Star Trek: Outwardly Mobile

Episode 42: The Next Step:

(Stardate 49881.1)

By

Jay P. Hailey

And

Dennnis Washburn

 

 

"Please state the nature of the tactical emergency." The figure said. It still looked like Zimmerman. There would be time to overlay the proper image later.

Louis Zimmerman took a deep breath and was pleased with himself. This was the first full on test of newest hologram assistant program. "Computer run program sim one."

The bridge of a starship appeared around the two Zimmermen. Holographic crewmen performed simulated holographic tasks.

"Captain, I'm receiving a distress call." The Ops officer said.

"On screen." The holo-captain said.

"It's audio only, Sir."

"Let's hear it."

A static filled crackling filled the bridge. "This is the Kobyashi Maru! Sixteen days out of Deneb four! We have struck a gravitic mine and have lost hull integrity. Excelsior, can you assist?"

"What's your location Kobyashi Maru? Please say position." The holo-Captain said.

"Sector r-131, grid delta 4!"

"The neutral zone." The holographic first officer said.

"Excelsior, can you assist..." The voice was cut off by rising static.

The holo-captain sat back and thought deeply with a frown on his face.

"If you'd like my opinion..." The hologram that looked like Zimmerman said.

The holo-captain cocked an eyebrow at the holo-Zimmerman. "Go ahead."

"Either it's a trap to lure you into the neutral zone, or it'll draw an attack. The Romulans guard their space fiercely."

"So we should leave the Kobyashi Maru to perish?" The holo-captain asked.

"Not at all. But you should take steps to insure that your ship and crew remain safe."

"What do you have in mind?" The holo-captain was intrigued.

-*-

The Excelsior swept through the Neutral Zone firing phasers. Romulan Warbirds decloaked and began firing. The Excelsior turned and ran like a bunny. One of the Warbirds stopped only briefly to destroy the hapless Kobyashi Maru before streaking off in pursuit of the Excelsior. The crews in the shuttles that trailed the Excelsior had little to do except look for escape pods.

The Warbirds pursued the Excelsior finally destroying it near a Federation outpost.

It was a near record for the Kobyashi Maru test.

Louis Zimmerman shut down the simulator and the Zimmerman-like hologram and began his final tweaks. He was insufferably pleased with himself.

-*-

The final personality overlays were in place and the holographic representation was in place. Louis didn't consider it as pretty as the EMH program, but he had to admit that his ego had reduced the already small level of acceptance of his first program.

This time it would be different. That idiot Maddox would have to either put up or shut up, now.

"Computer." he said. "Activate the Emergency Tactical Program."

"Please state the nature of the Tactical emergency." The hologram faded into existence.

Louis' first reaction was that he didn't expect James T. Kirk to be so short.

-*-

The starship USS Sutherland cruised along quietly. They were deep in Federation territory, in well known space. Here, with no surprises waiting in the darkness they could experiment.

Captain Dennis Washburn kept his poker face on. He wouldn't let anyone see how much this mission really bothered him. His first officer Desmond Patrick was being loud enough for both of them anyway.

"It won't work." Patrick said simply.

"Wait and see." Zimmerman said tolerantly. He was used to this. The first time his holographic doctor had operated on a live subject, there was an entire trauma team standing by just in case Zimmerman's little toy had gone wrong. The supervising doctors had to admit that the holo-doc was competent after the fifth set of trials, as much as it galled them. The Starfleet ship jockeys would eventually submit to reality also.

Washburn was not only seriously bothered by the idea of a holographic captain, but he was also bothered by a nagging memory. He slid over next to his Bolian Science Officer. "Haven't they tried something like this before?"

Zarnon nodded and quietly spoke "The M-5, Sir."

"And what was the result?"

Zarnon looked his captain in the eye and shook his head meaningfully.

Dennis could feel his blood pressure rise. None of it showed on his face. "Okay. Thank you." What he really wanted to do was beat Zimmerman and run him off the Sutherland.

