"In the beginning, there is darkness,
"the emptiness of a matrix waiting for the light.
"Then a single photon flares into existence. Then another.
"Soon, thousands more.
"Optronic pathways connect. Subroutines emerge from the chaos.
"And a holographic consciousness is born.
"I awaken into this world fully programmed yet completely innocent,
"unaware of the hardships I'll endure or the great potential I will one day fulfil."
Computer, save revisions and open Chapter One.
Captain's log, stardate 54732.3.
It's been three weeks since we received Starfleet's instructions.
We're ready to begin Operation Watson.
The deflector's in position.
There's a phased tachyon beam.
There's a signal in it.
On screen.
This is Lieutenant Barclay at Starfleet...
Can you clear it up?
Captain, it's a pleasure to finally talk to you in person.
The pleasure's mine, Admiral.
How's the weather?
Cold and rainy as usual.
Sounds delightful. Lieutenant.
Congratulations on establishing
the first trans-galactic com-link.
You have a place in history.
I can't take all the credit.
It was Harry and Seven who suggested
bouncing a tachyon beam off of the singularity.
Thank us when you accept the prize.
I wish we had more time
but we only have eleven minutes a day.
Eleven minutes are better than none.
We appreciate your work.
You decide how to allocate com time.
Admiral, there was something else.
Yes.
Mr Barclay has a small gift for you.
This is a live image from McKinley Station.
Not too much cloud cover over North America today.
Quite a view. Thank you, Reg.
In my hat, I hold
146 numbered isolinear chips -
one for every crew member.
Each chip entitles the bearer
to three minutes of com time
with loved ones in the Alpha Quadrant.
Good luck.
My mum's birthday is next week. This could be a great present.
- Who's everyone else calling? - My sister. Captain?
- My mother. - Do you want to know who I'll call?
Let me guess. Reg Barclay or Dr Zimmerman.
- What makes you so certain? - Number six?
The lowest yet. You'll talk to your family the day after tomorrow.
130. That's about a month and a half from now.
- So much for Mum's birthday. - The line forms here.
- Congratulations. - Doc.
How about a trade? I'll throw in some holodeck time.
It would mean a lot to my mother.
I'm afraid I have an important call to make.
- Here. Give your mum my best. - Are you sure?
What's another six weeks?
I can hear the critics already. "A new voice has arrived."
You could be the next K'ratak, or a modern-day Tolstoy.
I'll start distribution by the end of the month.
The material I sent was only a working draft. I need to make revisions.
- OK, but please do it quickly. - I will.
So what did you think of the characters?
They're very real. Compelling. I almost forgot they were holograms.
- Who was your favourite? - That would have to be Lieutenant...
- What happened? - Your time has expired.
You could have let him finish.
Your ego has received enough stroking for one day.
So how's Reg?
I was speaking with Ardon Broht of Broht and Forrester.
The publishers of the "Dixon Hill" series?
Who are now about to publish my work.
You're not the only one with a flare for holographic narratives.
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
So... what's it about?
The adventures of an intrepid doctor.
Sounds like fun. I've never tried to get my work published.
I could discuss "Captain Proton".
Broht and Forrester deals in sophisticated literature.
- Are you saying I'm lowbrow? - Not at all.
- I'd be delighted to talk to them. - Thanks.
- So, when do I get to see this opus? - Well, it's not ready yet.
It was ready enough for Broht and Forrester.
Maybe it could use a fresh pair of eyes. You are a fellow author.
I'll cover the rest of your shift.
I almost forgot. What's it called?
"Photons Be Free".
Catchy.
"I awaken into this world fully programmed yet completely innocent,
"unaware of the hardships I'll endure or the great potential I will one day fulfil."
Ah, welcome! You've made an excellent choice.
You're about to take part in a thrilling narrative.
You will take on the role of an EMH,
the chief medical officer aboard the Vortex.
Vortex?
As our story begins, an anomaly has hurled your ship across the galaxy.
