The Enterprise was being repaired and it would take awhile before they returned to space. There were seven DRN's collected by Star Fleet in the space around where Vulcan once remained. All seven of the Dorian's were discovered clutching onto escape pods with their eyes closed due to a side protocol that deactivated them once they hit space. When the pods were opened, they discovered several Vulcans and humans were hidden inside and crammed into together. The pods were apparently deep and big enough for a dozen. It was almost as though the doctors had gone, "Screw it,let's see how many nearby crew I can cram in there!" Not counting the Kelvin pods that were opened up and terrified star fleet personnel were discovered. The captain of the hood was discovered in one of the pods and came out asking if her crew had made it. Some had made it. Not all of them managed to escape. A handfull, perhaps, and the families of the lost crewmen were in mourning.
"Geoffrey M'Benga."
Dorian had his hands in his pockets looking about the building.
"Yes?" He turned to see Admiral Archer. His face brightened up seeing the man walk out of the doorway with his hands locked behind his back. He had gray lines around his face. His once brown hair had turned gray. He was occupied by two fat, ear flopping beagles that looked equally old as he did. "Admiral Archer."
"Nice to see you again," Archer said, once he came to a stop with a warm smile. The dogs sat down by his feet. Dorian noticed that the dog to his right side was Porthos (who had been lost due to a Transwarp show off by Mister Scott) who looked in fine condition. The other beagle had a bow around her neck, who was named Logos. "On more certain terms."
Dorian looked over the man's shoulder then leaned back giving a puzzled expression.
"Where is the woman who brought me back?" Dorian asked.
Archer appeared to be grim.
"She was on the Mayflower attending to a DRN problem." Archer said. "I am sorry that you had to find out this way."
Dorian looked at Archer.
"What about the other Admirals?" Dorian asked. "Nimoy . . Shatner . . . Roddenberry. . . Admiral Barret. Surely they were not on the ships."
"No," Archer said. "The Admirals were not onboard the ships."
"I am happy to hear that." Dorian said.
"They are overseeing other matters." Archer said. "We can't undo what we did to your programming."
"Your machines turned me from a police officer to a medical officer," Dorian said. "Part of me knows being a police officer again would be painful. It's not good to dwell on the past."
"I agree." Archer said, he took out a small padd then held it out for Dorian. "If you ever get bored of this career track and want to go down to entertainment, just call this man." Dorian took the small padd that was in the size of a card. "Two DRN's decided to go down that career."
"Did they personalize their appearances when you met them?" Dorian asked.
"Yes," Archer said. "One of them had long, curly hair. And his face was different."
"I am keeping this face," Dorian said. "Thank you for the suggestion."
"And his voice is different," Archer added. "You might see him in 21st century alien invasion movies in the next two years."
Dorian raised an eyebrow.
"He went that way?" Dorian asked, puzzled.
Archer nodded.
"He just inked a new deal for three movies." Archer said.
"I can't see why a DRN opted to go into alien invasion movies." Dorian said.
"They are so cheesy it is entertaining," Archer said. "My beagles hide under the couch when the explosions go off."
"Ah," Dorian said. "I can see why."
"The other DRN opted to go into musicals." Archer said. "Apparently, they had someone change their programming." Dorian had a smile to himself. "Someone in the black market or something like that."
"They won't tell you who helped them." Dorian said.
"I am pretty sure of that." Archer said.
"Were they survivors of the destruction?" Dorian asked.
"No," Archer said. "They were assigned on the USS Phoenix and USS Potter. Word spread like wildfire."
"Promise me that you won't do what you did to us, again, to any android." Dorian said.
"I can't say for the future." Archer said.
"In the future you can learn to make androids and make themselves," Dorian said. "It starts out for necessity, then it turns into requirement, and then it turns into an era of abusing them."
"We don't stand for that." Archer said.
"Everyone says that, but there will always be abusers." Dorian said. "And I have seen some for myself."
"All right, all right, I promise, Doria-" Archer was cut off by Dorian.
"It's Geoffrey M'Benga." Dorian said. "Please, call me M'Benga."
"Allright, Doctor M'Benga." Archer said. "I promise we don't do that to an android without their permission."
"The sooner you start treating them as humans . . . the more compliant they are." Dorian said. "We are, I mean." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Being an android. . . I still feel . . . like I am a human."
"You are almost human." Archer said. "That's because you are. It is the inside that matters."
"Admiral," Dorian said. "Did you ever come across androids in your time as captain?"
"No," Archer said. "You were the first."
"So the stories were true." Dorian said.
"They are true." Archer said.
"What about the story of coming across a large shuttle craft with a man named William Riker in it?" Dorian asked. "The one where he vanished simply in to his prison cell after forty-eight hours?"
"That is not true." Archer said. "He didn't just vanish. He was taken."
"Taken?" Dorian asked.
"Yes, by a friend, or so he claimed to be," Archer said. "Didn't want us to report what he had said."
"Thank you," Dorian said. "I have been curious about it for a very long time."
"It's not a problem." Archer said. "You are going on leave while the Enterprise is being repaired?"
"I am going to Uganda for a visit and actually experience it,"Dorian said. "Never been there before."
Archer had a fond smile at the mention of Uganda.
"M'Benga, I didn't just call you here for an apology," Archer said. "I want you to know that we are actively trying to find DRN's and find how they are built."
"This time not to lying to them?" Dorian said.
"We are not. This time. . . we are testing them as security officers for a diplomatic mission," Archer said. "Only as a form of protection nothing else."
"That is . . . That is a good use for my siblings." Dorian said. "I think you will find it difficult to discover we are built."
"Doctor, we have a volunteer," Archer said. "You won't like it."
"Who?" Dorian asked.
"Simon M'Benga." Archer said.
His eyes slightly widened.
"Is he prepared to be torn apart?" Dorian asked. "A chance that he. . ."
"We filled him in on the risks." Archer said. "Nimoy told me that was alarming for a DRN wanting to be torn apart for the sake of science." The dogs looked over in the direction of Dorian. "I am sorry. The USS Hope is on its way to Earth at this time. She will get a new chief medical officer."
"I. . ." Dorian was unable to find the words to speak.
There was nothing to say. Other than wanting to grab Simon by the shoulders and ask him what was on his mind. Did he honestly want to do that? To toss his life way? Dorian had read his reply. He hadn't replied to Dorian after that message. If his brother had done what Archer had said then there is a good chance he may have preparations. Why did he want to do that? They were built to help people-oh. That is why. Because being a security officer meant protecting them. Which is what the DRN's were built to do. He started to leak from his eyes. Dorian turned away rubbing the bridge of his nose. His creator had made him as close to human as he could. Dorian wiped the tear off. Dorian straightened himself then turned in the direction of Archer.
"Thank you, Admiral." Dorian said. "I will be there to tell him goodbye."
Dorian went in the opposite direction.
"Come on Porthos and Logos," Archer said, once the DRN had left. They turned away in the direction of the exit. The beagle's barked excitedly following after the man. "Let's go to the vet and see which one of you ate the cheese off my sandwich."