Shadow

Dr. Jeffrey Kjeldsen, MD Address to the 115th Xenobiology Symposium [This is an excerpted direct transcription of Dr. Kjeldsen’s address. Images and more information can be found in the digital archives of The Journal of Xenobiology.] The Journal of Xenobiology Special Issue on Exceptional Species Vol. 7, August 11, 2418 The Shadow Being Consider, if you will, a universe in which there is no time and no finite space. There is nothing solid, nor is there anything biological. In fact, in this universe all things, all beings, exist and interact as pure energy. There is no linear time, nor is there cyclical time. Time exists. Time is. Past, present, and future are one. Moreover, there is no finite space. There are no boundaries whatsoever. Imagine this universe and put it as firmly into your mind as you can. With that firmly in mind, imagine that at this very instant, without any warning whatsoever, you are transported into that universe. Your body is intact. You are fully clothed. You have in your pockets what you had when you left the house this morning. Absolutely nothing has changed, except that the universe in which you lived a split second before has transformed into a totally alien universe—a timeless, limitless, universe inhabited by beings of pure energy. You have no idea what happened. You might think that it is a dream and try to shake yourself awake, but you can’t, no matter what you do. Then you become confused, you look for a way to get back to where you were, and you grope everywhere looking for a door, an opening, or something that will help you escape. But there is none. You cannot return to your own universe. You are, in essence, stuck in this alternate universe for eternity. You must sustain yourself. You must fend for yourself. You must find food, shelter, companionship—everything that sustained you in your own universe. Pause right now, take a minute, and consider that. Is it even remotely imaginable how you would survive in a universe without time, without distance, without solids, liquids, or gasses? I would wager that most of you would be dumbfounded at such a fantasy, yet this is exactly what happened—in reverse—to a being that has hitherto been a closely guarded military secret. This is what happened to the being that has come to be known as Shadow. According to Starfleet records, this inter-dimensional energy being was snatched from its own dimension and trapped in ours when an alien subspace probe created a dimensional rift in the vicinity of Sky Harbor Aegis 30 years ago, on February 1, 2388. After a long period of adjustment and a steep learning curve, the being and the crew accepted each other. The crew eventually named the being "Shadow" because at first contact it appeared as a shadow, and some of the more superstitious among them believed it was a ghost. Although its species has neither male nor female, for ease of communication… and for no other reason, mind you… the being is spoken of in the masculine. Shadow is a sentient being who exhibits intelligence, reason, emotion, the will to survive, and the need for companionship, shelter, and sustenance. In short, he possesses everything we possess except for a biological body, and he exists today trapped in our universe of finite space and time. After 30 years he is still uncomfortable. He still puzzles over much that he finds in this reality. During last month’s conference on Beta Zebulon I had the rare opportunity to study Shadow, and I can assure you that, as a Xenobiologist, it created a challenge that suggests an oxymoron of infinite proportions in the world of Xenobiology, since there is nothing biological about him. His very existence seems to defy reason. His survival in our universe has challenged my own concept of the universe, and it definitely broadens the Vulcan idea of Kol-Ut-Shan: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. There were, of course, certain basic questions that had to be answered. How does he sustain himself and survive? How does he move? How does he communicate? Does he reproduce, and if so, how? How did he function in his own universe, and how does he function here, outside his own universe? First let us consider survival. As do most beings, Shadow seeks a safe haven wherever he goes. The first place he encountered in this universe was Sky Harbor Aegis, and he considered the station his safe haven. Sky Harbor Aegis was the only link to his own universe—his home—and it was the first place that he found everything he needed to sustain himself: energy, shelter, and companionship. Thus, he was initially reluctant to leave the station for fear of losing the source of everything he needed to maintain his existence. How does he sustain himself? He is energy, therefore he seeks energy. After some experimentation, the engineering staff configured the energy output of a reactor that would meet his needs. The reactor became his home. He wrapped around it and drained just enough power to recharge himself, for lack of a better term. He has, on occasion, mistakenly drained certain systems, but he does not have the ability to drain the energy of entire starships, shuttlecraft, or other large craft. For him, it would be the equivalent of one of us eating the entire fare of several buffet tables, the complete stores of the San Francisco farmer’s market, and then finishing off the contents of the Galaxy Mart down the street. How does he move? He thinks, and he moves. His movement is beyond time and space. Distance is no barrier. One meter is as one light year, and one light year is as a thousand. Within a nanosecond he is able to transport from one ship to the next, or from one galaxy to the next. I say he is able to because being able to and having the desire to are two distinct concepts. Also, to move from one distant place to another, he must have a focus—an energy signature or frequency he can focus on—just as we would need galactic coordinates to plot a course. As for communication, Shadow’s pure energy state enables him to connect with the life energies of those around him, including their brain waves and any variances that may occur with their changes in emotional state. He is able to speak by producing sound waves that transfer to our auditory processors as words, but he does so with difficulty. He can also enter communication equipment, such as PADDs or monitors, manipulate the characters within them, and form rudimentary sentences in several languages. However, he prefers to communicate through energy waves and brain waves, quite similar to telepathy. Full telepaths, empaths, and those with telepathic and empathic tendencies—all of which I lack—have been Shadow's most common contacts. Socially, Shadow is an emotional being who craves companionship. In his own universe he forms energy bonds with like energy beings. In our universe he forms what I will call a companionship bond with those whom we might call his friends. With a few, especially telepaths, he forms an inexplicable solid connection. With that connection he can contact a telepath regardless of distance, even though it might be beyond the ability of the biological friend to reciprocate. He associates with his friends much as we do. He is reluctant to leave their company and will vigorously protect and defend them when they are threatened, to the end of his existence if necessary. Shadow prefers to ease himself into situations and relationships. When encountering a new situation he often manifests himself as a fleeting shadow until he reaches a certain comfort level with his surroundings. He can take on any form, but prefers to take a form that would be familiar to the biological who wishes to make contact. In that sense, I would say he is extremely polite, with a desire to conform to the expectations of the civilization in which he finds himself. In my case, he manifested himself as a Starfleet science officer, most probably because I knew he operated with science in some capacity. Because he is a ward of Starfleet, he bowed to my expectation that he would look like a Starfleet officer. Shadow calls himself a seeker, which not only suggests that he comes from a complex societal structure, but that within that structure his function is much like a scientist. He has a great deal of curiosity and has learned many facts about our universe but is still working on the comprehension of those facts. Just as a child learns that a certain object is called an apple, the child must learn that the flesh of an apple can be eaten and the core cannot, an apple grows on trees and can be used for sauce, pies, and other delicacies. Like the child, Shadow is still working on entire concepts: comprehending the things in and the function of our universe. In fact, it was several months before the concepts of home, planet, and Sol System were explained to him so he could effectively help a ship navigate in the desired direction. Some of you will no doubt point out that we have encountered deceptive, dangerous energy beings such as the anaphasic lifeform, and suggest caution with this new form, which could also prove deceptive. Of course, at first contact, Captain Ramson, then commanding officer of Aegis, proceeded with extreme caution. But time has proven, and I assure you from close observation, that Shadow is very unlike an anaphasic lifeform. Anaphasic energy is extremely unstable and anaphasic-based lifeforms require some sort of conduit to maintain molecular cohesion. They require a corporeal host with compatible biochemistry in order to take physical form. Shadow, on the other hand, requires no host to maintain molecular cohesion. He requires only a sufficient energy source with which to charge: a place to figuratively plug in. He might use—and has on occasion used—a phaser, a force field, a tricorder, or a console to recharge. Then he produces his own form as he wishes. After 30 years of careful, close observation by various groups within the Federation, we are certain that Shadow is the first sentient and inherently benign energy being we have encountered in this universe. Now to the ultimate question: can Shadow die? We know from his own fears that he must be able to diminish to the point of extinction, but can he die and how can he die are two questions that have yet to be answered. Theoretically, all things must pass. However the type of energy that is Shadow has yet to be identified, for obvious reasons. Since he is a sentient being and there is no other being like him, how would one proceed in identifying his type of energy without taking the risk of damaging or destroying him? It is, indeed, a conundrum. According to Shadow, in his universe groups of energy beings exist in bonds, or what we might call cohorts or clans. Shadow considers himself a positive (for lack of a better term) energy being, and those of his bond are of like leaning—they are positives. Positive energy groups seek knowledge and harmony. They are the diplomats, the scientists, and the philosophers. Conversely, there exist bonds of opposite leaning which we shall call negative energy beings. These negative groups thrive on discord and strife. When they join in large bonds they produce conflict, dissention, and disruption—something akin to our wars. Using the terms positive and negative for these groups can be confusing because, for us, positive and negative, when used with energy, usually refer to an electrical charge, and positively and negatively charged particles attract one another and seek balance. In Shadow’s dimension positive and negative seem to be opposites on a philosophical plane, though that analogy is woefully inadequate. Positive and negative cohorts vie for dominance. Should Shadow come in contact with a negative energy being, a conflict would ensue and continue until one is either run off by the other, or one is totally dissipated by the other. The energy is dissipated, not destroyed. What exactly happens after this dissipation remains a mystery as deep as the mystery surrounding a shadow being’s infinite existence. Shadow has no concept of birth or beginning. When asked, he says with some puzzlement that he simply is. He has no recollection of any type of birth, any type of creation, only that the universe, he, and other beings like him, exist and always have existed. So, can Shadow die? Certainly not in the sense that we understand death, but this dissipation may lead to some kind of ceasing to exist. Whether the energy is absorbed by another being or that the energy floats around, dissipated, until it regains cohesion and continues on as the original being has yet to be discovered. The nature of Shadow beings, being positive and negative, leads me to the thought that our universe was indeed fortunate to have trapped a positive being rather than a negative one. Then I wonder what might happen if a negative energy being should be trapped somehow and enter our universe. We do not know if there are other Shadow beings present in our dimension, but the possibility exists that there have been other Shadow beings trapped that have remained undetected. Also, there is the possibility that, should similar circumstances akin to those of Sky Harbor Aegis recur, another might be similarly trapped. As unlikely as that is to occur, we should certainly be aware, and on guard against trapping a negative energy being. Let me say in conclusion that we still have much to learn about these beings and much to learn about the nature of the universe, or the multiverse, in which we coexist. We seem to question the very nature of creation, and discoveries such as this cause us to struggle to find our place in it. As a scientist I find that the more I explore, the more questions I have, and the more questions I have the more ignorant I feel. Yet, in our pursuit of knowledge we must go wherever that pursuit leads us. Our search today has led us into strange territory, and no doubt our search tomorrow will lead us into even stranger realms. All sentient beings—even sentient energy beings—are inherently seekers. It is humanoid nature to explore, to ask questions, and to look for answers. In the words of TS Eliot, “We will not cease from exploration. And the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time.”

