~~META:
title = Episode 37: Act 8
~~
====== Episode 37: Kordikar - Act 8 ======
//Game was 7/9/20. We had some technical issues with the others hearing me; unfortunately, due to my own social anxiety 'speaking up' is difficult. //
===== Stardate 49375.20, Wednesday May 17th 2372, 0745 hours =====
==== Phillip Makes a Discovery ====
[[trek:characters:mel|Mel]] realizes immediately that to send the Wabai to Kordikar is sending them to die. She turns to [[trek:characters:saval|Saval]] and says firmly, "We're taking the Wabai with us, but I'm not sure about Zug." Saval replies, "Legally in his culture, he is an adult. And it appears that he is escaping an undesired life as a sexual liaison. That alone would qualify him for asylum within the Federation." Mel agrees and Saval adds, "Also, I believe he would make a satisfactory ambassador." Mel concurs and starts some diplomatic paperwork to have on hand if and when a formal request is made.
[[trek:characters:phillip|Phillip]] is on deck five, sealing a micro-breach on the starboard side of the aft observation lounge, when he shifts position to remove a bulkhead and cut the EPS flow so he can continue work safely. He places the bulkhead to the side and turns back – and stares as he sees little nodules moving around the EPS tap! The nodules are definitely not Starfleet tech, and with a start he realizes they're Dai'Loq! If that wasn't alarming enough, he watches as one nodule undergoes some sort of fission and splits apart to become two identical nodules! The second nodule blinks ochre as it settles into place.
Phillip pulls out his tricorder and takes several intensive scans, but the nodules don't react. He taps his combadge and calls, "Dade to Science." On the bridge, [[trek:characters:fal|Fal]] immediately replies, //"Fal here. What do you need, Ensign?"// Phillip stares at the nodules blinking and replies, "We... we have a problem. There's Dai'Loq tech embedded in the EPS grid and it's replicating itself." He sends his tricorder scans to the bridge, and Fal immediately verifies the Dai'Loq origin. He asks Phillip, "Are they sapping power?" Phillip eyes the EPS tap readout and ventures, "I don't think so. In fact, I think they're helping to regulate the plasma flow."
==== Screw Your Forcefield ====
Back on the bridge, Mel immediately moves to Science I as Fal grumbles, "Wonderful. Stand by, Ensign Dade." Keeping Phillip's channel open, Fal taps a command and says, "Lieutenant [[trek:characters:ssleestak|Ssleestak]], how many engineers can you spare?" In engineering, Ssleestak replies, //"None at this moment, why?"// Fal explains, "Ensign Dade has located some Dai'Loq technology in the EPS grid and it's following some sort of mitosis protocol." Ssleestak immediately replies, //"Standby. [[trek:characters:sola|Sola]], beam me to Ensign Dade's position!"//
Phillip hears the whine of the transporter beam as Ssleestak materializes behind him. He shifts to the left to allow the Gorn an unobstructed view – and both men see another nodule undergo cellular fission and the new nodule zips down the EPS grid! Ssleestak immediately raises an engineering forcefield designed to contain plasma leaks, and the speeding nodule hits it! It rockets back a few centimeters, beeps in irritation, and then pushes against the forcefield – until it syncs up to the forcefield's frequency and pops through! Phillip mutters, "I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing this," as Ssleestak updates Fal. Fal theorizes, //"The nodules may be preventing further degeneration of the EPS grid."// He allocates every computer scientist he has available to assist Ssleestak.
Ssleestak immediately notices the additional resource and snaps it up. He grumbles with annoyance as the sensors fail to even register the nodule's presence, but he estimates there are at least a dozen within his field of vision. He reports, "From the rate of replication, I'd estimate they'll take over the ship in two or three hours. They appear to have some sort of artificial intelligence." Phillip suggests, "Can we ask the Bynars for help?" Ssleestak grunts, "Good thinking," and hails the Bynars. [[trek:characters:ten|Ten]] and [[trek:characters:eleven|Eleven]] agree to help and begin work on their end.
==== Phillip 'Assists' Ssleestak ====
Ssleestak repairs some minor damage to the EPS tap but growls in genuine frustration as his head is simply too big to get inside the conduit. He steps back, stands up, and grabs a very startled Phillip! He says simply, "Your head is smaller than mine," and swings Phillip up and into the conduit headfirst!((We're pretty sure he has done this to [[trek:characters:ktral|K'tral]] before.)) Phillip yelps in surprise and the nodules immediately swarm at him! The nodules slow down and stop right against his forehead – and then try to push him out! Phillip cries out as the nodules apply pressure but Ssleestak's strength keeps him firmly in place.
