Morgan Dash Unbound

Datalove

a Star Trek: The Next Generation fiction


by Morgan Dash

Captain Jean-Luc Picard materialized on an Enterprise-E transporter pad looking tanned, fit, and very annoyed. Another shimmer of color formed into another Starfleet uniform beside him. It was an attractive young woman, a Lieutenant, and she was talking.

Waiting to greet their Captain and his guest were Commander Will Riker, Counselor Deanna Troi, Doctor Beverly Crusher, Lt. Commander Worf and Commander Data. They watched as the Captain strode forward so fast that he practically leapt off the platform. But his companion was just as quick and was instantly at his elbow again. She slowed him down, then stopped him, as he was forced to listen to her low voice next to his ear.

Counselor Troi sensed confusion, some of it coming from herself. The young Lieutenant was not the person they were expecting to arrive with Captain Picard. They were there as senior officers to formally welcome the new president of the United Federation of Planets.

But it was Captain Picard's emotion that dominated. He was exasperated to the point of fury.

After a series of quick nods, he moved forward, no longer listening to the still unidentified officer. This did not even slow her down. She continued talking.

"Mr. Worf!" the Captain said in an unusually loud, though familiarly stentorian tone. " Please escort Lieutenant Tolliver to the quarters we have prepared for the President, and answer any questions she may have on arrangements that might affect his security."

"Mr. Worf is in charge of security for this mission," he explained to the Lieutenant, and turning swiftly to Worf he said, "This is Lieutenant Tolliver---" then he nodded towards the assembled officers and said loudly, as if to indicate an all-inclusive introduction by means of volume-"everyone. You can all introduce yourselves later. Mr. Worf, you are dismissed."

With his own nod of understanding, Mr. Worf hustled Lieutenant Tolliver off without delay. The Captain watched them leaving and when he was sure they were gone, he virtually collapsed into a seated position on the transporter pad.

They all looked at him in some surprise. But Will Riker was already hiding a smile.

"Captain," he said, innocently. "You're looking well."

"Yes," Dr. Crusher said. She was sure Riker was being ironic, but she saw it as an opportunity to be soothing. "I'm glad to see you got some sun."

"That island on Trianth 4 must have been as idyllic as advertised," Riker said. "Even with the conference going on, I hope you had a restful week."

"It was a week from hell," Captain Picard said, "and your smirk tells me you know it, Number One."

While Riker stopped trying to suppress a grin, Counsellor Troi decided it was time to state the obvious.

"You do seem a bit upset, Captain," she said softly.

"Oh, I'm sure that Betazoid sensitivity isn't required to see that, Counsellor." He took a breath and began to explain in a tone he was struggling to keep on an even keel.

" Lieutenant Tolliver is the Starfleet liaison officer in charge of presidential protocol, and she has additional responsibilities for his security. She insisted on inspecting his quarters and reviewing our procedures before allowing the President to beam aboard. Which is, of course, all quite reasonable. Inconvenient, but reasonable. However, she was also assigned to brief me on this mission. And in all my years in Starfleet, I have never been subjected to a briefing that was less brief! She has been chattering at me all week. Restful? I was assaulted by a constant, rapid-fire presentation of all the diplomatic and political news and quite a bit more of the gossip, concerning every inhabited planet in every system we will come within a hundred light years of passing on our way to Earth."

Riker grinned. "That lovely Lieutenant? For a week?"

Picard shook his head. "Lieutenant Tolliver is very bright," he allowed, " she's a diplomatic specialist, and she talks very fast. So I have learned in excruciating detail about every squabble, every incident of back-stabbing, pretentious posturing and war-mongering, and every back-room deal. And of course, there's the Federation news we may have missed being so far out in space, so she brought me up to date on every incident, every memo, report, debate over amendments to clarifications of regulations---every rumor, every incident of Federation Council in-fighting and Starfleet paranoia. It was, it was--"

"Hell?" Riker suggested.

Deanna noticed that their barely suppressed smiles were infecting the Captain's mood, and he was beginning to relax.

"Well, welcome back, Captain," Riker said, and their smiles were now all quite open.

"Thank you, Number One," Picard said, his smile a little more rueful than theirs. Springing easily to his feet, he added, "It's good to be back. And I trust that Lieutenant Tolliver is in much better hands now with Mr. Worf."

"Oh, brother," Doctor Crusher said.

The annoyance, the confusion were gone now, but as the others followed Captain Picard out of the transporter room, Deanna sensed something else. It was quite strong. An acute sense of dislocation, and a sudden swirl of chaotic feelings.

The source of these emotions was behind her.

She turned to see Commander Data still standing in the same spot he had been when the Captain beamed aboard. He was staring at the empty transporter pad. She was amazed to see that, despite the android's built-in pallor, Data actually looked pale.

Realizing she was staring at him, Data started forward. And stumbled. He almost fell.