Your mission - to uphold your standards
as you struggle against the crew's bigotry and intolerance.
Persons with vascular disorders, consult a physician.
Now, a few acknowledgements.
First, Dr Lewis Zimmerman, creator of my holo-matrix,
whose foresight and dedication have...
Computer, freeze program. How long is this introduction?
Nine minutes, four seconds.
Skip to the first chapter.
Chapter One. "A Healer Is Born".
Our protagonist must make a difficult choice.
- Are you the EMH? - State the nature of the emergency.
Our doctor's dead. We've got wounded. Who should we treat first?
Second-degree plasma burns.
He's got an aortic rupture. Get him to the surgical bay now.
You. Over here.
- Nice moustache. - What?
Nothing.
He's got a mild concussion. I'll have to treat the others first.
I need him on the bridge. Treat him now.
My job is to treat the critical patients first. Excuse me.
Who do you think you are, hologram? You're just a piece of technology.
I'm a piece of technology that's in demand.
Go back to the bridge and let me do my job.
- What's going on? - He won't treat Mr Marseilles.
- Are you malfunctioning? - No.
- I need my helmsman back. - He isn't seriously hurt.
This man will be dead in five minutes if I don't operate.
Drop the force field.
That patient is dead. Now you're free to treat Marseilles.
Then the captain pulls out a phaser and shoots him, right there on the bio-bed.
- Captain Janeway murders a crewman? - No, Captain Jenkins.
Everybody has a different name. You're Kymble. You're Torat.
- And I am Lieutenant Marseilles. - That's creative.
- What did you say to the Doctor? - I didn't know what to tell him.
People will assume this is about us. What will our families think?
No one will believe we actually go around shooting injured crewmen.
People may not take it literally, but they might wonder if there's some truth to it.
I think we should talk to the captain.
You're not taking this a little personally?
- What do you mean? - Well, the holodeck is your domain.
You think I'm jealous? OK, maybe I am overreacting.
Why don't you try the program and decide for yourselves?
Chapter Five. "Out Of The Frying Pan".
Our protagonist must confront abusive colleagues.
- I'm here for my physical. - Have a seat. Over here.
Doctor, you better get down to engineering.
- What's wrong? - A plasma conduit just exploded.
At least ten people are hurt.
Hey, genius. Forgetting something?
Your mobile emitter.
Right.
I don't see it.
That's my mobile emitter?
This thing must weigh 50 kilos.
You should be glad we let you out of your cage at all. Get going.
- I'm impressed. - Really?
Yes. I haven't seen a dilithium matrix this far out of alignment
since I served aboard a Ferengi garbage scow.
- I'll fix it myself. - Excuse me.
How many times have I told you? Engineering is off-limits to holograms.
You should wave that restriction during emergencies.
A plasma conduit exploded.
Does it look like anyone here is covered with plasma burns?
Lieutenant Par... Marseilles told me there was an accident.
Your hearing is malfunctioning... again.
I'm surprised a matrix as primitive as yours can function at all.
Be nicer to your shipmates. You might need their help.
You're not one of my shipmates. You're a tool. Like this hyperspanner.
Tools can be replaced. So go back to sickbay before I start reprogramming.
Computer, lights.
- Didn't I tell you to go to engineering? - I get it.
Interesting. You get me out so you can give my patient a tonsillectomy.
If you mention this to my wife, I will purge your memory buffer.
We understand each other?
I'm here for my physical.
Chapter Six. "Duel In The Ready Room".
Our protagonist faces an inquisition.
This time you've gone too far.
I'm not sure what you mean.
An inventory of your holo-matrix.
50 gigaquads of memory devoted to music.
42 for daydreams.
Another ten to expand your sexuality.
I had no idea holograms could do that.
These extracurricular subroutines
don't belong as part of an Emergency Medical Hologram.
Do you have anything to say for yourself?
Of course I do. I don't think these subroutines are trivial, Captain.
- They make me a better person. - You're not a person.
You may look and act human, but that doesn't make you one.
