Chapter Twelve
As quickly as they had appeared, the androids also began to vanish, and soon only Norman, Alice 322 and Herman 37 remained. Norman asked the latter two to report to the repair labs and remove any androids there to safety. "Everyone – must stay below level five," he added, glancing at Data for confirmation.
"Correct. That is the minimum safe distance. Are the communication systems open?"
"Yes. I will be in the main cybernetics lab on level seven. Meet me there when you – have contacted your friend."
"I will. Good luck," Data added, earning a frown and a tilt of the head from Norman.
"Luck – is not a factor in my calculations. I believe we have established proper safety parameters. That should be all that is necessary."
"It should be," Data agreed. "I have found, however, that even the most precise calculations can often encounter the unexpected. But I am sure that all will be well." He recalled assuring Maya of this in his dream and hoped that he was not misleading anyone.
The others left without another word – if the Starfleet personnel had ever bothered to encourage the social niceties among the androids, they now saw no reason to continue them, and Data could hardly blame them. Such things would only seem like a reminder of the humans who had done so much against the entire android population. It was a shame, in a way; Data had always found his own socializing subroutines to be useful, even comforting when dealing with often-unpredictable humanoids, and he had grown accustomed to them. Perhaps he had become too human to live among androids, and yet was still too much an android to live among humans.
Would Maya feel equally torn between the two worlds? They would each be unique, but they would at least not have to be uniquely alone, as long as – There he had to stop himself. Norman knew the procedure, and this would work. Once Maya was back, they could face any other problem together.
Though the communications station was on level five, there were few androids nearby, and as usual there was absolute silence. Perhaps it was this which gave him the odd feeling that something was about to happen, or perhaps it was more that something was about to go wrong. It seemed that he believed in luck more than even he realized.
But at least it was easy enough for him to contact Arzin on a secure channel, and it was a relief to hear his friend's voice again. "Data! Do you need me to come back?"
"If you wish," he replied. "In any case, I believe you could be back here at very short notice, correct?"
There was silence for a moment, then Arzin sighed and it was easy to imagine him shrugging awkwardly. "I didn't go back to the Ruins, if that's what you're tactfully asking. But I'm well out of sensor range, about two parsecs away. I didn't want to leave you without a way out. But tell me what happened."
Data gave a brief summary, marveling at how easy it was to explain the events that had already affected him so deeply. Even so, he didn't attempt to explain the one thing that he was thinking of the most, feeling that this was something best discussed face to face. "I am afraid that we have had to arrange a significant deception," he added. "In approximately five minutes, there will be an explosion, but do not be alarmed. This is an attempt to convince the Federation that the facility has been destroyed. All Starfleet personnel have evacuated, and the androids are safely in the lower levels. Actual damage should be relatively minimal."
Again there was a pause, this one long enough to make Data wonder if the connection had been lost. Finally Arzin said, dryly, "You've been busy. I was going to say that I can't believe Maddox was there, but actually, it makes perfect sense. That's exactly where he'd want to be." He sighed again, then returned to more immediate concerns. "All right, so what do you need me to do?"
"We have attempted to create an appropriate sensor illusion to make it appear that the facility has been destroyed. Would you test it with the scout's sensors?"
"Of course. When should I pick you up?"
"I will be staying here, at least for a time," Data replied, suddenly awkward. "The androids will need assistance to adjust, and I would like to be certain that there are no unforeseen consequences from this. Starfleet may still attempt a salvage operation, for example. Perhaps you could watch for any indications of this when you return."
"I doubt I'll have the clearance to know that officially, but I'll see what I can find out unofficially. But the Hawking will be out of spacedock in just over a week. Aren't you...?"
"No," Data replied quietly. "I have decided to resign my commission. I am sorry, however, not to have had the opportunity to serve with you longer. I believe we made a good team."
"That we did, captain," Arzin said after a pause. "But if you need help there..."
"If you wish to return to the Hawking, I understand. I know serving in Starfleet was always your wish. But – perhaps you could take the time to land here at least briefly. If you do decide to return, I should like the chance to talk with you face to face first."
"I don't know if Starfleet really is what I want anymore. But at least I have seven full days to consider my options," he added, with something of a return to his usual humor.
"Yes, you should certainly not make any hasty decisions," Data replied, missing the irony. "I should go now," he added, as the computer announced the three minute mark. "Communications will likely be disrupted briefly by the explosion. I will contact you again afterwards. And I will give you a copy of the full record of what I have found here. It still may be needed."
"Yes, sir. I'll be here."
"Thank you, Arzin."
On the way to the lab, Data was now distracted by thoughts of his friend as well, feeling almost as much responsibility for the Trill's fate as for Maya's. As a skilled astrophysicist, Arzin would easily be able to find a position in research or teaching outside Starfleet, but if he resigned merely because he felt obligated to follow Data's example, the android knew he would feel the weight of the guilt, and he'd had quite enough of that lately. And Arzin would not forget what had happened here. Perhaps, if he remained an officer, he might help prevent such a thing from happening again... or perhaps he would get himself court-martialed after all, by speaking out too strongly against Starfleet's wrongs.