Dr. Jeffrey Kjeldsen, MD Address to the 115th Xenobiology Symposium [This is an excerpted direct transcription of Dr. Kjeldsen’s address. Images and more information can be found in the digital archives of The Journal of Xenobiology.] The Journal of Xenobiology Special Issue on Exceptional Species Vol. 7, August 11, 2418 The Shadow Being Consider, if you will, a universe in which there is no time and no finite space. There is nothing solid, nor is there anything biological. In fact, in this universe all things, all beings, exist and interact as pure energy. There is no linear time, nor is there cyclical time. Time exists. Time is. Past, present, and future are one. Moreover, there is no finite space. There are no boundaries whatsoever. Imagine this universe and put it as firmly into your mind as you can. With that firmly in mind, imagine that at this very instant, without any warning whatsoever, you are transported into that universe. Your body is intact. You are fully clothed. You have in your pockets what you had when you left the house this morning. Absolutely nothing has changed, except that the universe in which you lived a split second before has transformed into a totally alien universe—a timeless, limitless, universe inhabited by beings of pure energy. You have no idea what happened. You might think that it is a dream and try to shake yourself awake, but you can’t, no matter what you do. Then you become confused, you look for a way to get back to where you were, and you grope everywhere looking for a door, an opening, or something that will help you escape. But there is none. You cannot return to your own universe. You are, in essence, stuck in this alternate universe for eternity. You must sustain yourself. You must fend for yourself. You must find food, shelter, companionship—everything that sustained you in your own universe. Pause right now, take a minute, and consider that. Is it even remotely imaginable how you would survive in a universe without time, without distance, without solids, liquids, or gasses? I would wager that most of you would be dumbfounded at such a fantasy, yet this is exactly what happened—in reverse—to a being that has hitherto been a closely guarded military secret. This is what happened to the being that has come to be known as Shadow. According to Starfleet records, this inter-dimensional energy being was snatched from its own dimension and trapped in ours when an alien subspace probe created a dimensional rift in the vicinity of Sky Harbor Aegis 30 years ago, on February 1, 2388. After a long period of adjustment and a steep learning curve, the being and the crew accepted each other. The crew eventually named the being "Shadow" because at first contact it appeared as a shadow, and some of the more superstitious among them believed it was a ghost. Although its species has neither male nor female, for ease of communication… and for no other reason, mind you… the being is spoken of in the masculine. Shadow is a sentient being who exhibits intelligence, reason, emotion, the will to survive, and the need for companionship, shelter, and sustenance. In short, he possesses everything we possess except for a biological body, and he exists today trapped in our universe of finite space and time. After 30 years he is still uncomfortable. He still puzzles over much that he finds in this reality. During last month’s conference on Beta Zebulon I had the rare opportunity to study Shadow, and I can assure you that, as a Xenobiologist, it created a challenge that suggests an oxymoron of infinite proportions in the world of Xenobiology, since there is nothing biological about him. His very existence seems to defy reason. His survival in our universe has challenged my own concept of the universe, and it definitely broadens the Vulcan idea of Kol-Ut-Shan: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. There were, of course, certain basic questions that had to be answered. How does he sustain himself and survive? How does he move? How does he communicate? Does he reproduce, and if so, how? How did he function in his own universe, and how does he function here, outside his own universe? First let us consider survival. As do most beings, Shadow seeks a safe haven wherever he goes. The first place he encountered in this universe was Sky Harbor Aegis, and he considered the station his safe haven. Sky Harbor Aegis was the only link to his own universe—his home—and it was the first place that he found everything he needed to sustain himself: energy, shelter, and companionship. Thus, he was initially reluctant to leave the station for fear of losing the source of everything he needed to maintain his existence. How does he sustain himself? He is energy, therefore he seeks energy. After some experimentation, the engineering staff configured the energy output of a reactor that would meet his needs. The reactor became his home. He wrapped around it and drained just enough power to recharge himself, for lack of a better term. He has, on occasion, mistakenly drained certain systems, but he does not have the ability to drain the energy of entire starships, shuttlecraft, or other large craft. For him, it would be the equivalent of one of us eating the entire fare of several buffet tables, the complete stores of the San Francisco farmer’s market, and then finishing off the contents of the Galaxy Mart down the street. How does he move? He thinks, and he moves. His movement is beyond time and space. Distance is no barrier. One meter is as one light year, and one light year is as a thousand. Within a nanosecond he is able to transport from one ship to the next, or from one galaxy to the next. I say he is able to because being able to and having the desire to are two distinct concepts. Also, to move from one distant place to another, he must have a focus—an energy signature or frequency he can focus on—just as we would need galactic coordinates to plot a course. As for communication, Shadow’s pure energy state enables him to connect with the life energies of those around him, including their brain waves and any variances that may occur with their changes in emotional state. He is able to speak by producing sound waves that transfer to our auditory processors as words, but he does so with difficulty. He can also enter communication equipment, such as PADDs or monitors, manipulate the characters within them, and form rudimentary sentences in several languages. However, he prefers to communicate through energy waves and brain waves, quite similar to telepathy. Full telepaths, empaths, and those with telepathic and empathic tendencies—all of which I lack—have been Shadow's most common contacts. Socially, Shadow is an emotional being who craves companionship. In his own universe he forms energy bonds with like energy beings. In our universe he forms what I will call a companionship bond with those whom we might call his friends. With a few, especially telepaths, he forms an inexplicable solid connection. With that connection he can contact a telepath regardless of distance, even though it might be beyond the ability of the biological friend to reciprocate. He associates with his friends much as we do. He is reluctant to leave their company and will vigorously protect and defend them when they are threatened, to the end of his existence if necessary. Shadow prefers to ease himself into situations and relationships. When encountering a new situation he often manifests himself as a fleeting shadow until he reaches a certain comfort level with his surroundings. He can take on any form, but prefers to take a form that would be familiar to the biological who wishes to make contact. In that sense, I would say he is extremely polite, with a desire to conform to the expectations of the civilization in which he finds himself. In my case, he manifested himself as a Starfleet science officer, most probably because I knew he operated with science in some capacity. Because he is a ward of Starfleet, he bowed to my expectation that he would look like a Starfleet officer. Shadow calls himself a seeker, which not only suggests that he comes from a complex societal structure, but that within that structure his function is much like a scientist. He has a great deal of curiosity and has learned many facts about our universe but is still working on the comprehension of those facts. Just as a child learns that a certain object is called an apple, the child must learn that the flesh of an apple can be eaten and the core cannot, an apple grows on trees and can be used for sauce, pies, and other delicacies. Like the child, Shadow is still working on entire concepts: comprehending the things in and the function of our universe. In fact, it was several months before the concepts of home, planet, and Sol System were explained to him so he could effectively help a ship navigate in the desired direction. Some of you will no doubt point out that we have encountered deceptive, dangerous energy beings such as the anaphasic lifeform, and suggest caution with this new form, which could also prove deceptive. Of course, at first contact, Captain Ramson, then commanding officer of Aegis, proceeded with extreme caution. But time has proven, and I assure you from close observation, that Shadow is very unlike an anaphasic lifeform. Anaphasic energy is extremely unstable and anaphasic-based lifeforms require some sort of conduit to maintain molecular cohesion. They require a corporeal host with compatible biochemistry in order to take physical form. Shadow, on the other hand, requires no host to maintain molecular cohesion. He requires only a sufficient energy source with which to charge: a place to figuratively plug in. He might use—and has on occasion used—a phaser, a force field, a tricorder, or a console to recharge. Then he produces his own form as he wishes. After 30 years of careful, close observation by various groups within the Federation, we are certain that Shadow is the first sentient and inherently benign energy being we have encountered in this universe. Now to the ultimate question: can Shadow die? We know from his own fears that he must be able to diminish to the point of extinction, but can he die and how can he die are two questions that have yet to be answered. Theoretically, all things must pass. However the type of energy that is Shadow has yet to be identified, for obvious reasons. Since he is a sentient being and there is no other being like him, how would one proceed in identifying his type of energy without taking the risk of damaging or destroying him? It is, indeed, a conundrum. According to Shadow, in his universe groups of energy beings exist in bonds, or what we might call cohorts or clans. Shadow considers himself a positive (for lack of a better term) energy being, and those of his bond are of like leaning—they are positives. Positive energy groups seek knowledge and harmony. They are the diplomats, the scientists, and the philosophers. Conversely, there exist bonds of opposite leaning which we shall call negative energy beings. These negative groups thrive on discord and strife. When they join in large bonds they produce conflict, dissention, and disruption—something akin to our wars. Using the terms positive and negative for these groups can be confusing because, for us, positive and negative, when used with energy, usually refer to an electrical charge, and positively and negatively charged particles attract one another and seek balance. In Shadow’s dimension positive and negative seem to be opposites on a philosophical plane, though that analogy is woefully inadequate. Positive and negative cohorts vie for dominance. Should Shadow come in contact with a negative energy being, a conflict would ensue and continue until one is either run off by the other, or one is totally dissipated by the other. The energy is dissipated, not destroyed. What exactly happens after this dissipation remains a mystery as deep as the mystery surrounding a shadow being’s infinite existence. Shadow has no concept of birth or beginning. When asked, he says with some puzzlement that he simply is. He has no recollection of any type of birth, any type of creation, only that the universe, he, and other beings like him, exist and always have existed. So, can Shadow die? Certainly not in the sense that we understand death, but this dissipation may lead to some kind of ceasing to exist. Whether the energy is absorbed by another being or that the energy floats around, dissipated, until it regains cohesion and continues on as the original being has yet to be discovered. The nature of Shadow beings, being positive and negative, leads me to the thought that our universe was indeed fortunate to have trapped a positive being rather than a negative one. Then I wonder what might happen if a negative energy being should be trapped somehow and enter our universe. We do not know if there are other Shadow beings present in our dimension, but the possibility exists that there have been other Shadow beings trapped that have remained undetected. Also, there is the possibility that, should similar circumstances akin to those of Sky Harbor Aegis recur, another might be similarly trapped. As unlikely as that is to occur, we should certainly be aware, and on guard against trapping a negative energy being. Let me say in conclusion that we still have much to learn about these beings and much to learn about the nature of the universe, or the multiverse, in which we coexist. We seem to question the very nature of creation, and discoveries such as this cause us to struggle to find our place in it. As a scientist I find that the more I explore, the more questions I have, and the more questions I have the more ignorant I feel. Yet, in our pursuit of knowledge we must go wherever that pursuit leads us. Our search today has led us into strange territory, and no doubt our search tomorrow will lead us into even stranger realms. All sentient beings—even sentient energy beings—are inherently seekers. It is humanoid nature to explore, to ask questions, and to look for answers. In the words of TS Eliot, “We will not cease from exploration. And the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time.”

