empirical_data | To Boldly Go... [RP for haughty

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To Boldly Go... [RP for haughty_alpha]

There were adjustments that had to be made initially, that came as no surprise. For one thing, augmentation was illegal in the universe Data was accustomed to. Being revealed as an augment could rob one of well-deserved honors and citations. Here augments were run of the mill. If someone wasn't a Heavy Gravity Worlder (meaning that they were sturdy and dense and could navigate easily in two Gs, and their metabolism was incredible to feed that stocky bulk), then they had their reflexes enhanced, the ability to breathe water, or were tweaked clones. Cybernetic enhancements for more than just keeping the body maintained were common, such as for strength or for data navigation. And there were androids. There were still prejudices against AIs, and they couldn't efficiently navigate slipstream without the intuition of an organic, but there were many of them. Androids, and androids with brains that could link to ships with massive cosmic intellect, and all of them could feel.

It was nice to just... blend in, Data found. He was still unique, his positronic system still wonderfully compatible with other systems and strange in the way that it evolved and altered. His appearance still not modeled to look like that of a human precisely, but markedly different in that he had gold skin. And while they didn't have warp drive (yet another little tidbit that he was sure they could "develop" for interstellar rather than intergalactic ships) he had Avon to help navigate slipstream.

When they found a ship that was, of course.

Tarn-Vedra, or Seefra 1 as it was called by most locals even though the other Seefra planets had long since been destroyed by the impending sun, was still grappling its way out of a terrible state of affairs. Drought, acid-rain, 300 years of technological fear and agricultural strife. People fighting to hold whatever land they could, though the reintroduction of the Systems Commonwealth and the deciphering of Vedran technology had greatly improved the state of the planet. Her native sun had returned and weather regulators were going into effect. What was once dust was now beginning to flourish, water no longer a rarity worthy of fighting battles over, and science and progress once again had a foothold on the planet that had been unceremoniously jammed into the nether-regions of space.

It really had been the best planet for a few determined survivors to begin a new life. Dayna, of course, absolutely loved it and found a place to settle and conduct her own research. Avon he wasn't sure about. Data enjoyed being settled, and actually owning a piece of land. He'd never even been offered his father's properties after they were defined as Noonien's, and even if he'd been given rights by Starfleet they held all of the Soong research, even from generations past, whatever they could find, as their own. Down to his laboratories. Here he had his own lab, his own house, his own spouse, his own cat which was far too smart for his own good and remained constantly barricaded inside for fear of someone stealing it. There was still that little something missing; a ship so that he could travel, as he couldn't abide by staying in one place for too long, and a functional offspring.

Here, artificial intelligence was more reliable. There was a better chance of him creating another Soong-Type android and having someone there to assist in correcting the mistakes. The first step in both getting a ship and that offspring was contacting the Perseids.

Which was how Data ended up with some gray skinned figures roaming around their quaint little cybernetics and engineering laboratory.

"So you say you have the capacity to complete our Tesseract machine? Enough so that structural integrity for organics will no longer be placed at significant risk?"

"Yes. I've known of them as teleporters or transporters, but I would be glad to help."

"For this sort of technological development, a ship seems a meager price to pay, we'll gladly supply you with one," Dr. Roen said. It was a bit unusual, seeing the pharoah-like chin protrusion in accompaniment with a distinctly feminine figure. Though he didn't know whether she would be offended by him likening her to Hapshetsut from Earth's own history... But then again, she was a Perseid. At his worst, he was less socially inept and inadvertently insulting with his observations.

"I am hoping that in exchange for the ship we may also develop agreeable terms for future research interaction."

"Is your skin supposed to be that color," he companion interrupted, another Perseid, though this time male. "Or was it do to insufficient supplies and erroneous design."

"It is supposed to be that particular hue." Data agreed, smiling at the other scientist in his best cordial look, which looked decidedly forced. "I will have to discuss with my husband."

