339: Behind the Scenes

by The Healer
80615.22
Following Distant Echoes

-=Aboard the Sylph Mothership=-


*How are the experiments progressing?*

*The low level trials on larger groups of individuals aboard the Serendipity have yielded mixed results thus far, Brilliance,* The healer reported. *The so-called Terrans seem the most suceptible to our influence, with those called Bajoran also subject to manipulation at different levels based on their degree of positive or negative mental energy. The other species aboard ship seem largely indifferent to our test waves.*

*What about the empaths and telepaths aboard the ship?*

*They are pacified, for now.*

The risk they presented in this situation still worried the Luminary. If they were to be discovered somehow, she knew that it would be the telepaths or empaths who would be responsible for exposing them. *And how are our key subjects holding up?*

*The one called O'Sullivan is suffering greatly,* the healer felt sorrow, thinking of the emotions she had felt emanating from Keiran. It was, in fact the depth of his pain that had justified their interest in this ship called Serendipity to begin with. It had overwhelmed them when they sent their first waves out to survey the lay of the land, so to speak.

*He must suffer before he will heal, you know this. It is the way of these things.* The Luminary insisted. *Intensify the level of detail as you are reviving his suppressed memory engrams. Color in any areas that may have faded. Do not falsify or embellish his memories, but do your job well and they will be as vivid to him today as they were the moment that they happened originally.*

*Yes, Luminary.* The healer was ready to return to her work, but one other thing concerned her.

*Yes?* The Luminary knew there was more the younger being wanted to say.

*The female who leads them. The Bajoran called Zanh Liis,*

*The one who is key to O'Sullivan's healing?*

*Yes.*

*What about her?*

*Her emotional state is very volitile. I am afraid that she may not be able to cope with the consequences if,*

*You are to continue sending her memory echoes from O'Sullivan and amplifying them at intervals. That is my decision and the course you will follow without question.* The Luminary demanded.

*Yes, Brilliance,* With a heavy heart and growing concerns about the well being of her test subjects, the healer turned her thoughts back to the crew of the Serendipity.

*One more thing,* The Luminary thought to her, *I want to see what happens when you stir up a large amount of aggression among the males involved in the conflict over the female in a social situation.*

*You mean. . .incite them to,*

*It is common among simpler, humanoid species for rival males to battle over the female of their choice,* As the Sylph were a species of female entities, this interaction fascinated the Luminary, for its entertainment value, if nothing else.
*But one might be harmed,* the healer warned,

*It is the survival of the fittest among pack animals like these,* the Luminary insisted. *Such simple creatures, only the strongest deserve to mate at all.*

The healer felt incredible sadness that she tried her best to conceal as she thought about what she was now expected to do.

She had grown far more attached to these stray animals than any she had ever
anticipated..

-=Aboard the Serendipity=-


Finally coming back to consciousness in his quarters, Keiran didn't know how he had managed to fall asleep so quickly, let alone how he had fallen out of bed.

He knew one thing, though, he needed to get out of this room, and he needed someone, something, to direct his aggression toward.

Perhaps it was time for some exercise. . .

------
The Healer
Pulling strings behind the scenes
Aboard the Sylph vessel