Poking About

Posted on Thu Jul 6th, 2023 @ 5:17am by Lieutenant Commander Klarth & Commander Sandy "Phantom" Risa & Lieutenant Commander Rayek trLhoell & Lieutenant Commander Yadira Risen & Crewman Doria & Lieutenant JG T'Sarn & Lieutenant Commander Kevin Vallick

2,763 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Engineering
Timeline: Day after Doria arrived

After the morning fusses of dealing with the counselor's daughter, Doria looked up to see the security crewman waiting to escort her to Engineering for the examination. Saying her goodbye's for the moment the small android girl followed along quietly behind the crewman as they walked threw the corridors. Once down a turbolift she was led to Engineering and sat at a chair while Engineer Yadira was waved over. The Crewman pointed to the small android girl indistinguishable from a human child of maybe seven who was looking to the ground.

The Crewman was Tchkula. Overnight the novelty of the android had worn off a bit and this morning escorting her to Engineering just felt like work. He was pretty sure listening to a much of engineers talk about stuff he didn't understand was going to make him look forward to getting off work and visiting the Lion's Heart.

After a moment Doria looked up her soft eyes twinkling up to the Engineer.

From across the room, T'Sarn watched the arrival of what appeared to be a red-haired little girl. She'd heard rumour that a child-like android had been found inside an abandoned asteroid chamber... a leftover bit of technology from the former inhabitants of Exo-III. The Vulcan hybrid was a bit intrigued by the idea of an android on the ship. She'd read up on all the specifications of the Soong-Type Synthetic Intelligence in the anticipation that one day the android lifeform would be more prevalent in the Federation. T'Sarn was curious if the ancient Exo-III creators used a positronic brain or some yet unstudied technology.

Doria scanned around, making notes in her memory as the engineering was nothing like what she had experienced before. We these people now surpassing the Masters? What would the Masters Masters be called she thought. She would learn and would adapt. To be pleasing would prevent her destruction, so she would do just that. Maybe at some point she could find a task to do. A million thoughts crossed her mind.

Since the Lieutenant Commander seemed preoccupied at the moment, the Vulcan engineer decided to take advantage of the arrival of her break relief to approach the android and make an introduction. She held up her hand in ta'al, the standard hand salute used for greetings. She opted to switch out the verbal because it didn't seem logical to use with an android. "Welcome. I am Lieutenant T'Sarn. You are the android that was retrieved from the asteroid yesterday," she stated this as a fact. "By what appellation are you called?"

Doria looked up to the engineer and noted the handsign as a form of greeting, she then raised her hand in a exact mimic of the gesture. "Greetings Lieutenant T'Sarn, this one is still adjusting to the etiquette and forms of speech of this vessel. May this one ask if You would prefer addressing as Ma'am, Mistress, or Your full rank and name? Otherwise this one is called Data Organizational Recording Information Analysis, but Captain Linda Wilson has named this one Doria. This one is the android from the asteroid. This one would assume that standby mode would denote sleep and thus denote the next cycle so yes this one was found 'yesterday. May this one assist you in any task. This one is forbidden from tampering or changing anything on this ship without the permission of one of the Masters who operate the ship. If there is any issues with this one please contact Lieutenant Commander Rayek who has the shutdown sequence for this one unless you wish this one to teach you as well? If this one is displeasing please also contact the one who has physical custody of this one, Counselor Reeza."

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Vallick appeared he was wearing white lab coat that was covered in various stains. He was holding a warp coil and was about to start to take it apart when he saw Doria. "Oh no, no, no is this the Android? What is she doing in Engineering? What if you tap into the wrong system and she explodes or you cross a wire and she goes into kill mode or something? Couldn't you do this in a lab somewhere, Anywhere that's not right in front of my warp core?"

Tchulka was standing near Doria, he had technically been ordered to watch Doria, but he didn't like Vallick's tone. He was ready to defend Doria if Vallick tried anything physical.

T'Sarn looked over towards her Chief (well one of them). "I would suspect that if you didn't call her to be escorted here, then Commander Risen did. Perhaps she had a reason for instructing her to come to Engineering?"

The Vulcan then turned her attention back to the child-like android. "At present time, your assistance is not required Doria."

T'Sarn turned her attention to the Security Crewman assigned to escort Doria next. "At whose request was the android brought to Engineering?" she asked.

Doria spoke up, "This one was told before sleep cycle to report to Engineering today so that this one may be examined. This one hopes this one did not overstep by following instruction? This one is sorry and if this one has caused issue will turn this one's self over to Lieutenant Commander Rayek for disciplining. This one is sorry." She seemed to shiver and then looked up with fear before her face turned back emotionless.