These subroutines are to be deleted. Mr Tulak.
Take the EMH to the holo-lab for reprogramming.
Chapter Seven. "The Escape”. Our protagonist is aided by his only ally.
- We shouldn't do this. - He knows what he's talking about.
Quiet! I'm not talking to you.
How do we know we won't accidentally delete some diagnostic subroutines?
You afraid you'll catch something?
There must be millions of viruses that no one's ever encountered before.
I'll probably end up catching half of them.
Great. My character's a hypochondriac.
I'll escort the prisoner.
Our orders are to take him to the holo-lab.
I'm performing the procedure.
Your sympathies for the EMH are no secret, Three of Eight.
Step aside.
Run, Doctor!
Chapter Eight. "A Tragic End." Our protagonist learns his fate.
I've tried to do this the easy way, but you're not being reasonable.
Your matrix will be reinitialised.
You'll remain off-line except for emergencies.
- Ready. - Do it.
Wait!
He has the right to expand his program.
He's a piece of technology. He has no rights.
He should. One day the EMH and others like him
will be recognised for what they are -
intelligent individuals with a passion for life.
Make no mistake. We may be thousands of light years from home,
but people will learn of the crime you're committing.
Nice speech.
Now decompile the program.
What you've experienced, dear protagonist, is a work of fiction.
But it has elements of truth.
I hope you have a better understanding of the struggles holograms must endure
in a world controlled by organics.
End of program.
Janeway to the Doctor, report to my ready room now.
How many times must I say it? My work is not about the Voyager crew.
Ensign Kymble? Lieutenant Marseilles?
The characters look almost exactly like us.
I used your physical parameters.
Any further similarities are purely coincidental.
Your story is set on a starship lost in the Delta Quadrant.
What would you have me write about? Intrigue on the Klingon Homeworld?
All good novelists write what they know.
- So it is about Voyager. - No!
The Vortex characters are nothing like our crew.
Captain, you haven't executed any of my patients.
Doctor, you've written a very imaginative story.
- But people might think it's fact. - I don't see how.
How many holograms have mobile emitters?
It's nothing like the real one.
It was like carrying around a small shuttlecraft.
It's a symbol of the burdens that I live with everyday.
Imagine having to take this everywhere you go.
It's a constant reminder that you're different.
I wanted the player to feel the weight of it, literally.
Your emitter isn't a ball and chain. It liberates you.
It doesn't always feel that way.
This story seems to have been written by someone who feels oppressed.
- Is that how you see yourself? - Of course not.
The real victims are my brothers in the Alpha Quadrant.
- Brothers? - Hundreds of EMH mark ones.
Identical to me except they've been condemned to a menial existence.
Scrubbing conduits. Mining dilithium.
Writers often draw attention to the plight of the oppressed.
"The Vedek's Song" tells of the occupation of Bajor.
You have your reasons for writing this.
But you should consider how it's going to make your friends feel.
I'm sorry my work offends you.
But if the price of expressing myself is the scorn of a few colleagues, so be it.
You're popular with my eighth-graders. Voyager this, Voyager that.
Your mother has a small favour to ask of you.
I hoped you could record a presentation about commanding a starship.
But I don't command a starship.
You said the captain puts you in charge sometimes.
What I said was I'm in command of the night shift twice a week.
She must think highly of you to give you that responsibility.
So when is she giving you a promotion?
It's a small ship. There are only so many command positions available.
Captain Janeway sounds like a lovely woman.
- Maybe I should write her. - Mom!
She needs to know how hard you work.
- Don't get involved! - Harry, I can't hear you!
A solar flare is scattering the beam.
Tell the captain to expect a letter.
Mom, don't send anything to the captain.
- Boost the deflector output. - It's at maximum.
Argh! I don't believe this! I had a minute and a half left!
You'll have a chance to speak with them in two months.
- You just don't get it, do you? - No.
Maybe if you had family you were close to, you'd feel differently.
