Chapter Thirty-Six: "Interchanges"

When most people thought of Betazoids, they imagined a culture in peace with citizens who embraced life with joy and were open minded to the diversities of the cultures throughout the galaxy. For the most part, that conception was correct. However, no history was complete without acts of violence and blood shed.

When Grandma received an urgent message on my second night in her house asking for her mediation, peaceful relations were being challenged.

"I hate leaving you after only a day," Grandma said as she closed her away bag.

I followed her out to the stairway landing eagerly awaiting more detail about the call. I knew only what I'd sensed from Grandma and prayed it did not mean that Betazed was about to declare war.

Mr. Homn was waiting for Grandma at the foyer and quickly rose up the steps to retrieve her bag. She ushered him outside with instructions to bring the shuttlecraft around to the front driveway. Once he'd left, she continued addressing me.

"The Iliatti are disputing a colonizing agreement on Balhi in the Marzet sector and they need an ambassador present to mediate. If all goes well, I'll return in time to escort you to the first class at All Souls next week."

"And if you're not back, I'm sure I'll manage," I replied and stepped forward to kiss her on the cheek. "Your people need you to protect them."

"How did I get such an understanding granddaughter?" She gently squeezed my chin.

"These colonists need you more than I do." I did not remind Grandma that my parents believed I thought only of myself. "If the negotiations don't go well, will we be going to war?"

"Oh Heavens. It's too early to speculate anything about that. You have enough to worry about, Little One, so don't lose sleep fretting about Betazed going to war." She hugged me fiercely, mocking her words. "Goodbye dear."

Once she left, I slipped into her bedroom and attempted to access her files on the Iliatti. I didn't doubt Grandma, but I needed more information. What I discovered was worse than I had imagined. Seven Betazoid citizens had been massacred early this morning during a riot on a moon colony about six light years away.

As I scrolled through the news feed, I learned that the Iliatti were a far more aggressive people than the Betazoids had initially thought when signing the moon colony agreement. An interracial colony was proposed by the leaders of the Iliati over five years ago with expectations supposedly from both sides that their cultures could benefit from a synergic relationship. Grandma had been one of the lead supporters of the agreement and the first to sign it. Grandma wanted Betazed to increase in power while remaining a peaceable entity. In the first few years, her expectations had met with encouraging results.

Betazed had had few wars during its history and for many decades had served as a liaison for many planetary negotiations. Telepaths made excellent mediators and often resolved disputes quickly. Although a culture of mediators was a commendable way of life, Grandma had always wanted more for her people. Five years ago the opportunity seemingly presented itself.

The Iliati had a volatile history; one that Grandma had thought resolved long before Betazoids made contact with them. Nearly two centuries ago, they were embroiled in a civil war that had almost brought them to extinction. In the decades since the end of the war, the Iliati had rebuilt both their cities and their population. Although the Iliati had demonstrated behavior that indicated an evolution from such brutality, today's slaughter had conversely brought their image to a fold.

I closed the file and left Grandma's room. With little more than worrying to do, I fetched my data padd from atop my dresser and went out to the garden to sketch the scenery. While Grandma dealt with the far-off violence, I sat and waited.

Grandma called me two days later from the third moon of Balhi where the colony resided. She was standing inside what looked like a storage area and I wondered why she was not calling me from a private room.

"I'm sorry, dear," she said. "I won't be making it back in time for your orientation. You'll have to introduce yourself to the group on your own. Keep in mind, the importance of spontaneity when you introduce yourself to the students and the instructors. They will evaluate your raw telepathic talents and design your training based on that."

She still hoped I'd become immersed in Betazoid culture and abandon the Continuum.

"I've dealt with far worse situations, Grandma," I said. "I can handle this."

"I won't pretend to understand your conflicts within the Continuum or your interest in it, but I think you should give your Betazoid heritage a chance before dismissing mortality completely."

"If I had given up on my heritage, I would have taken Q up on his travel plans."

"That's reassuring," Grandma replied.

I sensed that she was wondering whether I thought of the Q more as my family than the family I was born into. Neither of us acknowledged this fear and an awkward silence passed between us.

"How can I make up my absence to you, Little One?"

"Just come home in one piece," I responded. "I read about the riots and I don't want to lose you, because some head-strong alien disagrees with your policies. It would be pointless. Nothing would be resolved."

"Don't believe everything you read or hear, dear," she advised me, though I sensed she was downplaying the severity of the situation. "I will have this situation under control shortly and return to Betazed to spend lots of time with my granddaughter. Enjoy your first session at All Souls, Shannara. I look forward to hearing all about it tomorrow."