"It was Rayek that ordered this exam, Sir" said Tchulka to T'Sarn. He didn't add that if Vallick didn't like it he could take it up with him.

"Well, If Rayek ordered it, I guess I'll just have to roll with it," said Vallick. "I've always wanted to take one of these things apart and see what makes them tick!"

The Vulcan's expression was impassive as she listened to both a junior crewman and a senior officer boldly address a fellow officer to their juniors so informally. "By 'Rayek', I assume you mean Lieutenant Commander tr'Lhoell?"

T'Sarn had yet to meet the recently arrived Romulan crewmember, but she wasn't impressed with him if the android anticipated to disciplined for merely following instruction. T'Sarn's query however seemed to be overlooked as the android Doria reacted to Commander Vallick's almost gleeful words regarding 'taking her apart'.

Doria's eyes went wide as her small frame began to shake. Dropping to her knees she scooted over to Vallick and pressed her forehead to his foot as coolant flowed from her eyes onto his boots. "Please don't hurt this one. Please don't hurt this one. Please don't hurt this one. This one will be good please don't hurt this one." Doria looked up as coolant flowed down her cheeks. "This one will do whatever is told please just don't hurt this one."

Elle appeared next to Vallick and Doria and said "Sorry to butt in but I feel like I have to be the big sister here. Can't you see you're making her upset Kevin?"

Kevin looked at down at Doria and said "Well I mean we could debate whether it has an actual feelings or whether it is just imitating them, but fine." Vallick looked down at Doria and said "No one is going to hurt you. It was just a figure of speech. All right?" Then he smiled and looked at Tchulka and back at Doria and said "And if you're good right now maybe this guy will take you for some ice cream with motor oil drizzle afterwards, ok?" Then he looked at Elle for approval. But she just rolled her eyes at his attempt at humor. Tchulka scowled at him and grunted.

Even T'Sarn's expression showed that his attempt had failed.

"Doria, there is no need for disciplining, you have not overstepped nor caused issue. Nor will you be taken apart. We just need to run a few tests to assess your capabilities and scan your systems so that if you become injured, that we can repair you." T'Sarn explained and looked to the Vallick for confirmation.

"Yes, in case you get injured," said Vallick. He also thought it would be a good idea to understand as much about her as possible in case she wasn't as innocent as she seemed.

Doria calmed and slowly stood looking to the various engineers, to Vallick, to T'Sarn, and then to Crewman Tchulka. Finally she looked to Big Sister Elle. She proceeded to give each and every person a big but not painful hug, doing her best to show her appreciation. "This one thanks You all. This one shall submit to tests and scans and whatever else is wanted, this one appreciates the care given and thinks the ice cream sounds... 'delightful'?" She seemed to have trouble finding the word.

Doria hugged Vallick and to him the sensation was not unlike when a strange dog tries to climb on you. He patted her awkwardly.

Tchulka also returned the hug awkwardly. He was still not used to interacting with someone so small.

At the hug from android, T'Sarn did her best to remain outwardly composed. Inwardly, she felt like grinning. Her hybrid nature made lapses like that not uncommon, but T'Sarn strove to represent her adoptive Vulcan parents well. If that meant containing the odd smile when in public. It was an relatively easy ask of her.

"Just don't offer the same to anyone else. Motor oil drizzle might work for an android but not for most biologicals." T'Sarn pointed out.


"Couldn't help hear what you said about ice cream and motor oil", Yadira said laughing. Walking up to and moving around all present, she saw the small form of a child. "Good heavens!", she exclaimed, as she gave the child a warm hug. "Doria, I take it, I understand that everyone wants to know how you tick, but have a heart people," she said still holding Doria tightly. "This may be an android but she still is a child and is scared, and timid. She may be from Noonian Sing's mold, and have a positronic brain, but she has not been introduced to the world yet," she finished, finally letting Doria go. Addressing Doria directly, "Would you like to go to my office and let Elle go back to her job?" Yadira asked.

T'Sarn watched as the female Engineering Chief had a completely different reaction to that of her co-Chief (it was an odd working situation). Where as Commander Vallick had shown professional interest in the Android, Commander Yadira had immediately treated the Android as a familiar child - giving her hugs. T'Sarn wondered at the illogic of the woman's action but then thought of her own reaction to the child's hug. Perhaps there was some maternal instinct that the child evoked in all females?

