What happened to Laas?

[Kobayshi Maru]

He did link with Odo. Odo was the origin of the deadly disease that nearly exterminated the founders and it was transmitted through the link. Did Odo have a thought for his friend, on time, like :" BTW, I need to find Laas, quick!" Or has Laas expired all flaky and unable to morph in some cave? Remember that he was a fugitive from the federation, especially the Klingons, so he's likely to have stayed away from all federation planets.

 

[MacLeod]

Well it is possible Lass found his way to the Great Link

 

[Timo]

Laas probably is a much less acute issue than the rest of the Link.

Odo developed the symptoms much later than the Female Changeling for some reason. The most obvious reason would be that Odo was infected by S31 and became both fatally ill and a disease vector; infected the Link; was himself cured of the Changeling-only disease when the Link turned him into a human; and was only again infected when Linking with the Female Founder during the Dominion occupation of DS9.

The incubation time of the disease would then be from the Dominion occupation to the final episodes of the seventh season - that is, almost two years - after which the victim can hang on for almost a season, like the Female Founder did. And Laas was only infected at the midpoint of S7...

So Laas would die around the summer of 2378, after the conclusion of all aired Star Trek adventures save for ST:Nemesis (and the "future" segments of certain episodes and movies), if untreated. But there'd be plenty of time to inform him of the fact that he was ill, with both the UFP and the Link doing the informing in open broadcasts of some sort.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[USS Triumphant]

Laas is still running around making a pest of himself in Star Trek Online - which reflects at least one semi-official version of 2408 and after. (No fully official version of anything after Nemesis of course, just STO and the novelverse, really.) So I think you can say he's around if you want to.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

The disease was designed to affect Odo more slowly than anyone he transmits it to. The reason it accelerated so quickly when it became symptomatic was that he was shapeshifting a lot over that period of time.

It's not clear what happened to Laas. It's possible that as soon as he started getting sick he hightailed it through the wormhole out of desperation. Or he may have suspected he was infected when he was in contact with Odo, quietly infiltrated the station and gotten his hands on the cure. Or he could have died.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

The disease was designed to affect Odo more slowly than anyone he transmits it to. The reason it accelerated so quickly when it became symptomatic was that he was shapeshifting a lot over that period of time.

It's not clear what happened to Laas. It's possible that as soon as he started getting sick he hightailed it through the wormhole out of desperation. Or he may have suspected he was infected when he was in contact with Odo, quietly infiltrated the station and gotten his hands on the cure. Or he could have died.

I am surprised that Odo didn't think of him when he discovered that he was the source of the infection. It's not like Odo has dozens of changeling friends to think about. He defended Laas against the federation and the Klingons, One would think that his memory span would go beyond the few months that he had known him. If he had to return to the great link, at least he could have put the word out among the cured changelings to find and cure Laas.

 

[Terra Pryme]

Laas probably is a much less acute issue than the rest of the Link.

Odo developed the symptoms much later than the Female Changeling for some reason. The most obvious reason would be that Odo was infected by S31 and became both fatally ill and a disease vector; infected the Link; was himself cured of the Changeling-only disease when the Link turned him into a human; and was only again infected when Linking with the Female Founder during the Dominion occupation of DS9.

Timo Saloniemi

That wouldn't be entirely accurate. The virus would still be in Odo's system after he was made human by the Founders, only at that point, it would have no effect on him for those few months. The virus was pretty much dormant until he became a Changeling again. It worked at a much lower rate likely because Odo isn't as skilled a shapeshifter as the Founders, add the fact he hadn't been in the Great Link as the virus multiplied. With these factors, it's very feasible Odo wouldn't necessarily be among the first to die from the virus even though he was indeed Patient Zero.

 

[Timo]

The disease was designed to affect Odo more slowly than anyone he transmits it to. The reason it accelerated so quickly when it became symptomatic was that he was shapeshifting a lot over that period of time.

