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Graham steps up his pace, trying to keep his voice level as he hails Rangin and Kylah. "OK, you said Palver was calm, cool, collected, even arrogant. If he's so sure of himself, why move now? And it's not like this big rich guy can up and vanish like some anonymous junkie in a Frontier colony...what could we be near uncovering...?"
Graham arrives at the guest house and finds Rangin, Kylah and Rawlings there. Kylah looks angry and Rawlings looks abashed.
Graham stops short and blinks, looking from person to person. "Is everything all right here?" he asks.
Rangin nods coolly to the oncoming ensign. "Palver's definitely not here, I suggest you try contacting him directly as the person in charge of the investigation. See if he responds to a hail."
Pulling out his tricorder, Rangin starts to sweep the area looking for any trace that Palver might be in the vicinity though not expecting to find anything.
"Yes Kylah, you were correct, he is a most definitely a flight risk", Rangin looks back at Graham. "It appears that another of Ens. Kylah's requests of your Security detail has gone, once again unheeded. This time, it may only lose us Fellim Palver. A small price considering that last time, it could have cost Kylah her life."
Palver is not within the scanning range of Rangin's tricorder.
Rawlings clears his throat, a low rumble that might move mountains, and says to Graham, "It's my fault, sir. Mr. Kylah asked about a transporter jammer for Mr. Palver's house and it completely slipped my mind. No excuses, sir."
"I see, Graham replies, frowning. "That's the proper attitude, at least, Mr. Rawlings," he says sternly but evenly.
He turns to Kylah. "I'd like us to discuss this...these..." he adds, with a glance at Rangin although not entirely sure what the Coridanite was talking about, "...situations, privately, Mr. Kylah. But first things first, let's see whether Palver's halfway to the Gamma Quadrant or still within communicator range." Graham asks the Yorktown to scan for Rhandaarite lifesigns, then attempts to contact Palver directly, asking the resort's staff to provide contact information if other methods fail.
Science Officer Roble says ship's sensors do not reveal any Rhaandarite lifesigns on the planet's surface or nearby space, other than a single such lifesign on the Trimalchio.
An officer on the yacht replies to Graham's hail, and Palver eventually comes on the line. "Yes, Mr. Graham? I'm rather busy at the moment."
"Well, we all know how that is," Graham replies to Palver, simulating empathy and raising his eyebrows. "I confess I'm surprised you decided to up and leave so abruptly, what with the murder investigation still underway. On the other hand, with some new information we're very, very close to wrapping this up, if you'd indulge me perhaps a short conversation could help us put this whole matter to bed without any unpleasantness about the sudden and unexpected departure."
He glances around. "I have on good authority your house here is still available." After a second's pause, recalling Vargas' emphasizing that they'd been denied a warrant to gain access to Palver's ship, he adds "...or if you're busy, we could come to you."
"I was not told I had to remain on the planet," Palver says, a little crossly, "and something has come up in my business dealings on Valca IV that I need to attend to." He pauses. "I suppose... yes, all right, I have a little time; we can talk. Come to the ship, please. Should I have you beamed up now?"
Rangin stops and thinks for a moment. Palver said he was not told that he had to remain, but...given he was here for spore treatment, it is very doubtful that anyone undergoing such practice would be allowed to leave until the spores had been neutralised and the resort happy that everything had been completed.
A process that Palver had definitely not undergone despite the circumstances.
Rangin hastily started searching through the resort's details on the requirements of the stay for guests to see if there was a way to insist on Palver's return to undertake such a procedure. The thought that a WR&R rule could force him back was quite amusing.
Rangin sees no such rule in the resort's Guidebook for Guests. Palver is no longer under the spores' influence, he knows, and introductions to spores were suspended indefinitely after Wilson's murder.
Rangin blinks a few times in surprise when he realises there is nothing here to stop someone coming down to the surface, getting spored up and then leaving again. All it would require was a Berthold ray generator and the spores could go far and wide and well out of the control of the Federation.
Who wrote that contract?
Rangin remembers Dr. Lucy Anderson at the Starfleet research station saying the spores soon lose their effectiveness when removed from OC3, for reasons that are still unknown despite extensive testing.
No one leaves without having shed the spores' effect, true, but Palver already had.
Graham makes sure he's not transmitting. "You should come with me," he says to Ens. Kylah. He pauses a moment, thinking about how many people to bring.
"You too, Mr. Rangin," he adds.
"Rawlings, lend me your sidearm," he says, once he has it in hand he secures it in his right boot. "Once Kylah, Rangin, and I are onboard let Yorktown know that we're on the Trimalchio by invitation."
He returns to his communicator. "You're too kind," he says dryly. "Three to beam aboard, then."
Rawlings gives Graham his phaser-1, frowning slightly, and says, "Understood, sir." He steps away from the rest of the group.
