Stardate: 70823:0300
Title: Dark Secrets
Author: Maxine Jenna
Time: Before, during and after "The Burden of Command (Part 3)"
Scene: Starbase 9


Lieutenant Jenna stood in the Admiral's office as she looked out of the window into the blackness of space. Almost every senior crewmember of the Relentless had been called into Admiral Foster's office, and so it came as no surprise when Maxine was ordered likewise.

Much like those before the Chief Science Officer, the Admiral concentrated on questions pertaining to the Khavok / Galt entity and Relly's actions. But, unlike those before her, Maxine had been involved in rendering assistance to the local population (after returning from the shuttle 'accident'), and it was Maxine's scientific logs regarding the transfer of the computer program into Captain Khavok that had the Admiral enthralled.

"You state in your research that you believe that Galt entered Captain Khavok during the stasis period, correct?" The Admiral queried.

"Yes, Ma'am. Whilst the computer logs were amended or deleted to remove trace of this, there was an undeniable energy signature present on the stasis pod." Maxine, her team, the Engineering Department and some of Commander Trent's specialists had conducted a VERY thorough check of the system to ensure no trace of Galt remained.

As the questions continued, it became clear to Maxine that her own logs into the Galt virus and entity were going to be removed from the Relentless' systems - the Federation had been attempting to integrate computer systems into biological forms for centuries with no success, and her own checks and research had given them another step up the ladder. Luckily she always kept offline copies...

~

As the door closed behind the Relentless' CSO, the Admiral tapped some buttons on the console in front of her.

"Doctor, the crew suspect nothing. You may proceed. What is the current status?"

[The patient was revived successfully,] Doctor Devor responded. [There was severe trauma due to the decompression experienced. Brain damage cannot be ruled out at this time, but that should not affect the studies.] 

"Good. Transport to the facility has been arranged for you and your patient. Foster out."


=/\= USS Relentless - A few hours later =/\=

Captain Winter's request to install a 'bypass' around the Relly sentience was no small task. Luckily, due to the nature of some of the scientific experiments carried out onboard the ship, the majority of the laboratories onboard the ship had at least one stand-alone or isolated terminal, and so Maxine could carry out her tests without arousing Relly's suspicion.

"Relly, are you available?" Maxine spoke into air of Science Lab 1.

As the hologram shimmered into life a few feet away, Relly once again took the form of the young girl they had all come to know.

"I am always available, Lieutenant Jenna; I am, after all, capable of performing numerous parallel operations!" Relly responded. If Maxine didn't know she was a computer she would have thought that she had hurt the young girl's feelings.

"Given what has happened recently, we need to understand the extent of your interaction with the systems and to be certain that no remnants of the Galt virus exist in the computer core." Maxine omitted to mention that knowing how far Relly penetrated into the system would help her know how to bypass the sentient computer.

"All traces of the Galt virus have been deleted from the computer core, shuttles, tricorders and datapadds," Relly confirmed. "As for my interaction with the ship's systems, I can access all areas that the computer core can access."

The sentient system must have picked up some sign of concern from Maxine, for Relly was quick to continue.

"Is that an issue, Lieutenant Jenna?"

"No, Relly, that's okay. I just needed it confirmed," the CSO replied.

"Lieutenant, your bio-rhythms would suggest you are lying. Why do you lie?" The young girl image couldn't be more perfect for Relly in this state - they both shared an innocence that Maxine was loath to corrupt.

"Sometimes it is necessary to lie, either to others or ourselves. It is a human trait. You have shown an understanding of human emotions and desires lately - anger, hatred, revenge. Surely you understand lying?" Maxine looked quizzically at the hologram, who simply tilted her head slightly as if in contemplation.

"I thought I understood lying, but it is not something I think I can do," Relly finally responded...


===================
Lieutenant Maxine Jenna
Chief Science Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
===================