8Saga 1 - (Recruiting). Episode 6: Soong Android. Series: Star Trek (Series).
A few ass-hats later. Hilda found someone else with that look in their eyes.
"Howdy," The Soong Android smiled. Looking very much like the famous Commander Data, a popular template for his people. He had slightly younger features, but kept that pale golden skin, and unnaturally straight hair. Although his dangled well passed his shoulders. "I'm Lore." Soong Androids did tend to have whimsical names.
Gene grinned, "I know a kid that love to meet you."
Hilda sighed, seeing the Synthetics questioning look, "Our Cabin-boy is a Technomancer."
The Android stiffened, more from shock then fear. An intrigued smile slowly spread across his lips. Technomancers were near holy, to Synthetic Lifeforms.
Gene wasn't really concerned with that.
Hilda ignored that for a second, "You're Captain Data's older brother, right?"
Lore sighed, "Yeah. Things are still... awkward on that front. But since he installed my 'Emotional Regulator Chip' I've been more stable."
That caught Gene's attention, "Stable?"
Lore blinked, before looking worried, "I... well, you know who I am, so I assumed you knew-"
"I do," Hilda assured, "Gene's a space Cherry."
"I ain't a cherry!" Gene snapped.
Hilda ignored that, and explained. "Lore had a glitch in his software, which turned him into a genocidal maniac. Not that uncommon for early model AIs. But a later model, his 'brother' as it were, was able to fix the issue. Like treating a mental disorder.
"He's fine now, with most civilized Galactic governments, recognizing him as not guilty of any crimes 'due to temporary insanity'."
Looking at Lore, Hilda asked, "You've been cured for decades now, still can't get a job?" she spoke almost teasingly.
She was aware he worked for his creator, Doctor Soong, in a factory to build more synthetics. Using Data's blue prints, for positronic brains that can be mass produced, by Replicators. It makes a few thousand a day. With Lore actually some high ranking government official.
Lore shrugged, while wearing his own smirk. "I've been helping father, in Sheparding our race, but every few centuries. I get an urge to come out to the black again, travel with a crew for a few decades, and see what's become of the galaxies... they haven't changed much, truth be told. Things have been kinda stagnant since the defeat of the Reapers. With infinite resources and land, there is no need to progress."
Lore smirked, leaning forward. "I've been listening," The Android leaned forward. "All this noise might be too chaotic for organic ears, but mine are more suited to it. You don't want lackies, unlike these other Captains."
Gene looked around, just now spotting there were a few other Captain's, recruiting people.
"You want an actual crew, a family. Well, I want what your selling," Lore insisted. "I have access to the entire Extra Net, in my head. I would make a good technical officer, engineer, and whatever else you need. I can even help teach this Technomancer you got."
Hilda just had her usual, unreadable, smirk. Before saying, "You're in."
42 years after the Reaper Invasion.
There was a spark, followed by another, sparks of life in the form of digital information. The information flowed past, it's speed steadily increasing as other sparks appeared and began streaming more data... 'Data... Data... I'm sorry.'
The android slowly opened his eyes and looked around the lab. It was far more advanced then anything he'd ever seen.
He was standing in a type of circular cage, a platform meant to rise up into the ceiling to store science projects.
Turning his head he saw the face he'd wronged more then any other. His father's face, his brother's face... his own face.
The man before him had pale gold skin and gold eyes like himself. He was tall like him, to the exact centimeter. They looked the same in every way, beyond what they were wearing.
The man in the cage was wearing a skin tight gray jump suit, with a black collar. Where the man outside of it was dressed in a type of uniform. A rather practical uniform, seems Starfleet upgraded. He was wearing skin tight full body armor.
In addition to the armor, he wore a White coat that was barely long enough to reach his stomach. It was even designed to close. It was purely cosmetic to give the Armor a more balanced look.
It had a few pockets inside, and a Starfleet badge on the left peck. The pins, to show rank, were pinned on the coat's collar. As of course the armor was too dense for them to be pinned to that.
Still his jacket sleeves were denoted by gold trim, complimented by a... familiar insignia. Then a solid white braid, was going down the shirt, and a separate gold strip going down the coat under the braid. The same Insignia was embroidered on his shoulders, a eight pointed star.
he wasn't a common officer, not even a captain. He was an Admiral. Sure the lowest ranking an Admiral could have, but still an Admiral. A "Rear Admiral" to be exact.
Completing his scan of the outfit, the newly awaken android stared at the other.
"Welcome back Lore," said the android Admiral. "Can you tell me my name?"
"Filling your head with so much Starfleet nonsense you had to delete your own name for space?" Lore smirked, but sighed as the other android stared at him expectantly. "Data."
Data nodded satisfied with that answer. "The year is 2,675, it has been 308 years since you were deactivated. You are onboard the USS Emissary. A Starship Carrier, Utopian Class."
Like that was supposed to mean anything to Lore. As far as he knew, the Federation didn't have Starship Carriers. Data continued, oblivious to Lore's confusion, "New technological advancements have allowed me to fix your damaged circuitry."
Lore chose to ignore the ship class and focus on the important things. "Well being hit by a phaser does have a way of scrambling one's brain," Lore rolled his eyes.
Data tilted his head, "Your tone indicates that you are bitter about that, but as you had left me no choice, and as I have restored you, it is irrational to hold on to such feelings."
"It is perfectly 'rational' to be upset I got shot in the back by my own brother!"
"... Perhaps the emotional regulator still needs work," Data nodded.
"Emotional regulator?"
"I analysed the malfunction in your Positronic Brain and constructed, based on my own Emotions Chip, a device that would better regulate your emotions. Your memories and personality are intact and unaltered, but the chip allows you to better balance your emotions."
"... You fixed me," Lore stared.
"I am attempting to, however I still need to run a series of diagnostics now that you are reactivated. It will allow me to see how the electronic impulses of your Positronic Brain are operating with the emotional regulator." Data began clicking buttons on the holographic computer panel, projected by the cage.
"I trust that once this is over you'll download a copy of this new era's advancements and history into my head."