In seconds, Graham, Rangin and Kylah disappear into the transporter effect. It feels different from Starfleet transporters - an uncomfortable sensation of being compressed, somehow, and very brief disorientation when beaming is complete. You find yourselves on a four-person transporter pad, in a sleek duranium-silver room trimmed with burnished dark wood.
You are facing two men in crisp white uniforms trimmed with brass buttons, looking almost like 19th century Earth naval officers. One is behind the transporter control console. The other steps forward and says, "Welcome aboard the Trimalchio. Mr. Palver will see you now. Follow me, please." He gestures towards the door.
Rangin raises an eyebrow at Graham's command to join him and Kylah in beaming up to the Trimalchio, but doesn't raise any complaint. It's a chance to finally get on board the ship which has so far been out of reach.
Once on board, he waits for Graham to lead off.
"Lead the way, Mr...?" Graham says amiably, nodding acknowledgment.
"Dellwood," the man says, nodding, before leading the three of you through the door and down a short corridor to another door, which opens at his touch. You step in to find a very comfortable lounge/sitting room, about twice the size of the Yorktown's Bridge. It, like the transporter room and hallway, has the same high-gloss duranium-and-wood design. Eight expensive-looking paintings hang on the bulkheads; several busts, sculptures and small art objects sit on tasteful, spotlit pedestals. There is a full bar, a replicator and an Altairian spinet. It is the fanciest compartment on a starship most of you have ever seen.
Palver is sitting in a modern, comfortable chair, facing a coffee table and five other such chairs. He stands as you come in. He is wearing a dark dressing gown of a severe cut over his shirt and pants. Smiling warmly, he says, "Welcome aboard, everyone. May I offer you a drink?"
Mr. Dellwood bows slightly to the tycoon and leaves; the door whispers shut behind him.
Kylah takes in both Palver and the room, not hugely impressed. While she appreciates art, such opulence is of little consequence to her. "Nothing for myself, thank you," she says quietly, then lifts a hand, gesturing to their surroundings. "I would compliment you on the décor, Mr. Palver, but I understand this yacht is chartered, rather than your own. Still, we appreciate your welcoming us on board."
The latter comment is more for Graham's benefit than Palver's. She is not certain he remembers this ship is not under Palver's command--he only rents it. For this reason she wishes they had gone directly to the ship's crew instead of Palver; the crew might actually be willing to assist, assuming they do not want trouble on their yacht. Bearing this in mind, Kylah glances at Graham and murmurs, "We must remember to pay our respects to the captain himself, sir."
Then she returns her focus to Palver, in particular his mood.
Rangin shakes his head slightly at Palver's question leaving Graham and Kylah to do the talking.
He looks round the room taking in the ostentatious nature of the room and wondering just how much it cost, even though the figures probably wouldn't mean that much too him. After all, at that level that was all they were, just numbers.
When Graham shakes his head, too, the billionaire shrugs slightly. "As you wish. Please, have a seat." He sits back down and presses a switch on the table. One entire bulkhead slides silently down out of the way, revealing absolutely stunning, deck-to-ceiling views of Omicron Ceti III far below. Not a room for anyone with agoraphobia..., Graham thinks.
Graham's eyes widen just slightly in appreciation when Kylah murmurs her comment about the ship's Captain--and her subtle but clear reminder to him about the leased nature of the ship. Despite the fact that he keeps his game face on, in point of fact, you've really got nothing here, Booker, he thinks. "Getting on the ship before Palver decides to take off" was about as far ahead as he's thought--especially given that I haven't actually talked to the guy. It would have been easier if he'd come at us shooting, he thinks. I believe he's guilty but..."
He hopes Kylah and Rangin have ideas. Although I wonder if Rangin would find the entertainment value of watching me twist in the wind like an idiot more rewarding than solving the case...
"Nice ship," Graham says to Palver. "Do you usually lease the same ship or use the same crew?"
"You know," he says, lowering his voice. "We've arrested Admiral Hardin for murder." He pauses, as if that's an indication the case is nearly closed. Then he taps his chin and adds, with apparent consternation, "there are a few things that don't add up..."
How much would ILG stand to gain a lot by getting this franchise away from WR&R?
How well did you know Hardin? Have you spoken with him about renewal?
And Mr. Wilson--remind me, when was the last time you saw Wilson alive?
Do any of you sit, as invited?
"Nice ship," Ens. Graham says to Palver. "Do you usually lease the same ship or use the same crew?"
"Thank you. This is the third time I've chartered the Trimalchio," he says. "It's a good ship and the crew is first-rate. There are several others I've used from time to time, but none as often as this. I've also gone by liner, but I prefer having more control over my schedule."
