Data cocks his head. "Dubito, ergo cogito; cogito ergo sum. I doubt, therefore I think; I think, therefore I am. Sapience is a curious concept—fluid and uncertain. We define sapience, but we are sapient, so the question is 'Does sapience exist outside our own minds?' One is tempted to retreat into solipsism. Alas, that, too is a trap. It seems to be an unanswerable question, Mr. Merawdr." He pauses. "I'm sorry, Mr... may I call you Argent? I'm sorry, Captain Picard says I have a tendency to babble. If I may turn the tables on you, how do you define your own sentience?"


Meanwhile, Ambassador Worf comes in, wearing Klingon civilian garb. He spots Shione and strides over to greet her. "Lieutenant Kurasa, congratulations on your promotion. Qapla'! And greetings to you, Mr Merawdr." he says. "Guinan, two blood wines!" he orders. "Shione, I take it you still indulge. It is real blood wine. Being a diplomat has its privileges." He takes a large swallow of the wine and slaps Shione on the back.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 91):

"Thank you Lt Atek, for all that you risked and yes impulsive only when lives are at risk.
I do remember my command school training".
She stands leaning in over Dr Crusher,whispering "Thank you Bev for saving my Family" and she gives her a quick hug

"Doctor Adonidas, thank you for all you did to save us, and if I might point out. There were no experts at the time and I was not going to sit back and watch my sister die."

Shione does not wait for Athena to respond

"Deanna are you staying here or coming to ten forward with us?"

Arm in arm with Argent she heads off leading her mom and Nyle.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 91):

When Worf approaches she appears rapt in attention watching Argent and Data, and as he speaks he notices that she is suddenly sniffing the airsniff sniff Are you wearing perfume, Worf?
 Or some kind of Cologne? The Ambassadorial lifestyle seems to have softened you a bit>"

She accepts the bloodwine taking a hearty sip."Perhaps this is too strong for you now Old Timer" and she moves as if she is going to take his glass as well."Maybe they have some prune juice. Something a bit more suited to an older retired gentleman"

Throughout she is fighting to keep from grinning

Worf snorts and scowls. "You are as bad as Dr. Bashir and Chief O'Brien," he mutters. "You should have met Jadzia. She would have liked you."

He drains what's left of his blood wine. "I notice that you've gone back to Enginering. Are you slowing down in your old age, now that you're an officer?" He grins savagely.

Hey, says Tony, "She's captain of the Kitchissippi. You better watch your mouth." He waits a couple of beats then finishes, "Sir!"

Worf laughs heartily and calls, "Guinan! More blood wine!"

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 94):

" Tony. Put a cork in it.!"

She grins back at Worf. " Ah I did meet her old friend, The Haida was stationed out of DS9, or is your memory also going in your dotage? " She refrains from mentioning that she attended the funeral as well.

She pats his belly with the back of her hand while draining the second third of her cup.
"Putting on weight are we? Are you planning to stay a bit. I have a gift for you down below in Dodge City""

In reply to Shione (msg # 95):

[OOC: Nope. Only the Defiant and the Rotarran were actually stationed at DS9. During the final phases of the War, the fleets were stationed at Starbase 375, 25 light years away from Bajor. The Haida would likely have put in at DS9 from time to time, and interacted with the Defiant while Dax was on board, so it is quite possible that Shione did indeed meet her.]

Tony bows deeply and says with an insolent smirk "Aye, aye, BOSS!"

Worf looks amused. "Good, you keep discipline well. I have, indeed, trained you properly." He accepts the refill the steward has brought him. "Yes, I will be here for a while to inspect the operations regarding the BortaS. It has become a matter of great import to the Empire. Kahless himself has expressed interest."

In reply to Argent Merawdr (msg # 90):

Data inquires, "I understand that you had some interaction with the Kapecki Emissary Olivaw. What is your impression of the Kapecki?"

[OOC: Sorry, guys. Will be away from the computer until 8:00 EDT tonight.]

Shione pulls Worf along with her and heads over to where Data and Argent are talking
" Hi Argent sorry about addressing you as My Merawdr when I should have said lieutenent.
Still a bit dopey from the drugs I guess.

Hi Data
I am Worf's date tonite." She smiles, beaming over at Worf

"by the way Data Where is Geordi? I'm keen to see his new eyes!"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:06, Wed 05 Apr 2017.

