As I slowly regained consciousness, I could hear John speaking in the background. All I could remember just before I blacked out was John saying he would help me if he could access the panel just below my brain stem.
Attempting to sit up, I found that my motor functions had been disabled. I couldn't move.
"I'm growing more and more concerned." I heard John saying. "She seems highly unstable. Dr. Abrams did his job too well if you ask me. She isn't responding well to her emotional abilities. If this volatile behavior continues, we may need to move up the plan and send the ANA unit back to Warp Core headquarters so Dr. Abrams can deal with her. I've already copied most or her information onto my hard drive anyways. We can try replicating the data and see what happens."
Whoever was on the other end of the phone spoke for awhile. I tried to move again, willing myself to budge just an inch. My efforts were in vain as I remained still as a stone. There must be some program I could access to regain some mobility. What was the point of being the most sophisticated piece of technology if I had no means of protecting myself? I searched through all my systems to find something that would help.
"Oh, help!" I thought desperately.
All of a sudden, an emotionless voice spoke in my brain.
"Would you like to activate emergency survival mode?"
"With all do respect." I heard John say over the phone, I think you are incorrect."
Before accepting the voice's offer, I listened intently to what John was saying.
"We are dealing with a highly intelligent life form- and yes, she is a form a life. She is unlike anything I have ever seen. I could take apart and put back together a computer by the time I was seven, and yet with all my experience, I can't begin to imagine what makes this android tick. Do you think maybe... the rumors are true? If Dr. Abrams found a way to transfer a living soul into this android, we can't go through with our plan. It's immoral. Maybe that is why she is so confused and angry all the time. I know I would feel that way if I were treated like property. Hell, my ancestors were treated that way.
Another pause indicated the person on the other end of the phone was speaking.
"Yes ma'am. I understand that it isn't my job to be the voice of morality. Even so, if the rumors aren't true, the problem still stands. Ana can feel emotions just as we can and there is no explanation why. When I first met her, she was proud of the fact she is technology, but now she boasts and fights to make her own choices. She even made friends with my neighbor. It's all very... human. Don't you think we should treat her as such?
Despite being unable to move, the fear and anger I had been feeling towards Johnathan melted away like ice on a summer's day.
"Would you like to activate emergency survival mode?" asked the monotone voice again.
"No." I thought decidedly.
"Affirmative," said the voice in my head. "Emergency survival mode immobilized."
John shuffled his footsteps uncomfortably and said, "Yes, I understand ma'am. Thank you. Goodbye."
Two beeps indicated that the call had ended. John took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I could feel his gentle hands at the base of my neck in order to reactivate my mobility function. Once I could feel my strength return, I rolled over and faced him.
John smiled sadly and said, "Let's call a truce."