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Well. That was all certainly very interesting so far. Very interesting, indeed. He had collected quite a lot of new information about human female behavior and the threshold of their sexuality. Apparently his creator had greatly underestimated the strength of human females… That or the female Madison Paz-Warren was an extreme anomaly. It was plausible. He was grateful she at least seemed to have turned her insults toward him into the friendly kind. It would not do to be outright insulted by another crew member seriously, after all. It now seemed, however, that her jibes were now being used instead as 'pet names'…

Of course that was only part of what was on his mind. He also wanted to hurry along to Tasha, and assure her he had no intentions of coming between her and any potential mate she ever wanted to be with, especially their mutual friend Geordi. That he was only glad to know that his two friends wanted to be closer to each other, happier with each other, and that he only hoped to continue being friends with both of them after all of this was over and done with.

So it was fortuitous, he supposed, that the last female was, according to the doctor's notes, the most willing to work with him. He had completed what should have been the 'hard part of the job' and this part should then be the 'smooth sailing'.

After going through the clean-up process and disposing of the last tool, he then went to retrieve the next in the set, attaching it to himself and then redressing properly for the next meeting.

Coming into the room, he found a woman who reminded him both a bit of Tasha, and of Jenna D'Sora. She was a little taller than average height, like them. Five foot eight, while Tasha was five foot seven. A 'tenor' body, he supposed. She had blonde hair like them too, a darker shade that had tints of brunette mixed in the yellow strands, medium length, tied in a loose ponytail. Her eyes were blue as well, but not the vibrant shade of blue that Madison's had been. They were a blue mixed with green, like the naturally mossy waters of a lake. He suddenly decided to paint a lake later…

"Hello Miss Kembyr. Is it alright if I call you Miss Kembyr, or would you prefer something else?" He added, just in case, considering his last encounter...

She looked up, trembling a bit. "Oh, um… Just Kembyr is fine, Sir. And would it maybe be okay if I call you Data…?"

He nodded. "That would be acceptable. How would you like to proceed?"

She seemed to hesitate. "Well… In all honesty, I'm not sure I can proceed yet at all."

He nodded again, not yet finding this answer too worrisome. "Simply state which criteria need to be fulfilled in order for us to begin, and I will fulfill them to the best of my abilities."

She looked even less certain now. Much less certain. She twisted her hands and knotted her brow with worry. She looked to be experiencing a negative emotion, but he couldn't place it. "I… I don't think I should do this after all…"

He had somehow apparently already managed to offend her, even though he had barely interacted with her at all. This was unacceptable to him. "You appear to be much more worried about the treatment than initially indicated, Kembyr. Surgery is also an option, but I am sure we would both much prefer the least traumatic option. Could you please explain why you are having reservations about this form of treatment? Hopefully then I may be able to find a way to make you more comfortable."

She looked up at him, and sighed. There was pain in her eyes, but he didn't understand it. "I… I don't feel right, making you do something like this, even to save my life. I know you can't feel, so there's no reason besides you wanting to be so selflessly helpful that you should want to do something like this. Don't get me wrong, I really am grateful to you for offering, but… I just don't feel right, taking something like this from you, and being unable to offer you anything..."

He shook his head. "I… Believe you are confused? Would it not be unethical for me to have an ulterior motive for wanting to help you in this manner?"

But she insisted, "No, Sir. Because I already knew very well that you didn't have ulterior motives. That's all the more reason it feels like I should find some way to return such a huge favor. But since I can't think of any logical way to repay you, it's leaving me feeling too guilty to want to go through with it… I mean, of course, besides the fact that we don't even know each other…"

Data took a moment and processed the new information she had presented. "Forgive me, Kembyr. I believe you are having an irrational emotional response that, in this case, is not warranted. All the same, I will still attempt to ease your anxiety. I do receive some compensation in the form of data collected on human behavior. This data is of course never shared, only used to enhance my own personal understanding. I consider this information to be invaluable. So, even though I cannot feel either the positive emotions or the physical pleasure that I hope this activity will provide you, I assure you this encounter still has special meaning for me as well, in my own way."