The nodules beep with annoyance, and Ssleestak starts peppering Phillip with questions. Then Phillip's combadge beeps and he taps it instinctively. Both men hear [[trek:characters:swims|She-Who-Swims]] ask incredulously, //"Ensign Dade, are you alright? I just received a call for a medical emergency and that your head was stuck inside a conduit?"// Phillip informs her, "I'm ok," and she retorts, //"Is this a bipedal sex thing?"// Both men reply, "No!" She-Who-Swims signs off and Phillip tells Ssleestak, "They're telling on you."
Ssleestak pulls Phillip out of the conduit, rights him, and pats him on the shoulder. Inside the conduit, the nodules beep and cancel the medical emergency. Phillip frowns and calls up the communications logs. He tracks the medical request and tracks it back to the system number of the EPS tap. Ssleestak jokes, "It's good to know they care," but trails off as he considers the implications. He says slowly, "They're not harmful, are they? They're really just trying to help."
==== The Bynars and Sola Weigh In ====
The Bynars suddenly interject, //"We have made contact with the artificial intelligence controlling the nodules. They have spread throughout the ship's systems, and they are unusually profane."// On the bridge, Mel frowns and turns to [[trek:characters:jen|Jen]] as Ssleestak adds, //"How long have they been here?"// The Bynars reply, //"Approximately six months.(([[trek:characters:jen|Jen]] received the nanites on 11/25/71.)) Many of your key systems rely on them, Lieutenant Ssleestak, including your enhanced warp engines."//
Sola adds, //"They have spread to seventy-five present of the ship, and they came from Ensign Kras's nanites. Like the ones in her body, these ones have also mutated to better serve their host – the// Solstice. //Since my core programming relies on Dai'Loq technology as well, I never noticed the extent of their spread. Point of fact, though, they have prevented three hundred and sixty-eight power overloads in the last three hours. However, they do need repair, as they also took heavy damage during the Krenim attack. Also... how did Phillip get his head stuck in the conduit?"// Phillip sighs and refuses to answer. Sola adds, "Oh, we're about an hour from being towable." Mel sighs but accepts it.
==== Zug Gets Pants. ====
Meanwhile, [[trek:characters:jessa|Jessa]] leads [[trek:characters:galannaar]] and [[trek:characters:zug|Zug]] to sickbay. [[trek:characters:vrax|Vrax]] comes over and Jessa requests an anti-intoxicant for them. Vrax frowns and says, "We have no medical information on either of their species. Galan'naar may be descended from Orions, but we've got millennia of divergent evolution. I need to run some tests first." Jessa realizes Vrax's point and tells the men, "Sit!" Zug immediately sits on the floor, Jessa sighs and points to a chair. Zug looks confused for a second before he figures it out and relocates. Vrax takes a blood sample from each of them and then heads to a nearby console to run the necessary tests.
Vrax returns a few moments later with two color-coded hyposprays just as Mel hails Jessa for an update. Vrax jabs Galan'naar first, and the Wabai yelps as his drunken state vanishes without warning. He howls, "This is torture!" Vrax ignores him and jabs Zug. Zug blinks and says, "Ow." He then looks at his hand and muses, "I have fingers." Vrax frowns in concern, but Zug winces and adds, "Ow. I'm sober. How am I sober?" Jessa explains the anti-intoxicant; Zug mostly follows and then asks, "Can I have pants?" Jessa shrugs and heads to the nearest replicator. She enters a request for pants, which catches Sola off guard. The AI snorts, //"Wait, you want what? Oh, fuck it,"// and replicates a set of cargo pants in Zug's size.
Jessa brings Zug the pants and he squeals with joy and immediately drops his loincloth. Everyone gets a full view as Jessa asks, "How about some underwear?" Zug looks at her blankly as he puts on the pants, and then parades around a bit. He then asks sheepishly, "Can it make me a shirt?" Jessa nods and heads back to replicator and requests a floofy pirate shirt. Sola materializes the requested shirt – in an eye-searing bright purple. Jessa brings the garment back to Zug, who immediately puts it on. He models it briefly and announces, "Best. Day. Ever." Jessa reminds him, "You need to talk to your mother." Zug amends, "Second best day ever."
