Unavoidable Eve
By Lessa Soong
All hail TPTB, they own the rights to my beloved Star Trek, but I own the rights to this story and any original characters. Please read and review. Us writers don't get paid, so your words are our only rewards, gentle reader.
Note : Sentences between this symbol ~ denotes telepathic conversations.
Chapter One
Data knew on some level that this was inevitable. Bruce Maddox would never allow his dream or his driving ambition to be thwarted by a mere android. Even if the android in question was the embodiment of the pinnacle of Bruce Maddox's dreams, Data was still too uncooperative for the Commander to submit to Data's will forever.
Maddox was getting older now. New young minds meant greater competition to the aging cyberneticist. But Maddox wasn't going to just roll over and admit defeat!
With Captain Picard and Commander Riker in attendance, over subspace, Commander Maddox informed Data that Starfleet now requested his cooperation in a collaboration. The project's goal, to obviously be the creation of a new Soong-Type android. Data was to be offered the chance to choose a collaborator. The ring had been thrown open to any of the promising cyberneticists of this time. But Data would have the final say in who he worked with. But for one sticking point.
"Who is to oversee this project, Commander?" Picard asked Maddox, ever suspicious of the slightly younger man. With good reason.
"The Director of the Daystrom Institute on Britta III, Dr. Andaria Wellers, an admiral by rank. She will be contacting you in the next few days with further instructions and information." Maddox, oddly, did not seem pleased by this detail. But since he was known to be rather exacting, it was doubtful he wanted anyone but himself in charge of this project. The very thought made Data cringe.
They were informed by Maddox that Dr. Wellers would have the specs for the lab he and Starfleet had agreed upon. When asked what his role in all this would be, Bruce Maddox informed them, smugly, that he would be Data's first collaborator.
When the monitor blanked back to show the Starfleet emblem, the three officers turned to look at each other.
"I wish you could choose Geordi to be your other collaborator, Data. I'd feel better about your safety." Will Riker, getting a tinge of gray at his temples, grimaced at the thought of Data being alone in a lab with Maddox and another of his untrustworthy ilk. Even if two combined could not physically overpower the android with the strength of ten men, they could easily think up other ways to incapacitate the far too trusting Commander Data.
"Agreed. But even if that is out of the question, will others be able to come in and check on you? Can we monitor the room, or you, Data, for that matter? I think we need to find some way to insure your safety in the midst of this latest threat." The Captain was already planning a trip, with Data in tow, to Sickbay to discuss with Dr. Crusher just such an option. There would be no time for delay.
Data took in the very concerned expressions on the faces of his two superior officers. He was heartened by their concern and agreed with their caution. But perhaps not to this extent.
Thoughts and plans were racing through Data's neural nets, similar to Picard and Riker, but Data's thoughts ran more along the lines of the goal of the project, rather than keeping Maddox away from his off switch.
While Maddox had progressed in his research, achieving many advancements that Data hoped to one day take advantage of, the human had not been able to bring them all together with a functioning positronic brain. But the goal had always been a Maddox-type android, not a so-called "Soong-type". Since continuing his father's work was one of Data's goals in life as well, the android could understand the commander's ambition. But with two others working with him, Data wondered if this new android would or even could really be called "Soong-Type".
It brought up something that Data had been considering for a number of years, ever since Lore's confirmation that he and Data were in fact sons of Soong. Later, when Data met his ailing father, and regrettably had to bury him, the conviction became stronger. But the time never seemed right. Now, should Data continue to wait, the opportunity may be lost forever.
"Captain. I wish to discuss with you...a formal change I would like to request."
Twenty-five hours later, Data stood outside the door to his quarters with Geordi and Deanna Troi. They admired the new nameplate announcing the owner of these quarters.
Lt. Commander Data Soong
Already, he had been addressed as Commander Soong three times, since the Captain had made the formal announcement over the ship wide comm just three hours ago.
