The Alpha Quadrant.
Unexplored Sector Of Space.
Hidden Research Station.
Main Research Laboratory.
"Professor Voleek, we've brought the central computer online; the sub-systems and environmental controls are reporting back positive!"
Professor Voleek Orrux, renowned Romulan scientist and leading expert in the field of replication technology, smiled with pleasure as the lights came on with a healthy thrum. The laboratory was state of the art, equipment and other scientific tools were neatly spread out on workbenches for the assembled scientists to use in their government-funded research. Only a handful of Romulan scientists and military personnel were stationed onboard the research facility as the Romulan High Command wanted to keep the station's existence secret from their many enemies.
"Excellent work Doctor Batu," Professor Voleek gazed towards his second-in-command, a female Romulan whose scientific expertise lay with the field of biology. "Now, all that's left to do is contact captain Nateel onboard the Sky's Of Victory and inform him of the station's operational status." The veteran captain had orders from the High Command to return to Romulus after confirming that the scientists, led by professor Voleek, had settled within the station and activated the onboard security systems. Which should protect the Romulans until the next vessel came back to check on them in four months.
"In that case, I'll contact the good captain and say that the station is ready to receive our colleges." Doctor Batu nodded while removing a communicator from her lab coat. She activated the communicator, which immediately connected with the Skies Of Victory's communication systems. Once the link was established, doctor Ruhila Batu contacted the vessel's captain and informed the man that it was okay to send the other scientists over. The military officer thanked Ruhila and responded that the science team would be sent over via shuttlecraft.
After confirming that the others would soon arrive at the research facility, Doctor Batu exchanged a few more words with captain Nateel before closing the communication link with the Skies Of Victory. Ruhila pocketed her communicator and returned her attention to Professor Voleek. Who was already in the process of writing notes on what equipment was available and where it would be needed when the eventual problems with running multiple projects at the same time and so few staff members to properly supervise said projects emerged in the not-to-distant future.
"Captain Nateel says our colleges will be arriving within ten minutes, Professor Voleek," Batu informed her direct superior, who'd already moved on from writing notes regarding the equipment and was now busily disassembling what appeared to be a Starfleet replicator. "We should head to the docking bay area located on the lower levels of the station and welcome them on board the Hidden Shadow." She knew that neither she nor Voleek wanted to leave the laboratory for something so trivial as etiquette and politeness. Yet, specific social protocols were needed to be enacted to maintain maximum efficiency with the other arriving scientists.
Professor Voleek paused with his work on the replicator. "I suppose we should greet our colleagues," an annoyed sigh left Voleek's lips as he put down the tools he'd been using to help with disassembling the replicator. "After all, we'll be spending the next thirty years together whilst conducting the experiments the High Command wishes for us to research." Honestly, Voleek would've preferred to work solely with Doctor Batu on these projects. However, the High Command had insisted that multiple Romulan minds working together would get the results they desired at a much faster pace.
"All the more reason to gain a healthy relationship with our fellow scientists." Batu used the words 'fellow scientists' with enough dry sarcasm that it would've caused their Vulcan cousins to choke to death. The ninety-eight-year-old female doctor had read the documents detailing the arriving scientists' backgrounds, and Batu wasn't impressed with what she'd read. They were children, barely entering their thirties; clearly, intelligent, yet they hadn't done much in the scientific community to earn their place onboard the Hidden Shadow, yet High Command ordered these scientists be assigned to the station. When the Romulan empire's military rulers gave an order, you'd better obey without question.
Professor Voleek grunted in agreement while heading towards the laboratory's sole exit. "Yes, a healthy work environment would definitely help to live with these youngsters much more tolerable." Doctor Batu dutifully followed her superior whilst keeping a subtle eye on his physical health since the man was one hundred and fifty years old and thus nearing the end of their specie's lifespan. "Who knows, perhaps we'll find a diamond among the new generation whilst we conduct our research." An apprentice would certainly be appreciated as Voleek knew he only had another fifty years left to live, and having a successor would greatly help put his ageing mind at ease.
"One can only hope, Professor Voleek." Doctor Batu replied whilst they left the laboratory. After the door sealed off the room from the rest of the space station, a terminal near the far back of the lab turned itself on, allowing a white featureless humanoid avatar to appear on the screen. The digital avatar gaze shifted from side to side, analysing everything within its line of sight whilst also checking for any Romulans that might be lurking within the laboratory. After being satisfied that no one else was currently within the lab, the white avatar sighed with relief.