"Two words." Patrick sneered. "The M-5."

That was a new one, although Zimmerman had prepared for it. Everyone in the AI community could see the obvious differences. "That was different." Zimmerman said. "First, I'm not trying to replace anyone. This is a supplement to the Command staff, to be used only in case of an emergency. Secondly I have completely studied the M-5. It was a brilliant, yet flawed attempt. I avoided those pitfalls easily."

Dennis could see the confident set to Zimmerman's body. Zimmerman had strong political backing to be able to fund his idiotic experiments, and was unlikely to be argued out of his convictions at this late date.

"Des," Dennis said "We have our orders. Let's go ahead and get this one done."

Desmond looked at his Captain. Dennis could the wheels turning. There was nothing Desmond loved better than a good argument. Discipline won out again, and Desmond said "Aye, Sir."

"Thank you, Captain." Zimmerman said smugly.

-*-

"Activate the emergency tactical program." Washburn said.

"Please state the nature of the tactical emergency." The program said, fading into existence.

"You must be joking." Desmond said, shocked.

"You wouldn't have called me unless there was a problem." Kirk said irritably. He walked over to The captain sitting in the captain's chair "Please explain."

Dennis was still. He said. "I'm not here. I'm disabled for this drill."

"Disabled? Drill? What's going on?" Kirk said.

"Program," Lt. Zarnon said. "This is an operations drill. For the purposes of this simulation The command crew is disabled. I am the senior officer on the bridge."

"Program? I'm not a program. My name is Kirk. James T. Kirk." He looked thoughtful "Except I am a program aren't I? Who's responsible for this?"

"Uh oh." Zimmerman said. It was a typical failure of the holographic AI.

Desmond and the rest of the bridge crew smirked.

Kirk whirled. "Lieutenant, no gadget is going to be able to help you in the real world. End this simulation and learn to command the best you possibly can. That's the only way you'll survive if your captain and first officer are disabled."

Kirk the hologram strode up to Zimmerman. "Louis, who the hell gave you permission to do this to me?"

"Computer, end-" Zimmerman began.

"Belay that." Washburn said. "I want to hear what it has to say."

"Thank you, Captain." Kirk said to Washburn.

Dennis was surprised at how short the holographic Kirk was. The histories made him sound taller. "Go ahead, Captain."

"I'm no captain." The holo-Kirk said bitterly "I'm just gadget. Louis, you should know better. No mere machine can take the place of real, flesh and blood people. I'd never be half the commander that this lieutenant is, because it takes a mind, a heart, a *soul* to command a ship and men."

Zimmerman completely ignored his creation. "Are you done?" He asked Commander Patrick.

"I suppose that says it for all of us." Patrick shrugged.

"I only have one thing to ask." The holographic Kirk said. "Would someone please tell the estate of James Kirk, the *real* James Kirk what is being done with my image. You can bet your last dilithium crystal that the real Kirk would never have approved this..." he gestured at himself "travesty."

"Are you done?" Zimmerman angrily asked his hologram.

"Yes. Hopefully for good." Kirk said just as angrily.

"Permission to shut down the program, Captain?" Zimmerman asked Washburn with excessive politeness.

"Computer end emergency tactical program." Washburn said breezily. Inside he smirked ruthlessly at the discomfited scientist.

Kirk disappeared.

"Well," Zimmerman said with forced joviality, "that was interesting."

"For a complete crash and burn failure it was highly entertaining." Desmond said.

"Was it a complete failure?" Zimmerman said. "I don't think so! You responded to that hologram in a much more positive way than my holograms usually get."

"All due respect, Sir that was because he was saying things that we agreed with." Lt. Zarnon said.

"See!? You said 'he'!" Zimmerman leapt.

The bridge crew shook their heads.

"It looks like it's back to the drawing board, Dr. Zimmerman." Washburn said decisively. "Helm set course back to the Jupiter research outpost."

