Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [195]
“Were you not constructed by Noonien Soong as well, Lore?” Isaac asked, reaching down to help Data to his feet.
“Deconstructed by him, more like it,” Lore said. “And reconstructed by my dear brother, for which he has my boundless gratitude.” He narrowed his eyes, studying the limits of the room. “But he doesn’t get my blind allegiance.”
Data ignored his brother for the moment, getting his bearing. “We are on board a Romulan vessel, Commander. One can only assume that it is the Haakona.”
Isaac nodded. “We must have been transported on board while incapacitated. My memories of the interval are fragmentary, but suggest that we might have been analyzed in some fashion.”
“Agreed,” Data said. “Considering the interest with which the Romulan-Klingon Alliance has pursued positronic technology, and their somewhat limited success, I can imagine that their researchers would welcome the opportunity to scrutinize three Soong-types.” He paused, and then added, “Which serves to suggest that they intend to study us further, perhaps even to the extent of dismantling us and examining our various components.”
“Tell me, brother,” Lore said with an unsettling grin, “do you still think we can make peace with the organics? When they incapacitate us, poke and prod us, and likely hatch plans to break us down into spare parts?!” He shook his head angrily. “Better to wipe them all out, Romulans and Klingons and the Federation and all the rest of them, and allow artificial life to develop to its fullest potential.”
Data gave his brother a sad look. “Lore, it concerns me to hear you advance such opinions. The wholesale genocide of all living beings is hardly a position advocated by a fully functioning intellect.”
“'Fully functioning’...?” Lore repeated in disbelief. “How can you stand there and accuse me of having a less than functional intellect. When you continue to plead the interests of organics like a whipped dog returning to its master for another beating? What do we owe them, Data?!”
Isaac raised his hand to interrupt. “If I may interject,” he began, “could you not as easily ask what any being owes its progenitors, and what they in turn owe it? Is it not the custom in many organic societies for a child to bear some obligation to the parents who bore it, just as the parents bear the obligation for raising their child? As early as the twentieth century human researchers into artificial intelligence were arguing that any sentient creation of mankind would be their offspring, not mere machines, what the Earth scientist Hans Moravec called 'children of the mind.’ Is it not reasonable to argue that, as humanity’s children, we owe them the debt any offspring would owe a parent?”
The two androids looked at him, their expressions making plain their different responses to what he had said. But before either was able to give his thoughts voice, further conversation was forestalled when the floor beneath their feet shifted, and they found it difficult to keep their balance as the ship’s inertial dampers struggled to compensate for a sudden change in velocity. To the faint vibrations of the confined singularity core were added the thrum of shield generators in effect.
“The Haakona is under attack,” Isaac said, immediately recognizing the signs.
“Oh, brilliant,” Lore said, rolling his eyes. “Maybe he should be Sherlock to your Watson, brother.”
Data looked from one to the other, concerned. “The question is not whether the ship is under attack, but by whom?”
“What is the meaning of this?!” shouted Subcommander Taris on the forward viewscreen. “What business does a Federation starship have in the Neutral Zone?”
“That was to be my question to you, Subcommander,” Ro Laren said, standing in front of the viewscreen