He paused, processing more of her response. "May I ask though Kembyr, why it is that this troubles you? I have already successfully performed sexually for two women right before you. Neither of them were troubled over my lack of pleasure in the act. You really need not be, either."

She sighed. "I just can't help it, sir…"

He finally interrupted her there. "Kembyr, I thought you asked to call me Data?"

She blushed at the reminder. "Oh, right… Yes, Data, sir, but that—That's just part of the thing itself!" She suddenly exclaimed, her blush going from pink to almost full red in a short amount of time. "It's just—I've always really admired you, Data, sir! I always thought you were way cool! But, I always planned to just admire you from -afar-, I never in a million years would have ever thought—I mean, that is to say—"

She was very flustered. She seemed to have a hard time articulating herself on top of that, but being very emotional wasn't helping. Still, she bravely forged on, "It's just, you've got a LOT of fans, you know! A lot of people admire you! You've got a lot of admirers, and for good reason! You are such an amazing person, besides just the marvel of technology that you are. It's so complex you might as well be magic to someone like me, so I respect you more for your actions and choices than what you are… But I'm still pretty amazed by that too, and all the amazing stuff you can do, I mean, being with you is pretty much like being with Superman or ZEUS or something-I guess I'm just trying to say, you know, I respect you so much, I have so many reasons to respect you, but, you don't know me at all and have no reason to respect me, so… I don't know. I just, I guess… I guess that's why…" She finally finished in a fluster, leaving him to piece together the puzzle of words she had just sputtered out at him.

"Oh… I see…" He slowly mumbled back, taking a little extra time to detangle her shy words, like Christmas lights all bunched up together in a box for a year. "But if that is the case... Should not having admiration for me make it easier to be intimate with me?"

"At first I thought it might… But after thinking about it, I'm finding it actually makes it harder, if anything…" She admitted, holding her hands in front of her lap in guilt.

This was indeed a puzzle. Humans sometimes contradicted their feelings and behaviors, and sometimes, they practically twisted them into pretzels. Data was at a complete loss as to what to say to her regarding all her complex feelings, but after a moment or two, a temporary solution popped into his brain, at least.

"Kembyr, do you enjoy music? Would you like to play some? Perhaps it will help distract you from your nervousness."

She blinked in surprise at his suggestion, but afterwards she seemed a little doubtful. "Oh… Well I do love music, I mean, who doesn't? But I'd be embarrassed to pick something out, and it might end up distracting me more—"

"I hardly think that could even be possible." Data supplied, completely serious. "Of course I will respect your choice if you really do not wish to play anything, but I will simply be honest: The other two women I have been with tonight played some music, so now I find myself hoping that you will choose something to play as well. I would like to have a song to associate with you and remember you by. Also, if you are worried about us getting to know each other before becoming intimate, sharing our tastes in music is a good start, is it not?"

Her doubt didn't ebb, but she at least relented to him kindly, "That's a really sweet idea, Data… And I guess I can think of a song to play. I don't know if it's the best, most perfect song, but it just suddenly popped into my head right now, and I guess it should be good enough, so… Alright. Computer, play Guster's 'Satellite'…"

First there was the simple strum of a guitar. Then a fanciful, alien sound began to accompany it. A mellow drum joined in. It was an energetic, but peaceful piece.

A young man's voice began to sing. But, it seemed, Kembyr had decided to shyly join in as well. She was barely singing in a whisper, not wanting to overpower the song. Singing like a sigh while she watched him watching her…

"Shining like a work of art… Hanging on a wall of stars… Are you what I think you are…?"

She smiled, and he stopped to wonder what came next. What was she thinking he was…?

"You're… My… Satellite~" She quickly followed, her smile growing into a grin as the blissful beauty of the song took over her. "You're riding with me tonight… Passenger side, lighting the sky, always the first star that I find… You're… My… Satellite…"

The sweeping little tune took over again, and he considered the word, the title of the song that she had chosen. Satellite. Definition; An artificial body placed in orbit around the earth or moon or another planet in order to collect information or for communication. Alternatively, something that is separated from or on the periphery of something else but is nevertheless dependent on or controlled by it…

An artificial body… Collecting information and communicating… Separated, but nevertheless dependant on and controlled by…

Interesting.