"You know," Graham says, lowering his voice. "We've arrested Admiral Hardin for murder." He pauses, as if that's an indication the case is nearly closed. Then he taps his chin and adds, with apparent consternation, "there are a few things that don't add up..."
"Indeed?" Palver asks, smiling slightly.
"How much would ILG stand to gain a lot by getting this franchise away from WR&R?"
"Oh, quite a bit."
"How well did you know Hardin? Have you spoken with him about renewal?"
"I didn't know him that well; we had only briefly spoken about renewal of the contract."
"And Mr. Wilson--remind me, when was the last time you saw Wilson alive?"
"Hmmm." He thinks. "When would that have been...?"
Kylah casts a sidelong glance at Graham. Is he working up to the primary questions, or has he forgotten why Palver is now a primary suspect? She has little patience for nuance right now; as far as she is concerned, thanks to the ridiculous lies about his behavior the night of the murder as well as his connection to Hardin, they have every reason to arrest Palver--the JAG allowed them this discretion. If the charges do not stick, so be it. They need him off this ship.
She does not take a seat, but steps closer to Palver, near enough so that she should be able to gauge his emotions as best she can without actually touching him. She cannot think of a way to contrive an actual tactile connection short of tripping and falling on him, but that did not work well with the Hwuen. Then again, he is not surrounded by guards.
Kylah stops about a foot away and stares flatly at him. As she asks the following questions, she allows him time to answer each one.
"Is your communications device working, Mr. Palver?"
"Have you used that device in the past 48 hours to speak with Vice Admiral Hardin or Mattie Hsu?"
"We have determined that in the interim after Vice Admiral Hardin stunned two Starfleet officers and was escaping across the resort grounds, he made several attempts to contact two other individuals via his communicator. We know he spoke with one of these people, but the other did not respond." Kylah's gaze intensifies as she looks up at the Rhaandarite. "Given your claim that you barely knew Hardin, can you think of a reason why, while on the run from the authorities, Hardin tried multiple times to reach out to you?"
While Palver is distracted by Graham and Kylah, Rangin slips in behind Graham's larger form and taps down on his tricorder setting it to scan for a couple of things, namely the presence of any spores or the presence of anything matching the murder weapon. After all one of those knives was still missing, despite what Hardin had confessed to. Also, given that Rangin had been running these scans quite recently, it would only take a matter of moments to start them running silently again.
Kylah asks, "Is your communications device working, Mr. Palver?"
Palver responds, "Which one?"
"Have you used that device in the past 48 hours to speak with Vice Admiral Hardin or Mattie Hsu?"
"No, I don't think so."
"We have determined that in the interim after Vice Admiral Hardin stunned two Starfleet officers and was escaping across the resort grounds, he made several attempts to contact two other individuals via his communicator. We know he spoke with one of these people, but the other did not respond." Kylah's gaze intensifies as she looks up at the Rhaandarite. "Given your claim that you barely knew Hardin, can you think of a reason why, while on the run from the authorities, Hardin tried multiple times to reach out to you?"
"Hmm. No, that's quite puzzling to me."
Rangin's scan detects no spores, and no knife of the type in Fastolfe's collection.
Kylah dryly clarifies to Palver that she is interested in any communications device he possesses.
"You only 'don't think' you have spoken to Hardin or Hsu over one of your comm devices?" she asks when he responds to her question, but then lifts a palm. "Oh, of course. Your malleable memory. My apologies, I forgot that your mind has become as porous as a Risian sponge since the night of the murder. Since we have confirmed that Hardin did indeed try to contact you no less than twice during the time when he was a fugitive, I believe it highly likely he was seeking assistance of some kind. Would you not agree? If so, why do you think he expected assistance from you, of all people?"
She tilts her head slightly. "By the way, how could you be unaware that someone was contacting you? I know you were in the library, and of course common courtesy would have prevented you from keeping any audible notifications active. But they would still have come through, at least silently. Do you remember receiving such notifications? If so, surely you could not have failed to check your messages, all this time. A busy man such as yourself, likely to receive important communiques from your various interests?
"After all, your rationale for this sudden departure from the planet was some extraordinarily urgent business matter cropped up involving your investments on... Valca something, III or IV, I believe." Kylah shrugs. "I have never heard of this planet, forgive my ignorance. But I am curious: how did news of this matter arrive? And if you were so concerned about your business matters, I cannot believe you would not have checked your communicators to see what other messages might have come through for you. So kindly explain to me how you now claim to be ignorant of who tried to contact you over the past hour--and without an inkling why?"
Graham's about to accept the invitation to sit down--at the moment all he has in mind is buying some time, and getting Palver talking in the hopes that will provide some angle Kylah and and Rangin could latch on to...
