LIFE LINE
Episode 144
Part E

 

Alone in his lab late at night, Zimmerman continues to dictate his last will and testament. He resumes with "Subsection 8, the Trojan Horse project. I hereby bequeath my latest research in holographic infiltration technology to the only engineer I trust to complete the work, Lieutenant Reginald Barclay. Subsection 9, holographic art. I hereby bequeath my entire collection, including the 23rd century masterpiece Woman in Four Dimensions to the person who has appreciated it the most. I guess that would be Lieutenant Barclay too."

Zimmerman continues dictating his will. "Subsection 10, Haley. I realise she's only a hologram but she's been a loyal assistant for many years. I'd like to request that Starfleet keep her program running for as long as this research facility exists. She's been as real to me as anyone I've ever known, not that I've known many people. I have created most of my friends."

He suffers pains from his illness. "Pause recording." He takes several moments to recover enough to continue. "Don't worry," he says to Leonard, "I'll find a home for you too."

Troi visits the Doctor in the holographic simulation of USS Voyager, in its Sickbay, where the Doctor has been updating Zimmerman's medical files.

Troi: "So this is Voyager. I like it." Doctor: "It's a remarkable facsimile, but Mr Barclay did get a few of the details wrong. For one thing, Neelix doesn't purr." Troi laughs. "I think that may have something to do with Reg's cat. He named it after your friend." Doctor: "Neelix would be honoured."

Doctor: "If you're here for Dr Zimmerman's medical files, I've nearly finished updating them. Maybe the next physician will put them to better use." Troi: "Actually, I stopped by to ask you to dinner." Doctor: "I'm a hologram, Counsellor. I don't eat." Troi: "I know that, but we'd still enjoy your company." Doctor: "We?" Troi: "Lieutenant Barclay, Haley, myself, Dr Zimmerman-" The Doctor interrupts. "No thanks. Unless that man's eating crow, I'm not interested."

Troi: "It's the perfect opportunity for us to talk things out, in a more casual environment."

Suddenly the Doctor's program starts malfunctioning and he partly disappears then re-appears. Troi taps her combadge. "Troi to Lieutenant Barclay." Barclay, via comms: "Go ahead." Troi, via comms: "There's something wrong with the EMH." Barclay, via comms: "Can, can you be more specific?" Doctor, via comms: "She's a Counsellor, Lieutenant, not an engineer." Barclay, via comms: "Stand by."

Barclay transfers the Doctor....

.....to Zimmerman's living quarters where he is working at a portable computer. Doctor: "What's happening to me?" Barclay: "Your program is destabilising." Doctor: "What? Why?" Barclay: "They sent you 30,000 light-years. I, I should have expected some problems."

Doctor: "It's not your fault. We just need to find a way to repair the damage." Barclay: "You don't understand. Your primary matrix is degrading and there's nothing I can do."

Later, in the lab, after Zimmerman has been told about the malfunction in the Doctor's program. Zimmerman: "Good riddance to bad photons." Barclay: "He's dying, Lewis." Zimmerman: "He's not dying. His files are just degraded." Troi: "There are people on Voyager who count on him." Zimmerman: "Well, send them a Mark 4. They're more reliable." Barclay: "They don't want a Mark 4. They want their friend."

Zimmerman: "No EMH was ever designed to be anyone's friend. He's just a hologram." Haley turns to him. "Is that how you feel about me, 'just a hologram'?" Zimmerman turns and looks at her. He realises he has been set up. "I will not be ambushed in my own lab."

Haley: "Stardate 53292, my program malfunctioned and you cancelled a lecture on Vulcan and came all the way home to repair me." Zimmerman: "There's nothing worse than addressing a room full of pointy-eared blowhards. I was looking for an excuse to get away." Haley knows better. "You came back because you cared about me. Just like you care about the Mark 1. You just won't admit it. He may not be perfect but he's still one of your creations and right now he needs his creator. Don't turn your back on him."

In the lab, Zimmerman tucks into a plateful of salad, working all the while. Zimmerman: "Computer, activate Voyager's EMH." Doctor: "Please state the nature of the medical emergency." Zimmerman: "You're the emergency." Doctor: "Where's Lieutenant Barclay?" Zimmerman: "Trust me, you're in far more capable hands." Doctor: "You're going to repair my program?" Zimmerman: "Who better?" Doctor: "Just yesterday you threatened to decompile me." Zimmerman: "That was before your colleagues made me feel guilty."

Zimmerman feels another spasm of pain.

Doctor: "You're ill. You're in no position to perform delicate procedures." Zimmerman: "I'll survive. But you won't if you don't relax and let me finish."

Doctor: "What are you doing?" Zimmerman: "My scans identified a recursive error in pattern buffer. I'm trying to isolate it." The Doctor looks at the monitor. "Is that a fractal algorithm?" Zimmerman: "Very good. I'm using it to re-align your matrix." Doctor, worried: "Fractal algorithms are notoriously unstable." Zimmerman: "In the hands of a novice. Whoops." Doctor, extremely worried: "Whoops? What's 'whoops'?!" Zimmerman: "Computer, deactivate EMH." Zimmerman continues work.

After 17 hours Zimmerman activates the Doctor. Doctor: "I can't move!" Zimmerman: "I know. I had to take your mobility subroutines offline." He adjusts the controls and the Doctor is re-activated with the mobility subroutines restored.

Doctor: "You don't look well. You need rest." Zimmerman: "I'm fine. And so are you. Your program's been stabilised."

Doctor: "I'm going to be ok?" Zimmerman: "No, you're going to be better than ok."

As Zimmerman goes to work a control, the Doctor demands: "Now what are you doing?" Zimmerman deactivates him and then immediately reactivates him. The Doctor finds his new greeting protocol consists of the words: "Welcome to Sickbay. How may I help you today?"

Zimmerman is pleased. "Well, what do you think?"

Doctor, not pleased. "I think you've altered my greeting protocol." Zimmerman: "That's just the beginning. I've also added new subroutines for compassion, patience, empathy, decorum." Doctor: "I don't feel any different." Zimmerman: "Because I haven't installed them yet. I thought you'd like to be awake for the big moment. Reginald was right about you. You have exceeded the sum of your programming. You've accomplised far more than I would ever have predicted, but let's face facts: you never overcame the inherent flaws in your personality subroutines. You're arrogant, irritable, a jerk as Counsellor Troi would say." Doctor: "I believe she was describing you as well." Zimmerman: "Don't change the subject. I may not be able to turn you into a Mark 4 but I can make you a bit more presentable." Doctor: "What if I'm happy with the way I am?!" Zimmerman: "I'm doing you a favour." Doctor: "I don't want any favours! And I don't want your new subroutines. Why can't you accept me as I am?!"