He searched out Kembyr's eyes as she continued to sing, but she was now shyly hiding them away to the side while she sang the next part.

"Elevator to the moon… Whistling our favorite tune… Trying to get a closer view…"

When she sang the last line, she finally looked up at him again. Really peering at him, searching for something, but he had no idea what…

The chorus of the song then took over again, and she sang with that until the lulling, alien-like noise took over again, and Data anticipated the final lyrics.

They were simple, but profound. "Maybe you will always be… Just a little out of reach…"

The strum of the guitar became a lonely sound. And yet, it didn't diminish the beauty, and when the chorus took over again, the loneliness was overshadowed by the energy, the last call of emotion.

"You're my satellite… You're riding with me tonight… Passenger side, lighting the sky, always the first star that I find… You're… My… Satellite…"

He listened to the song until it was completely over. Only when silence returned to them did he break it. "Thank you. I enjoyed that."

She nodded, smiling at him. "I did too… Well, I suppose we should share at least a few other things before we can say we've 'gotten to know each other', so how about… What are your favorite colors, let's say, top three or four? Mine is green, blue, purple, and… Yellow…"

He quirked his head, a little confused. "I see the appeal in all colors individually, but I suppose if I had to choose a sequence of colors I find most aesthetically pleasing in this moment, then I would say yellow, red, blue and… Green. Yes, green is a good color. Not a 'warm' or a 'cool' color. It is neutral. I like that."

She smiled and nodded along with his explanation. "Yeah, that's why I like green too! Okay, so we've covered music and favorite colors… How about your favorite books? I love anything by Neil Gaiman!"

Eager to supply such easy answers, Data contributed. "I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes."

She grinned back at him. "That's great! This is a good start! Let's see, what else, hmm… I'd ask your favorite food, but you can't taste either, can you…?"

He shook his head. "Not in the way humans are able to, no."

She shrugged slowly, laying her hands in her lap in thought. "Yanno… I knew a girl once who lost her taste buds due to a disease in her childhood. She couldn't taste anything either. But for some reason, she still really loved eating chocolate. Practically the only thing she ever ate. People asked her why she loved chocolate so much even though she couldn't taste, and she said that even though she couldn't taste it, eating chocolate still always made her happy. Isn't that funny? But then, I can't help but wonder…" She continued curiously, without waiting for his initial answer. "If in this case, chocolate equals sex… Then what has you so interested in the subject Data, if you can't enjoy it either? Besides just wanting to be helpful, what makes this particular data so interesting to you?"

He copied her slow shrug. "I am interested in all forms of information in regards to human behavior. Admittedly, I began this endeavor merely wishing to be of assistance. But after the last two experiences, I realize my knowledge on human sexuality, especially regarding human females and their capabilities, is extremely inadequate. I may not have another chance to gather this kind of information, so as I said, this experience is in its own way invaluable to me, even though I cannot share in the physical or emotional stimulation."

She nodded in acceptance of his answer, but still she sighed. A heavy sound. "I guess I have to understand, it's just such a shame…"

He looked up at her, and cocked his head in mild confusion. "What is a shame?"

She smiled at him, but she looked sad. "That you don't know what you're missing… My heart aches for you, Data. I wish there was anything I could do to help you. I know you think it's irrational, I already know it is. I really just can't help it…"

After a brief moment, he nodded. "I understand… Somewhat. Other humans have expressed these kinds of sentiments for me before. Of course I cannot feel them, but I understand what compels you to feel as you do. You are what humans refer to as empathic. You are feeling twice as much emotion as necessary to compensate for what I lack. It is, as I have already stated, impossible and a waste of time to worry about how I feel about things, because I cannot feel. But if you are so worried about how I regard the situation, I will be as plain as I can be: My primary goal is to cure you. My secondary goal is to bring you as much pleasure and as little pain as possible while accomplishing the primary goal. If you are worried about pleasing me, helping me to accomplish my goals comes closest to doing so. So please, focus on your own pleasure now, not mine. If I remember correctly, your notes stated that you wanted me to try to 'Be as natural as possible'. Would you please indicate to me what would feel most 'natural' to you? Then I will try to be as 'natural' with you as I can be..."

