help_haiti fic for winged_mammal
Feb. 14th, 2010 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chanter1944I'm squeaking in with this one and I know it, but it's here within time. Wheee! ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
winged_mammal asked for Data-centric TNG fic, and now that I've brushed the dust off the idea I've had circulating forever, Data-centric TNG fic they get. I really hope you like this.
Data does not understand certain aspects of his dream program.
The reasoning is, presumably, logical to the human mind; it agrees with the observations Data has made of humans since his activation. His father--can a biological lifeform truly be considered the progenetor of a mechanical being, or is this further proof of his assimilation of human custom? wished him to expand his creativity, his imagination. Data lacks an imagination. Data is not equipped with the necessary programming.
And yet a bird's wing became a bird, became Data himself while deactivated. And yet smoke became a pivotal image in a painting immitating dream. His own dream.
The appearance of his father was not surprising, as such - Data lacks the capacity for human emotions. He suspects that, even if he were capable of basic human feeling, his father's manifestation would not have unsettled him. The image was a single element in a program written by the source from which the persona sprang. The inclusion of such a figure was predictable, if not entirely logical. It showed an interest in maintaining connection. It showed... affection. Data presumes the emotion behind his father's appearance, his father's interactivity, to be such; his understanding of the concept is rudimentary at best. Data lacks the necessary programming; he does not feel affection.
But Data has been, if not in the strictest biological sense, a father. He retains copies of his offspring's mental processes alongside his own. His recollections of Lal can easily be compared to her recollections of him. Data is incapable of the sorrow, the loneliness, the anger displayed by organic lifeforms on the loss of a child.
The wing of a bird became a bird, which became his own image while in dream.
Perhaps, if his analysis of the dream in which is father appeared is correct, the image of his creator was intended to display a certain connection. A certain... the human term would be longing, but Data does not feel longing. Perhaps a willingness to connect, if willingness is an adequate descriptor. Data is uncertain if the connotation of the term makes 'willingness' suitable for use in this instance. Would he not, Data wonders, display at least a willingness to connect, an interest in maintaining connection, with lal if she were functioning? Was that not, in part, the reason behind his creation of Lal? And would his attempts to maintain contact with his daughter--can a mechanical lifeform truly be the progenetor of another mechanical being? not move beyond willingness to a more active interest? Data does not feel humanoid emotion.
Data was a father.
Data believes that certain humanoid psychological experts would describe his appearance as a bird while dreaming as an attempt to access areas which are inaccessible to him while fully conscious. To... the humanoid term would most likely be 'reach the unreachable'. Data cannot reach the unreachable. Data cannot access the functional mind of Lal. lal is inoperative. Data can only access the memories downloaded from Lal on her deactivation.
But did he not still make the attempt while in a state of semiactivation?
Data suspects that the human phrase for his present situation, if he has analyzed said situation correctly, would be 'like father, like son'. Data does not fully understand the meaning of such a phrase.
Yet it does appear apt, in this particular case.
winged_mammal asked for Data-centric TNG fic, and now that I've brushed the dust off the idea I've had circulating forever, Data-centric TNG fic they get. I really hope you like this. Data does not understand certain aspects of his dream program.
The reasoning is, presumably, logical to the human mind; it agrees with the observations Data has made of humans since his activation. His father--can a biological lifeform truly be considered the progenetor of a mechanical being, or is this further proof of his assimilation of human custom? wished him to expand his creativity, his imagination. Data lacks an imagination. Data is not equipped with the necessary programming.
And yet a bird's wing became a bird, became Data himself while deactivated. And yet smoke became a pivotal image in a painting immitating dream. His own dream.
The appearance of his father was not surprising, as such - Data lacks the capacity for human emotions. He suspects that, even if he were capable of basic human feeling, his father's manifestation would not have unsettled him. The image was a single element in a program written by the source from which the persona sprang. The inclusion of such a figure was predictable, if not entirely logical. It showed an interest in maintaining connection. It showed... affection. Data presumes the emotion behind his father's appearance, his father's interactivity, to be such; his understanding of the concept is rudimentary at best. Data lacks the necessary programming; he does not feel affection.
But Data has been, if not in the strictest biological sense, a father. He retains copies of his offspring's mental processes alongside his own. His recollections of Lal can easily be compared to her recollections of him. Data is incapable of the sorrow, the loneliness, the anger displayed by organic lifeforms on the loss of a child.
The wing of a bird became a bird, which became his own image while in dream.
Perhaps, if his analysis of the dream in which is father appeared is correct, the image of his creator was intended to display a certain connection. A certain... the human term would be longing, but Data does not feel longing. Perhaps a willingness to connect, if willingness is an adequate descriptor. Data is uncertain if the connotation of the term makes 'willingness' suitable for use in this instance. Would he not, Data wonders, display at least a willingness to connect, an interest in maintaining connection, with lal if she were functioning? Was that not, in part, the reason behind his creation of Lal? And would his attempts to maintain contact with his daughter--can a mechanical lifeform truly be the progenetor of another mechanical being? not move beyond willingness to a more active interest? Data does not feel humanoid emotion.
Data was a father.
Data believes that certain humanoid psychological experts would describe his appearance as a bird while dreaming as an attempt to access areas which are inaccessible to him while fully conscious. To... the humanoid term would most likely be 'reach the unreachable'. Data cannot reach the unreachable. Data cannot access the functional mind of Lal. lal is inoperative. Data can only access the memories downloaded from Lal on her deactivation.
But did he not still make the attempt while in a state of semiactivation?
Data suspects that the human phrase for his present situation, if he has analyzed said situation correctly, would be 'like father, like son'. Data does not fully understand the meaning of such a phrase.
Yet it does appear apt, in this particular case.
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<3
Date: 2010-02-15 06:33 pm (UTC)-erm, I mean.... I LOVE THIS ANDROID SO MUCH. Gah, you killed me with the like father, like son bit. I love his crazy dysfunctional family. I wonder if he realizes how human that fucked-up family makes him. I mean, he even has the sexy sorta-redeemed evil genius great-great-great-grandfather!
I love that you connected his dream to Lal. I'd never have thought about that. That poor bb.
Re: <3
Date: 2010-02-16 01:35 am (UTC)As for Lal, I knoooow! *hugs her* I have o idea where the connection of Data's dream to Lal came from, but it worked, and it wouldn't leave me alone. I'm seriously glad you enjoyed it. :)