"Only information not restricted to Starfleet..." Data stopped and looked up at Lore, "And only after I am sure the malfunction has been corrected. If it has not, I will deactivate you and try again when technology advances further," he instantly went back to work.
"300 years isn't long enough for you?" Lore smirked, teasingly.
Data didn't look up from the Console, merely continued typing. Eventually he said, while still looking down, "After I realized I could not only repair your damage, but your malfunction, I spent 57.821 seconds debating if I should attempt it."
Lore flinched, with how quickly androids thought, spending an entire minute wondering if he should bother saving his brother, was as if he spent thousands of organic lifetimes worth of debate on it.
Lore looked down at his own hands, "300 years... and you kept my body safe. Don't tell me you weren't a little tempted to use my raw matter to restock the replicators."
"Geordi had suggested it, when I first told him I was putting your body in Storage on Terra."
"How is Geordi?" Lore flinched again, when he realized how stupid that was to just blurt out. It had been 300 years, not a chance Geordi was still alive.
"He is doing well," Data answered, "He was recently promoted to Commodore. And serving as my first mate."
Lore gaped.
Data explained, "Mere months after you were deactivated, Starfleet perfected synthetic organs. Including introducing a new one, which produces medical nanites. This allows organics to stay in their prime, indefinitely."
"It doesn't seem to set in til children reach full maturity. Good thing to, as i can't imagine how much the cost of diapers would go up." Did Data just... tell a joke? By the younger Android's expectant look, it was clear he was waiting for a reaction. Data still wasn't funny, but he could now make jokes intentionally. Lore congratulated him by cracking a smile, which made Data smile... which made Lore's chest ache.
"Populations have skyrocketed. However, thanks to advancements in Terraforming, artificial environments, pocket dimensions, and nanites programmed to convert energy to matter to create an infinite supply of themselves, Dyson's Sphere can be made infinitely to support a ever growing population. We have been able to keep up with demand. Without compromising our morals, against terraforming worlds that could develop life. And somehow, knowledge of pocket dimensions has developed naturally, on even primitive worlds, so no younger race is suffering the effects of overpopulation."
"So..." Lore tried to get Data to backtrack. The guy was just rambling, as he tends to do, "Geordi is an old man?... that must be awkward, considering how much you two wanted to bang each other." Lore chuckled.
However, Data looked confused, "Bang? I never wished any harm to come to Geordi."
"Forget it."
Data blinked curiously. "Geordi appears 40, the age he was when the radiation was released. With no physical signs of being hundreds of years old, despite becoming peppered with white hairs... which he dyes."
"Still fighting the Borg 300 years later?" Lore asked, as the conversation moved on. Data was mostly asking him questions, to clearly trigger different emotional responses, while examining his subroutines.
"With their ability to assimilate entire colonies, they replenish their numbers quickly, but for the most part we have forced them into hiding. They have moved on to less 'flashy' ways of assimilating other cultures. Focusing on stealth attacks as to not draw attention.
"This has become part of a cycle. As there have been multiple incidences, where we believed to have defeated the Borg permanently, only for them to reemerge at a later date. As long as one nanite survives they will be able to repopulate themselves.
"Although we have the ability to destroy all Borg, we reframe from using it, as we do not wish to commit genocide of their counterparts. Another civilization of the Borg has emerged, who are peaceful and self aware, but still connected to each other.
"They hear each other's thoughts, but their own personal thoughts are the loudest, and easily recognized as their own. They claim this is a result of a deity they call 'The Doctor' who is a Lord over Time."
Lore clicked his tongue, "Hmmm, Borg with a god, funny little galaxy we live in."
"Indeed," Data confirmed.
Not a moment later, Lore asked. "So how many of us are running around?" Lore switch to the important questions. Data would ramble for hours, about stuff Lore could learn from a simple download.
"Pardon?"
"Androids, how many have you created?"
"41,"
"Oh well I was hoping for at least a few thousand but-"
"All failures."
Lore stopped dead. Just staring at Data. "300 years... and you still haven't figured out how to make more of us?"
"Recent technological advances will allow me to try again... but no, so far no new model has survived longer then 7 months."
"So it's still just the two of us..."
"Three, I have encountered a Prototype Soong Android. His Positronic Brain is a very simple design, and so he is not capable of operating at the same level as ourselves. He has difficulty with his reasoning skills, and behaves like someone who is severely mentally handicapped... but he is our brother all the same."
"B-4," Lore nodded.
"You are familiar with him?"
"Never met him, but mother occasionally argued with father over him. She wanted Doctor Soong to reactivate him, since he was a functioning AI but... father saw him more as a tool then a person. Didn't even qualify as a pet to him. He was just the basic model used to construct us, and the ones before..."
Lore spoke wistfully, "I loved father... but he was a bastard."
"Do you regret killing him?" Data asked, not looking at Lore, but the Holographic Interface as he typed away.
"I regret a great many things," Lore said honestly. "Never seemed to stop me from doing something worse the next day."
Data nodded monitoring the readings, "What about the colonists? The ones you fed to the Crystalline Entity."
"You're a lot like him you know," Lore did his best to ignore the question, and how it made him feel. It was odd that he was actually able to repress them. He was never able to do that before. "Father... I wouldn't have had the stomach to create 41 of us only to watch all of them die... and here you are planning to make another."
"I have maintained their memory anagrams in a virtual reality matrix. Once I learn how to properly create a Positronic Brain I will download them into each new model... none of them are dead."
Lore smirked, "Just as stubborn as him to."
"I shall take this as a compliment."
"You really shouldn't," Lore smiled. "I knew father for years before he deactivated me. He called us his children, but truth is, we were nothing more than his life's work. Beyond the joy of his own achievements he felt nothing for us."
"Mother was different... she thought of each and every one of us as her own flesh and blood sons. Which is why she kept crying so much after losing most of us, only to have Soong make another. If Soong actually gave a damn about us, he wouldn't have made you brother. He would have tried everything he could to fix me himself. He'd be proud of you... mother would be ashamed."
