After taking care of Joe, the injured crewman, Izi started down the corridor. There was still an eerie silence and shadowy shapes danced on the walls, but she calmed herself as she realized it was like the ice caves back home on Andoria.

Deck 5 was mostly crew quarters. Izi considered checking each one, but with most of the crew trapped in cargo bays, she could spend most of her time searching empty rooms. Though concerned for her people, the mission was to gather information and report to the captain.

So far, there was no obvious damage Izi could see. Other than limited power, which was bad, perhaps the situation wasn’t dire. Yet.

After a few minutes, Izi came to the recreation room. She decided to enter, as there could be people gathered there.

The door didn’t open.

Sighing, Izi pried off a small panel on the wall, popping the manual release. There was a click and the portal moved several centimeters. She pushed it enough to squeeze through.

The room was dark of course, with emergency lighting casting shadows that shifted places as she scanned the area with her light. She was about to leave when her antennae sensed actual movement.

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

A phaser beam shot past her, striking the wall. Izi dived behind a gaming console, drawing her weapon. She turned off her light.

Another shot zipped overhead.

Izi had been a Starfleet security officer three years, serving all of them on Starbase Bravo. She had dealt with many people and situations, but this was the first time someone had fired on her. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, her antennae moving as she searched for whoever was there.

Motion in the corner disturbing the air pressure. A slight difference in heat. With her eyes adjusting to the darkness, she saw a person crouching behind a chair.

“I’m Lieutenant Iziraa. Who are you?”

Nothing.

“I’m here to help you,” said Izi.

There was a low whimper, like a scared child lost in the woods at night.

“Tell me who you are.” Another bolt of energy whizzed by. Izi was getting angry.

“Go away!”

The voice was female.

“You’re not here to help. That’s how it tricks you. I won’t be fooled like the others.”

Izi drooped her head for a moment. Another Betazoid.

Izi didn’t know what to do. Telling the woman she wasn’t there to harm her wouldn’t work. Her experience with Torell told her that. She could leave, but what if the woman hurt another person, or herself? No, she had to stay and resolve it.

“What do you want me to do? said Izi. “Maybe we can work out something.”

“I said I won’t be fooled!”

Izi sighed. “Fine.” Adjusting her phaser, she leaped from her position and fired a blast of heavy stun on a wide field. Continuing shot after shot, she advanced, weaving through the maze of tables and chairs. After seeing a crumpled body on the floor, she rushed forward, securing the woman’s weapon.

Izi didn’t know the woman, but she looked to be about 40ish and she was wearing the uniform of medical blue. Her eyes were closed, but it was certain she was a telepath.

Izi sighed deeply. Now what?