"Data?" she cried. "Are you all right?"

Data stopped and looked at her. The tilt of his head meant he was rapidly calculating all the possibilities of his situation, and ranking all the conceivable causes, influences and outcomes in order of likelihood, to explain what was happening to him. Yet his eyes also looked bewildered. And his mouth--what was happening to his mouth?

"No, Counselor," he said finally, in a voice that seemed to come from farther away than usual. "I am not."

* * *

Noticing even small changes in an officer's demeanor was something Captain Picard considered part of his job. But even though Lieutenant Commander Data could surprise him with his latest experiments in trying to understand or emulate human behavior, the Captain was still getting used to the idea that Data could have moods.

But having given permission for Data to continue employing his emotion chip during routine missions, he realized he was going to have to learn to cope with an android with mood swings.

Though the Enterprise was currently involved in transporting the newly elected Federation President from the Trill homeworld to Federation headquarters on Earth, it was a complex rather than a dangerous mission. So it was not until the first staff meeting after his return from the Trianth 4 conference that he had occasion to notice the differences in Data's behavior.

"So President Songe is finally aboard, and has suffered no mishaps in the four hours he's been with us," the Captain began smoothly, glancing amiably around the glowing white table of the Enterprise-E observation lounge. Scanning his padd he continued, "I understand Lieutenant Tolliver has expressed concern about some of our passengers."

He looked over at Commander Data, but receiving no response, the Captain continued. "One is a medical case, I believe."

"Yes, Captain," Dr. Crusher said. "He's a patient we are transporting to Earth. "

"He's to be treated there?" Picard inquired.

"Yes. At the Taylor Institute."

"Yes, I see it now in your report. David Dieghan, ESA Syndrome." Picard was surprised. "I haven't heard that diagnosis for a long time."

"Extended Space Aversion is actually not as rare as you might think," Beverly said.

"Fascinating," Picard said, leaning back. "We do tend to forget what an alien environment space really is."

"It's true," Counselor Troi added, " Almost everyone who spends long periods in space has some problems adjusting, but some have unusual difficulty. They go from being highly agitated to being almost paralyzed, as if they were hypnotized. This tendency was noticed in the first long space flights in the twentieth century. They called it 'space rapture.'"

"That's a lovely name," Data said. "Space... rapture."

It took a moment for the others to absorb their surprise at Data's uncharacteristic comment, but no one knew what to say about it.

"And it was a twentieth century woman who studied ESA and developed the first treatments," Beverly said, covering their discomfort.

"Ah, yes, Dr. Gillian Taylor, of course," Captain Picard said. "The twentieth century woman who returned with Captain James T. Kirk to the twenty-third century, along with two humpback whales."

"I remember reading about her," Commander Riker said. "Stands to reason she would see space travel differently."

"She was a girlhood hero of mine," Dr. Crusher said. "One of my role models."

" "And Mr. Deighan ?" Picard inquired.

" He had an acute attack on his way to Trianth 4," Counsellor Troi said. "He's a planetary geologist, and he was going there to map the remote northern continent."

"And as a planetary geologist, he can't simply avoid space travel," Picard inferred.

"Exactly," Doctor Crusher said. "He needs sustained and concentrated treatment, and the Taylor Institute is the best place."

"Well, that seems reasonable. Still, it is something of a coincidence that he came aboard at the same time as the President, and needs to go to Earth. Lieutenant Tolliver is right to be concerned. Let's keep an eye on him. And what about these other two---"

But the Captain stopped abruptly as he watched Data rise and walk out of the observation lounge, without apparent urgency, but simply as if the meeting were over and he had been dismissed.

Once again they were all too startled to speak.

"Is there something I should know about Mr. Data?" the Captain said finally.

The others looked at one another.

"Actually, I'm running a full diagnostic on him as soon as I get back to engineering," Geordi said quietly.

"It seems Data had an-unsettling--emotional reaction," Troi said.

"How long ago?" Picard asked.

"This morning," Beverly said. "In the transporter room, when he was there for your arrival."

"An emotional reaction? His emotion chip was activated?"

"Yes, sir," Troi said. "Data wanted to experience the emotions of a homecoming."

Picard looked puzzled, and then looked skeptically at Troi.

"Are you saying he had a reaction to seeing me?"

"No, sir," the Counselor said. "To seeing her."

"Her? "

"Lieutenant Tolliver, sir," Beverly said. "The pretty young woman who beamed over with you."

"Lieutenant Tolliver?" Picard repeated. "But Data has never seen her before."

"That's right, Captain," Counselor Troi agreed. "I'm afraid it was love at first sight."
* * *

As Geordi LaForge traced the last pathway in his positronic net, Data once again considered turning off his emotion chip. He didn't believe that this strange swirl of powerful feelings had yet affected the performance of his duties---although he had been getting some strange looks from his fellow officers. Still, he was endeavoring to integrate emotions into his life, and it was necessary to try to deal with even the uncomfortable and confusing ones. After all, that is what humans have to do.

