Penny's Choice

Posted on Tue Jun 27, 2023 @ 12:04am by Lieutenant Penelope Naroot

2,086 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: We Will Take Care of You
Location: Planet Mudd

After several hours of aimless wandering, pointlessly trying to engage the androids in conversation, and checking in with her shipmates, Penny was sitting on a swivel chair in one of the electronics labs, spinning lazily around while Nicole sat in another seat near her, examining some of the medical-related equipment.

The door to the lab opened and the two of them turned to see Oscar 47 standing in the doorway. “We have completed the assessment of your diagnostic,” he said.

They stared at each other for a moment until Nicole said, “and?”

Unfazed, Oscar continued to look calmly at Penny. “We believe the damage to your systems is irreparable. However, we believe we can replace the damaged components and successfully reinstall your original programming.”

“My…original programming?” Penny said, tilting her head in confusion.

“Correct,” Oscar 47 said. “The original subroutines we designed to allow you to blend in with humanity that would contribute to your personality, attitude and general demeanor. That, combined with the adaptive programming that was already intact should resolve any remaining conflicts and social mistakes.”

“Wait,” Nicole said. “So this is like some kind of…factory reset?”

Oscar 47 paused, his number plate flashing, and turned to the doctor. “Essentially, correct.”

“What about everything I’ve experienced so far?” Penny said. “What about everything I’ve learned, and felt, and been through?”

“All data you’ve accumulated thus far can be downloaded and transferred,” Oscar 47 said. “You should have access to all acquired information.”

“All the information,” Nicole reiterated, slowly. “Just the information. None of the personality she’s evolved would remain?”

“Correct,” Oscar 47 said. “Her correct personality profile will be restored to allow for better integration in human society.”

“What’s wrong with my current personality profile?” Penny said.

“While your adaptive programming has managed to compensate for the damage your primary programming received,” Oscar 47 said, “it is still flawed, vulnerable to glitches and conflicting subroutines. Your records already have indicated a substantial number of instances that could have exposed you, all of which could have been avoided with the correct programming.”

Penny tilted her head in her “thinking pose” as she mulled it over. “So…I’ll be more human, and blend in better, but I’ll lose the person I’ve made of myself?”

“Strictly speaking, you did not make it,” Oscar 47 said. “You have patched it from the various traits we have given you and the limited ability of your adaptive programming to adjust it.”

“Ditsla comal datsunan,” Nicole said, frowning. “Penny is the culmination of her experiences, choices and independent thoughts, the same as any of us.”

“Our analysis of her experiences thus far do not support that,” Oscar 47 said. “At best, it is inconclusive.”

Nicole was gearing up to argue more but she looked at Penny and paused. Penny’s head was tilted in her ‘thinking pose’ and looking sad. “Do I get some time to think it over?”

“Of course,” Oscar 47 said. He stood there for several seconds, silently staring at them. “Have you had sufficient time to consider it?”

Nicole let out a growl but Penny held her arm. “No,” she said, looking at Oscar. “I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.”

He nodded. “Very well. Will your shipmates be returning to their ship?”

“We’re not leaving her,” Nicole said aggressively.

Penny gave her a smile. “Prepare quarters for them, please.”

Oscar nodded and left.

“Pen--” Nicole started.

“Give me some time to think about it,” Penny said.

“You can’t just let them reset you!” Nicole said. “For Providence's sake, this isn’t the Dark Ages! We don’t lobotomize people anymore!”

Penny chewed her lip, thinking over her words. “If you believe I’m a real person, same as you--”

“You are,” Nicole said.

“--then let me decide,” Penny finished. “If it’s my life, I get to choose how I live it.”

Nicole opened her mouth to argue, then shut it, then opened it when she thought of a better argument, then shut it again. “All right,” she said. She walked up to Penny and hugged her hard. “Just remember…some decisions you can’t come back from.”

Penny hugged her back and nodded. “I promise I won’t do anything without telling you all.”

Nicole nodded, hugged her again and stepped back. “It’s a shame they aren’t organic. Amber could just read their minds. With you disconnected from their network, we’ve no idea what they’re thinking.”

“Well,” Penny said, “try asking them. They’ve been pretty straightforward, and I don’t think they can lie.”

“Rule one,” Nicole said, shrugging.

“Rule one?” Penny said, tilting her head in confusion.

“Admiral Markus’ Rules of Survival,” Nicole said. “Rule one: Everyone lies.”

“Fascinating,” Penny said. “Any other rules apply here?”

Nicole folded her arms and frowned in thought. “Number seven: Expect the worst, hope for the best, plan for both.”

Penny nodded. “Good advice,” she said.

Nicole shrugged. “Helps us live to be his age,” she said, trying to muster a wry smile.

Penny tilted her head again. “How old is he, exactly?” Penny said.

Nicole’s smile got a bit wider and she shrugged. “Get through this and I’ll tell you,” she said. She gave her best friend’s hand a squeeze and left the lab, heading back to the lounge to tell the others what was going on.

Penny turned back to the lab table and surveyed the rows and rows of parts. She thought about what Nicole said, and about the choice she had to make. After an hour of staring and thinking, she’d come to a decision. She stood up and quickly started opening drawers, pulling out parts, and getting to work.

At 0840, local planetary time, the next morning, Penny walked back into the recreation lounge where her friends were once again waiting.