Doria gently hugged back but whispered, "This one isn't a Noonian Sing model Ma'am but a Exo-III model. But yes this one did become frightened and fearful. The Masters and Mistress's present along with Big Sister Elle helped to calm this one. If you so wish this one can go to the office with you and the Crewman Rongo Sir. This one would hate to be in the way." She gave yet another gentle hug.

"Thank you, Yadira," said Vallick. "Your office would be great."

Tchulka shrugged and said "It's all the same to me."

Elle whispered to Yadira, "I'll go if you promise to watch her and protect her from Vallick."

Looking at Elle, whispering, "Of course. She won't get hurt by anyone, Elle, I promise," Yadira said.

Elle smiled at Yadira and waved to Doria and disappeared.

Anticipating that she wouldn't be needed further, T'Sarn held up a ta'al towards the child-like android. "Live long and prosper," she said in farewell before returning to her duties.

Doria held up her hand in the Ta'al and repeated, "Live long and prosper". Then followed the woman to the office.

Once alone in her office, Yadira motioned to Doria to sit and get comfortable. "So Doria, you are an Exo-lll and, well, I'm gonna have to brush up on that quick. You do have emotions as well . How very interesting and unique. That would make you more than just an android. You are practically a person. I find that fascinating and I know that there are those who would take you apart to see what makes you tick but that is being rather crude and selfish," Yadira said, getting a cup of hot tea. "Oh dear where are my manners! Doria is there something you would like maybe?" asking her.

"A cup of warm tea would make this one happy. This one is pleased to help the Mistress in any way possible. The Exonians are natives of Exo-III where the androids are made. If the Mistress wishes to examine me please do, just this one begs not to be taken apart. What would this one be able to do to be pleasing to the Mistress?" Doria was anxious so she went to the tried and true be pleasing. It made her happy to please others.

Getting a cup of warm tea, she handed it to Doria, "Here you go hun, and I have no intention of taking you apart or allowing anyone take you apart," Yadira said smiling. "Doria stop calling yourself 'this one'. You have a name and you should refer to yourself as 'I' instead of 'this one' It sounds correct and more....human, not so much as an android, besides it sounds better," Yadira said.

"This one.. I..", shaking her head she quickly says. "This one apologized for the error in speech. This one is programmed to refer to this one as this one. But if the Mistress wishes this one can try." She takes a deep brief, "I..", she immediately shakes her head. "This one apologizes for the error in speech. This one will practice saying those words. Repetition should assist in creation of proper subroutines." Doria sipped the warm tea with a happy look before her face returned to the neutral mood setting. "This one finds the tea to be within the parameters of a 'pleasent' response.", she would continue sipping with occasional bits of emotion slipping out. A smile, licking her lips at the delicious tea, a bright eyed look. But they would then be replaced with a neutral look as if defaulting back. "Sub routines still feel jumbled, this one begs forgiveness for errors", Doria said lowering her eyes to the floor.

Vallick returned to work on the warp coil muttering to himself.

Tchulka stood outside of Yadira's office starring at Vallick. He secretly wished the engineer would try something so he could knock him out.

Not to be confused with Doria's emotions and then returning to the normal routine, Yadira felt sorry for the girl. Having to suddenly change her normal subroutines for new ones is very hard and confusing. "Now Doria do you have an external port where I can connect you to my computer" Yadira asked.

Doria placed her cup on the table and stood. Her hands wiggled and the smock she wore dropped her feet. She then turned around facing away from Yadira as she reached back and at the base of her 'spine' she pressed gently before a access panel opened sliding to the sides. Data port, diagnostic access, and everything was accessable to Yadira.

"Wow!" was all Yadira could say. Taking the lead from her computer, she plugged into the data port and began to copy the data to her computer. It was fascinating. "It's gonna take me month's to understand," she commented. "Thank you Doria. Now please put your dress back on," Yadira said removing the lead from her data port. "Doria what would you like to do?" Yadira asked allowing for her to think of something.

Doria leaned back up before slipping her dress in place and sitting back down. A moment later she returned to sipping her tea. "This one... I.." She shook her head a bit to 'clear' her mind. "This one is unsure what to do or ask to do. May this one beg to be of service in any way? This one wishes to be pleasing to the Masters to prevent destruction and recycling of this unit."

"Oh don't worry, you won't be recycled or destroyed. You are a wealth of information Doria. Actually, if you want, you might be able to stay here and help me to recalibrate the warp sensor grid to be a bit more sensitive to the changes in the warp drive," Yadira said.

 

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