"That does it, Data," Geordi said. "The diagnostic is complete, and I'm not finding anything out of the ordinary. No problems at all."

"That confirms my internal diagnostic, " Data said. "The sensations Dr. Crusher calls 'upset stomach' and 'lightheadedness'--do not correspond to malfunctions or anomalies in my autonomic systems--in my body. Similarly, my distraction, inability to concentrate on anything but--" and here Data almost stammered--"but Lieutenant Tolliver, do not seem to be produced by malfunctions of my positronic net."

"So they aren't in your head, either," Geordi said. "They're in your heart."

"But I have no heart, Geordi," Data said softly. "Unless you are referring to my emotion chip."

"I guess I am, kind of," Geordi said. He left the display panel and started walking. Data knew from experience he was not to ask Geordi where he was going, but simply to follow beside him.

"I have never understood why humans refer to their hearts when discussing emotions," Data said.

"I don't either, really," Geordi said. "Except that it's in the center of your body, and it connects everything. And emotions can have all kinds of mental and physical effects, as you are discovering. But maybe it's simpler than that. Maybe that's just where people feel it. Where it hurts."

They were standing near the glowing warp core. Data turned towards it as Geordi scanned the status screens.

"But emotions are so complex," Geordi continued. "And the heart is about more than physical or emotional processes. When we say somebody has heart, or has a good heart, we're talking about things like courage, tenacity, empathy, generosity. I don't know whether those are emotions or not, but people see evidence of these qualities in someone's behavior. In your behavior, Data. Despite what we know about your positronic systems, everybody on the Enterprise has believed for a long time, that you have heart. Because we've all seen it."

"Thank you, Geordi," was all Data could sort out to say from a thousand speeding thoughts and emotions.

"But that doesn't get to your problem now," Geordi said. "What it sounds like to me is--you're in love. Probably for the first time, which is why all this is so unfamiliar."

" That is Dr. Crusher's diagnosis as well. But I only saw Lieutenant Tolliver once, for a few moments," Data said.

"Sometimes that's all it takes," Geordi smiled.

"So what would a human in love do now?" Data asked, surprised by the odd pitch of his own voice.

"Well, you could try to actually meet her," Geordi said. " Get to know her a little, and see if your feelings stay the same. But maybe you should get used to the feelings first. Sort of explore them. Test them out."

"I think I understand. I have learned from the data base of literature and song on the subject that there are numerous gradations of attractions. Infatuation, for example, could fit the profile of my feelings. One test of infatuation is the degradation of emotion over time, while true love is defined by long duration, as in the famous line, "at first I thought it was infatuation, but ooh it's lasted so long."

Heads turned towards them from all over Engineering as Data loudly warbled his song reference.

"Yeah, Data, something like that," Geordi said. "You really should talk to Counselor Troi about this. "

"I will do so," Data said. "But if you do not mind, I think I will stay here awhile and admire the warp core. The colors suddenly remind me of the sunsets on Omnicron Theta."
* * *

The next day everything seemed normal on the bridge of the Enterprise.

"We're on schedule, Number One?" the Captain inquired as the morning shift began.

"Yes, sir. We should arrive in the Terran system in two days."

"No further concerns raised by Lieutenant Tolliver?"

"She has asked a lot of questions about the reception for the President tomorrow night."

"She is very thorough," Counsellor Troi observed.

"Lieutenant Tolliver is very accomplished," Commander Data said enthusiastically from his ops position. "She has advanced degrees in diplomacy and Federation history, and she was posted for two years at the Federation embassy on Bajor. Her monograph on the relationship between the Kriosian system and the Klingon homeworld is considered definitive. She also enjoys swimming and the poetry of Iloja of Prim."

The officers all stopped in their tracks to listen to Data. They were also trying not to either stare or laugh. When Data noticed this, Captain Picard decided to explore the situation in private.

"Mr. Data, would you join me in my ready room?"

"Yes, Captain."

Once he was sitting behind his desk and he had indicated a degree of informality by inviting Commander Data to also be seated, Captain Picard began the conversation quietly but seriously.

" Data, I hope you have not been accessing information on Lieutenant Tolliver improperly."

"No, sir," Data said. "I used no special clearances." He paused. "Captain, my emotion chip does not prevent the operation of my ethical subroutines, nor any of my other processes."

"Yes, Data, but..." Picard sighed. " When humans are in the grip of strong emotion, falling in love for example, they may behave contrary to their usual ethical standards. As Starfleet officers we have a particular responsibility to make sure we do not abuse our power. Consider it a caution rather than a doubt."

"Yes, sir. It is true that my systems are sometimes functioning asynchronously. "

"Meaning?--What specifically?"