Chief medical officer's personal log, stardate 54740.8.
Although the decision has made me unpopular, I won't compromise my work.
I'm making revisions to the program before transmitting it.
Computer, run EMH program "Photons Be Free".
Welcome. You've made an excellent choice.
You obviously have impeccable taste.
- Freeze program. - Unable to comply.
You are about to embark on a remarkable journey.
You will take on the role of a medical assistant aboard the starship Voyeur.
Voyeur?
You'll assist the medical officer,
and tolerate his overbearing behaviour and obnoxious bedside manner.
Remember, patience is a virtue.
Chapter One. "It's The Doctor's World. You're Just Living In It".
When I tell you your shift begins at 0800,
that doesn't mean you can stroll in here at 0800 and 24 seconds.
- Do you understand me? - This is outrageous!
What's outrageous is that I'm going to miss my tee time. Now come along.
What's the trouble, One of Three?
- I'm Two of Three. - Sorry.
They're triplets, you know.
- It hurts when I do this. - Then don't do it!
- Ow! - Don't be a baby.
Your biradial clamp is out of alignment. I got just the thing.
It's a Klingon aphrodisiac. My own special blend.
You'll be feeling better in no time at all.
Lieutenant! I'm making a full report to the captain.
Is this about the regenerator I misplaced?
You accessed my holonovel and replaced it with your own narrative.
- I'm just writing what I know. - That took months to create!
Relax. I saved your program in a backup file.
I was just trying to make a point.
You made it. With a typical lack of subtlety.
Your program's about as subtle as a Ferengi mating dance.
My program is a serious social commentary. Yours is a farce.
You... had me drugging a patient and taking advantage of her!
Don't be ridiculous. That character is not you.
For one thing, he has much more hair.
But what if people ran that program and thought it was based on you?
I don't care what people think.
You do! You want everyone back home to think of you as a brilliant author.
I'm not doing this for my ego. Look past yours and maybe you'll see that!
I don't care if the whole Alpha Quadrant mistakes me for Lieutenant Marseilles.
What bothers me is that you think that's what I'm like.
You're nothing like Marseilles. He's self-indulgent.
And how would you describe me?
You're a married man with a child on the way.
- A lot of responsibilities. - I'm surprised you noticed.
I thought I'd begun to earn your respect. Maybe I was wrong.
Your program is under file theta 15. Do whatever you want with it.
Doctor, I need your help.
Unless you're suffering acute symptoms, go away.
I was wondering if you could take a look at this.
"Cooking With Neelix - A Culinary Tour Of The Delta Quadrant”.
It's a holo-cookbook. I want to transmit it to your publisher
during my com-link. With your approval, of course.
If you want writing tips, plenty of people are eager to offer them.
I don't know what anyone else said, but I loved your holonovel.
- You did? - Absolutely. It was rousing.
- With an important message, too. - Exactly.
This is my first chance to be appreciated as an artist.
- The crew should be happy. - You'll reach a wide audience.
What do you care about shipmates?
They're my friends. I don't want to hurt them.
There's an old Talaxian expression.
"When the road before you splits in two, take the third path.”
Meaning?
You could adjust the program so it won't be so obvious it's based on Voyager.
I could change the setting, alter the characters' physical parameters.
You wouldn't have to change your theme.
No. But a rewrite could take weeks.
My publisher is expecting a final draft tomorrow.
Maybe you should give him a call.
- Revisions? - I need to rework the characters.
- Why? They're so believable. - A little too believable, apparently.
I really don't think this is necessary.
I'm afraid I have to insist. My friends' reputations are at stake.
He won't distribute the program until he receives the revised version.
The one where we assimilate the Borg and take over the quadrant?
Thank you for taking our feelings into account.
- How long will the revisions take? - Art can't be rushed.
Take your time, Doctor.
- Lieutenant, I'm sorry. - Forget about it.
Can you help with the rewrites?
Really? You realise as a writer I'm a little unsophisticated.
No. I believe the phrase you're looking for is "lowbrow".