"Be careful, Grandma," I said before disconnecting our link.

All Souls was not far from Grandma's estate, so the next morning, I walked to the school, enjoying the pleasant weather and the scenery along the way. Yet my mood was clouded by thoughts of the conflict on Balhi. If not resolved, how would it affect life on Betazed? Would we soon go to war?

Arriving at the school, I entered the building. The dimly-lit entrance was a sharp contrast to the bright sunshine. To my left, candles decorated a large ornate room, while in the other direction, the light from only a few candles cast shadows onto a small, scarcely-furnished room. Which way should I go? I turned to the right.

Someone called out to me telepathically: *Shannara Rozhenko*. I could not see her.

"Who are you?" I called 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 using telepathy.*

I have the ability to turn you into a Janaran grazit, also, I thought. Hoping she hadn't sensed my sarcastic remark, I blanked my mind for a moment. *I'll find you, if you insist on playing this game, but I don't see what it'll accomplish.* Although I'd chosen to come to Betazed instead of the Continuum, apparently they played similar games here.

*Listen not with your ears, Shannara. Open your mind. There are others nearby. Their thoughts and feelings can become one with yours.* Now she sounded like a Vulcan.

Focusing, I grabbed their thoughts with my mind until they were almost tangible objects. One by one, I walked up to a closet here, a room there, and even a hatch in the ceiling, discovering a student or two with each opened door. Congratulating me, in turn, they followed me to the next discovery until there was no one left to find.

We gathered inside a huge library, twelve students besides myself and three teachers, and sat at two large tables pulled together as though we were about to begin a delegation. "Is this how you conduct your lessons?" I asked.

*Speak only with your mind* one teacher instructed. *Let everyone introduce themselves, so you may begin to understand what we're trying to accomplish here.*

For years, Mother had implored the imprudence of probing the minds of others and now on my first day at All Souls, I was expected to use telepathy as the only means of communication.

I listened, or rather tuned in, to the minds of the other students as they introduced themselves and shared why they had joined All Souls and what they expected to gain from the experience. This exchange reminded me of Parkin and the telepathic enhancement she had offered me. Could I ever become comfortable around those who only communicated through telepathy?

*I am Renee Casanau,* a girl across from me projected. *I'm fifteen 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. She had hopes that she could change his mind. She couldn't. Neither of us could.*

As they continued, I realized two things: They were all older than me yet none of them had been actively telepathic for more than a year. Did they realize that I'd been empathic since the day I was born and had used telepathy for several years? When they learned of this, how would they react toward me?

*Shannara, now that we've opened ourselves up to you,* Tobiuse, the younger female teacher began, *would you be kind enough to tell us what brought you here?*

"I-" I said aloud. Immediately realizing my faux pas, I averted my eyes to my hands. For someone who had had this telepathic ability for as long as all the others combined, I didn't behave much like a veteran. Should I tell them that I would outlive them (and their grandchildren) as well? Certainly, Grandma had told them nothing of my adventures inside the Continuum. Soon, I would 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. My Grandma asked me to come here. I was born on the Enterprise, the Federation flagship, and lived aboard that ship all my life until recently when I came to live with Grandma. I'm twelve and-.*

*Your father is a Klingon* Jonnaih interrupted. Did he view this as a weakness? Were they all afraid of Klingons?

*Yes, and I am not ashamed of him!* I refrained from bearing my teeth.

*Klingon's have no telepathic abilities and your mother is only half Betaziod. So how are you able to read minds so easily?*

*I'm sure you've all heard of the Akodians.* I paused, looking for recognition on their faces. A couple of them nodded. *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 exclaimed at me.

*I was empathic as a baby. My telepathy developed soon after I began school. My mother believes I could sense feelings from the day I was born, probably even in the womb.*

No one was sure how to respond to this. They were intimidated by me and probably would not become my friend. I wished I could take back my boasting. If I had told them nothing about the true me... .if I could make up a past for myself, maybe they would treat me as they thought the granddaughter of the holder of the Sacred Chalice of Riix should be treated.

*You think you're better than us!* Jonnaih exclaimed. *You're not.*

Several others hurdled thoughts at me. Although I couldn't sift through all of them, one clear message rang through: They believed Klingons were barbaric and incapable of functioning with dignity. No Klingon, even one partially Betazoid, should have telepathic abilities. I covered my ears, but a physical shield did not protect me against the mental onslaught. I screamed, using my voice.