"I find myself doing and saying things before I have fully analyzed them. It is only later that I discover these actions and words were inappropriate. I am...surprising myself."

Picard smiled broadly for the first time in days. "That certainly sounds familiar. It's very much a human experience. And it's not altogether a bad thing."

"But is it a good thing?"

"It can be, Data. Surprise is a kind of emotion. It can humble us at times. And it can energize us, our blood seems to flow faster, and it is a delight of the mind as well. It is a kind of built-in motivation for learning, a reward for curiosity. And dealing with the unexpected is a major part of our work out here. Or it used to be, before we became a shuttle craft for Federation officials. What else have you been experiencing?"

"Counselor Troi suggested I try to express my emotions creatively, in art forms. So far I have mainly done so in writing poetry. The results have been quite different from my previous work."

"Really?"

"Yes, sir. But I believe my poems have declined in quality."

"What makes you think that?"

"I no longer understand them. For example, in the time that it would normally take me to write a minimum of 100 lines, I produced only two, and they are incoherent."

" Do you recall them?"

"Of course, sir. 'If she is lost in the fragrant stars/My heart will pale to a hobbled beat.'"

"Interesting, Data," the Captain said.

"But how can stars be fragrant? Or a heart pale?"

"They are images, Data, the ambiguous stuff of metaphor. 'Fragrant stars' suggests flowers, someone lost or obscured in a field of flowers perhaps. Flowers suggest color, as in the heart turning pale. And there are many associations for 'a hobbled beat', along with the sounds of the syllables---limitation, muffled drums, a horseback search through those fields---it's a feast for the imagination. And it is in the imagination of the reader or the audience that the poem comes alive."

"Really, sir?" Data said. "I am once again...surprised."

"The inner exploration, Data. It's quite an adventure."

"Yes, sir. But I am concerned that you might be concerned about my reliability. Perhaps I should deactivate my emotion chip."

"I don't think that's necessary. You need to learn how to monitor your emotions, and how they may be affecting your thought processes and behavior---I'm sure Counsellor Troi has told you that."

"Yes, sir. We talk about that frequently in our regular counseling sessions."

"Good. Well, this mission isn't presenting any particular difficulties. I don't see any need to deny you this experience."

"Thank you, sir. May I ask you a somewhat personal question?"

" Yes, Data, but please don't ask me for advice, or about my...experiences."

"No, sir. What I would like to know is, does it disturb you that I am attracted to someone you dislike? Do you think less of me because of it?"

Picard smiled. "Not at all, Data. I don't really know Lieutenant Tolliver, despite my uncomfortable time with her. But we all know that these...attractions... are so...mysterious. And very individual. When it comes to love, viva la difference!"

"Ah, a proverb," Data responded. "There seem to be many proverbs and sayings associated with this phenomenon. I have even overheard several employed by members of the crew I do not know but who comment on this situation to each other. Some of which I would not repeat."

Captain Picard cleared his throat, and rose from his seat. He had hoped that invoking an easy cliché would have signaled the end of their conversation. But then something occurred to him.
"Data, may I ask you a personal question? Have you actually spoken with Lieutenant Tolliver?"
"Not really," Data said, and touched his hands to his face. "Am I blushing, sir?"

"Not noticeably."

"The physical manifestations of emotion are another challenge," Data said. "But to answer your question more completely, I will be speaking with her in the near future. In fact, tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes, sir. We have a date."

"Well done, Mr. Data." Captain Picard was visibly pleased. "Well done."
* * *

"Dinner in his quarters," Counsellor Troi said, "then a walk in the holodeck. Data was still trying to choose the environment for the simulation when I saw him in the afternoon."

"You mean you haven't seen him since?" Doctor Crusher said. The two officers were going through their morning exercise routine in the gym.

"No, and I may not get to talk with him before the reception tonight. He's going to be busy all day with preparations. He'll be coordinating with Lieutenant Tolliver."

"You mean he's working with her all day, too?"

"That's right."

"I wonder how it went last night. There's not as much for a couple to do on the Enterprise E as there was on the 'D'. What did they do after the holodeck?"

"Beverly, I have no idea."

"I hope he didn't ask Commander Riker for advice."

"He probably did. And Geordi."

"Between the advice those two would give, there's no telling what happened."

"Maybe they would cancel each other out," Deanna said, joining Beverly in her laughter. "And Data and Lieutenant Tolliver just let the evening unfold."

"You know," Beverly said, no longer laughing. "I hope so. Data deserves some love in his life."

"He does," Deanna agreed. "He really does."

* * *
The large reception area on the Enterprise E was beginning to fill. Commander Riker and Lieutenant Worf were sampling the punch while Worf kept an eye on the people filing in, and the security details at the entrances, trying to look unobtrusively formidable.