Data beamed with pride. He had not been quite sure about this idea. But hearing the name, seeing it here on his nameplate...it felt very right!
"So, Mr. Soong? How do you like it?" Troi asked, lightly holding Data's arm as he continued to stare at the nameplate.
"I love it!" Data stated, emphatically. Four!
Geordi patted his friend on the shoulder, from his place on Data's other side. "I gotta say Data, half of me thought you should have done this years ago, and half of me never thought you would! I'm glad I was here to see it." His blue eyes shining, Geordi chuckled. "We should have a name day celebration!"
Both Troi and Data turned to look at Geordi.
"We haven't had a lot to celebrate lately. I think we could use it! And with this project coming up, we may not have anything new for a while." Geordi looked like he was biting back harsher words, even if he had already admitted some of them in private to Data.
"No one is going to allow any of the Daystrom Institute people to harm Commander Soong." Troi grinned at Data, pleased to be able to slip in his new name again. Data looked down at her, sharing the smile.
Five.
They did have a name day celebration. It was brief, but enjoyable. During the party, Dr. Crusher spoke with Data regarding a monitoring chip she and Geordi had been devising once the Captain had made clear his concerns.
"It can be attached along the same relay as your...switch," she whispered. Data knew she was referring to his off switch, but did not want to mention it since there were personnel here that were not "in the know" about this fact.
"This way, I'll be alerted if it's used. In addition, it will have access to all your other systems from this relay. It will monitor all your primary functions, so if there's a change or disruption, Sickbay will immediately be alerted."
Data smiled and nodded. He was asked to come in the next morning for the installation. She and Geordi would perform the procedure.
Data was told he would be able to turn the device off, however. That way, if he wished for privacy – since some emotions could cause his reading to fluctuate just enough to trip the warnings - he would have a code to turn the device off. Only Data would know this code. Not even Geordi or Dr. Crusher would be aware of the proper password. The code could also be used to let Sickbay know if a false alarm was triggered.
Data decided that a dream of Lal, and some of his first moments with her, was not exactly surprising considering the events of this day. Even if, all these years later, and with an emotional context he had not been privy to at the time, Data cried now each time a dream like this one came to him.
But the tears came for more reasons than one. There was the obvious one. His beloved daughter was gone, and more than anything else in his life, Data regretted that. He did not blame himself for her loss. Well, maybe a little. There was a small amount of anger towards Admiral Haftel, but Data did feel he may have made some errors in his designs for Lal's brain that could have led to her demise.
But the other reasons were also fraught with emotion. Data still wanted children. He wanted all of the very human normal desires. A wife, a family. He did not know if he would have these things in that order, but perhaps the order was not truly relevant.
But after a dream like this, after dreaming of Lal, it made Data feel guilty. As though wanting more children was an attempt to replace Lal. But Lal was not a broken glass to be easily replaced with another just like it. Nor would Data wish to attempt making another Lal.
But he did desire another child.
Was that a betrayal?
In his quarters alone, forty-three hours after Commander Maddox's transmission, Data was alerted to an incoming transmission for him.
The woman introduced herself as Director Wellers. She was an older woman, completely white haired, yet her bearing was one of confident strength. Comfortable power. Her skin was clear and smooth looking. Her eyes, dark, focused and sharp. Her nose was long and aquiline, but perhaps just a little too long for her face. Still, she was aesthetically pleasing in appearance.
"I hope I find you well, Commander," She began. Her accent reminded Data a little of Captain Picard's, but with something more. Something Data could not identify just yet. But she had only spoken eleven words so far.
"I am well, Admiral. I was under the impression, from Commander Maddox, that this transmission would be directed toward Captain Picard. I was in error?" He made sure his confusion was clear, while giving no insult.
The woman smiled. Data had previously noted that most of the admirals he was familiar with smiled using their mouths only, showing, Data believed, that they did not truly feel the emotions suggested by the smile. This was not true of Admiral Wellers. While her smile was still the slight upwards turn of her lips the other admirals employed, her eyes also radiated a serene pleasure. Data doubted he could have been more sure of this fact, even if he was in the same room with her.