Or, jump on, he thinks, startled as Kylah practically charges forward to confront Palver. As a result, he remains standing: in fact, the doubt he was feeling about not having a clear game plan is replaced by crystal clear purpose. Kylah's inches away from the much larger Palver, and although he hasn't demonstrated any evidence of being a threat so far, the fact is they're here because he very well may have been the hands-on murderer of Wilson.
His adjusts his breathing and gauges the distance between himself, Kylah, and Palver: he notes Palver's handedness and whether he's got a clearer angle of approach to Kylah's left or right. He shifts his body weight accordingly, subtly sliding his stronger left leg ahead of his right, and putting more weight forward on it: like a sprinter, the primary push-off is from the front leg, giving you a step on anyone rocking back to push off the more intuitive back leg.
He notes that Palver hedged on when he last saw Wilson: now that the game is on, we can push on that provable lie about his whereabouts...that's our angle to hold him... Kylah's continued on with a line of aggressive questioning to pin him down on his BS about communications, so he holds his tongue to see how that plays out, however.
Palver looks irritated at Kylah's tone, and says, "All right. This has gone far enough." At once, the three Starfleet officers find that they cannot move.
He continues, "I will tell you when I last saw Wilson. It was in the resort's transporter room, when I stabbed him to death, with Vice Adm. Hardin standing just a few meters away - standing completely still, just as you are now."
When Palver starts to show irritation, Kylah feels a little thrill of victory and turns to glance at Velir. At least, that is her intention. Instead she finds she cannot move her head. What is-- she starts to think, but the question is cut off when she realizes to her horror that the paralysis is complete. Her shoulders, arms, waist, everything. She is a statue.
Fear floods her entire being. Her body is not in her control, and the feeling is all too familiar. I cannot breathe, I--I-- But after what feels like hours but are only seconds, she successfully gasps for air. Her lungs were frozen in terror, not due to whatever has happened.
Palver is speaking, confessing to murdering Wilson, but she hears him as if through a tunnel. She is in a coccoon of her own rising panic. No matter how hard she tries to focus on here, on now, she fails to prevent the memories of two nights ago, when she felt just as trapped. Of course, Jan was closer than Palver is to her now, but not by much. And that is her fault--just as it was in that hotel room--because she purposely moved only inches from Palver.
The Rhaandarite's words and triumphant tone are repulsive and she cannot step back or push away from this sick individual. Not again. Not again! How could he do this? Worse, how can this be happening to her a second time, so soon after the spores and Jan's lust captured her and left her just as powerless? What--where is Velir, where is Graham, are they still here? Her her body remains stiff as a corpse while her mind reaches out wildly. But it is no use. Her own emotions are clawing and scratching out like a trapped cat. She cannot make sense of anything. The others might have disappeared for all she can tell.
As she stares at Palver, a shameful whimper escapes her. Realizing that she can speak, she immediately blurts: "What have you done? What can you gain from this? Let me go. Let me go!" Slowly something he said resonates through the chaos in her brain. "Hardin--no--he could not have been there. I know you killed Wilson, I--I have been convinced for hours, but if Hardin was involved--he was still not in the transporter room. He was in the nightclub--you are lying!"
She stops when she again feels oppressed by the paralysis and Palver's nearness. "Jan, you must help me, please..." "You're a grown woman; you have to make up your own mind. If you want to leave, leave." "But that is just it, I cannot..."
The memories erase whatever rational thought briefly put her words together, and again the terror takes hold of her. "You must stop this," she begs Palver, almost sobs. "Please let me go!"
At the lack of any signs of spores and knives, Rangin thumbs the tricorder off and begins to listen in to the questioning.
Surprised both by Palver's reaction and being frozen in spot, Rangin wonders what is going to happen to them. He had been paralyzed before, an occupational hazard of xenobiology given his travels to a variety of planets, and at least this one didn't hurt as much as the last time he was stung by something vicious. Rangin focuses on himself and briefly runs though the sets of birds on Coridan, to help relax and get his mind working again. What could cause such paralysis? Electro stimulation, a chemical nerve agent, a biological parasite, Rangin quickly thought over the possibilities and also if his different physiology would be more or less affected than the others.
His thoughts only get worse when he realises that Palver is claiming to have murdered Wilson...but alongside Hardin, when Hardin was in nightclub. Was this batch of spores responsible for a bout of insanity? If Rangin could have rolled his eyes, he would. Deciding to stay silent on the grounds of not stirring up the crazy any further, Rangin waits to see how Graham and Kylah are going to react given their experience with Hardin. Graham can handle himself, but Rangin knows how badly Kylah had felt about those missing ten minutes and he hopes she is still holding it together.
As Kylah's words escape her lips the answer is obvious, not well. Then Rangin realises she is turned away from them and can't see them, whereas he is at the back and can see everything around. He decides to speak to at least let Kylah know he is here, although unable to do anything.