Considering Shadow Shadow and Nijil It was strange, this place he was in, wherever it was. Had he discovered a new universe, a place where most energies coalesce into a very compact state, into extremely close bonds? He strained to find the appropriate nomenclature, but what he saw, what he experienced, where he was and everything that surrounded him was so foreign, so bizarre. How it happened was a mystery—as much a mystery as were the inhabitants he encountered. Some inhabitants were biological—a complex mix of energies that moved, manufactured, and communicated in waves and vibrations rather than using the energy waves that emitted from the top of their construction. Other inhabitants were thick, compact, and formed a shell that the biological inhabitants occupied. They had many names for the shell: station, ship, fighter, drone, quarters, home.... They came in different sizes and served different purposes. There must be more shells, he thought, and he wondered if the biological inhabitants could survive without them. He thought not, and he mourned for the energies that formed the shells. They were trapped, doomed to a certain function for the duration of their existence. He sighed. Movement came from and moved to everywhere. One particle smashed against another with immense power. Some joined together, broke the other apart, and formed many pieces. It was a perpetual battle in which neither won nor lost. Instead, it changed forms. He saw movement in the elements that formed the shell, and movement in the objects that flowed through it and around it. In some cases, the shell served as a conduit for the particles, but to what purpose? Did that energy have no sense of being? Of presence? Of existence? Did one exist to serve the other until it ceased to exist? Cease to exist. Cease. To exist. If he stayed here, would he cease to exist? His sigh would have echoed in engineering, except that the main shell was vibrating and producing sound that drowned it out. Chaos. Many vibrations. Many discharges of energy. Much destruction, dissipation, and reformation. He often dissipated for survival, but when he re-formed, he was still intact, unchanged. But the immense discharge of power from this large shell—what they called the station—to a smaller shell they called a ship—changed things. It rendered the small shells unusable. Why? What was the purpose? Again he sighed. In the chaos of many vibrations and expulsions of energy, the biological inhabitant closest to him had stopped moving. But its elements were moving. Would it cease to exist? This one that communicated? Would it cease... to... exist? From his shelter around the reactor, Shadow slowly unwrapped to investigate. He dissipated to a thin mist and floated cautiously toward the inhabitant, coming to a stop close enough to watch, and not close enough to disturb. Or frighten. Or make it cease to exist. The biologicals were delicate. Fragile. "Don't worry abo- oof!" Cried the downed engineer-in-charge Nijil as one of his associates tripped over him. Seeing as he was in the way of everyone he pulled himself against a wall. A broken leg was minor compared to other possible injuries, but he wanted to play the role as intended. The wall behind the main console provided a more or less decent view while others worked. Their training allowed them to get the job done without his intervention. Thinking of it, was he really necessary? Jennifer Larson gave him a quick rub on his shoulder as she took command in his absence. He nodded; she nodded. They each knew what to do. Nijil was to sit. He watched as others around him worked, which would give him an opportunity later to evaluate good and bad choices. That was short lived as something caught his eye from a corner. Nijil squinted to block out the overhead lights. "Foggy?" Shadow watched, uncertain of this form’s condition or intent. It splayed against the support element, the element that did not communicate, the one that formed the inner part of the shell. Why did it hug that element? Why did it not move like the others? Nijil checked to see if other engineers saw what he did, but they were too embroiled in their work to notice. He tried to wave the entity over, but like before he had little hope of it not simply dissipating. With a loud whisper as to not arouse others he spoke. "Hey, what are au doing here?" What are au doing here? It was communicating. Vibrating. Wasting energy. Shadow reached out to the place of information for understanding. What is here? Here is… location in space. Intersection of coordinates. Place. Like the place of information. Strange concept. "I'm guessing au won't say either way, or na... positive... negative... bah, binary. This is not the first time I've been quickly dispatched...but at least this is simulated." Within a nanosecond, Shadow materialized by the inhabitant’s side and took a form that vaguely resembled it. “Here,” he said, without moving his awkwardly formed lips. Then he struggled to produce a vibration. “Cease… to… exist?” Still, his lips did not move. "What?" Asked Nijil, looking puzzled. "Oh me? Not today, though if the simulation called me deceased I'd practice the eternal sleep in my own quarters. Oh no. My daughter is getting a musical instrument. Scratch that." He looked directly at the formed mist. "I thought we lost you. How are you doing?" “Here,” he said again, puzzled. “Sim….” He stopped. Vibrating to form words took much energy. Waste of energy. He began to fade. Use place of information. “Sim...ula...tion. Imm..itate. Fake?” "Not easy for you, this speaking form of communication. I don't blame you." He thought progress was being made. "Yes, fake, but on purpose. Training. Lesson. Practice." Perhaps breaking up thoughts into their meaning would help. “Why?” The upswing of inflection took even more energy. “Waste energy.” "To learn, improve, so we know what to do when this is real. Glad you are asking questions" “Words… fake… energy… waste....” Shadow was fading into the bulkhead with the strain. "Be that as it may, here we are. Hey, don't go." Nijil reached out for the fog like he would towards Annisha and brushed him only slightly just before the fog dissipated. The touch ricocheted across his skin, up and down his legs and to his extremities. "Fvadt! Ugh." He shook violently, but more like a twitching eye. He felt it more than performed it for all to see. His eyes opened wide as his head jerked up. He stared at the lights above as the impulses carried across his body. Muscles contracted one moment and relaxed the next. "Ah..." Things were looking up. One pain was replaced by some kind of burning sensation he hoped was not real. "Oh..." He may, or may not have regretted drinking so much coffee that morning. "Ugh..." The oscillations were subsiding as was the pain, but he could not tell as his senses were mixed up like a Ferengi trying to argue logic with a Klingon. Nothing made any sense. Clarity replaced by pain. Nijil let out a sigh as his body finally gave out and his mind shut down to protect itself, once again. His body rested as though he was sleeping on a bed of rocks. When he regained consciousness, a soft voice spoke from the void. “No…. touch.”