==== Zug Charts His Own Destiny ====
They depart sickbay, and once they're gone Vrax hails Mel and tells her quietly, "I had to run some tests on Zug for the anti-intoxicant. Captain, the Tizit and the Ra'vin'ka are the same species." On the bridge, Mel replies, "Coordinate with Chief Edgly and Ensign Thal'tirian. They came to the same conclusion, but your test results can only help." Vrax agrees and signs off as Jessa enters the bridge with Galan'naar and Zug. She notes Jen's deep blush of embarrassment, which rattles her.
Mel eyes Zug and asks, "Enjoying the new attire?" Zug grins with unbridled joy, and Mel smiles briefly. She then turns to Galan'naar and asks, "So, how much do you remember about your formal declaration of asylum?" Galan'naar looks embarrassed but nods in support of the idea, and Mel turns to Zug. Zug replies, "Yeah. Uh, how may sexual favors do I need to perform to become a diplomat?" Mel says firmly, "The Federation has laws about that. Your body autonomy means it's your consent." Zug goes silent for a few minutes as he processes this utterly alien outlook, and then says softly, "How do I request asylum?" Mel replies, "There's some forms you need to fill out, but we can do that on the way back to Starbase 212. I want you to understand one thing. If you are serious about this, and you're trying to escape a life that isn't your choice, then I am not sending you back."
Zug looks away as he is overcome by emotion and then Mel offers, "You can use the MSD in the back like earlier, or you can use my ready room if you want privacy. But you need to talk to your mother." Zug nods and says simply, "The MSD is fine, captain. I want the support." Mel nods and the bridge goes silent in support as she leads him to the MSD. She stands to his right and Jessa sidles up to the other side. Galan'naar lurks behind the captain. Sola opens a channel and [[trek:characters:zivan|Zivan]] responds immediately. She immediately launches into a demand for Zug to return, but her son cuts her off and says, "So, today I learned I like Romulan ale. A lot. But now that I'm sober, it doesn't change my decisions. The Wabai saved us all and they're leaving with the //Solstice//."
Zug continues, "And I'm leaving too. You must realize we have incredible privilege, but that privilege is thanks in large part to Captain Deline. Now, while I wish I were still drunk, I also wish for your blessings to depart, but I am leaving regardless." Zivan starts ranting and strangely Zug relaxes a fraction. Finally, she snarls, //"If this is what you want, then fine!"// She cuts the channel and Zug sags. He sighs heavily, "Well, that's that. Now what?"
Mel shrugs and replies, "You stay here, at least until our return to Starbase 212. You're not the first rando to land on this ship." Fal adds, "Whatever you decide, it's best to feign competence at first, until you become more confident." Jen eyes her friend and mutters, "Did you just 'fake it till you make it?'" Zug turns to Jessa and asks, "By the way, what's underwear?"((He knows, he's just screwing with Jessa.)) Jessa groans and turns to Galan'naar; she asks, "So should we warn your men of the anti-intoxicant?" Galan'naar smiles evilly and says with mock-severity, "Oh no, counselor. My crew will experience rapid detox without warning. But in the bright side, I am wearing underwear." Jessa grumbles, "Thanks?" She leads Galan'naar and Zug off the bridge.
==== A Deal Is Struck ====
Phillip returns to welding while Ssleestak mentally puts the Dai'Loq nodules at the bottom of his list of problems. Unfortunately, the nodules are at the top of Mel's problems, as they need to be repaired before they can leave. She asks her team, "Do we know what they need in terms of repairs?" The Bynars reply, //"They're requesting an E7-grade technician."// Mel grumbles, "Great, they're making demands now," but at least she has a starting point. With Ssleestak on standby, she hails the Dai'Loq dreadnaught. They receive an audio-only response and an irritated Dai'Loq growls, //"What?"// Mel identifies herself but the Dai'Loq cuts her off, //"We know. What?"//
Mel forges forward and says, "So, we have some of your technology on our ship." The Dai'Loq snarls, //"Yes. We're pretending we don't know."// Mel asks, "It's malfunctioning. Can we request the assistance of an E7-grade technician?" There's a moment of silence and then the Dai'Loq snaps, //"I have to wake the archbishop for this."// She puts them on standby for a few moments and then he archbishop growls, //"What?"// Mel repeats her request, and the archbishop retorts, //"And what do we get from this?"// Mel hesitates but the archbishop slyly continues, //"Perhaps your// Vak'tal //would be willing to lead us in a ritual?"//
Mel replies, "I'll ask. Standby." Fal mutes the channel and Mel turns to Jen. Jen shrugs helplessly and replies, "We don't have a choice." Mel nods sympathetically and Fal unmutes the channel. Mel informs the archbishop, "She agrees." The archbishop replies, //"Excellent. The// Vak'tal //may beam over in ten of your minutes. She may bring as many with her as she likes. The technician will beam over to your ship with two assistants. The rite in question is a short one, so she'll only be needed for maybe twenty minutes."// The archbishop then terminates the channel.
