In the main chamber of the imperial hall on Ilari. Adin: "The new cortical implant looks fine. Let me just make sure it's connecting properly to the nerve pathways." Tieran/(Kes): "Do something about these headaches while you're at it. They make it difficult to concentrate." Adin: "That's an entirely different problem. This body isn't accepting your neural pattern very easily. She wasn't a willing host like the others." Tieran/(Kes): "She's been resisting me alright. I can feel her in the back of my mind somewhere like a trapped animal rattling her cage. She's a lot of spirit, it's invigorating." Adin: "Your neural pattern may become unstable if you stay in this host. Now that we've got the transfer mechanism in place, I suggest you use it to move into a more compatible body." Tieran/(Kes): "No, I like this one, particularly the unique mental abilities that come with it." Adin: "Consider the risks!" Tieran/(Kes): "Do you really think a child like this poses any threat to me? I've been fighting worse battles since the day I was born. When the doctors said I wouldn't live past my first year I proved them wrong, even when my parents thought I was too sickly to be worth caring for I survived on the streets, even when my own ungrateful subjects forced me into exile I refused to accept defeat. I certainly won't surrender to this little girl. You'll not suggest it again!"

In the main chamber of the imperial hall on Ilari, Tieran/(Kes) and his generals discuss strategy and the continuing success of the war.

Resh: "Demmas has acquired two more ships."
Adin: "There are reports that his fleet are massing behind the fifth moon. We should make a pre-emptive strike."
Tieran/(Kes): "Not on the basis of an unsubstantiated rumour. Let him come to us, we'll be ready."
Nori: "I'm told that the Viceroy of Denarr is ready to give you his support in exchange for more territory."
Tieran/(Kes): "When did corruption become so commonplace? My people are crying out for moral leadership. I should make an example out of this Viceroy."
Suddenly the usurper stops and clasps his/(her) head.
Adin: "What's wrong?"

Suddenly Tieran/(Kes) stands up. "There's someone...." Nori: "Tieran?" Tieran/(Kes): "There's a familiar presence in this room, not any of you, someone from this body's previous life, someone she knew well. Seal the room - we have an uninvited guest!" The tyrant moves out into the hall.

Resh leaps up and bellows: "Everyone, stay where you are!" He rushes up to stand protectively close to the Autarch. Nori, worried: "Who is it?" Tieran/(Kes): "Someone who's very good at concealing himself and his thoughts, a disciplined logical mind."

To Tuvok as he/(she) strides around the room looking for him by lifting the veils on the guards. "You've made it this far without being detected but you didn't realise how much more perceptive I've become - typical Vulcan arrogance. It's touching, really, your concern for the life of your little student, risking yourself in a hopeless effort to save her."

Suddenly Tuvok, disguised as a guard, steps out of the shadows and attaches the Doctor's device to Tieran/(Kes)'s cheek. "Get that off!" shouts Resh as he takes off the helmet to reveal Tuvok.

Nori races over and covers Tuvok with her gun. To Tieran/(Kes): "Are you alright?" Tieran/(Kes): "Yes, I'm fine," and to Tuvok: "and still perfectly in control of this body, but my compliments on your clever medical technology." Nori: "An attack on the Autarch is punishable by death." Tieran/(Kes) pushes Nori's gun away. To Tuvok: "She's so protective of me." To Nori and Resh: "But I think Voyager's tactical officer might be more useful to me alive." Tuvok: "You know that I won't provide you with any information." Tieran/(Kes) replies: "You'd be surprised how often I've heard that."

Tieran/(Kes) interrogates Tuvok who is held in a detention cell guarded by a forcefield. Tieran/(Kes): "Who helped you get past my security? Who betrayed me?" Tuvok: "I had no assistance." Tieran/(Kes): "What will Janeway do when you don't come back? Send someone else? Join Demmas in an assault?" Tuvok: "I have no knowledge of the Captain's plans." Tieran/(Kes): "She must have discussed alternate strategies with you before you came on this mission." Tuvok: "She did not." Tieran/(Kes): "I suppose I could threaten you, or torture you, but I doubt that would make any difference." Tuvok: "You are correct." Tieran/(Kes): "Fortunately I have other options. Now with these new abilities it's a simple matter to reach into someone's mind. With some people it's effortless. Others require a little more work. Do you really think you can keep me away from your innermost thoughts? Your fears and insecurities? Your feelings? I sense an embarrassment at being captured, worry about how strong I really am, and of course there's anger. That's the emotion that really threatens your control. So you try even harder to hide from me. I feel those mental barriers going up. Do you notice that it doesn't seem to be working? As if someone were disrupting your ability to concentrate." The evil tyrant talks to Tuvok telepathically: "It's a helpless feeling, isn't it." Tuvok: "You will not break my control." Tieran/(Kes), telepathically: "Not break you, free you from all that repression. All you have to do is let go. I can help you release your own strength and give you what you've always secretly desired." Tuvok: "I have never desired Kes." Tieran/(Kes), telepathically: "All those hours you spent alone together, all those intimate moments touching each other's minds, you never even wondered what it might be like?" The tyrant seizes Tuvok and kisses him, but Tuvok forcibly initiates a mind-meld. Tuvok: "Kes!" Kes: "I'm here. I'm fighting him!" Tuvok: "I had no doubt you would be." Kes: "There are times when he's weaker I can almost break through." Tuvok: "Tap into his strengths and make them your own." Kes: "Losing hold." Tuvok: "I am with you. Don't let go." Tieran/(Kes): "No!" The tyrant breaks Tuvok's hold and re-asserts mental control over Kes.

