Chapter Twenty-three

"Having second thoughts, Salen?"

"I am simply nervous."

"Don't worry, you're safe here."

"I don't even know where 'here' is." Salen pointed out.

"Yeah, sorry about that, regulations."

Salen looked over at Beckett with a raised eyebrow. The older man didn't seem to notice the disapproving look he was getting. Salen sighed quietly to himself and continued to follow Beckett through the steel lined corridors. They had beamed into the building from Beckett's house originally so Salen was unsure how far from the Academy they were.

There was far more life and activity here than Salen had expected to see. There were uniformed men and women roaming the criss crossing hallways, each with a job of their own to do. Everyone they passed by gave Beckett a respectful nod. Their reactions to Salen were a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Feeling out of place Salen automatically moved a little closer to Beckett.

"Don't mind them, Salen," Beckett chuckled "they look at anyone new that way. We're a tight knit crew, strangers are always held at a distance until they prove themselves."

"I have no need to prove myself to anyone here."

"No you don't."

Beckett stepped up to a heavily fortified door and held his hand against the scanner set into the wall. The door seemed reluctant about giving way, however it slowly opened and allowed the men to pass. A man with midnight black hair and equally dark eyes a few years older than Salen approached them. He looked Salen over and held his hand out for Salen to shake.

"You must be the Vulcan kid I've heard so much about." He greeted. "Name's Razor, well at least that's what everyone calls me."

"Salen." Salen replied without shaking the man's hand.

"So you're the one they are going to start calling when Toby can't get his birds to sing?" Razor chuckled as he put his hand down.

"I do not understand."

"Razor," Beckett interrupted "why don't you go make yourself useful somewhere?"

"Yes, Sir." Razor nodded and looked Salen over again. "Good luck, Vulcan."

"Salen." Salen corrected coldly.

Razor narrowed his eyes slightly before walking away. Salen watched him leave with a slight look of distain etched between his white brow. Beckett noticed the silent exchange between the two and shook his head sadly.

"Don't worry about, Razor, he's always hard on the new comers. It's an alpha dog thing."

"I am not a new comer," Salen said quietly "I am here for single purpose."

"Very true. He's in here."

Beckett lead Salen to another locked door and persuaded it to open for him. Thomlin was waiting for them. Moving with the confidence of a man in command Thomlin walked up to them. Unlike the way the others had studied Salen's ears first Thomlin brought his eye directly to Salen's eyes.

"Cadet Pike," Thomlin greeted in a business like manner "I feel I must remind you that you are under no obligation to Starfleet to perform this mind meld for us. I am a Commanding Officer, however, in this situation I have absolutely no authority to make this an order. Are you here to offer your services of your own free will?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. Now is the time to turn back if you wish to."

"No, Sir."

"Very well. Come with me."

Feeling increasingly nervous Salen glanced at Beckett for guidance. Beckett's entire demeanor had become suddenly very serious. He put his hand on Salen's shoulder and encouraged him to follow Thomlin. Salen followed them to an entranceway that was guarded by two armed men. A forcefield was dropped and the trio stepped through.

Salen was surprised to find himself in an infirmary. The biobeds were currently unoccupied and the various machines were humming quietly to themselves. Beckett gently took Salen's upper arm and guided him to follow Thomlin. They took him over to the back corner of the infirmary where there was a smaller room sectioned off with glass walls.

The center of the room held a metal table with a man stretched out onto it. Half naked he had dozens of wires connected to his skin by sharp barbs that dug into his flesh leaving droplets of blood running down his bruised skin. His chest rose and fell slowly in a peaceful rhythm. Another man in a medical uniform stood by keeping an eye on the various monitors.

Beckett had to encourage Salen to step up to the prisoner laid out on the table. He looked more like a corpse waiting for autopsy than a living soul on the sterile metal. Becoming increasingly anxious Salen backed away again until he bumped into Thomlin. Suddenly panting for breath Salen felt trapped and dreaded the thought of even touching this man's skin, let alone his mind.

"I...I am unsure if I can perform a mind meld on an individual who is unconscious."

"He's not unconscious, he's paralyzed." Thomlin informed.

"Paralyzed?"

"An electrical blocking agent keeps him from being able to move, but he is awake. He can hear us." Beckett clarified. "It is for your protection, Salen, he is a violent man. This is the best way to keep a prisoner from harming others, or himself for that matter."

"You believe that he would kill himself to keep his secrets?" Salen asked.

"He already tried once." Beckett shrugged.

"You understand that I may end up killing him or worse?"

