What is your nature?

Posted on 31 May 2020 @ 2:24pm by Ensign Kat Walker & Lieutenant Sovok

3,077 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Changing Faces
Location: Cargo Bay Two, Deck 27

It was the end of Alpha shift. The crews were exchanging hands, people were being relieved, and many of the crew went towards their plans for the evening. Many went to the mess hall, some, the holodeck, and some, their quarters, but Lieutenant Sovok did none of these things today. His usual activities after work were to train in simulators in the holodeck, work out in the gym, practice martial arts, study, or meditate. Today was different. Today he had an interest in meeting someone.

Entering the cargo bay, clad in his gray and red uniform, Sovok looked around with a neutral expression. He had never been in this hold or beheld the derelict machine that housed the artificial intelligence known as Kat Walker. He was fascinated by the concept of artificial life, and as he stood before the broken machine, he felt a ping of anticipation in his heart. He pushed it down with his emotional mastery, but the excitement was acknowledged. This was uncharted space for him.

As he approached, the machine slowly awakened from its slumbering state. A distant, soft whine of cooling systems spinning up was heard, a few indicator lights flickered, turning red, then green, as sensor tubes and lenses on the very nose of the derelict walker twitched and focused on him. Then, with a shimmer, the hologram of a young woman with dirty blond hair and flawless skin appeared, wearing a simple outfit tailored to fit her body perfectly.

"Hello, Lieutenant Sovok," she spoke in flawless Vulcan, with the softest hint of a smile. "It is agreeable to meet you. My name is Kat Walker. What can I do for you?"

Sovok looked upon the machine as it activated its systems. He was no engineer, but all followers of the sciences have inquisitive minds. He pondered in the machine's make and design. He had not seen anything like it in all his years and he very well might be among the eldest of the crew.

As the hologram spun to life and materialized, Sovok raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Two things surprised the Vulcan; one, that the hologram was made in the image of an attractive woman and that that woman spoke to him in his native tongue.

"It is agreeable to meet you as well, Kat Walker. Clearly, you have the advantage over me. I am not too familiar with you yet you knew me on sight. Fascinating." He said in an inquisitive but polite manner.

"I have access to the ship's manifest, and you are the only Vulcan actively serving onboard, Lieutenant Sovok," Kat explained readily. "I knew your language from studying it. It is my goal to fit into this crew as a functional and productive member; logic suggested learning the languages of the founding members would, if not aid, at least not hurt in this purpose," she continued, head tilted slightly, standing straight, with her hands clasped behind her back, relaxed. "If you have any questions of me, I would be happy to answer."

"Your logic is without flaw." The Vulcan stated; high praise from a member of his species. Sovok clasped his hands behind his back, causing his command school uniform to tighten across his chest. It was a pose he often took, finding it neutral enough but commanding in it's own way. Most Vulcans did not pose, but Sovok found keeping his hands at his side and still while speaking to others was off putting. For some strange reason, clasping behind his back did not garner the same negative reaction.

"I am curious to know you. You, to us, are an anomaly. Artificial life, while not unique in our universe, is exceptionally rare and I have not had the chance to know one of your kind. With your permission, I would be interested in knowing you." He said with some inflection. Speaking in his native tongue was different than speaking the tongue of humans. The Vulcan language was subtle in its use of feeling and conveyance of yearning. Sovok was not against using such subtleties.

Subtleties that Kat was neither used to nor expected, but the meaning of the words spoken by Sovok was clear enough in their own right, at least clear enough for the alien AI to understand. "I was built by a race called called Drul Anu," As she spoke she gestured to the side, where a second hologram flickered into view, this one unmoving, standing motionless. It was a reptilian humanoid, wearing a flight suit, with slender and relatively long limbs.

"To my knowledge, the Drul Anu are extinct following the death of their star, and I am the only Drul Anu designed AI still in functioning condition. My primary purpose is the operation of small to medium sized vehicles, of either civilian or military design," she continued, motioning to the side again, the reptilian hologram fading and replaced by a cube of granite, roughly seventy by seventy by seventy centimeters. The block had what had to be billions of pathways etched into it, snaking across the surface, splitting, uniting, going deep into the cube, surfacing, all interconnected.

"I am an Evo 3 type crystalline AI," as she spoke the pathways lit up blue, in rhythm with her every word, her every gesture, the center of the block pulsing with continuous activity. "A base neurological system with the ability to learn and adapt my own programming. I have a capacity of one thousand twenty four simultaneous threads monitoring and operating in real time, though during nominal operation roughly a third of that capacity goes to personality simulation and AI functionality."

Sovok listened intently as the artificial intelligence explained her history to him. The Drul Anu had created a wonderful piece of technology and so long ago. He was intrigued by the specifications of her, but his focus was not her capabilities not her function. He was curious about her.