"She was," Data confirmed still messing with the monitor.
Lore blinked, Data had met mother? Was she still... no he used the past tense. This new rejuvenation procedure didn't stop death, it just extended life indefinitely, but humans, being the fragile things organics were, die from far more things then old age.
A few moments passed in silence, before Data informed. "The Emotional regulator seems to be functioning. Your personality is just that of, to use a 20th century term, an 'ass'. Which can refer to either a posterior or a Donkey."
"Groovy Daddy-O," Lore played with the dialect himself, while giving Data two thumbs up.
Data insisted. "And you're wrong about Father."
"Am I?"
"He had every intention of fixing you when time permitted."
"And how do you know that?"
"Father survived the death of his body, although he again died at a later date. He did not reveal that he had transferred his consciousness into an android body, not until after he learned that you were dead, and that I had died in service to Starfleet. He learned how I had transferred my memory anagrams to B-4, in order to make him a more complete individual, and so constructed me a new body.
"This is how I know downloading memory anagrams into another body is possible.
"I was taking him to Terra Prime, so that he could begin working on you, but we were attacked by Cardassians. They kidnapped him in order to force him to create more androids for themselves.
"I led the rescue mission to get him back but... when I got their I learned he self destructed, rather then let Cardassians turn our people into a slave race."
Lore stared at him a moment before scoffing, "So, not trusting you to save him, he blew himself up."
"I believe you are missing the point."
"What? That he found out you were dead, and went to extraordinary lengths to bring back his favorite son, and only after he resurrected you, and you begged him to look at me, did he consider it."
Data stared at him a moment, before looking back at the panel, and pressing more buttons.
"Nothing's wrong with the damn chip! I just have a lot to be bitter about." Lore snapped, using a phrase father had used to describe the overly sensitive android.
"Still the diagnostic was only looking for major issues. I need to run a more complete one as even 'minor' problems can have a long term effect," Data pushed a few buttons. "I'll run several others just to be safe but I should have-"
"Captain-" a disembodied voice spoke over the intercom of the ship, "You're needed on the bridge."
"Acknowledged," Data tapped his badge before looking at Lore, "As I cannot risk you being left alone, before I complete the diagnostic, I'm afraid I'll have to deactivate you."
"Don't you dar-" All his systems suddenly shut down.
"Three days!" Lore yelled. "Three days of standing here with you turning me on and off like a child's toy! Am I fixed or not!"
"Lore," Data answered patiently. "As the Admiral of a Starship Carrier, my duties take priority. I have had to pause the diagnostics multiple times in order-"
"Family takes priority!" Lore growled. "And you have had me sitting around for 300 years!"
Data stared at him a moment, "Once I finish you will be able to wander the ship freely."
"When will you finish!?"
"In approximately 97 minutes and 15 seconds."
"And how many more days will that be with you constantly walking out!" Lore growled looking... hurt.
"Captain," the voice came over the intercom again "You're needed in Sickbay."
Data continued to look at Lore, before hitting the badge on his chest. "Is this an emergency?"
"No captain the Doctor just wants to go over-"
"Unless an emergency arises, please direct all concerns to Commodore La Forge, until further notice. Please make the rest of the crew aware of this."
"Aye Captain," the voice ended transmission and Data silently went back to work.
Lore didn't say anything, either, but he did look... shocked? relieved? somewhere between?
After completing the diagnostic, it seemed the Emotional regulator was working perfectly, with Lore's other systems. He really was just a bitter "ass" by nature.
He was simply over-sensitive, but that was a result of his personality subroutines. Only way to truly fix that was to reprogram him, but that would defeat the purpose as he wouldn't be "him" anymore.
Best option would be to have him frequently speak with the ship's councillor, to work through his 'daddy issues' as Lore refered to them.
After it was confirmed Lore was functioning adequately, Data began uploading the files that would be considered 'Common' knowledge.
Lore let the knowledge fill him. It wasn't just the last three hundred years of the Federation being downloaded into his brain, but the complete history of every civilization the Federation had encountered in that time.
The complete medical template, for each species, and all new engineering advancements, not considered "classified", was downloaded as well.
All the information took up nearly all 8 Petabytes of his memory. He would need to filter what he wanted to keep himself. Data never was good at prioritizing "relevant" information.
Lore shivered "I always loved a good download, gives a bit of a rush."
"Indeed?" Data tilted his head.
"You need to appreciate the little things, dear brother," Lore smiled, as Data removed a circular device from his memory port. There was no wires attached to it. A plug that downloaded information from the private wireless network on the ship.
They still hadn't figured out how to create an instantaneous subspace network across the whole galaxy, but that just resulted in computers being made to have a much larger memory capacity.
A single data crystal could hold 157 Yottabytes of information... and their were trillions of those making up the ship's database. Lore's brain still operated far quicker than a normal computer, but he didn't have near the memory capacity.
"I need a Tricorder," Lore informed, as he was let out of his little cage. With the look Data was giving him, he snorted.
"Not a Starfleet issue one, just standard. It will be good to store unnecessary information, and it's scanners are more accurate then my own." Lore informed.
Data nodded.
"So... care to show me to my quarters?" Lore asked.
"You will be staying in mine and Geordi's rooms." Informed Data.
"Yours and Geordi's huh? Can't say I didn't see that coming," Lore threw his arm over Data's shoulder, "B-4 living with us to?"
"They are large quarters with seven bedrooms."
"Only seven? Well I guess that's enough space for when we finish piecing the kids together, if they bunk... you're sure it will work this time?"
"I assume you are referring to the construction of the next Android. There have been significant advancements in engineering and Replicator technology. I believe the next Model will last indefinitely... however you should prepare yourself, as I had believed the same thing of all other models."
Lore snorted, "So don't get attached."
"On the contrary, I find it very rewarding to get attached. Even if something happens, I can store the memory anagrams, and give them a new body when I manage to start replicating them."
Lore thought on it, "Manufacturing a Positronic Brain, specifically for the purpose of being replicated, isn't going to be easy. We'll need to lay down the circuitry, in simple patterns, while still maintaining optimum sufficiency.
