Walking Shadows

Posted on Sat May 10th, 2014 @ 2:19pm by Ensign Natia Nechayev

1,942 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Mission 86 - Discovery
Location: Medical Bay - USS Yorktown
Timeline: MD1 2005 hours, set after 'Its Alive!'

"tbd"

Lieutenant Siaxx Dvald
Ensign Natia Nechayev

***** Outside the Bridge - USS Yorktown *****

Lieutenant Siaxx Dvald turned her head as she regarded the woman in the
hoverchair who was behind and to the left of her. "Ensign, tell me exactly how you plan to talk to the computer?" she inquired. "I assume its an emergent intelligence and is still developing itself."

"Well for the time being, sir. Its still in its infant stages of its growth. I believe if we can somehow create a bridge between us and it, we can essentially merge our consciousnesses together. Maybe my insight can help it understand its purpose better. Of course this is just a theory still. Im a huge fan of Artificial Intelligences as you have probably figured out already. But I believe that if we helped it, we may be able to assist it in its growth by sharing memories and thoughts, give it something to draw from to form its own sentience. Of course, I got the impression from the bridge that they are guessing and I am still 100% confident that we are dealing with a emerging AI regardless of how it happened. In one discussion we talked of radiation that affects mechanics to be the cause of a emergent AI. Much like if Radiation is used to give a person super powers according to a book I read called the 'Avengers', which is possible to do. But it would effect Machines instead." Natia said as she followed.

"Anyways, thats my suggestion is to help it grow and in turn help it figure out its place on the ship. But I do know that if we are indeed dealing with an AI, I suggest not treating it as a tool. If we do that, it may resent us and try to kill us. After all if you beat a dog while the dog is down it will attack you, now if you pet it and nurtured it, it will grow up to be your loyal friend." Natia said amused with herself using that analogy, despite her rambles which she did, when she was excited about something.

Siaxx raised an eyebrow as she stepped into the nearby turbolift. "We can try it.. because I don't have any real experience with AI's."

"Your a doctor, why would you?, besides if all else fails we can built it an avatar and it can download its sentience into the body so it doesnt interfere with ship functions, im sure Data wouldnt mind another of its kind running around." Natia suggested in passing as she hovered into the turbolift taking up nearly half of the space.

Siaxx raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest. "and how do you have experience with AI's?" she inquired.

"Well sir, as I said before it was all theorized work back in school and I took an interest in them, beyond that its classified." Natia said hating the fact she couldnt tell the woman the truth.

"Classified.." Siaxx responded in a dry tone. "How droll." she added as she considered her options which were dwindling rapidly. "We're not going to know what we're dealing with until we can get a look at it... I need to find you if it actually IS sentient which... I remind you Ensign, it might not be.."

"If it is, we need to help it. If it isnt and its a security risk, I will infect it with a virus, essentially killing it. But for the moment, I need to remote access the ships main computer and look for any signs of intelligence first." Natia said casually as she got a hint that the Doctor hated the word 'classified' as much as she did.

"Ensign, we are going to be looking for signs of intelligence with the main computer but.... I won't be letting you use any viruses on anything without he Captain's approval... am I clear?" Siaxx intentionally kept her voice down as the two walked into the medical bay, thankfully it was empty as her other medics were either resting or were elsewhere aboard ship. "One more thing Ensign before we start.. I need to have total trust that you will tell me everything because if you can't then I will do this alone... understood?"

"Perfectly, Sir. If I do anything I need command authority. You think so little of me to not follow chain of command. Sheesh." Natia said calmly while hiding the fact she felt like the Lt scolded for no reason. She shook her head and brought up the console for her chair, the holographic console activated and so did a screen. "As for explaining, I doubt you could understand half of what I say anyway and the more I talk to you about what im doing the less effective I will be at doing this. But if you want me to tell you word for word what im doing, that is fine but I may miss something crucial and things could go very badly for all of us if I do miss something. But that is merely a warning. Nothing more." Natia said straight forward.

"Ensign... I think little of everyone, not just you." Siaxx responded evenly. "I'm an equal opportunity hater, I hate everyone and everything however I hate equally." clearly the larger then average Bolian had an almost English sense of humor. "So... this is your show... lets start this and Ensign.. please don't screw up the replicator.. I finally got it to make a good cup of Raktijino."

"Oh we wouldnt want that." Natia said as she rolled her eyes as she placed what she was doing up on the medical screen. "Sit and try to learn something." Natia said as she accessed the main computer and started to scan the computer, file by file, program by program. "If you see something that isnt supposed to be there, let me know." Natia said without taking her attention off the screen.

