Chapter 66 - Meeting of Minds


Kirk and Spock watched the communications screen over Uhura's shoulder. "You're sure we'll be able to pick it up now?" Kirk asked.

"Yes, Captain. It was programmed for tight, millisecond signal in order to prevent detection. However, as we can now anticipate the precise time of relay and signal signature, we will be able to easily capture it and identify its intended target." Spock looked to the screen. "Relay in 3, 2, 1."

A short blip of what could easily have been mistaken for subspace static was caught on the monitor. "Got it." Uhura reported. "The signal was relayed to the station." Her fingers glided over the comm board and a schematic of DS23 filled the screen, a red dot glowing in an interior compartment. The display zoomed in on the dot. "It was targeted to a terminal in guest quarters - but no one is listed as occupying that unit. In fact, records show that it hasn't been used in over a year."

Kirk grinned at Spock. "What do you want to bet it's not as empty as the records show?"

Slanted eyebrows tilted upward. "Taking such a bet would, I believe, be what is referred to as a 'fool's wager'."

"You know, we've been assuming the trigger man for that exploding center piece was the dead guy - Hodges - and that he was killed by one of the thugs from the casino." Kirk frowned. "It looks like we might have missed someone. Any idea who, Spock?"

"At present, there is insufficient data to postulate a hypothesis."

"Speculate."

"Speculate?" One eyebrow nearly touched the fringe of his bangs at the notion.

"Yes. You're the science officer. Take a swag at it."

"A 'swag', Captain?"

Kirk grinned. "Scientific Wild-Assed Guess - give it a shot."

"Very well." Spock leaned against the edge of the comm board and steepled his fingers, pursing his lips as he thought. "Cmdr. Sorenson believes that whoever Maldi employed to hack into the station's computer system was not on the ship as such a person would otherwise have been used to assist in his interrogation. The assumption has been that that individual either was eliminated as Mr. Hodges had been or was based among the smugglers to facilitate their activities. It is possible, however, that he or she in fact operated out of the station or at least used it as one base of operations."

"The signal doesn't seem to have been relayed any further than that terminal." Uhura reported. "That would support the idea that whoever is supposed to receive it is on the base. But I'll keep and eye on it, just in case they're using a second timer to throw us off."

"An excellent idea, Lieutenant." Spock's words were formal, but Uhura, seeing the pride and affection in his eyes, smiled up at him.

Kirk sighed inwardly. Was there anything more annoying than two people in love, especially when the person you were interested in wasn't reciprocating? "Okay, you two, think you can hold off on the mutual admiration until we figure this out?"

"I was merely complimenting the Lieutenant for an intelligent suggestion." Spock replied primly.

Uhura just smirked. "How about this for another one: if you want to set a trap for a hacker, maybe you should talk to an expert."

.


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To the extent that she could do so without more extensive work, Selina eased the distressing after-effects of the drugs and smoothed the rough edges in Fafhrd's mind, feeling him for once relax by her touch. If there was still a sort of tension, it was mostly an old and familiar tension, exacerbated however by a side of him that had not wholly reintegrated and was less willing to pretend they had only ever been friends. Many people assumed that he kept her from his mind to hide his feelings. It seemed now that might be more true than she had previously imagined, but that they held a not-completely-platonic place in each others' hearts had been something of an open secret between them for years. He had been a good lover, but a better friend, and so they had agreed that as long as she was going to stay of his head, he would likewise stay out of her bed (although with her it was nearly impossible to break that part without also violating the other). Still, when she eased back from probing his mind, she held to a light rapport. It was something she missed sharing with him, and she would not relinquish it until he insisted. Right now, he seemed so relieved that he was almost happy to allow it.

So, not angry then?

No, only disappointed. Had you told me, I could have helped you first and we could have come up with a better solution.

LT was going to send me to Albans anyway. Starfleet regulations: 'Personnel abducted and subjected to torture and/or interrogation will submit to a period of observation and counseling.' He wasn't going to let me out of doing penance for this. But as long as I check myself back in after the official observation, nothing will go on my record.

I assume you will be seeing someone more competent than 'E. Roth'?

There was a small chuckle. We all do that Grey. It's sort of a sanctioned hunt. We have or can get access to nearly any info or command function in Starfleet. The last thing LT wants is for anyone who can get into the system to know how push our buttons. That's part of the reason for the deal. As far as any record from Albans will ever show, I'll have come out of this completely unscathed and the alias I check back in under will die in a transporter accident or something about a month after they let me go. He was trying to be lighthearted about it, but the sense of resignation still came through.