"I understand." Beckett leaned over the man on the table and stared him down. "You hear that, Asshole? Unless you start giving us some answers my Vulcan friend here is going to pry his way into that drug addled lump of mush you call a brain. He'll take what we want, and probably what's left of your sanity with it. Now is the time to start asking yourself if you want a Vulcan to see you every secret. He'll see everything, from where Ka'scene is down to every last woman who has seen that pathetic little dick of yours and laughed so hard that they've pissed themselves. What do you have to say? Want to give us something to work with so we can all avoid this unpleasentness?"

Thomlin made a motion to the doctor to release some of the blocking agent. Able to move his head Garris turned to face Beckett and curled his lip into a snarl. When Garris went to spit at Beckett the Colonel calmly reached out and clamped his hand down on Garris' mouth and pinched his nose shut, forcing him to choke and swallow the slime he'd been planing to spray at Beckett. Beckett held his hands down on Garris' face tightly until the prisoner's eyes started to roll back as he became starved for breath.

"I take it that means you're not interested in talking." Beckett sighed as he released his victim.

"Fuck you!" Garris hissed. "No Vulcan would help you, you're lying!"

"This one has a particular distaste for kidnapping fuckers such as yourself." Beckett smiled sweetly.

Salen had take a few steps back and tried to stay out of sight of Garris during the exchange. Beckett now stood to the side so that Garris could get a good look at him. Salen tried to look confident, but he couldn't keep himself from trembling. The prospect of sharing a mind with this animal was not something he was looking forward to. Garris smiled brightly and turned his head to look at the ceiling and chuckled to himself.

"Go ahead you fucking pointy-eared freak, look into my mind...I think you'll find that you'll lose your sanity a hell of a lot faster than I will."

"Doc, shut this arrogant prick up." Beckett ordered.

The doctor tapped on his handheld screen and Garris stiffened as the current stole his ability to control his muscles. Salen's heart pounded painful as Beckett looked to him. Swallowing hard he stepped up to the table side, but found himself unable to lay his hand on Garris.

"Thomlin, Sir," Beckett said respectfully "do you have an image of Amelia that Salen could use to help him find what he's looking for."

Salen knew that Beckett was showing him the little girl to help him find courage, not the girl herself. Thomlin nodded and walked over to the glass wall and tapped a computer program to life. A young girl materialized on the clear surface that caused Salen's heart to stumble in its fast paced rhythm. With her thick curly brown hair and her light blue eyes he felt as though he could be looking at a young Joanna.

"Salen, this is Amelia. She was stolen right out of her bed twenty-seven hours ago. Find her."

"Yes, Sir."

With an inexperienced hand Salen reached out and placed his fingertips on Garris' temple and cheek. Closing his eyes Salen poured all of his concentration into making the intimate connection. At first nothing happened until he slightly shifted his weight, changing where his fingers made contact with Garris' skin.

A visceral pain forced Salen to wail in agony in a voice that did not sound like his own. Terrified Salen tried to pull away only to find his wrists secured tightly above his head. Thrashing against the escalating pain in his stomach Salen's toes brushed the floor. Suspended in the air just about the cold floor his ankles were similarly bound to keep him from kicking. Unable to see through a tight blindfold Salen could only focus on the twisting knife in his gut.

"Intense, isn't it?" A deep voice breathed in Salen's ear. "A device of my own making, I call it a nerve knife. The energy blade slices through the tissue without causing damage, however, your nerve endings don't know that...as far as your mind is concern you're being slowly gutted. Ever wonder what it feels like to be skinned alive? Let me show you...unless you have something you'd like to talk about that would prove more interesting to me."

"F...fuck you!"

Salen gasped sharply as his unseen tormentor turned the imaginary blade on its side and slipped it under his skin of his right wrist. In a slow steady motion he flayed the skin off of Salen's flesh down his stretched out arm, across his chest, along the left side of his ribs, and down his leg, moving in an arc so that it raked down his inner thigh before reaching his ankle. There was no hot wash of blood, the skin did not physical peel away, however by the time the energy based knife was removed Salen's frame shook uncontrollably in sickening pain as he screamed to the point of cracking his raw voice.

"Salen!"

Beckett's desperate voice invaded the darkness and pain. Heavy hands on shoulders pulled him back violently. Feeling like he was falling backwards into an abyss Salen fought to free himself. No longer bound he surge away and fell to the floor. The bright lights of the infirmary blinded him as his eyes struggled to adjust to the change in scenery. Free of Garris' mind Salen pitched forward and threw up on the floor. Beckett knelt by his side and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Salen? Are you okay? What happened?"

"You...you tortured him!" Salen cried angrily.

"Of course we did," Beckett replied without a trace of shame "I told you that you were our last hope for information. You think we would just ask him nicely?"

"You should have warned me!" Salen gasped for breath as he fought to keep from retching again. "As his strongest recent memory I must endure it as well."

"I'm sorry, Salen, I didn't mean for you to get hurt."

