The "Ghost" in the Machine (part 4)

Posted on Tue Jun 21st, 2016 @ 4:35pm by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant Commander Damion Wolfe & Lieutenant Arnon Barak MD, PsyD & Lieutenant Illise Hale & Lieutenant JG Victoria Drani M.D. & Crewman E.M.H. Galen

1,127 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Point of View

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

"And how do we know it's going to behave itself in there?" Damion replied quickly, hearing that the EMH wanted to bypass security protocols Tallas spent most of her personal time building once they were transfer to the Security Department. He looked over to Sam and continued. "Shirol spent a long time putting those in, Captain. You know how she is with systems. What she did could be all brought down within seconds. I know I was the one who voted for communication with this thing, but we still don't know what its motives are. All we've gotten is photos spread around the place and vague answers to the only one here who can communicate with it directly." He said gesturing to Galen. "Those security codes help us. If it does something it's not supposed to they could help kill us."

[NEW]

"I believe you misunderstand," Galen said to Damion, trying to reassure him even though she herself harbored reservations. "This would override protocols within my own system, not the Main Computer's. I assure you that I have no desire, nor the capability, to take over the ship." Her expression was kind and her tone respectful. "I will provide access the ships's database and provide a filter of sorts to add context to the entity's unguided assimilation of the information. Perhaps with some reference, I may be able to make it understand enough to actually be able to find out what it wants."

"The same entity who has already proven has no problem taking over holograms?" Damion replied quickly. "I get it. We don't have much options here. All of us are wondering through dangerous and unfamiliar territory, but the entity has been through our systems. It's activated several holograms and even, by accident or not, removed those safeties which put many of our people in harms way. The fact still remains, while its program is wondering freely throughout the system already, it's still a risk to us." He paused for a moment, letting out a deep breath before concluding. "Is there any way you can convince it to place its program into its own hologram? It already shown its familiar with it and already you've said its tried to access your own program. Maybe if we give it one of its own it will help us communicate better."

"Is there a way to get it to interact with humans directly?" Sam asked. She agreed with Galen, but wanted to try something that would not put the EMH at risk first. "That might help it recognize us as intelligent lifeforms. Or perhaps get it to take on a holographic form, like Lieutenant Wolfe suggested."

Galen nodded, understanding their concerns. Perhaps she had overstepped in her suggestion, however she still believed that the entity would need to be 'taught' to understand the things that they all took for granted. "I will ask." She sent a proposal to the Main Computer for the entity to interact in a different manner - using the holographic projection system which it had previously investigated. Included was a file from her own database, typically earmarked for transmittal to Greg for analysis, containing several logs which had recorded how her matrix interacted with her own photonic form. She hoped that with this data it could grasp this concept at least. In addition, knowing that the standard holographic programs it might choose from in the ship's database were typically only shells at best, she also sent a few of her own basic subroutines. If the entity understood, it would be able to modify a standard holographic program to use in this capacity. This only took a few seconds.

"I guess now we wait to see if it understood." Galen said as she crossed her arms in front of her, grasping one wrist.

The image on the console switched as the entity began to scroll through the data from the EMH. Then it began to sift through the database of characters in the hololibrary. Then it settled on one and the image of a 16-year-old boy with dark hair that needed a good brushing, glasses, and a peculiar lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. "Hello," he said, speaking in a British accent.

"Well look at that," Arnon said. "The Boy Who Lived. An excellent choice considering. Hello there, young man. Do you have a name?"

The boy cocked his head for a moment, considering the question. "Harry Potter."

"What were you expecting him to say, Counselor?" Damion replied quickly.

"Never assume, Lieutenant Wolfe," Arnon replied, grinning. "You run the risk of making an ass out of you and me. I'm not really concerned about you making an ass of yourself, but you trying to make an ass of me is wasted effort. Why try to make an ass of me when I frequently make a perfect ass of myself all on my own? Relax. All in good fun. Oh, where's Remy when you need him! I feel like experimenting with short jokes. Oh me, but look at how long I've been talking! Let's get back to the electronic boy wizard in the box!"

Drani couldn't help but chuckle at Arnon's comment as she shook her head.

Sam glanced at Galen, then back at the boy. "Do you understand what Galen is? That she is a photonic? That we are carbon-based life forms?"

The boy looked from one person to another, carefully assessing each one. The computer began to flash between personnel files of each of the people in the room, then the EMH's matrix, then the schematics of the holographic programming. After a moment, the boy nodded.

"I am not," the boy said.

Illise activated her tricorder and began recording the computer activity for further analysis.

Galen smirked, "No you are not carbon-based or photonic, you are something different from either of us. We would like to understand what you are, and also help you to understand what we are." She walked over to the 'boy' but did not touch him. "The photonic image and associate files that you are using has been given the designation 'Harry Potter', but this is not who or what you are. We," she gestured at herself and the others, "are individuals - separate from each other, and we identify ourselves with names. We would like to know what to call you. Do you have a designation, a name?"

The computer flashed through images, not finding what it was looking for. Harry shook his head. "I am."

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Damion Wolfe
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Crewman Galen
EMH

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

"Harry Potter"
The Entity

Lieutenant Arnon Barak
Chief Counselor

Lieutenant Victoria Drani
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Illise Hale
Chief Science Officer

 

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