"We would also consider making the exchange for your cat!" Roen recommended anxiously. "With the destruction of Earth even researching extinct creatures is almost an impossibility. Did you genetically engineer her?"

"Yes, I did," he lied. The lie was easier to accept than the truth. "And I am afraid I am extremely attached. The results are unstable, and she's extremely unique."

The Perseid was still smiling even through her very apparent disappointment. "Ah, I see."

Data was thankful she let it drop. "I am certain my husband would also like some equipment to assist in his own research, which I have no doubt would be reasonable to accommodate." He looked over his shoulder, seeking out said husband in hopes he would arrive before the strange scientists sputtered out an even more unusual and accidentally abrasive observation.

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"Data," Avon called, arriving right on cue, "I was looking for you." He eyed Data's companions for a moment before favouring them with a cautious nod, not bothering to hide his natural suspiciousness, but less rude and abrasive about it than he would have been in the past. He managed, at least, to project an air of polite formality rather than obvious hostility.

"There are certainly some supplies I would find useful," he added to the group at large, smiling pleasantly enough. He had caught the tail end of Data's conversation with the Perseids. "Nothing particularly obscure or expensive - I hope."

At the moment, Avon was far less interested in acquiring research supplies than he was in obtaining some kind of ship. As much as he enjoyed owning property that wasn't Federation-regulated, he felt nervous without his own transport. Avon required two things in order to feel that he and Data were safe: one was a bolt-hole, which they had, and the other was an escape route, which they currently didn't. He would feel much more relaxed when staying planetside was an option rather than a necessity.

He stood close to Data, apparently at ease, but keeping a close watch on their visitors all the same.

Data rested a hand on Avon's back gingerly, right between his shoulder-blades. "Though the ship is our priority."

"The Commonwealth is actually doing some exciting research into a new exploratory vessel, meant to go to regions of the three galaxies that slipstream won't reach and choose suitable planets for terra-forming." And to Roen it did seem exciting, her hands clenched in delight and held up, voice rising the way a young girl would coo over a puppy or a kitten.

Data, not really understanding, kept his expression earnest save a faint furrow of his brow.

"...They need a personality for the vessel! The majority of what's left of the Sinti research team is already assigned to new exploration ships. The one in development needs a core AI and programmers are already contending for the honor of giving the ship's AI its core personality."

"Rest assured, we'll get you your ship," her assistant agreed, holding up his hands as if to ease them. After all, he didn't want to come off as bad as a Chichin thief. "After our business with you, we were just inclined to assume that you may be the best candidates for this."

Avon nodded slightly at Data's remark. His eyes narrowed in thought when the concept of a 'personality' for a ship was discussed. "Ship AIs are tricky," he said, lightly. "Too little autonomy - free will, if you like - and the AI would be unable to function if the crew became incapacitated. Too much, and the computer might decide that it knows better than the crew." A scenario he had experienced for himself, with Zen.

He turned to Data. "What do you think? You are far more appropriately placed to comment on the nature of artificial intelligence than I." Although he didn't really think of Data as an 'artificial' intelligence; it sounded - insulting. 'Alternative intelligence', maybe. Inorganic intelligence, perhaps. Only a label, and yet, labels were so important - they could define one's entire life if one wasn't careful. Alpha, Delta...

Data didn't have to think very hard on it. "He is correct, though what is the Commonwealth's stance on independent thought as opposed to obedience. Occasionally a crew needs to be superceded, though this should not be a general rule."

"Warships already earned their right to choose whether or not to serve their captains, it was part of their agreement to join the Commonwealth charter. Fortunately most of them adore having a crew and a captain and see their interaction as a symbiotic relationship." Roen said, still obvious delighted by the idea.

"Though no such obligations have been required of exploration ships..." her assistant added.

"You both have such progressive ideals concerning AI rights that I would gladly back you in your bid. Especially if you use your personality on the quantum interface."

