Chapter IV.
After sheepishly following Dr. McCoy to Sickbay, Lt. Christenson followed McCoy's every order throughout the examination. After he had told Zachery to get dressed, McCoy suddenly said, "You took a chance, when you attacked Heather, her soulmate can get angry."
"It wasn't that I was trying to attack, it was just a natural reaction to someone forcing their way into my head."
"She tried to force her way in? I find that hard to believe, Heather hardly ever uses her power."
"Well, I can't say that it was her. Or him. I felt psychic ability from her when she touched me."
"So, you attacked?"
"What would you have done, Doctor?" Zachery asked, angrily. It was obvious to McCoy that Zachery was starting to get a little upset.
"I would not have attacked, until I was sure there was a threat. I know Heather and Proudhawk, and they don't use their powers for no reason. And, Lt. Christenson, please relax, I'm only asking because it's my job."
"I'll try... but I'm under a lot of stress right now, with everything that has happened. I do not know Commander Scott and Lt. Proudhawk, and I had no way of knowing that, after all, I've only been on the ship..." Zachery looks at his personal chonometer. "...for about an hour now. And I'm in trouble with Admiral Kirk!"
"Did you not know that Heather was not reading your mind? Sure, she's a telepath, but there must be a way to tell when she's reading your mind."
"With soulmates, I can not identify who is who until after both have read my mind, and since only one had at the time, I had no way of knowing who was who."
"How come you know so much about Soulmates? Heather and Proudhawk are the first I've heard about."
"I make it my hobby to study psychic abilities and phenomenon. And I have a lot of minor abilities myself, but nothing major, that I can actually use without physical contact."
"What actually did you do to Heather? She looked like she was deathly scared of you, when she woke up."
"All I did was to blanket all outgoing thoughts in her mind, which causes an overload and the brain automatically shuts down. The reason she was probably so scared was because she probably realizes that I could have just as easily killed her."
"Killed her? You may have not killed her, but from what you've just described, she may have some damage to her brain. If she does, Proudhawk will be the least of your problems."
"Doctor, if you will just check my Starfleet records, you will find that they already know about this ability of mine, and I can assure you that there will be absolutely nothing wrong with Commander Scott."
"Pardon me if I don't believe you, I think I'll check it out for myself."
"I would expect nothing less of you, Dr. McCoy."
"Reporting as ordered, Dr. McCoy." said Heather as she entered the Sickbay.
"Take a seat over there on that table, Heather, I'll be right back." stated McCoy, as he walks out of Sickbay.
<You would.> Heather said, telepathically.
As Heather looks back and sees Lt. Christenson shaking his head at her, and is thinking, <Naughty, naughty.>
"What?" Heather asked, turning to him.
"You heard me?"
"Uh, yeah, it was kind of loud. But what did you mean?"
"Your comment to Dr. McCoy that you didn't exactly say."
"You heard that?!" Heather exclaimed.
<Obviously.>
<Well, I... knew he'd leave us alone to talk. I'd like to apologize for touching you.>
<Apology accepted. And same to you. How'd you know he would leave us alone?>
<Apology accepted. Easy, you 'attacked' me. He wanted us to talk. Now, answer me one question. How can you hear me, I thought I was blocking my thoughts?>
<That still doesn't answer how you knew he would, and I can't give you the exact technical terms of it, but basically it's a weak link between you and your soulmate.>
"Weak?"
"Weak is not the proper word, it's more like an open gate that I can hear through."
<Proudhawk, guard your thoughts. We may have a problem.>
<What?> Proudhawk asked.
<Lt. Christenson can hear us.>
<How?>
<Well, it's rather simple, actually, I just happen to overhear.> said Zachery.
<Heather, we'll discuss this in private.> Proudhawk said.
<Just block him, Soulmate, that should take care of it, by what he was telling me.>
<Yes, that should take care of it.> Zachery replied.
"Lt. Christenson, you are dismissed and ordered to report to Admiral Kirk, immediately." said McCoy as he entered the Sickbay.
<Lieutenant, I would appreciate it if you didn't listen in.> Heather said.
<Yes, Commander.> "Yes, Dr. McCoy." stated Zachery, as he pulled on his tunic and walked out the door, headed for the turbolift.
*Copyright © 1998 Dana L. Marshall
*Copyright © 1998 Wayne Kimball
*All Rights Reserved