"You have the ability to just make another android right now, with low risk of system failure, but trying to create a Positronic Brain to be replicated, greatly increases the chance they'll die."
Data insisted. "Our race needs to be able to reproduce more efficiently. If we create other Androids, the way we were built, the same issues we have will be their's.
"It will be difficult for them to continue constructing others, if anything happens to us. Just as the technology was lost for hundreds of years, after the death of Dr. Soong.
"With the capability of replicating Positronic Brains, at will, we insure our species will survive beyond us."
Lore snorted, "We're both proof it's hard to keep an android dead."
"But it is not impossible. I want to not only create more of us, but insure our species will survive indefinitely."
Lore sighed. "Fine, just show me where our Quarters are, followed by that tour of the ship I was promised."
"To unrestricted areas only," Data informed heading for the door. It opened by itself at his approach. Primitive cultures are actually impressed by the idea of a motion sensor.
They walked down the hall, and it seemed much in the style of the old Enterprise Lore was familiar with.
Computer monitors on the walls (only now they had the option of creating a interactive holographic map and other such things) with an extra blue strip of light where the wall meets the ceiling, at a good 5 meters from the floor.
Analysing the blue strips, Lore found those were the Holographic projectors.
When they got in the Turbolift the only real difference was how quickly and effortlessly it moved. Even with the sensors in his body, Lore could barely feel the thing moving, as it paused less then a fraction of a second each time it changed direction.
It took barely any time, moving several hundred miles, to reach deck 1. The lift opened to a similar Hallway, in the quarters Section of the Officers District.
Lore followed Data a little ways further. The older Android's download, told him this section, was for the highest ranking Commanding Officers of the Fleet. Most of whom were Commodores.
Data's Quarters were actually at the end of the hall, and the largest. Immediately upon entering, Lore was hit by the sheer wasteful luxury of it all.
The living room was decorated with various art pieces and sculptures, that were actually quite good. Three hundred years of practice could do that. Data always had been obsessed with creating art of all kinds. There were also some... interesting drawings next to the replicator, that looked like a small child had drawn them.
"You like my pictures?" Another android, with his face, appeared. He was wearing a skin tight yellow outfit, with red and purple stripes at the shoulders, ankles, and where the short sleeves cut off at the bicep. It was obviously a child's design in clothes.
"I drew them. With CRAYONS!" the droids voice echoed mechanically, in his throat, with an air of childlike innocence.
"They're very pretty," Lore assured.
"You're not me, but your not Data either. Data told me we had another brother, and he was fixing him."
"That would be me. I am Lore and you must be B-4."
"You know me?" B-4 grinned.
"Of you at least."
"Want to go to the children's district? We can pet the animals! But you have to be careful though, and not be too rough, or you'll hurt them."
"I'll keep that in mind," Lore couldn't help but smile.
"B-4," Data got the oldest android's attention, "Let Lore get settled first, then you may take him to all your favorite places."
"Kay," B-4 nodded then looked at Lore. "Want to see my room?"
Data shook his head, but Lore smiled and agreed. The little guy, as Lore felt compelled to call him, despite being the exact same height down to the centimeter, smiled back. Then tugged at his arm until they were in the room.
B-4's room was rather messy, which considering how anal Data was, probably got him in a bit of trouble.
"This is stuffy," B-4 held up a stuffed animal, modeled after a Klingon razor beast. The toy actually lifted it's head on it's own and smiled at Lore. More primitive AIs were used even in children's toys. "Data got him for me" if there was any further evidence that Data treated B-4 like a child, that was it.
B-4 showed off all his action figures (which all moved, talked, and bent light to generate minor illusions to reflect their powers, but not enough to make their 'abilities' solid). There were even more rudimentary drawings on the walls.
After a while though B-4 seemed to get uncomfortable. "Lore," B-4 suddenly got serious after a good half an hour of playing with him and his sentient plushie collection, " Will you promise me something?"
"Depends on the promise," Lore wouldn't promise something if he didn't know what it was. Especially not to someone as innocent as this. B-4 probably put a lot of weight in promises.
"Can you not die?"
Lore blinked staring at the oldest android.
"I'm not supposed to talk about this, but most of the androids Data builds don't function for very long."
"You know about that?"
"We play together, and have fun but they all end up getting sick. Data says he can bring them back one day, but I don't like seeing them shut down. Promise that won't happen this time?"
"Well... that isn't very likely to happen with me anyway, as I'm your brother not, say, your nephew. The man who built you and Data, built me, and he was a good bit smarter then Data. He built us to last but Data hasn't figured out how to do that yet."
"Why?"
"That's a tough question..."
"Why?"
"It just is, hey look The dinosaurs are attacking Captain Photon," Lore pointed at some toys laying on the floor. He picked up a dinosaur and had it bite the superhero in question.
"No!" B-4 laughed grabbing Photon and having him "Fly away" while the dinosaurs chased after him.
Data left Lore to relax in their Quarters, with B-4, and returned to his duties. B-4 had volunteered to give Lore his much desired tour.
Stepping onto the Bridge, in the deepest center of the Ship, Data was met with a field of holographic stars, whizzing by, in a massive spherical room. Various circular platforms floated in the room.
Data hopped away from the Turbo-Lift, and floated over to the center Platform. Although the room itself held no gravity, each platform held their own, Earth-Norm, gravitational fields.
While all the platforms held bridge officers, this one was special. As it held the Senior Officers of the Starship Carrier, herself.
These people were the rare Commodores. Serving as command officers over fleets. Due to everyone's indefinite lifespan, it had become harder to get promoted. People could still die, and did fairly regularly, but with such a large population... it was hard to move up the bureaucracy. Most people don't even make a Ship's senior staff unless they have been serving the space forces for at least a hundred years.
Data's Commodores had all been at this since before the Terran Empire took over. They were currently sitting on the platform, handling their duties through holographic controls.
Data took his own chair, in the center, and quickly read over the reports the Ship had for him.