"I will contact your captain, as per protocol, in two hours time. But for now, I simply wished to speak with you alone, child." She seemed to stop here, if only to allow Data to digest what she had said and how she had said it.
While over the course of his decades as a Starfleet officer, Data had been referred to as a "child" before, it was mostly when a being or entity had been referring to a landing party or the bridge crew, as a whole. Data had only been addressed in the manner, alone, very rarely. It was always slightly unnerving.
"May I ask for what purpose?" He kept his voice calm, not wanting her to know...that he was coming to understand what was meant by the reference to butterflies in one's stomach, despite the lack of a true stomach.
Her smile became just a degree warmer. "Of course, child. Being much more than passingly familiar with your history, I am comfortable assuming that you would be more than slightly concerned for your own well being as well as the child's during this project. I wished to set your mind at ease.
"Commander Maddox is now part of the Daystrom Institute Annex on Shappella II. His annex and mine, on Britta III, are at odds with respect to our approaches. I have always believed Bruce needed more temperance. Age seems to have removed more than it has given. It is why I fought to oversee this project. I intend to ensure that all measures are taken to guarantee your safety and the protection of any child or children that may result from this collaboration."
"I will admit to some concerns, Admiral," Data conceded. The more others worried about it, the more he wondered if he should be, or if he should just leave it to them.
"Please, I prefer 'Director', if you will humor me, Commander. But on that topic, I understand you just changed your name." Here her expression lightened and brightened to a radiant glow. "You formally took your father's name as your own. I must say, child, I am quite pleased. While I had met your father, I cannot claim excellent knowledge of him. But as a parent, I believe it safe to say, he would be proud."
"When did you meet him, Director?" Data asked, wholly enthralled now.
Her smile calmed some. "Several times, actually. I have been involved with cybernetics for almost a century now. We will meet one day, child. I will tell you all I know about him, if there is time. But that is for later. Now, you're formally being a Soong – as you always were - will simplify matters. While your coming plans may deviate from your father's original plans from when he created you and your brother Lore, and even from when you created your daughter Lal, the name of Soong will still be part of this child's identity.
"However, it may be that I cannot prevent the hoped for child from being known as 'Soong-Maddox' with an addendum for whoever else you select as your final collaborator."
Data nodded. It was not really surprising. Maddox would wish his name on this project, so he would naturally want his name on the android. Was Bruce Maddox's desire any more or less proprietary than Data's own? Did human or even humanoid parents not claim credit for their own children's success or failure. Was this also not a statement of implied ownership? It was one of the reasons Data had changed his name in the first place.
But this project was not just a project to Data. It was not too dissimilar to gestation for Data. While he would not carry his hoped for child in a womb, he did carry that hope in his heart and mind. And now others were being forced on him in a new attempt at procreation.
Was Starfleet now ordering Data to do something that once again showed they did not see him as a full life form? Now they were telling him when to procreate and with whom!
While the Director went on to assure Data that his rights would be protected, to the best of her ability, Data was not so sure. He was impressed by the woman, and felt reasonably sure she was not attempting prevarication. However, she would not be in the lab with him. This much, he already knew.
Absently, Data recalled a fact he had learned while Keiko O'Brien was pregnant with her daughter, Molly. Gestating mothers experienced a wide array of overwhelming emotional turbulence. It seemed to Data that the expectant mother was not the only one...
As promised, Data was called to the Captain's ready room along with Commander Riker two hours after Director Wellers had first contacted Data privately. The schematics for the lab were relayed. Any modification Data wished to make would need to be cleared through the Director. Data was told he was free to contact her at any time.
Since Britta III was closer to the Enterprise's current mission schedule, Maddox and all of the other candidates were scheduled to be on Britta III in three weeks' time. They would all meet with Data there. During the interim, the lab was to be constructed and Data would be contacted via subspace by each of the contenders who he would interview for the final spot in his collaborators group.
