"Ten Forward" I stated to the turbo lift. Today had been my first day on duty, and to be frank, it kicked my ass. I had never had to run so many tests on a system before. Lieutenant LaForge was kind yet demanding, understanding yet persistent. It was a nice balance in a senior officer, one that kept me busy trying to please him but didn't make me feel as if what I was doing wasn't enough. I spent most of my day studying the dilithium crystal chamber.

"I know you've studied this thing on paper, but it's a little different in reality," he told me. "It's not complete absolutes, as the textbooks would have you believe."

"I think I understand Lieutenant." I remarked.

"Ensign, it's just the two of us. Call me Geordi. I don't want to intimidate you too much with formalities your first day on the Enterprise." He smiled at me.

"Lieuten…. Geordi, I already tend to make mountains out of molehills. Just being here is enough to intimidate me." I returned his smile.

"I understand, though that's a phrase I haven't heard in a long time."

"I have a fascination with ancient Earth linguistics." I replied.

"You'll certainly confuse Data if you keep using that type of language."

"I noticed he doesn't seem to understand that type of colloquialism, at least until he accesses his memory banks on language." I responded.

"He's come a long way in the past years that we've had him on board. He is constantly trying to become more human."

"I think that is a rather noble pursuit. By pursuing something, he demonstrates that he is more human than he could already know. He certainly has the drive to improve himself, at least how he sees it."

"Yes Ensign, I believe you are right. Now if you could just check the dilithium crystal chamber? Your arrival coincides with our need to do routine maintenance…"

"Ensign Martin?" A voice broke me out of my reprieve. I raised my head to meet the gold eyes of Lieutenant Commander Data.

"Yes sir?" I asked.

"Are you getting off on this floor?"

"Oh… I… yes, sir" I stepped cautiously off the turbolift. "I was just heading to Ten Forward. Would," I took a deep breath before continuing, "would you care to join me?"

"Do you have more questions for me regarding my existence and how I function?"

"Yes, of course. If that wouldn't offend you, that is."

"I am an android." He said, cocking his head slightly to the side. "I cannot be offended."

"Right." I said under my breath. "Well, would you like to join me?"

"I have enough time to cater to your curiosity" he responded.

"I guess I'll take that as a yes."

And that was how I found myself, sitting across a small glass table from perhaps the most unique being in the entire galaxy.

"What questions do you have for me, Ensign Martin?"

"You can call me Koranna, if you'd like."

"Is that what you would like?"

"Well," I hesitated for a moment. "This isn't a formal conversation, so, if it's alright with you, I don't see too much of a need for formalities."

"Then, when we are off duty, I will call you Koranna." I felt a slight blush color my cheeks at hearing him say my name. I shook my head slightly to clear it. What was wrong with me?

"Yes" I cleared my throat. "Questions. Something I heard about you today confused me."

"How so?" he asked.

"Well, Geordi told me about your desire to be more human."

"I do strive to be more human. There are many things about humans that I do not understand, such as your humor, your emotions, and your romance." His eyes flitted up to meet mine. I felt a lead ball drop in to my stomach.

"Our romance?" I asked.

"I do not understand how two people can have such a depth of feeling for one another, when even the most superficial feelings elude me."

"Well, I wouldn't be able to tell you anything about romance. You're asking the wrong person." I gave him a small smile. "But what confused me about you, is… isn't the desire to be more human, an emotion within itself?"

"Explain?"

"Isn't you feeling desire to be human actually that… a feeling?"

He cocked his head, looking confused. "I… do not know."

I raised my eyebrow. "The great android does not know?"

"I was designed not to feel." He stated. "But sometimes, I do register things that remind me of human emotions."

"How so?" I asked.

"I am protective of my friends. Even when they make mistakes. Is this normal for humans?"

"Yes very. We are loyal to those close to us."

"I also have interests. I enjoy some things more than other things."

"That's interesting" I mused. "What do you enjoy?"

"I greatly enjoy the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes."

"Really?!" I exclaimed. "When I left my home on Alpha Centarui, a book of Sherlock Holmes mysteries was one of the few things I took with me."

"The Holodeck can produce Sherlock Holmes mysteries, or original mysteries in the Holmsian style." Data recited.

"Are you serious?!" I asked, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head.

"Quite serious. Why would I not be?"

"Can… can you show me?" I asked.

"Certainly."

"Commander Data you are needed on the bridge."

"Acknowledged" He responded by tapping his communicator. "Perhaps another time."

"I see" I responded.

"Are you sad?" He asked, cocking his head.

"You can tell that I'm sad?"

"You are easier for me to read than other humans. I do not know why but your emotions make sense to me."

"Is that a good thing?"

"It is not a bad thing."

"Well yes, I suppose I'm sad. I was excited for you to show me the holodeck."

"I will meet you on Holodeck 3 at 1800 hours. It is not my intention to disappoint."

"Oh… okay. Um, thank you. I will meet you there."

"Commander Data." His communicator said.

"On my way, sir" He responded. "I will see you later, Koranna" He gave me one last look before walking out of Ten Forward. I sat there for a moment feeling utterly baffled. I had hoped to learn more about him but I had more questions than answers. If I hadn't known better, him voicing his desire to learn about romance and then setting this up with me… would make this a date. But I did know better… didn't I? Though I knew nothing about romance to begin with, so I could totally be misreading his actions. I recalled my earlier statement to Geordi about making mountains out of molehills. Besides, he didn't feel emotions. But he also said he didn't know whether his desire to be human constituted as an emotion. And how could he read me, but not other humans? Feeling utterly confused and exhausted, I returned to my quarters, setting my alarm so that I would not miss our appointment.