"Your primary purpose appears to have changed since the Drul Anu appear to be extinct." He said evenly. He always respected those who can transcend their limitations. He thought on the many technical, philosophical, and anthropological papers he had read on the lives of the android Lieutenant Commander Date and that of the medical hologram simply known as The Doctor. Could this being be the next of those line of transhumanist beings?

"I have many questions regarding your existence as an individual, and likewise, am open to your inquiries about mine." He said politely. He dipped his head in respect to the hologram. Clearly he was awarding the sentiment piece of technology every piece of respect and compassion he would have shown any traditional life form.

Though she remained silent for a moment or two before answering, during this silence her AI core lit up like a christmas tree, even the unit's cooling systems spinning up to higher capacity. All this activity was reflected in real-time to the holographic projection of her core.

"I do not know if my purpose has changed," she replied, the activity steadily dropping to a more nominal level. "I am designed to operate a small to medium sized vehicle, and that is what I plan to do. I'm currently studying to be a productive member of this crew and to be built in to a Valkyrie fighter, where I can fullfill my design purpose."

"Nor has any other parameter of my existence changed really," she continued, her voice ever calm. "My personality matrix remains unchanged, as do my primary hard coded personality traits. Service, kindness, curiosity," She hesitated for a moment again, before continuing. "The only thing that has changed is my allegiance. Instead of Drul Anu, I serve Starfleet now. But since I have no hard coded loyalty to the Drul Anu nor any memory files on them, this is not a change that causes me pause or contemplation."

"Any loyalty to a concept or people you do not know is illogical." Sovok said as he nodded. The barrel chested Vulcan began to walk as he spoke. He did not venture far, just enough to get the blood flowing. This was a mental exercise for him as well as a fascination. He was genuinely enjoying himself...not that he would show it.

"Your purpose is to serve, but that was not the purpose I was inferring. You are seeking to integrate into this crew, to become an individual, and to do so with kindness and curiosity. Is this something that fighter ship AI's commonly did before or is it the evolution of you as a person?" He asked inquisitively.

"I do not know if there is a big difference between the two," she spoke quietly, following him with her gaze and turning to face him when he ventured behind her. "I try to follow my programming to the best of my ability. But my hardcoded directives are simple. Basic. What I do with them is the result of my personality. I can imagine an AI with a different set of hardcoded directives would respond to a given situation differently."

She remained quiet for a moment again, the AI core pulsing with increased activity. "I do what I do because I want to. But also because my hardcoded directives tell me to. They give me a path to follow, but the way I follow it is my own choice. I have chosen a Valkyrie over a Hornet because I have a preference for larger, more powerful craft. I have chosen a Microraptor as high mobility avatar because I think it's a fascinating creature from Earth's pre-history. I have chosen this young female avatar because I believe it will assist me better in integrating than other avatars and other genders."

"These are choices born out of preference, not hardcoded directives," she concluded, brows slightly furrowed.

Sovok listened intently. He saw some areas within the AI's personality that could use some work, mainly in the departments of personal freedoms and individuality. He felt sympathy for a moment. It was clear to him that this machine wished to be more than she was. Always the teacher, he felt for her situation but did not express it through his demeanor.

He took a moment to feel everything in the situation so that he could properly focus and return to balance. He felt excitement for a meeting a being of such a unique origin, attraction to her female avatar, compassion for her situation, and yearning to help. All was contemplated in the time of a Vulcan heart beat. Focused resolve poured through him as he came to a conclusion.

"You are a fascinating individual, Kat Walker. It is agreeable that we have met. If you would like, we can make these discussions a regular occurence. We may speak on any and all topics as you please. I can guide you through adaptation and assimilation into the crew and you can guide me through what existence is like as a artificial life for, and to that, I have a keen question."

He paused his reply to once again center himself. It was a heavy question he was about to ask and one that would determine if he could help her or not. He needed to know if she was machine or person; if she was life or an imitation.

"Do you feel?" He asked simply. Three words that would determine the rest of their relationship.

"I have asked myself this before but have not yet reached consensus," Kat answered readily. "Without frame of reference it is difficult to determine, and it is not something that is easy to calculate logically or capture in math. Words can attempt to explain 'feeling' but I find most words ambiguous and only useful as approximation of intent rather than a mathematical certainty."

She hesitated a moment before acting again. With the motion of a hand the holographic representation of her AI core flickered out and vanished, after which her avatar jumped into the air, the hologram switching to that of a four-winged avian reptilian form, with iridescent black feathers. She flew around the space, circling it once before landing on all fours on the derelict walker, sitting down and tilting her head at him, "As far as I have a capacity to understand, I believe I can say that this gives me a measure of ..."