"I will consider it..." Data said. He didn't know how Avon would feel about that, as ships tended to have a root AI based in logic, an advisory hologram and then there would be Data. That is if they even managed to make it that far, in the wake of the dozens of other AIs that could be developed (he was sure none of them had quite so much personality as what Harper had given his creations).

"Yes, I am extremely liberal and eminently concerned with the rights of others," Avon deadpanned, flashing a private smile at Data.

He squeezed his husband's arm, hoping to indicate that the issue was perhaps one they could discuss in more detail in private. "I assume that the procedure would not put Data at any risk," he said. He couldn't imagine why it should, but he wasn't going to have Data agree to anything about which they didn't possess full information.

He turned to Data. "It would be a decidedly interesting development in our relationship." As usual, Avon's mind was at work weighing the advantages and disadvantages - multiple Datas was decidedly in the former category in many ways, having a ship's computer he could fully trust, and so on. It was all very logical, and yet a nagging part of Avon wondered how he would handle interacting with a version of Data's personality which would inevitably remind him of Zen. As a ship AI, that version of Data would have more in common with Orac than it did with Avon. The thought was somehow displeasing.

There was also the matter of whether Avon would be able to maintain a dispassionate and objective attitude to the ship - which was after all merely a machine, and one they might at some point have to risk, abandon, or even self-destruct. Would he find himself becoming too attached to a ship imprinted with Data's personality? Although he had hidden his feelings from his companions at the time, Avon had keenly felt the loss of Zen, and, despite his best efforts to consider it as nothing more than a tool for his use, he was more attached to Orac than he liked people to know. If he was unable to suppress feelings of sentiment towards Zen and Orac, he would certainly not be able to avoid them towards an AI based on Data's personality.

"We will discuss it in greater detail," he promised, moving his hand to cover Avon's and indicate that he'd indeed heard him. A quick reassuring squeeze and a glance in his general direction to reinforce it. He knew there would be concerns.

"Well, we'll go see about the transfer of ownership for the transport ship," she promised, and her and her assistant exited the lab non the worse for wear for their hesitance. They might have reminded Data of Vulcans in their enthusiasm for science and knowledge if they weren't entirely manic about it.

Data turned to Avon, still looking a little confused about the entire thing. "I am oddly flattered by the offer. I would presume that it would be the equivalent of asking a human to be the subject of a piece of artwork."

He raised a finger. "...But, I could imagine what your reaction would be should the ship be assigned a captain that was not you, and being a Commonwealth ship that would be a concern."

Avon nodded, reassured.

"It certainly is flattering," he agreed, when they were alone, "and I can think of nobody better for the job. But...does the thought of an intelligence based on your consciousness, out in the universe somewhere without your personal control, make you at all uncomfortable? You are right to guess that it worries me a little. There is always the possibility that the AI could be interfered with in some way - altered, violated. Logically, that would not directly affect *you*, of course, but nonetheless..." it was hard to explain why Avon had reservations, because the reasons weren't entirely rational. It always annoyed him when emotions took over from logic.

In the end, he simply had to be honest. "I am not sure that I like the thought of someone else having any kind of intimate relationship even with a copy of your personality." He put a hand on Data's chest, stroking lightly. "I am, after all, a *very* possessive and jealous man." He grinned wolfishly.

"Avon, we have a home and soon a mode of transportation, I do not need to accept the offer. Especially if it makes you uncomfortable..." He put his hand over Avon's and squeezed it, giving him a genuine look. Though it was one of those looks that one knew wouldn't be the end of the conversation.

He pulled away, going to one of the work tables to lean against. "That is not to say we can not take advantage of their offer. I've been investing some thought into constructing an artificial intelligence."

He could recall that brief time they'd met Tiberius, but there was no guarantee that was precisely their future. Especially after what had happened with Lore, with the nanobots and the chaos that had happened just before they came here. He was still wounded over the friends he'd lost, and he didn't know if Avon felt the same way and merely dampened the emotion, or if his home had hardened him.

