Shore Leave: The Warehouse

"It was supposed to keep you in line. That didn't work out as expected but what ever does? It was a bluff by the way. Your friend Theliak will be just fine." He stands up and walks closer to you while still keeping some distance. "We did our research while you were sleeping. Turns out you are actually Shawna Cassano. I don't see what the point of all that confusion was but I'm glad it's been resolved. And you are Alexandra Lloyd, right? I've heard about your negotiations with the Naplicans." He points towards one of the beds. "Sit down, let's have a conversation - no phasers, no knives, no punches. You can call me Hector."

Assuming you follow his invitation to sit down, Hector does the same, although with some distance and an empty bed between you and him. "I apologize for your no doubt uncomfortable awakening down in the basement but we've had to discuss some things that were not intended for your ears. And when we attacked your group, you all proved more of a challenge than expected so we had to restrain you to hinder your ability to fight us if that's what you were doing to try. We didn't start out on a good note but let me assure you, we have no intention to hurt you."

Hector nods at the woman at the table. She gets up, puts her phaser on the table and comes up to you. She holds a data chip against the cuffs that are tying you together. They open simultaneously on both ends. The woman takes them and sits back down at the table.
"I don't expect you to take out a full room of us but I prefer not to risk any injuries at all when avoidable." Hector speaks calmly but with a tone that Alex recognizes as the same one she uses in her diplomatic work. "And as for enemies, Alexandra, I hope we're not enemies. That's what we have to find out now."

"Alex, as you wish. I understand that your first impression of my team was not very favorable but I hope you can look past that. It was never our intention to kidnap anyone. If it had been, we would have simply stunned all of you right away and taken whoever we wanted. Even when we took you, our original plan was to just drop you off in the forest somewhere. We only changed our mind because we decided that - if you are not a threat - you and your crew might be able to help us. I believe we are on the same side, I just have to make sure." He turns to the woman at the table but when he speaks again, he still addresses Cass and Alex. "I'm going to have to ask you a few questions and Endra will be able to verify whether you're answering truthfully or not, if you let her."

"Nobody is going to get disintegrated, Shawna.", Hector replies. "Endra has Locan heritage. She can't fully mind meld but she is able to establish a light connection that will allow her to determine truth or lie when you're answering. It's the easiest and fastest way to determine whether we can trust you or not."

Hector looks at Endra, allowing her to reply. "You mean the gal from the cottage? I wouldn't have killed her, just put her in the infirmary for a day or two. She's darn fast though, isn't she?"
Hector turns his attention back to Cass and Alex. "Once I know that I can trust you, I will brief you on what we are doing here. Of course it's up to you whether you will believe me or not but I have documentation that can confirm my story."

Endra locks eyes with Alex and replies: "You're right, I'm not. Should we begin then?"

Endra sits down next to Alex on the bed. She gives her a reassuring smile and then places the fingers of her right hand on Alex' face and neck. She closes her eyes and slightly repositions her fingers a few times until she finds the right spots. Slowly, an uncomfortable feeling rises in Alex' head, first barely noticeable but after a few seconds it grows into a headache that feels almost exactly like a terrible hangover.
Endra nods lightly and Hector asks a series of questions: "What is your name and rank? Where and when were you born? Why are you on this planet? Are you in any way associated with the Naplican Empire? If yes, in what way? What do you know about a man named Metahk? What do you know about Project Great Flood?"