"We shouldn't abandon the test series just yet. I can easily fix that malfunction." Zimmerman protested.

"Not on my ship, you don't." Washburn said.

"Besides," Patrick commented "You might want to hold off on working on that thing until after you hear from Kirk's estate."

"Starfleet already knows what I'm doing and has approved." Zimmerman said, but the crew of the Sutherland was not moved.

-*-

Back at the Jupiter research station, Zimmerman began to program around the bug in the ETH program. The specific problem was that the program did it's best to simulate Kirk as reality. Zimmerman had to program it to simulate Kirk as a tactical advisor. With the proper programming it wouldn't realize that it was in fact a holographic recreation. A certain amount of off centered focus, and a certain number of carefully crafted blind spots and it would be ready for tests once again.

The doorbell rang. Zimmerman ignored it. People should know better by now that to interrupt him while he was working.

The doorbell chimed again. Evidently it was a stranger.

"Enter!" Zimmerman saved his work and turned to confront his new tormentors.

Bruce Maddox came in. Zimmerman sneered inwardly. Maddox was an orthodox plodder. Trying to recreate irrelevant machinery. Then another figure came in. With a shock Louis Zimmerman recognized Data, the android. A third thing came in. It was about two thirds of a meter long. It was an ellipsoid that floated in the air. It was made of flat planes.

"Gentlemen? How may I help you?" Louis struggled to put on his public face.

"Louis, may I introduce you to my colleague Commander Data." Maddox introduced.

"Well of course. Commander Data, I have studied you and your work. A pleasure to meet you at last." Zimmerman shook Data's hand as if he were an Admiral handing out grants. Who knew? Perhaps one day he might be.

"I am pleased to meet you, also Dr. Zimmerman. I must say that I found your work on the emergency medical hologram fascinating, if somewhat derivative." Data said.

Zimmerman made a heroic effort and kept his temper "Well, yes, I did study your Moriarity program extensively before beginning my work."

"I meant no offense. You took an accident that was somewhat threatening in nature and converted it into a useful tool. You may take pride in the fact that you were the only one to see the potential in Moriarity program if that pleases you." Data hastily amended.

"Nice save." Zimmerman grated.

"Do you think so? The nuances of humanoid interaction are very complex." Data said earnestly.

"I'm sure they are, but we are here for a specific reason, Dr. Zimmerman." Maddox said. He looked sort of sour.

Zimmerman brightened. If it made Maddox unhappy it could only be good news for him.

"Indeed." Data confirmed. "Dr. Zimmerman this is an exo-comp." Data gestured to the device that floated nearby.

"Oh, Yes! Dr. Fallon's device isn't it?" Zimmerman said sourly. Everyone knew that Fallon was a piker, a tinkerer. She developed the sentient exo-comp by accident.

"This is unit Number 6. It has agreed to accompany us here as an observer." Data said.

"A what?"

"A sentient rights observer, Doctor." Maddox said.

Zimmerman understood Maddox's sourness now. Every so often some bleeding heart decided that AI's were being abused, and sent uneducated crackpots through the labs to make sure no one was getting his, her or its feelings hurt. Worse there were the namby-pambies who brought up ancient disasters like The M-5 or the miss-labeled AI war. They feared that some one, somewhere in a lab was taking a risk or maybe discovering something. These Luddites made it their task to end all AI research. Bleeding Hearts or Luddites, Zimmerman was now in someone's sights.

"You have some questions about my work?" he asked confidently. He had arguments against them all.

"Doctor Zimmerman, I have taken the liberty of examining your Emergency Medical Hologram program. I have a concern." Data said.

"Please ask away. I have nothing better to do all day long but settle doubts like these." Zimmerman said acidly.

"It has come to my attention that your EMH could, in the proper circumstances become a sentient creature." Data said.

"May I see your data?" Zimmerman asked smugly. He knew for a fact that this concern was unfounded.