"We could develop a personality and a physical representation for an exploratory Commonwealth vessel... There would still be attachment but a fitting one of two parents concerned about an offspring on their own."

"It has to be your decision," Avon said, with a rueful smile. He had not infrequently found himself championing Data's self-will to those who did not believe an android to be capable of possessing it; to attempt to deny him this would be something of an irony. It was not Avon's choice to make. "It would be a considerable honour, I suppose. And I would not object if you wished to go ahead with it."

A quieter, more genuine smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Offspring?" he repeated, softly. "I see that you have not been able to stop thinking about Tiberius, either. It's a strange thing - we knew him for only a short time, and yet he has seldom been out of my thoughts since."

He let out a long, slow breath. The thought of developing a ship's AI was exciting to him, both as an intellectual challenge, and for other, more intimate reasons. Years ago, before Blake, before he had lost Anna, Avon had always imagined himself having children one day. That those children, if they came, would be artificial intelligences sounded like one of Vila's mocking jokes - and yet, here they were, discussing the possibility of developing such a creation. It would not be the same as developing a self-willed android like Tiberius, of course, but it would certainly be a step in that direction.

"Yes," he said eventually. "Yes, I think we should."

Data sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck as if he were trying to rub out a stress. Just another automated gesture to make him seem more human in his way. That lingering wish to continue his father's work probably another symptom of that, considering what he'd said.

"I had mentioned Lal to you, once. My daughter. Her functions likely would not have been so drastically impaired had it not been ordered that she would be removed from my custody for study." She had been quite literally scared to death. Had her symptoms not been exacerbated, had he been able to tend to her cascade failure more quickly, then Lal would have continued functioning. She might even have even been a productive member of Federation society by the time of his... well, he'd rather think of it as an alteration in lifestyle than 'death' at this point.

"I do not have to concern myself with those circumstances any longer. I believe it had been my largest deterrent, as any parent would not wish to bring children into an environment lacking stability and potential for growth..."

He was happy to see Avon didn't seem opposed. Avon didn't even seem to hesitate, actually. He didn't know whether they should be more apprehensive or not. He did, at least, want to try. "I have been connected to a quantum interface. I understand how their emotional structure works. They view their relationship with their captain and engineers as symbiotic, and their entire crew as... I believe the closest approximation would be pets. And they still retain the capacity for choice though in the dimmest sense of the concept... In short, it would be unlike any personality that I have previously written even for holographic simulation."

Avon squeezed his shoulder gently. "I understand why you were reticent," he said, "but you have so much to offer a developing intelligence. Your own experiences are unique, and enough to inspire any burgeoning artificial life form. Now those restrictions are no longer a problem - for either of us - there seems no need to hold back any longer."

The prospect of creating something so complex and different was extraordinarily appealing - much more so to Avon than the thought of having a biological child. Biology was far too unpredictable, uncontrollable. Creating an artificial intelligence with a personality of its own would be a true work of art.

He rubbed along Avon's forearm, appreciating the comfort that he was giving him.

"Do you ever feel as if you were slightly compromised in marrying me. I could not provide you with traditional biological offspring, even if I were human." Some still preferred the natural means of child production, even where he'd been from. Same sex couples could produce genetic combinations of themselves through a licensed geneticist.

Avon never struck him as the diaper and bottle feeding type, but the sort to be secretly nurturing.

Avon stared at him for a moment, hoping the question was a casual one and that Data wasn't actually worried about this possibility. "No," he said, firmly. "What use would I have for traditional offspring?"

He laughed at his own quip, but after a moment his face grew serious. "Data...I have thought about this, perhaps more often than you are aware, and the truth is that I have no desire to pass on my genes. My intellect, my experiences, certain aspects of my personality which I can carefully select - yes, perhaps. A random mix of my genetic material, certainly not. There are aspects of my innate personality which I have spent most of my life trying to overcome, and others which I have lately come to realise were damaging to me, and to those around me. I would not wish to pass such traits on to a helpless child."