The Return A Shadow Log In the grand scheme of things, one energy being made little difference. For a particular energy being, however, it made all the difference in the universe, whether it was his own or the one into which he had been thrust. Shadow had adapted, in a manner of speaking, to the universe into which he had been drawn when Agincourt returned from the Perseus Arm. The shock overcome, he turned to survival. He was a seeker. He would learn. He would survive. All energy in this new universe seemed the same as in his own - except for the corporeal beings who befriended him. He learned to identify each one by sensing their energy signatures and classifying them as either friend or foe - that is, one to be avoided or one to embrace (figuratively speaking, of course). As awkward and misunderstood as it often was, Shadow first learned, for the sake of his friends, to form a corporeal shape. Then he learned to communicate. He identified the corporeal being then traced its energy waves to its energy center, what they called the brain. He read the synapse patterns used to produce what they called thought and speech. In common terms, Shadow had learned to "listen" to brain waves and respond in one way or another. He had also learned to decipher the sound waves they produced and to produce them himself by compressing the atmosphere at various frequencies. In short, Shadow had adapted as much as he could to this universe. He had learned, in the absence of his positive energy bonding mates, to swarm with positive energy wherever he found it. He existed. He was. He endured in this alien reality. Until the Soltan. Until Corianis, where dark energy lurked long after their departure. Until the Alpha Quadrant front line skirmish that stirred the Soltan dark energy into fury until it overflowed and disbursed what little cohesion Shadow had left. Without the aid of his cohorts to swarm and protect him from the Soltan massive dark absorption, the positive energy being known as Shadow dissipated. Since he knew not time he could not gauge how long he drifted, each particle separated from the other. He only knew that at one point he wasn't, and then he was. Soon he sensed others. The Hefner. The Grafton. He was home.

Missing Shadow was missing. He missed his cohorts, his bond-mates, those of his own kind with whom he interacted on a level unimaginable and unattainable for these beings with whom he interacted in this universe. For Shadow, bonding was a complete assimilation of his energy with the energy of his bond-mates for the total, intimate sharing of information, for support, and especially for protection and defense. This bonding was not possible here, or at least he had not yet discovered it. Yet he had formed bonds of sorts in this universe and, as a Seeker among his own, charged with investigation of the unknown for the strengthening of his kind, he had observed that a sort of bonding existed among the biological beings of this universe. He knew not time, but to put it in the terms of these corporeal beings who called themselves the crew of Agincourt, over time Shadow had formed a type of bond with a certain group and he noticed that they seemed to have types of bonds with which he was not – and could not be – familiar. The Tay was his closest corporeal bond. The Tay being – dubbed strange by the crew, yet no stranger than Shadow – communicated on a basic, familiar level. The subtlety of energy communication known as telepathy seemed to escape the others, so the intimacy Shadow felt with Tay he considered a type of bond. Though the concept of place escaped him, this communication knew no bounds. Shadow received Tay’s thoughts no matter what point in space Tay occupied, though what Tay called distance seemed to hamper her reception and, therefore, her ability to respond. Shadow had also formed a sort of bond with others of the crew: the Harper, the JoNs, the Odile, the Kairi, and the Hefner. Those energy signatures he could pick readily from the rest of the crew; others required more concentration. As a Seeker, Shadow had noticed that, though they lacked the energy bonding with which he was familiar, another type of bond existed among certain of these biologicals, one that went beyond the bounds of the most common union for procreation. For instance, the Harper seemed to have a bond with her crew, a certain resonance that told the crew her mood or the likelihood that she would make a certain decision. Likewise, she seemed to sense her crew’s disposition, which sometimes gave them pause. They used the phrase eyes in the back of her head quite often, which puzzled Shadow, not only because of the literal interpretation but because to him it was logical that the resonance flowed both ways. If they could sense her, why should she not be able to sense them? No matter. Suffice to say that these bonds, however strong they had become during his captivity in this strange universe, were weak in comparison to the bonds he experienced in his own universe, and he regretted having taken those strong bonds for granted. Now he took nothing for granted. He formed the bonds he could, however tenuous, and continued in the hope that he would some day return to his own. Until then, he missed them, and in the missing and the waiting he absorbed the energy available to him, and slowly weakened for lack of true bonds, the all-absorbing intimate contact that affirmed his value, his worth, his need for his bond-mates and they for him. Especially in this time of Soltan attack, his energy waned, the Soltans’ negative energy slowly but deliberately overwhelming his positive energy. He had clung to the junction outside main engineering as long as possible. Then, as one clinging to a bridge no longer had the strength to endure, he had succumbed to the inevitable and passed into the ether.