The main cybernetics lab was another impressively large space, filled with equipment that would normally have fascinated him for hours. He scarcely noticed any of it, however, seeing only one thing: Maya.
She lay still on a table at one side of the room, dressed in the same coverall the others wore. This was not yet her, of course, but the resemblance was striking and she looked as though she was simply asleep, the illusion spoiled only by the cables plugged into the back of her neck. For a moment he was sure that she would open her eyes and smile at him. Without thinking, he reached out and touched her face – miraculously, wonderfully real again. But her skin was cold and he flinched, feeling as though he was once more touching her corpse.
"Her basic systems – are not yet fully active," Norman said, and Data blinked, not having been fully conscious of the other android's presence. "Once the body is functioning, she will exactly resemble a human female. Only a medical scan will reveal any anomalies. Body temperature and external indicators such as blinking will be identical. She will also be – capable of breathing, though as with your systems, this is not necessary. We have found, however – that this aids greatly with the psychological adjustment to an android body."
"Yes, I understand," Data murmured absently, still staring down at her. He did not feel calm so much as empty, he thought, afraid to let himself feel anything until the uncertainty was over. "Thank you."
Norman looked over at him and raised an eyebrow. "You – are welcome. This connector has been adapted for download from your systems. Please confirm that it will suffice. We can then begin the transfer after the explosion."
Wonderingly Data took the offered cable and studied it. "Yes, this appears to be correct," he said. There were only seconds remaining before Maya's engrams would be taken from him, and he felt something like panic at the idea, even though he would still have all his own memories of her. But of course that was the bargain. He had to give up this pale but steady shadow for the chance of having a whole, vibrant Maya once more, and he had to trust that it would work.
The explosion here was distant enough that he almost didn't notice it, though Norman was monitoring it carefully. At last he nodded, seeming pleased. "No damage – beyond level four, as calculated. Or perhaps – luck was with us," he added, and Data smiled despite everything.
"Let us hope it will continue to be with us." His movements felt slow, as though he was underwater, but he opened the panel on the side of his head and attached the connector easily enough. Now Maya was breathing, in a gentle, steady rhythm, and illusion though it was, it was infinitely comforting. He reached out to rest his hand gently on hers – still too cool, but with the first faint flush of warmth. "Soon," he whispered to her, and felt himself shiver.
"Begin download when ready," Norman said.
Data took a breath, finding it steadied him somehow, and accessed Maya's memories for the last time. "Download initiated," he said, and his hand tightened on hers.
"Download will require approximately ten to fifteen minutes," Norman went on, Data struggling to pay attention in a way he had not thought possible for him. "Processing and integration – will require more time. This varies based on several factors, but generally ranges from one to three hours. Your presence will not be required during that time."
"I would rather stay," Data replied, trying not to sound too incredulous at the idea that he might wish to be anywhere else. "Though... I would prefer to have my original face back before she is awake."
"Of course. I will assist you."
"Is the download proceeding correctly?" Data asked, then thought better of it. "My apologies. I am sure you would inform me if there were any concerns."
"Naturally," Norman said evenly, though Data had a suspicion that he was being humored. "All is proceeding as planned. The only – potential problem I see regards the length of time the memories were in storage. That may affect the processing. For now, we can only – wait and see."
As matter of fact as Norman was, Data was not reassured. His deepest fear was that he had waited too long and the essence of what had been Maya was now lost, and he was not convinced that the other android fully understood the fragility of the human mind as well as its resilience. But as always seemed to be the way, he could do nothing.
The remainder of the download was equally uneventful, at least. After a check of the data, Norman pronounced it to be within acceptable parameters and initiated the integration process. It began to seem impossible that Maya would be herself, after all this computer intervention. What did 'processing' do to a human memory, a human feeling? That was a question for philosophers, but it refused to leave his mind.
He contacted Arzin once more, giving him the coordinates to beam down to a safe part of the facility and arranging for Alice 322 to meet him there. Then all Data had left to do for the moment was to dwell on the worst while Norman helped him regain his faceplate. The small relief of recognizing himself again was lost in a sea of worry. Even with Arzin there, the next one to three hours would seem very long indeed.
When the Trill arrived at the lab, Data went over to greet him, apologizing for not having met him personally.
"Oh, don't worry about that," Arzin said, distractedly. "This lab is – amazing. Tell me they have astrophysicists I can talk to."
"I am sure they do," he replied, leading his friend over for introductions. "Arzin, this is Norman, who is in charge of this facility. Norman, my friend Arzin."
"I'm glad to meet you," Arzin said, holding out a hand.
Though Norman still seemed to see no point to the ritual, he shook the offered hand and ventured a greeting. "How – do you do?" he said, stiffly.
"I'm sorry that this place had to be damaged even slightly," Arzin said sincerely. "But I'm glad to say that your sensor trick worked, the base registers as destroyed, so hopefully that means you'll all be all right now. We could learn a lot from you." This left Norman at a loss, so it was perhaps just as well that Arzin was at that moment distracted once more, this time by the sight of Maya, still lying motionless.
Data, following his gaze, prepared himself once more for a difficult conversation. "There is something more that I need to tell you," he said. "About Maya."
