Chapter Text
When Montgomery’s Engineering professor introduced the concept of an Advanced Placement Interest Project, or APIP, he had become determined to go above and beyond. After all, if he wanted to be assigned to the Enterprise, the flagship of the Federation, he had to stand out, in a good way. He had mentioned the project to his friend, Jim, at lunch, and he had jokingly suggested that the Scotsman build a robot doctor. When Scotty had looked confused, Jim had explained that he had seen it in a holovid, and that it was actually pretty cool.
Scotty began blueprints immediately.
He knew he wasn’t making just another robot. No, his was going to be an android, it was going to be sentient. He thought it would be amusing to give it a country accent and a southern dialect, just to give it some personality. It could be male, because Scotty didn’t know much about women, and it could have a chip for emotions.
For the next six months, he poured his soul into this project, working diligently, but no longer simply because it was an extra credit assignment; he wanted to meet this being he was creating, he wanted him in the world.
He had decided to call it Leonard, Leonard McCoy. That sounded southern enough, and he also was partial to the way the word sounded on his tongue.
Leonard. Without even noticing, every night, as he left the Engineering classroom where he worked on the android, he would sweep the artificial hair back from that perfectly smooth forehead and plant a gentle kiss.
Eight months. Montgomery had been working on Leonard for eight months. Finally, he was ready for activation. Quietly, Montgomery hooked up Leonard’s body to an old, large car battery, activated a tricorder just in case, and threw the switch on the black box, and held his breath.
He blinked for the first time in his life. He looked around the room, surveying his surroundings and analyzing the data he collected. His eyes met another’s, and he examined the man, who was both a stranger and strangely familiar. He was watching Leonard with anticipation, and he seemed to be holding his breath. He thought for a moment before speaking.
“Friend?” he tried, finding he could speak. The unidentified man’s face broke into a smile made of sunshine, surging forward and wrapping his arms around Leonard.
“Aye,” he whispered in his ear. “We’re friends,”
Leonard was unsure of what to do, so he simply reached up and patted the man’s back. The hug ended, and their eyes found each other again.
“Do you know who I am?” the man asked, and Leonard shook his head.
“No.”
“My name’s Montgomery, but you could call me Monty if you want. I’m, well, I guess I’m your creator, but yeah, I’m your friend, too,” he said.
“Oh. Okay. Hi...Monty,” Leonard tried, and Montgomery beamed again.
“Hey, Len.” he laughed.
It had worked.