Surely he knows that you will in actuality go crazy if you are stuck there for long.

He's not entirely wrong to do it, Grey. Now that you've had a look around, you know Erik isn't taking retirement well. My naiskos isn't exactly united.

We will have time to work on that before you get back. He just needs a new name. He'll reintegrate completely once we give him a way back.

It might be better not to yet. If he really is still a bit loose, no one will ever question my explanation. And it's not as bad as it seems - you always said I felt different when I was playing Erik. He was getting a little independent even before all this.

Fafhrd, they will insist on having you work with a telepath.

Not like I haven't dealt with that before. His mental tone was joking, but there was a glimpse of memory, quickly covered, as though a curtain had been drawn. She could easily have pushed it aside, but she was astonished that he could do it all.

When did you learn to do that?

Do what? He was trying so hard to project nothing-to-see-here that she could almost hear the sound of innocent little birds tweeting in his brain.

Do NOT play innocent unless you would like to provoke that nuclear event you feared. When did you learn that?

...The last time I was at Albans.

The last time?

After the Musashi. LT insisted. Same deal. It's really not such a bad place. They've got a library and a pool and there's a computer at the nurse's station, so it's not like I couldn't check out for awhile whenever I wanted to. There was the mental impression of a smirk. The counselor made a deal with me. He taught me how to do that and promised to avoid anything I covered, as long as I promised to stop singing.

And you never told me?

His arms tightened around her. You still had enough to deal with at the time. Besides, Dr. Dorian was fine once we established that he had sensitive ears. I'm sure I can request him again and hold him to the same deal.

She actively suppressed irritation. She would have tried that years ago if anyone had ever told her that a non-telepath could learn it. But he had learned it now. hmmm. Since we are going to renegotiate our agreement...

She felt an eyebrow move under her finger tips. When exactly did we agree on renegotiating the agreement?

When it prevented me from aiding you while you were drugged, of course.

'Of course'? I think, by definition, I wasn't capable of agreeing to anything then.

Very well. How about when I decided not to kill you for using it to hide how unwell you were? There was mental impression of hands on hips and a raised eyebrow.

A helpless chuckle sounded from his mind. Right. I guess I was so busy resisting the forced feeding, I didn't notice that I'd agreed to that.

Undoubtedly. Now, if you will allow me to 'drop in', I will also promise to avoid anything you decide to cover.

He sighed. The problem is that I'm not that good at it and I know you: you're curious as a cat. If you catch a glimpse of something, can you really resist trying to see what it was?

I have resisted chasing down suspicions of what is brewing in your mind for years now, have I not?

Granted ...mostly... Can I ask you to leave if I sometimes don't want company in here? I mean without you getting ticked off about it?

If I touch your mind and you say 'go away', I will leave; provided I may ignore that in cases in which leaving might have dangerous consequences.

Okay. There was an impression of a grin. Provided you yourself aren't the dangerous consequence.

You really do belong in JAG...

Comes of hanging out with diplomats, eh?

She tugged his beard with her free hand. There was a wisp of thought and she knew that he knew she'd seen it. She decided to consider it an impromptu test and let it go, but if she opened her eyes, she was sure he'd be blushing.

He cleared his throat slightly. We should head back, before one of your harem decides to send out a search party.

I do not have a harem, Fafhrd.

Not yet, but I'm pretty sure they'd all be willing - and you have thought about all of them. She could feel the teasing grin in the shift of his cheek as clearly as hearing the tone in his mind.

Oh no - he was not getting away with that anymore. She allowed herself a wicked laugh. You have no idea what day it is, do you?

For a moment his mind stalled so completely that she almost worried, but then rich laughter filled her head. Seriously? I actually asked to be penciled in for Sunday on Sunday?

She laughed too and tickled the spot on his neck, making him shift.

You do not play fair Grey.

You started it...


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AN: Spock having to be practically ordered to lower himself to speculating appears in several TOS episodes. Swag is one of those bits of slang I can't imagine ever going away.

Selina, trained among Vulcans, who are all at least touch telepaths, would never have had teachers who concerned themselves with what could be taught to non-telepaths.

A naiskos was a ceramic statue made by the Kurlan civilization. Naiskoi reflected Kurlan philosophy that an individual was actually a community of individuals, each with their own voice, their own desires and their own view of the world [TNG: The Chase].

please R&R