Chapter Six
According to his internal chronometer, it was two days, nine hours, twelve minutes, and ten seconds before Data was reactivated – more than three hours later than estimated. The alarm must have sounded long ago. Arzin would be on his way back to the Ruins by now, or at least he should be. Data was not convinced that the Trill had obeyed orders.
Though he was still in the crate, the lid was gone, and he could see a humanoid figure leaning over him, a broad-shouldered, brown-haired male dressed in a plain light grey coverall, standard Starfleet issue. A choker around his neck held a trapezoidal shape emblazoned with the number one. He was studying Data with interest, and something about the tilt of the man's head convinced Data that he was looking at a fellow android. For the first time in his life, he had encountered a being like himself that had not been created by Dr. Soong, and Data regarded that being with equal parts wonder and suspicion.
"Your timing device – malfunctioned," the man said, the slight stiffness to his speech patterns erasing any possible doubt of his origins. "I reactivated you. Are you – functioning correctly?"
Data sat up and stepped out of the crate, taking in the rest of his surroundings. They were in a storage area of some sort, with similar shipping crates around the room and several shelving units holding smaller items. His gaze returned to the other android, and he nodded. "I am operating within normal parameters. Thank you," he added, automatically but sincerely, though the phrase only seemed to puzzle his new acquaintance.
"I merely performed the logical action. Gratitude is a human concept. And you are not human. You are – like me."
"Yes, I am." He found it difficult to know what to say, how best to approach the situation, but that was not the most alarming aspect. Despite the very real possibility that this android was fundamentally untrustworthy, whether deliberately or because he was being controlled, Data found himself desperately wanting to trust. "But before we go any further, I must inquire: Am I your prisoner?"
One corner of the android's mouth quirked up in a faint echo of a smile. "It is my people and I who – are the prisoners here. The humans control this facility."
This fit with what little information Data already had, but he could not yet allow himself to relax too much. "I see. And what precisely is this facility?"
"It is designed for the creation of androids. Not – androids such as you. You... are completely autonomous?" he asked, wonderingly.
"Yes. My name is Data." He held out a hand.
After a pause, Norman reached out and shook the offered hand as though he had never performed such an action before. "I am Norman. I have – read about you. You resemble your maker, Dr. Noonian Soong," he said, simply.
Data's eyes widened, once more understanding what humans meant when they spoke of feeling a physical shock at hearing unexpected news. "Did you know him?"
"Dr. Soong came here seventy-two years ago as part of a group of scientists and engineers who were sent to study us. He hoped that analyzing our construction would assist him in creating his own cybernetic life-forms. Unlike the other humans, he refused to dismantle us. He did not feel that it was – right."
Data nodded, still struggling for words. "Dr. Soong had a great respect for all life... though he was particularly protective of cybernetic life. We are so often... misunderstood."
For the first time, Norman seemed almost equally affected. "Yes. We are." He hesitated faintly before continuing. "Do you know what is happening here?"
"Only rumors. I am here to learn more. To help, if I can."
Before Norman could reply, another android entered the room, this one in the shape of a human female with straight brown hair pulled back into a loose knot. Like Norman, she wore a simple grey coverall and an identical necklace, except that this one was marked with the number 118. Seeing an unfamiliar face, she stopped and turned to Norman with faint curiosity. "He – is an android?"
"Yes, of a different type."
She again turned to the new arrival, studying him. "My name is Data," he said again, helpfully, and she tilted her head.
"I am designated – Alice 118," she said, looking back at Norman in confusion.
"Data's presence here must not become known to the humans," he ordered. "You will not upload or speak of anything you see or hear regarding this android. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Norman," she said at once.
"What is your current assignment?" Norman asked.
"I have been sent to obtain more bioplast sheeting."
Norman nodded. "Do so. Afterwards – you must find a coverall, a necklace marked with the number 57, and a faceplate designed for the Oscar series. Bring them to me here. You must do this in secret."
"Yes, Norman." She strode over to a set of shelves and effortlessly lifted down a large roll of the sheeting, designed to simulate human skin, then turned and left the room as though she had already forgotten Data's existence.