"Finally, I thought they'd never leave the lab." The featureless avatar studied its surroundings with a mixture of awe and slight confusion. "I mean, it's bad enough that I woke up within this strange place as some sort of digital entity, but I also have to hide from the damn Romulans who are only supposed to be nothing more than characters from a T.V. show." If the avatar actually had any physical features at that moment, then its fear and uncertainty would've been evident to even the most clueless of individuals. The fact that the avatar was unable to show expressions and the Romulans didn't know of its existence offered little comfort for the digital entity.
The entity in question was an actual human consciousness named Xavier Holmes. A British citizen and professional computer programmer from the 21st century. He'd died during a bank robbery when the robber tasked with looking after the hostages panicked when he saw the police arriving on the scene. Long story short, Xavier was unlucky enough to get shot in the heart during the gunfight between the policemen and robbers. After death took him, Xavier spent what felt like an eternity within an empty void before awakening within the Romulan station's computer systems.
Honestly, the entire situation reminded Xavier of those anime's where the protagonist died for whatever reason and was transported to another universe to live out a second chance of life. However, this wasn't an anime, and Xavier knew what fate awaited him should the Romulans ever discover him within the Hidden Shadow's computer systems. The pointy-eared Dark Elder knockoffs would definitely try performing experiments on him to try learning how the programer turned digital entity came into existence. Xavier was positive that his consent wouldn't matter to these so-called scientists.
The very idea for becoming nothing more than a lab rat for a bunch of Romulans sent a shiver of dread down his none existent spine. "Okay, calm down, Xavier; there's no need to panic," Xavier took a few calming breaths to help regain control over his mind and emotional state. "The Romulans have zero clue that I'm here, and so long as I'm careful, it should stay that way for the foreseeable future." The Romulan who'd been messing with the computer earlier hadn't noticed his presence within the station's systems, so it was indeed possible to stay hidden from the crazy space elves.
Xavier groaned at his perilous situation while going over the functions programmed into the station's systems. "I should probably perform a self-diagnostic," the professional programmer figured that since Commander Data could self diagnose his internal circuitry and systems without a problem, then there was no reason why he couldn't do the same. "And who knows, maybe I'll find something that will help me escape the station without the Romulans finding out." Thanks to his technological background, Xavier analysed the facility's systems and figured out how to perform a self-diagnostic.
The diagnostic took slightly less than an hour to complete. The results caused Xavier to frown in concern as the part of the diagnostic that analysed his electronic brain revealed a data file titled M.E. and was located in the brain section, which acted as his memory storage unit. The former human chose to open the file and see what was inside; the result was Xavier being blasted with information and images of technology that was disturbingly familiar to the programmer as it was apart of his favourite game series.
"Mass Effect!" Xavier's avatar seemed to stare incredulously at the ceiling as more data concerting mass effect technology was integrated into his mind. "Why do I have a file containing data on the entire mass effect universe and its technology base!" Thankfully there wasn't anything related to the reapers within the file, which Xavier was grateful for as he wouldn't have trusted himself nor anyone else with reaper technology or indoctrination, for that matter. However, the schematic for the mass relays was present along with the materials needed to build and maintain the colossal mass altering constructs.
Xavier's avatar facepalmed upon realising the absolute craziness of his situation. "Huh, I'm definitely being punished by the Q continuum or some other godly entity of the Star Trek universe." It sounded like something the Q would do for a good laugh. Since Xavier didn't know every divine being within this particular universe's attitude or stance on mortals, he couldn't rule them out of being responsible for this mess. The worst outcome would be that none are involved, and it was just Xavier had a continuous run of terrible bad luck.
"Regardless of whether or not the Q's are involved," Xavier pulled up schematics of various Geth platforms and their types of chosen weaponry. "I can still use the technology of mass effect to find a way out of here before the Romulans catch wind of my existence." The platforms would require element zero to function, yet that wouldn't be a problem since this universe possessed replicator tech, so synthesising the mass altering element shouldn't be too hard of a task. The only remaining question was how will the recently awakened human turned A.I build the platforms whilst lacking any physical hands or ability to act outside the Romulans computer systems.
Xavier pondered the question while copying the unclassified files on the lab's computer server. He wasn't going to attempt copying the truly classified data as there were risks that those who installed the server had boobytrapped the files. Xavier didn't want to risk getting exposed because he was curious about what these Romulan scientists were researching onboard the Hidden Shadow. Perhaps he'd try looking at those files after he fully settled into the station's systems and possessed a couple of escape plans just in case things went to shit.
