Data stared at Q, his emotion chip sent a shock through his neural network and throughout his body. What is Q doing here thought Data.

Q smiled at Data. "Your most probably wondering what I am doing here?"

"That thought had crossed my mind." answered Data in a matter of fact tone of voice.

Q walked over to the thalaron matrix generator. "The Continuum have had me watching you for a while. Many members have pet interests in beings like yourself."

"Beings like myself?" Repeated Data. "You mean A. I."

Q closed his eyes and shook his head slightly as if he was talking to a child. " I mean beings who are trying to reach beyond their limitations."

Data tilted his head slightly. He felt extremely bewildered. What kind of game was he up to thought Data "You still not have explained why you are here Q."

"I was getting to that!" Responded Q. "I am trying to build up the background of my arrival." Q patted the generator. "I was watching you and saw that you were in a bit of trouble."

"You have came to save me." asked Data

"Well kinda." Replied Q

"What do you mean?" Inquired Data.

"Let me show you what I mean and why I am here."

Q faced Data and clicked his fingers. Suddenly a large mirror appeared in Qs hand. Q held the mirror in front of Data. "This is why I am here."

Data gazed at his reflection, instead of his golden face looking back at him, his reflection was Human.

Data put his hands to his face. In the reflection they where human looking. But when he looked at them they here golden. Just his reflection was human.

Q Clicked his fingers. Suddenly Q and Data were no longer on the Scimitar. But in a 21st century lawyers office. The office was small. There was only enough room for a desk, two chairs either side and a pot plant in the corner.

Q was no longer wearing the Starfleet uniform, but a grey suite with a blue tie.

Q seated himself at the desk.

"Data, please sit down." Said Q indicating the other chair.

Data complied with out a word hoping that Q would explain what game he was up to this time if he played along.

Q grinned and relaxed into his chair and slung his feet up onto the desk.

"The Continuum, have been very impressed by you. By everything you have done. Then deciding on sacrificing yourself to save your friends bowled them over."

Q began to pull a piece of paper from out of the desks draw. "All your life you have been training for your dream, to become human. Well dear android you passed the training with honours." Q placed the paper onto the desk.

"We at the Continuum." said Q, while spreading his arms out in a welcome gesture. "Are more than happy to give you the job."

Q pushed the pile of papers over to Data and handed him a pen.

Data picked the sheet of paper and read it:

'We at the Continuum offer Data a human body. Subject to conditions. Please sign here.

Data looked back up at Q who was watching Data intensely.

He is offering to turn me into a human. Thought Data. This must be a really bad attempt at humour.

Data stood up and throw the pen on to the desk.

"I must decline, Q."

The words echoed around the small office.

"I don't think I heard you correctly, Data." Said Q rubbing his ears. "What did you say."

"I must decline, Q." Repeated Data in a mono-tone voice. "Now please send me back to the Scimitar."

Q rolled his eyes in disbelief. "We are not back to that conversation with Commander Riker are we?"

Q was referring to a time on the newly commissioned Enterprise-D. When Q had given Riker the powers of the Q Continuum. Riker decided to give each of his friends a gift. Riker was going to transform Data in to a Human. But Data had turned down the gift.

"As I said to Commander Riker: it may seem real to you but it would not be for me. You can't make me human. It would be an illusion."

Q let out a mighty laugh. So loud that it made Data jump in surprise. He looked at Data, as if Data was no more than a child.

"Of course I can't really make you human. I can give you a human body. But it will be up to you and your friends whether you are human or not."

Data looked up at him. His eyes full of thought.

"Besides, what is the alterative? To be killed aboard the Scimitar?" Asked Q.

"My friends will die if I don't go back to the Scimitar to destroy the generator." Said Data. "I could not live with knowing that my existing caused so many deaths."

"I will let you destroy the generator. Then I will transport you to your ship a millionth of a second later. You will be alive and so will your friends."

"Why are you offering this chance to me, Q?" Asked Data. "I want the real reason."

"What I told you was the truth. The Continuum are impressed by you." Replied Q. "Also I am curious to see what would happen if you were human, The Continuum are wondering if you can handle it." Admitted Q

Data pondered over what Q had said. They want me to be a science experiment.

"I am not to sure if I want to be test subject for the Continuum pet interests." Remarked Data.

"Don't think of it has a science experiment. Think of yourself a anthropologist. You have been studying humans, now you can live among them to see what it is really like to be one of them."

Datas emotion chip which was processing all the information was starting to make the offer very tempting.

Q picked up the pen and held it out to Data. "Do we have a deal."

Data thought about it. Q had changed a lot from the far point mission. Maybe he really meant what he was saying.

Data stared at it hesitantly. "What is the condition."

"Only that you live your life to the full. You must try anything. Within reason." Grinned Q. "Or not!"

Datas emotion chip was in over drive. Data felt unsure of what to do. Why not? Thought Data. I get to live, my friends get to live and the Scimitar is destroyed.

Data took the pen off Q and signed the contract.

The instant the pen left the paper Data and Q where back aboard the Scimitar.

Data pointed his phaser at the generator.

"I am ready." said Data.

"Data." Said Q slowly. "There's a catch I didn't tell you about."

"What!" Data Exclaimed.

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Picards eyes were blinded by the explosion of the Reman ship. Troi who was at the helm turned away from the sight and spotted the Captain.

"Data?" Asked Troi her voice beginning to break slightly. The Captain shook his head. Geordis shoulders dropped.

Picard watched the debris knowing he would never see Data again. Picard began to head towards his chair when the intercom beeped.

"Crusher to Picard."

Despite the grief burning though him Picard knew he had to carry on. Grief would have to wait.

"Go ahead" Replied Picard.

"Captain can you and Geordi come down to transporter room one Immediately?"

"Yes Doctor. Is there something wrong?"

"I'll let you be the judge of that sir." Replied Dr Crusher.

"Very well. Picard out."

Picard made his way to the turbo-lift. "Counsellor Troi you have what remains of the bridge."

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When Picard and Geordi entered transporter room one they found Dr Crusher with two of her assistance working on a body. The Transporter chief was at his station.

"What is going on here?" asked Captain Picard.

"This Human beamed from the Reman ship to here less than a second after the ship exploded." Answered the transporter chief.

" A Human!" Exclaimed Picard. "But Shinzon was the only human aboard the Scimitar and he was killed before I was transported back to the Enterprise."

"Jean-Luc." Said Dr Crusher Softly. "Its not Shinzon." Dr Crusher moved her assistants way from the body to reveal: Data.