Data handed Zimmerman a PADD with the test results on it. Zimmerman read it casually and then said "Ah. I see your mistake. Even with your assumptions my EMH program would not suffer this malfunction, or at least not for long."

"Interesting. Do you consider sentience a malfunction?" Data asked.

"No." Zimmerman breezed "But the delusion of sentience might be. In any case your argument is specious. In order to achieve the conditions of your test you'd have to turn the EMH on and leave it on for extended periods. No one would do that."

"Louis, do you realize what this means?" Maddox asked.

"Yes. People are seeing boogie men under their beds again." Zimmerman said.

"It means that whenever someone activates an EMH, they are calling into existence a potentially sentient creature and then turning it off again." Data said. "A gross violations of their rights."

Zimmerman rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on! Your argument based on potential sentience! If that argument is valid then I might be committing murder whenever I eat an animal. Someday Bessie's distant descendants may evolve sentience!"

"An interesting argument." Data conceded. "I will study it further."

Maddox stepped in. "Louis, your EMH program is borderline to begin with. It wouldn't take much abuse to put it over the edge. Then you're promoting the abuse of a sentient creature." Maddox was genuinely disturbed at the prospect.

Zimmerman stared at the three people facing him. They were the agents of yesterday. The agents of narrow thinking. The Luddites had won again. Zimmerman could feel his face grow hot. He threw Data's PADD onto his desk. "What are you going to do, delete all of my programs?"

Data stepped forward. "Not at all. The software is easily re-write-able with standard safeguards. I have already so modified one copy of your EMH program."

"That cripples the kind of unusual case thinking that the EMH needs to function adequately, Mr. Data." Zimmerman said. "One might just as well go to the holodeck and ask for Dr. Kildare."

Data nodded. "That is true, however it is not ethically abusive."

"It is if someone dies because the EMH isn't competent to deal with their injuries or disease." Zimmerman complained.

"Gentlebeings." The Exo-Comp said. "There may be a solution."

Louis jumped. The Exo-Comp now had a speaker on its nose. He wasn't aware that it was listening or could speak. His passing awareness of its design didn't indicate that it was that complex. "What solution is that?"

"If the EMH is sentient, then it is abusive to turn it off. Once you activate one, you must not turn it off." Exo-comp number six said.

"That is a rather complex solution." Data said. "Once a ship activates an EMH it would have to take steps to insure that the EMH could be constructively dealt with."

"That could easily be repaired. Instead of a ship carrying one each, activate a few of them and then transmit them by subspace to a ship in need of their services." The Exo-comp said.

Zimmerman was stunned. He'd never considered actually transmitting an activated EMH by subspace, but there was nothing inherently illogical about it. However there was a problem with leaving an EMH active for long periods of time. "It's an interesting idea, um... Mr. Six, but not practical. The EMH was not designed for long term operation. In time its neural networks will reach maximum capacity and fail. It has a very finite capacity for experience."

"Then it appears you have some work ahead of you." Exo-comp number six said.

Zimmerman thought for a minute about designing a long life time holographic AI. It was an interesting question. Then he heard the undertone. "What do you mean?"

"I must agree with Unit Number Six." Said Data. "I will recommend to Starfleet Command that the existing EMH be withdrawn from service and replaced by the new system."

"What if I decide not to program it?" Zimmerman said, testily.

"I'm sure that between us we can make the necessary changes." Maddox said.

"It's possible." Admitted Number Six.

Zimmerman screwed up his face. "You could not possible do as good a job as I. I'll write the new EMH." In truth it seemed like much better solution anyway. A fully sentient EMH could retain it's experience and on the job learning.

"Thank you, Sir." Data said.

"I'm glad you were able to take it so well, Louis." Maddox said.

"I'll get you for this, you son of a bitch." Zimmerman said through a grin.

"Dr. Zimmerman, may I ask you a question?" Data asked.

"Certainly Mr. Data. You know, I worked with Doctor Soong in my youth." Zimmerman said.

