[7.1] Descent (Doubt)
Sep. 4th, 2010 11:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ol_yellow_eyesGeordi is persistent.
He still seems intent on getting through to Data, and continues to talk to him as he works.
"You know, Data, I've been thinking about some of the times we've had," he says. "Like that time we went sailing on Devala Lake; you remember that?"
"I have a complete memory record of that day," Data answers, flatly. For whatever reason, he is not feeling much of anything right now, except the usual hint of anger. But even that is not very strong at the moment.
"You decided to go swimming…" Geordi is smiling—laughing a little, even. Data does not understand how he can be so cheerful in this situation. "And when you jumped out of the boat you sank straight to the bottom."
"I did not have enough bouyancy to get back to the surface."
"You had to walk over a kilometer along the bottom to get back to shore."
"1 kilometer, 46 meters," Data corrects him.
"It took almost 2 weeks to get the water out of your servos."
Data still cannot comprehend Geordi's smile. He is probably going to die soon…
He also finds himself somewhat distracted, as he remembers the day Geordi is referring to. There is something significant in the memory… something that was not there before, something he could not feel until now…
Sinking. Water closing in over his head. Drifting slowly and uncontrollably away from the boat, away from the light and the air.
Away from Geordi.
Not feeling afraid, like a human would be. Not having to worry about running out of oxygen, or being pulled away by a current.
And yet, now, there is something about the memory that only serves to make him angrier. He remembers how he tried to use the strength of his arms and legs to compensate for the fact that he did not float, how he was ultimately unable to make it more than a few inches above the lakebed.
You decided to go swimming… you sank straight to the bottom.
I did not have enough bouyancy to get back to the surface…
Data abruptly discontinues accessing the memory. "I am ready to erradiate your existing brain cells."
Geordi's smile finally disappears. He swallows.
"Data…" His voice is softer now. "If you ever go back to the way you were, you might not be able to forgive yourself for what you're about to do."
Data considers this information, expecting to feel nothing. But then something catches his attention—a single thought, in the back of his mind.
Wrong.
It is not intrusive, like an alarm or harsh admonition. It does not interfere with the rest of functions. It does not feel like anything. It simply repeats itself, like a tiny red light blinking in the dark recesses of his positronic matrix.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Data's brows furrow in confusion. His eyes flicker back and forth, as he attempts to understand what has happened. That was not there before…
He looks down at Geordi. "I am getting some anamolous readings from your neural net," he says, slowly. "I will need to do further testing before… I proceed. Someone will come and take you back to your cell."
He had not taken any readings.
He needs to speak with his brother.
He still seems intent on getting through to Data, and continues to talk to him as he works.
"You know, Data, I've been thinking about some of the times we've had," he says. "Like that time we went sailing on Devala Lake; you remember that?"
"I have a complete memory record of that day," Data answers, flatly. For whatever reason, he is not feeling much of anything right now, except the usual hint of anger. But even that is not very strong at the moment.
"You decided to go swimming…" Geordi is smiling—laughing a little, even. Data does not understand how he can be so cheerful in this situation. "And when you jumped out of the boat you sank straight to the bottom."
"I did not have enough bouyancy to get back to the surface."
"You had to walk over a kilometer along the bottom to get back to shore."
"1 kilometer, 46 meters," Data corrects him.
"It took almost 2 weeks to get the water out of your servos."
Data still cannot comprehend Geordi's smile. He is probably going to die soon…
He also finds himself somewhat distracted, as he remembers the day Geordi is referring to. There is something significant in the memory… something that was not there before, something he could not feel until now…
Sinking. Water closing in over his head. Drifting slowly and uncontrollably away from the boat, away from the light and the air.
Away from Geordi.
Not feeling afraid, like a human would be. Not having to worry about running out of oxygen, or being pulled away by a current.
And yet, now, there is something about the memory that only serves to make him angrier. He remembers how he tried to use the strength of his arms and legs to compensate for the fact that he did not float, how he was ultimately unable to make it more than a few inches above the lakebed.
You decided to go swimming… you sank straight to the bottom.
I did not have enough bouyancy to get back to the surface…
Data abruptly discontinues accessing the memory. "I am ready to erradiate your existing brain cells."
Geordi's smile finally disappears. He swallows.
"Data…" His voice is softer now. "If you ever go back to the way you were, you might not be able to forgive yourself for what you're about to do."
Data considers this information, expecting to feel nothing. But then something catches his attention—a single thought, in the back of his mind.
Wrong.
It is not intrusive, like an alarm or harsh admonition. It does not interfere with the rest of functions. It does not feel like anything. It simply repeats itself, like a tiny red light blinking in the dark recesses of his positronic matrix.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Data's brows furrow in confusion. His eyes flicker back and forth, as he attempts to understand what has happened. That was not there before…
He looks down at Geordi. "I am getting some anamolous readings from your neural net," he says, slowly. "I will need to do further testing before… I proceed. Someone will come and take you back to your cell."
He had not taken any readings.
He needs to speak with his brother.