Siaxx did not sit down as she didn't see the need, she went over to the replicator and ordered herself a glass of coffee as she almost didn't bother ordering anything for the Ensign. "You want anything?" she inquired.

"I could use a cookie, it helps me think and my last doctor thought it would kill me." Natia said as she scanned the data, within the first ten minutes she stopped, cocked her head slightly and gave a half smile.

"Kill you?" Siaxx raised an eyebrow. "What allergies do you have?" as she considered what flavor of cookie to order exactly. "Any special flavours?"

"Well I had quite the sweet tooth, like I ate ALOT! of sugar, caffeine and the like and well, I have horrible self control so she thought threatening me saying that if I ate too much it would kill me, the detox from that was fun. But I got myself down to eating one cookie a day. Regular Chocolate chip will do. Im scanning the database within the computer core and I have seen my fair share of what is normally within a computer core, I also have some experience is how to Identify AI's as well, but it seems that their is some additional information within the main computer that shouldnt be there. I try to delete it but I keep being blocked, I tried to prince flank the data and im blocked again. Whatever is occuring is showing impressive self defense skills on a 11100011100111 level. Basic binary language. Impressive." Natia said calmly as she showed some surprise.

"We should attempt to possibly play a game with it. Give it a situation and see how it reacts. If it reacts as I suspect, it will play the way it thinks, if it doesnt then we arent dealing with an AI perhaps." Natia added.

Siaxx ordered the requested food and a drink of water which she brought both over to the Ensign. "Mmm... a simple battle drill should focus it except... lets get creative... throw the Borg at her."

"Good enemy, Ill use the same schematics of the Yorktown in this drill. Give me a moment and it should be set." Natia said setting up the drill. "We are set." Natia said.

Siaxx raised an eyebrow as she sipped her drink. "Okay... after this... you ever heard of an ancient earth game... called Missile Command?" she then smiled. "ask the Yorktown to attack Earth, or rather a set of targets on earth and see what happens..."

"So if the ship fires as programmed then its a normal ship, while if it resists and says 'No' essentially then its self aware. Good plan. Setting targets to Starfleet Command Headquarters, Paris, London, and lets throw in the Oakland ship yards." Natia said programming it into the drill. "Now starting." Natia said pressing the button.

Siaxx watched as she waited for the results with baited breathe. "Mmm... it refused the attack plan, citing civilian losses and the fact that its a Federation world."

"Interesting, lets switch it up a bit. Have earth invaded by the Borg and use the same conditions with the same main points of attack from the first simulation and then leave instructions that the only way to save earth would be to destroy the attackers thus saving earth and potentially save survivors. Give it a moral and ethical debate and see what happens?" Natia suggested.

Siaxx raised an eyebrow. "Hit it." she commented as she indicated the display before her, she watched the simulation in silence as she raised an eyebrow. "Mmmmm..." she commented. "This... I was not expecting...." she turned to the Ensign. "So... the computer can think creatively.... now we need to try talking to it..."

"We could leave a file within the computer core instructing it how to use our communications system. With any luck it will figure out a way to communicate with us, however, I should warn you that it may only beable to give one or two word, like a yes or no answer." Natia told Siaxx.

"It has the sum of all the experiences of all Starfleet officers who has ever served from the days of Jonathan Archer to the present. I don't think communication will be an issue.. if it can... but lets try anyway..."

"Just become someone has the knowledge doesnt mean they know how to use it. Its like trying to give a primitive person a rifle, to them they dont know what it is, to them its a club, stick, they dont know they are supposed to shoot it." Natia said calmly as she opened up a comm link.

"Hello?, if you look carefully you will find a file named 'Speech' in the computer core, follow its instructions and you should beable to communicate with us." Natia said to thin air, as she didnt expect a response, if anything it made her look like she was talking to herself.

Suddenly a beeping sound emerged in sickbay followed by several other sounds and then silence as Siaxx raised an eyebrow. "Computer?"

"Yes..." was the odd response rather then "Working." as Siaxx sighed. "How do I test a computer for actual intelligence rather then artificial intelligence." she mused. "We won't be able to tell the difference... so what we're doing here is academic." she paused as she elaborated. "This computer is the most sophisticated ever built for a Federation ship but its much smaller then the one fitted to the USS Gladiator.." she mused. "so what exactly have we been dealing with... is it software and programming or is it actual intelligence?"

***** Here's where the fun begins - Anakin Skywalker *****

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