Stardate: 70507:1347
Title: My Immortal
Author: Emma Smith
Time: Current
Scene: Planet-side

~

"For God so loved the world..." - John 3:16

~

Random pieces of code that trigger unexpected responses in a computer mainframe is certainly a far from new theory, and has been documented nearly as many times as there are stars in the heavens.

If 'That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit', what now will we call that which is born of the Matrix?

The interesting thing in this circumstance is that, for the first time in recorded history, 'The Ghost in the Machine' had a name.

~

"The 'heart a fire' is a common symbol in many cultures," Emma continued. "Most times it's associated with religious..."

Tammin tapped her toes. "We're not here for a history lesson, Emma...."

"Yes... but... what I'm trying to tell you..."

Emma's words fell on deaf ears, and Tammin grabbed the brass handle.

Without a tricorder pointed at her, it was impossible to know the number of volts of electricity that flowed through Tammin's body. I suppose it didn't really matter - the heaping mound of burnt flesh and bone spoke for itself.

While Emma and Basil stared in horror, Lieutenant Falls swallowed hard, resisting her automatic gag reflex, and contacted the ship. Within seconds, the Medical Officer, what was left of her, was beamed back on board the Horizon.

A second call to the ship had Falls, Khalid and Smith beamed safely inside the building.

The architectural shape of the outside carried over to the inside in the form of a single, large, octagonal room. An intricate marble mosaic covered the walls and floor in a sunburst design that complimented the burning heart they'd seen on the large brass door. A single dais sprouted up from the floor in the center. On the raised platform lay the perfectly preserved body of a young man.

<You've found me.> The voice came from nowhere in particular.

Basil pulled out his tricorder and began an attempt to triangulate the voice's origin.

"Who are you?" Autumn asked.

<In life I was Jacob Surect.>

"Jake..." Emma whispered, remembering the name Alex had called just before beam out.

"...and... you're what... a ghost?" Autumn questioned, trying to make sense of their situation.

<In a way,> Jake continued. <I will try to explain. You see, approximately 8000 years ago, a long since extinct race called the Zedoiets developed a massive computer to handle the sphere that encases this planet. The fact that it eventually became sentient was not unexpected. In fact, since their sun was about to go nova, they counted on it in an effort to store all the knowledge that they'd amassed for posterity.>

"Posterity? Children?"

<Before their end, they had aided in populating a great deal of the known galaxy.>

"Earth?"

<I can not say.>

"Why not save themselves by living in the sphere... or another planet?"

<Think of it this way - when you get to the end of a journey, why do you stop?>

"Because you're done," Basil nodded.

"That still doesn't explain... well... YOU, Emma pressed.

<They counted on the computer's sentience. What they didn't foresee was that it would become lonely. To that end, it commanded the sphere to swallow this planet so it could care for the inhabitants. They gave the computer something to do, but they were so emotionally underdeveloped they still didn't fill the void.>

"But you did," Autumn replied with a small sigh.

<When the Loyalty crash-landed on this planet, some of the crew survived for a short time. My father, William, for a few days, Jeffery Kutter, several weeks... I'm not sure about the others. But somehow the computer was able to download their essence before they drew their last breath.>

"Good lord..."

<I survived nearly five years. Keep in mind, I was a young child. In that time, the computer became my mother, father, protector... I grew to love it... and it me. So, when I eventually died...>

"It downloaded your essence too."

<That... and more. It made the ultimate sacrifice by allowing me to become the dominant personality.>

Autumn swallowed hard. "That sounds awful. Is there anything that we can do for you?"

<This is the only life I know... I'm with my family... I'm happy.>

"We're not so lucky. Our family isn't here... and we miss them terribly..." Autumn used the saddest tone she could muster.

<I understand,> the voice answered simply.

Several seconds later, without any aid from the Horizon, the Away Team appeared on the bridge.

"What the...?" Captain Deadilus began... but before he could finish he was interrupted by a rumbling as the sphere began to open.


===============
Ensign Emma Smith
Security Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
===============