He attempted to wiggle his eyebrows in a suggestive way, as suggested by his romance program (which he had not deleted, despite telling Jenna he would) but unfortunately, it came out more stiff and silly-looking than suggestive.

It caused the woman to bunch up into a laugh, a childish giggle. After a few moments she managed to sputter back to him, in good humor, "Oh my goodness – Are you trying to seduce me, Mister Data?"

He simply answered honestly. "Yes. Is it working?" And wiggled his eyebrows some more.

She laughed some more, and once she composed herself, in lieu of answering him, she instead mentioned to him, "You're so funny…"

A statement like that should most likely be considered a compliment, but for some reason, she sounded slightly worried when she said it…

Since she hadn't answered affirmatively, that most likely meant she was trying to be polite and avoid answering in the negative. So taking it to mean that she had in fact answered in the negative, he followed up by further pursuing it. "If not, please tell me what to do to make it work for you…"

It seemed his earnest request and pursuit of her was all she really needed, because she suddenly looked up at him, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed his lips. He kissed her back, matching her level of intensity. Much lower than Madison's, of course, but she kissed him harder than Tasha had, all those years ago…

Suddenly, just as quickly as she had started kissing him, she pulled back. "Data…" She began, her brow knitted, an inquiry clearly weighing upon it. "Do you know how to play 'pretend'? Like, role-play? It wouldn't be anything too complex, but…"

He nodded. "Yes, of course. Playing out scenarios is something I do quite often. What kind of scenario would you like us to construct?"

She blushed, dark pink. "W-Well… Do you think you'd be able to pretend to be my husband, while we're together tonight? Husband and wife, it doesn't get more natural than that, right? At least when it comes to making love…"

He considered it, and it made enough sense. However, there was one problem. "I would be glad to help you to the best of my abilities. However, although I do have a 'boyfriend program', I do not have a 'husband program', and it has been a long time since I used the former. So you will have to give me further instructions in order for me to proceed. For example, what difference is there between having sexual relations with a boyfriend, versus having sexual relations with a husband?"

She blinked for a good solid minute at that. "Oh… Well, actually, I guess, not really that much at all…"

"Then would you be satisfied simply pretending I am your boyfriend?" It would make things so much simpler…

But she was clearly hesitating, not wanting to relent. "It's just… Being a married couple, it implies the two people are much more deeply in love than if they were just dating… And well, it also implies that the relationship is much more serious, that the two involved are going to stay together, and well… Have children together…"

She squirmed very visibly as she said that last part. Data quickly pointed it out, with no shame, "Are you perhaps aroused at the thought of procreation, Kembyr?"

Now her face was practically on fire. His heat sensors also indicated that there was a considerable rise in temperature in her genital region…

She looked far away from his eyes. "Data! You can't just ASK a girl something like THAT-!"

He blinked back, completely unsure of what he'd done wrong. "Apologies. It is just that you were showing all the signs of arousal as soon as you mentioned having children… Do you not want me to ascertain what to do in order to maximize your arousal and pleasure?"

She would not take her eyes off her hands, fidgeting with her own fingers. "Well, no, I mean, yes, but—"

"Are you perhaps doubtful of me because you do not think I will be able to understand the subject sufficiently?" He guessed further, figuring he'd have to take over a bit to get anything done at all here. "Because if the biggest difference between being a boyfriend and being a husband is procreation, then I should be able to understand being a husband better than being a boyfriend. You see, the desire to procreate is one of the few human urges I have ever personally desired for myself…"

She looked up at him in a considerable amount of surprise at that confession. "I… I had heard a story about that, sir…"

He did not know she already knew about that, and now she seemed to be acting more formal with him again out of pity. Many of the humans had similar reactions when they learned about the ultimate fate of Lal. Losing a child was apparently one of the single most painful experiences a human could endure, so for an empathic person like her, bringing that up had probably been the equivalent of 'stepping on a landmine'. He tried to minimize her emotional response by assuring her, "I feel no pain at her passing. You need not concern yourself with it. Please forget I mentioned it, and try to focus on what you need to do at the moment instead. Tell me – How would you prefer for a husband to treat you?"

