PROTOTYPE
Episode 29
Part E

 

The Pralor ship.

In the laboratory on the Pralor vessel, Automated Personnel Unit 3947 indicates to Torres the array of equipment and various materials provided. APU 3947: "These are all the materials necessary to construct a prototype Unit. You will be provided with whatever additional tools and equipment you require. You may access our database and schematic information from this computer terminal but it will not allow you to interface with any critical systems. While you are on board you will have no contact with your ship nor will you leave this room. I will remain here to supervise your work. You may proceed."

Torres: "Proceed? Right. Well, the question is: where do I proceed from? Let me ask you this: have any of you ever tried to build a prototype?" APU 3947: "We have tried, and failed." Torres: "What was the problem?" APU 3947: "I am unable to explain the failure. We duplicated a power module to exact specifications on several occasions, but in all instances the energy output of the new module was insufficient to operate a Unit."

Torres: "And you're sure you reproduced the module exactly?" APU 3947: "This is a schematic of a power module from a terminated Unit. This one is from a failed prototype. They are identical. There is no reason why one should function while the other does not."

Automated Personnel Unit 6263 enters. "Unit 3947, what can you report?" Torres, sarcastically: "Well, let's see. We've been working for about five minutes, so I guess we don't have a lot of progress to report."

APU 6263: "Our sensors indicate that the humanoid vessel will require approximately one hundred forty hours to repair. It is necessary for you to complete work on the prototype before that time."
Torres: "Why? We don't seem to be any match for you."
APU 6263: "Our tactical subprocessors indicate a 79% likelihood that a rescue will be attempted once sufficient repairs are completed. At optimal efficiency your engines are more powerful than ours."

APU 3947: "It is also possible that these humanoids will not make decisions based on tactical probabilities. Their cognitive process is unpredictable." APU 6263: "We will remain on full tactical alert. The humanoid may purposefully attempt to delay completion of the prototype, hoping she will be rescued." Torres: "I don't know if a promise means anything to you people, but it does to us. I gave you my word that I'd do my best, and I will."

APU 3947: "According to my observations, the humanoid is operating at optimal efficiency."
Torres: "Thank you. But I have to tell you: there are no guarantees here. Building a prototype from scratch is a lot different from repairing a broken power module. I don't even know if it's possible."
APU 6263: "If you fail, you and your people will die."
Automated Personnel Unit 6263 leaves.
APU 3947: "B'Elanna Torres, 6263 is a designated command Unit. He is merely following his programming."
She tells him firmly: "I don't need to be threatened. I told you I'd do my best."
APU 3947: "I believe you, but Unit 6263 does not. He does not know Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres as I do."
Torres: "Let me see one of those terminated power modules."

In Voyager's Briefing Room there is a staff meeting. Kim: "We've managed to repair the hull breach but we have no power on decks 3 through 7." Tuvok: "Aft shields are still completely non-functional." Kim: "And last but not least, the dilithium matrix has destabilised, so we can't get the warp engines running." Chakotay: "We're talking about at least another 6 days of repairs." Janeway: "We're not sticking around that long. I want a plan to get B'Elanna off that ship before she has a chance to finish building the prototype."

Tuvok: "In that case, I suggest we make warp drive our priority. Any rescue attempt will no doubt necessitate a rapid departure." Janeway: "Agreed. Mr Kim, can you give me an estimate on repairing the dilithium matrix?" Kim: "How does 72 hours sound?" Janeway: "Like 24 hours too long. Dismissed."

Pralor laboratory. Torres: "Hand me the submicron scanner." APU 3947 does so and she uses it. "Phase coil resonator." APU 3947 passes her this tool and she uses it. Then she sets it down. "Well, I think I know why your other prototypes failed, but I'm not sure I know what to do about it yet." APU 3947: "Explain." Torres: "The Automated Units are modular. Your parts are identical, interchangeable, right?" APU 3947: "That is correct."

Torres: "So, if you lose an arm you can replace it with another one. And over the years you've learned to make new arms because they're all the same. Your programming is sophisticated enough to allow you to reproduce what you see. But each power module has a slightly different energy signature. So, even if you copy this guy's module exactly, it wouldn't work in any other Unit. As far as I can tell, every Automated Unit has a power module with a unique energy code."

APU 3947: "Can you reprogram the energy codes to make the modules interchangeable?" Torres: "I don't think so." APU 3947: "You have failed. I will inform 6263."