Data was asked not to make his final decision until he had met each of them in person for a second interview on Brita III. Data agreed. Satisfied, the Director had nodded at all and signed off.
Both the Captain and Commander Riker were just as impressed with Director Wellers as Data was. The android was relieved to know it.
During the next weeks, Data Soong was very busy with his normal duties in addition to overseeing and assisting in building the lab. The closer the lab came to completion, the more excited Data grew. Imagination was something the android struggled with as much as he had humor, but the ability to dream, even more than experience emotions, had given Data a giant leap in this capacity.
Dreaming had shown Data new ways of looking at and seeing things – everything – from his life to his friends to...everything! It also gave him insights into the phrase "thinking outside the box". For Data, that precisely described what dreaming encompassed for him.
Now, he was dreaming while "awake". As Data installed a positronic micro-probe to the forward extension in the lab, Data envisioned using it to test his coming child. It was as exciting as feeling an organic fetus kick!
Most evenings at a predetermined time, Data was contacted by the next in the long list of hopefuls with regards to the upcoming project.
The rotation, one randomly started by computer, selected one candidate from Shappella II and the next offering was selected from Britta III. After speaking with eight candidates, Data was contacted by another admiral from Starfleet Command. This was the second admiral by rank to do so, if one counted Director Wellers, and Data found the new trend unnerving.
Fortunately, Admiral Nakamura, who had been the one to previously give Bruce Maddox the go ahead to disassemble Data on stardate 42523.7, did not have that much to say.
"I hope you're planning on giving your all to this project, Commander. We at Starfleet are hoping we can begin seeing your results...ah, the children resulting from this collaboration, walking the halls of Starfleet Academy very soon." The man's round face was smiling at Data, but the android was not comforted by it.
"I give my 'all' to every task I am asked to perform, Admiral. It would also please me to have my offspring follow in my footsteps and join Starfleet, but it will be their choice, sir," Data reminded the man.
"Yes, of course. I know you expect a call from the next candidate soon, so I won't keep you. Just remember when looking over your choices for your final collaborator, Data, sometimes the more choices you have, the easier it is to see the correct one."
With that oddly cryptic remark, the admiral had signed off, leaving Data only twenty minutes, and sixteen seconds before the next candidate was due to call.
Tonight's candidate was a cyberneticist from Britta III. The message came in four minutes and thirty-seven seconds later than promised. When Data activated his monitor, the image of a female was displayed, but she was very odd looking.
It seemed she smiled, faintly, but Data could not be sure. She looked green, but since none of the candidates were from Orion, he suspected interference. When the image fluctuated, this was verified.
"I apologize for my tardiness and for the quality of the transmission, sir. There is an ionic front near our subspace relay. The problems are all directly related. Good evening, Commander."
The sound quality was also slightly garbled, but even this did not account for the fact that Data had been offered no name. Since she was not wearing any rank insignia that he could make out, Data had no proper way to address her.
"Good evening. Would it be impolite of me to inquire with whom I am speaking?" Even the distortion could not hide her embarrassment. She looked downward, seemingly attempting to calm herself. Amused, Data smiled and waited, patiently.
"I apologize again, Commander. I am Dr. Lessa Barrows. I'm afraid my being delayed, by circumstances beyond my control, has fractured my peace of mind." She bowed her head slightly with her apology. "I hope you can forgive me my frazzled state."
"I will not hold it against you, Doctor. I will warn you, however, due to the distortion, you appear quite green to me."
She chuckled mildly at this. "That would also explain why you appear a very deep shade of orange to me. I assure you, sir, I am not green. At least, not normally. Since I have seen many pictures of you, I know you're not orange. Did you wish to dispense with the attempt this evening and try for another time? I can hear you clearly enough," she noted, shrugging slightly.
