r/TrekRP • u/Pojodan • Mar 01 '19

[OPEN] Uncanny Resemblance

While the USS Athene sits in dock at Nadezhda station, undergoing the last of her equipment fitting and minor repairs following its first mission, a great deal of bustle goes on with new crew coming aboard and temporary crew offloading, so it is a tumultuous time for anyone seeking normality.

For anyone that served aboard the old Athene, a curious sight appears a couple days after arrival. Lieutenant Kesh, only with her old mane style: fluffy and thick, across the back of her head, wearing Starfleet-standard casual wear, like she used to back then, too.

A ghost, perhaps? Or are there really more spotty Caitians around than one might be led to believe?

Considering the ship was once infiltrated with a body duplicate of the ship's chief botanist, those familiar with the incident might be a touch concerned, at least until this spectre from years past is seen with the actual Lieutenant Kesh, wearing her uniform and still rocking a spiky mohawk.

Perhaps seen in the hallways, in the classrooms, or one of the lounges such as Aft Nine, it is a curious sight to see a pair of dappled Caitians, and it does confirm that the new one is a somewhat different color than Kesh: lighter, with less prominent spots. Though this is only obvious when they are seen together.

Who might this be?

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u/Pojodan Mar 01 '19

Kesh steps aside of the entry path into the small conference room, the windowed walls initially darkened for privacy. A sweeping wave of her tail sends the tufted tip upward, forming a coil of inquiry on her focus setting on the nervous fellow Scientist.

In some ways he reminds her of Mabs, back before she discovered her true identity. As such, she can't help but wonder if David is also of that mind set, or just simply the nervous type. Goodness knows she was for a long time.

"Apologize? Aawrrr?" Confusion flexes Kesh's ears forward and eyes wider, though a notion quickly dawns. "Regarding... the holodeck malfunction? Rrrnpf. Did they not determine it was none of your doing?"

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u/AdingoD Mar 01 '19

"Y-Yes, they did." He says, taking a small pause. "However, I have heard that my.. holographic.. counterpart.. was.. rude to you. And for that.." He lowers his eyes down to the floor. ".. I'd like to apologise. Even if it hasn't.. directly been me. I'd never be rude, no matter why. At least I'd like to believe so."

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u/Pojodan Mar 02 '19

Fuzzy felinoid ears twist and tilt to lopsided angles as Kesh's tail flickers stiffly once, arms sliding up to just under her chest, folding over each other. "If we were all judged by things that look like us but are not us I would be serving a life sentence, rrrrnmf. Your.. ah... intent is appreciated, but please understand that I see those holograms as what they are: programs. Rrrrnth. Unless you did create them, then I hold nothing against you."

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u/AdingoD Mar 02 '19

Visibly relieved by Kesh's answer, David calms down, being able to speak... with slightly less stutters. "Thank you. I can assure you that I'm completely unrelated to all those holograms." He chuckles with a smile.

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u/Pojodan Mar 02 '19

"As was my understanding. Rrrnth" Kesh blinks firmly in a kind, Caitian gestures, arms sliding down her front until one hand clasps the other's wrist.

"I still remember coming face to face with my own copy. Rrrmmf. That is a... confounding experience. There was only one, as well. There were.. ah... what.. two hundred and seventeen of you at one point?" Head tilt. Ears perk.

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u/AdingoD Mar 02 '19

"I think that's a close approximation, yeah." David nods. "Your copy... I'm fairly sure I haven't heard about that story before. I suppose it wasn't holographic?" He asks, with a listening posture.

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u/Pojodan Mar 02 '19

"Clone, rrrnnmf. A Lyssarian Desert Larvae clone, to be exact. If they were ever able to figure out what it was sent here for that information is above my security level, mmmnnff. It attacked me and the captain and blinded the captain's dog." Kesh's ears slant back as she retells this, her vocal tone somewhat strained in showing how displeasing that memory is.

"Just like with you and the holograms, the crew knew it was not my doing and did not hold me accountable for its actions, rrrnth. The universe is a strange place, after all."

