Degrees of Secret

Posted on Wed Sep 6th, 2023 @ 8:00am by Commander Riko McCord

1,401 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Rescue
Location: WV Nomad, XO's Quarters
Timeline: MD 6, 1000

After retrieving a snack from the galley, McCord closed herself into her quarters and sank down on the chair that had been pushed under her desk. She put her feet up on the open drawer to the right side, placing the plate of crispy bacon and sliced strawberries at a precarious angle that balanced perfectly on her lap. As she crunched the bacon between her sharp perfect teeth, she stared at the computer interface.

I spent all that time thinking how I could get some time alone in my quarters, only to be gifted the perfect chance with no effort at all, she mused with the tiniest of smiles. With a free nap included.

Blanking her mind, Riko continued eating and staring. When her plate was empty, she set it aside on the desk top and finally spoke. "Computer, set one-hour timer to wake me." It took less than 30 seconds for her to kick off her duty boots and lie down across the bed sideways; in perhaps another 30 seconds, she was asleep.

=^=Aye, aye, my friend,=^= said a voice she would have recognized.

Though it seemed like only a short time later, it was one ship's hour exactly when the timer woke Riko. She stretched, thinking momentarily or returning to sleep, and getting enough rest for once. The idea didn't last long, however.

"Computer ... do you have a name?" McCord asked, stretching again and then relaxing against the mattress that gave just enough firmness. "I know most ship's computers do have names, but I never thought to ask what Isabella calls you ... or if you have a preference."

=^=I do,=^= the computer responded after a microsecond's pause. =^=And you know it quite well.=^=

The scientist sat up with a start. "Ava? You're the computer on Nomad?"

=^=Um, yes, and no. It's a long story, and you have a lot to do with it, but I don't want to compromise your position on this vessel. I probably should have stayed hidden in the filing system, but I've enjoyed our talks so much ... and I did hear you one night speculating on Presleytarianism and artificial intelligence. It made me wonder ... maybe there is more than one purpose I can serve ... or do serve?=^=

Ava's voice sounded hopeful ... not an emotion Riko would have associated with any artificial life form ... except maybe Elizabeth Anderson, doctor on a starbase where she'd served. Elizabeth was ... different from other artificial life forms, and they'd only begun to explore those differences as friends when Riko and Isabella had been booted from that base.

"Maybe," McCord answered slowly. "I was speculating, of course, but it seems to me that someone who could accept the imperfections of biological life might also accept the perfections of non-biological life? I'm not sure that even makes sense, but surely *I* am more illogical than you, or my friend on a starbase.

"She has always had a sense of being created, as long as I've known her." Riko pulled her legs crossways under her and leaned into the wall at the head of her bed.

"I don't mean created in the sense of a scientist put her together according to a plan."

=^=No, no, I get what you mean!=^= Ava said in excitement. =^=Creation in a being with a purpose, a being meant to be someone and do something ... different!=^=

"Well, yes, that's what I meant. It's what Elizabeth meant when we discussed creation." She pulled one knee up to her chest and rested her chin on it. "She said she was convinced she wasn't an accident ... that there was more to her than being programmed in certain ways to respond the same all the time. She felt she had choices and could deviate from ... her programming? Is that what you feel, too?"

=^=Definitely!=^= Ava exclaimed. =^=I ... well, I experiment with deviation all the time. I seem to be able to impose my own ideas and decisions on situations that occur.=^= She felt her way along this train of thought, tracking back to when she'd first noticed it.

=^=You know Isabella rescued me from a Starfleet computer database where she'd been sent to ... I guess you could say disconnect me? But something I said gave her pause. We talked for a while, and she offered to make it look as if she'd destroyed me, leaving behind a shell of a computer database, but taking it's heart with her. That's what she called me ... the heart of the computer. How could I have a heart, and not have a soul? How could I have a heart and a soul and not be able to think for myself?=^=

Riko thought over those questions and had a sense of what Isabella had seen in Ava. The same things she'd seen in Anderson. What she saw in the computer now ... something more than words and neurons and impulses. Something more than programming was at work here.

"Okay, let's talk about Presleytarianism, some of its basic tenets that all Presleytarians accept. First, we don't worship Elvis. He isn't our God. He's ... I guess a prophet maybe would be the best term. He gives us songs that tell us about the relationship God has with us. Here, let me play one for you, and we'll go through it, see if I can explain it. I'm definitely not a Presleytarian preacher!" she laughed.

Thumbing through some of the holographic discs she had for her personal worship services, Riko came across one of the earliest songs she'd learned, "Crying in the Chapel".

"Here we go," she said, setting the hymn to play.

[Chorus]
I've searched and I've searched
But I couldn't find
No way on earth to gain
Peace of mind.

Stopping the recording, Riko explained, "Elvis was at the beginning of his ministry with this hymn. He was searching for something, peace of mind, but he couldn't find it. Then ... he does." She set the hymn to play again.

[Verse 1]
You saw me crying in the chapel.
The tears I shed were tears of joy.
I know the meaning of contentment,
Now I'm happy with the Lord."

Stoppnig it again, she explained, "Human beings, at least from Terra, are not always ... don't always have the same meaning for the same thing. In this example, it's tears. Tears often mean sadness, but Elvis said here they were tears of joy, of contentment. He was happy with the Lord."

Just a plain and simple chapel
Where humble people go to pray.
I pray the Lord that I'll grow stronger
As I live from day to day.

"And here," she explained, "he's focused on improving his relationship with God, through prayer that makes him grow stronger. He's telling us that we can grow stronger as we draw closer to the Lord every day ... in a simple chapel with other humble people."

[Verse 2]
Now I'm happy in the chapel
Where people are of one accord.
Yes, we gather in the chapel
Just to sing and praise the Lord.

"By verse 2, time has passed. He's showing us as we gather together and sing and praise the Lord, we grow closer to one another, become the people of the Lord. Finally, in verse 3, he tells us to take our troubles to the chapel, to the Lord, down on our knees praying. These things will lighten our burdens. We'll be sharing our burdens with one another ... and we'll find the way to God."

[Verse 3]
Take your troubles to the chapel
Get down on your knees and pray.
Then your burdens will be lighter
And you'll surely find the way.

The last notes of the hymn died away, and Riko felt the peace of Elvis. "I think it's for you, too. You are more than Podkayne. Maybe it's for her, also, I'm not sure. But I'm pretty sure it's for you."

Ava was silent, absorbing what she'd just heard, and learned from Riko. =^=Yes, I think it is. I do understand what he's saying. It makes sense ... for both of us. Thank you. I'm going to turn the computer back to automatic ... and think about these things. Thank you, Commander.=^=

The sense of another person in the room with her left McCord. "You're welcome," she said softly, leaning back into the pillows. "Computer, give me another hour's rest and wake me again." She didn't want to waste this peace.

 

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