Ava Transferred

Posted on Tue Nov 14th, 2023 @ 7:05pm by Commander Riko McCord & Ava Jo'rek
Edited on on Tue Nov 14th, 2023 @ 7:12pm

1,025 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Rescue
Location: WV Nomad, Science Lab
Timeline: MD 7, 0400

Nomad continued its flight through the depths of space, heading toward a small moon where the Romulan spy awaited them. Two hours of preparation, and twelve hours of growing the clone to maturity ... that was elapsed time. It would take about ten hours more to transfer Ava's consciousness into the brain of the clone ... if they were successful. Riko quietly entered the lab and spoke.

"Ava? Secure the door again behind me." She heard a quiet mechanism which could only be unlocked by Ava or her ... and soon only her, as Ava would no longer be in the computer's brain.

=^=Before we begin, Riko ... thank you for trying. Whatever happens, at least I have a chance, and that's all I've ever wanted. I've been thinking about this whole process ... keeping an eye on my new body, if all goes well. Thank you for making me ... attractive. I think it's important to biological women, isn't it?=^=

There was that wistfulness again that McCord had noted before. No matter what legal chances Riko was taking, she knew Ava was the one taking a real chance. The possibility existed that this process would destroy her completely. That was worst case, and she supposed best case, other than it working, was that Ava would be no worse off than she was now as an AI in a computer brain complex.

"It is to many women," McCord agreed, walking toward the locked and secreted crystalline box where the clone awaited them. "We're fortunate to have good biological samples ... and you're welcome." She hadn't told Ava, and probably wouldn't, that part of the DNA she was using was her own. She'd added a little of Isabella, just a touch, and Verrana's, of course. It was the best mix she could develop and she hoped ... well, they'd know before too many more hours.

=^=What's the next step, then?=^= Ava asked after a moment. =^=What do I do?=^=

Riko took a deep breath and opened the case, gazing down at what appeared to be a sleeping Romulan. "The next part is up to both of us, but you have the heavy work to do," she told Ava. Then she rehearsed in her mind the instructions she'd read in a highly classified document that was almost 100 years old. There was a reason the Federation hadn't pursued cloning ... and some notable rogues who had.

=^=Alright,=^=Ava spoke quietly. =^=I've looked over the documents you entered, kept them separate from the main database, isolated inside my own brain. I've read through them numerous times, and I ... think ... hope ... believe ... that I have the process down. So ... let me know when you're ready ... and I'll begin.=^=

Riko nodded. "I need about thirty minutes of prep, and then we'll go." She turned to face the computer interface. "This is the last moment we can stop the process, changing nothing," the scientist said.

After a slight hesitation, Ava's firm voice replied, =^=No. We're a go.=^=

Nodding, McCord turned back to the clone and said, "Mark count down clock at 30 and begin timer." She began the last of her preparations, ignoring the clock she could see if she looked up at the bulkhead on the other side of the chamber where the clone was almost ready for the A.I. to begin her own part of this process ... the dangerous download.

As she finished her preparations, she glanced up to see they were at the 5 minute mark. The scientist in her hoped this would work, for Ava ... and for her own curiosity. The Presleytarian in her prayed to the God of Elvis that it worked. The law-abiding citizen in her ... was concerned that she was heading down a road she couldn't come back from. In other words, Riko was conflicted, but it was too late to turn back now. She shut down all the parts of the program that were finished, opening the clone's mind as the clock hit 0.

Calmly, she said, "Begin download, Ava." At first, there was nothing evident that changed. As she watched, however, she noticed movement under the eyelids. That hadn't been noted in the protocols, so she didn't know if it was a sign of success or failure ... and there was nothing else she could do anyway, except wait another ten hours to see if she was looking at Ava Jo'rek or ... a dead clone.

Checking all the connections showed they were firm and something was happening. She wondered how the first people to use such a process had waited out this time. What had those pioneers been thinking? How many failures had they had, versus how many successes? That kind of information wasn't listed in the documents she'd found, but any scientist would want those questions answered. Even without knowing, she had pushed forward, and she suddenly really wanted this to work. Ava's disappointment would be so great if it didn't.

When could they try again? There was no time before the rescue. Wherever this spy was who was waiting for them, and she supposed she'd learn that when they found her, Riko would have to get Ava off the ship, introduce her as a friend who was a mixed-race Romulan who had been brought up away from Romulans ... and ask her to help Ava by saying she was with the spy. Suddenly, this whole idea seemed like the worst one Riko had ever had, whether it worked or didn't.

What made her think the spy would go along with her story? And her paperwork had the first name of Ava. Wouldn't that be a dead giveaway to Isabella? Not that Isabella would betray what she'd done ... but she might be angry that her mission had been hijacked for such a dangerous undertaking ... if it worked.

Realizing she could do nothing more, Riko set her own timer on her bracelet, closed the cloning chamber and locked it, then spoke to the computer. "Computer, seal the lab door when I leave. No access allowed other than mine."

=^=I hear and comply,=^= the computer said ... not Ava now

Riko walked slowly to her quarters, trying to blank her mind of everything but the need for sleep.

 

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