Mind melds

Jaepheth · Post by **Jaepheth** » 2005-03-27 04:48pm

are there any instances of a race or person successfully resisting a mind meld? or is it a cure-all interrogation technique?

brianeyci · Post by **brianeyci** » 2005-03-27 04:56pm

It is not an interrogation technique. It is an intimate joining of two minds. If you do it casually, you'll probably be fucked. Spock used it as an interrogation technique, but he is a master at it (went through the whole Kholinar thing which probably entails a lot of mental discipline).

Spock mentions that there are certain techniques to resist mind probes. Given that Spock can resist the Klingon machine designed to turn people's minds into vegtables according to Kor, then I don't see why you couldn't resist a mind probe if you were well trained enough.

Brian

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2005-03-27 07:55pm

None that I can recall, allthough the one time Spock tried to mind-touch a Kelvan, he got mind-bitch-slapped across the room, so that would suggest the technique isn't a winner there

As to the Klingon Mind-Sifter, he was only subjected to Force 4, as the Klingon soldier put it "sufficient to overcome any pretence" Kor also pointed out to Kirk that it could also be used a a mind-ripper at maximum force -- rendering the mind emptied for straining, and the subject feeling pretty bad

Agent R · Post by **Agent R** » 2005-03-28 12:06am

In "The Maquis" (DS9), the Maquis kidnapped Gul Dukat and had a Vulcan working for them try to mind-meld to get the location of Cardassian weapons hidden in the DMZ. It didn't work, and IIRC Dukat was actually amused by the whole thing, while Sakonna (the Vulcan Maquis), looked pretty drained at the end of it. Nearly all the sources I've seen say the resistance is natural, but I thought it came through intense training?

Patrick Ogaard · Post by **Patrick Ogaard** » 2005-03-28 08:24am

Agent R wrote:In "The Maquis" (DS9), the Maquis kidnapped Gul Dukat and had a Vulcan working for them try to mind-meld to get the location of Cardassian weapons hidden in the DMZ. It didn't work, and IIRC Dukat was actually amused by the whole thing, while Sakonna (the Vulcan Maquis), looked pretty drained at the end of it. Nearly all the sources I've seen say the resistance is natural, but I thought it came through intense training?

SAKONNA sits before DUKAT, her fingers placed on his forehead in the familiar posture of the Vulcan mind meld. AMAROS and a handful of other Maquis watch as Sakonna goes through the ritual.

SAKONNA (concentrating deeply)
My mind to your mind... your thoughts to my thoughts...

Dukat remains immobile, his eyes closed. Sakonna seems to be straining.

SAKONNA
My mind to your mind... Your thoughts to my thoughts...

It still doesn't seem to be working.

SAKONNA (continuing, strained whisper)
My mind... to your... mind...

AMAROS
What's wrong?

Dukat's eyes open and he smiles.

DUKAT
It's not working. That's what's wrong.

Sakonna breaks the connection. She looks exhausted.

SAKONNA
This is quite puzzling. I am unable to establish a mind meld. It would appear he has the ability to shield his thoughts.

DUKAT
It's simply a matter of discipline.

AMAROS
Now what do we do?

SAKONNA
After I rest a moment, I will try again.

DUKAT (in surprising good humor)
You people really don't do this very well, do you? Now Cardassians know how to extract information. But it can get rather... unpleasant. And everyone knows how the Federation dislikes unpleasantness.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2005-03-28 11:08am

Spock was unable to break through McCoy's conditioning after he had been "absorbed" by Landru in "The Return Of The Archons" and had difficulty contacting the mind of the heavily-drugged John Gill on Ekos in "Patterns Of Force". The experience with Dukat suggests that certain mental states wrought either by specific training or drugs or conditioning can prevent a mind-meld from taking place. Recall also that Kirk was highly resistant to meld when he was still "Kirok" and his memory jumbled in "The Paradise Syndrome".

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-03-28 12:50pm

Patrick Degan wrote:Spock was unable to break through McCoy's conditioning after he had been "absorbed" by Landru in "The Return Of The Archons" and had difficulty contacting the mind of the heavily-drugged John Gill on Ekos in "Patterns Of Force". The experience with Dukat suggests that certain mental states wrought either by specific training or drugs or conditioning can prevent a mind-meld from taking place. Recall also that Kirk was highly resistant to meld when he was still "Kirok" and his memory jumbled in "The Paradise Syndrome".

given vulcans are considered low level telepaths (referenced in voyager), it would make sense that sufficient training or drugs would be enough to overcome their abilities. whether it could overcome a telepath that doesn't need to touch the people whose mind they're reading is another question.