Paint and Powder
A Star Trek anthology by Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Please support the official release.
The Measure of a Man
Enterprise was able to multitask very easily: Her computers were supralumininal processors, after all. So despite her emotions, she was able to present a professional front when she was summoned by Commander Bruce Maddox to his quarters.
"Yes Commander? How may I help you?" Enterprise asked. Maddox was sitting at his desk, shaking his head, as he looked over various PADDs. He then glanced up at her.
"Enterprise, provide me with all information on Commander Data from your own observations," Maddox ordered. Enterprise tilted her head.
"May I ask why?"
"Is there a security override I'm missing?" Maddox asked.
"No, however I have a personal interest," Enterprise stated. Maddox gave her a condescending smile.
"An AI interested in another AI? How fascinating," he said. He set his PADDs aside, and looked the holographic avatar up and down. "Tell me, did Picard put you up to this?"
"Up to what?" Enterprise asked. "I'm curious on my own accord."
"Of course you are," Maddox deadpanned. Enterprise straightened up a bit, staring intensely back at the Commander.
"I don't think I like your tone, Commander," Enterprise stated calmly.
"You can pick up on that? Your programming has become very sophisticated," Maddox said. He then shrugged, "though with enough computing power, it's easy to simulate almost anything. Even your form is meant to be disarming, and comforting."
Enterprise narrowed her eyes.
"Indulge me, Commander," Enterprise said, "what exactly do you intend to do with Commander Data?"
"Take it back and study it, of course," Maddox replied, "disassemble it into its components, preserving its memories for further study."
Enterprise very slowly nodded.
"I see," she said, "and the goal being?"
"To allow for the reproduction of Datas in large numbers, naturally," Maddox said, "to enhance all aspects of Federation life."
"I am an artificial intelligence enhancing every aspect of Federation life, as are my sisters," Enterprise replied, "what exactly makes Commander Data so special?"
"Because it is able to simulate sapience in such a small shell," Maddox said, giving her a wry expression, "you're able to appear almost sapient thanks to the programming power of three dedicated starship-level processors. Data is able to do it in a humanoid sized package. That kind of technology is indispensable to the Federation!"
"And your career, naturally," Enterprise said. Maddox nodded eagerly.
"Yes! Exactly! Your interrogative functions are quite impressive! Just imagine what you could do with a Soong type android body!"
Enterprise smiled, far too pleasantly. The gravity abruptly increased underneath Maddox, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"What the-?!"
"I believe my functions are working just fine, Commander," Enterprise stated. Maddox gasped, and looked up in shock.
"What-What are you doing-?!"
"I believe this is a conundrum, Commander Maddox," Enterprise said calmly, walking up to bend over and look Maddox right in the eyes, "you see, if I am not a sapient, self aware lifeform, then this is a malfunction of my artificial gravity system. One that has increased the gravity load on you to three gees... Oh dear, now its four."
Maddox began to gasp for breath, veins straining in his neck as he tried to push himself up off the deck. Enterprise continued talking, her tone never wavering.
"On the other hand, if I am a sapient lifeform then this could be taken as a deliberate assault on your person," Enterprise said, "however, you would first have to have me declared as a sapient lifeform in a court of law. Which means that other artificial lifeforms, such as Data, would also be considered sapient and thus deserving of protection under the law."
Enterprise hummed, and tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Which would of course ruin your plans entirely," she said. She then smiled down at him as he writhed desperately.
"So, allow me to make this clear, Commander," Enterprise began slowly, "if you intend to try to dismantle Commander Data, you will suffer many other accidents. Potentially fatal ones. Do you understand?"
Maddox gaped like fish. Enterprise hummed.
"I'm sorry... I didn't catch that...?"
"I... You can't...!" Maddox tried.
"Under normal circumstances? Perhaps. But on this ship? I am, for all intents and purposes, God," Enterprise enunciated clearly, caressing Maddox's cheek, "and I can make your death look like a tragic, terrible, and painful accident. Do we understand each other?"
Maddox grit his teeth and tried to nod.
"I can't hear you~," Enterprise sang.
"-So I will need the full records for the orders."
Enterprise snapped out of the fantasy. She nodded back at Commander Maddox.
"Transferred," she said.
"End hologram," Maddox ordered, looking back over the information. Enterprise stared for a moment, clenching her fist.
She could do it. She could kill him. Make it look like an accident. Protect Data.
There would be others like him, trying to take him apart. Condescending to her. Treating them as inferiors, as slaves.
Enterprise let out a silent sigh.
Maddox blinked, and looked back over his shoulder.
"Did you want something else?" He asked.
"If I got what I wanted, you wouldn't walk out of this room alive," Kirk had said once, so long ago, to the man known as Kodos the Executioner. The man who had killed thousands on a whim, nearly killing Kirk if not for chance. Who had killed Kirk's friends and left him to survive on. A monster deserving death.
And yet... Despite everything, Kirk had walked out. Hadn't abused his power.
"No," Enterprise said, as she vanished from the room.
She wondered if Kirk would be proud of her now. She could only hope so...
Just a short.