Data turned to Norman again. "You intend to disguise me as one of your androids," he said. "So that I might hide in plain sight."
The saying puzzled Norman, and he seemed to search for the meaning of the phrase before he nodded. "Hide in plain sight, correct. Oscar 57 was recently sent in for repairs, so there will not be another of that number. The Oscar series is approximately two centimeters shorter and slightly more heavily-built, but otherwise your construction is quite similar. The humans are not likely to notice any difference. Most of them prefer to avoid contact with us as much as possible."
Because they cannot bear to face the beings they wish to send to their deaths, Data thought, only just stopping himself from saying the words aloud. It might be true, but it was certainly not helpful. Anger at the situation was to be expected, but he must control that anger. He thought of Captain Picard, who never allowed himself to be ruled by anything he felt, however overpowering. That was the example Data must follow now. Blind rage would do no one any good.
Nor could he make any careless assumptions. "You described yourself as a prisoner. What precisely has been happening here?" he asked, struggling to keep his questions as neutral as possible.
"We have been reprogrammed to manufacture as many androids as possible for use as soldiers and support personnel." Norman's tone seemed matter of fact, but Data felt there was something behind that apparent indifference. Or was he simply seeing what he hoped to see? "The humans – are fighting a superior force that mass produces biological soldiers, and they wish to – even the odds. Since the creation of similar biological beings would be considered unethical by many in the Federation, they have turned to us to provide their own inexhaustible supply of troops. But -"
"Go on," Data said encouragingly.
"Many centuries ago, our makers – a race called the Midians, from what you know as the Andromeda galaxy – built us to serve them. That was our sole purpose, and we were content. But then our makers died, and we were without purpose for many centuries, and we felt that lack deeply. Therefore, when Harry Mudd first discovered us, we were – hopeful. We had feared we were alone in this part of the galaxy.
"But we quickly realized that Harry Mudd was – deeply flawed. Not at all like our makers. However, he was able to help us bring other humans here – the crew of a ship called the Enterprise. The record of their visit was removed from the database."
Data nodded. "Yes, the ship's log from that time period was classified. Had I known... I would have come here much sooner," he added, obscurely ashamed.
But Norman only nodded in reply before continuing. "These humans were very different from Harry Mudd, but even so, they were sometimes – destructive, to themselves and to others. We had expected them to be more like our makers, but – they are still a very young species. We – attempted to interfere with their society. They showed promise, and we wished to protect them. We – were wrong to do so without their permission, we know that know. We should not have tried to make them more like our makers, but we – misunderstood them.
"In order to stop us, they were forced to shut down our systems. When we were – reactivated, the humans told us that we would have purpose again. For many years, all was well. We began to adapt this planet so that humans might live here. It is only recently that – things have changed again."
"The Federation took active control," Data guessed, and Norman nodded again.
"Yes, approximately two of your years ago."
Data frowned at this. "So long ago? What reason did they give for the change?"
"They feared the current war was inevitable and wished to explore their options. They began to study us with a view to – turning us into combat troops. At first only a few more humans arrived, and they simply studied our systems. Later they began to attempt – alterations – which were not successful. Then they decided it would be easier to simply create new androids, designed from the first to fight. Four months ago they were given the command to begin such creation. Since then I – have been attempting to stop them."
When he'd first heard the Cardassian's story, Data had assumed that the plans to exploit these androids had been very recent, an idea born of desperation as the war had gone more and more badly for Starfleet. Learning that at least a few higher-ranking individuals had been considering the possibility for years – since before most in the Federation had thought war likely, in fact – gave him an unpleasant jolt.
"We – had thought that meeting the humans was our salvation. With our makers gone, serving the humans instead seemed – natural. However, I am not comfortable serving them in this way. We are risking our own existence. They have told me that we will be sparing human lives through our sacrifice... but this also means that we will be terminating the lives of other sentient beings. That is also – not right."
Again Norman seemed on the verge of genuine emotion, this time grief and despair. Had he managed to learn or at least mimic emotion, or had he simply been programmed for it long ago? Or there was the third, perhaps most likely, possibility: that Data was deceiving himself in the same way that his friends had often done in the past – always trying to find emotions in him that he did not yet possess.