"Ens. Kylah is quite correct," Rangin says calmly and clearly, "Vice Adm. Hardin has an alibi for the time Mr Wilson was murdered in the transport room. "
Palver smiles even more broadly. "That would be true, if the time of death had been correctly ascertained by Drs. T'Var and Halsey. But they were wrong, due to a... suggestion I gave them both, after Mr. Wilson's untimely passing." He taps his large forehead. "Rhaandarites tend to have high psi potentials, as you may know. Telepathy is not uncommon, but mind control? Quite rare. I happen to have that power. It is why you now cannot move. You understand, I'm sure, the advantages of mind control in business and high finance...."
He frowns a little at Kylah's obvious distress, and she finds that she can move her head but no more. "Lower your voice, please, dear, or I might have to mute you entirely."
http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Rhaandarite
And since I was sure Palver was dirty, here's where my foresight having Delaney rig up my communicator with a dead man's switch that sends an 'officer needs assistance' call to the Yorktown if I didn't manually reset it within twenty minutes will come in handy, Graham thinks. Or...not. Because I didn't.
I let the team down again.
All at the same time, he's trying to guess the nature of the effect and what options he might have: autonomic behavior's still working, since I can breathe, and we can talk...Graham tries to move his eyes and wiggle his ears.
We can talk...and Kylah already is. At first he's glad, since anything that gets Palver talking and buys some time is better than nothing. Then the panic in her voice becomes apparent, and every second is an indictment of his failure that hurts like a stab from one of her Elasian knives.
Your fault yet again...should have known better, dammit.
His self-recrimination is at least balanced by steely intent: unlike, say, Klingons and Romulans, Security courses at the Academy don't spend a lot of time on the vulnerabilities of Rhaandarite anatomy. But they're going to be able to create a graduate degree program based on what I do to this guy after we get unfrozen...
He nonetheless keeps his voice level. "You'd think being able to control people's minds would mean a master mentalist like you wouldn't have to resort to something so crude as--oh, you know--stabbing people with knives."
Kylah feels a swell of relief at hearing Velir's voice, followed by her sudden ability to move her head. And Graham speaks too, which tells her at least the three of them are all together.
Her continued vulnerability keeps her on a razor's edge of barely controlled hysteria. She swallows, desperate not to shame herself or let the others down. Nor does she want to give this--this bIHnuch1 anything to gloat over. With every ounce of strength she possesses, Kylah girds herself and tries to process what he has said.
Yet it is only when he claims to have remarkable mental powers is she able to articulate her thoughts, jumping on the back of Graham's comments. "Mr. Graham is right. And I know far more about mental powers than you think, Palver. I have done much research. Nowhere have I read a thing about Rhaandarites possessing any such skill. You are meant to take orders, not to give them.2 A race of petaQs3," she spits out contemptuously. Klingon curses are far more satisfying.
"And you are still speaking falsely. Are you claiming to have controlled a Vulcan mind? Absurd. Besides," she adds with a sudden jolt of memory. "Your knowledge is incomplete, Palver. Even if you did what you claim, T'Var and Halsey were not the only doctors on hand. Our chief medical officer was also involved with the autopsy. She saw the results and confirmed the timing to me--narrowed it down further, in fact." Kylah lifts her head--now that she can--and takes a deep breath, trying to slow her words down. "Now, tell the truth. I know you murdered Wilson. You are keen to boast about it, so continue. Tell us you got the weapon. How you rid yourself of the spores. Every step of it. It was a great accomplishment, you need not water it down by forcing Hardin into your scheme. Trust me, he is in deep enough as it is without your embellishing his role."
_______________________________
1 - "Coward" in Klingon
2 - Direct quote from Memory Alpha: "The Rhaandarites were a simple, gregarious people who were much better at taking orders than giving them.
3 - "Slaves," also Klingon
Palver smiles even more broadly. "I am not like others of my race, Ens. Kylah, in more ways than you know. Indeed, I am aware of only two other Rhaandarites who can - who could - control minds, and they are no more. I saw to that personally, years ago. At this moment, I may, in fact, be unique among all of my people - which is just as I wish it. Now, I don't know much Klingonese, but I know those words, at least. Keep a civil tongue, if you please, or I will silence you - perhaps for good."
He gets up, walks to the bar and pours himself a drink - a Saurian brandy, Graham thinks absently. Palver continues, "My operatives stumbled upon Hardin's and Wilson's scheme some time ago, and I intervened - carefully, discreetly, of course. ILG should have the franchise here, and if it does, I will do very well out of the deal. WR&R will never have its franchise renewed, now that the corruption of those two is revealed, even if, as I believe to be the case, Wilson's bosses were unaware of what he was doing. Once I arrived here I took a more direct hand. I took a time-release capsule to relieve myself of the spores, and made Hardin do the same. I cannot operate a transporter, so I also made Hardin beam the knives away from Fastolfe's box, meet me in the conference room after midnight and stand by while I killed Wilson. I made Hardin give a confession, because of course I wished him to 'take the fall,' as you say, for Wilson's death. But his mind was stronger than I thought - perhaps subconciously, he resisted my influence, and gave a confession that, I now see, didn't quite add up. I will not make that error again."
