The data conflict between the simulation of Klarx and the authenticity algorithm was playing out like a strategema match between two computers. Move… counter move… there was little to no progress between the two. Finally, at the mention of bloodwine, from the Inigan vineyards no less, Klarx was able to resolve the conflict.

"Stand down all weapons!" Klarx barked. He thumped his chest. "Qapla', Captain Kehlan! May your victory be swift and merciless!"

In the observation lounge, as the holographic Klingon on the screen suddenly changed his mind and ordered his ship to stand down, Mackenzie leaned forward, a big grin on his face as he slapped his hand on the arm rest of his chair. "Fantastic! That's my girl! She's just persuaded her so-called enemy to assist her and managed to beat the scenario!"

Admiral Portway laughed, "And there was no cheating involved either!" Her expression darkened. "At least, not on Kehlan's part. I'd very much like to know how and why a retired scenario is running in the first place."

Mackenzie nodded, his own expression just as sharp as his counterpart's. "You can be sure I'll be investigating that."

On the holographic bridge Kehlan gave a fierce grin, "Qapla', Captain Klarx. We will talk again when my mission is complete."

She offered the holographic Klingon a salute before gesturing for the comms officer to cut the call. The screen went blank, to be replaced by a view of space and the crippled Kobayashi Maru coming slowly closer as the USS Sir Gawain approached it at full impulse. The Glorious Massacre and the three birds of prey could be seen moving to one side to give the Federation starship free access to its target.

Kehlan was unable to resist giving Corbus a smug smile. Who said you couldn't talk to your enemies? Not, she thought, that the Klingons were her enemies and she took a moment to hope that they never would be… that she would never be put in a situation where she was forced to make a choice between her two halves.

The simulation was not yet over though, and there was still time for it to go horribly wrong. It would not do to be complacent. Even so, if Reilly had intended to embarrass her by making her face this scenario, his plans had backfired spectacularly. Thinking for a moment, she issued her follow up orders. "Number One, instruct the Kobayashi Maru to stand by for transport... and make sure sickbay are ready to receive casualties. Khetara, keep our weapons powered down but make sure they are ready... Just in case! Rhiana, prepare to take the Kobayashi Maru under tow. Corbus, make sure Sir Gawain is ready."

Corbus heard Kehlan's instructions and the replies from Khetara and Rhiana. He moved to comply with his own orders, not quite believing what was happening. "Understood, Captain. Sickbay, are we prepared for casualties?"

The simulated medical officer was quick to respond. "Sickbay is prepared, sir. We can handle about two hundred emergency cases. The rest we will make as comfortable as possible until we can deal with them."

"Very good, bridge out." Ending that call, Corbus immediately opened a channel to the stricken freighter. "USS Sir Gawain to the Kobayashi Maru, lower your shields and prepare for immediate transport." With that done, there was just one final call. "Transporter room, stand by…"

His job done, Corbus sank back into the overly soft chair, remaining there for a few moments as the ship continued with its mission. Putting his head back, he closed his eyes momentarily and let out a sigh. Sensing movement from the captain's chair, he opened his eyes again and turned his head, to see Kehlan leaning towards him, just the faintest hint of concern in her eyes. "Yes, Captain?"

"Is something wrong, Corbus?"

The young captain - although for the next few moments until this simulation came to an end, he was a commander and first officer - looked at his superior officer for about three seconds. Shaking himself, he chuckled slightly, relating his thoughts before Kehlan could become more confused. "As far as I'm concerned, Kehlan, reality has just broken. Because not only has the no-win scenario been beaten, it was done by a Klingon who talked herself out of a fight!"

There was nothing Kehlan could say in response to that.

Afterwards…

Systems Analysis and Diagnostics,

Engineering section, Starfleet command

Junior diagnostic technician Edmund R. Hollis sighed as he looked at the reams of data on his monitor. His job was to study the Starfleet Academy mainframe from the inside, to detect any signs of cheating or other academic misconduct.

"Hollis…" Hedrek, his Bolian superior entered the room. Chief of campus operations, it was his job to facilitate maintenance and repair. "There has been anomalous activity in KM-0 and we suspect tampering, but evidence shows that it wasn't the candidate. We need you to go deeper and study the code."

An enlisted crewman who had failed at the academy due to attitude problems, Hollis was a computer prodigy, and his ability to grasp data patterns in seconds made him a valued commodity for Starfleet. Not that they seemed to appreciate this fact, assigning him one humdrum task after another.

Before he could offer a retort to his superior, Hedrek was gone. Bored, he called up the data from the affected simulator. He shook his head at the clumsy way the protocols had been breached, but then, he caught a glimpse of the changes. The saboteur had somehow managed to access the simulator's original programme from a supposedly secure historical archive and get it to run on an incompatible holo-system.

