Episode VI
Meanwhile, the chorus of gaian and promethean soldiers huddling in the landing dock whisper amongst themselves:
“We’ve been hovering out here, light years away from Ithacadia, orbiting this forsaken Troi for too long now,” said one of the gaians.
“Computing…” said a promethean.
“Having a disintegrated promethean on board puts me on edge. They are known to do things,” said a gaian.
“I see that AX01 is displaying emotion. He is disintegrated. Evacuation is an option,” said a promethean.
“Computing complete. We have a 3.753 to 15.210 chance of survival if we maintain current conditions for 36 hours,” said the promethean who thought she was being helpful.
“Data confirmed.” replied another promethean.
“AX01 was one of our top soldiers, programmed by Dr. T himself. This is madness! Why has he not yet been shut down?! I’m freaked out. We are flying with fire,” said another gaian.
A promethean started to speak, “Gaian 07, I am afraid I do not understand your term ‘freaked out’ please expla…” but AX01’s familiar wet metallic voice startles the crowd to a hush.
“Great, mysterious space-time tampers with my circuitry. I recognize limitations in my programming. I have compromised my mission and comrades and must complete my imperative elsewhere. I have short-circuited and seek repair.” With that he departs. The synthetically high-pitched click of his heels gradually gives way to silence.
Just as the soldiers begin to congratulate themselves for evading AX01’s fury, a pigeon-droid skids across the floor with an urgent message: “I have news. TC02 is back. AX01 respond. AX01 respond.”
“You missed him by moments,” starts one of the soldiers, “he just left to seek help.”
“ERROR. ERROR. ERROR,” bleeped the pigeon-droid.
“He’s gone in for a repair,” continued another soldier, “he’s gone berserk.”
“ERROR. ERROR. Supreme Commanders destroy prometheans who blur the distinction between promethean and gaian. Dr. T programmed AX01 to be stoic. No promethean wins over the Supreme Commanders. Computing… AX01 has a 2.354 to 17.908 chance of being alive currently.”
This is unbearable for Dana. She listens close by and finally bursts onto the scene: “Pigeon-droid, retrieve TC02. Everyone disband. Search this ship from command bridge to port. We must find AX01. I see what might befall.”