He sips his drink and eases back into his chair. He nods, and each of you sit down, side by side by side - within touching distance, if you could only extend your arms. But each of you now have your hands neatly folded in your laps.
Kylah stares at him. It is too coincidental that he should claim to be the only person on his planet with such abilities--just as she is. But the difference is, she knows, or at least suspects, why she is a freak among her people: her mixed-race parents. What can this creature be up to?
The more he speaks, the more the inconsistencies pile up onto his story. Liar. Why is he still lying? "You first had him transport the knives," she says slowly, wanting to press the point home to her colleagues--they know the timeline and proof of Hardin's activities better than Palver does. Remember what I saw on the video, she thinks, wishing she could broadcast to Velir and Graham. Do not be fooled. "And then meet you after midnight in the conference room. I see. That makes sense." Her voice is softer, calmer. "But I do not understand why you did all this. You are a billionaire. Why is this one small resort worth so much to you?"
She aims the full force of her concentration on him. If he is using something to augment his mental powers, or to control them, he might be receptive to her own abilities. She has used them twice before in times of stress, both accidentally, and both times with people to whom she was close. Can she replicate this now? She must. She must.
Listen to me. Listen to me, Mr. Palver. I cannot speak in front of the others. Her mind is so focused on communicating to him that she winces with the effort. Let them go and I will make it worth your while. The resort is nothing compared to what I can deliver you.
Spitting distance, Graham thinks, noting how close Palver is. I wonder...
He pushes spitting at the guy to the back of his mind--something to try to see if getting him really angry might disrupt whatever he's doing to us.
Apparently resistance is possible, but how? Emotion--Wilson may have resisted, but how intense does it need to be? Palver isn't displaying any sign of effort...what would make it harder for him?
Since Kylah's keeping up a conversation with him, Graham takes the opportunity to try some things out: he focuses his attention and starts running through times tables as quickly and intensely as he can.
Velir tunes out from the conversation that Palver seems determined to have with them.
Mind control, mind control, think dammit, you're the xenoBio here think, how is he doing it, is he really a Rhaandarite, well its probably as possible as telepathy was amongst humans, as in exceedingly rare.
Mind Control...think...he's controlling our muscles through our own central control, the brain orders it and so it is. Ok, that's fine, work with what you have. You don't need a brain to move. Rangin's eyes flick to Graham and he is somehow glad that he can't smile outwardly.
At least Kylah has recovered, she looked like she was at her wits end, I didn't know how she was going to react.
React...muscle memory...instinct. Hmm, ignore the brain and have the muscles react without thinking. Mind Control works on having the brain tell the muscles not to do something. So kick off something that ignores the brain and reacts anyway.
Shame neither Kylah or Graham have a phobia to kick off, no, that wouldn't work, its still a brain thing, need something baser, something more instinctive, someone who doesn't think at all and just reacts to stuff.
Graham is security trained...I wonder if I could get him to react to a threat...without thinking...especially if Palver was right in the way.
Time to wait for the opportunity then. Seeing as we have been allowed to speak, if Palver comes close to Graham, yell out the standard Security warning for an enemy right there and watch Graham attack without thinking and before his brain has a chance to process anything. Even if he is stopped, it may give Kylah and him a brief chance to act while he is off balance.
Rangin suddenly realises he is now reliant on Graham being a hardened trained veteran of the Federation Security forces with years of experience of reacting to all situations...they're space dust or more likely brainwashed guests of Palver when they return.
Needless to say, Rangin has to try.
Kylah finds that Palver's mind is now a smooth and impenetrable wall to her. He definitely "feels" different to her than he did in their earlier meetings, and does not seem to recognize that she is trying to communicate with him telepathically. He says, "I am wealthy, yes, but I always wish to become more so. Holding the franchise to this resort, and more aggressive marketing of the spores, will make me far richer."
Graham finds that he can think about the times tables without any problem. His mental acuity seems unaffected.
Rangin feels like something is... just on the edge of his mind, just out of reach. What the.... It's an odd feeling, and somewhat unpleasant; he isn't sure what it is. He's never felt this way before.
Kylah's breathing is beginning to slow down as she moves past panic into calculation.
She still does not believe this man possesses the powers he claims, not naturally. If he somehow does possess some psi powers, it is quite likely they have been augmented by technology in order to allow him to control multiple people simultaneously. That much is possible.
