ST TOS - 125 - Ex Machina by Christopher L. Bennett

Author:Christopher L. Bennett [Bennett, Christopher L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Space Opera, Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9781416500094
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2004-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Once Chapel returned to the ship to take over Spring Rain’s treatment, McCoy retired to his quarters. At first he headed straight for the liquor cabinet, but then stopped, deciding he’d been relying too much on that remedy lately. He knew he didn’t have the genes for alcoholism, so that wasn’t a concern. But dependence could be psychological as well, and retreating from one’s problems could only work for so long.

So maybe it’s time to face the problem, he thought. Maybe it’s time to solve it. And maybe the problem is me.

Reversing course, he went to the computer terminal and sat down. “Computer, record text message.”

“Ready,” said the computer voice, which the designers had made more human-sounding this time around. It was easier on the ears, but McCoy wasn’t sure he liked the change. The old voice had been given a mechanical monotone deliberately, to make it easier to distinguish from a human voice. McCoy had approved of that. The more people started humanizing their machines, the closer they came to mechanizing humanity, to forgetting what it was that made living beings superior.

Right. Things like screwing up and being cowards and useless old fools. Don’t change the subject. He cleared his throat. “I, Leonard H. McCoy, hereby resign my commission…. No. Computer, erase. Resume. Ahh, owing to recent circumstances, I, Leonard H. McCoy, feel it would be inappropriate for me to continue…. Ahh, the hell with that, I sound like Spock. Computer—”

Just then the door signal chimed. With a sigh, McCoy got up and headed into the other room to answer the door. Wouldn’t it be ironic if it was Spock? Speak of the pointy-eared devil and he will appear. Nah, what are the odds?

He opened the door, and there stood Spock. McCoy let out a faint chuckle, leading the Vulcan to react with puzzlement. “Something amuses you, Doctor?”

“Nothing much, really. Sorry, Spock, come in. What can I do for you?”

Spock appeared underwhelmed by his level of enthusiasm, but came in and said, “I presume you are aware of my research into Yonadan history.”

“Yeah, Jim mentioned it. How’s it going?” he asked without much interest.

“There have been… obstacles, but Mr. Lindstrom and I have made some progress.”

“Really.”

“Yes.” Spock took it as a request for elaboration. Maybe he hadn’t gained that much emotional insight after all— or maybe he was just caught up in the work. McCoy doubted that even emotions would change Spock’s single-mindedness about solving problems. “I have improved the algorithms for the quantum reconstruction of the Fabrini intelligence files, though the results are still fragmentary. However, somewhat to my surprise, Mr. Lindstrom’s research into Yonadan oral histories has revealed some intriguing anomalies.”

McCoy threw him a look. “You’re taking oral histories seriously?”

“Not in themselves, but when checked against other data their contents are telling. For instance: Mr. Lindstrom has assembled a list of all the Yonadan high priestesses, purportedly dating back to the original person to bear the title. Such rote lists are a part of many oral and

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