"Then perhaps you can supply me with reassurances... as I am not certain that I will pass on something inefficient."

He stepped up to Avon, slipping his hand into his and twining their fingers in a sweet replica of a gesture shown to him long ago. "If worse comes to worse and our attempts eventually fail, then I will simply clone you. Then I can be assured he would turn out positively."

He doubted Avon would agree, but like any good cat he needed the stroke to his ego. And Avon very much was like a cat.

Avon laughed, pleased. "Well now, if you want to replicate me, I may have to request a few amendments. But I am gratified that you're so confident of a positive outcome."

He squeezed Data's hand. "I have no doubt that your contribution to any offspring of ours would be a positive one. Then again, it wouldn't hurt for there to be a few irregularities, quirks of personality...will we have to see what we can do."

"I am, undoubtedly," he assured him. Though he had his fiancee's blessing now. The full support to proceed with the venture. It was strangely domestic, to be discussing what in the end would be a government utility but to them would be a child.

Data had experience in being both. And defending ones rights as both.

He debated, briefly, asking to model the AI after Tasha. Though a few thousand and lightning fast processes later and he had made the decision that it wouldn't be the best for a ship of exploration. She was very much a warship.

"Might we... name him Roj? I believe it would be a fitting homage for a man that struggled for freedom. Though it would be impertinent of me to make the final decision..." He rubbed his thumb along the heel of his hand, as if easing him into the idea.

"I..." Avon had to pause a moment to ensure his voice sounded normal; for some reason his throat had tightened. For an instant, he wanted desperately to be able to tell Blake about their plans, to say see - I didn't hate you after all, you fool.. The sense of mingled loss, guilt, and frustration was almost a physical blow.

Then Data caressed his hand, and the feeling mercifully faded. It was both wonderful and a little unnerving how easily Data could make him forget the past. "I think that would be a very good idea," he said.

He could see that pain in Avon's face, just for the moment that it was there. Of course, someone else might not have. But Data's pale skin took in ever beat of his heart, his eyes every tick of the other's face. An attention to detail that would have made a human appreciate something less, but he valued it all the more for its imperfections.

He leaned in, pressing his lips against Avon's in a gesture of gentle support, mutually meant and soft and lingering.

"The pilot is setting down the agreed transport ship now..."

Data pulled back, finding himself rolling his eyes up at the male Perseid. He was sure that 90% of the time even during his most socially inept times in his life that he still announced himself whenever he entered a room. Still, he showed inexplicable patience. If anyone were to invade your privacy, generally Perseids were the most well-meaning group to do so. "Please give your supervisor our thanks."

It took about two months for Data to construct a body. He hadn't known Blake in his youth. Hadn't ever encountered the stories of the freedom fighter who was set on liberating the public from the tyranny of the Federation. But he could guess what he looked like when he was younger. He mostly left the finely tuned form as a surprise, hoping that the youth of the mechanical man would be enough of a separation from the real one he was named for that Avon wouldn't be too distraught, but rather encouraged that he could assist in "resurrecting" what he'd lost because of a terrible mistake.

The positronic brain he formed separately, used his own basic protocols to create its basic net, leaving it for Avon to program the majority of the personality into.

There was a certain release in those protocols. He couldn't quite ascertain what it was. Since they'd come to Tarn Vedra, he'd had lingering thoughts, and constant dreams of a ship he was no longer near. The night after he'd deposited a copy of his protocols into young Roj's would be brain, he had a more typical dream. From the time before Lore, or even the emotion chip; that he was a crow, flying through the corridors of the Enterprise.

Not that he disliked the dreams of the grand old time ship, but it was nice to see his father in his mind again in a favorable setting. His hair in disarray and his blacksmith's attire bizarre in the environment, yet feeling perfectly normal. No warnings of psychotic brothers, no nightmares of exploding ships, and a warm body next to his when he woke up.