I don't buy that. Any other Changeling would certainly be doing much more shapeshifting during the war, or even in general; if Odo already had the disease in "Paradise Lost", and infected the link in "Broken Link", the lid on that would have been blown almost immediately afterwards when somebody from the Link accumulated as much 'shifting in a month as the slow Odo eventually would in the upcoming years.

I am surprised that Odo didn't think of him when he discovered that he was the source of the infection. It's not like Odo has dozens of changeling friends to think about.

Agreed. But there's nothing to say Odo didn't do exactly as you say, and send out a message immediately after the series ended. There would have been no point in sending the message earlier on, after all.

The virus would still be in Odo's system after he was made human by the Founders, only at that point, it would have no effect on him for those few months.

Some viruses can tolerate being inside an incompatible host. Many cannot. If the S31 virus doesn't need a Changeling as its host, why risk using Odo as a vector in the first place? Why not just use the virus as is, perhaps injected into some hapless "Major Martin" whose corpse would soon be handled by a Founder?

Apart from that diversion, your take makes good sense, too. It's just that the numbers mesh so well if we assume Odo was cured and re-infected, vis-á-vis what happened to the Female Founder...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Wasn't it explicitly stated in the show that the virus was designed to move more slowly in Odo because he was meant as a carrier?

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I don't buy that. Any other Changeling would certainly be doing much more shapeshifting during the war, or even in general; if Odo already had the disease in "Paradise Lost", and infected the link in "Broken Link", the lid on that would have been blown almost immediately afterwards when somebody from the Link accumulated as much 'shifting in a month as the slow Odo eventually would in the upcoming years.

Timo Saloniemi

Is it not explicitly stated that mature Shapeshifters--the Founders, not Odo or Laas--prefer to remain in the link, unshaped? And how few of them were in the Alpha Quadrant for the duration of the war. The O'Brien look-alike on Earth suggests that there were only a few (though that cannot be entirely trusted). The only other data point we have is that Female Changeling, whose deterioration is measurable.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

I don't buy that. Any other Changeling would certainly be doing much more shapeshifting during the war, or even in general; if Odo already had the disease in "Paradise Lost", and infected the link in "Broken Link", the lid on that would have been blown almost immediately afterwards when somebody from the Link accumulated as much 'shifting in a month as the slow Odo eventually would in the upcoming years.

Timo Saloniemi

Is it not explicitly stated that mature Shapeshifters--the Founders, not Odo or Laas--prefer to remain in the link, unshaped? And how few of them were in the Alpha Quadrant for the duration of the war. The O'Brien look-alike on Earth suggests that there were only a few (though that cannot be entirely trusted). The only other data point we have is that Female Changeling, whose deterioration is measurable.

It's funny how the changelings are able to mimic not only the appearance of someone like the chief, that they couldn't have studied for that long, but also his speech pattern and all his mannerisms. It's a wonder they didn't take over the federation in a matter of days with such abilities.

 

[Timo]

Is it not explicitly stated that mature Shapeshifters--the Founders, not Odo or Laas--prefer to remain in the link, unshaped?

"The Search" suggests Changelings greatly enjoy experimenting being other things, such as rocks, seagulls, fire or for all we know jealousy or lateness. This is never stated to be something only children would engage in. We see Odo the child being guided to do so by Female Founder the adult, yes - but Laas the teenager (?) also shapeshifts a lot.

The Female Founder later blatantly lies that she wants to maintain a specific shape, to cover up the fact that she no longer can shapeshift. But that's not a convincing argument for adults not doing it in general.

The O'Brien look-alike on Earth suggests that there were only a few (though that cannot be entirely trusted).

Indeed, if somebody like that stated there are four of them, I would at first assume that the true number is anything but four. But then I'd start doubting myself.

Wasn't it explicitly stated in the show that the virus was designed to move more slowly in Odo because he was meant as a carrier?

I can't quite spot such a reference. "Extreme Measures"? Something else?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Bad Thoughts]

From Behind the Lines:

ODO: On the homeworld, are you always in the Link, or do you sometimes take solid form?
FOUNDER: We prefer the Link, but on occasion it is interesting to exist as something else. A tree perhaps, or a cloud in the sky.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Wasn't it explicitly stated in the show that the virus was designed to move more slowly in Odo because he was meant as a carrier?

