"Thank you," Jair said, accepting her second cup of coffee since arriving at Professor Hammond's office aboard Starbase 658. She sipped it in silence for a moment, deep in thought about their conversation. The professor sat down and enjoyed a few minutes contemplation too. She had just finished a brief exam of Manna, and now Jair waited to hear what the woman would have to say to her suggestion that Manna may be a sentient creature.

Kathryn Hammond was a renowned scientist in the field of zoology. She had discovered a number of new species, and managed to prove the sentience of two different species on different occasions. When Jair had learned that Hammond was staying on Starbase 658, she had immediately asked for a chance to confer with her in person while the Explorer was docked.

Professor Hammond looked thoughtfully at Manna, who rode in her usual position attached to Jair's upper arm. Manna returned her gaze evenly. She was doing what Jair described as her imitation of Dix the cat- staring imperiously and unwavering, refusing to blink first.

"Proving sentience is difficult even in advanced species." the professor finally said, breaking off from the hypnotic gaze of the little primate. "The first hurdle is dealing with a definition of sentience. So many want to simply define it as 'self-aware,' yet what is that? One could argue that an animal's desire and instinct for self preservation is an active demonstration of its awareness that it exists. But is that sentience? 'I think , therefore I am,' they say. Yes, well prove that you think! There's the rub. 'Self-aware and aware of the existence of the universe around that self,' another definition, certainly broader; but there are many primitive cultures who are not aware that there is a universe beyond the scope of their own personal experience. Are we to deny them their sentience?" Kathryn smiled mockingly as she continued, "And there are those who wish to define sentience with an IQ test. 'If you are self aware and intelligent, then you are sentient.' As if it all can be made into a tidy equation."

Jair nodded in agreement. "Yes, Professor Crossings taught at the academy and gave some very good illustrations that discount that definition. Because intelligence cannot be easily defined either. If we were to arrive on a planet where the native inhabitants had no technology, yet were familiar with fire, and we did not use a fire to stay warm but simply dressed in our wonderful high-tech insulated clothing, then we would likely appear unintelligent to the inhabitants. We would fail to display the knowledge of fire to a people who see fire as the dividing line between them and the animals."

"Precisely," Professor Hammond approved, "a measure of common experience, common knowledge, has to be laid as a reference standard before intelligence can be tested. And that simply cannot be done with any accuracy across species. So," she raised her eye brows, "How do you define sentience, Commander?"

Jair knew that her reply would reveal a great deal about her own beliefs. "I agree that 'self-aware' is only a starting point. I also would include the ability to use language, spoken or unspoken; the ability to create an artifact, tools or inventions; and finally," Jair paused, knowing that her final criteria was likely the most objectionable to many scientists, "original art."

"Art?" Kathryn Hammond sat up in surprise.

"Even the most primitive cultures have an art form of one kind or another. I believe that the awareness of self, and awareness of one's place in a larger whole- be that a community or the entire universe- manifests itself by expression, by art." Jair waited for the other woman's opinion of her statement.

Kathryn sat back and folded her hands across her chest, digesting Jair's definition. "Hmm." She waggled a finger at Jair, pinning her with a deliberate gaze, "How many of those criteria does your specimen there display?"

Jair did not bother to object to the professor using the term 'specimen,' now was not the time for displaying her personal feelings.

Jair's stomach fell as she answered the professors direct question. "None," she said, then rushed to add, "that I have been able to prove beyond a doubt."

"Explain," Hammond clipped out. In some ways the professor reminded Jair of many of the instructors that she had had in Starfleet Academy.

"First, language- Manna cannot vocalize in a sound range audible to humans. Our range of vocalization would be drowned out by the considerable noise of the heavy storms that are common to her world. Most species native to Dykar use ultrasonic vocalizations at close range and subsonic vocalizations to carry over long distances. Manna is capable of both vocalizing in both ranges, and can hear clear across the spectrum. But even with the help of sophisticated computer programs and equipment, I have not been able to prove that her vocalizations are a language. Yet there were very definite social interchanges among her species that seemed to indicate communication on a sophisticated level."

Hammond broke in, "You said spoken or unspoken language- has she an unspoken one?"

"I have not been able to detect any form of a sign language."

"Assuming that she was an mature specimen of her species when you took her from her planet, having had time to learn a native language," the other woman suggested, "have you considered that her language might be telepathic?"

"I know for certain that Manna was mature. Ages of Dykar primates can be judged with fair accuracy from the color of their coats. The females do not turn silver until they have reached mating age." Jair paused to consider the idea of telepathy. "No, I hadn't thought of telepathy. But I cannot deny that telepathy would be a decided advantage on a world where sound is often drowned out by the forces of nature."

"Artifacts?" Professor Hammond continued to quiz. "In the five years on Dykar you saw no evidence of the primates using tools of even the simplest form?"

Jair shook her head. "You have to understand Dykar a little," Jair defended. "The planet has more dangerous predators than any planet I know of. The primates have a nomadic lifestyle and social structure as a result; staying in one place for long is just too dangerous. They build temporary nests, much like the gorillas of earth on the African continent. Their diets consist of plentiful fruits. They have no apparent need of implements for building or harvesting." Jair smiled humorously, "If necessity is the mother of invention, and there is no necessity...." She allowed the thought to trail off.

"And in new environments, in the four years since you have taken Manna from Dykar, has she had use for tools?"

"She uses a brush to groom my pets. And I have set the food replicator in my quarters to manual mode and color coded Manna's favorite items. She has managed to use one since shortly after I took her aboard the Intrepid four years ago."

Hammond waived that off as evidence, "Mimicry. Animals have been taught to perform far more complicated tasks."

"I know," Jair agreed.

"And no art, no self expression, as you propose for criteria."

"None that I recognize," Jair admitted.

Kathryn Hammond glared across the distance between them. "By your own criteria and definition this animal has shown absolutely no evidence of sentience in the nine years you have studied her, nine years!" Her voice did not raise in volume, but there was a timbre of authority that would not be ignored. "What possible reason can you give me for your continued belief that her species is sentient?"

It was a question that Jair Anis had asked herself a hundred times. Her scientific training demanded that if she observed, hypothesized, tested, observed, and found no evidence to support her hypothesis, then she must change or abandon her theory. "I cannot explain, I cannot defend or prove reasonably why I continue to believe it, Professor Hammond," Jair answered finally in a calm, still voice, "I just do. I believe, no, I know that Manna and her kind are sentient! The same way that I know I am sentient. Some day, I will find a way to prove it."

She expected condemnation, or a baffled acceptance at best. All other scientists that Jair had had this conversation with, including the surviving team members of the original Dykar expedition, had judged her as having lost all objectivity and eccentric in this one area. And those were the nice things they said about her. Only Professor Crossings had withheld judgment, and he had died before the team even left Dykar.

"Then I have one thing to say to you Lieutenant Commander Jair Anis," Kathryn Hammond finally replied. "Don't-give-up!"

Jair blinked in surprise. It was a feeling that stayed with her still when she reboarded the Explorer. Manna nudged her chin, trying to get her attention. It was a gesture she often used when she wanted Jair to focus on her. "It's alright, Manna," Jair reassured, supposing that Manna was picking up on the feelings that she was sensing from Jair. Manna looped her tail gently about Jair's neck and reached a soft hand up to pat Jair's cheek, as if she were comforting her friend or encouraging her. "I have no intention of giving up on you, ever." Jair Anis smiled brightly as she returned to her quarters, buoyed by the endorsement of both the professor and Manna.