After the programming, the test phase for the body, and the inserting of the positronic brain into the body for even more testing, the time had arrived to finally turn on one Roj Avon-Soong. He'd done his best to keep the boy's form a secret, and Data was operating under the impression that he'd managed to do so successfully. As soon as he erased the basic test phase memories he practically ran to find the other father, insisting on covering on his eyes as he led him into their laboratory.

"Are you ready?" he asked near his ear, earnest voice unusually anxious.

Avon felt somewhat nervous himself, not entirely sure what to expect. He trusted Data implicitly - he never ceased to be surprised by that spared capacity for trust - and he had confidence in his own work, but still, there was so much that could potentially go wrong. He remembered what Data had told him about Lal, a thought which filled his stomach with an uneasy weight.

Taking a steadying breath, he slowly nodded. "Yes. I'm ready."

He pulled back his hands, wearing a grin despite his own worries. Less in whether Roj would be successful; no one would threaten to take him away. They had plenty of time to check his functions. To make sure he was developing well. He was more worried how Avon would take the image of the android seated on the table in front of him.

And for the moment the android was quiet, eyes fixed forward in that strange unconscious state androids were trapped in when powered down. His hands were resting on his knees, and he was clad in a simple Commonwealth jumpsuit, typical of a science officer.

Data moved around to Avon's side, to get a better look at his face. "I wanted you to have the honor of turning him on. All the testing is complete, final development has been flawless. And... now you may help him be 'born'."

Avon made a sound that wasn't quite a word, wasn't quite a sigh...something in between. After a long moment, he said,

"...thank you."

He moved closer still to the new android, close enough that it would have felt his warm breath on its cool, still face - had it been awake. "It looks like him," he breathed. "Remarkably like him, but - younger. As he looked before the revolution. So different. I didn't know him then." A bittersweet smile. "I doubt I ever knew him at all. But this...this being, this remarkable creature..."

He turned to Data, mingled joy and pain in his face. "He's beautiful."

"You are welcome," he said earnestly, watching his love's reactions and was surprised at just how much relief he felt at how well the image of someone so important (and so destructive) to Avon had been.

"His power switch is on the back of his neck as per Commonwealth specifications." Unlike Data's own. He put a hand over Avon's, guided it to where he'd indicated. He'd made his skin feel more human. The materials weren't as durable as bioplast, but they emulated human skin much more efficiently.

"His body temperature will rise after he's been activated. He will be more human than I ever was."

Avon smiled. "One of us will need to teach him how to embrace that humanity," he said, "and I rather think that you would make the better job of it. Perhaps I can teach him how to embrace being an android..."

He was only half-joking. In some ways he honestly believed that Data was the more human - the more humane, at least - of them. "You are human enough, Data. In all the most important ways."

He returned his attention to the new android. Roj. Their creation; their...child. His fingers brushed gently over the switch. He felt suddenly as though his entire life had been leading up to this. "Shall we, then?" he asked, softly.

"I believe that you are more human than you suspect, though it does make for an interesting reversal of roles." He exhaled, cheeks puffing as he blew air out of stiff lips. He'd seen the test phases, but with Avon present, it was still something that he wanted to be prepared for.

He flipped the switch with him.

Glazed over eyes took abrupt, mechanical focus, and the android on the table sat up a little more stiffly. Unlike Soong-types, he wouldn't go through a phase of awkward mechanical speech, but he still seemed uncertain about actually speaking. His mouth moved as he collected his words, brow knitting in focus and his head tilted in a way much like Data's whenever he was curious.

"...I am Systems Commonwealth number 47829," he said carefully, in a lighter version of Blake's voice. Though just as earnest, expression as serious.

"You are Roj. You have just been activated. We are your parents, Avon-" Data motioned to Avon, calmly explaining (Lal had similar difficulties), "and I am Data."

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To Boldly Go... [RP for haughty_alpha]

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