==== Recruiting the Away Team ====
[[trek:characters:shantaar|Shan'taar]] quietly asks, "I presume you're going, captain. How many security personnel do you want?" Mel stipulates, "Ideally, two. Recommendations?" Shan'taar replies immediately, "[[trek:characters:peel|Peel]] and [[trek:characters:virgil|Virgil]]. [[trek:characters:threyshaan|Threy'shaan]] should stay behind after yesterday." Mel agrees and muses, "He'd never agree if we told him." Shan'taar says innocently, "Why would we tell him?" Mel snickers as Fal volunteers to keep an eye on his friend. Shan'taar offers, "Maybe [[trek:characters:armina|Armina]] to keep an eye on things?" The counselor gracefully nods in agreement. Mel hails Phillip and offers him a place on the away team; he immediately accepts. Shan'taar then adds, "Lieutenant [[trek:characters:ktral|K'tral]] is clearly interested in comparative religions, perhaps she'd be interested?" Mel agrees and Sola says cryptically, //"I'll take care of it."//
K'tral jolts awake when //Tom Sawyer// by //Rush// blares through her cabin; she asks groggily, "What do you want, Ssleestak?" Sola materializes by her bed and offers, "An away team is about to beam over to a Dai'Loq ship so Jen can perform a ritual for them. You interested in coming along?" K'tral swiftly agrees and grabs a fresh uniform. The eight members of the away team gather in transporter room one with Ssleestak, who is on hand to greet the technician. With a flash of light, the three Dai'Loq materialize on the transporter pad. Two are soldiers, but one sports armor designed more for withstanding engineering accidents.
She steps forward and says curtly, "I am Technician [[trek:characters:kivo|Kivo]]." Mel introduces herself and her crew; Kivo eyes Ssleestak and asks, "Are you some sort of small N'Dari?" Ssleestak shakes his head and replies, "No, my species is Gorn. Like the N'Dari, we evolved from reptilian life." Kivo grunts and says, "Bring me to the master nexus of the nodules." Ssleestak nods and replies, "Follow me." The Dai'Loq step off the transporter pad and Kivo pats Phillip on the head as she passes. Peel's expression shifts to a 'how dare you touch my squishy' glare, but the Dai'Loq walk out. Mel, Armina, Shan'taar, and Fal share a look as they all notice these three Dai'Loq don't fit into the standard five body types they've seen so far in the Dai'Loq race.
==== "I've Heard about You." ====
The away team steps up on the transporter pad and beams over to the coordinates on the dreadnaught. They rematerialize in a hallway and K'tral looks around in wonder – until she sees the wooden spikes jutting from the ceiling. A group of a half-dozen masked and armored Dai'Loq approach, led by one in the amethyst and platinum armor of an archbishop. She stops and muses, "I've heard about you," to Fal. Fal blushes as the archbishop turns to Mel and says, "I am Archbishop [[trek:characters:krella|Krella]]. Captain Deline, I presume?" Mel nods and briefly introduces her crew. Archbishop Krella motions for the away team to follow her, and she turns and walks away.
The away team complies but they all note the distinct lack of warp core vibrations. The archbishop leads them to a recessed set of double doors. The doors open soundlessly and the away team stares at a gathering of two thousand Dai'Loq! They walk into the auditorium-chapel, a mirror of the one they encountered on Bishop [[trek:characters:karene|Karene]]'s ship back in late December. They descend the stairs down to the altar on a raised platform; the four stylized statues of duty, piety, family, and aggression mark each corner of the platform. As two thousand sets of eyes follow them, the away team steps up to the platform. Jen steps to the fore and Mel steps back to allow her the stage. K'tral, Phillip, and Fal follow suit, while Armina, Virgil, and Peel stand closer to Jen to protect her.
Phillip and Virgil are definitely objects of Dai'Loq attention, but interestingly Fal is utterly ignored. The simple altar on this platform is red instead of the green one from Bishop Karene's ship, and the away team examines it out of curiosity, as there are a few empty places in the auditorium-chapel. Most of the away team recognizes Vulcan characters in the altar and presume this came from a Vulcan ship. However, K'tral stares in gobsmacked wonder as she tentatively identifies the characters as Old High Vulcan, meaning this fragment came from a starship dating back to the Sundering two thousand years ago!
