The ship was made of thoughts.

Lieutenant Fira Akané had to channel her mind in order to see the bulkheads instead of the Captain's computer screen, to feel the floor instead of a lover's kiss, to hear the hall's quiet instead of a cacophony of words. Every mind on the Enterprise was exposed. Vulnerable. Her Betazoid telepathy saw them like so many colored blocks.

Her Vulcan upbringing ordered them into compartments.

Fira finished her march down the corridor and the turbolift doors slid open. She jerked to a stop when she saw who it was.

"Commander Data."

His yellow eyes locked on hers instantly. She noticed the almost invisible line across his face where his new skin graft was still mending together after his encounter with the Borg. "Yes, Lieutenant?"

She stepped into the turbolift. The door hissed shut and she announced, "Engineering." She turned to Data. "I had anticipated meeting you later today. There is a personal matter I wish to discuss. Would you be available at 1900 hours?"

Data's head ticked slightly. "Yes. What is the nature of this matter?"

"Please meet me in Ten Forward at that time. I have a proposal for your review."

Data nodded. "Of course, Lieutenant." The turbolift doors opened, and they both stepped out into Engineering.

"I am starting my duty shift. What is your purpose there?"

Data pulled up. "Given our most recent encounter with the Borg, the Captain has asked that I assume additional tasks in analyzing areas for improvement of our offensive and defensive capabilities."

Fira's eyes narrowed. "Wouldn't Commander Worf be a more likely candidate to undertake such tasks?"

Data nodded. "The Captain has also assigned Worf to the same task, but he is currently occupied with the upcoming meeting with the Klingons."

"We're meeting with the Klingons?" Fira immediately chastised herself for sounding so surprised, but she could not rescind the comment.

"To the same end of improving our knowledge of the Borg," Data assured. "The Captain expressed that this issue cannot remain within the finite borders of Federation planning."

"Agreed," Fira said. She stepped away to check in with Geordi at the same time that Data did. Geordi glanced at her with his new bionic eyes, and his usual wave of attraction passed by her awareness, but his attention moved to Data.

"What can I do for you?"

"I am going to compile a report for Captain Picard regarding possible improvements for our Borg defense systems and overall system functions. I will not be in your way."

Geordi snorted. "Data, I wasn't worried about that."

Data tilted his head. "Despite my new capacity to experience worry myself, I still have difficulty detecting it in others. But no, I don't suppose you appear worried. I will progress with my task." He turned and moved to a nearby station.

Geordi smiled and shook his head, then turned to Fira. "Lieutenant, let's see…I could use you on Deck 16. The Borg installed something there that Benner and J'tal haven't been able to eradicate. After it's out, examine its function and make sure it didn't leave any additional programming in the computer."

"Aye sir."

Fira had been hard-pressed to find every bit of Borg programming the past three days since the invasion. As a devoted computer programmer, her mechanical skills weren't as impressive as some of the other engineers, but she could identify a single digit of code that was out of place. She'd found more than one of those since the crew's return to the 24th Century.

After a mentally grueling-yet-invigorating eight hours, Fira was released from duty. She returned to her quarters long enough only to clean herself up. She scrubbed her dark hands in the sink to rid herself of the lingering sensation of Borg nanoprobes in her skin. She squinted at her hair, which had come loose during her shift. She yanked at the black curls until they lay flat against her scalp, securing them in a relentless bun. Then she proceeded to Ten Forward.

The thoughts of the crew were often harder to tune out here, where people weren't focused on logical tasks but releasing their raw emotions. The chaos of a dozen conversations was easier to listen to than the telepathic jumble that she pushed into a corner. She sub-consciously recited the teachings of Surak to focus her thoughts.

Data was already sitting at a table by himself in the corner. She had hoped to arrive before him, but she supposed being even fifteen minutes early didn't matter with an android. She didn't bother with the niceties of getting drinks—didn't even glance at Guinan, whom she knew was watching more intensely than she let on. She strode directly to the table and sat down, her back to the majority of the crew.

"I am intrigued by your inquiry," Data said when she sat. "I have processed one hundred and thirty-nine potential reasons for your requesting this meeting, but I am unable to determine which is more likely than the others."