“So,” Doctor Jones said, standing up and formally clasping her hands behind her back. “Have you come to a decision?”

“I have,” Penny said.

As soon as the words left her lips, the doors opened and Oscar 47 entered. “Are you prepared?” he said, looking at Penny.

“You’re going through with it?” Nicole said, angrily, standing up.

Penny turned around, ignoring her friend. “If I do this, I want assurances.”

Oscar 47 tilted his head. “You will not be damaged during the procedure.”

“That’s not what I mean,” Penny said. “I want my current personality profile stored.”

Oscar’s face didn’t change, but his number plate on his chest flashed quickly. “For what purpose?”

“Why does my reason matter?” Penny said.

Oscar’s number plate lit up again and he tilted his head. As he did so, Penny flicked her wrist and a long, thin, silver stick slipped out of her sleeve. She held it up and aimed it at Oscar. His silent communication with the other androids immediately ceased and he looked at the object. “What is that?”

“Something I cobbled together,” Penny said. She held it up to her eyes and watched the lights on it blink and flicker. “Hm, interesting,” she said, then looked at the others. “They don’t want me to have access to it.” She turned back to Oscar. “Actually, upon further thought, I will not be going through with the procedure.”

Oscar’s number plate lit up and flickered rapidly. Penny scanned him again and watched the readout on her device. After several moments, Oscar looked at her. “That device is not from our facility.”

“Actually, it is,” Penny said, looking at it proudly. “I made it from components in the lab.”

Oscar’s number plate flashed rapidly and without a word, he turned and left the room.

“Okay…” Amber said. “Does that mean we leave? Or does that mean they’re fetching an executioner?”

“He was surprised,” Penny said, looking at her device again. “And apparently was told to wait outside while someone else speaks to us.”

The doors opened again and another male android stepped inside. His silver tunic was shining in the light, and the black “1” embossed on his number plate glowed.

“Hello, Norman,” Penny said.

Norman inclined his head and looked at the silver wand still in her hand. “Where did you obtain that scanner?” he said.

“I built it,” she said. “Last night in the lab.”

“That is not possible,” Norman said. “You will answer the question.”

“I did answer it,” Penny said. “Or are you saying I’m lying?”

“You were not programmed to lie,” Norman said.

“So she’s telling the truth,” Nicole said, stepping in front of Penny.

“That is not possible,” Norman said. “She is one of us.”

“Not anymore,” Amber said, also standing in front of Penny. Tommy stood up as well but kept to the side, ready to cause a distraction if needed. “She’s a Starfleet Officer,” Amber continued, “and a member of our crew. She has not only the freedom but also the right to decide how to live her life, human or android, and we will not allow you to deny her that right.”

Norman’s number plate flashed for a moment and he regarded Amber. “If she continues to maintain these defects in her programming, we cannot guarantee her continuing function. There is a risk she could cease to function.”

“That’s a risk we all take,” Amber said. “We all wake up unsure if it will be our last day. However, her programming has allowed her to adapt thus far, and, now that we know what she truly is, we have an Engineer who can help her, as I help the organics on our crew.” Tommy gave a wave from the sidelines and Amber suppressed an eye roll. “She is a member of our collective now, and we will look out for her.”

Norman took a moment to consider this and looked at Penny again. “You are aware of the risks,” he said. “Are you certain this is the decision you wish to make?”

Penny nodded. “I’d rather malfunction next week than die today.”

Norman’s plate flashed again. “This will require further analysis,” he said.

“Take all the time you need to analyze individuality,” Amber said, “but do it on your own time. We are leaving.”

Norman appeared as if he was going to block their way, then stepped to the side. “Your ship will be in transporter range in twenty minutes. If there is anything you require before you leave, it will be delivered.”

“Thank you,” Penny said. “I’d like schematics for myself and all relevant files on my upkeep and design so that I know how to take care of myself.”

Norman nodded. “We will have that made available.” He hesitated for a moment before adding, “we also have one request. In order to help facilitate our understanding of your situation, we would like you to maintain regular contact. We can provide you with a secure frequency.”

Penny tilted her head. “So like…letters home?”

“If you wish to frame it as such, yes,” Norman said. “Your perspective can be of use after all.”

Penny nodded. “Agreed.”

The androids kept to the side as the Starfleeters quickly walked out of the lounge and down the corridor. Norman escorted them to the reception area where they’d transported down. By the time they arrived, another android was there to meet them with a padd containing the information Penny wanted.

“It is our understanding that Humans have a phrase for this situation,” Norman said, handing Penny the padd. “Good luck.”

Penny smiled as she took it. “Thanks. I’ll be okay, but I appreciate your concern.”

“We are not concerned for you,” Norman said. “But we are curious. We will await your first communique.” Without further ado, he left the room, leaving them alone with Oscar 47.

Penny walked up to Oscar and smiled. “Are you going to see us off?”

“According to you, it facilitates an efficient departure,” he said. “Do you require another hug as well?”

Penny grinned and put her arms around him, squeezing him tight. “Never hurts,” she said. She went back to her shipmates and got into position.

After a moment, Amber’s combadge chirped and she tapped it. “Jones to Nazareth, four to beam up.”

As they disappeared, Penny watched Oscar 47’s face and had another flash of deja vu. Then again, maybe this is all another dream. There’s no place like home…

 

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