Congratulations go out to Jerry "Skip" Maxwell, who graduated from STSF Academy on August 6, 2009! Welcome, Ensign Maxwell!

Game Master - STSF Kansas Game Master - Shadow Command: Commanding Officer (CO) - STSF Kansas Executive Officer (XO) - Lisanna Security: Chief Security Officer (CSEC) - Jerry "Skip" Maxwell Asst Security Officer (ASEC) - C. T. Caine Asst Security Officer (ASEC) - Schawnsee Medical: Chief Medical Officer (CMO) - Eva Jaz Asst Medical Officer (AMO) - TKAR MISSION BRIEF: In a continuation of last week, the cadet crew of the USS Greenleaf (Kelvin Class) has landed the Shuttle DeForest Kelley on a colony planet. A distress call originating from a section of the planet about 15 minutes away on foot is being received, and we are to investigate. We are all planetside. ThursChat09_08_06.txt

MISSION BRIEF: This sim is set in the New Original Series timeline from the movie. The USS Greenleaf (Kelvin Ship Class) is on patrol; we seem to have lost our Class F Shuttle, the DeForest Kelley, and are attempting to locate it and her small crew. Command: Commanding Officer (CO) - STSF Kansas Executive Officer (XO) - Shadow Bridge Crew: Helm/Ops Manager (HOPS) - Samantha Kent Tactical Officer (TAC) - Mreh K'hal Engineering: Chief Engineer Officer (CENG) - Pneuma Asst Engineer Officer (AENG) - James Howell Asst Engineer Officer (AENG) - Ens Hawke Science: Chief Science Officer (CSCI) - Leila Kalomi Medical: Chief Medical Officer (CMO) - Eva Jaz Asst Medical Officer (AMO) - Erika MR Asst Medical Officer (AMO) - TKAR Unfortunately, the chat log for this academy is not available.

Congratulations to Pneuma, who graduated from the Thursday Academy on July 23.

Does that qualify for Le Poof? Taboo cat!

Taboo cat watch birds? Tay! Tay! Bad kitty. Down! Chase yarn.

Mission Brief: The crew of the USS Olie <Norway class> are enroute to Vergas V to determine its terraforming potential, all systems are nominal and the crew is relaxed and looking forward to this scientific mission, a chance to create a new world in effect. Command: Commanding Officer (CO) ----- STSF Dacotah Executive Officer (XO) ----- Will Marx Bridge Crew: Ops Manager (OPS) ----- Wade F Knight Tactical Officer (TAC) -------- Princess T'Lak Helm (HELM) ----------- Eagle Security: Chief Security Officer (CSEC) - Cadet Wolf Asst Security Officer (ASEC) -- Vilanne Engineering: Chief Engineer Officer (CENG) - Kairi Asst Engineer Officer (AENG) -- Gugeyewalker Science: Chief Science Officer (CSCI) -- Torre Ze'Rea Asst Science Officer (ASCI) --- Samantha Kent Medical: Chief Medical Officer (CMO) --- TKAR 090128.txt

Of Hair and Other Things A Shadow Log It had occurred to Shadow that biologicals had an innate need to categorize not only inanimate objects (which, of course, were not inanimate at all, they only seemed that way to the observationally challenged senses of an organic being), but anything they came across, including other biologicals, even those they considered similar to themselves. Moreover, their classification went beyond the complex taxonomies that constantly changed because of DNA sequencing. They either craved or enjoyed what The Hefner called pigeonholing according to rank, behavior, hair color, quirks of communication, etc. In fact, anything that could differentiate one from the other tended to create a pigeonhole, though Shadow had yet to locate this hole aboard the Agincourt. For instance, in the absence of anything concrete on which to base their decision, they had first named this energy being Shadow then renamed it Casper and had given it a gender, which was beyond strange on so many levels. For lack of, or perhaps in complete disregard of Tay Nightflyer’s proper designation, they had named her Bat, among other things. But she didn’t seem to mind and the crew seemed to derive a degree of amusement that kept the crew occupied during otherwise dark and dangerous times. All that aside, Shadow had noticed that he, too, in his observations of this universe, had begun to categorize. It intrigued him immensely and he wondered if it was a sign of progression or regression. However, the more intrigued he became the more he categorized and he wondered how far he could go with said categorization until one day the use of the transporter caught his attention. These finite biological beings stood on a platform and trusted a mechanism to disassemble their atomic structure, transport it through the ether to a destination, and then reassemble it – hopefully in the original configuration. If, he wondered, they could do that, why did they not remain in that disassembled state, an infinitely more efficient state of being than the complex energy-wasting biological state to which they were born? ‘Twas, indeed, a puzzlement. In their original biological state they consumed stored energy in the form of food, used only a portion of said stored energy to sustain, grow, and reproduce, then disposed of the stored energy that was not needed. This disposed stored energy eventually disintegrated into its prime components, bonded with other components, began to grow into another biological item to be used as stored energy, and the cycle continued ad infinitum. Their seekers called this the conservation of matter and energy, though Shadow begged to differ that there was any kind of conservation involved, only consumption and disposal. Disposal. Removal. Discarding. Clearing. Throwing away. It was all such a waste. And evidence of such seemed to litter the ship, though the crew didn’t seem to notice it as much as Shadow did. Except for The Harper, who kept what she called a lint roller by her chair on the bridge. It had something to do with The JoNs and a process called shedding, which Shadow took to be similar to other biological life that the crew considered non-sentient. Deciduous trees found on some planets seemed to exhibit the same phenomenon: the shedding of a part that is no longer needed, or falling away when its purpose is finished, such as when the fruit is ripe. Was The JoNs’ shedding similar to that? Did The JoNs produce a tiny unseen fruit beneath what she called her coat? Yet, The Harper didn’t seem to notice the shedding of her own hair, which seemed to drop occasionally, especially when she was faced with incalculable odds in stressful situations. Though she occasionally removed a hair from her uniform tunic she seemed to be more obsessed with The JoNs’ shedding than her own. The shedding of hair and dead epidermal particles also seemed to be ignored, except by the lowliest of the lowly who were tasked with cleaning the ship. Yet another categorization. ‘Twas, indeed, a puzzlement.