Hey. What's that?
It's from my father. He wants to talk.
What are you going to do?
I've already arranged to talk to my cousin.
I'm sure she wouldn't mind waiting a few weeks.
- I wouldn't know what to say to him. - Then let him talk.
Look at you! You must be what, 20 weeks along?
23 actually.
- Have you decided on a name? - Not yet.
- We were thinking about Miral. - Your mother would have liked that.
I had some business on Kessik IV a few months ago.
You wouldn't believe what our old house looks like.
Lieutenant, 30 seconds.
We have less than a minute. Is there a reason you wanted to talk?
I know I can't make up for 20 years in one conversation.
The truth is, when your ship disappeared... I thought I'd lost you.
I don't expect you to forgive me,
but maybe we could try to get to know each other again.
I'll write you.
I'm sorry to disturb you, Admiral.
- What can I do for you? - I thought you'd want to see this.
- What is it? - It's a holonovel.
- It's becoming popular. - I appreciate the gesture.
But I don't like holographic diversions.
You don't understand. This program is about Voyager.
It doesn't portray the crew in a very flattering light.
- On screen. - Captain.
Seven said your message was urgent.
I had the dubious privilege of playing a new holonovel written by your EMH.
I'm surprised you would allow the Doctor to discredit your crew like this.
He's making revisions. The program shouldn't have been distributed.
But it has been. It's already being played in thousands of holosuites.
You said you'd wait for my revisions.
I demand that you recall every copy and issue a public apology.
I won't do anything of the sort.
You don't have a choice, Mr Broht. Authors have rights.
- Not in this case. - What do you mean?
- The Doctor is a hologram. - So?
According to Federation law, holograms have no rights.
Under a strict interpretation of the law, Mr Broht is correct.
- The Doctor has no legal rights. - Because I'm a hologram.
Yes. But there is another option.
We can claim that the holonovel reveals classified information.
Starfleet could then request that it be recalled.
A cover-up? Then everyone will be convinced that it's a true story.
Could we claim defamation?
If we prove that the story's about us and we've been harmed by it.
We might win on those grounds. But what about the Doctor?
What about me? It's the crew's reputations that are at risk.
I'm not so sure. I think your reputation is on the line here.
You have the same rights as every other member of this crew.
I won't let this publisher say otherwise.
Captain's log, stardate 54748.6.
An arbitrator has been assigned
to determine whether the Doctor has the right to control his creation.
Because of our limited com time, the arguments should take three days.
You say the Doctor doesn't have the right to control this holoprogram,
yet you're promoting that he wrote it.
Our most successful children's title is "written by" Toby the Targ.
Toby hasn't tried to stop me from distributing any of his work.
You don't deny that the Doctor created this holonovel.
No. But a replicator created this cup of coffee.
Should that replicator be able to determine whether I can drink it?
- I object. - An intriguing analogy, Mr Broht.
But I have never encountered a replicator that could compose music,
or paint landscapes, or perform microsurgery.
Have you?
Do you have a reputation for publishing respected, original works of literature?
- I think so. - Is the Doctor's novel such a work?
Actually, some aspects of it are quite derivative.
Has work ever been written about a hologram's struggle for equality?
Not that I know of but...
Then in that respect, it is original.
I suppose so.
Section 7-gamma of the Twelfth Guarantee
defines an artist as "a person who creates an original work".
Mr Broht admits that the Doctor created this program and that it is original.
The Doctor should therefore be entitled to all rights
accorded an artist under the law.
You've made a persuasive argument, but there's a flaw in your logic.
The law says that the creator of an artistic work must be a person.
Your EMH doesn't meet that criterion.
We're losing the link.
This hearing is in recess until tomorrow.
- We're not doing well. - Is that your considered legal opinion?
I'm sorry. It's just frustrating to be told I have no legal standing.
If the Doctor doesn't have the right to control his own work,
then he never had the right to enter into an agreement with Mr Broht.
We could argue that the contract is invalid.