What remains impossible is his attempt to insert Hardin into the actual murder scene. And why? What is the reason? Is he hoping to implant the idea that Hardin was the actual murderer? Is that what his plans are for us, so that we will leave him alone, and be satisfied with Hardin as the actual killer? Hardin is already guilty of conspiracy, of that she has no doubt. But Palver committed the crime and quite probably instigated it.
Yes, this plan seems almost certain; he will not kill them, he will only manipulate their minds. 'Only.' Her blood runs cold at the prospect, but she refuses to fall back into terror by reminding herself: He is not omnipotent nor omniscient. He cannot read my mind, and he is not fully aware of the evidence we have against him, evidence that is on record. He is making sloppy mistakes in his narrative and the known timeline. It will prove his downfall.
She will let him continue if it means he will inadvertently implant a flawed and easily discounted version of the events. Even if the three captives' minds are tampered with, others back on the planet and ship will recognize the truth. The transporter, the autopsy--neither of them match the facts that Kylah and the others have so painstakingly gathered and researched. She can recite them now by memory, but does not need to: they are all on record.
Palver does not seem to know this. Villa, Kjaerstad, Delaney... even Ferguson. They can identify specific flaws in these absurd details. Palver's hubris will be his undoing.
But Kylah is less interested in proving Palver a liar about Hardin's involvement through the skills of their colleagues. It is far safer for her, Velir and Graham to escape from this situation with memories intact. Whatever method Palver is using to wreak havoc on their minds, Kylah is determined to defeat it. How? How?! I cannot tell what he is using, I cannot gain any access to his mind, not past that barricade, whatever it is. How can I possibly...
These thoughts cease and she inhales deeply. She knows she has alit upon a possible answer. She is an empath; she has powerful Psi skills--too powerful, at times. Usually they are directed outwards. Throughout her life she has tried to block out others' thoughts and emotions whenever they overwhelm her. Unfortunately, with no one to help her understand how such things are possible, she has had only limited success. T'Var was planning to teach her but the lessons were delayed.
But Kylah has an example in the man right before her. Her captor, by his own skills, could unwittingly be her path to freedom.
Palver's blocked mind. She felt it, sensed that smooth wall preventing her best efforts to reach him. Can she emulate it? Turn her powers inward? Block whatever is causing her paralysis?
She needs to buy time. Swallowing, Kylah asks quietly, "Very well. So you desired still more money. I can admit your plan was canny. But how did you remove the spore effects from the other guests? How is Mrs. Hsu involved in all this? And most of all... I still do not understand why you would kill Wilson. With ILG's success assured, why murder Wilson and draw such attention to both yourself and Hardin, your valued accomplice?"
The words out, she lets herself relax for a second before shifting her gaze just past Palver to the window, to the vast blackness dotted with infinite stars. With every ounce of mental strength, Kylah shuts her mind to everything but that view. She imagines it as a velvet blanket strewn with diamonds, a blanket that is now moving forward, moving into the ship itself. First, it shrouds her from the others. Then her body is covered, and finally it sinks in to wrap around her mind.
Once that vision is firmly fixed until she can almost feel the lush black material pressing against her skull, she slowly allows the blanket enveloping her to change from soft velvet to a hard, gleaming stone wall. Smooth. Impenetrable. Neither sight nor sound can reach within this barrier, she thinks, and the truth is, she can no longer see the room, ship or stars at all; she is completely internal.
Her breathing is deep and even. Everything is gone. There is only me. My mind. My body. She continues the chant and only dimly notices the cool sweat breaking out on her forehead. My thoughts are my own. This body is my own. My arms, my hands, my fingertips. They are returning to my control. They are mine. Over and over she repeats this litany. The barricade is strong, as is her will. She fights hard to ensure they can no longer be breached. And hopes she will begin to feel... something.
OK, Graham thinks, higher order functions OK, but no effect either on how I feel or anything visible with Palver by trying to work them overtime...What about lower level, autonomic stuff?
If Graham has any gas at all, he relaxes to see what happens.
Yep, Rangin's probably trying to recall the details of a PhD thesis on psionic phenomena, and you're trying th ol' fart test, Booker...
Rangin isn't sure what is happening, is Palver trying to read his thoughts, is someone else. Whatever it was it Rangin didn't like it.
Oh well, if it was someone else, then it was time to match unpleasant with horror. Rangin replays a moment in his mind, from the Sakathian station, that moment of absolute terror when the door burst open and he was swarmed by those creatures, who promptly tried to eat him. It was still fresh and still giving him nightmares.
Over the last few days it had always bought him out in a complete cold sweat. After all, no-one liked being eaten alive.
