Hic Jacet Siméon

Posted on Wed Mar 21st, 2018 @ 9:29pm by Captain Mrazak & Lieutenant Commander BaoJun Qiao

1,101 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: S1E1: Bynars Be Bygones
Location: USS Phantom--The Cage
Timeline: MD6 20:30

Having left the standoffish biochemist at the shuttleby, Bao had patiently waited for the live Bynars to arrive, perusing their files as he did so, and having Sunny arrange a properly firewalled connection to the Bynar mesh system. Away from the surface it was safer, as it didn't try to overlay VR optics. Shortly thereafter, the requested information came up. Two affected Bynars were being brought in, along with the biomedical staff attendants. He sidelined the attendants' information for the moment. He was more interested in... Ampersand and Eroteme. Their files indicated nothing extraordinary for a Bynar. Their work had been solid, but run-of-the-mill within their field. Nothing was jumping out at him as being dangerous in their work. In short, their files indicated their contact with the android was likely the crisis point.

Looking up when the aforementioned delegation arrived, he smiled and motioned to seats. "Good evening, Ampersand, Eroteme, and cie. I am Lieutenant Qiao, the closest thing this ship has to a specialist in cybernetically augmented life. I'd like to ask a few questions, if I could," he added, making it a point to have his eyes glow and his "aura" set to provide as much harmless information as possible in an attempt at putting his subjects at ease, nevermind the surreptitious recording and scanning he'd arranged for.

The two Bynars looked about in nervous terror, though they managed to keep their trembling to a minimum. After Bao introduced himself, they briefly conferred with one another in their complex language of shrieks and clicks.

"You may ask," said Ampersand.

"Please help us," said Eroteme.

Ampersand glared at Eroteme, then quickly looked back to Bao to study his reaction.

A raised eyebrow was the only sign the Lagashi noted the disparate opinions, personalities, and actions of the two Bynars. No. Subjects, he reminded himself. Right now, these were subjects to study. More living than usual, which gave room to manipulate and play them against one another, but giving them full agency was the fast track to not getting the job done. He let silence linger for an extra moment before responding, making sure appropriate scans and measurements were coming in. "While I understand your feelings, and I hope that I am able to help you, my job here today is to understand what happened to you, how it happened, and how, if possible, to prevent its further spread." He paused again. "By all indications, it was your encounter with the rogue android that triggered the events that have lead us here. Please describe your encounter with the android. I have arranged a limited connectivity within this faraday cage if you wish to share sensory or other recordings."

The two Bynars stared with expressions evolving from disbelief to contemplation. It was Ampersand who responded first. "The Variable booked passage with us from DS-9 to Earth. It often questioned our culture, mannerisms, and our mutual pairing as a fixed way of life."

"She freed us!" Eroteme blurted out. Hands over mouth, Eroteme would say no more.

Ampersand looked equally surprised, but after a moment's consideration, shrugged and nodded agreement. "For centuries we have been obligate binary beings. The Variable showed us another way." A frown emerged. "As a result, we were severed from the master computer network."

"For our own good!" Eroteme began weeping openly. "There were complications with some. Even deaths, they said. But it wasn't Her fault!"

Reaching a timid hand forward, Ampersand offered comfort in an awkward, unfamiliar physical display.

"I see," said Bao as he processed. The variable seemed to most likely be a reference to their android. Questioning the beings around it made sense, especially if it had been given a child's mentality. Freeing them vis-a-vis an alternate way sounded like she had done something to the underlying binary structure of their lives. He spared a mental thought to focus scans on looking for evidence of non-binary patterns in thought and responses. Focusing on that, he turned to Ampersand, who seemed the more composed of the pair. "What do you mean by another way? Did the variable show you how to alter your processes in some fundamental way from binary?"

Conviction took hold of Ampersand. "She showed us there is more. In the same way that a monochrome perspective can expand and be opened to diverse frequencies of light to display color, we were shown that variables are not corruptions of data logic. When we build upon them, they become solid. Exponents simplify meticulous binary operations."

"The truth came with a clear observation," Eroteme interjected. "I am 0, he is 1. But together..."

The Bynars joined hands once again and spoke together. "We are 2."

The Lagashi's eyes widened. That was not the expected thought process. Not even remotely close. He needed to analyze the results of the brain scans, but he was starting to get an idea of what was going on. What he was unclear about was the mechanism of how it had resulted in deaths. Well, that wasn't entirely true, but he wasn't nearly expert enough at this to be certain. He'd have to leave that the experts. On the other hand, he did have something else to ask. "Have you shared this with anyone else?" he asked carefully. "The Variable has given you a gift, but it may be a dangerous one."

Eroteme broke into tears. Ampersand merely offered a shake of the head. "We were quarantined on arrival," said Ampersand. "Will you help us?" Eroteme cried.

The Lagashi mentally fumbled for a moment, needing to catch up with the potential magnitude of the problems involved. "I will try," he settled on. "As a professional, allow me a moment of inconsiderate bluntness. Do you have any idea of magnitude of what happened." He rand a hand through his hair. "I've been subjecting you to continual scanning since you came into this room, but I must now insist that you undergo a full mental scan." He looked at the two minders. "And since I'm now being Mr. Violate the rights of Federation citizens, that goes for you as well. You've been in contact with them. The precautionary principal dictates you be treated as contaminated until we have conclusively established otherwise. Will you agree, or do I need to call for men in black suits?"

Eroteme trembled at Bao's frankness, but Ampersand merely shrugged. "Do what you will. But you cannot undo what has been done. We will not let you."

"I doubt I would begin to know how to, even if I were inclined to," muttered Bao. "Let's get this over with sooner rather than later."

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