Commander Riker spotted Data across the room, in the company of Lieutenant Tolliver. Worf saw his smile and followed his glance.

"Look at how she looks at him," Riker said approvingly. "I'd say his date last night must have been a success."

"Yes, she does seem very attentive." Worf said. "Of course, they are involved in making sure the reception goes smoothly."

"Yes, but---look at how she looks at him."

Worf allowed himself his equivalent of a grin. "Commander Data does seem to have made a conquest," he said. He and Commander Riker lifted their glasses in Data's direction."

"What are you two toasting?" inquired Counsellor Troi, who had just entered with Doctor Crusher.

"Oh, the happy couple," Commander Riker said. Deanna and Beverly looked.

"They do seem to have hit it off," Beverly said.

"You certainly look lovely tonight," Commander Riker said to Counsellor Troi.

"Thank you, Will." Deanna smiled up at him .

"As do you, Doctor," Riker quickly added.

"Yeah, right," Beverly said. "Thank you."

But none of them could keep from gazing across the room at Data and Lieutenant Tolliver.

"They're so cute together," Deanna said. "Look---did Data almost drop something?"

"He's got it bad, all right," Beverly said, appending a sigh. "Look how he looks at her."

"Who looks at whom?"

"Captain!" Commander Riker said.

"We were remarking on...the couple," Beverly said, indicating them with a nod. Captain Picard looked across the room.

"Ah, yes. Well, anything that keeps Lieutenant Tolliver busy is certainly good for my morale."

"Does anyone know Lieutenant Tolliver's first name?" Beverly asked.

"I thought Lieutenant was her first name," Riker responded to stifled laughter.

"You are looking especially fetching tonight, Doctor," Captain Picard said to Beverly Crusher.

"Thank you, Jean-Luc."

"And you as well, Counsellor."

"Of course, Captain."

At that moment, Lieutenant LaForge, the last of the senior officers, arrived.

" Ah, Geordi, good. Now," the Captain began, gaining the attention of the group with one word, "the President is due to arrive in about twenty minutes. Senior officers will assemble in fifteen minutes outside this entrance to escort him."

"Very good, Captain," Riker said crisply.

Picard surveyed the room once more. "Looks like there will be a decent crowd," he said, nodding in approval.

"There should be," Counsellor Troi said. "Everyone aboard was invited."

"Everyone who Lieutenant Tolliver approved," Worf added. His admiration for her scrupulous attention to security was offset by his annoyance that she questioned his own procedures. So his tone was non-committal.

"My star patient is coming," Beverly said brightly. "Mr. Dieghan is excited. And lots of people in a familiar informal setting should be good for him."

"Good," the Captain said. "I'm looking forward to meeting him." His eyes sweeping across the room stopped and held, and he could not suppress a smile.

"Look at how she looks at him!" he said softly.

* * *

A half hour later, their grand entrance accomplished, the senior officers of the Enterprise were clustered near newly elected President Destes Songe. A reception line had formed and he was greeting everyone who desired to meet him, exchanging pleasantries and laughter.

At his side was Lieutenant Tolliver. Her high color made her look more vibrant than ever, Data observed, although he also felt a sense of loss. Her attentions until now had been focused on him, on their conversation, activities and later their tasks as they prepared for this reception. But ever since the President had arrived, she had barely glanced at Data.

To an extent, this was to be expected, of course. President Songe's safety, comfort and general welfare was her prime responsibility. But it did not require such total attention. If anything, her focus on President Songe was more intense than her remarkable attentiveness to him had ever been. And since they assembled outside the door for the President's entrance, she had not even glanced Data's way.

Now there she was, at the President's elbow, glowing. She laughed at every witticism, and looked up at him with rapt attention when he seemed to be saying something more serious. Under the pretext of hearing better what those in the reception line were saying, she managed to move even closer to the President's person. There was now no space at all between their bodies, as they greeted each person as if they were a couple.

Data noted these feelings, and monitored strange physical manifestations. He realized that he suddenly felt cold without cause, for he registered the external temperature as unchanged. Then he began to feel hot. This also had no external cause.

When Data began feeling his systems slowing down, though only by an infinitesimal fraction of a second, he considered deactivating his emotion chip. He did not feel that experiencing depression was appropriate if it compromised his functioning in a public situation.

But it was at that moment he had to move aside to permit stewards to pass among them with glasses for an official toast. As he took a flute of champagne for himself, he glanced back towards Lieutenant Tollier. The President was in earnest discussion with someone---Liam Diegham, the geologist being transported to Earth-while the Lieutenant was asking the crowd to let another steward through with the tray that held, among others, the President's drink. He did not take alcoholic beverages, Data knew. As a Trill, the President was a combination of the host (Destes) and the symbiont inside him (Songe.) Destes liked to drink, the President joked (many times, according to the records) but Songe did not. So his glass contained a Trill fruit juice, chilled with ice from the northern continent of Trianth 4.