*That's enough!* Robiayre, the male teacher demanded, standing to enforce his authority. *We at All Souls do not judge others because of their race or their culture. We are a people who embrace diversity. Now, if everyone is ready to settle down, we will begin today's lesson.*

I participated with the lesson, though I'd performed more difficult activities with Data. If Q was watching, he was probably laughing at this charade. With a snap of my fingers, I could have demonstrated my superior powers and none of them would have ever again mocked mixed Klingon breeds.

*What is wrong, Shannara?* Tobiuse asked. *You're participating in the discussion, but I sense there is something bothering you.*

I nodded. Uncomfortable with the group's attention on me, I hesitated. I couldn't tell them that I was a Q. They would ban me from their group despite Robiayre's open diversity policy and that would disappoint Grandma. So, I talked about Grandma instead. *I'm worried about my grandma, Lwaxana Troi.* Maybe they would feel some respect for me, knowing that Grandma was an important ambassador. *She's away at the colony on Balhi in the Marzet Sector, trying to resolve the conflict.*

*What conflict?* Jonnaih thought at me. The rest of the group shared his look of puzzlement.

*Don't any of you read or watch the news? Seven Betazed citizens were killed three days ago in a riot! My Grandma's attempting to settle the dispute with the Iliatti before anyone else is hurt. She's placing her life in danger!*

*Calm down,* Robyaire told me in a soothing tone. *We understand your frustration and worry, but taking it out on the other students will not help anyone. Perhaps it would be best if I dismissed you for now and allow you to rejoin the group during tomorrow's session.*

I glanced from one student to the next, hoping to see a glimmer of sympathy from them. None of them truly perceived my predicament despite their telepathic abilities. They had no connection to the conflict at Balhi. To them, it existed in another world.

"I suppose you're right," I said aloud, using my voice as a way to distance myself from the group. I stood up, pushed my chair back and its resounding scrape against the floor filled the room. "I'm sorry for disrupting the peaceful nature of your class." I could not help the edge of sarcasm creeping into my voice.

As I walked back home, I treaded with failure and considered never returning to All Souls. Grandma wanted me to socialize and to make friends, but I doubted I would ever fit in with the students at All Souls.

Replaying their reaction to the conflict at Balhi, I wondered how many other Betazoid citizens were unaware of the potential danger to their peaceful existence. Betazed had had so few disasters in its history that most of its people were unprepared for war. Potentially, that could result in more casualties than from any past disaster on Betazed, natural or otherwise.

I had to be certain that this worst-case scenario would not play itself out. By the time I stepped through the front door of Grandma's house and up the stairs, I'd made an important decision. Reaching into my closet, I pulled out my away bag and packed enough clothes and other paraphernalia to last me for a couple of days. I could help Grandma solve this problem without any more casualties. Then maybe everyone would believe that the powers of the Q could be used for a righteous cause.

I draped the away bag over my shoulder and using a Q-flash, transported instantly to the third moon of Balhi in a field about a half kilometer from the village. I required a brief moment to orient myself. Although I'd used the Q-flash many times to travel within the Continuum, I'd rarely used it to travel within this verse. Somehow, it felt different. As I approached the village, I scanned the area and saw little evidence that a battle had taken place. The Iliatti obviously had used no space weapons to overtake the colony and most likely had met with little resistance from the colonists. Why had the colonists surrendered to the siege so easily?

"They didn't," I muttered to myself. Otherwise, there wouldn't be at least seven dead Betazed citizens at the hands of the Iliatti. So where was the devastation left behind by the riot?

"Don't stay out in the open!" I heard a girl whisper hoarsely. "They'll see you and you won't like what they do to little girls."

I spotted the child hiding behind a small storage building. She was a full Betazoid, no more than five or six and she was frightened by what she'd seen in the past forty-eight hours. She'd spent her short life believing the world was a peaceful place and now she was facing a harsh reality. Like the majority of young Betazoids, her telepathy would not begin to develop for several years, but I sensed an innate empathy within her. She cared for my well-being even though I was a stranger to her.

I approached her and crouched down to her eye level. "What is your name, sweetheart?"

"Bekha."

"Bekha, have the Iliatti taken control of the colony?" I noticed a small boy hunched beside her, perhaps her little brother. Suddenly, I felt a pang of loneliness for my own little brother. I wondered if Eric thought of me and wished I were back with him on the Enterprise.

She nodded. "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 reached 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 made to stand up, but her grip on my hand tightened.

"You're not going out there!"

"I have to," I replied calmly. "My Grandma's also out there and she needs my help. She's the ambassador of Betazed and she arrived three days ago to help negotiate peace."

