Hey guys, I'm here to let you know that things might slow down a bit... I have a policy of having the next chapter ready before uploading one on here, but I was recently on a trip and my workload is slowly increasing so it may not be possible all the time. I'll try to be as consistent as I possibly can so don't lose faith in me :)
"Okay, lesson number one: even if it's a fact, telling people you are clearly better than them at something will make them not like you."
"I do not understand."
Kayla sighed into steaming cup of black tea. "The human ego is a fragile thing, Data. Easily breakable. They know you're more efficient and just generally better than them, reiterating it just makes things worse."
"Ah, like the concept of heroism, as depicted in Ernest Becker's book, The Birth and Death of Meaning. I believe I understand now."
"Good," Kayla smiled. Technically, they haven't even begun their so-called 'training'; it's just that Data had a knack for accidentally offending people. Like Liuetenant Rhodes, who was just boasting about his new 'high score' for changing the auxiliary chips in the computer's mainframe and happened to be overheard by Data. The events that followed were not difficult to guess.
"Before we start, do you have any general questions about SIMPLE human behaviour that I can actually answer?"
"I do. Asking and answering all of them, however, would take approximately 2.31 years, therefore I shall refrain." Kayla sighed.
"How about this: you just pick one randomly and I'll answer that." Data's eyes flitted back and forth for a few seconds before resettling on her.
"What is the function of keeping two individuals' hands in contact for long periods of time?"
Of course it had to be something like this.
"Well, put simply, it feels good. It provides a sense of familiarity and being close with that person." Data seemed to digest that information for a few moments before saying anything.
"I am afraid while I can understand the sentiment on a superficial level, I am not yet capable of gaining a deeper understanding of these actions."
Kayla pursed her lips. "Data?"
"Yes?"
"Can you physically feel things?"
"Please specify."
"Like the what the surface of this table feels like."
"It is a glass surface, approximately 23 Celsius—"
"No, I mean… Ugh," Kayla let out a noise of frustration. "Okay, I have an idea. Close your eyes." Data obliged.
"Now touch the surface of the table with your fingertips. Try to feel the table; run your fingers across and just try to… feel it. Properly." Data's face scrunched up in concentration—an oddly human reaction.
"Tell me what you feel."
"I feel…" Data paused at the foreign phrase. "A smooth surface. Cooler than our surroundings…" Kayla watched Data rub circles into the table with his golden fingers, mesmerized.
"Okay,, good. You're doing really well, Data." Kayla swallowed. "Now try to hold on to that sensation." She lifted her hand, slowly placing it over his.
"Now what do you feel?"
"I feel warmth." He shifted their hands so that his palm was facing up, his fingers touching Kayla's palm. His thumb rested on the back of her hand. "I feel the millions of ridges and prints on your skin." A blush rose to Kayla's cheeks, suddenly painfully aware that they were still in Ten Forward. "I feel the blood pulsing through the tips of your fingers." Eyes still closed, Data's eyebrow furrowed. "Your pulse has elevated." He opened his eyes. "Are you all right?"
Kayla cleared her throat, glancing down at their clasped hands.
"Yeah, I'm fine… It's just that usually couples hold hands… in this particular way."
"Couples? Do you mean lovers?" Just had to use that fucking word, didn't he?
"Yes…lovers."
"I see," he unclasped their hands. "I apologize if I caused any discomfort."
"It's fine…" Kayla muttered, feeling the absence of his hand on hers.
After a moment, Data asked, "How does one hold hands in a platonic fashion?"
Kayla's shoulders relaxed slightly at the minute shift in the conversation. "Well, friends usually don't hold hands. The only platonic handholding thing I can think of is a parent holding their children's hands. Maybe sometimes little girls playing together on in a schoolyard or something. Other than that, handholding is usually reserved as a romantic thing to do."
"I do not believe I understand the reason for these distinctions."
Kayla sighed. "You know Data, I think this is gonna be a learning experience for the both of us…"
"How so?"
"People usually don't have to think about why they do what they do… We mostly just abide the implicit code of conduct that we're bound by. You know, the whole 'People see, people do' shebang."
"I suppose it is difficult to discern certain aspects of behaviour that seem natural and logical to you."
"Yep. You're kinda asking me to answer these big, philosophical questions that really really smart people have been trying to figure out for centuries," she smiled playfully.
After finishing their drinks, or rather Kayla finishing hers, she led him to the observation lounge on Deck 8.
The observation lounge was deserted, most of the crew either on duty or using their meagre free time to sleep, spend time with their friends, or looking after various side-projects… Coupled with the fact that they spent the better part of the last two years in space, so there was no particular allure in looking at it some more. Data looked at her questioningly, head tilted to the side.
