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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">NRPG: Let the games begin. </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">RPG:</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Mission: Death in the Shadows</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Day 7</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Stardate: 2446.02.07</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">(USS Illuminar-Deck 4- Sickbay- SFI Michael Weston/CMO Dr. Quinna Solice-2330)</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Michael walked into sickbay irritated. Although he had stayed away from Quinna most of the day, he had hoped she could have paid heed to his warning. But no, she attended a staff meeting
and held a medical staff meeting. She continued to put herself in danger, and she didn’t seem to understand why.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">When he entered sickbay he found Mason and Reea standing outside of Quinna’s office door, talking to it. That, at least, made him feel better. She’d locked herself in her office. Good.
He stepped over to Quincy.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“What’s up, Doc?” he asked.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">"Mr.Weston, this is a surprise," even though it was not. "She has locked herself away. She is not gonna let you in." Mason hoped she would not let him in.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Michael just smiled at the doctor, and moved over to the door.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“Quinna,” he called out, “it’s me, Michael. Open the door.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">The door slid open. She stood there, “I’m busy.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“Well get unbusy, We have to talk.” Mason loudly said. </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Quinna looked at Mason whom was standing next to Reea. “No we don’t. I know you do not like your assignment but you need to suck it up, Mason. I need you to do this. End of discussion.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Quinna then retreated back into her office.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Michael shook his head and stepped around the ME. ~I don’t have time for this crap.~. “Excuse me,” he said stepping into the office then closing the doors on the faces of the other two. He
walked over to Quinna. </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“What are you doing?” he said. “You held a staff meeting? Are you mad?” He shook his head. “Never mind that. Are you ready? It’s time to start.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“You know, I am frustrated. What I did out there was something I planned to do, when I was laying in the isoroom before my agreement with Sekal. I also needed to keep up with some selected
appearances. I needed to be seen. Like you said, nevermind.” Quinna said, “I am ready. Where do we start?”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“You need to change your clothes,” Michael said, “we’re going out. Drinks, music, maybe some dancing, and lots of drinks. We need to alienate you from everyone else. They’ll be prone to approach
you.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Quinna bit her lower lip. There was a small ache in the pit of her stomach. She was about to hurt people she cared about, “I don’t like it, but I think I can manage it. It is what I need
to do to protect them.” </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“You don’t have to like it,” Michael said. “It will be the hardest thing you’ve done. It’s not easy pushing those who care about you away. I won’t lie, it will hurt. You can get out now if
you want. But once we step into the arena, you are committed.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“There is only 2 things that will get me to stop now. And neither one will be happening soon. I know it is not going to be easy, and it will be even harder when it is done, but I am in.”
A deep inhale could be heard, “What about you? Do you need me to alienate you as well?”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">He shook his head, “No, not yet. But that time will come. For now, you take your lead from me. I have my own game to play.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">He took hold of Quinna by the shoulders and looked her square in the eyes. “No matter what happens now, you act like it was what you expected to happen. Even what you wanted to happen. It’s
all true if you believe it to be true. That one piece of information will save your life some day. And it won’t hurt in a poker game either.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">He kissed Quinna on the forehead, lifted her chin and gave her a light kiss on the lips. “Now put on something’s, that will get people’s attention and meet me at the Prancing Pony as soon
as you can.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“I have a little something in the corner of my closet.” Quinna said, “Michael, “Quinna called out. She moved close to his ear, her lips almost touching his earlobe. “We have to do something
about Luma. She can be anywhere she wants to be.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Michael shook his head, “In order for this to be real we have to let things play out. Luma must do what she must do. The only other option is to debilitate her. Do you understand what I’m
telling you? I’m pretty sure she is </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic">not
</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">the best keeper of secrets.”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“I understand. I am willing to do anything I have to. Now time to get dressed.” Quinna said. “Shall we meet in 30 minutes?”</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">Michael had already started to set his in motion, and put up his mental barriers. He was now the SFI operative with a goal to accomplish. And that goal for him was to try and convince these
Roanoke people that he was on their side. </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">With a kiss on the cheek he grabbed her hand, opened the door and walked past the expectant Quincy and Reea. He ushered Quinna out of sickbay and sent her down the hall. </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">“Don’t be late,” he ordered and then went to change his own clothes. </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">(Reply Reea, Quincy)</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: 400">(Posted by Al Muir and Kris B)</span></p>
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