OOM: Diagnostic

[ol_yellow_eyes]

Data heads down to the engineering section while Geordi is still on duty. Things have been rather quiet on the Enterprise today, so Data is relatively certain that his friend will not be busy.

He approaches Geordi directly.

"Geordi. May I ask a favor of you?"

Comments

[mr-laforge.livejournal.com]

"Sure, Data."

It's one of those glorious days in engineering when nothing is -- as of yet -- going wrong. Geordi's just scanning the core reactor to make sure it's functioning within optimum parameters. After keying in a few more instructions to his handheld, he turns and smiles.

"What is it?"

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

Data actually pauses for a split second before answering. He is not certain how he is going to explain this.

For now, he simply asks, "I would like you to assist me in performing a full diagnostic of my systems.

"If you are not currently busy," he adds.

[mr-laforge.livejournal.com]

Geordi crosses his arms and looks at him scrupulously after that brief pause.

"Sure, Data. I can always make time for you.

"But, what is it? Is there something wrong with your self-diagnostic functions?"

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Not that I am aware of," Data replies. "I already performed a partial self-diagnostic, and my systems detected no malfunctions.

"Just to be certain, however, I think a full diagnostic by a second party would be a wise course of action."

He stops there, realizing that he has not actually given Geordi the information he is looking for. And he does not want to lie, but it is a long story and he has decided in general to avoid revealing any information regarding the existence of Milliways...

He settles on explaining, "I suspect that I might be experiencing a malfunction of some sort. But I am not certain."

[mr-laforge.livejournal.com]

"You suspect you're experiencing a malfunction even though your initial systems analysis came back clear?"

He suspects there's more Data isn't telling him, but still moves to gather the necessary equipment. He's never known his friend to lie or withhold vital information, so if he feels he needs a second opinion Geordi is going to give it to him.

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

"It is more that I wish to rule out the possibility," Data adds. He wishes to give Geordi as much information as possible, even if it does not really explain anything.

He sits down. "I assume, then, that you have not noticed anything recently in my behavior that would indicate a malfunction?"

[mr-laforge.livejournal.com]

"Not that I've noticed, Data. Has anyone else come to you with concerns?"

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Data answers, honestly. "Ensign Rager actually mentioned something that caused me to think it was a possibility. However, she made it very clear that she could have been mistaken. It is probable that I am not malfunctioning."

He takes a moment to catch his friend's eye. "I appreciate your agreeing to help, Geordi."

[mr-laforge.livejournal.com]

"Ensign Rager?"

That's not a name he had expected to hear. "Did she mention anything specific? It might help me single out where I should be looking."

Geordi returns to his friend's side carrying a tricorder and what looks like an advanced stylus.

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Behavioral anamolies were the only thing that she mentioned," Data replies. "She claimed to have seen me acting strangely. She said that I was mimicking certain emotions, and that I seemed to have no memory of her."

Data is very aware of the possibility that what he has just said introduces more questions than it answers, but he is trying to be helpful.

[mr-laforge.livejournal.com]

"Emotions?"

Geordi beetles his brow, and the moment that follows is stiff. You can practically see the gears turning.

"How can that be?"

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

Data takes note of Geordi's visible reaction to his statement. He is not certain of its exact cause, but it brings to mind certain recent events, and his expression betrays an unspoken apology.

"It is possible that I was only imitating behaviors associated with emotional reactions, without actually experiencing the emotions themselves," he suggests. "In the unlikely case that I was, in fact, malfunctioning."

[mr-laforge.livejournal.com]

The axis of his head tilts.

"All right. I can run a full sweep of your neural net, check for any discrepancies in your subroutines. You haven't encountered any strange -- pulses, or shock waves, have you?"

An unasked question hangs between them.

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

The question is repeating itself in a loop in the back of Data's positronic matrix, but he chooses to ignore it for now.

"Not that I am aware of," he answers simply.

[mr-laforge.livejournal.com]

"That's a start."










"Data--"

He hesitates.

"Have you attempted to use the emotion chip?"

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

Data takes note of his hesitation. He wishes he knew exactly what it meant, but he realizes that this has been a senstive subject between them of late. Perhaps it would be better not to emphasize it by asking unnecessary questions.

"I have not," he says. He attempts to make his voice sound gentle. "I do not anticipate having any urge to install it in the near future, and it is even less likely that I will choose to indulge such an urge.

"If I did, however, I would ask for your help in doing so."