Torres: "Hey! Do all you Automated Units give in the minute you hit a bump in the road?" APU 3947: "You have an alternative idea?" Torres: "What we've got to do is design a standardised module with a uniform energy code that can power any Unit."

APU 3947: "According to my observations, there is now sufficient reason for greater optimism." Torres: "You took the words right out of my mouth."

USS Voyager.

On Voyager's bridge, several senior staff are conducting a council of war at the security/tactical station. Tuvok: "Due to the complexity of their defence field, and our severe power shortage, it is unlikely that we can modify the transporters to beam Lieutenant Torres out." His monitor shows scans of the Pralor vessel.

Chakotay: "But if we can maneuver inside the field, our transporters could get the job done." Janeway: "Is that a viable option?" Paris: "For a shuttlecraft it may be." Janeway: "They were able to knock out Voyager's shields in a matter of minutes. A shuttle would be even more vulnerable." Tuvok: "It would be adviseable to create a diversion of some sort to take their attention away from the shuttle." Chakotay: "Attack them again?" Janeway, firmly: "I don't want to risk that a second time." Paris: "I don't need a diversion. Just give me a chance. I'll get her out of there."

Chakotay: "You don't mind if the rest of us give you a little help, do you, Paris? I'd hate to lose another shuttle."

Paris banters back: "Your concern for my welfare is heartwarming." Janeway: "In another 12 hours our warp engines will be back online. I'd like to come up with a diversion before then. Ok, gentlemen?"

In the Pralor laboratory, Torres converses with Automated Personnel Unit 3947 while she works on getting the prototype for the standardised power module which she is building to work a Unit arm.

Torres: "So far so good. I'm not getting any feedback from the motor circuits. You going to be the obstetrician of this Unit, 3947?" APU 3947: "Please rephrase the question." Torres: "If this works, will you be in charge of assembling the new Units?" APU 3947: "I am programmed as a ship's maintenance Unit. I have no knowledge of design nor do any of the other Automated Personnel." Torres: "Sounds as if you just volunteered for new duty. I hope you're watching closely."

APU 3947: "I am observing your work. However, I do not possess your improvisational capability." Torres: "Well, once we have the prototype all you'd have to do is copy it. Tell me something, 39. Can I call you '39'? APU 3947: "I am Automated Unit 3947." Torres: "Fine: 3947. Did you wake up on a bench like this one? How long have you been alive?" APU 3947: "I have been in servce one million, three hundred fourteen thousand, eight hundred seven hours and thirty-three minutes. I was activated by a Builder from the Pralor homeworld." Torres: "Tell me something more about these Builders. Were they anything like us." APU 3947: "I have insufficient knowledge of your culture to provide an adequate response. Will you provide additional information?" Torres: "Well, I asked about your culture. It's only fair you should ask about mine." APU 3947: "Does your culture include artificial lifeforms?" Torres: "As a matter of fact, it does." APU 3947: "Are they similar to the Automated Personnel Units aboard this ship?" Torres: "Well, they come in different shapes and sizes. Some have limbs, some don't. Most don't have your cognitive abilities." APU 3947: "Are they your servants?" Torres: "I guess you could say that the robots we use are our servants in a manner of speaking. But they aren't sentient, like you. In fact, we have only one sentient artificial lifeform in our society, and he is treated the same as any human." APU 3947: "The same? He is equal to a Builder?" Torres: "That's right. He works on a ship just like you and I. He wears the same uniform I do." APU 3947: "What is his designated number?" Torres: "He has a name, like the rest of us: Data." APU 3947: "Data. I would like to be acquainted with this Data." Torres finishes one of the work stages and now tests it. The Unit's fingers move. "Ah. Looks like the standardised power module's working pretty well so far." APU 3947: "You will succeed, B'Elanna Torres." Torres: "Don't send me flowers yet. I've still got to see if it will power an actual Unit." APU 3947: "I believe it will."

Chakotay: "We're making progress on the dilithium matrix. It should be stable enough to re-initialise the warp core in about 6 hours." Janeway: "Good. What about our diversion? Any suggestions?" Chakotay: "When we were in the Maquis, B'Elanna once linked a holo-emitter to a deflector array and projected the image of another ship into space." Janeway: "I like it. But do we have enough power?" Chakotay: "We will by the time the warp core's online. I already have Kim working on Holodeck 2-" He is interrupted by a com. alert. comms. signal "Tuvok to Captain Janeway." Janeway, via comms: "Go ahead." Tuvok, via comms: "I am picking up an unidentified alien ship on long-range sensors. It's heading for our co-ordinates. Janeway, via comms: "We're on our way."