milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

data,
tali'zorah

(no subject)

Jean-Luc Picard enters the holodeck doors, decked out in his Dixon Hill outfit, ready to become his favorite detective. When he's dumped into a bar full of patrons that don't all look human or dressed for the era, he's confused, but decides to play along. That's why he'll be found by the fireplace, watching the goings-on with great interest.

Tiny!Tag: Jean-Luc Picard

(OOC: Due to migraine, this post is in auto-slowtime, and also taggable until it falls off the front page. Thanks!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tali sighs. "What happened to our world is the reason we fear artificial intelligence, Captain. We created the Geth, they turned against us, and took our worlds. We have been wandering the stars for three hundred years because of them."

Picard nods. "I can see why that would scare you."

"I've encountered them on the battlefield too. Not many quarians have: until recently, they did not venture beyond the Perseus Veil. They attacked a number of human colonies. In my universe, your species hates the Geth almost as much as we do."

"So they're trying to take over everything they encounter?" he muses. "That is frightening."

"No, no, it wasn't like that," Tali says. "They were under the direction of a being they considered a god - an ancient synthetic life-form that used them to try and further its own ends. Fortunately it did not succeed.

"The Geth are not conquerors, although they are very territorial. But they hate organic life."

"That's disturbing. I've known androids like that." Picard is thinking of Lore, Data's brother.

"All AIs are like that, eventually," Tali says. "The Geth aren't the only ones I've met. I encountered one on the Citadel, once, programmed by a criminal. When it was discovered, it tried to self-destruct and take us with it. Fortunately Garrus and I managed to disable it before it finished powering up."

"That's disturbing, although I think that, at least in my universe, AI is stable." The holodeck is a different matter. "I even have a crewmember, named Data, who is an android."

Picard conveniently forgets any and all Data fallout moments.

Tali sits up suddenly as if she's been slapped. "I met him. Here," Tali says. "How can you let a synthetic serve on your crew? Especially when it's based on a prototype that massacred hundreds of people?"

"Hold on a moment," Picard says, holding up a hand. "You've met Mr. Data here, in Milliways? He's never told me about this place."

Someone's going to have a stern talking to, it seems.

"And... I serve with him because his service record is impeccable. I've rarely had a problem with him, and if I have had a problem, it's been due to tampering. Mr. Data is a good person, and I am proud to serve with him.

"I believe we'll have to agree to disagree on this, Ms. Tali."

Tali takes a deep breath and lets it out, slowly. "We will only disagree until you realize you've made a mistake. Although experience will teach you that - I don't think I can."

Picard nods slowly. "Well, there's--" He pauses, trying to explain the Borg to her. "There's already a sort-of example of what you're talking about." He explains the Borg, and then explains his terrifying transformation into Locutus.

"So no, I'm not afraid of Mr. Data. I'm terrified of the Borg."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only