" ... Joy."

Sovok looked upon Kat as she aired her confusion on the subject at hand. He weighed in his mind the possibilites of how to proceed. It was clear to him that she felt, but he was interested in how she saw it.

Feelings are a complicated matter for Vulcans. In his lifetime, there had been great change in Vulcan society over it. Where once mind melds were taboo and illegal, now they are commonplace. Perhaps the most potent of changes was the effect humans had on vulcans as individuals and Sovok was no exception.

As Kat turned into the winged creature and flew around the cargo bay speaking of joy, it was all the affirmation he needed. He boldly stepped forward and offered an arm up for her to land and perch upon.

"It is my learned and expert opinion that you do in fact feel, Miss Walker." He said kindly.

"Then, that may be something worth exploring further," Kat spoke, launching off the broken walker again and spreading her four wings, gliding down to Sovok and landing on his arm. Though where he might expect a weight of several kilos judging by the dromaeosaurian size, there was a weight of less than a hundred grams. And instead of the feeling of claws, there was just a gentle pressure of that small weight. She didn't have any physical presence other than the cleverly hidden remote projector the avatar enveloped. "I would welcome your company during this exploration, as well as any wisdom you have to offer," she added, knowing Vulcans to be intelligent and logical people and having seen Sovok to be the same.

"Unless me feeling is an issue," she added, tilting her small, saurian head.

Sovok seemed a bit surprised by the lack of heft to the hologram. He had always assumed that the hardened light of them had weight, but clearly this one did not.

"It is not an issue at all. You will find me an oddity among my people. While I do not express emotions often, I do allow myself to feel them and I will answer and question you have on them or my emotional state at any point in private."

There was a pleasantness to his voice right then. Sovok did enjoy teaching, and for whatever reason, he felt quite comfortable with this hologram. Perhaps it was his fascination or something else, but it was certainly something. She disarmed him quite easily.

She fluttered her wings then lept off his arm to shift back to her humanoid form, landing elegantly on her two feet. "Why do you want to help me?" she asked. "It's appreciated, but I am curious to your reasons."

"Three reasons." He began before taking a moment to observe her changing of shape. It was not every day he got to see a four winged creature turn into a beautiful woman. He took a moment to enjoy that sensation before continuing in an even tone. "Firstly, it is in my nature to instruct. I served as a instructor at Starfleet Academy after the Dominion War and found the work fulfilling. Secondly, I find you fascinating both on an intellectual level and an emotional one. Thirdly, I have picked up on some signs from you that you wish to progress. I am never one to refuse a call of aid."

Sovok clasped his hands behind his back and began walking once again. His features were softer this time, however. More kind than neutral and such was expressed in his tone as he spoke. "I wish to explore what it means to be you as much as you wish to grow. This is not an entirely selfless act."

"Is it that rare that someone wishes to progress?" Kat asked quietly. "Wouldn't anyone wish to learn more, to explore new things, expand one's horizon and self improve? I like to think that I am at the beginning of a new life for myself, but I aim to continue to learn and improve myself for as long as I have the capacity to."

"Your journey is a unique one, Miss Walker." Sovok said and for a moment he paused, thinking on whether Miss was appropriate or not to add to Kat's name. A thought exercise for another time, perhaps. He continued in his normal soft, even tone. "The desire to grow is common, but you face unique obstacles that most never will. I find myself compelled to assist you in any way I can."

Kat smiled softly. "I very much welcome your offer for help. Though right now I have a lot to think about," she mused. "Earlier you called me 'fascinating'. Why is that? What makes me fascinating?"

"You are a being of artificial design. That alone fascinates me, but what truly fascinates me is your desire to be a part of this crew, to be kind, and to assimilate into a group of people so far different than yourself, but for all our differences, I also see our similarities." He said even and dipped his head to the hologram before turning to leave. "Much to think on, indeed. Can you project to anywhere you wish on this ship? If so, when I am off duty, I welcome your company anytime."

A soft smile. "My hardcoded directives are absolute, and they are to serve, be kind, and be curious. Everything I do stems from that," then a nod. "With my remote projector I can reach anywhere in the ship, provided I have clearance to access it. Being as I am still a guest on board and not a crewmember yet, I do not have access to high security areas."

"A logical precaution." He stated as he began to walk towards the exit to the cargo bay. "I often find myself...open on my free time. Seek me out when it pleases you. It was agreeable to meet you, Kat Walker."

"And you, Lieutenant Sovok," Kat smiled, watching the Lieutenant walk out. She stood in silence for a moment once he'd left before deactivating her hologram.



Lieutenant Sovok
Chief Helm

&

Kat Walker
Stray AI

 

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