Hamada Kiyo - Fear of the Dark

[Iain Turnbull]

((Upper Primary Computer Core 1, Deck 7, USS Octavia E Butler))

Burlag: ::rather self-importantly:: I am Technician Specialist Burlag, on loan from the Okinawa Daystrom Institute to Deep Space 14 and subsequently this vessel as one of the original designers of the M47 computer system outfitted on this vessel.

There was an aura of self-importance about Technician Specialist Burlag that immediately put Kiyo on the back foot. She wasn't the most outgoing or forward of people at the best of times and if this had been a social gathering of people she would have probably wilted and folded completely in on herself in response to the blatant peacocking. As it happened, she was saved from the glaring beam of self-proclaimed brilliance by the others introducing themselves.

Valk: Petty officer 3rd class Valk, ma’am.

 

Iliac: I’m Ensign Iliac, this is Dr. Brzezinski, the Federation’s foremost neuroscientist in the quadrant!

Whilst Kiyo didn't know if that was just showboating or not, she had read a paper written by somebody called Iliac. Neuroscience wasn't her speciality, or even something she was passsable at, but it was an interesting topic to read about of an evening.

Brzezinski: I also am a specialist in bio-neural gel packs, hence…

 

Brzezinski waved a hand, vaguely indicating the room and by extension the Butler herself.

 

Burlag: Is there something that piqued your interest?

Iliac: The doctor has detected a number of engrams in here that look suspiciously like a set of self-aware consciousnesses. (beat) That’s not normal for a Federation computer, of course.

 

Hamada: Yes, there are quite a few items listed that could be more easily classified as personality quirks rather than programming flaws.

She passed out the PADD's that had been stashed in her pack.

  

Hamada: Those that have been reported have all be listed here. The sub-file is titled Quirks and you will find it under “programming”.

 

Valk: Understood.

 

Brzezinski: I think the engrams are actually two distinct clusters, with remnants of a third. One alone would be a cause for concern, but this is next level.

Burlag: (somewhat incredulous) Are you suggesting that there are three ‘personalities’ based on your findings?

Burlag thumbed the screen of his PADD, as Kiyo did the same to hers.

Hamada: There are minor deviations in the primary computer interface protocols ::She paused, offering a light shrug of her shoulders.:: that manifest as these personality quirks. But, as the good Dr has pointed out there are also errant strands of code that appear to be almost “alive”.

Burlag: Well, I can tell you that there haven’t been reports of schizophrenic M47s.

 

Feathers clearly ruffled, Kiyo attempted to smooth them over somewhat.

Hamada: I'm not sure that's the suggestion. These other strands seem to have been, I don't know, imprinted into the computer somehow.

As if they had been copied or downloaded from somewhere. They certainly didn't seem “native” to the Butler's framework. At least not from Kiyo's interpretation of the data.

Valk: I assume we are to pick a task and begin working on it, ma’am?

 

Brzezinski: Have at it. (beat) But leave the engrams to me! (beat) And don’t call me “ma’am.” (beat) “Doctor” is fine.

Illiac gave a roll of the eyes and Kiyo looked down quickly to hide a smile of amusement.

  

Hamada: As you wish, Dr. ::Glancing at Valk.:: I think we should focus on a few key systems tasks as a starting point, and branch out from there.

 

Valk: In teams or individually?

Burlag: We can collaboratively work together; we just need a couple of ideas of where to start in addition to the gelpacks.

 

Hamada: Primary data interface and computer memory engrams?

Burlag: ::nodding:: Along with those tests, we’ll need to find out when each of these ‘clusters’ started to appear. There should be sufficient logging for us to wade through.

Hamada: A complete chronological search will take too long. We should focus on key timeframes to begin with. ::She paused, gathering her thoughts.:: Initial systems test. The period of crew arrivals and settling in. Launch day. Major events such as those.

 

Valk: Understood.

Burlag wandered and stood between Brzezinski and Iliac.

Burlag: What have you found to reinforce your theory?

 

Iliac: We’ve scanned all the rows above this line. (she indicated the row she was currently working on) The data is being compiled on this secondary system.

Half-listening to the others, Kiyo began pulling up the logs from the start of the crew arrival period. It seemed a sensible place to start as the computers absolute interface baseline began to be modified by various personal preferences. Workstation layouts, various crew wake up alarms and in her case form of address. All were interface modifications and with so many happening at once it was entirely possible some of these had “leaked” into the Butler herself. The ships computer seemed to have a personality of sorts, which was probably just the an anthropomorphic opinon formed by the crew as a whole. But that didn't explain the other strands.

Or did it?

 

Brzezinski: The science data processors were also showing a high degree of issues.

Burlag: ::looking at Hamada and Valk:: Have they been purged recently?

Kiyo tapped at her PADD.

Hamada: Routine purges are logged successfully. The last one was at oh six hundred this mor- huh. ::She tapped a few times as her brow furrowed.:: The purges have been logged, but a deep dive shows they've not been undertaken. Even after manual interaction.

Well that was troubling, even the overrides weren’t working?

 

Valk: Slow processing speed and occasional glitches…seems easy enough.

 

Hamada: It's almost as if the computer was hiding the fact that “she” hadn't purged the processors. We could do a data dump and hard reset of the processors individually?

Burlag: I…

He was about to disagree, but he was countered by the ‘popular’ officer.

 

Brzezinski: No, that’s not a good idea.

 

Hamada: Fair answer. It was only a suggestion for the group to knock back and forth however.

She offered a nod towards the Dr.

Valk: Response

Burlag seemed to grow a little as a personal command code was given.

Burlag: Computer, recognize Burlag-Alpha-Foxtrot-One-Seven-Zero-One. Initiate Purge Protocol Omega and reset operating parameters.

A flat tone of denial issued forth almost immediately.

The computer hadn't even bothered with a verbal response. It was almost like a sulky child refuseing to comply with the instructions of a parent.

Hamada: Computer, initiate full diagnostic of science database processors. Compile, save and then purge the processors.

There was the same flat tone of denial, only this time the bulk of the lighting around them shut off.

Valk/Brzezinski/Iliac: Response

Burlag: (irritated) Now, look what you’ve done.

Burlag gently patted a hand against a wall terminal, receiving a static shock for his trouble.

He stood shaking his hand, no doubt to distract from the tingling.

Hamada: That was.... very unusual

Valk/Brzezinski/Iliac: Response

Burlag: No… this is not standard M47 behaviour.

Hamada: Computer, lights. Regular setting.

There was no response.

Hamada: Computer, you know I don't like the dark. Please could we have the lighting restored?

The flat tone of absolute denial was replaced by the more usual chirp of affirmation as the lights returned to life.

Kiyo turned her head, glancing between the others with raised eyebrows.

Hamada: And that was very interesting....

Burlag/Valk/Brzezinski/Iliac: Response

The computer had ignored commands that could potentially be viewed as detrimental to her own “personality” yet had eagerly and promptly responded to a personal request regarding Kiyo's fear of the dark. It was as if the Butler was trying to protect her own identity, whilst continuing to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the crew as per the coded in safety/atmospheric parameters.

Hamada: Curious. Very curious.....

Valk/Brzezinski/Iliac: Response

Tags/TBC

--

Lt-Commander Hamada Kiyo.

Communications Officer (Linguistics Specialist).

USS Octavia E Butler: NCC-82850.

Simmed by;

1st Lieutenant Arturo Maxwell.

Marine Officer, 4/73 Marines.

USS Octavia E Butler: NCC-82850.

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