Station Log, stardate 981723.1.
Our yearly overhaul is now taking place. From the spire of the station to its furthest reaches, maintenance is undergoing. I cannot say that I am relishing this mundane but time consuming task. As commanding officer, it is usually my sole job to oversee the procedure as a whole. However, with the addition of Analyn to our station, it falls to me to personally direct maintenance to her.
I believe our crew needs this time. So much has happened to our home and to ourselves that has been unforeseen and extreme. It will be nice to undergo something boring for once.
By the grace and power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Admiral Malcolm Adeyemi [Neural Core]
"Any particular reason for this spot, commander?"
O'Connell was seated on an empty crate of machine parts, PADD in hand. Analyn's original creator was radiating waves of resentment, from the top of her long dark brown hair to the polished tips of her uniformed boots. She had a long, austere face and blazing dark eyes. Long ago she had learned that men and women were intimidated by her intellect, her height, her voice. And she used every bit of it to her advantage. There was no warmth in her tone as she replied.
"I wanted you to see the extent of the damage, sir." She said in a rich Irish accent. "This isn't a matter of a few faulty subroutines. The entire personality has been altered."
At O'Connell's behest, Analyn was not permitted to sit in on these proceedings. Instead, the commander had insisted that the AI also undergo maintenance. She was still active, but all it had taken to occupy the little girl was a few replicated books about marine life on Quantal VII. Analyn loved fish.
"It was my understanding that the program was designed to change and to learn." Adeyemi was beginning to get a bit tired of this woman's constant attacks. Upon arriving at the Station, the Irishwoman had shut herself off from the command staff and any crew members, inspecting the machinery and computer files that somehow comprised Analyn. It was getting more and more difficult for Adeyemi to think of the little holographic AI as anything but a child. When pressed, though, Analyn could still function as the Station's artificial intelligence. In addition to reading about fish, O'Connell had bid her to assist with the station wide maintenance. The little girl had absentmindedly complied, as if the mundane task was too easy and beneath her. This hadn't pleased O'Connell.
"To adapt and learn, yes, but not to read about fish. Eat macaroni and cheese. Draw pictures of animals and clouds and you and her and your science officer at a picnic." O'Connell said sharply. "She was intended to be an artificial intelligence, not your child."
"Analyn is
not my child," Adeyemi said, just as sharply. "She is a member of this crew, however, and it is my responsibility as her commanding officer to see that she grows and feels fulfilled, does her duty, and is happy. She is a sentient being."
"That remains to be seen," O'Connell said darkly. Before the admiral could reply she bulled right over him. "I want to meet this science officer of yours, T'Prina. Analyn refers to her as...'mama.' I want to know why, and exactly what influence you and your people have had on my system."