Do holograms have feelings?

Posted on Sunday, 23 August 2020 - 3:10pm by Emerick & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali
Edited on on Sunday, 23 August 2020 - 3:11pm

Mission: Operation: Jabberwocky
Location: Sickbay

{ON}

T'Lanna had a million things going through her mind as she made her way into Sickbay to talk to Emerick, as she stepped through the doors she took a deep breath before saying the necessary words. "Computer activate EMH."

Emerick found himself activated and before him stood the ship's Psychologist. "Lieutenant Vali, how may I assist you?" he asked, he was delighted to see a familiar face that was not one of the repair crew nor medical technicians. "It has been too long" he added.

"Hi Emerick" T'Lanna smiled warmly. "I apologise for calling you up, I need to talk to you ... In private."

He immediately gestured to Doctor Rose's office and led the way into the office. "Of course, we can talk in here," he said as he took the seat behind the desk and gestured towards one of the seats across from it, usually taken by a patient seeking consultation on some matter. "Is there a problem with the psychological state of a member of the crew?" he inquired.

“Actually ... Yes” T’Lanna nodded. “Emerick I’ve been asked to assess you.”

"Should that not be done by someone in Engineering or Operation?" replied Emerick curious what sort of assessment she could offer him.

“Commander Soral showed me a copy of your personal log, he was going to have you taken offline but I’ve talked him out of it for now.” She gave Emerick an understanding smile. “Tell me about what happened between you and Eyelaya.”

Emerick became a bit more defensive. "Ah wonderful," he replied sharply. "The hypocrisy of this starship and its crew never ceases to amaze me. First I am just a hologram, a support program to assist in medical emergencies, having had several subroutines cut off from my own access, changes made to my program that prevent me from developing beyond the crew's comfort level. Then, I have others telling me that I am more than just a hologram and that I am part of the crew and yet here you are telling me that (a) Not only have my personal rights to privacy been violated by my personal log being listened to which I have given no indication of harming anyone nor being a safety threat to the ship and (b) the threat of deactivation. What am I to make of this?"

T'Lanna was surprised by the response, for an EMH Emerick was more humanoid in his reaction than she'd expected. "You can make of it any way you wish Emerick, I know that your log was sent by mistake. The fact that Eyelaya saw what you dictated was unfortunate. To be honest your reaction surprises me, I think you're already developing a more human personality."

"Dr. Rose has been helping me and I have been studying more on the interaction of Humans and other humanoids while everyone was enjoying their shore leave" he explained. "It was not very busy here while the crew was gone. I am....embarrassed? Yes, that. I am embarrassed that Eyelaya received my personal log by accident, but it was just that an accident and personal, now Soral has viewed it? How would you have felt if something personal you said about someone in a personal log was accidentally sent to them and then the First Officer was provided it?"

" I'd feel upset, and disappointed that it couldn't have been sorted privately." T'Lanna looked at Emerick understanding. " The fact that you make personal logs makes you more than just a program, you're becoming more than was intended for an EMH but I see no problem with that. May I ask about your evaluation of Eyelaya and why you gave the comments you did?"

"I have been offered advice left and right on how to handle Eyelaya's advancements towards me," he replied. "I do not want to pursue a intimate relationship with her. I do not believe that I ever will. It is not a secret that she connects better with technology than people."

T’Lanna nodded understandingly. “I understand how you must ... feel.” She smiled feeling a little silly mentioning feelings to a synthetic being although it seemed Emerick was starting to show signs of a developing personality. “Commander Soral was concerned about your evaluation of Eyelaya, hence he’s asked me to evaluate you.” She paused for a moment to think. “What would your evaluation of me be Emerick?”

"You are professional and competent," replied Emerick. "I believe you are more than qualified for the position that you hold, and I do not know you to act impulsively nor allow yourself to escape from the realities of life on an every day basis."

T’Lanna smiled. “Spot on, So what made you assess Eyelaya the way that you did?” She studied Emerick curiously. “I know it wasn’t intended as an evaluation or comment for others to see, but it has been seen and it has caused concern.”

"She avoids people," Emerick replied simply. "That in itself is disconcerting, but not enough to warrant action. What; however, has been alarming is her emphasis on having me, an EMH tend to her rather than our very Human Chief Medical Officer. As I understand, she does not come to you openly either. Her advances towards me and wish to pursue a relationship despite me being the social maturity and awareness of a toaster oven...all of that has lead me to believe she needs professional help."

T’Lanna nodded. “On that I do concur, Eyelaya is ... a complex young woman who needs understanding and I aim to try and be there for her.” She paused. “Emerick I’m going to recommend that your personal log be deleted, and that you make a personal apology to Eyelaya for any distress caused by that log. I’m hoping that it will placate Commander Soral enough to accept my judgement that you be allowed to function normally. In my opinion there’s nothing wrong with your program, at least nothing that time and personal experience won’t fix.” She grinned. “Welcome to the wonderful world of emotions Emerick.”

"I will apologize for the sake of Eyelaya and professionalism, though on the record, I do stand by my medical assessment" replied Emerick. "I do not know if I would say 'wonderful' in regards to emotions, but it is certainly intriguing how fragile humanity is"

“Humanity may seem, and indeed may well be fragile but you’d be surprised how resilient humanity is too. You just have to give it a chance and see people in the right light.” T’Lanna smiled. “Humanity will surprise you Emerick.”

The hologram nodded. "I have a lot to learn about emotions and how words affect others," he replied "That is especially true when people are not supposed to hear my inner most thoughts." He looked at T'Lanna and conjured up a smile. "Thank you for this lesson, lieutenant. I shall endeavor to apologize."

“Emotions are a very complicated thing Emerick, it’ll take time to learn. Trust me I know!” She offered a warm smile.

"Thank you, Lieutenant." He gave a polite nod. "I think I'm going to deactivate my program for a bit. I don't want to be continuously running. It's a small drain on the ship."

T’Lanna nodded. “In that case have a nice rest” she smiled and headed for the door.

{OFF}