As soon as Barclay finished his work in the engineering room, he quickly ran back to Ten-Forward, hoping she would still be there, but the place was empty with the exception of a few Klingons and Ensign Wesley Crusher. Did you really think she would still be here waiting on you? he asked himself skeptically. Shoulders drooping, he made his way back to the direction of his quarters.

Suddenly, he got an idea. Stopping five doors down from his room, he pressed the intercom button. "Lieutenant Commander, Data, it's Lieutenant Barclay. May I come in?"

The doors to Data's room open hissed open and Barclay walked inside, to find Data sitting at his computer, his pet cat Spot curled up in his lap. The android turned to look at him. "Good evening, Lieutenant. What can I do for you?"

"I—I was just wondering if you've seen Arm—Lieutenant Collins lately?" he stammered, not daring to look into Data's eyes. He liked Data but was always wondering if he could look at a person and read their thoughts. He prayed that wasn't true, because Data would definitely question what he was thinking. Especially as he remembered what Armanya's touch felt like on his skin.

"No, I have not. Perhaps you should check her private quarters," the android suggested.

Instead, Barclay pointed to a seat next to a strange potted plant. "May I?"

"Of course," Data replied, gently removing Spot from his lap and standing. "Would you care for a cold beverage or perhaps some soothing music?"

"Music might be nice," Barclay shrugged.

"Program: play music," Data instructed and within seconds later, a haunting yet beautiful melody began to sound.

"Nice. Very…enchanting," Barclay leaned back in his chair.

"It is Lieutenant Collins' voice," Data declared, nearly causing Barclay to fall out of his chair.

"That's…her singing?" he gaped. As Data confirmed, he listened to her sing for a minute. While she had a very melodic voice, it also revealed a chilling sadness that gave him goosebumps yet made the hairs on the back of his neck stand. "When did she-?"

"She began recording music professionally while on Earth, approximately seven-point-eight years ago. While she was never quite popular on her planet, she is quite a musical enigma on at least seven planets we have encountered in our travels. At the request of Officer Worf, she programmed her music into the computer."

"What else can you tell me about her? We were talking in Ten-Forward and I was called away before she could finish. She claimed to have another ability other than being able to empathize with small electronics."

"Well, she is one of four sleep-porters in all the known galaxies," Data informed him. "That was how she managed to appear aboard the Enterprise, albeit it was through our Jeffries tube."

"Is there anything this woman cannot do?" Barclay asked aloud.

"I can list a total of eight thousand seventy six things that Lieutenant Collins is unable to do," Data began, but Barclay put his hand up with a small smile.

"That's alright. I was asking a rhetorical question." Barclay stood up, suddenly excited. "Well, I thank you for telling me more about her. Have a good evening, Lieutenant Commander."

"You do the same, Lieutenant Barclay," Data echoed, but Barclay was already out of his quarters. So she had empathy for machines, a hidden sadness that still lingered from her past, enchanting beauty and she could teleport while sleeping! He couldn't wait; he had to see her again immediately!

"Oh! Terribly sorry, Counselor!"

Deanna Troi looked up to see Armanya and she smiled. "It's quite alright. I should be watching where I am going, perhaps. Actually, I did wish to speak to you briefly. I wanted to commend you on getting to know Lieutenant Barclay. He could use a good friend to speak to."

"He's a sweet guy. Geordi asked me to introduce myself since we'd be working together from time to time. Not to mention, I can relate a bit to how he's feeling."

"I know you can. But I do feel the need to also warn you; there is a chance Reg could misconstrue your budding friendship as something more. I am sure you know that Reg is rather lonely and I fear that his friendship with you could allow him to think that there are deeper feelings beneath the surface."

Armanya raised an eyebrow at her. "Surely not. We shared cake and had a twenty minute discussion. Surely that is not nearly enough time for him to think I'm dating material."

"Normally, I would agree, but I can tell you from personal experience, that may not be the case with Reg. I met with him briefly when he had just started here. He suffers from holo-addiction and it seems he was…acting out his true feelings in one of the programs," Troi explained.

"Really?" Armanya questioned, unable to hide her amusement. "What kind of program did he create to 'act out' these feelings?"

Deanna sighed. "He created a program in which he simulated the actual crew into workings of his own design. He engaged in swordfights with La Forge, the Captain and Data as a villainous version of the Three Musketeers. He portrayed Doctor Crusher to be a provider of relaxation therapy and we aren't entirely sure what he emulated First Officer Riker to be."

"And he simulated you as his girlfriend?"

"Worse," Troi recounted. "I was the…Goddess of Empathy."

Armanya giggled. "Cute."

Troi furrowed her brow. "It was not 'cute'. However, this seemed to be of some comfort to Reg and he tended to hide from the real world. As much as I am hoping you can be of some relief to his holo-addiction, I fear that he could include you into his fantasy world, as well."

"Well, I'm not worried. There is absolutely no way that Barclay could be under the impression that there could ever be something between us."

Troi looked at her curiously. "What makes you say that, Armanya?"

"Why Barclay couldn't possibly like me for more than a friend?"

"No," Troi shook her head." The other part. That there never could be anything between you and Reg. I actually believe that you and he might actually be a good match after some time."

Armanya scratched her head. "Oh. Yeah, I forgot. I did say that, didn't I?" She then looked at her watch. "Deanna, I really need to go. I am late to…something," she mumbled incoherently before she dashed off, leaving a bewildered Deanna standing there.