David Brown David Brown 2 87 2001-11-11T04:48:00Z 2001-11-11T04:48:00Z 1 778 4440 37 8 5452 9.2720

            After a brief exchange of greetings, Archer, T'Pol, Trip, and even Hoshi sat with Dhal at the customary dinner table to discuss the situation.  Archer was the first to gain the courage to speak.

            "So, Dhal…what brings you out here?"

            A sound came out that could pass for a sigh.  "It's a rather embarrassing story, Captain Archer.  I…I banished myself…this is all very difficult to explain, especially taking into account the 'language barrier' involved."  He paused because he felt an intense desire to question emanate from the communications officer.  No, he whispered mentally.  Wait.

Hoshi, always interested in languages, started to ask Dhal about his, but was reassured from something inside of her that it would be addressed later.  Dhal looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing.

            "All of my species have my sort of mental energies.  One of the first childhood lessons we learn as children is the responsibility required to use and control one's own powers.  I was undisciplined in my youth, though—partially due to my relatively extraordinary abilities.  My first test of patience was with the Zagh, our arch-enemy, as you would call them.  I failed miserably.  I almost destroyed myself trying to psychically break down one of them."

            T'Pol raised one eyebrow.  "They must have a highly sophisticated mind, then."

            Dhal shook his head.  "Quite the opposite.  Their minds are so primitively structured that our energies are incompatible.  I can think of no analogy right now that can compare to that."

            Trip leaned forward.  "What are those…whatever you saids like?"

            "They are insect-like in nature, amazingly adaptive and capable of multiplying exponentially.  One of our warriors could destroy at least a hundred, maybe more, but how long does it take to fully train one of our warriors?  At least 90 years.  In 90 years, there could be billions of Zagh created.  It seems that our exact opposites are a match, if not more than one, for us."

            Archer shook his head in puzzlement.  "It sounds like your species sure could use your abilities.  Why leave them?"

            "I…I was not content with the controls placed on our powers.  I believed that if we used our abilities to their fullest extent, we would be on even ground with the Zagh.  Our leaders disapproved, and now I can see why."

            Hoshi nodded her head.  "Yeah…they thought that you using your powers to harm would be the same as your enemies using theirs against you."

            Dhal shook his head.  "Exactly.  Maybe I would agree with them.  That time is passed, though.  I left the Home World 4 years ago because I had found a way to exterminate the Zagh on contact with our powers."  Trip looked confused.

            Hoshi suddenly had the desire to sigh in annoyance.  What the…I want to know about this as much as he does, she thought to herself.  I shouldn't be annoyed.

            Dhal shook his head.  "Did we not just discuss the basic morals of my people?  Beside the point, we have also come to realize that our struggle with the Zagh creates a necessary balance in our lives."

            Archer moved to speak, but was interrupted by the swish of the door as Reed marched into the room.

            "Did I miss anything, captain?  He didn't happen to mention any weapons of his, did he?  I'd sure love to get my hands on that 'transport inhibitor'—"

            If Dhal could look amused, he did right then.  Archer laughed ruefully, "This is my tactical officer, Lieutenant Malcolm Reed."

            Reed nodded his head.  "Sir…" he paused while trying to guess Dhal's gender.  "I guess that's right, eh?"

            Dhal nodded his head.  "I am of the male gender.  Genders are significantly less important to us as they are to you, though."  Once Reed had sat down, Dhal had felt a change in the atmosphere.  He pulled himself out of their time and stopped to contemplate.

            He reached within himself to find answers.  He saw his Home World, as beautiful as ever, and then in the next instance overrun by Zagh.  He saw himself fighting to the death with one of his closest friends.  He saw a blurred figure forcing him to go back to his own galaxy.

            His thoughts were interrupted as he began to slip back into the Enterprise's time.  Not having the strength to keep from entering, he assumed the same posture he had while talking with the crew.

            Once time had normalized, he turned to the Captain.  "I really need some…rest, as you would call it.  My ship has the necessary facilities for me to regenerate."

            Archer stood up.  "We all need our rest.  I trust we'll see you tomorrow?"

            Dhal nodded.  With an effort, he created the blazing door to his ship.

            The crew watched him disappear and turned to face one another.  Trip was the first to speak up.  "I think I'll be turning in, too."

            One by one they left until only Hoshi and Archer were still in the room.  "Hoshi, I'm surprised that you didn't try to ask him about his language.  Just too…fascinated to learn tonight?"

            Hoshi shook her head.  "I don't really know, sir…" she stopped and tried to remember just why she didn't think about it when her head started hurting.  "I'll see you tomorrow, Captain," she said, leaving for her quarters.

***

            As Dhal shut down his mind for regeneration, he looked long and hard at the new ship he had encountered.  Humans…interesting, but little mental—no, I shouldn't put it that way—psychic capacity…except for 1.  His last memory was a pain in the deep recesses of his mind.