The crew of the USS Greenleaf (Steamrunner class) are flying through the Sigma Draconis Cluster, taking scans of the various space phenomena and a nearby swampy planet. Command: Commanding Officer (CO) ----- STSF NDak Executive Officer (XO) ----- STSF Jumper Bridge Crew: Mission Commanding Officer (MCO) - STSF Jumper/NDak Mission Executive Officer (MXO) - Samantha Kent Helm/Ops Manager (HOPS) ----- WadeKnight Tactical Officer (TAC) -------- Dusty506 Science: Chief Science Officer (CSCI) -- TKAR Others: Swamp Thing - Shadow

The USS Firebrand, Akira Class, is headed towards the edge of Breen space to assist a vessel in distress. Command: Commanding Officer (CO) Samantha Kent Executive Officer (XO) T'Prise Bridge Crew: Helm/ Ops Manager (HOPS) TKAR Tactical Officer (TAC) Wade Knight Security: Chief of Security (CSEC) Shadow 081023_Thurs_Academy.txt

It seems I have been discovered: http://news.aol.com/article/sky-watcher-sp...ic-ghost/119539

Of Grilling the Brass at The Council A Shadow Log of Confusion to the Nth Degree Many things puzzled Shadow, but such was the existence of an energy being in a world of biologicals – constant puzzlement. However, he had learned long ago to consider said confusion more of a learning experience than a source of annoyance or frustration. Therefore, when he became confused he liked to investigate, to get to the proverbial bottom of things if possible. “Are you to remain on the ship?” Shadow had asked of science officer Salir, referring to the Harper’s trip to appear before what she called The Council. Somehow Shadow had gotten the idea that appearances before such illustrious bodies were a privilege, something to be desired. It mystified him that, as a science officer working on the Soltan situation, Salir was not making ready as were the others in the Harper’s party. “As far as I know, yes.” The Salir seemed satisfied, yet slightly distressed that he was not going. Of course Salir could have been distressed over the problem at hand – how to set up the sensor array to alert the Federation to Soltan invasion – instead. Shadow decided to probe a bit further. “What must one do to be invited to such events?” “Be the most unlucky person on the ship?” the Salir said with a smirk, a confusing expression to Shadow because it lay somewhere between humor and derision. He felt a disturbance in the force, a puzzle growing deep within his energy. “You do not wish to go?” “Go talk to a load of brass and electeds about stuff? Heck no.” Talk to brass. Apparently there were biologicals made of a metal composite. This Shadow had to see. “It is, then, a punishment for those who are leaving?” Shadow continued, already having half made up his proverbial mind to accompany the group to Vulcan. The Salir laughed. “Not exactly. No one but a masochist wants to spend time with the brass being grilled, but it's sort of one of those things that it also means you're in the know and a senior member of the team.” Engage database: mas och•ist n. 1. One who derives pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from being humiliated or mistreated, either by another or by oneself. 3. One who has a willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences. tr.v. grilled, grill•ing 1. To broil on a gridiron. 2. To torture or afflict as if by broiling. 3. To mark or emboss with a gridiron; to brand. Shadow had no idea that if you were in the know and a senior member of the team one would also be a masochist who would want to spend time grilling metal composite biologicals. This was strange, indeed. “Perhaps it would be advantageous for me to observe this strange encounter and learn more of the biological political structure - that is, the brass being grilled because they are most worthy of the grilling.” With that he disappeared into the ether to consider the multiplicity of ideas running rampant through his information processors. 1. The Hefner had educated him concerning many aspects of Terran life, one of which was the barbecue, otherwise known as the BBQ and grilling. Apparently it was tradition in many Terran cultures to marinade various cuts of muscle from other, apparently non-sentient, biological beings then grill them over open flames with the idea of consuming said grilled meat so the live biologicals’ bodies could convert said grilled meat into energy. It seemed, to Shadow, a waste of energy to use energy (fire & the act of cooking) to cook matter (muscle) then use energy (mastication) to consume matter (muscle) to convert grilled energy into kinetic energy by using energy again (digestion). But then he considered the source of the tradition and let it pass. 2. It was, apparently, an honor to be grilled (since it was done before The Council), but the Harper & Co were not to be grilled. Instead they were to grill the metallic composite beings with the idea of consumption. To Shadow’s knowledge the Harper & Co were incapable of digesting metallic composites. This truly was an event worthy of investigation. 3. He also realized that the language of biologicals left a lot to be desired in the way of explicit communication, and therefore perhaps there could be an alternate interpretation of the term grilling that he had not yet encountered. Or so he hoped. He decided that as a Seeker he should observe said grilling and that perhaps in the observation he would learn something new about his interpretation of the word. With those thoughts firmly tucked away, Shadow locked onto the energy of the JoNs – one of the easier energies to decipher – slipped into the ether and happily tagged along with Harper & Co to the grilling of the brass at The Council.

Words Words Words A joint log by Shadow and Tay “What do?” Tay asked the Odile, her frustration showing. “Write more report on subspace? Words words words?” “For the moment, yes, please. I've been in contact with another Starfleet scientist, and we're both thinking we need more of an 'early warning' system.” Tay’s frustration seemed to turn to interest. “Scout. Know intruder. Is need. Will think. Shadow is here. Will talk.” Shadow was inclined to agree, and he knew he could help, if only in a small way. “The Odile enjoys reports. Many words. I can produce words with energy.” “Never enough words. Always need more words.” “How many words need?” “Aleph three?” Tay said, smiling. Shadow waded a tendril in the nearest console, lighting Tay’s screen up with words, words, words. Report after report on the Soltan encounter. Many words. Tay should be pleased. Yet, she seemed confused, tilting her head this way and that. “Shadow connects with computer directly. Can do many words. Can make triplicate, quadruplicate, many many words.” He hoped this would explain the matter, and it seemed to at least placate Tay, judging from her facial expression. “The Odile delights in reports. Words. words. Words,” Shadow explained. “Many shadow words, fewer Tay words?” Shadow turned his parameters to produce more Shadow words, fewer Tay words. “Odile wants new report. Report how find ships warn ships coming subspace? Soltan ships.... need warning before come. Need find them to fight them.” That made sense, but how to do it? “Ship communication is subspace, yes?” “Yes....” said Tay, seeming to follow the thought. “Soltan fly subspace. Communication is subspace. Soltan have energy signature, can magnify if detected in communication matrix? Or communication disruption by any signature trigger alert?” Tay tilted her head sideways. “Sounds good. Know signature? Best know right signature.” Shadow agreed, but… “Not know Soltan signature. Much confusion.” “Soltan ships make subspace noise. Comm gear filters out noise. Change filters? Listen only specific noise?” Of course. “Change filters to allow ship travel noise. Records for Soltan attack? Should have Soltan ship noise somewhere.” Tay pulled up the ship’s detailed comm records unfiltered for subspace noise, then shifted to other records. “Earth must have records. Lots scholars. Record everything.” “Exit noise same as travel noise?” “Likely different. Exit noise loud, but too late? Want travel noise. Detect sooner? “Earth records in ship database? Yes, likely different….” Shadow paused, his face lighting up – literally. “Wait! Agincourt travel with Soltan ships in subspace. Piggyback, the Harper said. Agincourt have Soltan travel signature?” Tay called up the sensor readings taken during the cross galaxy jaunt. Almost as many sensor records as Shadow had words. If those readings existed in subspace, what would leak over into a comm array in realspace? As if she followed Shadow’s inquiring thoughts, she performed FFT transforms, allows for doppler, performs an integral over the differentiation, throwing every bit of technobabble she could at it to make it seem right. Shadow was impressed. “Need test. Have spare Solarian ship?” Shadow blinked. “Spare Soltan ship? Soltans gone.” “Gone where?” “Home? Not here. Not at Earth. Gone.” “Hope so. Not sure.” Tay frowned and ran a simulation in an attempt to determine what a Soltarian signature would look like. “Problem.... this signature whole fleet. Need make signature one ship, to ship.” “All fleet ships same?” “Likely not. Need find average.” Shadow agreed. “Find average better than none at all. Can also program for entire fleet.” Tay tapped away and, just for fun, translated some of the subspace signatures into sounds, to listen to what the ships "sound" like, which made Shadow change colors across the spectrum. Then she attached those filters to the raw feed of the subspace sensor / comm arrays. Finally Tay said, “If Soltan ship shows up, not detected, will know did not work. Need better way test.” “Ask the Harper for Soltan ship?” Somehow Shadow knew that wasn’t going to fly.

Quite a mess we have, indeed. RE plans to create an early warning system: Tay and Shadow were working on a subspace alarm of sorts last Weds, but we haven't quite figured out how it's going to work. We need a Soltan ship so we can whack the signature off it for a test. We don't want just anything coming through subspace to set off a planetary take cover, but having a Soltan alarm should come in handy. Fleet is quite thin, word must be out that the Federation is vulnerable and I would think that at the very least circling the wagons is a good idea. On the other hand, the best defense is a good offense, or at least a posture that makes it look like the Federation is in control (read: coverup). Much to ponder.