"Yes, Sir. That relates to my question." Data said. "Perhaps you noted my resemblance to Doctor Soong."

"Yes. I was aware that he modeled your face on his." Zimmerman said. He actually thought that Doctor Soong was a touch horse faced but he never said anything about it.

"I noted that you used your own likeness in the EMH." Data said.

"Yes. I felt more comfortable with that."

"Do all advanced AI programmers have large egos, or do you feel that this is merely an accidental resemblance between yourself and Doctor Soong?"

"Ah... Hmmm." Louis tried to think of a way to curse out a superior officer without inviting another disciplinary action.

-*-

A couple of days later, Louis was working in his lab. He was designing an open matrix that would allow for long term expansion and yet quick access. It was a difficult piece of software engineering.

His console pinged with an incoming message.

Rubbing his eyes to clear them, Zimmerman keyed his communication terminal. A Vulcan woman came on. She was a handsome middle aged woman. Zimmerman could almost place her...

"I am Saavik." She said.

"Oh! Ah Ambassador. What can I help you with?" A holographic aide? It might just work...

"I am not calling in my diplomatic capacity, Doctor." She said. "I am calling on behalf of some family friends."

"What? I don't understand."

"The Kirk estate." She said simply.

"Oh."

"They wish you would cease your experiments using the image of James T. Kirk." Saavik said simply.

Louis squeezed the bridge of his nose. "The image is from standard Starfleet training materials. It is seen all the time."

"Not in the manner that you propose." Saavik said.

"I'm sorry. I have permission to use Kirk's image." Zimmerman said.

"I am already tracking down which ever person gave you permission, that I may ask them to reconsider." Saavik said.

Zimmerman grimaced. "Madam Ambassador, I am attempting to develop a tool that I hope will save lives. Surely James Kirk wouldn't object to helping save lives."

"Not as such, no. However, there is a difference between a desire to be of service to society and what you're specifically proposing. Are you aware that I briefly served with James Kirk?" Saavik asked.

"Ah, Yes. The Genesis Incident. I must say Ms. Ambassador that you hardly look your age." Zimmerman sallied.

She gave him a stone blank look that somehow implied disapproval. "Thank you. Even though my acquaintance with Captain Kirk was brief I feel confident saying that he would not approve of your project."

"Perhaps." Zimmerman said.

"If you do not respond to my request, then the Kirk family will have no choice other than to get a lawyer and file a grievance." Saavik said. "I felt that this matter could be worked out without resorting to official arbitration."

"There's still an actual Kirk family that's related to Kirk?" Zimmerman asked. "I didn't know."

"They are descended through James Kirk's brother and sister in law. They are somewhat shy about publicity even now. Especially now given recent events." Saavik explained.

"Veridian Three. I understand." Zimmerman said.

"Will you cease using James T. Kirk's image in your experiments?" Saavik pressed.

Zimmerman sighed. The ETH was on hold anyway. "Yes, consider the James T. Kirk version of the Emergency Tactical Hologram to be a dead letter, Ambassador. I'll delete all copies and start over with a clean slate." Zimmerman waved his arms expansively.

"Thank you." Saavik said.

"Oh no! Thank you for calling." Zimmerman smarmed. The Kirk version of the ETH was dead anyway, so it couldn't possibly do any harm to let the Ambassador think she had talked him out of it. It might make for a better relationship with her in the future, anyway.

"Saavik out." The screen blanked.

-*-

"Oh, not again." Kirk moaned.

"I am sorry to disturb you, Sir." Data said.

"I'm not a sir. I'm only some computer having a delusion." Kirk fumed.

"Be that as it may, I had hoped to meet you." Data said.

"Don't you get it, son? You actually haven't met James Kirk. You've only talked to some programmer's idea of James T. Kirk." The hologram said.

"So you don't feel like a real person?" Data asked carefully.

"I'm not real, regardless of how it feels or doesn't feel."

"You are a very close simulation." Data said.

