Enable The Future

Posted on Fri Sep 20th, 2024 @ 8:14pm by Captain Akiva ben-Avram & Commander Arianna Frost

Mission: Mission 0: Everybody Has A Story
Location: Starfleet Academy
Timeline: 2375

The soft hum of the Academy lab's equipment provided a backdrop to Ensign Akiva ben-Avram’s thoughts as he carefully adjusted the settings on a holoprojector to the next lecture's specifications. The familiar scent of sanitized metal and the subtle warmth of the lab’s lighting created a comforting environment, one that had been his sanctuary for the past two years, even longer if one counted his tumultuously awkward years as a student. And Akiva did. While other students pursued other interests and enjoyed the full Academy experience, Akiva hid here. It had become a second home to him. Perhaps his only home now. The lab was empty, save for Akiva. His hands moved with precision, adjusting the holographic display for the upcoming lesson on neural network architecture. But his mind was elsewhere, entangled in memories of the past.

He remembered the day he left Hebron Colony, the day his father’s stern voice had echoed in his ears for the last time, disowning him for his decision to leave the ultra-orthodox world behind. It was a world that had no place for his dreams, his belief that technology, particularly AI, could be a force for good. Or, at the very least, did not rise to the threshold of blasphemy. Robotics and artificial intelligence had been Akiva's interest all throughout adolescence. The accident that took his brother Omri had cemented that belief. It wasn’t just about creating sentient machines; it was about preventing others from suffering the same loss. It was about redemption, a purpose behind the pain he had suffered.

His proficiency in computational science led him to apply for a junior instructor position rather than a traditional starship or outpost assignment. With his natural aptitude, Akiva was on the fast track toward a notable career in research and development. Starfleet was the place where advancements were made, and he was here to make this one happen.

And so he kept his nose to the grindstone. Rows of workstations lined the room, each equipped with advanced tools for the study and development of artificial intelligence—tools that Akiva had grown to know intimately. Each workstation had to be networked to the instructor's lectern. Normally a facilities technician would see to that, but Akiva had dismissed them a year ago. He could do it himself in half the time, and he enjoyed it besides.

As he examined the next workstation, he couldn't help but smile at the sleek form where nothing was wasted. No austere hubris, no ironic design intended to invoke a complex tradition. Just pure form and ergonomic function. Such work stations were much better than the instrumentation available on Hebron Colony. Though far from Luddite, they were at least a generation behind current Federation technology in most instances, save for computing. For some reason, the Federation held itself back with virtually primitive binary-based code structure. The Bynars he had met seemed to have something to do with that.

Akiva’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the lab’s doors swishing open. He didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. The confident, purposeful steps could only belong to one person.

Soft, measured footsteps belied purpose and intent in each step, no movement or time wasted. Fingertip touched outstretched fingertip periodically in front of him, as if he was tapping away on some unseen console. The man's dark brown, nearly black eyes would have him mistaken for a Betazoid by any who didn't know the harsh yet brilliant Commander.

"Good morning, Mister ben-Avram. How goes the algorithm?" he said in a clipped yet curious tone as he entered the lab.

"So far network connectivity has improved by 0.47 percent," Akiva said proudly, "but I think we can double that by the time I'm finished here." He didn't quite smile. Akiva didn't have any of those in him anymore. But he did brandish a proud smirk. "You're early. Was there something the matter?"

Bruce Maddox stepped closer and over to the readouts, he took a moment of silence to look at the readouts himself. The boy had a natural talent, Bruce could clearly see. Great talent. One he could use for his plans. This young man could be key.

Finally, he pulled away from his thoughts and the readouts. "Hmm? No. I have an earlier than scheduled meeting, I wanted to come in and check on the progress." He said finally, looking over at the young man. Tall, dark and and genetically muddled enough to pass of for any number of backgrounds. Almost like himself. Only the young man was hiding, not feeding his ambition. Whereas Bruce himself feared nothing, saw nothing but the creation of a perfect artificial being in front and behind his eyes.

It was others who choked his ambition, his vision. Admiral Louvois, Captain Picard...even Data to a point. Data...his one failure turned into an unsuspecting friendship. How the world turned.

Progress. Akiva arched his eyebrow. That meant more than just preparing the lab for the next class. Commander Maddox was inquiring about the special project. "Ah, yes, sir. Beyond the network connectivity..." By that, Akiva referred to the unofficial study they were conducting by syncing the sentient node to each workstation in order to supply live input data into the algorithmic supply. The results had been promising so far, as nobody had noticed the change from the standard Academy interface to the localized area network set up by Maddox and his team. That alone wasn't impressive. One computer was typically as good as another. Except in this case. "... the recursive learning function has auto-generated core system expansions. We may need to consider hardware upgrades if want to mitigate the risks of a cascade failure."

Maddox nodded, "indeed. That's partly the reason for the meeting." He said as he stepped behind and around Akiva, looking around the room. "If I said that I had the opportunity to do more, in a specialized environment, with the right backing." His slow, measured steps stopped. Slowly, he turned his black eyes to Akiva, "would you join me?"

He could use the younger man's talents, he'd argued for them with his backers. They weren't as convinced in the younger man's zeal as he was. No matter, he would still try.

"Take some time to think it over, of course. I know you've made an environment here for yourself, I'd hate to take you from it." He extended a hand towards Akiva, fingers outstretched, "but think of what the success of this project could do for your career, Akiva." Maddox spoke, his other hand reaching out to the young man as well. "With the war raging out there and you stuck here...unless you make a name for yourself, you could be stuck here indefinitely and your career would sink. If you came with me...the possibilities are endless!"

The arms went back to Maddox's sides. "Like I said, think on it. Let me know in a few days."

That was all so incredibly vague that Akiva didn't know where to begin. He hadn't considered career paths so much as chasing the light at the end of the tunnel where his crazy ideas could possibly be made real. "Where would we go? And would about our project? Could we take it with us?"

"That's the beauty of it, my young friend. We would have the opportunity to have all of our focus on the project." Tips of fingers touched tips of fingers as Maddox again drew into his vulcan-like persona. "I've been in negotiations to secure a specialized lab for our research and the negotiations have paid off, and you wouldn't have to travel far."

Akiva grinned at the sound of all of that. There wasn't any part of it that sounded anything less than a dream come true. "I don't know what to say." The usual somber and taciturn expression Akiva bore broke into a cautious grin. "Yes? Yes. Yes!" Akiva clapped his hands in excitement.

As an afterthought, a point of curiosity reared up. Something about the way Maddox had said... "Negotiations, you said? With whom?" Starfleet didn't negotiate. Starfleet gave orders. If this was outside of Starfleet, then who could it be?

Maddox showed no reaction to the question, "my backers. Don't worry, all above board and approved by the right people. We're in the talent recruiting stage now." Black eyes bore into black eyes sharply and expectantly.

"Backers?" Akiva arched his eyebrow. While Hebron Colony still utilized the shekel, the greater Federation had no use for currency besides placeholder credits when dealing with those worlds who did. Not Starfleet then. Who in the Federation would be recruiting talent from Starfleet's best and brightest with the promise and allure of even greater research opportunities? "I must know, Commander. Is it Daystrom? Covington? Who?"

Maddox merely smiled. "Sleep on it, my young friend, and let me know in the morning," he said, hands clasping behind his back. "Have a good day, Akiva," he said, still maintaining his smile, though his eyes held no warmth as he turned to leave.

Little did Akiva know that would be the last time he saw Bruce Maddox face to face.