Screwed to the Sticking Place
Posted on Tue Apr 24th, 2018 @ 4:51pm by Lieutenant Commander BaoJun Qiao & Captain Mrazak & Lieutenant Colonel Storr Garlake & Biynah
3,136 words; about a 16 minute read
Mission:
S1E1: Bynars Be Bygones
Location: Quarantined Hangar; Canton 0101-1; Bynaus
Timeline: MD 6; 20:30
Mrazak stood motionless, hands folded behind his back in silent contemplation. Nigh thirty minutes he had stood there, observing his quarry. And, for the entire time, the android with designation Biynah had perfectly mimicked the behavior of an organic being. Simpering Bynars comforted by her words, trembling stilled by soft, gentle hands, even the silence of isolation burned away when she raised her voice in a short song.
It was all enough to turn Mrazak's stomach.
Androids were servants. Logical, to be sure, but they had no soul, no feeling, no katra. They were fascinating tools, and when clad in synth-skin, they reminded him all too much of the Vulcan curse of c'thia. He had been called away by the computer specialist back in the office, which was a brief distraction from the matter at hand.
That android.
When Mrazak returned, he was met by Colonel Garlic who was also making his rounds. At first Mrazak thought about sending the colonel on another wild chase, but reconsidered. If the android was dangerous, it wouldn't hurt to have a meat shield nearby. Mrazak did so hate violence.
"Colonel, if you could be so kind as to retrieve the android, I would prefer questioning it in more private environs."
Garlake nearly missed the Vulcan's words, his thoughts fully engrossed in the near-fratricide he had walked in on moments before. Looking up, he looked at Commander Mrazak for several beats before he fully understood the request. While he wanted to balk, at least the request didn't involve anything banal or comparing him to a garden herb. Nodding, he turned on his heel and made for Biynah's "quarters." *This,* he thought as he made the short walk, *is about to get very interesting.*
Biynah knelt beside a Bynar, offering whispered reassurances. She patted his shoulder before moving on to the next. The Bynars huddled close to one another, yet Biynah moved between them effortlessly in constant vigil. Her eyes flickered at Storr's approach, but she made no move to greet or even acknowledge him.
Akiva's "daughter's" cold appraisal of him sent a shiver down his spine. He had never been completely comfortable around her, not knowing how to relate to a machine, but now her demeanor had completely changed. Where before she was the inquisitive child, plain and far too smart for her own good and looking for the next way to delve deeper into her questions, now she was...beatific. There really was no other word for it, as her radiance seemed to have a near physical effect on the Bynars surrounding her. The Marine stopped for a moment, taking in the scene before addressing Biynah.
"Biynah, come with me, please. We have some questions for you."
She calmed a fretful Bynar who pulled away at Storr's words, then appraised the Marine officer with calculating eyes that flared with probing questions. "I know you. From the Vindex. But you arrived with that Vulcan commander. Who is he? Where's father?"
Storr blinked. Bladdie Hell. "Yes...he wants to know more about...what happened. And your father...I don't know." The answer seemed to fall flat on the floor as soon as the words escaped his lips. While he did not regret them, he wished that he had anything else to say than that.
"Will he hurt them?" Biynah cast her eyes back to the cluster of Bynars as a mother hen might her chicks.
Lt Col Garlake inwardly winced at the question. While he assumed that the Commander would not simply based on his Starfleet position and oath, the Marine did not have to dig very far to imagine a scenario (or several) in which physical harm to one or more Bynars would be "necessary" to complete Theta's mission. "I can only answer for myself and I believe you trust me when I say that I will not." His answer was as weasily as they came but he was already done carrying water for the Vulcan. Let him sleep in whatever bed he made.
Biynah nodded. "Very well. I will comply."
Seated alone in a room, Mrazak waited rather impatiently for Storr and Biynah to follow his trail. By the time they made their own entry, Mrazak had twiddled his thumbs and nearly scratched a groove in the small tabletop. It was becoming a challenge to focus on his line of questioning, as his impatience made his mind wander into useless random thoughts.