"Who will protect Latti and me?"

Pulling my hand free from her grip, I stood. "I will." I clicked my fingers and a basket of food and drinks appeared. The children gasped. "Don't be afraid. I've provided you with enough food to get you through a couple of meals. I'm placing a protective shield around you that no one will be able to get past." I waved my hand to use the power of the Q and instantly a Q-net surrounded them. The gray particles of the net reflected on their faces. They appeared calmer and would be all right until I returned.

I barely turned away from them when a bay door about two hundred meters away opened and a crowd of Betazoids escorted by three armed Iliatti emerged.. The captors were moving the crowd away from me, across the street, shoving reluctant ones with the butts of their phaser rifles, and had not noticed me. Ducking behind a parked shuttlecraft, I hoped I hadn't been seen. Behind the safety of the vehicle, I continued to watch as the colonists were led toward a huge stone building. The shackles on their hands and feet appalled me. The Iliatti easily stood a meter above the tallest Betazoid and had neck ridges that shaped into their shoulders, similar to Cardassians. They had sunken cheeks and reptilian eyes. Their noses were long and thin.

Despite the lack of structural damage to the colony, the situation now appeared worse than Grandma had let on. What if she had also been taken prisoner? I waited for them to enter the building before proceeding in their direction. I channeled my telepathy to my fullest ability, using it to search out Grandma's location. Several of the colonists cried out to me telepathically and although I sympathized with them, I did my best to filter out their pleas.

*Little One!* Grandma called out to me in alarm. *Go back home. This is not the place for you.*

*Nonsense, Grandma* I sent 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 passed in which I sensed 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.*

I Remembered the time I had gone to rescue Father from an imagined fate. Q had 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 transported myself inside the warehouse. No one noticed my arrival. I was hovering between this verse and the threads. Even Grandma did not look in my direction or acknowledge my presence.

About half of the prisoners were children. I wished I knew the face of Amanda Fossi so I could tell little Bekha that her mother was all right. I imagined what Bekha might look like when she was older and scanned the prisoners for similar features. My hope grew dimmer as I counted fourteen guards, all with powerful phaser rifles. No one was all right here. I moved in toward a couple Iliatti soldiers, who were deep in a heated debate. Fortunately, I had 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 said bearing his crooked and sharp teeth.

I wondered who he meant by "they" and listened intently for clues.

The other nodded. "If council can't see that these creatures are like parlor ants - ever present and annoying - then they will after today. How convenient for us that despite their repulsive form of communication, they can't understand us without their communicator devices.

How convenient, indeed, I mused. If they only knew I was standing only three meters away, they wouldn't have been talking so freely.

"The necks of these creatures are so puny, I could snap them with my bare hands," the other continued. The council told us we could learn from these telepaths, that they would enrich our lives. They've only sickened mine." His companion grunted in agreement.

They were acting against their government. If I freed Grandma, maybe she could negotiate with their ambassador or president to resolve this conflict. With the power of the Q, I could have transported her out of this warehouse instantly, but that would have jeopardized the lives of the colonists–unless I transported all of them off this moon. Bekha and Latti were safe as long as I didn't remove the Q-net. Flashing the colonists from Marzet without first resolving this matter would only place Betazoids everywhere in more danger from attack.

Moving away from the captors, I approached Grandma and carefully channeled my thoughts toward her. It was imperative that no one else become aware of my presence. *Grandma, I'm here, right next to you,* I sent. *Don't let on as though anything is different. I'll 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 stood up and approached an Iliatti posted guard by the door. After some scrutiny, I realized this alien was female. She appeared as tall and brawny as her male counterpart. She was a formidable enemy for Grandma, but Grandma approached her with confidence. I followed close behind ready to aid her with my superior powers.

"Excuse me," Grandma said. The Iliatti female swung around, slamming her rifle into Grandma's shoulder. Grandma let out an "Oof!" as she nearly stumbled to the floor. Quickly, I clicked my fingers and placed a shield around Grandma. The alien recoiled, backing into the wall. The other captors rushed to the female's side. What was Grandma accomplishing by this scene? I wanted to draw attention away from her, not toward her.

"She is different from the rest of them, this proclaimed ambassador," one said. "She is even more stupid." The group laughed before collectively pointing their weapons at Grandma.

*What are they saying, Little One?* she asked.

*They think you are stupid. I've placed a protective shield around you, but the other prisoners are still vulnerable. Please, sit back down and let me handle this.* I felt odd giving orders to an ambassador, but she was my Grandma and I feared for her safety.

