Ishtar Rising Book 1 - Michael A. Martin [19]
Lense didn’t want her mind to go where that statement had led it, so she asked, “Could you clarify that physical part, please?”
“It seems to me that the most effective way to accomplish the task ahead of us in the next few days is to allow a physical data link among the three of us. This would process information faster and reduce the margin for error. And by subjugating our personalities to the link, it would—”
“Okay, let me stop you right there,” Lense said, interrupting Soloman. “First, as I understand it, your entire culture and language are dependent on two integers: 0 and 1. By introducing a third element into that equation, don’t you risk blowing a circuit at the very least? I seem to recall from some medical texts that Bynars who tried a three-way link suffered permanent brain damage. A few even died. There’s a sound physiological reason why your people aren’t called Trynars, Soloman.” He started to speak, and she held up a hand, palm outward. “I’m not finished yet. You came to me for advice, so listen to what I have to say.” Once it became clear she had his full attention, Lense continued. “Second, it seems to me that tonight’s show-stopping error came from the paired Bynars. They made the fubars that brought the simulation down because they were so busy condemning you that they didn’t pay close enough attention to what they were doing. So the best way to eliminate those sorts of errors next time would be for them to get over their petty prejudices. Third, how can you even entertain the idea of subjugating your personality? You have come a tremendous distance in establishing your individuality. And that individuality may bring you the solutions that have eluded your paired counterparts so far. Maybe not tomorrow, but someday.
“Finally, I’m concerned that your joining in any way with this pair might erode whatever protective emotional ‘scar tissue’ you have accumulated while grieving the loss of 111. The process could leave you even worse off emotionally than you were right after 111 died. As this ship’s chief medical officer, I can’t allow you to harm yourself physically or emotionally if I can help it. And Starfleet has given me the authority to help it, let me assure you.”
Soloman looked at her expectantly, watching as she settled back in her chair. “May I speak now?” he asked. When Lense nodded, he continued. “I am aware of these dangers, and yet, as a great Federation diplomat once said, ‘The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.’ This mission needs to succeed for the benefit of the many. It is not just for the sake of my commander and shipmates, nor for Dr. Saadya and his terraformers.” He leaned forward as if to emphasize his point. “I need to succeed for my own people, for Bynaus. It has only been about twelve of your years since the star in our system went nova and wiped out the memory banks of Bynaus. It’s been only slightly less time than that since a quartet of Bynars hijacked the U.S.S. Enterprise and used it to transfer the core data of our civilization back to our inert planet. Bynaus is still a world in turmoil and recovery. My people still desperately need to learn all they can about terraforming and ecosphere reconstitution techniques.”
Almost absentmindedly, he reached up to scratch the skin around the chip implanted into the side of his head. “No matter what the cost, I will not allow my estrangement from the ways of mainstream Bynar society get in the way of my duty to my homeworld. Just as I would sacrifice myself for my friends here on the da Vinci, so too will I sacrifice myself for my planet if need be.”
“You don’t need to be either a pariah or a martyr to your people to help them,” Lense said. “You need to find a solution to Project Ishtar’s problems that accomplishes your goals in a way that only you can accomplish them. You. As an individual. Thinking outside the numbers, as it were.”
Soloman regarded her in silence. Lense