snip

Pawl continued his calculations. then gave the information to the assistant and went to take a moment in the engineering lounge as he focused on Tamm and used his powers to strengthen Tamm’s barriers. Doing his best not to overstep the boundaries too much. =^= “The other signal is from the intruder trying to intrude on Tamm’s mind.” =^= Pawl said calmly to his open comm channel, letting everyone know that Tamm is under attack, as it were. Pawl was able to continue his observations with the ship, Tamm, and the others.

Lt. Commander Pawl Batario
Chief_Engineer Officer Uss_Chernov

From Tamm’s perspective, the connection changed as Pawl withdrew from the immediate activity of Engineering and concentrated more directly upon the Entity. Tamm perceived the effort immediately.

The barriers surrounding its consciousness strengthened—not replaced or reshaped, but reinforced. For a moment, the foreign presence pressing against them receded. The intrusive pattern remained, probing along the edges, searching for another path inward.

Across the connection came Tamm’s response. You strengthen what is mine.

Another harmonic pulse passed through the Chernov, and Tamm reacted differently this time. Instead of merely resisting the intrusion, its own resonance shifted around the foreign pattern, attempting to isolate it from whatever lay deeper within.

Then came a sudden impression through Pawl’s connection: recognition. It has touched me before. The foreign presence withdrew sharply, but did not disappear. It came from the other vessel.

Tamm’s presence steadied around Pawl’s reinforcement. It will try again.

Gamemaster Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare