Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [155]
Now, just ten years after the first synaptic mapping, when Ira Graves and Noonien Soong succeeded in conquering death, young people across the Federation had already become so accustomed to the idea that they were almost cavalier about the thought of life continuing in near-indestructible artificial bodies, made virtually immortal through technology.
“Of course,” A. Isaac said, speaking for the first time since the recording had finished playback, “Doctor Graves’s discovery was significant not only to the humans who benefited directly from the process, but also to the thousands of androids who benefited from the shift in opinion the process engendered.”
Picard nodded in Isaac’s direction, thoughtfully. If not for the “A” initial Isaac employed, just like most of the androids now serving in Starfleet-A for Android-one would be hard-pressed at first glance to know that the chief science officer was an artificial life-form himself. Though his facial features were virtually identical to those of Data and other early Soong-types, Isaac’s coloration and textures were almost indistinguishable from those of an organic human. And Isaac’s communications subroutines and behavioral programming allowed him to display a personality more sophisticated, more “human,” than many organic officers with whom Picard had served over the years.
“Quite right, Commander,” Picard said. “It was the recognition that a human mind in a positronic matrix is still sentient, still capable of free will, that finally forced the Federation Council to extend the definition of sentience to include positronic androids, as well. And our own Mister Data”he paused, glancing over his shoulder at the familiar image frozen on the screen“had been arguing for android rights for years before that, and was at the forefront of the final debate.”
Before the landmark decision by the Federation Council, androids had been legally classified as property; though they wore Starfleet uniforms, the thousands of androids who served on board Federation starships were not officers in the strictest sense, but functionaries. On the day the Federation recognized the sentience of androids and granted them full citizenship, hundreds of androids resigned their commissions in Starfleet and disappeared, chief among them Data himself.
“But why?” Lavelle asked. “Why did they leave after getting everything they wanted?”
Picard cleared his throat, trying to phrase a politic answer, but Isaac responded first.
“Perhaps, Lieutenant, it has something to do with the fact that they did not get everything they wanted.”
Picard nodded thoughtfully. “To pass the resolution, certain…concessions had to be made to the more reactionary elements of the council, those who felt that the unrestricted proliferation of artificial life posed a danger.”
“As if a few new androids would push humanity to extinction!” La Forge said heatedly.
“To be fair, Commander, it would hardly be simply a 'few new androids,’” Isaac corrected, playing devil’s advocate. “The material components of an artificial body such as mine could be obtained without particular difficulty, and assembly time would take no longer than…”
“Enough,” Picard interrupted, raising a hand to silence the android. “Whatever the merits of those fears, the simple fact remains that androids were not granted full rights, but were invested as what might uncharitably be called 'second-class citizens.’ Most significantly, the creation of new artificial life was deemed