On Pain As slow as he was to grasp the concept of mortality, Shadow was quickly coming to an understanding of pain as he believed his biological crewmates experienced it. He knew the pain of loss, of course, having lost his bond, his cohorts, and all he knew when Agincourt wrenched him from his own universe not long ago. He had noticed that the crew experienced that same sense of loss, especially when losing someone or something dear, as he had. With that kind of pain he could not help, and it saddened him. He had been, however, studying and experimenting with his energy in the hope that he would be able to alleviate the physical pain now experienced by some of the crew because of their injuries. However, his efforts were not altogether altruistic. Unbeknownst to them, their pain became his because their physical pain altered their energy signatures, which, in turn, altered his. This altered signature not only confused him, but distressed him, and he interpreted that distress as “feeling pain.” Those with whom he had formed close friendships – or whose energy signatures were most familiar to him – altered his energy to a greater degree than those who were not so familiar. So, although they could often hide their pain from other biologicals, they could not hide their pain from Shadow. Which brings us to Shadow’s encounter with Commander JoNs on the bridge. Shadow’s conversation with Tay and the sadness they both felt during their recovery missions had compelled him to look for an outlet. Perhaps the performance of some good would help alleviate his depression. The JoNs was in pain, both emotional and physical. He could not help her with the emotional pain, but he sincerely felt that after experimenting with his energy and learning about biological bodies he could help with the feline’s physical pain. It seemed simple enough. According to the medical database in the central computer, energy traveled through the biologicals’ bodies via a network of what they called neurons to something they called a spinal cord, a relay station that branched the impulse into a reflex and a message to a central area called the brain, which gave them the pain and often resulted in some kind of auditory outburst. This physical pain apparently was a warning to the body that something was amiss. The reflex in the spinal cord supposedly helped to prevent further injury. The terminology, of course, was irrelevant. All Shadow had to do was find the energies that were traveling in the area of the pain and defuse them – in a manner of speaking. His biggest problem, however, was not finding the area of pain, but powering down his own energy – spreading himself as thin as possible – in order to accomplish his goal of absorbing, discharging, and effectively short-circuiting the pain without damaging the biological body. This he did, slowly and carefully, disbursing his energy to the subatomic level. Each impulse that seemed out of place, each that interfered with his own recognition of the JoNs’s energy signature, he discharged from her body. After some minutes it seemed to be working. Though she seemed skeptical at first, she began to relax. Then she purred.

Seems as though we've opened up the proverbial can of worms. Many questions. No answers. Or, as Tay would say, "words, words, words." ::contemplates::

Servo Nos A Joint Log by Bryan Socom and Shadow Socom entered the tunnel, making his way slowly towards the people who were trapped in a cave that had been made by debris falling over a drainage ditch. Shadow followed Socom but kept his distance. He knew the biologicals' superstitions, especially their lack of understanding concerning the unseen universe, and he did not want to frighten them. Their lifesigns told him they had endured enough in the past few days and a sudden shock could result in what the Healers called "a heart attack." Socom had reached the area where the group was trapped. "Can you hear me?" he asked. He got a reply. "Yes. Who are you?" "Bryan Socom. I am from the USS Agincourt. How many people are hurt?" "Most of us. How did you find us?" Socom looked around for Shadow, making sure he was behind him. "We found your biosigns and saw a large number of them. Enough chit-chat, we need to get you some help." By this time Socom had entered their area of the ditch. Shadow followed closely and assumed as solid a figure as possible but remained away from the biologicals for fear of damaging them. To his left he sensed a considerable pile of material, probably the supplies beamed from Agincourt into the small area he indicated several hours before. Labels of MRE, Drugs, and Potable Water poked out from the pile. With some containers intact and others torn open, it was evident that those trapped had made good use of it. Using his best voice, the one he reserved for the Odile, the Socom, and others who were used to more intricate vocalized language, Shadow asked, "How may we assist you?" He hoped his voice or his presence did not frighten anyone, and from their reaction he judged that it did not. A burly man to Shadow's left grunted. "You're kidding, right? Just get us outa here, ok?” He paused, as though regretting his comment. “Hey," the man continued as though in apology, "don't get me wrong. Before you came along we thought this would be our grave. So, whatever you can do to get us out." He seemed to be struggling to stand, and not making much progress. Socom rushed to the man's side, helping him up. "Give us a minute or two and we will begin getting you all out of here." As much as he wanted to assist, Shadow hung back. Touching any of them could result in an energy discharge, and that he would not risk. Instead of reaching for the man, he braced himself in a partial force field against some debris that had not been removed. He had noticed it shift, probably imperceptible to the humans, but evident to his heightened senses. As he pushed against the wall he said to Socom, "Perhaps we should ask for force field generators to shore up the walls so they do not crumble." Socom turned his head toward Shadow; the man leaned against the wall. "Could you make the call for them?" In the space of a nanosecond Shadow had placed an APB for force field generators. Several ships responded, all with the same answer: resources depleted. Shadow did his best to shore up the areas that seemed most likely to collapse while he still maintained his humanoid form. The effort drained him, but not as much as he had supposed it would. As he watched Socom work on some of the injured, pulling supplies from the pile sent from Agincourt, Shadow held the field intact. Those who could began to work their way down the cleared tunnel under their own power. Others waited for help that, Shadow hoped, would soon be on the way. Ten minutes later and only 18 people had made it out. There wasn't much Socom could do without another person to help, and he wasn't sure Shadow would do. He was busy tending to a woman, trying to think of ways to get them out. The people outside were too battered to help. Shadow's energy waned, yet he struggled to keep his form and the force field intact. He soon realized, however, that one or the other would have to go. As one by one the survivors filed past him, he waited for an opportune moment to shift forms, but his wait was long in coming. Finally, when what appeared to him to be a young girl slipped and had to be helped by those around her, Shadow shifted into an invisible force field, hoping no one would notice that he had left. With the change in form, renewed energy came to him, yet he realized he would have to find a power source soon. If this situation continued much longer he wouldn’t have the energy to hold back the wall of debris. With power turned off throughout San Francisco, he sensed no supply close enough for his own use. He was at a loss, fighting panic. Should he call the vessel with which the Odile was now working? Should he call the ships for more assistance? If he did, he was sure he would receive the same reply: resources depleted. Finally he remembered. Mustering all the energy he could, hoping someone - anyone - would pick up the message, he sent out a telepathic call. {{Tag those who remain. The wall is falling. It will not hold much longer.}} Socom had just finished patching a lady's leg. He stood up, about to check on the next person, but he seemed to hear something. He looked around and asked the lady, "Did you say something?" "No," was her answer. He looked toward the place Shadow last was, but he wasn't there. He began walking over that way and in a low mumble he asked, "Shadow, where are you?" {{I hold back the wall. I am weak. Us the transport tags. Quickly.}} Shadow hoped he was using the correct terms. The transport tags were the tags he used to transport casualties from the debris. He hoped the Socom would remember them and tag the remaining survivors before the wall caved in. Not being a full telepath, Socom was unsure what Shadow was trying to say, although what parts he did get did not sound good. He started back toward the remaining group, now numbering around 25. He had started helping an old man when it hit him. Socom pulled what remaining tags he had began tagging the remaining people. He had only 22 tags; he had given the rest to Shadow. He was trying to see who was hurt the most and tagging them. In no time he ran out. He was left with three people and they had only minutes to get out. Shadow hoped the Socom would find the bag of tags he brought with him and dropped nearby. He could see that the Socom had no more left, nor did Shadow have strength to keep the force field in place. With the last of his strength he called out, {{On the floor beside you. Tag them. You beam now also. GO!}} He strained to keep the force field intact. Socom looked to his side almost unconsciously. He bent over and picked up the bag, trying frantically to get it open. It took a few seconds and the remaining three had been tagged and disappeared. Socom was the only one left. He turned and ran for the exit in a full sprint… All his energy depleted, as soon as he believed Socom was clear of the wall Shadow dissipated into the ether, completely drained. The wall gave a groan and began to collapse. Socom had almost made it out. He knew Shadow couldn't hold on much longer. He was only 15 feet away. In the blink of an eye the wall had collapsed, he was on the ground, and his left leg was trapped underneath the drainage ditch wall. The bag of tags had flown out of his reach, and no matter how hard Socom tried, he could never quite make it to one of tags on the ground. Now he was trapped.