Data replies, "Geordi is down at Freeman's Island going over their new power systems."

Guinan comes over. "Well, Chief Kurasa. Dating an Ambassador now?" Worf scowls. Guinan continues, "Letting your officer status go to your head?"

Captain Picard comes in. "Lieutenant Kurasa, congratulations on your promotion. I hear it's been made permanent. Security Chief MacAskill is retiring in a few months, and since Ambassador Worf has his hands full with his new diplomatic job, we'll need a season veteran to take over. I'm trying to convince Commander Samson to let you go. Interested?"

The evening goes well. food and drink flow freely, and Shione get reacquainted with some of the crew from her old days on the Galaxy class Enterprise-D, a surprising number of whom are still with the new ship. Eventually, all good things come to an end, and the party winds up.

At 0700 hours the next day, Shione reports to sickbay for Cassy's procedure. Waiting are the Duls, who have been here overnight, Counsellor Troi, Doctor Crusher and Nurse Ogawa, and Councillor Sormok. He raises his right hand in the Vulcan salute, "Greetings, Lieutenent. Your promotion does you honour."

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 100):

Well thanks Data, I'll see him later then. How about if you and Argent and I sit down, while we're still here and discuss the Kapecki with you.?"

When Guinan comes over she leans down and gives her a hug. "Missed you" she whispers, as Guinan had spent time with her during a tough time 7 years ago and Shione has never forgot.

At Capt Picard's suggestion she gives him a deer in the headlights look for a moment before squeaking out "Me? whew, you mean it don't you?" she recovers and continues Can I think about it and discuss it with my crew Captain?"

She stays with WOrf throughout the evening and arranges for a time for them to go down to Dodge the next day so she can retrieve his gift. "Good night my Friend" and she gives him a robust hug, before crawling into her rack and collapsing.SHe gets up early and has a full breakfast before heading down for 0700.

She is pleased with Sormok's greeting and returns the salute, Thank you honored sir, your recognition of me is a greater honor still"

She embraces Deanna nervously" Can you go over what you expect of me?" She directs her question to both Deanna and Sormok.

While listening, she embraces Melissandra and hugs Nyle <We'll get her back, be strong> She teeps to both of them

Dr. Sormok replies, "It is my honour, daughter. Although the experiment was offically discontinued, it will be fascinating to see whether it has borne fruit."

Counsellor Troi calls for everyone's attention. "We'll be beginning presently. We'll be using a blend of Betazoid and Vulcan techniques. The Duls, Shione and I will form a gestalt web with Cassy, and then Dr. Sormok will mind Meld with the gestalt through me. Doctors Crusher and Adonidas, assisted by Nurse Ogawa will monitor all our lifesigns. Once we've formed the gestalt and the Mind Meld has been initiated, we should be able to penetrate the defenses Cassy has erected and deal with her directly. I propose that once we're able to communicate with her that Shione act as the spokesperson, with guidance channel through myself. Is this plan acceptable to everyone?"

Meanwhile, Argent and Tony, along with the Cuyahoga's crew, sit in the waiting room and wish they could do something—anything to help.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 102):

"Yes Deanna I am ready to do my part and will accept direction from you at any time"

When do we start Father?"

While all of the psionic team lie back on the med-beds, Sormok seats himself at the head of Troi's bed. Troi initiates the gestalt  and the four members of the team find themselves in a large chamber, somewhat similar to the one they'd experienced before. Huge ribbed bony columns curve up the walls of the chamber, which looks like slick red muscle tissue. Throbbing red veins a metre in diametre pulse as the wend their way over and across the colums and a dark red viscous fluid oozes down from above. The ceiling of the chamber is barely visible in the shadows and the team stands in a hand-span deep pool of the fluid. In the far wall a wide staircase leads a couple of metres up to the same baroque door Shione had seen before. At the top of the staircase crouches a figure like something out of a fever dream—a huge female parody of a humanoid, biomechanical in appearance. It glistens a green-grey colur, slick and shiny. It makes a noise like scales slithering over dry sand as it stands, fully three metres tall. "S-s-s-o-o-o...," it hisses, "you've returned, S-s-sh-i-o-o-onneI Welcome to your inevitable doom. Hah-hah-hah-hah!" it cackles in a rusty voice.