Just what was this room used for...
The door opened, and Mrazak snapped to attention. He saw Storr stand to one side and gesture for Biynah to enter before him. The android stepped in with the confident trepidation of any adolescent from any humanoid species.
"Welcome," Mrazak said. "Please be seated."
Biynah complied as promised and sat across from the Vulcan. For a moment, they locked eyes until Mrazak looked away to Storr. "Thank you, Colonel," he said. There weren't many ways to intimidate an android that he knew of, but perhaps simply pointing out that it was outnumbered could be one of them.
Storr simply nodded and took his place next to the door, intent on watching the proceedings.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Biynah's query was no less demanding for its quiet inflection.
Mrazak's jaw went slack. What nerve that machine had to speak first! "I am Starfleet," he said. "And I want to know what happened to those Bynars."
"To use an aphorism," Biynah said carefully. "They were blind, and now they see."
"No," Mrazak said with a shake of his head. "No aphorisms. Do not quote metaphors to me. You are a bath'pa machine. Use technical language, and do it now."
Biynah gave a satisfied smile. "The Bynars were limited in their computing processes. I showed them a better way."
"Indeed," Mrazak said, "except that your 'better way' has put their entire network into jeopardy. Unless we can find a way to fix it, then you could be held responsible for the downfall of an entire planet." He leaned in for emphasis. "And your father will not be able to help you."
Biynah tensed. "Where is he? If Mister Garlake is here, then my father can't be far behind. He's smarter than you. He'll find a way out of this."
"I am not your friend," Mrazak admitted. "But neither am I your enemy. Right now, your father is powerless, both to help you and to correct the errors you created with your introduction of quantum computing to a system not ready for it."
"It wasn't my fault!" Biynah protested. "They were fine until..." She clammed up.
Mrazak gave her a sidelong look. "Tell me."
"No." Biynah gave her head a resolute shake. "I don't trust you. I will only speak to my father."
"GAH!"Mrazak clenched both hands into shaking fists. "Tell me what I want to know, or I will saw open your head and let my portable AI go spelunking inside your positronic net!"
One step forward put Storr beside Biynah, her shoulders barely coming to his hips. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at the petulant V'tosh Ka'tur, his displeasure barely contained and the reason his hands were pinned to his sides by his biceps in order to keep him from doing anything rash. "No," the simple response coldly filled the space between them. Interrogations were one thing but threatening the digital daughter of his good friend with the equivalent of mental rape was over several lines that Storr was unwilling to countenance.
Mrazak narrowed his eyes in pure wroth at Storr. The Lieutenant Colonel simply returned the Commander's unflinching gaze as Mrazak tapped his combadge. "Mrazak to Phantom. Lock onto the Lagashi and transport him to my location immediately."
=/\="Acknowledged, sir,"=/\= said the transporter chief.
Blue materialization soon gave form to the towering BaoJun. Before he could fully regain his bearings, Mrazak pointed him to the table where a smugly taciturn Biynah remained seated. "Please take over questioning the android. I need to speak with Colonel Garlic out in the hall."
"我的妈! 你狗操的混蛋!*" came the indignant sputter from the Lagashi as he finally caught up with having been transported without warning.
If looks could kill, then Mrazak would have ended Storr in dramatic fashion. He slammed the door open, rattling its ancient hinges, and stormed out.
Storr stood motionless, waiting for Commander Mrazak to pass him by in a huff before turning and following the black Vulcan out the door. He was the zen to Mrazak's storm and while it was opposite the position he usually found himself in, the Marine had a feeling that tables would be turning before long. Besides, the looks that the team commander were giving him could not stand to go by unanswered.
Biynah made no effort to hide her amusement. Turning to Bao, she said, "Hello. Does the commander yell at everyone like that?"