==== The Rite of Release ====
The doors to the auditorium-chapel open one last time, and two Dai'Loq wheel in an object covered by a tarp. Mel tenses as she immediately recognizes a Dai'Loq stasis tube. The two technicians wheel the stasis tube up to the platform and step away, leaving it covered. They take the empty spaces in the first row and Archbishop Krella nods to Jen and says, "The Rite of Release, please." Jen pulls out the Dai'Loq mask and attaches it to her face by hard points that erupt from her skin. The mask clicks into place and several members of the away team shudder, as no matter how many times they've seen it, it remains unsettling.
Jen raises her arms and begins to chant in Dai'Loq. The chant slowly increases in volume and then the Dai'Loq start to respond. Several join the chant and others start to sway in religious ecstasy. As Jen's voice raises in volume, the Dai'Loq start screaming, and then mechanical apertures rise out of the floor by each occupied circle. In a macabre reverse of the ritual that restored Bishop Karene's ragtag crew to proper Dai'Loq, this time the armatures remove the participants' armor, piece by piece! Soon, there are two thousand Dai'Loq wearing nothing but their masks, and several members of the away team note with detachment that there are many different body shapes in this crew, including a few Atavisms, but even some Dai'Loq significantly shorter than the norm.
A glittering purple liquid sprays up from the floor to each participant in the audience, drenching them and sending them deeper into religious frenzy; the away team smells the same mix of saffron and burnt metal from Bishop Karene's ritual. Then the armatures remove the masks, and the two thousand Dai'Loq turn on each other in violence and lust – or both. K'tral mutters under her breath, "Maenads," and Mel grunts in agreement. The away team tenses as several Dai'Loq turn to stare at Phillip and Virgil with naked lust, but even in the throes of ecstasy they completely ignore Fal. Fal channels his abject fear into stoicism, but steps to Jen to protect her.
Mel notes several Dai'Loq mating as she tersely issues orders. The away team shifts for form an arrowhead with Jen at the tip, protecting Phillip, Armina, and K'tral. Although clearly a priority target, Virgil stands ready to protect the away team. However, Fal sees a Dai'Loq soldier stabbed in the stomach; the soldier falls over and Fal leaps off the platform to help! Mel curses as Phillip slips behind Peel and K'tral steps forward to protect Virgil's flank. Mel stares at the frenzied Dai'Loq and curses her choice to do this. However, Jen remains seemingly placid and she says simply, "We need to go." Mel roars, "Fal, get back here!" Without any medical knowledge Fal is reduced to applying pressure to the wound, but he reluctantly falls back to the platform. Once he gets within three meters of Jen, she slams the Dai'Loq staff down on the floor and the entire away team beams out!
==== The Gift ====
The entire away team rematerializes on the bridge of the //Solstice// – with the stasis tube! Mel turns to Jen, who says simply, "It was... a gift." Mel relaxes as she feared the worst, while Shan'taar heads over and pulls down the tarp. The officers look down to see a male Caucasian human with sandy brown hair and a terrified expression on his face, but Mel frowns as she realizes that whoever this man is, he was not part of the crew of the NX-07 //Solstice//.
=====Summary=====
Phillip discovers self-replicating Dai’Loq nodules in the EPS grid; Ssleestak bodily picks him up and pushes him head-first into the conduit for a closer look. The nodules try to push him out and trigger a medical alert on his behalf but cancel it when Ssleestak extracts him. Sola and the Bynars attempt communication and realize the Dai’Loq nanites were inadvertently introduced by Jen Kras six months ago, shortly after she was ‘gifted’ with the nanites herself. Jessa replicates pants and a shirt for Zug, and he hails his mother and reiterates his desire to leave. The nanites request an E7-grade technician, so Mel strikes a deal with the archbishop of the dreadnaught – Jen will lead a ritual while they get the technician. The away team beams over and meet Archbishop Krella, while Technician Kivo beams to the //Solstice//. Jen performs the Ritual of Release, turning two thousand Dai’Loq into frenzied maenads. Jen triggers a beam-out with a Dai’Loq stasis tube as a ‘gift.’ Shan’taar removes the trap covering the tube and the Starfleet officers stare down at a complete stranger.
===== =====
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[[{}trek:solstice:recap:37_act_7|<= Act 7]]
[[{}trek:solstice:recap:37_act_9|Act 9 =>]]
{{tag>star_trek solstice recap}}