Just this morning, Data and Denise (for that was Lieutenant Tolliver's first name) had spent over an hour making sure the constituents of this drink were on hand and ready, and that the drink itself would be prepared correctly and delivered without fail for the main toast of the evening.

But Denise did not even exchange with him so much as a glance acknowledging the success of their labor.

Data moved closer and into the semi-circle being formed by the Enterprise senior officers in front of President Songe. Captain Picard took a last glance around to make sure they were all ready, flutes and glasses in hand, and was about to speak.

But Lieutenant Tolliver, who had moved to the far edge of the semi-circle to face President Songe, suddenly bolted forward. Like lightning, her right arm reached up to the President's raised glass. She grabbed his wrist with her left hand, bringing it down to her eye level. Then with her right hand she reached into his drink and deftly plucked something out. She held it up to the light, and turned it. At first everyone was shocked. But those closest to her saw that what she held was not an unusually large piece of ice, but a fragment of glass.

A collective gasp turned into a murmur, as those farther away learned what had happened. The President looked at Lieutenant Tolliver as if seeing her for the first time, blinked, and then smiled reassuringly. His hands now being free, he led the applause.

"It looks like a piece of a broken champagne flute," Doctor Crusher said. "How did it get in the President's glass?"

"It's inexcusable!" Lieutenant Tolliver cried. "It was small enough to swallow! Not only the Destes host but the Songe symbiont could have been injured. I will conduct a thorough investigation of this extremely serious incident."

Data had taken the glass with the President's fruit juice and was examining it. He turned to Lieutenant Geordi LaForge.

"Geordi, what do you see?"

Thanks to his VISOR, Geordi LaForge could "see" in many ways humans could not, including variations in heat and density that could identify the signatures of chemicals that comprised specific substances.

"It isn't just the large fragment," Geordi said. "There's some crushed ice in there, but most of what appears to be ice is glass."

"I concur with that analysis," Data said.

"Then this is much more serious," Lieutenant Tolliver said. "Someone here has made an attempt on the President's life."

"Who on the Enterprise would do that?" Commander Riker said.

"I intend to find out," Lieutenant Tolliver said.

"I believe that is my function," Lieutenant Worf said, restraining his voice into what was for him a calm tone. "I am responsible for security on the Enterprise."

" I'm afraid that where the President is concerned, I supercede you," said Lieutenant Tolliver.

"A cooperative investigation would seem to be in order," Captain Picard stated.

"No, Captain," Tolliver quickly said. "This is a Federation matter of the highest priority and I will be in charge of the investigation. Besides, this ship's security is something that I must investigate."

Now Lieutenant Worf was no longer restraining himself. "Are you accusing me of something, Lieutenant?" he bellowed.

"This is not the appropriate place or time for me to answer that question," Tolliver said coolly. "But I certainly am concerned that a potential assassin almost succeeded, and that certain obvious suspects were allowed access to this gathering."

"What obvious suspects?" Worf said with heated sarcasm.

"That man there, for one," Tolliver said, her arm extended and her finger pointing. "Being transported for treatment of a condition that causes delusionary behavior, and yet here he is, standing next to the President of the Federation, at the very moment his life is threatened."

All eyes turned to Liam Dieghan. His eyes were wide with surprise.

Two security officers who had moved forward and had been watching the crowd, now quickly positioned themselves on either side of Dieghan, and were poised to take him into custody if that order was given.

"I want that man held for questioning," Tolliver commanded, and the security officers seemed about to obey.

"This has gone far enough, Denise," Commander Data said calmly but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I beg your pardon, Commander Data," Tolliver said coldly, with pointed emphasis on his formal title.

"Mr. Dieghan is not responsible for the glass in the President's drink."

"And how would you know that?" Tolliver said. "Android intuition? He had access, he is unstable and he was recently on the northern continent of Trianth 4, and was the courier who supposedly brought aboard the fabled pure Trianth ice. I'd say someone who didn't take a long hard look at him would be incompetent."

While Tolliver and Worf glared at each other, Data spoke again, just as calmly as he had before.
"Mr. Dieghan is not responsible for the crushed glass in the President's drink," Data repeated. " I regret to say I believe you are, Denise."

"What?" Captain Picard said. "Mr. Data, I hope this is reason and not emotion speaking."

"I cannot necessarily separate the two at this moment," Data said. "But I believe my judgment is sound. I have been reviewing everything I have seen for the past several hours. As you know, Captain, I retain a visual record that I can examine at will, and I can subject any part of it to various forms of analysis through my tricorder, which provides access to the ship's computer. I have analyzed the last several hours in several ways. First, I focused on the steward carrying the President's drink. No one tampered with what appeared to be crushed ice in transit from the galley. When Denise---Lieutenant Tolliver accused Mr. Dieghan, I immediately focused on his movements since entering. He did not appear to have access to the galley or the storage area at any time."