I would think, if Odo was made to be a carrier (and this makes the most sense), the virus would initially be made not to affect him at all.

No telling how long it would take for him to merge with other Changelings. They wouldn't want him dying too quickly.

Then, the Changeling-human-Changeling thing threw everything off and the virus became dangerous to Odo.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

Is it not explicitly stated that mature Shapeshifters--the Founders, not Odo or Laas--prefer to remain in the link, unshaped?

"The Search" suggests Changelings greatly enjoy experimenting being other things, such as rocks, seagulls, fire or for all we know jealousy or lateness. This is never stated to be something only children would engage in. We see Odo the child being guided to do so by Female Founder the adult, yes - but Laas the teenager (?) also shapeshifts a lot.

The Female Founder later blatantly lies that she wants to maintain a specific shape, to cover up the fact that she no longer can shapeshift. But that's not a convincing argument for adults not doing it in general.

The O'Brien look-alike on Earth suggests that there were only a few (though that cannot be entirely trusted).

Indeed, if somebody like that stated there are four of them, I would at first assume that the true number is anything but four. But then I'd start doubting myself.

Wasn't it explicitly stated in the show that the virus was designed to move more slowly in Odo because he was meant as a carrier?

I can't quite spot such a reference. "Extreme Measures"? Something else?

Timo Saloniemi

Actually Laas was two hundred years old. I wouldn't call that a "teenager", not unless you redefine the word completely to mean something else, like a chair or a portfolio. I guess Laas could be either of those things...

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

Wasn't it explicitly stated in the show that the virus was designed to move more slowly in Odo because he was meant as a carrier?

I would think, if Odo was made to be a carrier (and this makes the most sense), the virus would initially be made not to affect him at all.

No telling how long it would take for him to merge with other Changelings. They wouldn't want him dying too quickly.

Then, the Changeling-human-Changeling thing threw everything off and the virus became dangerous to Odo.

I think you're on to something here. Maybe the change back and forth from a changeling to a solid is what made Odo un-immune to the disease and that would explain why Sloan said "I am sorry that Odo is dying. " Because that wasn't their intent initially to make Odo sick. In fact if they could have avoided it, then their plan might have worked, instead of failing lamentably. I am not sure I would mourn the extinction of such malevolent beings that plagued the gamma quadrant for millenia, just to assuage their fear of "solids".

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Or possibly, the infant Changeling that morphed with Odo changed his physiology enough to allow the virus to affect him.

 

[Timo]

if they could have avoided it

...I do wonder if they could. Odo was their only source for knowledge on Changeling physiology - could they really make something that both does and does not kill that sort of a creature?

OTOH, if they rely on Odo being different from other Changelings somehow, they must be going for the youth angle, which is the only known difference (and would be known to them, too). Which might mean Laas, another youngster, would be immune, too.

But would you really leave Hitler Jugend alive? (Yes, I know "we" did, but they weren't going to inherit an empire a hundred times mightier than all the others put together!)

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

if they could have avoided it

...I do wonder if they could. Odo was their only source for knowledge on Changeling physiology - could they really make something that both does and does not kill that sort of a creature?

OTOH, if they rely on Odo being different from other Changelings somehow, they must be going for the youth angle, which is the only known difference (and would be known to them, too). Which might mean Laas, another youngster, would be immune, too.

But would you really leave Hitler Jugend alive? (Yes, I know "we" did, but they weren't going to inherit an empire a hundred times mightier than all the others put together!)

Timo Saloniemi

Given that they hadn't done anything wrong, if we didn't we would be no better than the nazis themselves.

 

[T'Girl]

Odo ... was himself cured of the Changeling-only disease when the Link turned him into a human

I missed this.

It's interesting to realize that the Founders possessed ability to cure themselves of the disease all along, without being aware of it.