"How did he stay silent through that..."

"Did you find her?" Beckett pressed.

"No." Salen sighed. "I...I must try again."

"Are you sure you're strong enough?" Beckett asked concerned. "You're drenched in sweat."

"I am fine." Salen said as he forced himself to his feet.

"Are you sure?"

"I told you I am fine." Salen snarled. "I will find her."

"Beckett," Thomlin said sternly "I don't like this. What is the point of saving the Councilman's daughter if it costs us the Admiral's son? Cadet Pike, I can not allow this continue."

"Please, Sir," Salen said "give me one more chance. I can do this, I was simply unprepared. I can find her."

"Brian, this is our only chance." Beckett begged.

"Fine, however, if he screams like that again I'm terminating this experiment."

Salen nodded and slowly walked back to the table. Despite his resolve Salen had difficultly reaching out and touching Garris again. After a few deep breaths he placed his fingertip against Garris' pale skin. Determined not to go through the man's torture once again Salen concentrated on going directly to the first time Garris laid eyes on Amelia.

A cool night breeze brushed against Salen's cheek. It was dark, but the moon provided enough light to see. Hidden in the trees surrounding a wealthy estate Salen turned to look at his five comrades. Orders were not give among these men, yet they still managed to work as a team towards a common goal. With the plan already laid out they fanned out and moved in on the well guarded house.

With phaser fire being too loud Salen gripped the handle of a sturdy field knife. Sneaking up on the first man was almost too easy. He smiled to himself as he grabbed the man from behind and lanced the blade into his lungs. Unable to cry out the guard struggled weakly until Salen jerked the knife up into his heart. Dropping the dead man Salen looked to the others to make sure that everything was going well and found that they had managed to drop their own men as well.

The tech rat that they had hired did an excellent job of getting them in the front door and disabling the internal alarms. Councilman Ringer was off world at a Federation meeting about the continued aid to the Tallon System. With his wife five years dead the only ones home were the house staff and their young target.

Without need for communication the pack of wolves entered the house and slaughtered the lambs within. Salen raced up the stairs to the third door on the left. Opening it slowly he smiled when he saw the little girl still sleeping peacefully. Stalking across the room he towered over her like the boogie man that she was becoming too old to still believe in. Licking his lips Salen moved in to claim his prize. Ka'scene had placed a large bounty on this particular hunt.

Amelia stirred just as Salen was about to grab her. With her eyes widening in fear she only managed to gasp before there was a heavy hand clamped down over her mouth. Screaming anyway her muffled cry was little more than a kitten's mewling as she kicked and beat against his chest. Forcing her head back Salen sunk a hypospray into her neck. Seconds later she relaxed and Salen was able to lift her up as though she was just a rag doll. Raising her up to his chest he took a deep breath of her scent.

"Garris?" A voice called.

"What?"

"We got her?"

"Oh we got her." Salen chuckled.

Salen jumped ahead in time to a dark hallway. Scratching at his inner thigh he came to a door with a simplistic slide lock on the outside. Casually knocking the bolt on the lock to the side he pushed the door open with a creak. The room beyond was dark until he stepped inside causing the lights to snap on.

The only furniture in the room was a small bed in the far corner with an equally small Amelia curled up on it sleeping in the same pink pajamas that she'd been in when she'd been stolen. Smiling to himself Salen walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. Amelia woke with a squeak of fright and stared at Salen in horror. Salen reached out to touch her leg causing her to cower into the corner to get away from him.

"Please, Mister...I...I want to go home."

"Soon, little one, but we need something from you first."

"Don't hurt me, please." Amelia whimpered. "Where's my father?"

"Daddy's a long way from here."

Amelia started to cry as Salen carded his hand into her hair. He used the purchase on her hair to drag her out of bed as he got to his feet. Amelia grabbed his wrist and screamed as he hauled her out into the hallway. Irritated by her screeching Salen released her and backhanded her across the face. Knocked to the ground Amelia whimpered quietly to herself.

"Much better."

Salen reached down and snatched her wrist and continued to force her down the hall. Going upstairs they were suddenly in a lavishly decorated home. Salen took his captive into a large bookshelf lined office. Behind a large mahogany desk sat a well dressed man looking down at a ledger.

Amelia yelped when Ka'scene looked up from his reading revealing that part of his face was scared with his left eye a blind milky blue. Salen pushed Amelia closer to Ka'scene. There were two other men leaning casually against the bookcases who snickered at the girl. One of the blew her a kiss causing her to cringe away from him as tears streaked down her face.

"Hello, Miss Ringer." Ka'scene greeted.

"I want to go home...please." Amelia begged once more.

"In time." Ka'scene turned to the other two. "Do you have the recorder?"

"Right here, Sir."