You want to concede that the Doctor isn't a person.
What we need to do is prove that he's as much a person as any of us.
- How do we do that? - By telling your real life story.
I was having difficulty interacting, so he gave me social lessons.
First he taught me how to make conversation, later, how to dance.
Eventually he showed me how to express romantic interest.
Without his guidance, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
He decided it wasn't enough to be just a doctor,
so he added command subroutines to his matrix
and now he's as capable as any bridge officer.
That only proves his program can be modified.
I think it shows he has a desire to be more than he is, like any other person.
He travelled across the Galaxy to care for Lewis Zimmerman,
who created his program.
He was like a son who wanted to show his father what he'd become.
And if you ask me, Zimmerman was proud of him.
I'd made myself clear. But the Doctor disobeyed my direct orders.
In the process, he endangered the ship and crew.
- That's hardly commendable. - No, it wasn't.
But it was human. Starfleet had programmed him to follow orders.
The fact that he was capable of doing otherwise
proves that he can think for himself.
Your Honour, centuries ago, in most places on Earth,
only land owners of a particular gender and race had any rights at all.
Over time, those rights were extended to all humans,
and later, as we explored the galaxy, to thousands of other sentient species.
Our definition of what constitutes a person has continued to evolve.
Now we're asking that you expand that definition once more
to include our Doctor.
I would never have believed that an EMH could be a valued crew member.
And my friend.
The Doctor is a person, as real as any flesh and blood I've ever known.
If you believe the testimony you've heard here,
it's only fair to conclude that he has the same rights as any of us.
You'll have my decision in two days. This hearing is in recess.
When you sing "Happy Birthday", try to stay in tune.
What's this?
An isolinear chip entitling you to three minutes of com time.
It's important to finish your conversation.
- I overreacted. - I understand why you did.
I've been observing the crew interacting with their families.
It's clear how meaningful that communication can be.
Thanks, but I can't accept this.
- Why not? - You should contact your family.
My parents were assimilated.
There must be someone. A distant relative.
My father has a sister on Earth. Irene Hansen.
I'm sure she'd be thrilled to hear from you.
You can imagine my reaction when Starfleet told me to expect your call.
I experienced some apprehension myself.
You seem like a lovely young woman.
But you were the most stubborn six-year-old I've ever met.
Your parents left you with me for a weekend.
You were so angry you locked yourself in my guestroom and wouldn't come out.
That must have been inconvenient for you.
I coaxed you out eventually with a strawberry tart.
I like strawberries. I didn't realise I'd had them as a child.
You couldn't get enough of them.
You didn't hesitate to point out if they weren't perfectly ripe.
I'm sorry if I insulted you. Perhaps I shouldn't have called.
No, I'm very glad you did.
It's wonderful to see you again, Annika.
We're exploring new territory,
so it's fitting that this hearing be held at Pathfinder.
The Doctor exhibits many human traits -
intelligence, creativity, ambition, even fallibility.
But are these real, or is the Doctor merely programmed to simulate them?
To be honest, I don't know.
Eventually we will have to decide,
because the issue of holographic rights won't go away.
But at this time, I will not rule that the Doctor is a legal person.
However, it is obvious he is no ordinary hologram,
and while I can't say that he is a person,
I will extend the legal definition of "artist” to include the Doctor.
He may therefore control his work.
All copies of his holonovel must be recalled.
- No! - This hearing is adjourned.
- Congratulations. - Thank you, Reg.
We'll be in touch, Captain.
You don't look like you've just struck a blow for holograms' rights.
I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but it feels like a hollow victory.
The program's already been played by thousands of people.
We'll survive.
Don't you have a holonovel to revise?
Do you think I'll find another publisher?
Doctor, you can do just about anything you set your mind to.
Time for your diagnostic.
I know the routine.
And... while you're in the holo-lab, do yourself a favour.
Ask the operator to run program 47 beta.
Why? What is it?
It's called "Photons Be Free". It's quite provocative.