned to produce more telepaths," said Melora.

 

"Not without genetic material from the boy's father," said Moset.

 

"The boy's father is dead, no genetic material remains," said Varden.

 

"Then the boy is the key," said Melora.

 

"The boy is the key," said Moset.

 

"The boy is the key," agreed Varden.

 

An eerie silence overtook the triad as their hearts continued to beat to the same rhythm. Although it was not his turn, Varden finally broke the silence. "Where is the boy?" he asked.

 

No one answered the Benai Prime, because no one had the answer. And in that moment, the three Benai simultaneously realized that they had miscalculated. After months of careful surveillance, they had allowed the Arcadia to distract them at a crucial time. They had lost track of David Quest.

 

"Find him," hissed Benai Varden.

 

Cptn Moose

USS Arcadia, NCC-1742-E