Location: Alpha Quadrant, Terran 001
Stardate: 45070.5
Captain's Personal Log: Since our last encounter with the Tamarians, I have enlisted the help of a new Instructor at our school here on the Enterprise. As previously indicated in my log, the Tamarians have a very interesting pattern of communication that utilizes references to obscure histories and Homeric epithets. The Instructor is highly skilled in the understanding of human mythological texts as well as linguistics. Her previous record aboard the USS Lancaster is exemplary. Her students apart from a few all passed their lingual and humanitarian tests with flying colors. I hope that she will integrate with the crew well – although, she seems to have a few peculiarities about her.
As it was the new year, the USS Starship Enterprise had docked at their United Federation of Planet's Spacedock orbiting Earth. The Enterprise was scheduled for a few minor repairs and the changing of a few officers who had requested a transfer to various Starbases throughout the sector.
Lt. Commander Data had been given orders from Capt. Jean-Luc Picard to monitor the incoming passengers, ensigns, and cargo. He was busy scanning the luggage of one of the new teachers who was transferring to the Enterprise. Data's auditory sensors picked up a conversation that was several feet away despite the din of movement around him. Two ensigns were having a heated discussion as they walked amongst the cargo.
"Have you met the new instructor of the humanities yet? I heard that on her last tour with a starship, she made all of her students bow to her when she came into a room. And that she only eats vegetables! Like real ones, not replicated ones!" The male ensign jibbed the female in her ribs playfully.
"No! I have heard the rumors that she is quite eccentric." The female ensign laughed aloud, "I heard she wears…glasses? Is that the correct word for them?" Her voice dropped conspiratorially to a low whisper.
"I believe so. She wears them on her face. Much like Georgi La Forge has his visor. It's so odd. Why wouldn't she just get her eyes replaced rather than rely on such an antiquated…" The other replied as they passed into the corridor and the doors slipped shut behind them.
A sudden hand, large and warm clapped over his shoulder. "Eavesdropping is not becoming such a sophisticated android as yourself," The laugh was jovial and familiar. "Commander Riker." Data spoke, his eyebrows elevating to indicate the human emotion of surprise, "I was not dropping eaves of any kind, sir."
"No, Data, it means…"
"Ah. The act of secretly listening to a conversation. Spying. Snooping. Prying. I understand, sir, but I was not trying to. I simply have higher auditory processing skills than humans."
"There's nothing simple about you, Mr. Data," Riker chuckled to himself. "We have a welcome party for the newcomers to the Enterprise scheduled after their orientation this evening. It is meant as part of our new year celebration! You should come. There might be some attractive young ladies for you to meet."
The commander winked in his usual debonair fashion and walked away with loping strides, presumably toward the bridge. "Captain's orders are for you to return to the Bridge when you have completed the scanning of the new cargo."
"Yes, Commander." Data nodded even though the Commander was already out of the airlock and unavailable to see his assent. Returning to the task at hand, Data took quick account of the number of books – real books- located on the anti-grav sled's boxes.
"Why might one collect so many books when all of these are available for download on any PADD ?" Data inwardly congratulated himself for once again asking himself a question aloud as any human would when presented with an interesting and unforeseen occurrence.
"One might simply prefer the feeling of pages betwixt one's fingers rather than the cold compliance of a PADD." A female voice spoke from behind him. He seemed to be experiencing rather many interruptions during such a mundane task – how unusual. Data pivoted automatically to face the owner of the voice.
He began to take account of the human woman's appearance and compare that appearance to the files on record for the current and transferred personnel for the Enterprise. Her muted brown hair was wrapped in a loose bun atop her head with a shimmering silver ribbon which matched the metallic nature of the glasses that graced atop her slender nose whose rounded tip glowed red in the cold of the room. Her outfit was not one of a Starfleet officer, but that of an instructor – flowing pants and shoes with a hard, but scuffed heel. Ink stains dotted the inside of her right sleeve – intriguing.
"Instructor of the Humanities Viola C. Robinson."
"Yes, that is correct, but I do not have the luxury of knowing who you are." A small smile graced her face, as she adjusted her glasses higher on the bridge of her nose.
"Lieutenant Commander Data of the USS Enterprise, but Instructor Robinson, I would not deem knowledge of myself as a human luxury."
A chuckle issued from her lips, Viola's smile grew wider and she took steps forward to place herself beside him, an affectionate hand rested on the cargo. "Is that so, Lieutenant Commander Data?"
"Yes, I am an android, but unlike other machines, I am not tailored for human consumption, accessibility, and comfort. Rather, I am sentient and capable of making my own choices," Data replied returning to his scan of the cargo seeing quickly that most were works of fiction as well as a Klingon text.
"An android, you say? You appear a man as any I have ever encountered." She turned her eyes to him examining through the lenses of her spectacles.
Data tilted his head to the side and started to speak, but she waved her hand to stop him.
"Speaking of your previous query: My books are…as much alive as the characters in their pages and the trees they were printed on so long ago. I have made many efforts to keep them preserved. I think it is best my students not only read about the history and stories of our humanity but to feel it, smell it as their writer's intended." Data listen patiently, watching her eyes turn soft in thought.
"I believe I understand. You think that by allowing an experience to accompany the transfer of knowledge you can imprint the feelings the author meant to convey. I have observed that with humans the olfactory senses can provoke more memory responses. Your belief appears to have sound evidence, Instructor." Their eyes met for a brief moment, Data took note that her temperature increased .005 degrees and her face seemed to experience encouraged blood flow.
"If I may say so, your temperature has risen slightly and you appear flushed. I might suggest you go to sick bay, Doctor Beverly Crusher could catch any ailment before…" Data was left with his mouth hanging open as she turned away seemingly to not heed his suggestions. She was halfway to the door before she turned, face redder than before. "If you leave your mouth open, you are likely to catch flies, Lieutenant Commander."
And with that, she was gone.
"But - There are no flies on the Enterprise." He said to no one.