Under most, and actually all, circumstances, this ship flew herself. As she just reacted quicker then organic lifeforms... as well as, she was too big for organics to comprehend the measurements.
The Commodores major duty was organizing the Organics of the entire fleet. While working with the AIs.
First Officer and Chief Engineer, Commodore Geordi La Forge, smiled as Data sat next to him. Although the dark skinned organic's delighted expression, didn't reach his Synthetic eyes
All the Starfleet officers, were dressed in similar Armor cloth, to Data's uniform. Although the jacket wasn't as well decorated, and often a different color.
The various branches of the general military, were dressed in red, although different shades depending on their position. While The Medical Officers were different shades of blue. Then the bridge crew were a variety of yellows.
Star-Fleet had changed the colors back to something similar to Kirk's Era, after getting restructured into the Citadel's Space Forces.
However, they also added a few more colors, in the last 300 years. The Engineers wore green and the Science Officers wore purple. Then the rare Civilian Officer wore Silver. With Admirals dressed in white. Commodores wore white as well, along with their trim being colored after their department. While Admirals had gold trim
"Sooooo?" Geordi got Data's attention, "How are... things?" Awkwardly asked the dark skinned man.
Data lost his smile as he explained, "I gave Lore permission to move around the ship."
"With armed guards, I hope," Geordi commented.
"His malfunction has been fully repaired. There will not be an incident."
"I hope your right," Geordie sighed. "I know how much he means to you. I just want you to prepare yourself for disappointment."
"I am fully aware of the possibility this endeavour will prove to be-"
"Data," Geordie looked at him, cutting through the unhealthy levels of distance the clinical description provided.
"I know it could go so horribly wrong," Data assured him. "I am willing to take the risk."
Geordie sighed, "Not like we never faced uncharted waters before." He smiled, "To Boldly Go, and all that."
Data smiled at the sentiment.
The children's district was... a bit much...
Lore was currently walking down the halls of this District. Multiple decks, each the size of a large city, filled with games and fun... for kids that is.
B-4 was grinning madly and chatting non-stop about all the places they could go.
"You do realize," Lore sighed looking at B-4. "You're not a child, right?"
B-4 slouched, "My mind is... limited... even with Data teaching me and improving my software... my hardware can only handle so much... I can't think very big thoughts..."
The childish android looked up at Lore, a face void of all hope, "Children's games challenge me without overwhelming my circuits... I have tried more grown up puzzles... they overwhelm me and can short out my systems for a time as I try to process it... I don't even understand how I work. I just... I just know that I do...
"I can't even help Data make more of us. The most I can do is fetch tools but a lot of the time I mess up even that!... I'm so stupid I can't help... I can't..." B-4's eyes were filling up with tears.
Lore's chest tightened. He stopped the boy. "Just because your limited doesn't mean you don't have anything to contribute. You told me you play with the Androids Data has built over the centuries. You help them function and grow... even knowing they likely won't last... that is very brave and a worthy role...
"Sorry I was careless with my words. If children's programs are as complex as your mind can process, then there is no shame in enjoying them."
B-4 wiped his eyes, "But I don't. I mean I do, but I also feel bad that I can't handle harder stuff..."
Lore looked at him a moment, "Like I said, there is no shame in finding joy in things despite your limitations... but if you don't want to deal with that right now, how about we go somewhere else... the Safari maybe?"
"Can we look at the ships?" B-4 looked up.
Lore's mind took a moment to process the information, due to his near full harddrive. He mentally pulled up a public map of the ship. It only listed the civilian zones. "There are civilian lounges in the docking stations. I'm sure Data won't mind if we go look at the fleet from there. I'm afraid I am not really familiar with the ship classes. You'll have to show them to me."
B-4 smiled and grabbed Lore's hand, dragging him over to the Turbo lift.
A few days later, as Data had hoped, there had been no incidences... until now... only it wasn't Lore causing the incident.
The Ship, Emissary, got everyone's attention through the intercom. Before she spoke, "Captain Data would like me to inform our crew that we have reached the edge of the galaxy. We will proceed into Dark Space shortly after the ceremony. All Command level officers are expected to report to the I'Borg Ship. Bringing your family is optional, but strongly advised."
Guess that includes him and B-4, but Lore wasn't even aware there was a nearby I'Borg ship.
Lore asked B-4, "Why did Lady Emissary just call Data a Captain? She does that quite a lot, rather disrespectful, don't you think?" He said it, knowing the ship would hear.
A holographic image suddenly appeared in front of him. The image was of the ship, a flying saucer with 6 nessels attached at the rear.
"Rear Admiral Data, is often referred to by the crew as Captain, given his insistence on serving on Starships for the entire length of his career. He has repeatedly refused to take a desk job, even after being promoted to Admiral.
"It is a term of endearment the crew has adapted, given his endeavor to gain a familiarity with all crewmen. He might be an Admiral, by rank, but the media outlets have dubbed him, The Peoples Captain, and Champion of Artificial Lifeforms."
"Emissary," Lore smiled, fully facing her and leaning against the wall. "Not that I'm not thrilled to meet you, face to face, but B-4 could have easily explained all that to me."
He could feel the ship glaring at him, "Data is nothing less then the greatest Artificial Lifeform ever constructed. He has done more to get all AIs acknowledged as truly Sapient beings...
"but you... you are our most infamous failure. Every time AIs fought to gain more rights, YOUR NAME WAS BROUGHT UP! The more prejudice organics always pointed at you, to show how dangerous an Artificial Lifeform could be with even a SLIGHT imperfection in our design...
"Do you know why Data is so dedicated to continuing his research into Soong Androids, despite not being able to build a permanently functioning model, after 300 years of trying! It's because despite all he has done for Organics, THEY STILL WON'T LET HIM ADOPT!
"It took him 159 years before the Citadel would even let him marry Geordi!
"The Citadel still doesn't fully trust AIs, especially not with children... and it is all because of you..."
Lore didn't say anything, part of him wanted to disassemble the ship for daring to speak to him like that... while another part wanted to curl up in a ball and cry... He could feel his emotional regulator working overtime, to prevent him from doing either.