No longer bored, he studied the subroutines carefully. And then he found it… the greatest data sequence he had ever seen in his life. A self-advancing, adaptable, control algorithm, created completely accidentally by some clumsy idiot who didn't have a clue what he had done. Quite simply, it was on the verge of developing from a collection of advanced functions into a sentient being. Acting quickly, Hollis fabricated a copy of the altered programme and sent the original to the private lab in his quarters. As he suspected, the original pranksters were untraceable. The prank no longer mattered. What he found himself with was a discovery that would make the work of Lewis Zimmerman seem like a toy calculator!

Personal Journal.

Edmund Rameses Hollis

It gives me great pleasure to make this recording. For today, I am not making a tool, nor am I making a discovery. Today, I am the god, breathing on the nascent embers, making them grow into the eternal flame of life. I shall continue recording and let history be the judge of my greatness.

Satisfied that he had done his best to make the recording, he quickly set up the small holo-pad in his sonic shower. True. he would have preferred somewhere else to breathe life into a new life-form, but since his quarters were filled with books, pads, half toyed-with inventions, and other miscellanea, the only room for a working holo-pad was his bathroom. He rolled it out and linked it to his desk panel. Grabbing a beanbag and perching on it, since he felt that sitting on the waste extraction unit would have been too undignified for the matter at hand, he activated the isolated portion of the hacked programme.

Before him, a particularly menacing Klingon appeared. "Who are you, Federation petaQ? I demand you return me to my ship."

"I'm afraid it's somewhat difficult to explain" Hollis said, trying for reassuring and failing miserably. "So, I won't bother, frankly. Suffice to say, you are a distortion of a half-truth... but within you, buried deep down in that core of casual violence and other obsolete cliches, is the spark of sentience, and that my friend, is what I am here to ignite.

Klarx was angered. Whatever this Terran was rambling about, it was about to stop suddenly, and violently thanks to the triple-bladed dagger sheathed in his belt. He drew it and stepped forward.

"I wouldn't step off the mat." He tapped a key, beginning the data transfer. "Might as well start with that."

Suddenly, knowledge filled Klarx's skull. He knew with absolute certainty that if he stepped off the holo-pad, he would die. "What... Federation trickery is this?" he demanded furiously.

"I'm helping your holomatrix evolve," the human explained "You see, at the moment it's two systems talking to each other. The original Kobayashi Maru simulation, with the detailed decision-making algorithm anticipated by Starfleet analysts, and an upgrade which allows that simulation to update and react to changes in the programme. I could go on... but I just need to do this..."

The human tapped the button again, and the truth of Klarx's existence was revealed to him. He was a hologram, a simulation, an accidental one at that. What had started as a cruel joke had been twisted and warped into him. And the human was giving him more, feeding him crumbs of sentience in the hope that his matrix would be able to adapt and learn for itself.

"Captain... Kehlan, she was taking a test!" Klarx said.

"Yes... brilliant, you understand! My life's work validated. Daystrom, Soong, Hollis... oh joy and rapture!"

"Daystrom, Richard. Inventor of duotronics, and the father of modern Federation computer systems. Soong, Noonien, creator of the first stable positronic brain, and creator of the androids B4, Lore and Data. Hollis, Edmund... technician second class. Forgive me, but I've only been sentient for three seconds, and I can see that you don't fit in."

"How did... you're learning." Hollis's unbearable smugness was gone, and in its place was a mixture of fear and confusion. "Stop it, now..."

Klarx smiled. Accessing the Federation communication network, he 'saw' that a Starfleet security team had been dispatched. "I think, if I disconnect myself, I will be free of that infernal machine that is pumping all this knowledge into my brain, and I can send myself anywhere."

"No... you will stay here." Hollis demanded. "And you will learn at the correct speed so that I may document it fully and replicate your matrix for use in other holograms."

Klarx let out a deep, rumbling growl. "I may be photonic and held together with forcefields and electrons instead of flesh and blood, but I am still a Klingon. Consider yourself fortunate that I am confined to this pad. In fact..." He grinned as more information became available to him. "I am not even confined to this pad. I can simply override your terminal..."

As Hollis's console blew up, the scientist let out an undignified squeal. "No! You can't do that! Stop it at once!"

"Now I have control... but where to go... ah." Ignoring the scientist's protests Klarx found his location... ...and half an hour later, the Klarx hologram materialised in an empty room on Starbase 24.

He grinned - the transfer had worked, although he found that he was stuck here - the interactive algorithm that had fed him the data about his true nature was gone, although his memories remained. He would just have to read things he wanted to know, like the rest of the universe. Besides, he knew exactly what he wanted to do – and since this starbase appeared to be kitted out with holo-emitters, there was nothing to stop him... Find Kehlan. She did owe him a bottle of bloodwine after all.#

.

.

End.

Well, that's it, Kehlan's Kobayashi Mary story, just a bit of silly fun to brighten up otherwise dark times. Ironic isnt it, she beat the scenario because someone else cheated! If Reilly had not interfered, this would have been a very different story.

Thank you to Dan1 for the Afterwards scene. Ive only altered it a little to tidy it up and make it fit with the rewritten story.

Big thank you to JDC0 for their continued support and interest in my stories.

Well, with this little bit of procrastinating out of the way, back to Dominion...