She was quiet for a moment or two, thinking upon it. "It's really not that complicated, Data… A woman just wants to feel special, to feel loved. Just… Call me 'Dear', and 'my love', and kiss me, all over…"

"All over?" He repeated, for clarification. It was a rather broad description...

"Mostly on the mouth, but yes… All over…"

"Very well then, dear…" He whispered to her huskily, then set to fulfilling her request. He kissed her mouth, firmly, passionately, like a man kissing the woman he loved, if he were capable of such a thing.

She moaned softly into the kiss, holding onto his shoulders. He kissed her until she was breathless, and broke off the kiss of her own free will, in order to take a few gasps of air. In the meantime, since he had no need of air, he resumed kissing her, over the jaw and onto her neck, then down over her shoulder and arm, until his kisses reached the top of her hand.

'Where did he learn that 'Gomez Addams' style of kissing…?' Kembyr had just been wondering of the surprisingly romantic display, when suddenly, Data took her hand and flipped it over, palm side up, and began kissing the inside of her hand. He followed up the inside of her wrist, until Kembyr realized with no small amount of shock and just slightly less revulsion, that the android was about to kiss her armpit…

"DATA!" She shrieked, pulling her arm back to her own body. But at his innocent look of confusion, she couldn't help but start laughing, giggling madly at his incredible antics. "Oh my god! How have you managed to make love to two other women already…?"

He shrugged, helplessly confused by both her reaction and her question. "Well, in all fairness, you are the only woman so far tonight who has referred to the act as 'making love'…"

That comment seemed to sober her up, and she quickly stopped laughing. "Oh… I see…"

She seemed to be reverting back to pitying him again, but that was getting them nowhere fast. So he quickly diverted her attention, gathering her back into his arms. "Kembyr, I hope you can learn not to let it bother you that I cannot feel, and that you do not mistake the fact that I cannot feel, with a complete inability to understand why you feel the way you do. Though I cannot empathize with your empathy for me, I am nonetheless appreciative that you have considered how I would feel, if I were capable of it."

She swallowed at the nervousness in her throat, shyly snuggling up to his chest. "I understand, sir… Even though it's hard to accept, I wouldn't be a considerate partner if I didn't… But, still…"

Looking up at him, she reached up and stroked his cheek, peering into his eyes. "If, somehow, it ever were to become possible for you to feel… If I'm still around, would you at least let me return the favor to you then…?"

He felt no anticipation for her offer, but he did acknowledge it. It was certainly fortuitous to have a willing participant in wait, should he ever have the opportunity to make such an experiment. "That is very kind of you. I accept."

She smiled at him, apparently satisfied with that answer for now. Then she reached up, and kissed him again. And again. Twice on his lips and then once on both cheeks. Only then did she pull back, looking up at him with some kind of new emotion on her face. It seemed to be a positive emotion, at least. "Alright… Let's try this again… My love…" She added, linking her arms around the back of his neck, and kissing him madly all over his face and neck and shoulders, taking her time especially around his neck.

He was a little unsure as to why humans would enjoy this. It was rather distracting, in his opinion. But when he replicated it on her, a smile of contentment came to her face, and she sighed. When he reached her neck and began kissing her there, she moaned a little, and grasped him tighter.

"Does this feel acceptably stimulating? Dear?"