"I'm not surprised for your confusion," Fira said. "I have revealed no previous intentions of my current purpose. I would be curious, however, if any of your one hundred and thirty-nine options will turn out to be the case."

"Then please, proceed."

Fira took a deep breath. Her nerves fired, making her muscles feel week, but she didn't so much as twitch. "I understand, as do most of the crew, that one of your primary desires is to become more human."

Data's eyebrows twitched upward. "It is."

"I have a proposition to help in that endeavor. I wish to pursue a romantic relationship with you."

Data's eyebrows shot up. "I had, in fact, considered that possibility, although it was 78th on the list of possibilities." He smiled uncertainly. "I am pleased. Flattered. Excited. Surprised."

"Then you have, at least momentarily, entertained the prospect."

"Yes." His expression became more serious. "I must warn you, Lieutenant, that I have already attempted a romantic relationship with Lieutenant Jenna D'Sora. The experiment proved enlightening for me, but unrewarding for her."

Fira nodded. "I have gathered information on the occurrence from Lieutenant D'Sora. I believe the augmentation of your emotion chip will change the basis of our relationship, as will my personal experience. I have carefully considered the challenges that may arise in this particular relationship."

Data's eyebrows lifted. "Those are two important factors. Many of Jenna's concerns were rooted in my lack of emotion. She also expressed that her personal relationship history with 'unemotional men' was a root of consternation."

"I, on the other hand, look forward to challenging your development of emotions," Fira said. "If that would be acceptable to you."

Data considered. "I am willing to make the attempt, as I believe that romance is an aspect of my humanity that has yet to be explored to its fullest capacity. However, I must tell you that an openness of communication is paramount to the success of this endeavor."

"I will be explicit in my expectations and experiences," Fira said. "I don't expect you to know things through instinct, but look forward to explaining them to you. I have gained much understanding of the sentient mind through my years of study on Vulcan, and believe that I can share that knowledge with you."

"Interesting," Data said. "Many beings, of any race, expect others to understand unwritten rules of their cultural and behavioral establishments, and find it discomforting when an individual does not follow those rules, as you say, by instinct. It is intriguing, then, that you find my lack of experience to be a positive factor in this instance."

Fira nodded. "As you know, I have a unique background in understanding differing cultural mores."

"Indeed. I have read your profile, although I do not understand your unique situation fully."

"I don't know that anyone does. If we are to pursue this relationship, you will learn much about me, as I about you. In addition to my own explicit communication, I wish to understand your experience as well. When you encounter new emotions, particularly those that are unfamiliar or confusing, I encourage you to express those emotions to me so that I may guide your understanding and share in your experiences."

"That would be acceptable. There is still much for me to learn about having emotions. Although I have experienced over two-hundred and seventy distinct emotional states, it has only been for a short period of time in each instance. I still do not understand them entirely. Perhaps your willingness to guide me will aid in this experience."

"I hope so," she said. "I am uniquely qualified to express understanding of powerful emotions through logical means. I myself have worked hard to find a balance, and am eager to share this knowledge with someone who is experiencing something almost comparable."

"Comparable?" Data's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps I do not understand enough about your past to know how my situation could compare with another sentient's."

Fira's black eyes lowered to her hands, clasped in her lap, before returning to Data's. She could not sense his emotions, but his intrigue was clear.

"As you know, I was born on Betazed, but taken to Vulcan when I was three months old."

"Yes. Your telepathic abilities manifested themselves much earlier than is standard in Betazoid development."

"A condition, which you know, often leads to instability. My parents believed the best option for me to control the power was through strict mental training that the Vulcans were best able to provide."

"I reviewed thirty-nine cases similar to yours, in which telepathic abilities manifested before the first year, including Tam Elbrun's. All cases led to intensive psychological care, imprisonment, or death. You have been the exception to the rule."

"I know," Fira said, having studied the previous cases extensively on Vulcan. "My case was a breakthrough for Betazoid and Vulcan sciences alike."

Data cocked his head. "Are you proud of this?"

Fira smiled. "Yes. Without my Vulcan training, I would suffer greatly. I am privileged to lead my life."

"I feel much the same. I, too, am privileged to have encountered the circumstances that made me who I am."