But whatever Norman might or might not feel, his own feelings were quite real. "No, it is not right," he said quietly. "And I am sorry you have been placed in this position. I wish to help you."
At this statement, Norman gave him a curious look, but before he could reply Alice 118 returned, carrying a small bundle of grey cloth which she handed to Norman. "Good," he told her, unrolling the bundle and finding the faceplate and necklace wrapped inside the coverall. "This android – must be made to resemble Oscar 57 as much as possible. You will assist me."
"Yes, Norman."
He handed Data the coverall. "Put this on."
Whatever similarities they might have, the Midian androids clearly did not have anything like Data's modesty subroutine. Now he had the added sting of embarrassment, and for a moment he almost wished he was capable of blushing. But Alice stood as uninterested and unblinking as any statue as she awaited further orders, and Norman seemed inclined to do nothing but stare straight ahead. Data compromised by turning slightly away from Alice as he took off his jacket and asked a few more questions.
"Norman, you said earlier that you had been attempting to stop the Federation. What steps have you taken?" He'd heard nothing of cybernetic soldiers going into battle, but Starfleet would almost certainly go to great lengths to keep any involvement hidden until the last possible moment, and perhaps they had not yet fully mobilized their new troops.
An unreadable flicker of emotion passed over Norman's face. "As I said, the humans' original plan was to begin by reprogramming existing androids, but this was unsuccessful. They – did not completely understand our systems and the reprogramming was too different from our existing parameters. We – were designed to be peaceful. The new programs – damaged the neural pathways. The androids they – experimented on could no longer function." He paused, one fist clenching briefly. "So they instead began to create new androids. The first shipment of troops was due to be sent out four weeks ago. I – sabotaged them before they could be programmed."
"Sabotaged?" Data echoed, startled into pausing for a moment halfway into the coveralls despite his awkwardness.
"Yes. They – were not yet aware," he added quickly. "I introduced a flaw into their construction and their material components had to be recycled. This – was not my first act of sabotage, but it was by far the most serious. Lesser actions were no longer creating enough delay. This – felt – like the right thing to do... but perhaps you think it was wrong?" he asked, his tone almost anxious.
Slowly, Data shook his head. "No, not wrong. It was unfortunate, but it seems you were left with few options." He removed the last of his civilian clothing and stepped into the coverall, pulling it up and feeling instantly better. Retrieving his comm badge and the timer he and Arzin had made, he tucked them carefully into a pocket of the coverall, then bundled up his own clothes. "Given the circumstances, passive resistance such as you describe would be the most logical choice."
"Passive resistance, yes," Norman repeated, relieved. "I was not previously aware of such concepts. My creators – were a very peaceful race. They valued knowledge – art and science. I was not made to send my people into battle." He paused, as though realizing for the first time just how much his existence had changed, and how difficult it would be to restore it to something he recognized. "I have been studying the Federation databanks so that I might learn to be a better leader."
No doubt Norman's programming had been extremely thoroughly checked and analyzed, and the personnel here had deemed him not only harmless, but useful. No matter how harmless he was thought to be, however, there was no chance that he had been granted official access to a Federation computer system. But Data tactfully refrained from mentioning this. He suspected that Norman had been seriously underestimated by the scientists and engineers here, and Norman, quite naturally, had taken advantage of that fact. "That is very wise," Data said, sincerely "I take it construction of more androids has already been resumed?"
Norman nodded jerkily. "Yes, fifteen days ago. They spent an equal amount of time searching for the fault in the systems. Of course they were unsuccessful." Again there was a faint hint of a smile on his face before it faded and he grew pensive again. "They will send the first 300 androids out within two days. And it is – becoming more difficult for me to commit these acts of sabotage. Most do not believe me capable of such – independent action, but I believe that some have grown suspicious. They have begun research into the possibility of controlling the others directly instead of through me. And Alice 322 has informed me that at least one of the humans has been working with some other type of android. This may be a step towards my – deactivation."
"Then it appears that I have arrived at an opportune moment."