"I haven't been around him, much, thankfully," came the response as the Lagashi focused back on the source of much trouble. "He showed up in the middle of the night to kidnap me," he added before raising his voice loud enough to be heard in the hall, save Storr's yelling. "Apparently basic social etiquette and respect is no longer taught on Vulcan." Pausing he folded himself into the chair. "I have no clue what you were talking about before I was unceremoniously abducted again, but I think I can guess. Mr. Pointy-Eared Sociopathic Asshole out there wants to know what happened with the Bynars. My guess is that you know, but what happened isn't what you thought was supposed to happen. Am I close?"
The android smirked at Bao and shook her head. "I will not speak to anyone else. Father only."
Bao's researcher mask was firmly in place as he studied the android. He shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said. "Unlike Commander Mrazak, I know how to interpret silence, mei niu." He leaned back in the chair to give her a closer look, intentionally turning up the glow on his eyes despite not really needing to. He wasn't even lying that much. Omission, silence, and refusal, despite ridiculous legal norms to the contrary, usually spoke volumes. All he needed to do was be artful about it. Mentally he began helping Sunny sort what was known, and what was missing. "Let me know if you change your mind."
Out in the hall, Mrazak took several steps forward and turned around to glare up at the tall Afrikaaner. "Let us get one thing straight, Colonel Garlic: I'm in charge here. Me. Not you." He flicked Storr's silver leaf. "Me. Any questions?"
Storr's eyes narrowed as his brow furrowed, his zen already evaporating into the hot sun that was welling inside his chest. Field Team Leader or not, just who did this man think that he was?
Lieutenant Colonel Garlake's formerly crossed left fist whipped from his side like lightning, his wrist rotating so that his fingers extended in with the inertia and the back of his hand made a very satisfying *SMACK* when it made contact with Mrazak's left cheek. Like any good Marine, Storr knew that every effective movement was only as good as its follow-through and continued the arc of his hand all the way across his left shoulder. Reaching through to the dazed Vulcan with first his right and then left hands, he grasped the man's shirt at his neckline and drug him up the wall (none too gingerly), pinning him there two feet above the floor.
"You may be in charge but you are no leader; what you just did in there violated all of the 14 leadership traits we hold dear in the Corp. Your mother and father obviously didn't show you enough attention as a child so I'll just say four of them real slow so that I make sure I won't have to repeat myself. Justice...Judgment...Tact...Bearing. You," Storr said, rotating his thumb around and grinding Mrazak's Commander rank pip into his clavicle, "are an officer and leader of men with a mission that is not more important than those first two. Either act like it, or it will be removed from you just as I know you've seen it done numerous times on Theta." Storr had no idea how idle his threat was and how far his authority as station commandant truly ran but despite the distasteful deed he had to accomplish fresh upon his arrival, he knew that the Vulcan would not see it as empty.
Mrazak scowled through his bloodied lip, but there was nothing he could do. Storr had discovered his Achilles Heel of violence, which meant that a different tack was needed before his face was rearranged any further. With all the indignation he could muster, Mrazak said, "Put. Me. Down."
No dice.
Mrazak huffed in resignation to the new power dynamic between the two men. "Please?"
Letting Mrazak down to the floor, Garlake dry brushed his hands. "Now, let's go back in and try this again, shall we? Oh, and call me 'Garlic' again and you'll wish your replicator will make anything but."
Biynah traced her fingers along the table. Her eyes alternated between observing them and observing Bao. She had already refused to speak to anyone but her father, and she was not lacking for silicon to keep her synth-cells healthy. If it was a waiting game they wanted, she was confident she could wait them out.
"You aren't like them." Biynah snapped her hand back from the table and joined it with the other in her lap. Her voice held the quiet confidence of a formal conclusion. "You look like you're from Earth, but you have more in common with Bynaus." She squinted as she studied Bao's luminescent eyes. "You carry more than prosthetics. Someone else is behind your eyes." The realization gave her pause, but curiosity compelled her to continue. "Who is it?"