Fira stared into his eyes for a moment, glad to share a sentiment with someone without feeling it beating against her own thoughts. "You should know, Data, that I have no previous experience in this area. Although I have done much research on the topic, I have been unable to engage in a romantic relationship before."

"Because of your unique abilities?"

"Yes. I realize that, while I am qualified to share this experience with you in some regards, I am unqualified in others. And, because of your new emotions, I am also aware that this relationship may not bring you pleasure in the future. If you reach the point where you no longer wish to pursue a romantic relationship with me, you need not worry about hurting my feelings. Explicit communication will be the most effective in this, and every, instance."

Data tilted his head. "You are not accustomed to needing explicit verbal communication."

"On the contrary, I have disciplined myself into depending on it. Without focus on spoken words, thoughts would overwhelm me."

Data's eyebrows scrunched together. "You said this relationship may not bring me pleasure in the future. What kind of pleasure do you mean?"

Fira's lips twitched. "You are learning, Data. I understand that, since this experience is so new to you, you still don't know what you want in a romantic partner. Although you are ideal to me, I may not be your ideal match."

Fira frowned and broke eye contact with him for the first time in several minutes. One of the reasons she was suggesting this in the first place was because of the emotions that drew her to Data. Unlike Vulcans, she could not turn off her emotions entirely. She was slowly adapting to allowing herself to feel them, after denying them for so long. "Data, among your new emotions, have you experienced sexual attraction?"

Data flinched with surprise. "I have, with the Borg Queen."

Fira's eyebrows shot up, but she chose to move on. "And since then? With other members of the crew?"

Data nodded. "Yes, although I did not entertain such emotions for longer than one second in each instance. I am still learning what that emotion's role will be in my existence."

Fira looked him straight in the eyes. "Do you find me attractive?"

Data's eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment. "You have an aesthetically pleasing figure." He paused. "Yes, I am aroused."

Fira laughed at that. "Well that's a relief."

"Yes, I suppose a lack of sexual arousal would 'put a damper' on our relationship."

Fira leaned back, glancing around Ten Forward to see if anyone had noticed the intimate nature of their discussion. A brief opening of her awareness didn't reveal any shock or disgust directed at them, so she shut that awareness away.

"Are you aroused by me?" Data asked, and the frankness of his question both unnerved and delighted her.

"Yes," she said. "But I believe this conversation has diverged into a nature to personal to be carried out in a public setting."

Data cocked his head. "Are you embarrassed? That is one emotion I have not yet experienced. Perhaps I do not have sufficient information on what causes embarrassment to experience it."

Fira held up her hand. "That's okay, I'm not embarrassed. Not really. Just aware of social norms and expectations in regard to these types of relationships." She smiled. "Would you like to learn about embarrassment?"

Data's eyes widened. "Yes. Although some emotions have come to me automatically, as by a 'primal instinct,' embarrassment seems to be an emotion brought about by cultural learning more than instinct. 'Nurture' over 'nature,' as it seems."

"Indeed. I am eager to begin this first lesson."

"Please, proceed."

Fira first explained what embarrassment felt like—usually accompanied by blood rushing to the face and away from the limbs, the desire to hide or run to escape notice, the shame and repetitive reflection over the mistake that was made. She then talked about various causes of embarrassment. A revelation of a personal inadequacy, either by others or by the individual. Saying something inappropriate for the context—a private revelation in front of uninvolved persons, particularly sexual or intimate commentary. A miscommunication that leads to a vastly different meaning than the one intended. She babbled for some ten minutes, dredging every corner of her memory for generalizations and societal rules from human culture. Data asked for personal examples, and she told him about the experiences at the Vulcan academy where she'd let emotions slip and been ostracized. The memories no longer hurt her so much, but she remembered how miserable she'd been at the time.

When she'd quite worn herself out on the subject of embarrassment, Data said, "One aspect of your proposal still puzzles me. You wish to help me become more human when you yourself are not human."

Fira smiled. "Perhaps that is why I am the most suited to the task. We can learn about what it means to be human together, and perhaps we'll learn more about who we are—as an android and a Vulcan Betazoid. We are unique individuals, exploring lives that have never been lived before."