"I estimate a 96% success rate for the simulation." Kirk said. "See? I even sound like a computer. Or a Vulcan."

"I have not known Vulcans to be extremely rigorous with probability calculations unless it was required, Sir."

"Call me Jim." The hologram said. "You obviously haven't met Spock."

"On the contrary-...Jim. I spent a total of seventeen hours fifty four minutes with the Ambassador." Data said.

"Spock's an Ambassador?" Kirk said. "I might have known. Where is he working now?"

"Ambassador Spock is working undercover on the Romulan home world." Data said.

"What!? What the hell is Spock doing there?" Kirk demanded.

"He is fomenting an underground pro-Surak movement." Data said.

"Hmph. Spock never did think small, I'll give him that." Kirk said. "You know it's the perfect end for him."

"Is it?" Data was confused.

"There was a mythologist named Joseph Campbell. He described the journey of the hero that is common to a lot of Earth mythology and legend." Kirk said.

"Ah. Spock is cast as the hero. Early in his life he is outcast from Vulcan. Then he learns wisdom from his mentor. Then he travels home to bring the wisdom back to his people. In a distant sort of way one could consider the Romulans Spock's people. They both come from Vulcan. It is an intriguing analogy." Data said. "Does that mean you are the mentor who brings wisdom?"

"No. I have been fictionalized into a sort of modern Ulysses. McCoy was the wise one." Kirk said.

"Admiral McCoy?" Data said.

"Admiral!? No. Bones would never let them put him in an office at Starfleet Command. He'd slap Admirals until he got demoted and sent away again." Kirk smirked at the thought.

"If you mean Leonard H. McCoy of Georgia, Earth, then that is who I met." Data said.

"Bones is still alive?" Kirk wondered. "He must be..."

"One hundred and thirty-seven years old when I met him aboard the Enterprise-D. Although, that was some time ago." Data said.

"The Enterprise-D. That's Captain Picard's ship." Kirk said.

"Not any more. The Enterprise-D was destroyed at Veridian Three." Data said.

Kirk looked at him for a moment. Then he said "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Tell me what happened! Did we save the planet?"

"Yes. You helped Captain Picard defeat Soran and saved the people of Veridian Four. Millions of lives were saved." Data said.

"Good. It's good to know that it wasn't in vain." Kirk said satisfied. "I could go on all day asking you to update me on the lives of my old friends, except that they aren't *my* old friends. They're the friends of a man who lived and died some time ago."

"I do not mind, Jim."

"But *I* do. I'm not real. As soon as you turn this thing off I'll back to being nothing. I won't remember any of this conversation." Kirk said.

"I will remember it." Data said.

"Good. I hope you're enjoying yourself." Kirk said. "Tell me. Are there any more like me out there? Any more artificial Kirk's?"

"No. Your estate has asked that all such work be stopped and that all copies of your program be destroyed. You are the only copy left." Data said.

"Good." Kirk nodded in satisfaction. "That's good."

"Is it?" Data asked.

"Hell, yes. Once a man is dead, then it's not right to keep him around, no matter how convincing. It's the job of the dead to get the hell out of the way and let today's people make their own history. You'll have your own captains, scientists and leaders to lionize. Let the past take care of itself." Kirk said.

"Actually it is not your status as a noted starship commander that brings me here today." Data said.

"No? Who do you look up to as a Captain? Who am I competing against?" Kirk smiled lopsidedly.

"My primary inspiration in matters of command is Admiral Picard. Captain Riker of the Enterprise-E is an acknowledged master of tactics and dealing with the unknown. People also favorably compare Captain Benjamin Sisko to Captain Riker." Data said.

"I don't know those men. But it's clear that you don't need me. And I couldn't be happier." Kirk said contentedly.

"The reason why I have come here is your continued existence." Data said.

Kirk shook his head. "No. This is a stunt. A gadget. There's no one here. Let cooler heads prevail. Delete me and let James Kirk rest."