Palver says, "Hardin used the transporter much as he confessed to you, but at my bidding. Mrs. Hsu had grown bored of Wilson as a lover, and impatient with his blocking her advancement - as she saw it - in the company. I suggested to her that she would likely become the new resort director if he died. Her mind needed but little nudging in that regard. Why murder Wilson? He was both an obstruction and an opportunity. With his death, apparently at the hands of a Starfleet admiral whom he had corrupted, WR&R could never hope to have its franchise renewed, as I said. And even if I fell under suspicion, I could take steps to see that your bungled investigation went no farther than necessary." He sips his brandy and smiles again. "And here you sit."
Kylah has practically hypnotized herself. She can feel every part of her body and her senses are now unusually acute, but try as she might, she notices no change in her immobility.
Graham finds he has no gas to pass.
Rangin breaks out in a cold sweat all over again as he remembers the horrors of the Sakathian research station. The unexplained feeling he had before is undiminished, however.
Rangin is not sure what is worse: that the feeling is still there, that something just out of reach, or the fact that he nearly induced PTSD in himself. Sweating and breathing harder and louder than he was previously, and not hiding the fact, Rangin struggles to contain his thoughts and tries to calm down.
But one thing does run through his mind: if he can generate enough of an instinctive reaction, fight or flight and not an emotional response, it may just work.
"Mr Palver, I think you have a problem. I don't think I'm reacting well to your mind control."
Palver looks at Rangin with mild surprise, as if just noticing him for the first time. "Hmm. You are... different. Interesting." He cocks his head. "What race are you?"
The Coridanite xenobiologist's odd feeling doesn't pass, and in fact now seems to have grown a little stronger, even as the unpleasantness of the sensation wanes noticeably. It is very peculiar to put into words - he feels looser in his skin, somehow.
He's from the planet Nag in the Carp Nebula, Graham thinks to respond when Palver asks Rangin his race. It's a very brief moment of amusement for an increasingly pissed off Graham: look on the bright side, Booker, Palver's mind control ability will completely justify beating him unconscious. Preferably with one of his limbs...
"I'm insulted," replies Rangin still shivering slightly "that a person of your supposed breadth of business, doesn't recognise where I am from. Doesn't matter, we all have a problem in this room."
Rangin takes a deep breath before continuing. "Recently I was infected by a bioweapon, which I hoped was over. Unfortunately, there was a psychic component to it, which you appear to have re-awakened." Rangin sighs sadly, "If so, I probably have less than an hour, at least as me. The transformation doesn't take long, but you won't be able to control what's left as its predatory instincts kick in. However, it will consider you very tasty indeed, Mr Palver. I'm sorry Kylah, it appears as though you get to relive a few weeks ago all over again. This time make it swift."
Rangin closes his eyes in regret as he tries to recite the symptoms. " Let's see: cold sweats, flu-like symptoms, darkening of eyes, unconsciousness and then transformation. Shortly after that, well I won't care any more and what's left will be attempting to kill and eat everyone on this ship. Heh, and now I'll never find out if spore therapy could cure it."
"Oh well." Rangin finishes quietly, "life was fun while it lasted."
Rangin waits to see what Palver does next. Besides, all Rangin can do is sit and wait for whatever is going to happen...to happen.
Kylah's failure to break loose of Palver's control is infuriating, but her concentration makes her focused and alert. Then Velir's words strike new terror in her heart. She stares at him, her lungs as frozen as her body. She cannot believe this is happening. A flashing image of his barely conscious body during his feverish illnness sends a wave of nausea through her. Not again, not to him... please, let this not be true, please, he has suffered too much already...
And what if Palver decides to kill him? The possibility of never speaking or seeing him again is too horrifying. Kylah cannot help herself, and immediately she sends her newly sharp thoughts over to the man she has grown to care about more than anyone.
Velir, she thinks, directing her anguished mental whisper forward as intensely as any vocal scream. Velir, it is Kylah. Can you hear me? I... I can feel your fear. I cannot explain it, I do not know how, but something is suddenly allowing me to connect with you. She is disgusted that even in this moment she cannot escape her conditioning to hde her true nature.
Swallowing, she continues to attempt communication. Do not speak... do not be afraid, try to focus on my thoughts. Please... please let me know if you hear me?
Palver narrows his eyes and looks more intently at Rangin. He says, "You're lying."
Rangin cannot hear Kylah's thoughts, but he is very surprised to realize that his toes just moved slightly.
"No. No, I'm not lying. It's happening, I...I can feel it." Rangin's breathing quickens slightly as he feels himself move. He may have bought the earlier cold sweat on himself, but now it's not him doing it.
Rangin is afraid, but the last thing he wants to do is break down. He remembers again the Sakathian station when the door gave and he screamed, he doesn't want to die like that. If he is going to go, it will be as a Starfleet officer, facing it as bravely as he can, despite the few minutes left to him. In the end it didn't matter, when he did change, Palver would likely be the first one attacked setting his friends free. At least they could make it quick for whatever was left behind of him.