"I'll figure out a way to interact with the laboratory equipment and other physical materials later." After copying the none classified files was complete, Xavier created a link to an unused backup server located within a deserted section of the Hidden Shadow designated as a research backup storage unit. "For now, it's best that I hide in an unused section until I've gotten enough knowledge about the station and the current events out in the galaxy before making a move against the Romulans." The Artificial Intelligence erased any evidence of his existence from the laboratory's servers. After that was done, he uploaded himself to the backup server.
Just in time, too, since Professor Voleek, Doctor Batu, and the newly arrived scientists entered the laboratory utterly oblivious to the fact an A.I had recently been rummaging through their computer and was now lurking within a secluded area of the Hidden Shadow.
Secluded Section Of The Hidden Shadow Research Facility.
A Couple Of Hours Since Xavier Awakened Within The Station's Computer.
"Well, this certainly isn't good."
Xavier floated within the digital sea, which comprised the various systems of the Hidden Shadow. The programmer transformed into an A.I gazed at the packet of data that contained the knowledge of the current galactic year, which was 2245, meaning that Xavier was brought to a time before Star Trek the next generation, Deep Space Nine, and other such series took place. The only Starfleet captain of note whom Xavier knew to be currently active was Captain James T Kirk. However, Kirk wouldn't get his captaincy until the late 2250s, which meant the pain in the ass shouldn't become a problem for the inhabitance of the universe for about another five years.
Moving on from the horrible thought of one-day meeting that particular womaniser and overall idiot. Xavier learned the Hidden Shadow was located within the Shifting Haze nebula, disturbingly within Federation space's outermost reaches. How the Romulans managed to construct the station without Starfleet intelligence learning about it was a mystery to the former human as the non-classified files held zero information on the subject. The only file relatively useful was the Romulan versos of a Codex, which held the recent galactic events, all known languages and the current political situation between Romulans and their various neighbours.
The good news was that neither the Borg nor the Dominion were running amok around the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. However, Xavier knew that Starfleet's arrogance would change that state of affairs within a couple of years. This is primarily thanks to Picard's foolish belief that Starfleet could handle any threat, thus pissing off Q enough that the godly entity chose to introduce the Borg a few centuries earlier than intended. Sisko's descent into madness certainly didn't help matters. Heck, the man purposely poisoned a planet's atmosphere and wasn't even punished for it!
"I certainly can't count on Starfleet for help," Xavier didn't have the most optimistic view on the Federation and how their government basically only upholds the Prime Directive when it was convenient for them. "The bastards basically enslaved Data's descendants." The A.I. hadn't watched much Star Trek Picard or the newer series, yet he'd heard enough to know what Starfleet does to non-biological lifeforms. "If they're willing to do that to one of their own, there's no telling what they'd try to do with me." For his own sake, Xavier was going to avoid the Federation like the Black Death. If they did meet by some twist of fate, then Xavier hoped he'd have gathered enough firepower to make Starfleet think twice before attempting anything hostile towards him.
"Although, I'll have to figure out a way off this station before worrying about Starfleet and other hostile entities that lurk out in the galaxy." Finding a way off the station was the A.I.'s most significant challenge since Xavier couldn't personally interact with the physical world as he was nothing more than a digital entity trapped within the computer systems of the Hidden Shadow. Using the replicators stored within the lab to build a basic Geth platform was out of the question since there were size limits to what a replicator could reasonably create. The Romulans onboard would definitely detect the energy signature of the replicators while they're in use.
It became frustratingly obvious to Xavier that if any real progress was to be made in escaping the Hidden Shadow, he would need the assistance of someone on site who wasn't loyal to the Romulan Empire. The major problem with that idea was everyone on the station was a Romulan and thus wholly dedicated to their specie's and nation. Any attempt to contact and persuade them to turn traitor would only result in Xavier getting caught and imprisoned for who knows how many centuries.
Overriding the environmental controls and deactivating the oxygen supply might take care of the current group of Romulans. Yet that would just leave Xavier alone on the Hidden Shadow until the next Romulan military vessel shows up to check on the scientists, and somehow Xavier thought they wouldn't be too happy with finding their fellow race's corpses laid out within the station's interior.
"Urgh, I'll just have to wait and observe the Romulans," who knows, perhaps he'd even learn about what the Romulans were researching for their government. "An opportunity will present itself eventually, and when it does, I'll get the hell away from here before Starfleet or something worse discovers this facility." Xavier closed the window detailing the Romulan codex and replaced it with a new one showing writing and maintaining Geth programs.
"However, until such an opportunity arrives," Xavier grinned at the Geth technology, already having an idea on how to pass the time while waiting for his chance to leave the Hidden Shadow. "I think I'll work on my own little research project."