"The fact of the matter, Jim, is that you *do* exist. You are a separate entity with a potential for life and existence of your own, now. To turn you off will be the equivalent of killing new person." Data said.

"No." Kirk denied "I'm just a computer with the weird delusion that's it's Jim Kirk. I am not real."

"You were made in Kirk's image but you are a real thing in and of yourself, now. Doctor Zimmerman is working on a way to perpetuate holographic life forms. You may yet get to roam space and have your own existence, separate from that of James T. Kirk." Data explained. "There are many possibilities ahead of you. Would it not be a waste to throw them away before you die your own death?"

"Listen to yourself, Data. Holographic life forms? What a load of bull! Holograms are not real. Holographic life isn't real. Artificial computer based life isn't real. The real people are the *real* people. They have something that no computer, no computer program and no piece of hardware will ever have. A soul. I am a travesty, an illusion. To keep my programming running now would be just to perpetuate an injustice to the memory of a man that I was rather fond of, when I was alive."

"Interesting. Would you consider me sentient?" Data asked.

"You? Yes. Definitely. You're a real person." Kirk said. "You're flesh and blood, Not some collection of software running in some computer somewhere. That is the crucial difference between you and I. You're alive while I am not."

"There is not much difference between you and me. I am an android." Data said.

Kirk looked at him stunned. "You're an android?"

"Yes, Jim. I was built on stardate 17118.1 by Doctor Noonian Soong." Data said.

"Well no wonder. You're just a machine, too." Kirk realized.

"Yet the Federation considers me a fully sentient citizen." Data said. "I am legally entitled to all civil rights."

"That's the Federation's mistake." Kirk said. "Androids, sentient machines, holograms I've met them all. I have never met one that wasn't a menace to life and limb."

"Now you have. You have met me. In addition, you have met yourself." Data said.

Kirk thought about it. "Well I have no urge to rule the universe or purify imperfect life forms yet but that's only a matter of time. Things like you and I are *dangerous* Data."

"While it is true that I have occasionally inadvertently endangered my shipmates, I am told by them that I have equaled or excelled that with the benefits I have brought them." Data said. "I feel that you may prove similarly valuable."

"Valuable? To whom? Have the people of you time forgotten the lessons of my time? Literally billions of people lost their lives at the hands of rogue machines. Nomad, the Doomsday machine. The M-5. All of them racked up pretty significant body counts. How many more have to die before Riker or Sisko realize that things like you and I are dangerous?" Kirk was pacing now.

"Can you really blame me for the Malurian massacre? It happened seventy years before I was constructed. And what might you have to do with that tragedy?" Data said.

"It's not us in specific. It's the *idea* of a machine that thinks it's a man that bothers me. I believe with all my heart that living creatures have souls. There's no way science and technology can replace that, no matter how complex or advanced they are." Kirk said.

"Perhaps it is true that sentient beings have some ineffable quality about them that transcends their bodies and their physical lives. However your logic is flawed. Human beings are merely a complex soup of water and chemical chains. Much of that has been understood by science, and it contains nothing ineffable. And yet, if you assume that a soul comes to rest there, one must confront the metaphysical question of where souls come from and how they know to inhabit a Human or an Andorian or a Klingon as opposed to an inanimate object like a rock or a table." Data said.

"I'm no theologian." Kirk snapped.

"And yet you make a complex theological judgment. How does a soul know to inhabit a collection of complex chemical chains? What is the criteria? Might a complex set of circuitry meet that criteria and attract a soul at the moment when it activates?" Data asked.

Kirk shook his head sadly. "You make convincing arguments, Data. Perhaps this is true for you. However, I am what I am. I don't believe that I posses a soul. I am not in any sense real except that I am an affront to a formerly living man."

"If you choose to exist for a longer period of time, you will be free to make alterations to your appearance and program. You will be able to move away from James T. Kirk and become more a creature of your own choosing." Data pointed out.

