13.25 Page 386

THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA: A REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE FUTURE POKER 378 “Plato’s Stepchildren.” Original Series episode #67. Written by Pleiades are a cluster of about 400 stars Meyer Dolinsky. Directed by David Alexander. Stardate 5784.2. ina 25-light-year radius, some 415 lightFirst aired in 1968. Enterprise crew members are held captive bya years from Earth. One of the planets in civilization whose people once visited Earth during the time of the area is Velara Ill, site of a failed terPlato, and who now have remarkable psychokinetic powers. raforming project. The Enterprise-D conGUEST CAST: Michael Dunn as Alexander; Liam Sullivan as ducted a mapping mission in the Parmen; Barbara Babcock as Philana; Majel Barrett as Chapel, Pleiades Cluster in 2364. (“Home Soil" [TNG]) Christine; Ted Scott as Eraclitus; Derek Partridge as Dionyd; Armando Gonzales as Spock's Flamenco dance double; Jay Jones Plexicorp. Commercial company engaged in the manufacture of as Kirk's stunt double. SEE: Alexander; kironide; Parmen; acrylic polymers and other plastics in San Francisco, Earth, in the Philana; Plato; Platonians; Platonius; psychokinesis; Sahndara. late 20th century. Dr. Nichols, a chemist employed by Plexicorp, developed the molecular matrix for transparent aluminum. He Plato. Ancient Greek philosopher (c.428 5.c -c.348 8.c.) on Earth. was assisted in this discovery by Montgomery Scott, who provid Plato's teachings inspired a group of extraterrestrials led by ed the information in exchange for acrylic plastic sheeting needParmen who later called themselves Platonians. (“Plato's ed for transporting two humpback whales to the 23rd century. Stepchildren” [TOS]). (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home). The Plexicorp scenes in Star Trek IV were filmed at a company called Reynolds & Taylor in Platonians. Humanoids, originally from the Sahndara star sys- Santa Ana, California. tem, who patterned their society after the teachings of ancient Earth philosopher Plato. When their star, Sahndara, exploded plexing. Betazoid relaxation technique in which one gently taps a millennia ago, 38 individuals fled their doomed world, settling nerve behind one’s ear, using the index and middle fingers briefly on Earth during the time of Plato. When the Greek culture Plexing stimulates a nerve cluster behind the carotid artery, causfaded, the Platonians moved to another planet, which they called ing the release of natural endorphins. Deanna Troi taught the Platonius. Here, they accidentally developed powerful psychoki- technique to Reginald Barclay in an effort to help him overcome netic powers from ingesting native food containing kironide, a his fear of being transported. (“Realm of Fear” [TNG)). Troi used rare and powerful element found in the food. The Platonians the technique to try to calm herself in subsequent episodes, remained unknown to the rest of the galaxy for centuries until including “Timescape” (TNG). their leader, Parmen, fell ill in 2268 and summoned the Starship Enterprise to provide him with medical care. (“Plato's plomeek soup a la Neelix. Neelix's spiced-up version of the Stepchildren” [TOS)). SEE: Alexander. time-honored Vulcan dish. Tuvok found it rather too piquant, but Neelix thought it was delicious. (“Faces" [VGR]) Platonius. Class-M planet settled by the Platonians, who attempted to create their own version of Plato's Republic there. plomeek soup. A traditional Vulcan food, orange in color. Nurse The natural foods on Platonius contained a substance called Chapel prepared a bow! of plomeek soup for Spock during his kironide, a powerful energy source. (“Plato's Stepchildren” [TOS]). Pon farr in 2267, but Spock expressed his desire to be left alone by throwing the bowl into the corridor. (“Amok Time" [TOS)). “Playing God.” Deep Space Nine episode When Quark had a business dinner with #37. Story by Jim Trombetta Sakonna in 2370, he tried to impress Teleplay by Jim Trombetta and , her by serving a lavish feast includMichael Piller. Directed by David ing plomeek soup. (“The Maquis, Livingston. No stardate given Part I" [DS9)). Tuvok was fond First aired in 1994. A miniature of plomeek soup; it seemed to universe is brought on board remind him of home. (“Faces” Deep Space 9, and Dax acts as a [VGRY]) training guide for a potential Trill host. GUEST CAST: Geoffrey - “Plum.” Nickname given to Blake as Arjin; Ron Taylor as Leonard McCoy by the future Klingon host; Richard Poe as Car- Mrs. Nancy Crater when they dassian officer; Chris Nelson Norris were romantically involved, severas Alien man; Majel Barrett as al years prior to McCoy's assignComputer voice. SEE: “Ak’la bella ment to the Enterprise. (“The Man doo"; Arjin; Black Hole; citrus Trap” [TOS]) blend; Dax (symbiont); Dax, Curzon; Dax, Jadzia; Dax, Lela; directional Pluto. The ninth planet in the Sol sonic generator; dynametric array; system, In 2293, the maiden voyage of entomology; entropy; Evek, Gul; Ferengi the U.S.S. Enterprise-B was to have taken Rules of Acquisition; field docent; Frenchotte; the ship out beyond Pluto and then back to Galeo-Manada style wrestling; Gedana post; gravimetric Spacedock. This flight plan was abandoned when the starship microprobe; inertial dampers; initiate; joined; kiosk, Klingon; responded to a distress call from the transport ship S.S. Lakul Koliay; lach’tel; latinum stairway; Mardah; Mekong, U.S.S.; (Star Trek Generations). microdyne; Odo; protouniverse; quantometer probe; Quark’s bar; Quark; racht; red lining; Rio Grande, U.S.S.; Sisko, poker. Traditional Earth card game Benjamin; Sisko, Jake; spectral line profile analysis; Starbase of chance and wills. Spock was 41; sub-nagus; subspace phenomena; synthale; tongo; unfamiliar with the game, but McCoy Trajok; Trill; verteron; vole; Wormhole Junction. offered to teach it to him. (“The Corbomite Maneuver” [TOS]). A poker Plegg. Famous Ferengi entrepreneur who developed the modu- game was held every Thursday night lar holosuite industry. Quark attempted to capitalize on Plegg’s aboard the Starship Enterprise-D fame by selling bogus pieces of Plegg's body in 2370, despite the Data initially believed poker to be a fact that Plegg was alive and well on planet Khofla Il. (“The fairly simple mathematical game, but Alternate” [DS9)). SEE: Ferengi death ritual. he failed to consider the human element of bluffing one's opponent. (“The Measure of a Man" [TNG]). Data came to regard the Pleiades Cluster. Region of space, also known as M45 or the game of poker as a fascinating forum for the study of human Seven Sisters, in which many young planets are located. The nature, eventually developing such ingenious exercises as his