"Oh, please, Data," Tolliver said. "Do you think this wasn't planned in advance?"

"Because Mr. Dieghan is a patient under observation, the computer has a complete visual log of his movements on the Enterprise," Data continued. "His periods without supervision were all spent in his quarters. Further, I have accessed the transporter logs, and verified that the ice he brought from Trianth was indeed chemically consistent with ice, and there is no trace of glass or any other foreign substance. The ice was in fact remarkably pure."

"What about the storage? And the galley?" Commander Riker inquired.

"Both of those areas were monitored for this mission. Records show that Lieutenant Worf secured the Captain's approval of this unusual precaution."

"Yes, he did," Captain Picard said. "Because of the President being aboard. What do those logs show?"

"There was no visible attempt to tamper with the ice in either location, not in the days since we left Trianth 4, and specifically not in the last several hours."

"Then you're saying that while Mr. Dieghan didn't do it, there isn't evidence of anyone else doing it either," Geordi LaForge said quietly.

"Not directly," Data said. "But there is evidence supporting my supposition that Denise---that Lieutenant Tolliver--- is responsible."

"What? That I wouldn't spend the night with you?" Tolliver said mockingly.

"That is an interesting interpretation of our date last night," Data said, "but my evidence is more specific, though it is circumstantial."

"Mr. President, this is improper procedure," Tolliver said quietly. "I feel like I'm in the midst of a lynch mob."

"That's a pretty insulting observation," President Songe said. "I don't think Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew should be characterized that way. This is not a trial, as I'm sure everyone here knows. Let Mr. Data finish his report and then Captain Picard and I will decide how to proceed."

Captain Picard nodded his assent. "Go ahead, Mr. Data," he said.

"There is no visual evidence of anyone tampering with the ice in the galley. But there is also a short gap of approximately 15 seconds in the security log. The galley was monitored with a portable system. It has a self-test mode which takes it off-line for 15 seconds. There are only a few people who know the code that initiates the self-test. One of them is Lieutenant Tolliver. Further, according to the time index of the gap, compared to the time index of the recording of my day, this gap occurred within the time this afternoon that Lieutenant Tolliver and I were in this room checking various systems, and she excused herself from my presence to 'powder her nose.'"

"That's your evidence?" Tolliver said. "It's as pathetic as you are. It proves nothing."

"What I have presented so far is circumstantial, I agree," Data said. "But so far I have only been concerned with the crushed glass that replaced the crushed ice."

"That's right," Geordi exclaimed. "There was that shard, that bigger piece that Lieutenant Tolliver saw, that started this whole thing."

"Correct, Geordi," Data said. He found it oddly comforting that his friend seemed to be on his side. This observation led to a new train of thought, perhaps a new insight into...

"Mr. Data," Captain Picard said sharply. "We are waiting."

"Sorry, Captain," Data said quickly. "I replayed my visual recording of the period in which the drinks were served for the formal toast. It shows Lieutenant Tolliver handling the President's drink for approximately 2.75 seconds. While I have been describing my prior investigations to you, I have subjected the recording of these seconds to a spectral analysis, which shows that the shard of glass was added at that time. And an enhanced version of what I saw at that moment shows that Lieutenant Tolliver indeed placed the shard of glass in the President's drink."

"Enhanced version?" Tolliver spat. "That would never be admissible in any court."

"But, Data," Doctor Crusher said, "assuming you're right, why would she replace the ice with crushed glass, and then add that shard when she risked someone seeing it?"

"Notice how she talks about me in the third person, like I'm not here," Tolliver said darkly. "Looks like Doctor Crusher has a crush on you, Data."

"I can answer your question only with a theory, Doctor," Data said. "I would surmise that Lieutenant Tolliver never meant to do harm to the President. She planted the shard so that she could legitimately notice it before the President could attempt to imbibe."

"So she could appear to rescue the President," Commander Riker said.

"I think the conspiracy is now evident, Mr. President," Tolliver said.

"But why the ground glass?" Counsellor Troi inquired.

"To make it appear to be an attempted crime rather than an accident," Data offered. "This possibility occurred to me when I recalled a comment Lieutenant Tolliver---Denise---made to me last evening. She stated that she hoped to impress the President, but there were so many other officers of higher rank with greater access to him, it would take something really big to get his attention."

"I did not say that," Tolliver said.

" I can provide the exact time index if you like," Data said. "And the place and circumstances."

"You're twisting what I said in confidence," she said. "You're a bitter boy, Data."

"I think we've heard enough for now," President Songe said.

"I agree," Captain Picard added.

"But don't break up the party," the President said. "What do you say, Captain?"