Bao smiled internally as he directed Sunny to respond. "I am more of a what," came the bemused answer. "We were wondering how long it would take you to ascertain that," the AI paused for a moment, noticeably. "Lieutenant Qiao," it continued, having replaced its normal pet name for the Lagashi, "is a Lagashi, homo sapiens lagashi in common parlance, though I prefer to think of them as being a bit more separate. The answer to your unstated query is that I am an advanced personal AI adapted specifically to work with the Lieutenant and facilitate his life. Virtually all Lagashi have one. Though please do not compare me to the monstrosity of Bynaus ever again. It's degrading, on the order of comparing yourself to a game's logic software from the early 21st century."
Cocking her head as she listened, Biynah came to nod in understanding. "An AI as a symbiont lifeform--the history of the Lagashi must be fascinating."
And, perhaps, could make this Lieutenant Qiao more sympathetic to her than anyone else she had met on Bynaus. Biynah closed her eyes and laid her palm on the table, palm upward. Perhaps in invitation as much as in meditation. Her mind entered the Praxis, unhindered by the proxy firewalls surrounding the main access points for biological beings who required hard-point interfaces. Like a ghost in the machine, Biynah could com and go at will.
Bao gave an internal signal to Sunny, following the android on his entopic display as he considered whether to say anything or not. He decided against it, seeing as she obviously had something to show him, and he had a job to do.
The picture became a false three-dimensional image on a planar surface which soon reflected a coordinate grid. A flashing beacon indicated a Praxis user who had, for all intents and purposes, been stumbling around the system like a man in the dark. As if that wasn't helpful enough, the name and rank of CMDR AKIVA BEN-AVRAM began flashing in tandem over it.
"My father is there," Biynah said. "I've been helping him as I'm able, but it's been difficult without showing my hand." She opened her eyes, effecting an imploring facial expression complete with a trembling lower lip. "Could you find my father? If he will trust you, then I will too."
Bao marked the location, and the user tag for future use. "I hope, for your sake, he will speak to me. You will have to distract the Commander for awhile to give me a chance. My preferred solution to this situation is for the Bynars to adapt."
"Like the Lagashi," Biynah inferred. She inclined her head in consideration. "If he has not already murdered the Commander, you should convince Mister Garlake to accompany you. He and my father were friends at one time." An impish smile played at her lips. "I'll keep the Commander busy. Tell him you hacked my resistance protocols and now I'm an open book."
The Lagashi smiled. "And won't that just piss him off?" he asked rhetorically, as he stood up and exited the room. Looking to the two senior officers he said, "Well, that was productive."
Lieutenant Colonel Garlake simply nodded and watched the Lagashi exit before motioning for Commander Mrazak to enter first. It most certainly was...
"What happened?" Mrazak asked Bao while hiding the obvious welt near his mouth. "Did she tell you anything?"
The Lagashi quirked his head as he pondered how to phrase his response, seeing as he both wanted to hold out on Mrazak, but also move forward. "Of course," he said. "I would not have stated it was productive if it was otherwise," he added in a faux-polite tone. "A veritable open book of information."
Mrazak stopped listening after the first few words. Tapping his combadge, he said, "Mrazak to Phantom. Janus, I want that android beamed directly into the Vault and locked inside a Faraday cage. I will finish with the administrators before returning myself. Do not reply--just do it. Mrazak out." He tapped his combadge with a vengeance.
When he looked back to the two taller men, Mrazak took a facial expression mixed with professional respect and personal disdain. "Oh, and as for you two--go..." He pointed with all four fingers of his hand in several directions as he spoke. "...see to whatever it is you were doing earlier. We're done here."
Bao gave the tall marine a significant look and a jerk of his head the moment Mrazak was no longer paying attention and out of earshot. He whispered, "Actually, she told me where to find Commander Ben-Avram, and mentioned trying to get you to accompany me to visit him. Convincing him to trust us is the key to Biynah trusting us."
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