Instead of complying, she moved closer to the nearest male Iliatti and despite the sudden outbreak of phaser fire trying to penetrate her shielding, she rubbed against him and said, "Has a woman ever told you how sexy you are?"

I opened my mouth wide, nearly losing control of my thoughts. I couldn't speak aloud! *Grandma, what are you trying to do?* I scanned the warehouse quickly, looking for any sign that anyone other than Grandma had picked up on my projected words. Most of them were huddled in fright, children hovering under the arms of their parents. All shared a look of shock and disbelief that their ambassador was still standing, uninjured.

Grandma, despite all this, didn't falter in her charade. "Your manliness really turns me on," Grandma continued as she ran her hand down his arm.

Grunting in disgust, he somehow pushed her away. Was it possible that Grandma was somehow fluctuating the frequency of the shielding? If so, why was she purposely making herself vulnerable to these monsters?

"Place her in the isolation cell," the male she had propositioned growled. "Give her only sponge cakes and water. See how she enjoys living like a grubber."

A female and a male Iliatti soldiers each grabbed Grandma on opposite sides. As they forced her to walk out of the building. I realized the intent behind Grandma's actions. Once she was isolated, I could easily Q-flash her out.

I followed them outside and to a cellar with three cells a few hundred meters down the road. The Iliatti male pushed Grandma into the one closest to the door and then activated a forcefield.

"Now let's see you flirt with us, you repulsive creature!" he said.

Although Grandma could not understand his words, she grinned evilly at him, showing that she was not through playing games. The two who had brought Grandma left, but a third alien had already been standing guard in the cellar. Covering the length of the cellar, I discovered a young Betazoid male in the third cell. I peered at him nearly touching the forcefield. He looked tired and bruised and I sensed he had given up hope. I wondered why the Iliatti had shown enough mercy not to kill him. As I continued to stare into his glassy eyes, I realized he wanted to die. I turned away from him, knowing I would have to focus on rescuing Grandma if I was to save him and all the other colonists.

How could I Q-flash Grandma out of here without the Iliatti soldier immediately alerting his comrades? I needed to buy a few moments if I hoped to resolve this conflict without any further bloodshed. The Iliatti soldier was pacing the length of the room, eyeing each of his prisoners as he passed them. His phaser rifle remained poised as if he expected 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–or send him to oblivion. I contemplated a way to render him unconscious instead. Studying his phaser rifle, I slowly used the power of the Q to shift the setting from kill to stun. These Iliatti were not worthy of my kindness. Focusing on the internal mechanisms of the phaser, I rigged it to backfire on him. I then glimmered into visibility. Startled, he immediately reacted as I expected, firing the weapon at me. He recoiled from the blast, landing unconscious hard on the stone floor.

I turned toward the male prisoner. "Don't tell anyone you saw me here. I will get your people out of this mess." With a click of my fingers, I transported Grandma and myself back to her house on Betazed.

Once I was certain Grandma was safe and over the disorientation of the Q-flash, I concentrated on a little girl and a little boy for whom I had an unfulfilled promise to keep. Bekha and Latti appeared beside my bed.

"What are you doing, Shannara!" Grandma exclaimed. "You can't bring all the colonists here."

"I'm not. Just these two." I approached the children and wrapped my arms around them. "I'm sorry, but I haven't found your mother yet. You can stay here until I do." Both children eagerly nodded, for even though I'd placed an impenetrable shield around them, it could never release them from the grips of fear. I only wished I could free all of the colonists. Doing so, however, would have risked going to war with the Iliatti. And even as a Q, I could not have watched over all of them all of the time.

Lifting Latti onto the bed, I said, "Both of you sit quietly here for a while. The ambassador and I need to discuss how to handle the situation." The boy began to cry. A wave of my hand and the production of two lollipops helped sooth both of them.

I turned toward our ambassador. "Grandma, I think a faction is responsible for this attack, not the Iliatti government. Have you spoken with their ambassador or any other official from their homeworld?"

"I haven't had the chance," she responded. "Everything happened so quickly. One minute I was negotiating with them, thinking we could work out a reasonable solution and the next I was being forced into the warehouse with the colonists. My interaction 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 walked over to the console on my desk and sent a transmission to the Iliatti homeworld. "If they have acted out of dissidence as you say, then perhaps the Iliatti council will persuade them to lay down their arms."

A red light began flashing on the console, signaling an incoming message. An Iliatti male in an ornately decorated uniform appeared on the tiny screen. "Ambassador Troi," he said. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

He didn't know about the revolt!