"Lieutenant Worf, please confine Lieutenant Tolliver to her quarters while the President and I confer," Captain Picard said. " Doctor Crusher, take charge of your patient. To be fair, Mr. Worf will assign a security officer to monitor his movements. Everyone else, make yourselves available to answer questions. Otherwise, standard security procedures in preparation for an investigation, Mr. Worf. And as much as I'd like to accede to the President's wishes, I think we've all had enough excitement for one evening. Ship's company is dismissed. Guests please proceed to your quarters."

Captain Picard waited until the President exited, escorted by two of Worf's best security officers. He watched as everyone else began leaving. As he turned to go he saw Data pass Lieutenant Tolliver and the security detail escorting her. He noted that they did not look at each other.
* * *

A week later Captain Picard summoned Commander Data to his ready room.

" I spoke with the President this morning." Captain Picard said, as he carried his cup of Earl Grey to his desk. "He's just moving into his office in Paris. Lucky man. He sends his regards and commendations to you, Mr. Data. Though unofficially."

"I gather no charges are being brought concerning the incident on the Enterprise," Data said.

"No. Your evidence, including the visual logs you provided, and your theory were convincing enough that Lieutenant Tolliver will be relieved of her responsibilities. But the President felt that a trial would be complicated, and no purpose served."

"I understand, sir. Her defense would say I was seeking revenge for thwarted desire."

"Something like that perhaps. But if she had no real intent to harm, criminal penalties seem inappropriate. There will probably be an administrative hearing at some point." Sitting now, Captain Picard waved Data to the seat opposite him.

"So have you discussed all this with Counsellor Troi?" the Captain asked. "Your feelings about all this, I mean."

"Yes, sir, I have," Data said. "Or as Counsellor Troi would say, I have begun to discuss it. Would you like a summary, sir?"

"Well, if you don't consider it prying, I am curious..."

"Yes, sir. It was a curious situation. The evening before the reception, on the date I had with...Denise. I discovered something most curious. After approximately 1.36 hours of conversation, I concluded that I did not like her. She was very ambitious, with no thought of others except how to "play" them, as she put it, and her interest in the world around her was limited to what affected her directly, her career in particular. I tried not to impose judgments on her, but I found that emotionally, all of this just...turned me off."

"However," Data continued, "and this is the part I find most curious, although I realized I did not like her, I was still attracted to her. In fact, in some ways, I was more attracted to her than ever."

Data paused for a moment and looked carefully at Captain Picard.

"You are not laughing," Data said. "When I mentioned this to Commander Riker, he found it very amusing."

Picard smiled. "I assume that's because he recognized that particular combination of contradictory feelings."

"Yes, that is what I concluded. But he was laughing so hard I could not get him to explain."

"But Data, if you still had feelings for her, wasn't it difficult to consider her a suspect?"

"It was," Data said, "and it was not. As I have analyzed my feelings since, I believe that when she stopped paying attention to me and started focusing her attention on the President, I felt jealous. So when the incident occurred, I was predisposed to think badly of her. However, at the same time, I felt guilty because of this feeling, and I felt that if I could prove she was not involved, she would like me again. But these contradictory feelings turned out to all motivate me to investigate the possibility that she was involved. Does this make sense?"

"For human beings, yes. We operate on mixed motives far more than we allow ourselves to know or believe."

"However, my feelings also blinded me to possibilities I might have considered earlier. For example, although I realized she was ambitious, I did not realize she could be dishonest to such an extent. And I am afraid that I did not see that her attentions towards me, while flattering, were meant to distract me."

"So you have in a sense experienced the most painful of the possible consequences of love," Captain Picard said softly. "Betrayal."

A long silence passed between them.

"I think I have understood one thing more," Data said finally. "It occurred to me while I was reporting my findings at the reception. I realized that the support of my friends gave me a warm feeling. I then understood why I asked you whether you thought less of me for being attracted to someone you did not like. It was because I value the insights of my friends, and I know they want only the best for me."

"It is certainly so that your friends here on the Enterprise want only the best for you," Captain Picard said, as he stood and walked behind his chair. "But you can't let the judgment of your friends substitute for your own judgment, particularly in relation to other people. We are all fallible, and we are none of us you. There have been many wonderful and lasting relationships, including marriages, between people that others fervently believed were unsuitable for one another."

" I see your point, sir. But I also find some solace in having experienced this series of perplexing emotions knowing that I had the concerned support of my friends."

"I see," Captain Picard said, and smiled. "Well, Data, you may have had a disappointing initiation in one kind of human love. But you seem to have found emotional meaning in another kind---the love friends have for one another."

"Yes, sir," Data said. For a moment he was unaccountably silent. "But I believe," he finally continued, "that I will take my emotion chip off-line for awhile. I will, as they say, give it a rest."

Data stood up and faced the Captain. "If there is nothing further, sir, I will return to my duties."

"Nothing further, Mr. Data. Dismissed."

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posted by Captain Future @ 1:36 AM