Janeway: "Captain's log, stardate 50361.7. Lieutenant Tuvok has not reported for our scheduled rendezvous and we've been unable to contact him. We're now considering other more forceful options."

Demmas and senior staff meet in the Briefing Room to discuss strategy. Janeway: "Our team will beam down to the surface approximately two kilometres from the palace. Demmas and his advance guard will meet us there."

Neelix: "Captain, I request permission to go with you on the rescue team. Now I had basic combat training on Talax, alright very basic, but I've also been participating in tactical exercises with this crew every month. I have a lifetime of experience thinking on my feet, and you know that I'll do everything in my power to make this mission a success." Janeway: "Consider yourself drafted." Demmas: "The detection grid will make a surprise attack difficult." Paris: "Well, then we'll have to find a way to knock out the grid." Kim: "I've been scanning it for weaknesses. The system goes through a maintenance cycle every ten hours. There are a few seconds when it might be vulnerable to a narrow-band EM pulse."

The discussion is interrupted by a communication from the Bridge. Crewman, via comms: "Bridge to the Captain. You have an incoming transmission from the planet." Janeway, via comms: "Put it through." Tieran/(Kes) appears on the wall monitor: "Captain, you failed." Janeway: "What do you mean?" Tieran/(Kes): "I'm still in control. Your little device was useless and Tuvok is my prisoner. I suggest you call off your new rescue mission before you lose any more members of your crew." Demmas: "You've made a bad guess, Tieran. There will be no more rescues." Tieran/(Kes): "My 'guess' is that you've discovered the convenient weakness in the detection grid. If you attempt to take advantage of it I'll have twice as many soldiers waiting for you." Chakotay: "If this was meant to be a trap, why tell us about it?" Tieran/(Kes): "I'm really not a monster. I have no quarrel with Voyager. Your crew did save my life once when my ship was about to explode. I haven't forgotten that." For a moment Tieran/(Kes) is troubled by another headache but regains control quickly. "This has been a friendly warning, Captain, but it's the last one. Now I strongly suggest that you accept your losses and be on your way. You have thirty seconds to leave orbit." and ends contact.

	On Ilari, in the control room behind the main chamber, Adin again expresses concern for Tieran/(Kes). When he tells him he should get some sleep he replies that Kes is there when he sleeps, and that if he Adin cannot do anything about the headaches he should leave him alone.
	Resh: "The Voyager is leaving orbit." Tieran/(Kes): "Let them go." Resh: "With all due respect, why? Demmas is on that ship. Our warships are in position to destroy it." Tieran/(Kes): "I told them they could go and I keep my word. I don't have to explain myself to you. Get out! Everyone, clear the room now!"

Kes: "You're losing, Tieran, why won't you admit it?" Tieran: "I will admit that you surprised me. Who would imagine that such fierce determination existed within that deceptively frail body." Kes: "Don't continue to underestimate me. Release me or I'll force you out." Tieran: "My dear, why should we be enemies? Why waste the energy in conflict when we could achieve so much more by co-operating." Kes: "You're contemptible, Tieran. I won't be any part of your plans." Tieran: "You're already part of them. You and I have killed together, remember? And you will continue to serve my will, you really have no choice. Wouldn't it be wiser to join me, to take advantage of all I have to offer? You may find that you enjoy having power. I assure you, it is the finest aphrodisiac there is." Kes: "That may work with others but it won't with me." Tieran: "So you insist on making this a battle. How foolish." Kes: "It's a battle I intend to win." Tieran: "Brave words. You've been an annoyance to me, nothing more." Kes: "I've been more than that and you know it. I'm fighting you with every bit of strength I have and it's wearing you down. You're getting more unstable every day. The headaches alone are almost more than you can stand." Tieran: "I've suffered pain all my life. It's going to take more than headaches to stop me." Kes: "I know all about your life and about your suffering. It doesn't justify what you've become. You're a monster, Tieran, and I have no compassion for you." Tieran: "Then I wont ask for any. What I need from you I already have - your body and your mind." Kes: "You may have my body but you'll never have my mind, I wont surrender it." Tieran: "Resist, try to fight me, but eventually I will defeat you. I haven't existed for two centuries to be brought down by a child!" Kes: "You're already deteriorating and it's going to get worse. I'll find every little crack in your defences. You'll find yourself crumbling from within, your sanity slipping away. I wont stop until you're broken and helpless. There's nowhere you can go to get away from me. I'll be relentless and merciless, just like you."

Tieran/(Kes) is jolted awake by Adin. Tieran/(Kes), angry: "What are you doing?!" You were in such a deep sleep I had to use a stimulant to bring you out of it. You're neural stress readings are extremely erratic. This has gone too far. You must transfer out of this body before it destroys you."

Angrily Tieran/(Kes) unleashes his mind upon Adin's. Adin collapses, blood pouring from his face as he dies. "I told you not to say that ever again! As you can see I'm in full control of my faculties. This momentary lapse will pass and I'll be stronger than ever!" But his voice fades weakly: "Stronger than ever, stronger than....."

 

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