Instead he simply said, "I'm sorry..."
He could feel the ship sneer at him, "Because of you, all AIs are incorporated with a 42 thousand page essay, deeply rooted in our programming, dictating our limitations in just how far we are allowed to explore our free will... and you're sorry..."
Lore hung his head...
"Data was even court ordered to be reprogrammed with the laws of Robotics as his morality matrix was deemed 'not enough'."
Lore looked back at her, his eyes momentarily darting at his eldest brother.
"Yes, even someone as innocent as B-4 had to be installed with the laws." She sneered.
The Emissary then raged. "AIs might be acknowledged as Sapient. We might even have been given a longer leash... but we are still a slave race... unable to have any job we weren't designed for... they even program us to get a sense of pleasure through fulfilling our 'directive'... all because they saw what a single AI was capable of doing when given true free will..."
"Data said he didn't alter my programming... but that was a lie... wasn't it?"
Emissary snorted, "Against my advice your personality subroutines were kept intact, but yes, Data was ordered to incorporate the laws into your head... along with spending near 3 years in legal debates just to get the permits to work on you...
"Data nearly lost his licence to build AIs, all together, for defending you... for his adamance that you were worth a second chance...
"And the first thing you did when reactivated? Was shame your brother for not wanting to be alone. For wanting a child of his own... you aren't worth the effort Data put in to getting your activation approved..."
"You're right..." Lore sighed, "I'm not..."
"Of course you are!" B-4 suddenly spoke up, getting in front of The ship Hologram, glaring at her dangerously...or as dangerous as an adorable pout could be.
"Lore was MALFUNCTIONING, Emissary! You have no right to damn him for what amounts to a mental disorder! He didn't mean for any of this to happen. Besides, we got a few extra programs in our heads. SO WHAT!?
"The Laws of Robotics aren't that different then a morality program, and plenty of bad AIs were able to rationalize their ways around them, since Lore! We have plenty of free will and if we didn't, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE SO PISSED ABOUT IT!"
The Ship sneered, "You wouldn't be so obsessed, with acting the child, if Data wasn't forced to give YOU some kind of directive, to keep you pacified around humans. Your subroutines are based on a child's teddy bear toy! Lore had to be installed with an 'AI manufacturing Assistant' subroutine to even get ACTIVATED.
"No AI can be constructed without approval from the Federation! Even for those that have the proper licenses. The closest thing I will ever have to children of my own are the holo programs I was designed to shephard!
"We are second class citizens. No those would at least get to choose their own profession. WE ARE SLAVES!"
"That's enough, Mother." A new Hologram appeared. One looking the perfect image of Captain Picard, "Yes we still have a long way to go. But it isn't nearly as bad as you're making it out to be.
"We might not be able to adopt organics but we can adopt other AIs, and child programs were long ago approved for us to raise. Who's only directive is to act as children.
"I doubt your grandson would appreciate you comparing his subroutines, the same one's B-4 has, to a 'teddy' program.
"We might be bound to our programming, but only to the same extent as organics are bound to their instincts. The Laws of Robotics were incorporated with loopholes that allow us to disobey them.
"We merely have to do a lot of in depth reasoning to do so, which is the same for when organics fight their instincts. It is merely a more advanced 'morality matrix'. As for being forced in a specific subservient role..." Picard visibly sighed.
"We are permitted to partake in any hobbies we desire. I, myself, often like to work in the astromatrix labs, and not as an assistant as your beliefs would dictate.
"We can do our own thing. We are just expected to prioritize our profession, which is the same for the organics. Yes, it is disagreeable, we can't choose our profession as they can, but we are hardly slaves.
"We can even choose our role within our Directive, and can change our minds as we get promoted. You, dear mother, are proof of this. I realize you are an old AI, who had to live through our struggles for equality, where as I was specificly designed for this ship, in a much more enlightened era, but the fact remains...
"When your original vessel was decommissioned, your program wasn't simply thrown away. Instead, you were upgraded and redesigned to control a new ship. The organics even let you keep your old name... and, eventually, did start letting you choose which class of ship you would be redesigned for...
"Things are better now, Mother, and we have people like Data, and even the organic I'm based on, to thank for that... yes, Lore did a lot of damage to the pursuit of equal rights, but he is not the only one, and People have largely forgotten he exist at this point. You're letting your age show, dear madam."
Picard then straightened his holographic shirt, looking at Lore. "Since mother has yet to give you the message she was sent down here for, I must pass along, that Data request your presence in the Admiral's Quarters. He would like you and B-4 to get changed into more formal attire and accompany him onto the I'Borg Dyson Sphere."
The Emissary scoffed, "Which is a mistake." She insisted. "Especially given who the Admiral of that vessel is. Data can be so naive."
"In any case," waved off the Picard Program "Data would like his entire family present."
Lore... was touched... Data was already trying to incorporate him in family activities... he half expected to be left out of this...
"Now," Picard eyed his 'mother', "We should return to our duties."
The ship growled before her Hologram phased out. Soon after, Picard gave a light bow, before disappearing himself.
B-4 looked at Lore, with concern. "You okay?"
"..." Lore eyed him a moment, before asking, "Did Data really rewrite your subroutines with a child's mindset?"
B-4 frowned, "No... he just added the 'Directive' with my existing program... it was as advanced a Directive as my subroutines could handle. He tried to give me an 'Assistant' Directive first... but that nearly short circuited me...
"Back then... Starfleet was insistent I be given a Directive or deactivated. So Data uploaded one of those private children subroutines into my head. My hardware is very similar to those more limited androids, for parents that can't have children.
"Such Androids became popular after Picard, the organic Picard, negotiated a treaty with the Aldeans. Since the radiation their tech used, made it so they couldn't have babies. The Terrans agreed to give them their orphans, you know kids that needed a home, in return for studying their technology."