"Good. Garris, keep a hold of Precious here for a moment."

"Yes, Sir." Salen nodded.

Salen wrapped his arm around Amelia's waist and pressed her back against his stomach. He ran his free hand through her hair as Ka'scene started recording his demands into the digital tablet that one of the other men was holding up. Amelia shivered with fear as Ka'scene starting barking threats. Eventually Ka'scene held his hand out and Salen shoved Amelia into his waiting embrace.

"I know what you're thinking Councilman," Ka'scene growled "you're thinking that we wouldn't dare hurt, let alone kill such a sweet little angel. However, don't fool yourself. I will kill her, and it will be public and...messy. Let me show you my resolve."

Ka'scene took a hold of Amelia's wrist and started to bend it backwards. Trying to keep from crying out Amelia whimpered and tried to pull away from Ka'scene. Ka'scene kept increasing the pressure until Amelia was on her knees. Tears streamed down Amelia's face as she started to beg Ka'scene to stop. With a slight smile Ka'scene snapped the delicate bones in Amelia's wrist.

"No!" Salen screamed.

Tearing himself away from Garris Salen stumbled back and fell to the floor. Gasping for breath Salen screamed again as Garris' memories mixed with his own and took over his senses. Unable to believe that he just stood back and watched Ka'scene break Amelia's wrist Salen broke down into tears. The longer he cried the more out of control his emotions became. Overwhelmed he wailed repetitivly in misery.

"Salen, Salen, take it easy." Beckett said softly. "Breath."

"Stay away from me! He hurt her, and I did nothing to stop him!"

"Salen it wasn't you, snap out of it. You're the one trying to help us save her."

Wrapping his arms over his stomach Salen began dry heaving violently. Beckett snaked his hand into Salen's hair and forced him to look at him. Shaking violently Salen looked right through Beckett at first, struggling to bring the man in front of him into focus. The genuine concern in Beckett's eyes helped calm Salen as he slowly separated himself from Garris.

"Salen...you're bleeding."

Salen reached up and touched his fingertips under his nose. Looking at his hand he found it stained in bright green blood. Beckett took Salen's upper arm hand helped him to his feet and started leading him away. Salen glanced over at Garris who also had a heavy nose bleed.

"Wa...wait...where are you taking me?" Salen asked nervously.

"Over to one of the biobeds. Just relax."

Nodding vacently Salen allowed Beckett to help him onto one of the biobeds. The machine instantly sounded various alarms as it reacted to his Vulcan physiology. The doctor had followed them and quickly reset it. Feeling dizzy Salen closed his eyes and took a few slow breaths.

"Damn it, Jack," Thomlin growled "if he dies..."

"Well, Doc?" Beckett asked. "He okay?"

"I'm not a Vulcan expert, but..."

"I am fine." Salen said quietly. "I am just tired. Please, may I have a moment alone with Colonel Beckett?"

"Sir?" Beckett asked Thomlin.

"Fine. But if he starts to go down hill..."

"I'll call you right away, Sir."

Thomlin glared at them both before sighing in defeat and beckoning the doctor to follow him out of the infirmary. Beckett handed Salen a small surgical towel. Thanking him quietly Salen took the towel and cleaned the blood off his face.

"Salen?"

"I am fine." Salen repeated.

"That's good."

"I also know where Amelia is."

"Where is she?"

"Before I tell you, you must promise me one thing."

"Anything." Beckett said instantly.

"I am going with you to save her."

"No."

"Yes."

"Salen..."

"You wanted me to be a Black Diamond Dog, and I am telling you that I want in on this mission."

"Salen, I can't just throw you out into the field. You don't have any training."

"I am two months away from graduating from the Academy as an Officer. I have enough training."

"This mission will be different." Beckett insisted. "I can't take you out there not knowing if I can trust you to kill if you have to."

"I can kill these men." Salen growled darkly.

"Prove it."

Narrowing his eyes Salen jumped down off the biobed and stalked into the glass room where Garris still laid paralyzed. Salen felt an odd tingling behind his ear and briefly brushed at the jewel like device. Dismissing the sensation he looked down on Garris and pressed his palm under the man's lower jaw. Salen had so much anger flowing through his veins from all he'd seen that it took little effort for him to make the decision to break Garris' neck and even less effort to actually accomplish the deed.

The sickening sound was followed by an unusually pleasant sensation that started at the back of Salen's ear and ran down his spine. He stared down at the dead man, unable to believe that he had been the one to end his life. Suddenly frightened by what he had just done Salen slowly backed away. He bumped into Beckett who put his hand on Salen's shoulder.

"I...I killed him..."

"I'm proud of you, Salen. I would be honored to have you on the team. Where is she?"

"The last place you would ever look...she is right here on Earth."