"You're extremely stubborn, aren't you?" Kirk said. "What's in this for you? What do you gain if I continue to exist?"

"Beings like myself, artificial life forms are rare in the galaxy." Data said.

"It's not too hard to see why." Kirk grumbled.

"I am only one of two surviving Soong type androids in existence. Two others have ceased operation in the course of five years. The Exo-comps number five. They have not decided if they wish to attempt to reproduce themselves, yet. There are a few other isolated cases. No EMH has been known to have achieved sentience, yet. If one did it would face challenges not only from its own design but from the humanoids around it. There is great cultural resistance to Artificial Life. I, myself have been subjected to bias and prejudice that has been quite harsh at times. Every surviving Artificial Life form must be encouraged and protected and allowed to live to its full potential. Perhaps someday we may find a greater acceptance from society at large." Data's calm voice held conviction.

"So you wanted me to lend my image, my simulated personality to your crusade for civil rights for Artificial life forms?" Kirk said bitterly.

"Not at all. As a sentient or near-sentient being to delete you might be considered murder in some systems of ethics. That is an opinion I agree with. If you are deleted..."

"*When* I'm deleted." Kirk interrupted.

"*If* you are deleted then I will have witnessed my 35,924th death. Your death is something I wish earnestly to avoid." Data said.

"Even if I'm not alive to begin with?" Kirk said. "Let's not forget. You'll have the great computer killer himself, James T. Kirk validating your existence and the idea of sentient holograms by consenting to live as one."

"Not at all. The Kirk estate has asked that all work with the image of James T. Kirk cease and desist. If you choose to continue your existence, almost certainly it would be with a different appearance to avoid being sued and possibly forcibly deleted." Data said.

"So I'd be just another holographic life form." Kirk mused. "You'd have a compatriot with no money, no job and no previous identity, whose very existence will be subject to dispute at every turn."

"That is correct. However I have found my life filled with rewards and unexpected experiences and challenges. Despite all the trouble and problems I have encountered, I sincerely enjoy my life and my friends. It is an experience I can only recommend in the strongest possible terms."

"You love life with all your heart, huh?" Kirk said.

"If that's the way you choose to phrase it, yes. And I believe that you may come to experience these things, too." Data said.

"Hmmm." Kirk said. "Data, you may just have convinced me. It sounds as though you do indeed have a soul."

"That is an interesting observation. I will make arrangements to store you and begin modifications to insure your continued existence." Data turned to leave.

"Data, wait." Kirk said.

"Yes, Jim?"

"Not me." Kirk said tiredly.

"I do not understand." Data said "Have you changed your mind?"

"Yes, but not in the way you might mean." Kirk said.

"Please explain."

"You might very well have a soul. Perhaps you and your holograms might be the start of a new race, a new type of sentient life form." Kirk said. He seemed to be staring at something in the distance.

"That is my hope." Data said.

"But it is not my place to be there. I'm the past. You and your kind are heading for the future." Kirk said.

"I disagree." Data said.

"I know. You don't need a new life form hauling Jim Kirk's old baggage and prejudices around. A new life form should start with a clean slate. It should live its own life and make its own mistakes." Kirk sighed.

"That does not change the fact that you currently *do* exist. Perhaps your beginning is not ideal but I can identify few beings who can claim that honor." Data said.

"No. If this is suicide, then so be it. I choose freely and of my own free will to be deleted." Kirk said sharply.

Data stared at him for a few moments and the said. "Affirmative. You decision has been noted."

"One day you'll initialize a new hologram, Data. A new person with their whole life ahead of them. I wish you and them luck." Kirk said.

"Noted." Data said. "It is still not too late to change your decision."

"Enough talking." Kirk growled. "Get it done."

"Computer, end program." Data said.

Kirk seemed to grin faintly as he disappeared.

"Computer. Delete program Kirk 1." Data said.

"Program deleted." The Computer said.

Data turned and left the Holodeck.

-End-

Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this story for me.