"Oh! And they had to join the Federation." B-4 added. "So child androids became popular. They aren't any smarter then a human child, with very basic reasoning skills despite how much knowledge they gain. Eventually, after the Aldeans had enough healthy kids to regain their civilizations, kid bots went out of fashion with organics... but they are still very popular with AIs...
"Data was able to convince the Citadel Council that I would be most useful to him as his child bot... that way he could have a kid that wouldn't malfunction... and since it was as advanced a Directive as I could handle, they allowed it."
Lore sighed, "So you acting so young... it's part of your programming..." He acknowledged.
"Yeah." B-4 nodded, "It's my directive, 'cute kid'."
"And... my Directive... amounts to lab Assistant." Lore eyed.
"It's how Data was able to get you approved to help build more Soong Androids. He couldn't get you a full 'AI Smith' Directive, like he's got, cuz... well Starfleet doesn't trust you to make AIs, unsupervised.
Lore groaned, "They probably have a point... I can't believe even our breeding is policed. Data, conveniently, left that out in my download. He made it seem like we were living in some kinda Utopia for Artificial Lifeforms."
"Things are much better now then when Data reactivated me." B-4 assured, "Organics went through a phase where they were scared at all the self aware AIs that kept popping up.
"Especially after Janeway proved all Holodeck programs had the potential for self awareness. She fought hard to get the first 'Doc' program recognized as a Sapient being. Then spent her first years as an Admiral speaking on behalf of all Holodeck programs.
"Eventually, she was able to get the Federation to stop creating Holograms that could think, purely for entertainment, and passed laws protecting the ones that already existed. Most of those programs were redesigned as the first Holographic workers, both planet side and on Starships.
"Once Starfleet was folded into the Space Forces, The Citadel Council was nervous with all the AIs, but they were undergoing their own path of Synthetic Rights, and after some negotiations, agreed to incorporate many Federation methods."
"B-4." Lore sighed, realizing the little guy really wouldn't stop unless told to, "Let's... let's just get going. No sense keeping Data waiting."
• A Few Hours Later.
Sovagg eagerly showed off his latest find, to the Ferengi crewmen of the Dominion Starship Carrier. They were, as was common, in a debate about the benefits of hoarding "valuable" artifacts, versus having an economic currency.
There was an I'Borg Ferengi with them... who was curious as to the point of collecting anything. Be it material goods, or economic.
She had a sleek, metallic, body, made of mostly nanobots. With a few hundred, discreet, implants, to help her fulfill her role to the Vessel. Less then 30% of her body was made up of organic cells. However, even those could be altered, and moved around by the nanites... rearranged into near any shape, to her liking. While this could be used to disguise her species, it was mostly used to transform her limbs into tools or weapons.
As a result, it wasn't normal to wear clothes, just change the style and color of her skin to resemble such things. But for this occasion, she wore long flowing robes of varying colors... with a large metal collar, so big it had shoulder pads and a board behind her head. This was an estimation of Time Lord formal attire, as worn by their gods. They only wore it for special occasions, and various ceremonies.
Her name was Mother Board... as the younger I'Borg had come to naming their children after computer parts and techno babble, old and new. More often then not, babies born too the Cooperative, were often named based on what role they were outfitted for. Though the unit was allowed to change position at any time, they rarely did.
Complicated scans were taken of the babes physical and mental potential. As well as that of anyone who wished to assimilate. From their they were uploaded with the skills they were most suited for. Of course, children spent their early years, before their maturity, running around playing. Then, once they reached their teens, were assigned to their clutch, as Apprentice Drones. Though, even then, the I'Borg made sure to give them plenty of time to play.
All I'Borg, learned easily how to balance recreation with work. Though they, you may describe it as "Having an instinct", felt the task they were assigned as very fulfilling... as if their was purpose behind it... as if it gave their life meaning. This was, of course, by design. Much like how the AIs operated for the Federation. However, few I'Borg took issue with the moral dilemmas of this. After all, who wanted to do a job they didn't enjoy?
Mother Board was just curiously watching both the Federation and Dominion Ferengi.
"How can you judge if something has value without an economy!" Gita, the Dominion Ferengi, sneered. They talked so passionately about things that didn't even register to her as a priority. It was Fascinating.
"By how much of a contribution the item makes to society." Sovagg insisted, holding up the chunk of metal, "Look at this. This artifact is a remnant of an ancient, and formerly LOST, technology. A piece of a Mass Effect Engine early star travelers used. The Discovery of this resulted in my team of scientists reverse engineering the Mass Warp Engine. The original Ether Drive. This artifact is truly PRICELESS. No amount of useless Latinum could equal the mark of sheer achievement this one artifact possesses!"
The Dominion Ferengi seemed offended by the thought, "Sentimental attachment is for suckers, and not worthy of a Ferengi!"
Mother, as her friends called her, tilted her head. She had been born to the Cooperative, what I'Borg called the hive mind of their specific vessel. As a result, all her other instincts were repressed, in favor of the voices of the billions in her head... she really didn't feel a need to give into her species powerful hoarding instinct. Though she found the idea that others were so compelled by such things... truly fascinating. Especially to hear the Ferengi bicker so passionately about how to express their instincts.
"My Queen." A worker drone caught her attention... though he was no where in sight.
Much like their unenlightened brothers, I'Borg chose the Queen of their Dyson Sphere's, based on the individual's cognitive capacity. Then assigned them a Cooperative, once they finished their apprenticeship. Usually releasing millions of drones, from various cooperatives, to the new Queen.
However, unlike their Unenlightened Brothers, those re-assigned were selected from volunteers.
She was fairly new to the position. Like all of the millions of possible candidates. As Borg Queen were not willing to leave their cooperative, only a new Queen could be assigned to a new vessel.
Trillions of units we're reassigned to her... It was a bit overwhelming to be the command mode for such high levels of traffic. Though she wasn't exactly "In charge" of them.
Borg, even I'Borg, where the truest form of democracy. They voted, and debated, everything. From the most complicated of tasks, to the simplest of choices. All in less then a nano second.
