Breakdown on the Street (Closed)

[empirical_data]

The EMH was gone. The village's ability to bring people in and dismiss them was one that usually only sparked curiosity with his positronic brain. Perhaps being of some familiarity with an individual, even if they weren't personally acquainted, had inspired a completely different reaction than he had previously encountered in Haurvatat

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[goldilockaubrey]

"I say, old fellow, what's the matter?" Jack leaned down to lay an arm reassuringly on Data's shoulder.

[empirical_data]

He peered over his fingers, tears spilling over the dark lining of his eyes. "I do not desire to be destroyed, and if I depart I will be."

[goldilockaubrey]

"Well, of course you don't." Jack said, sitting next to him. "And I hope you shan't depart anytime soon." Jack gave the shoulder a friendly shake.

"What has made you think of it? Did someone you know leave?"

[empirical_data]

Data nodded, making a quick wipe at his face. "A Medical Hologram. An artificial intelligence from my universe."

[not_ricky]

The figure slumped on the storefront steps looked familiar, so Mickey, despite needing to head to work soon, approached cautiously.

"Oh, man." He slipped his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and sat next to the android. "Didn't think you could cry. I mean..." Oof, clever move, Mickey. Bloke's upset about something and you're poking at him like you were some bloody Time Lord.

"Somethin' happen, mate?"

[empirical_data]

At Mickey's voice he wiped at his face with the back of his hand and drew in a careful breath.

"Someone from my universe left... and if I go I an going to be obliterated in an explosion." It was a little bit frightening, too. He hardly ever cried. He wasn't used to the way that his lower lip quivered with another noisy inhale, and he buried his face against his arm.

"My father made me fully functional," he responded in a tone the ebbed off into a squeak, muffled by the fabric of the tweed jacket he was wearing.

[not_ricky]

"Just cos they've left doesn't mean you're gonna go soon. I'm not a clever boffin or anythin', but I don't think the village works like that." He didn't think he sounded reassuring, but at least he was earnest. Sometimes that's what was needed, a bit of honesty.

"Can't you, you know, turn it off or something? If I could shut off feelin' bad sometimes, I think I would." Yeah, this from the bloke who'd fought off Cybermen in a parallel Earth and in Haurvatat. Tell the truth, he sometimes envied not having emotions.

[empirical_data]

"How do you believe that it works...? And yes, I can, though I will recall what was upsetting me when it is reactivated."

Another careful breath, and he tried to control himself. He no longer usually opted to turn off his emotion chip except in essential situations. But this hurt. It was uneasy and frightening.

He nodded slowly, and twitched a little. The anguished expression faded with almost eerie speed, and he stared out ahead of him blankly. Attention turned back to Mickey. "...Might I ask what a boffin is?"

[ki2k]

The figure sitting on the steps was familiar, one of the few people he'd taken the time to speak with since arriving in the village. It surprised Kitt to see that Data actually looked... upset.

He pulled over to a curb across the street, just observing the situation for a few moments. Data's distress hadn't gone unnoticed by a few others, which made Kitt hesitate. Finally though, his concern got the better of his caution, compelling him to make the short U-turn that brought him up to the curb in front of the shop.

"Data?"

[empirical_data]

He hadn't seen the car in so long, he was surprised that it still remained. He lifted up his head slowly, looking over shielding fingers at the friendly vehicle.

An automated swallow, and he tried to compose himself in front of the other A.I.

"I apologize for my state. It does not happen often now that I am more accustomed to emotions."

[ki2k]

"There is no need to apologize on my account. You're obviously distressed. Is there something you wish to talk about?" In Kitt's experience, humans were reluctant to talk about things that were bothering them. Perhaps Data, being an AI, would be different. He wouldn't pry, but the offer was on the table, just in case.

[empirical_data]

"Distress is an unfortunate emotion." Talking, usually about anything, was one of the favorite pasttimes of the A.I. In any state his carefully constructed mind was ready for some sort of conversation. Another A.I., especially one with emotions, might be able to understand the state he had found himself in.

He stood and walked to stand by the car.

"...Might I sit inside of you for a bit? I am troubled, and I am curious as to ascertain if you-" he hicced; another gesture that came with the emotion and the wavering release of air he couldn't help. "-You have similar concerns."

[haughty_alpha]

Avon spotted Data across the street from him. He changed direction and strode briskly towards him, but as he approached he realised something was very wrong. He came up from behind Data, stopping just short of touching his shoulder, but standing close.

"Data? What's wrong?" he hissed urgently, glancing around suspiciously to make sure nobody was watching them. "Are you damaged in some way?"

[empirical_data]

He looked over his shoulder to Avon; at that urgent hiss that he couldn't quite read as worried or angry, and he looked a little worried himself as his gold eyes trailed up.

"I am functioning adequately. I am uneasy concerning the parting of another Federation artificial intelligence that was in the village, and am concerned that I will return to the time that I departed from only to experience my destruction. I do not wish to...-" be destroyed "-..die..."

The android cleared his throat and offered up the holosuite program, wiping at his eyes and trying to collect himself so he was performing somewhat efficiently. "I have created the program concerning my father's positronic technology for your perusal."

[haughty_alpha]

"Data..." Avon wasn't used to comforting people; strange how an android's tears could touch him more than human pain did. "Listen. You and I are in a similar position. I also will die if I return to my reality at the point I left it. But that won't happen; I won't allow either of us to be destroyed. I won't be bullied by this damned megalomanic village and nor should you be." He felt an unexpected surge of protectiveness, an emotion he'd nearly forgotten. "You mustn't be killed, Data," he said, more quietly. "You're unique, you know. It is my intention to get us both out of here safely, one way or another." Then he did put a hand on Data's shoulder, somewhat hesitantly.

[empirical_data]

His gaze fell to the hand at his shoulder after listening to those kind words, nearly dropping the program that he was holding. Some time before a young lady had given him a kiss because he looked like he needed it. This comforting touch was similar? Still though, he found his circuits measuring pressure applied and temperature readings rather than gentleness or warmth.

He wasn't quite sure whether it was a matter of perception or not that made the difference, or the actual function of his sensors. There was no possible way that Avon could be sure that he would be able to protect anyone, yet he almost sounded self assured enough to convince an android on determination alone.

Slipping the program into his jacket pocket before he did end up dropping it and possibly losing it, he reached up and put his hand just as hesitantly over the human's. "Thank you, Mr. Avon."

[smith_drsmith]

"Data?"

The Doctor was walking past, trying to decide when he should start training with Molly Carpenter, when he saw the android, well, crying.

[empirical_data]

"Doctor?"

Data rubbed beneath his eyes as he looked up to the Time Lord, gold eyes glassy until he clenched them and wiped them dry. "Are you feeling more at ease concerning the incident with the transmitter?"

He jumped to addressing the Doctor first, since typically his own concerns were secondary unless he was asked.

[smith_drsmith]

The Doctor looked at Data for a long minute. "No, but then I never will feel at ease about it." Just like all the other incidents. "What's the matter?" he asked, leaning against the shop front.

[empirical_data]

"I am sorry." Not that he felt responsible, but it was an unenviable situation that the Doctor found himself in. "I am... afraid. An artificial intelligence from my universe, the emergency medical hologram, has left the village. If this place were to feel necessary to dispatch me, then I will be destroyed in the explosion of the Scimitar."