As Second Officer of the USS Enterprise, Lt. Commander Data had many duties. However, he was sure that escorting the eleven year old daughter Ensign Miller on an unscheduled tour of the ship was not one of them.
"And these are the quarters where you and your mother will be staying." Data said as he entered into the room. Izzy Miller followed.
"Cool. What's that in the wall?" she pointed to the replicater.
"That is the Food Replicater. Where you can order any food from any culture. It will materialize in the shelf-like indentation." Data said.
"Does it have Pixie Sticks?" Data got that halfway bored, halfway confused look on his face.
"No such food exists in my database. What are pixie sticks?" he asked.
"They're this type of old-fashioned candy. From like the 20th century. It's just dyed, flavored sugar in this paper tube dispenser." Izzy said.
"Ah, I see. Do you believe that the replicater is capable of producing these sticks?" Data inquired.
"It better." she said. Data walked over to the replicater.
"Two Pixie Sticks." he commanded. Some lights flashed.
"Specify flavor." the computerized female voice said. Data looked at Izzy, as if to pass the question onto her.
"Um, I don't know. Whatever you want." she said.
"Random." two red paper tubes appeared out of thin air. Data picked them up and handed one to Izzy. She ripped of the top, and Data did the same.
"Cheers." she laughed. Data poured out some of the colored sugar on his hand. Izzy just dumped it straight into her mouth, and Data proceeded to do the same.
The flavor was strange to his tongue. He began to analyze it's components, but then realized it was not necessary. It was just fake sugar and badly made artificial flavor. He at first did not understand why Izzy seemed to enjoy the sticks so much. However, as he came to the last bit of sugar in the bottom of the tube, he found a sense of loss deep within him. He wanted more, and he didn't even enjoy them.
"Why do I wish to continue eating the Pixie Sticks?" Data asked.
"They have a certain addictive quality, don't they?" Izzy answered.
"Yes." That was it. Data had somehow become addicted to a substance he had only just tasted. He went back and replicated ten more.
"Lt. Commander Data. You are needed on the Bridge." Riker's voice came over the intercom.
"Aggolodid." Data said. He was trying to say "Acknowledged" but he had his mouth full of sugar.
"Data, are you alright?" Riker asked. Data got the remaining sugar from his mouth.
"Yes. I am functioning within normal parameters." he said. "I am on my way to the Bridge." he turned to Izzy. "I am needed on the Bridge."
"I heard." Izzy said.
"I will now leave to perform my regularly scheduled duties." Data said.
"Good for you." Data stood there, staring at Izzy. Or rather, what she was holding.
"Um, leave." she said.
"Yes. I will leave." he said. Still, he stayed.
"Huh." Izzy puffed. She went over to the replicater. When she came back, there were two Pixie Sticks in her hand. She held them out.
"For the trip up." she said. Data thanked her with a nod and finally left.
"Commander Data. No matter how long I stay here, and no matter where my life takes me, I'll never forget you." Izzy said to herself. She smiled and sat herself down. "Nope, never."