She laughed, and shook her head, but then answered in the affirmative. "Yes Data, it feels good so far…"

He was a little unsure about whether she was being entirely truthful. "I am glad to hear you say so, my love… Should I perhaps have just said 'does it feel good', though? I have been told that my overly descriptive manner of speech can be distracting-" But then again, he was probably 'over-thinking' it now, which he had been told was also distracting…

She shook her head though, and apparently this time she meant it. "No, it's fine… I know I asked you to try to role-play with me, but, I'm not trying to cast any illusions over you, Data, sir…"

He was very confused by those words. They reminded him of something a wizard or enchantress would say in a fantasy novel, which confused him more than most other kinds of books. He didn't know what to make of it. "Please explain?"

She nodded, prepared to do so. "I mean, that I'm not going to try and pretend you're a normal human man. One, it's just impossible, and two, it's not fair or right to you. So, when I asked you to try and pretend we are husband and wife for just tonight, I meant that I wanted to pretend to be married to you, as you are. Not that I wanted you to try and pretend to be a 'normal guy' for me…"

And to think, he initially believed Kembyr would be the 'easy' one to deal with. She was even more confusing than the other two together. "I am afraid I just cannot understand why you would want that. Your sexual gratification is tied to your desire to procreate. Therefore, having me, someone who is incapable of organic reproduction, as a husband would not make sense…"

She stared at him for a long moment, and slowly, tears started gathering in her eyes. And yet, after a while, she smiled at him, trying her best to be patient. "Data… Yes, I have always wanted to have a baby someday, but… I have also always realized full well that the desire to procreate is simply my body doing its job, doing what comes naturally… And the most important thing in any relationship should be the love the people involved have for each other, not what they want from each other. I would know that especially well, because…"

The tears started to fall at an alarming rate. "My first husband, years ago… He left me because I miscarried what would have been our firstborn…"

It finally clicked. "Bringing up procreation… It keeps reminding you of that painful memory…" He looked away from her, wholly dissatisfied with his entire performance with her thus far. "I… Seem to be unable to stop doing the wrong thing around you. I am sorry…"

She paused to wipe the tears off of her cheeks. Then she shook her head. "It's okay Data. I understand. And I still like you, despite you messing up… I know what it's like to be a screw up, too. I had a lot of trouble growing up, understanding and getting along with other kids. So I kinda get what you go through, at least a little…" Suddenly she sighed. "Wow… I guess by now you really have gotten to know me, huh…"

He wasn't sure what to say to that, so he simply nodded in agreement, and waited for her to finish her thoughts. After a moment, she finally resumed, "I guess… There's just no real 'right' way to do this… I'm caught between wondering if I like you enough to do it, to knowing I already like you more than I should and feeling guilty about that. So now I think, we should just get to it. Just do it and save the over-thinking for later!" She sighed deeply, throwing up her hands in defeat.

"If that is what you wish—" He began, but she had already pulled her shirt over her head, and threw it to the side. Her face fell red with embarrassment, but she didn't even pause before reaching for the hem of her slacks.

Since she was apparently now in a hurry, Data quickly set to undressing as well. He was more confused than ever, though. He could not fathom why, after apparently fully accepting how inept he was at understanding or pleasing her, that she now wanted him more than ever…

She left her panties on until he had also finished undressing, and only then did she remove them, standing naked with him. She was trembling very hard, but she did not immediately make a move to come towards him. Given how much he had messed up so far, he figured he ought to let her come to him. So he simply waited.

She took a deep breath, to calm herself, before stepping forward. When she was only a single step away, she stopped, looking up into his eyes. Searching, still searching. Even though she already knew there was nothing to find…

Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, embracing his naked form to her own. She was trembling, but not just from arousal. Her heart was racing with apprehension.

"Is everything alright, dear?" Data inquired, returning the embrace, and settling his hands at the small of her back. She seemed so sure just a few seconds ago, and now she was back to being shy. Unwilling to let the progress slip away, he kept his embrace around her gentle, but insistent and firm…

She didn't pull back to look at him, but smiled at his statement anyways. "It's okay Data, you don't have to pretend after all. You don't have to pretend to be anyone else, and you don't have to pretend I'm anyone special either…"

He gave her a sudden squeeze, and she pulled back, looking him in the eye. She found him staring right back. "Kembyr, I am not pretending now. I will not call you 'my love' any longer, because I am incapable of love. However…"

Bending his head down just slightly, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. At the particular moment she 'seemed like she needed it'. When he pulled back again, he explained, "I will, for tonight at least, continue to call you 'dear'. Because you have become dear to me…"

She smiled at him, and that smile soon bloomed into a grin. She was happy but she hesitated, not sure quite what to say at first. Finally she settled on the only thing that came to mind. "You… You're a real gem, Data…"

'You jewel…' Now a gem, apparently…?