Data shook his head. "I am not bothered by the distortion. I have no objection to continuing. Since the transmissions are limited to an hour, I will consider your time as starting now, Dr. Barrows. Begin."
With a nod that resembled another bow, she did. The image followed her as she moved, something Data did not expect. He also did not expect her to be out of uniform. But her casual clothing was obvious, even with the bad connection. Her description of her work was extensive, however. Data looked her up as she spoke and studied her record between her breaths.
The woman was the youngest of the candidates so far, but had the most innovative ideas. After reading her dossier and seeing what she was working on now or had already completed, Data had the distinct impression he should be reporting to her for the project! Even before he read her file, he recalled reading her name before. While she was still very young, she had already written several papers, five of which had gained substantial notoriety in the cybernetics community. She had also been on a team that had created the Prexin compilation. A mathematical construct that showed great promise in solving most of the computational errors previously encountered in creating a stable positronic matrix.
When her hour was up, the two were discussing the merits of upgrading his skin sensitivity, which would, unfortunately, require making it much more human-like, according to her research. But Data also had some ideas alone these lines, so he was not ready to end this discussion, just yet.
"It wouldn't work that way, Commander. Trust me. I have tried it," Barrows was saying.
"I do not doubt you have, Doctor. But with the combination of increasing the density and adding two more layers, I believe you will find my idea feasible." Data could not help his excitement. Her ideas would allow Data to feel much more from his environment. He would be able to turn this sensitivity on and off, if they combined their ideas. It was most alluring.
They continued this line of debate back and forth for another ten minutes, with both of them typing ideas and notes furiously.
Finally, she looked up and laughed. "You're letting me cheat, Commander," she accused, grinning wildly. She was still green, but Data could clearly see her amusement.
"I do not understand your reference, Doctor," Data assured her, slightly defensive. He did, however, suspect he knew exactly what she was talking about.
"My time ended thirteen minutes ago now. But you did not alert me," she told him, quirking an eyebrow. Data was pleased he could see it clearly enough to tell.
"Nor did you tell me, Doctor," Data lifting a finger to point out.
She laughed again, leaning forward in a conspiratorial tone, she said, "I'm not the one with a timekeeper in my head!"
Data grinned. "You do not come equipped with one, Doctor? I would see to that at once, were I you. It would keep you from being four minutes and thirty-seven second late, or sixteen minutes and five second over."
Trying to clear the mirth for her expression, she took a cleansing breath. Her tone had returned to a more formal one, but her eyes still showed her amusement. "I will consider it, Commander. I bid you goodnight, sir. I hope we get the opportunity to continue this discussion. Barrows out."
When her image winked out, Data sighed. That had been the most enjoyable conversation he had ever had with a cyberneticist. He was disappointed it had ended. Her mind was sharp, her ideas fresh and inspired. Data doubted any other candidate could top Dr. Barrows. But to be fair, Data had to interview the four others scheduled and meet them all face to face for the final interviews. With the introduction of emotions, Data was beginning to see that impartiality was no longer one of his specialties.
Less than two hours after he had signed off with Dr. Barrows, Data received a communication from Admiral Haftel. This was a recording. The Admiral indicated he was very busy (everyone was with the Dominion war going on, but Data let that go) but he wanted Commander Soong to see this message after his subspace meeting tonight.
"We're counting on you to make the right decision, Commander. Don't let others influence you. Lal was a very impressive...girl, Commander. I'm sure you will father many more equally extraordinary children.
"I'm convinced you will think carefully when choosing the Eve, the mother to your race. Or the other Adam, if that is your preference. But we all know the story goes better with an Adam and an Eve." The man leaned forward, his eyes taking on an almost sinister quality that Data suspected was meant to imply the imparting of a secret instead.
"Maybe you're already interviewed her, eh, Data?" Leaning back, the admiral pulled down the front of his shirt. His expression was not stern. "Haftel out." The screen went black.
Eve?