Author's Note: Chapter two... I guess. Short chapters are short.


Alana and Data entered the turbolift.
"Deck 6," Data requested, and the turbolift started up. He paused a moment, feeling Alana looking at him. He turned his head to her and gave her a questioning gaze.
"I'm sorry," She said. "I've just never seen anyone with your skin color before." She explained. "What are..." She trailed off, realizing the question sounded rude to ask.
"I'm an android," Data answered anyway, accustomed to the reaction.
"Ah..." Alana nodded her head slowly, as if that made perfect sense.
The turbolift reached deck 6 and Alana put her hand in the crook of Data's arm as they stepped out of the lift. Data paused a moment and looked down at her hand momentarily before continuing down the corridor.
"Here we are." Data said as they stopped in front of a door. He led her inside.
Alana strolled around the rooms curiously.
"Will these rooms suffice?" Data asked.
"Yes, these rooms are fine thank you." Alana said, turning back to Data. Data nodded.
"This is the replicator and computer console." Data said, walking over to the wall and gesturing. Alana nodded in understanding.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" Data asked.
"No, thank you." Alana said. Data nodded and let himself out. Alana sighed.
"Computer, lights at 75 %" She requested. The lights dimmed considerably and she sighed again, in relief this time. She rubbed her eyes as they relaxed.
"They always keep these starships so bright..."
She sat down on a convenient chair and tried to relax.

The senior officers were gathered in the observation lounge for standard missions briefing.
"Well, according to her records she's just an ordinary young woman." Riker explained. "She's been trained in diplomacy and basic cultural skills, my best guess is she's going back as a peacemaker." Riker suggested.
"She took my arm as I escorted her to her quarters. This suggests she's been trained for a formal setting." Data added.
"The daughter of a dignitary of some sort?" Riker asked.
"That sounds likely enough, but why would hiding her station be so important?" Picard questioned.
"Maybe her parents have enemies that have the technology to capture her aboard the Enterprise?" Worf speculated.
"No parents would call their daughter back in the middle of a war if they were directly involved." Beverly protested.
"I have contacted Starfleet and asked for more information. They declined to give any and asked me not to speculate." Picard inform them. "Just... keep an eye on her. I doubt she' particularly dangerous, but if we're right and she is in some danger we should keep a look out. There's no harm in being cautious."


Alana kept to her rooms for the first short while of the journey, keeping to herself for as long as she could stand. But boredom overtakes even the best of us.
"Computer, what sort of recreational facilities does the Enterprise have? Dealing with socialization specifically?" Alana asked, her patience with the walls of her quarters finally breaking.
"Dining and drinking in a group setting availa-"
"That sounds perfect, where is that?" Alan interrupted.
"Deck 10." The Computer answered.
"Thank you." Alana said, she got on her recently replicated shoes and left.

Alana walked into Ten-Forward and then stopped abruptly, feeling overcome with shyness despite the want to be out of her quarters and around people. She steeled herself with the idea that there wasn't any reason she shouldn't be there and continued to the bar.
"Hello." Guinan said as Alana stepped up to the bar and had a seat.
"Hi." Alana replied.
"What can I get you?" Guinan asked congenially.
"Umm... Something sweet?" Alana hedged.
"Something about you tells me that you like chocolate." Guinan said in a mock suspicious tone.
"Are there people who don't?" Alana asked.
"Surprisingly enough there are." Guinan confirmed. "Hold on, I've got just the thing."

Data, as he notices everything, noticed Alana coming into Ten-Forward.
"Miss Alana is here. I believe this is the first time she has left her quarters since her arrival on the Enterprise." Data noted to Geordi.
Geordi followed Data's eyes to the bar.
"She's not as young as Captain Picard made it seem. I was expecting her to look a lot younger." Geordi commented.
"She is 22. She was on Earth only long enough to get 'well educated'." Data informed Geordi, who looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I read her public records at the Captain's request." Data explained.
Geordi looked over at Alana again, who was looking around the room in a mildly interested fashion as she waited for someone to bring her whatever she ordered.
"Let's go say hello." Geordi suggested.
"Why?" Data asked.
"Well, why is she here if not to find someone to talk to? C'mon." Geordi got up and Data followed.


Author's Note: And coming up is the rework of the 'original' first chapter. I basically started over because Alana was waaay too smarmy for me. xD