"Come in," the voice sounded, confident and warm. It fit the mind that Soriana touched as she entered: a genuine leader and decision-maker with a history of results. Tujiro Nakamura's office was fully furnished, a stark contrast to the bare bones of most of the station. "Ah, Counselor Turhal. I'm sorry we didn't have a chance to speak earlier. What I can do for you? Please, have a seat." He radiated curiosity as to the purpose of her visit, as well as a strong undercurrent of a busy man with too many matters to give his attention.
"Thank you, sir." Soriana sat. "I'm here about the situation with Commander Maddox and Lieutenant Commander Data."
"Ah, yes." The admiral nodded. "I've spoken with Jean-Luc on the matter, but honestly, your android's perspective seems quite skewed. In have every confidence in Commander Maddox. The potential benefit far outweighs the small risk."
"Sir, this is a deep and invasive operation on Data's brain. Wouldn't you agree that any sentient being has the right to refuse to take such a risk, regardless of its magnitude? I can't imagine any biological officer being forced to undergo brain surgery, regardless of the competence of the surgeon."
As she spoke, Soriana felt more and more of the admiral's attention drifting elsewhere. He responded, "I can imagine that, in fact. If a biological officer had a unique brain, something that required a minor risk to them in order for us to investigate, I would expect that officer to participate. Starfleet men and women risk their lives every day, counsellor. It's part of the job."
Soriana's heart sank. "But you can agree, sir, that a biological officer wouldn't be required to-"
"No, probably not," the admiral admitted, standing. He was done with what, to him, was a trivial concern for an important side project. "But if Commander Maddox has found a loophole in the regulations and we can hold Data to the oath that he swore to protect the Federation with his life, then so be it. I'm sorry, but this really doesn't need my attention; you can work with Commander Maddox directly."
As Soriana made her way back to the public parts of the station, she worked to tamp down her building rage. A man's life was being toyed with, here, and the psychopath's boss was too busy to care. She needed to get back to the Enterprise; there were a lot of subspace calls to make.
*****
"The letter of the regulation is on the Commander's side, I'm afraid," Captain Louvois said. Maddox stood alone at one end of the table; Picard, Yar, Data, and Soriana jointly occupied the other. "It seems pretty ridiculous, since Starfleet has obviously already accepted Data as a person and confirmed his choice to attend the academy and serve in Starfleet." She met Picard's eyes. "But the regulations aren't based on that; they're based on the fact that his brain counts as a computer and his mind as software. Starfleet has undisputed right to keep those devices indefinitely when they have been used to carry out Starfleet missions."
"You can't be serious," Picard sputtered. "This is the Federation! There's no way a sentient life form can be ruled to be property."
"Sapient, sir," Data corrected.
"What?" Picard looked back at his science officer, annoyed.
"A sentient life form is merely one that has sensory experience, and would include animals such as dogs and livestock that Federation races do keep as property," Data explained. "I am sentient, yes, but the important fact is that I am sapient. I have sufficient reasoning ability and sense of self that I should be afforded the same moral worth and rights under the law as other Federation citizens."
Picard leaned his head back to designate Data while looking at the judge. "You're really going to rule that he is property?"
Louvois sighed. "Not today, I'm not. This is clearly a matter for a formal hearing, and that's what we'll have. Mister Maddox will represent Starfleet's position of a property interest in Mister Data. And, Data, you may select your representative to argue that you are a citizen of the Federation, which bars slavery, and therefore no property interest can apply."
"Am I limited to only one representative?" Data asked, looking between his captain and Soriana.
The judge scowled. "You can have your whole damn ship represent you, if you want, but you won't be given any extra time. I'll limit the number of material witnesses if things go overboard."
Maddox spoke up, "Your honor, I'm no legal expert- "
"Ensign Trotek will help you with the formalities, but she's already terribly overworked, so don't expect too much. Whom did you get to draft up your little argument here?"
"A friend of mine on Earth. It was a one-time favor, unfortunately," Maddox swallowed.
Captain Louvois coldly apprised the people in front of her. "Commander Yar, I'm going to invoke a provision that allows me to require the first officer to represent Starfleet. You'll work with Doctor Maddox and deliver his arguments at the hearing."
Soriana felt Tasha's blood run cold. "Sir, I can't do that. Data is my friend; I -"
"You can do as the regulations require, Mister Yar. Everyone deserves zealous representation."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that, your honor," Soriana submitted.
The judge's gaze iced over further, and Soriana felt the other woman's anger. "And who, lieutenant commander, do you think you are to disallow anything?"
"I'm the counsellor and chief mental health officer for the Enterprise," Soriana reminded her. "And I have the authority to withhold duties from any member of the crew that I believe would result in severe emotional damage or exacerbate existing mental trauma. Asking Lieutenant Commander Yar, who has been in a romantic relationship with Lieutenant Commander Data for over a year, to argue against his sapience would certainly fit that standard."
"A machine? Seriously?" Maddox exclaimed, looking rapidly between Yar and Data. Soriana felt Yar's intense embarrassment and the judge's apparent amusement from the comment.
"Fine. Commander Maddox, you and Trotek will handle the matter yourselves. This isn't a jury trial; you don't have to be eloquent. Just present the facts." She looked back and forth between the parties. "Unless there's something else? No? I'll set the hearing for the day after tomorrow. Dismissed."