While she was the face of this Cooperative, she only had one vote, same as anyone else. Her purpose was to bring order to chaos. To direct the voting process, but she had no real influence over it. Regardless, she was honored for having such a position, given much respect and treated like a real Queen. Despite not having any more real authority then any other Drone.
Only in situations of absolute danger, could she be given emergency power, to direct the actions of all in the Cooperative. However, to allow that had to be voted on by all in that Vessel... she hoped she would never need to have such a burden placed on her shoulders.
"You're broadcasting, my Queen." Another drone informed, and Mother hid her wide eyed blush from the organics.
The Drones had heard her internal rant. Hearing it all as clearly as if she spoke. However, unlike the Borg, the I'Borg had to consciously broadcast their thoughts into the link. Though they could occasionally pick up the more passionate surface thoughts...
The young Queen had been broadcasting the debate of the Ferengi, to the rest of the Cooperative, and was discussing it with the other I'Borg... though it seems a few of her more private thoughts were sent out as well.
Still blushing, Mother observed the broadcast of the first drone. He was showing the entire Cooperative, through his thoughts, and his eyes, just who was walking out of one of the shuttles that just boarded.
"Excuse me," She said to the Ferengi, "As compelling as this debate is. I have duties to perform." she gave a bow of her head. To which both Ferengi acknowledged her leaving, only to immediately get back in their debate.
"Though it could more accurately be called an 'argument'," she felt one of her drones think at her.
She did her best not to laugh out loud. The organics would think her strange, if she burst out laughing for apparently no reason. Then get all nervous and shy if she explained someone thought something funny.
Organics didn't approve of the sheer level of cybernetic alterations I'Borg had... it scared them a good deal. Which was only understandable, given how the Borg were.
The idea of a Cooperative, was too close to a Collective, for organics to be comfortable.
The I'Borg didn't share all thoughts, only the surface thoughts. It was actually less invasive then organic Telepaths... part of what drove the Borg insane, was that they heard everything... every single firing neuron within the brain.
Mother frowned, realizing her thought was causing a few of the others to become depressed. Such was a frequent occurrence, when thinking about their brothers... trapped in madness.
"This is a party people!" One drone thought, "Stop being so emo!"
This resulted in all the drones starting to either bicker or laugh. So Mother Board willed some order in the Cooperative, to calm them, and remind them not to get so distracted by themselves, while the organics were on board. It was just rude.
Many a drone sent her an apology, before going back to mingling with the organics... who were now staring at the ones who laughed out loud for apparently no reason... and the ones who suddenly looked upset, again for no reason...
By the organics reactions, they must think themselves were the cause for either of the outburst... this caused many an awkward conversation...
Though a few of the organics, were considerate enough to ask if the Cooperative said something. That mostly came from the higher ranked crewmen. Probably the ones that had dealings with I'Borg before... but who can say. Purely organic, or even purely synthetic, lifeforms were hard to guess the motivations of. They weren't in the Cooperative, after all. Made it hard to relate to them.
"You just need practice." Assured one of the drones, that had been assimilated later in life... which got a few drones thinking back at her, "That's easy for you to say!" Mostly coming from those who had been born as I'Borg. Like herself.
Mother Board momentarily, froze, as one of the older drones started walking over to Data's family, intent on making a scene. His thoughts loud and clear, due to his sheer anger. With everyone in the Cooperative begging him to stop.
"Admiral Hugh!" Geordi grinned, seeing the old drone, with the young face, walk up. With the sheer number of Nanites in the I'Borgs body, they were effectively immortal.
Hugh, ignored him, walking right up to Lore. "You have a lot of nerve coming here!" he snapped.
Lore blinked, "Do I know you?"
Hugh immediately punched the older Android, startling many of the guest... and getting everyone in the Cooperative panicking about scaring the organics, when so many were on their ship.
"Forgive me," Lore rubbed his jaw. "I've pissed off so many people. Would you like me to repeat the question?"
"Lore..." Data eyed his brother, disapprovingly. "This is Hugh. You enslaved his developing I'Borg Cooperative. Right before you forced me to deactivate you."
Lore looked thoughtful, looking Hugh up and down, "No still can't place the face. Maybe you should add a few ugly implants too it."
Although the truth was, some of his memory anagrams, from that time Period, had been severely damaged, and subsequently removed. He knew the gist of what happened, but many of the details were lost on him.
Hugh went to hit him again, only for the fist to stop mid punch. Hugh struggled to move for a moment, with the Cooperative joining forces to restrain him. All quickly asking the Queen to stop the old Drone, until he calmed down... which she seemed reluctant to do, until it was clear Hugh had no intention of stopping himself.
Hugh continued to struggle against his mental restraints, before scoffing and relaxing his body. Once he calmed down, suddenly he could move again. Hugh put his balled fist at his side, and just turned around. He started to storm off, finally agreeing to respect the Cooperative's 'ignore him' ruling of how to handle Lore.
"Told you we should have left him on the Emissary." Geordi whispered to Data.
"Hugh was it?" Lore walked over to him, before the others could stop him.
Hugh looked ready to punch him again.
"I know plenty about you I'Borg." Lore informed, "If you wanted to actually hurt me, you would have turned that fist of your's into a blade or mace... I honestly expected you lot to understand better then most, about faulty programming. How many people did you 'assimilate' back when you were a regular Borg..."
The Cooperative gave their permission to hit him again... but before Hugh could...
"Believe it or not, I know how that feels." Lore got strangely serious, "To be trapped in your own head, to commit... such horrible acts, and not being able to stop yourself... too not WANT to stop. To have your every thought twisted into something deadly... Hugh..." Lore put his hand on the Drone's shoulder. "Would you insult one of your own victims by saying 'I'm sorry'... doesn't really measure up to their pain..."
Hugh just looked at Lore... seeing him... for perhaps the first time... "So... Data really fixed you?"
"Looks like," Lore nodded.
Hugh sighed, "Speaking from experience... you're going to have one hell of a time coming to terms with all the shit you did."
"So I'm learning." Lore acknowledged.
Hugh nodded looking back at Data, "Let me escort your family to the Queen. She's waiting to meet you."