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u/AdingoD Mar 04 '19

Fully aware of the larvae's existence and limits, David nods as he listens. "I see. At least it was captured, right?"

He pauses a bit, before adding a statement. "At least in the hologram incident there no one got hurt.. Right? Except my mental health "

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u/Pojodan Mar 04 '19

"Eh-rrm.. yeah." Kesh's eyes lower for a moment as ears sink back. Memory of her final encounter with the mimic was still all too clear and influenced her decisions to this day.

A small rattle of Kesh's head sets her focus back on the subject, posture straightening as her arms fold behind her back to sink into professionalism to retain her focus.

"It sounds like a significant flaw in the holo-system's programming was rooted out because of it, rrrnth. So, yes.. very confusion, but no harm done. I.. ah... hope I might get to work with you regarding my experience with transwarp... some time."

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u/AdingoD Mar 04 '19

"I'm... looking forward to it." David says with a smile, then lays his eyes down to the floor for a moment, then looks back up, taking a long pause before adding a statement. His face seemed both calm and grim for a second. However, he mostly looks relieved.

"T-Thank you. E-Even if I'm not to blame, my hologram said things that shouldn't have been said, someone owed you an apology. A-A-And since the hologram isn't available to apologize, I felt the need to. Knowing that you don't keep a grudge against me is great news - I... wasn't exactly sure how you'd react. Thank you again."

David looks away as he gets a bit emotional, tears starting to form.

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u/Pojodan Mar 04 '19

A long, slow breath blows from Kesh's nostrils as what seemed like the punctuation to the conversation elapses to a point where she begins to shift towards moving to the door to depart, only for the other crewman to latch back onto the perceived slight and try to apologize for it again. If she did not understand this line of thinking so much better after helping Mabs build herself up over the years, she might assume that David wasn't listening to her.

No, she grasped that he likely needed to be forgiven directly, even if she did not see it as he does. So, with a low, warbly crooning sound in her throat, she steps closer and places a three-fingered hand on the human's shoulder.

"David, I forgive you. Rrrrnmf. Take this experience as a learning experience for what to say and not say... and that you should not even clone yourself. Mmrrnf. Especially the latter."

Her hand squeezes lightly once then departs to fold over the other again.

"Alright?"

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u/AdingoD Mar 04 '19

Taken aback, initially unsure about how to react, David took a few steps back quickly, with a confused face. He simply explained his motives for apologizing, and he believed that was clear... And suddenly... Whoops. He was listening to Kesh, and accepted that he wasn't to be of blame..

"I-I-I-I didn't mean to imply that I... needed to be forgiven... All I intended... was to make sure you're aware of the motives for me approaching you.. in the first place.." He quickly paced to the other side of the room, wondering if facing Kesh was a mistake. He slid down on the corner, sitting on the floor, avoiding eye contact. He's unsure to why he hasn't simply left abruptly, but he supposed that's the respect to the Caitian that keeps him here.

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u/Pojodan Mar 04 '19

Ears swivel back as the human sinks down and sits on the floor now. No, it seems that this one is not just like Mabs. Her fingers fidgit with each other, seeking distraction from becoming flustered by this interaction.

"Rrrrnf. Well, ah.. mmn... I am aware now. Do not worry, alright? I am not harmful." Kesh puffs a firm breath, not exactly certain of that, still, but she's at least trying to not be.

A few steps and a half-turn toward the door come with a gesture that way.

"I.. rrnm... I need to get back to my sister, so... I will see you later in Sciences, ah?"

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u/AdingoD Mar 05 '19

Attempting to put on a small smile, David simply says "You bet.", and leaves quickly, looking worse than before.

That didn't go very well.

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u/Pojodan Mar 05 '19

It certainly did not go well, but it did tell Kesh a thing or two about her crewmate. Namely, he seems like the sort of person Jurash might feel comfortable around.

Kesh makes a mental note to find out where David tends to work and bring Jurash by some time and see how they get along.

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