The Second Turning Shadow continued to dive beneath the rubble in the city known as Paris near what used to be the Eiffel Tower, or so he was told. Those without energy readings he left untagged. Those with energy readings he tagged, activated the tag, and the bodies were beamed somewhere - aboard Agincourt or other ships in orbit, or perhaps to a place on this planet they called Earth, a place on the planet that was not visited by the Soltan. Yet, Shadow found it difficult to tag those with no life signs, no energy readings. As he moved through the rubble he came to one who had no life signs, yet the energy reading was close by. After a second of confusion, he sensed the energy moving off, away from the now-lifeless body. It puzzled him, yet he continued on to perform his assigned duty. Find. Tag. Activate. Then he came upon another. The life sign faded, the energy remained, if only for a moment or two. Some lingered, hovering next to him, then rose and vanished. It was, indeed, puzzling. He questioned Tay. "When biologicals lose life force, do you see the life force leave?" "No see. No hear. Body gets cold. Not know ghosts. Can Shadow talk life force? Can life force see? " It was strange. Strange indeed. These energy readings were called "ghosts." "Talk life force always, but not with sound waves," Shadow replied. "Biologicals cannot see ghost. Cannot talk to ghost." Ghosts. Life forces. Among his own stories abound of the First Turning of their species. A rough translation would be: In the beginning were the beings, and the beings were limited, and the beings were without a sense of the essence of life. The First Turning. Then the beings knew life, and the life was pure. It left the beings and drifted into the void, and the void was rich with their presence. The Second Turning. Could this be the essence of these biologicals among whom Shadow dwelt? Were they the First and the Second turning? Shadow was part of the Third Turning, or so his leaders said. He had yet to develop into the purest form possible, that which would forever merge with the Creator, according to the stories. So the Tay, the Odile, the Harper, the Earth beings, the Soltan, all the beings of this universe were in the Second Turning? It was possible.

Into the Breach A Shadow Log Shadow was learning, although he would have preferred a less stressful learning environment. However, the necessity of the situation demanded quick, decisive action, which prompted rapid evaluation, and such extreme circumstances forced Shadow into combat mode, somethng he had not experienced since his first encounter with Agincourt. In his own universe, Shadow would have joined his bond-mates to form a coordinated attack on the enemy, much as Agincourt joined Federation ships in defense of Earth. In this universe, however, he was on his own, and it took him some time to formulate a plan of action. How to maneuver? How to assist? How to do battle without losing his anchor to Agincourt – the only home he knew in this reality. Most importantly, how to determine friend from foe? All energies on all vessels had heightened to fever pitch, some in fear, some in anger, some in confusion and frustration, but all in aggression, all negative. It fed him. It fed him? He paused for a moment to fully understand that thought. In his reality his bond-mates would have sent similar signals as a rallying cry for combat. Was it possible that in this particular instance, when their lives were in danger, the negative energies of his friends aboard Agincourt had the same effect? Was it possible that he had formed a similar bond with these biological beings? Impossible. Possible? Impossible. “Shadow! Can you… discharge or something on those ships?” Mention of his name brought Shadow directly to Lt Col Day. “On Soltan ships? There are many. Which would you like discharged, and how?” “Like you did to Harper that one time.” Discharge. Harper. “To one being? Better to overload a system of one entire vessel.” “Yes, to the whole ship... any one or all of them. Can you? If you can determine the lead ship, that one. Otherwise, any one of them. Or all of them. As many as you can. Hurry!” It was possible, but to lose his center, his link to Agincourt – his friends, his home – was a definite danger. And yet…. As Shadow entered the ether, several things occurred to him. First, he was familiar with the energy signature of the Agincourt itself. Although non-biological, it had definite patterns that distinguished it from other things in this universe. Secondly, he had bonded, in a way, with many of the Agincourt crew. The Day, the Harper, the Kairi, the Tay, the Odile . . . the list lengthened every day. Also, as he searched the biosignatures of each vessel in the area he found he could distinguish friend from foe not only by attack stance, but by the biosignatures of the crew. Those ships firing on the planet they called Earth must be foe. Those ships with predominantly Soltan biosignatures must be foe. The most dynamic Soltan biosignatures and power signatures must be the leaders. He targeted one of those ships, entered the main source of energy, and created a cascading catastrophic discharge. Unfortunately, the catastrophic discharge also disbursed Shadow, and after literally pulling himself together he searched for a source to recharge and found the engineering area of the Excalibur-D. Must not cause power drain to friendly systems, he thought as he bonded his energy to theirs, taking just enough energy to recharge, reenter the ether, and begin the process once more. But how many times could he do this and survive? He decided on another tactic: drain power from the Soltan main control system and leave them floundering. It worked, but the resulting explosion left him drained of energy, drifting helplessly in the ether. His only thought was to find Agincourt. Find home.

A Shadow Log Taking into account the heterogeneous nature of the United Federation of Planets and that it was dedicated to “respecting the equal rights and self-determination of intelligent life forms,” one wouldn't think that the presence of an energy being aboard a starship would cause much of a stir. But when you consider that heretofore, just as parents hid their children from the mythical Lamia for fear of losing them to her insatiable appetite for succulent flesh, so did voyeurs and starship captains give wide berth to energy beings for fear of losing their ships, crew, and lives to said beings’ insatiable hunger for energy. To an energy being, a starship represented a veritable smorgasbord set conveniently by the creator into a grand pannier called space specifically for their enjoyment, and any supposititious attempt by the occupants of the craft to escape their appointed fate presented the most vile sacrilege. So you see that, despite all good intention by the Federation, the presence of Shadow aboard the Agincourt could, indeed, present a problem. And it did, at least initially, cause a certain amount of schismatic behavior within the crew. Discussions ranged from a desire to study him to a desire for his complete destruction, the latter sentiment especially prevalent among those more prone to superstition and the reading of horror novels well into the night And yet it was not his fault that Shadow occupied a finite piece of time and space which this crew called Agincourt. It was, in fact, none of his doing and completely because of Agincourt that he had entered, and had become trapped in, their reality. Oh, how he missed his reality, his home, where energy felt no need to vest itself in flesh, bone, and sinew, and where one traveled as one wished when one wished in the space of a thought. However, with no prospect of escape anytime soon, he decided, without rancor, without blame to his captors, to make the best of his situation. As a geostrophic wind forms in the atmosphere of a planet, so Shadow’s initial trepidation had balanced against his innate curiosity to produce an emotional equilibrium. And, for the first time in his experience, he realized he could have fun. Enjoyment of life – enjoyment of anything for that matter – was something totally foreign to his kind. There one existed and served in his particular capacity for the betterment of the community. Recreation was totally unheard of. But while experiencing his first shore leave with Dr. Levy, he had surreptitiously drained the power from an assailant’s disruptor. The grins, the giggles, and the laughter following the retelling of the tale afterwards he found, to his amazement, extremely pleasurable. As Shadow pondered the possibilities for this wondrous new experience, it occurred to him that the enjoyment of his particular state of matter in this particular reality could produce some fascinating reactions from his fellow crewmates. His research in the holodeck had produced a plethora of information, but recalcitrance was not a part of his nature, so he resolved to keep his activities within the bounds of propriety. Shadows. Spooks. Ghosts. Goblins. Spectres. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Oh, yes – this spook would have some fun.