The creature raises its right arm and beckons to Shione. "Come and die," it croons, stretching out the terminal word in a hiss like plasma escaping a fractured conduit. Shione uses her peripheral vision to check around her and finds herself utterly alone, the rest of the team seemingly having disappeared. However, she feels a solid, comforting presence behind her, though she dares not take her eyes off the deadly creature. It slowly steps down the stairs, reducing itself in height until it is exactly as tall as Shione, and strides into the gelid, foul-smelling fluids that surround them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:22, Sat 08 Apr 2017.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 104):

Strangely enough Shione feels no fear whatsoever. "I see you've chosen a more durable form this time." her tone is firm,calm and slightly mocking.

" So you didn't like the experience I inflicted on you before, Hmmn? You must leave or be destroyed. That is the choice I offer"

Shione is prepared to react to the scene,but in defense. A physical attack vs a metallic form would be a poor choice.

In her mind she speaks with Deanna <I'm going to call to Cassy as a Starfleet Officer.She has a strong sense of duty and I will appeal to that to awaken her. Do you approve?>

Deanna replies, <I'm not certain a physical attack is the best tack to take. Its physical form seems not to be its vulnerability. We must find the actual location of Cassy's psyche.>
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:43, Sat 08 Apr 2017.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 106):

<I wasn't planning to. The door could be a decoy.Do you have any idea of what we face here?>

[OOC: Sorry, had a club build day at the museum. Am dog tired, but will try to post later this evening.]

Before anyone can reply, the creature springs at Shione. Shione twist out of the way, but the creatures claws slash past her face, clipping off a lock of Shione's hair..Shione feels herself slide into a form of 'combat awareness', where everything slows down around her and even tiny details stand out. She notes, almost dispassionately, that the skin is not metallic, as she'd originally thought, but some form of chitin, like an insect's carapace, mottled with bronze and green under the surface. As the creature overextends itself, Shione grabs its arem and propells it past her, using its own momentum. In that instant, she males eye contact and sees pain and terror reflected in its eyes, and suddenly realises that the creature is, in fact, Cassy; or at least a portion of Cassy's psyche. The fear in its eyes is instantly replaced with rage. <I'll kill you and eat your heart, bitch!> Screams Cassy's thoughts, deafeningly 'loud'.

The Cassy-creature rolls sinuously as it falls, coming back up onto its feet in a low crouch facing Shione. It skin drips with the dark red gelatinous gore, which looks more and more like half clotted blood. It smiles sinisterly. <Is that the best you got, sister-dear?> The word sister sounds like acid in her thoughts.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 109):

Whew here goes nothing<I'm going to surrender to her Deanna>

Deanna sound dubious. <If you're certain. Be prepared for anything.>

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 111):

" Yes. I am your sister. And an older sister should protect and love her baby sister. I do love you, but I failed to protect you.
I am sorry Cassy, that I hurt you, and that I let you be hurt.
As long as I live, I will always try to be there when you need me, but if you need to kill me to get rid of this pain, then do it."

She kneels "I won't hurt you anymore. And I can't fight my sister. I love you Cassy.
Do what you need to do"

Her hands are at her side and she is projecting her innermost thoughts, unedited at the manifestation before her. Love and regret for what could have been between them.

Cassy's avatar pulls its arm back and flexes its claws. It smiles, a cold, calculating expression of malevolence. <Then die> it screams mentally and plunges its claws deep into Shione's chest, up to the elbow... It cackles, a look of unholy glee on its features. As Shione stands impaled on its arm, a sudden look of puzzlement appears on its features. The form grows misty and begins to evapourate, leaving Cassy's form standing there holding her arm out witgh her hand flat against Shione's breastbone. Cassy's eyes widen and a cry like a child in agony fills the chamber. Cassy fades to transparency and collapses into the gore at Shione's feet. By the time she falls all the way down, she, too has evapourated. Shione finds herself alone, with the child's screams filling the air around her. Immediately before her is the flight of six steps, topped by the door with its chains.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 113):

"Quickly we must get to her"
Shione rushes up the stairs two at a time and slams full speed into the door giving it all she has

Shione falls backward, bouncing off the door as if she'd slammed into a rock wall.

Outside the sickbay, Argent and the others are startled to hear a loud ululating scream coming from in the sickbay. Prashanthi exclaims, "That's Cassy!" and starts to her feet. Gian restrains her and whispers, "Easy, Rai. Doc Crusher and Counsellor Troi can handle it!"