He smiled softly at her, hoping he could finally tempt her to start. He still felt nothing, but after all the building up to it, he found himself very curious about what this woman would do in her heated moments of passion…

As if somehow able to sense his interest, however faint, she finally got in touch with her own, truest feelings on the matter. Hiking up one leg, her knee at his hip, she nodded to him, finally fully ready, and breathed out to him, "…Go ahead…"

He nodded back to her, then looked down, taking his member in hand and leading the tip to her entrance. Once aligned, he pushed upwards just barely. Her readiness and gravity took over from there, and in no time at all, he was inside her to the hilt.

Her mouth had fallen open into an 'O', and then she dipped her head down shyly, settling her forehead against his neck and collar. "Oh, Data…"

He proceeded at the slowest pace, but she quickly requested more of him, so he increased it to medium. That seemed to satisfy her for a little while, but again, it wasn't long before she asked him to go harder.

That was certainly interesting, given that the doctor had assumed she would want a slow setting. Perhaps Madison wasn't quite such an anomaly after all? He decided to inquire, "I also have a vibration setting. Would you like me to incorporate that?"

But to his surprise, she shook her head. "Huh? Oh no, I don't need that, just… Just a little bit more, maybe, please…?"

He acknowledged the request, and filed away the data. Increase speed of thrust 1%.

"Oooh, yes, that's good… Harder~"

2%.

"Ooh, yes, yes, just a –little- more…!"

5%?

"AH! WAIT! That's too hard!"

"Apologies. Three percent?" He readjusted the speed. Distracted by her pain, he didn't realize he said the last part out loud.

Until she started to giggle, pointing it out. "Three percent?" But then she nuzzled her cheek against his neck, affirming, "Mmm, yes, three percent is good… Three percent is really, really good…!"

"Noted." He indeed noted, making several adjustments to his overall sexuality program while her muscles started to spasm around him, and she reached between her legs to finish the job.

She made no immediate move to back away from him, to the contrary, she kissed his neck and dug her fingers into his shoulder for several minutes. After a while she finally looked back up at him, smiling widely as she shyly thanked him, "Data, that was amazing…"

"I am glad you enjoyed yourself… Dear."

Her smile turned a little sad at that. "I'm going to miss hearing you call me that… But I know it would hardly be professional…"

"Indeed it would not." He agreed right away, but quickly relented. "However… I would have no objections with considering us to be very dear friends from now on… Would you?"

She shook her head, genuine joy returning to her expression. But there was still that twinge of sadness and regret, deep, deep down. "…I really, -really- hope that someday… I can make you feel as good as you made me feel tonight…" She blushed, looking down. "And not just like that, but the feelings you've inspired in my heart… Even if not with me, Data. I very dearly hope you get to feel that with someone, someday…"

He bowed his head to her. "Thank you, Kembyr. I have great hope for this as well…"

Finally detangling themselves and stepping back from one another, Kembyr shyly covered herself up with the sheet from her cot, while Data redressed.

He looked up at her before he was about to leave. She looked like she was expecting something from him, so he inquired, "Do you have any last requests before I go?"

The gesture alone erased the aura of expectation, and she smiled at him, shaking her head. "Maybe…" She again contradicted herself. "…Just say, 'Sweet dreams, dear', okay?"

A sweet girl with simple requests. It was satisfying to fulfill them. "Sweet dreams, dear."

She grinned at him then. "They will be, sir… Because you'll be in them."

As the door closed behind him, he found himself puzzled by those last words. He wondered how she knew that, if she hadn't even fallen asleep yet…

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