"I know what you're thinking—actually, scratch that. I know one of the ten zillion thoughts running through your head right now." Before Data could open his mouth to correct to vast overestimation, Kayla cut him off.
"Yes, Data, I know that that wasn't entirely right. Relax." She gestured for him to follow her.
She led them to the center of the room and told Data to stay there while she skipped (she was excited, okay?) to the control panel located on the wall opposite them. She looked back at Data, biting back a smile threatening to spread across her features. She punched in the code and waited as the two massive beige ceiling panels began shifting to the side, revealing the breathtaking sight of space, completely undisturbed by the fiberglass that could be found on every other translucent area of the ship. The only thing stopping both of them from being blown out of the observation lounge and have them hurtling through space was the completely see-through layer of emergency power field.
"You have engaged the emergency field."
"Yep."
"That is against the regulations," Data pointed out.
Kayla shrugged her shoulders. "Regulations, schmegulations."
Data opened his mouth as if to say something, then seemingly deciding against it, closed it again.
"So what we're gonna do now," started Kayla, letting her hair out of her ponytail, "Is lay on the floor and look at stars." For the record, her intentions were completely innocent. This was an exercise to try and teach the android to look at something physical and oft considered scientific (especially since humans have started moving out of their solar system), and see the beauty in it instead.
Despite his apparent (but subtle) surprise, Data complied and eased himself to the floor. Kayla followed in suit, enjoying the feeling of finally being able to stretch her back.
"First off, tell me the first thing that comes to your mind when you look out there," she said, ignoring the fact that their shoulders were touching.
"Constellation Allineau 3-11C is most prominent in this part of the inter-planetary cycle—"
"That's what I thought." She turned her head to face him. "If you're going to 'delve into the world of emotion', you need to understand that humans see the beauty in these things first. Well, technically, we see the bad things first, but for the sake of the example let's just go with the poetic version."
"I do not believe I have the capacity to accurately process the 'poetic version'," said Data.
"Well that's what you pay me for, isn't it?"
"I do not give you payment. Would that be something you require in exchange for your services?"
"… Oh my god, you fucking nerd," Kayla grinned, shoving his shoulder with hers. "Of course I don't 'require payment'. You scratch my back, I scratch yours."
Data stayed silent for a moment, pondering something. "I believe you are referring to the fact that I aided you in improving your performance is astrophysics, and, due to our friendship, you are now helping me."
Kayla stared at him for a few moments before letting out a noise of awed disbelief. "Data…" her eyes softened. "That's exactly it. You got it!"
"However—"
"Oh, geez."
"I do not understand why you would refer to me as 'a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious' in the fashion you have. Your body language suggested a form of compliment, yet the word conveys a meaning that is in the contrary."
"Okay, you know what?" Kayla huffed in frustration. "Can we just—could we just look at the beautiful-ass view I went through fire and hells for?"
Data stayed silent (thankfully) for the next fifteen minutes, and Kayla started forgetting he was even there. She snapped out of her daze when she felt Data's little finger brush against hers.
Fighting the urge to smile, she stayed still in fear that the little gesture was just an accident and Data wasn't even aware of its being there… Hold the phone—It couldn't be accident. He had more senses and she had dirty thoughts about… So yeah it definitely couldn't have been an accident. Right?
In a rare moment of courage, she hooked her little finger around his and waited for a reaction.
The core of her stomach lit on fire and her chest erupted with butterflies when she felt his finger respond by tightening against hers. She was a little confused, she was a little anxious, but she just couldn't get herself to open her mouth and ask him about it.
Instead, they just stayed like that… right up until a short ensign sporting a bob-cut entered the lounge. The two sprung apart, a small smile on Kayla's lips while Data explained what the hell they were doing the floor and assuring the ensign that they didn't need any medical attention.
Kayla wasn't entirely sure about that last part.
Kayla burst into Rekku's quarters, her mouth running a hundred miles an hour before she was fully in the room.
"Rek, I need to talk to you abou—Fuck." She stopped in her tracks, eyes widening at the scene unfolding before her. Wesley covered his now crimson face with his shirt... that wasn't on his body.
"Kayla!" Rekku exclaimed, reaching for his own shirt. "You can't just barge into someone's quarters like that!"
Kayla quickly and politely averted her eyes as the two boys fumbled to put their various items of clothing back on. From what she had witnessed, things were still quite innocent when she had entered the room. Even so, this was exceptionally uncomfortable for all parties involved.
Wesley cleared his throat and ruffled his hair, mumbling a quick goodbye and dashing out the door as fast as he could without looking like an idiot.
Rekku glared at Kayla from where he was sitting on the couch. "You," he pointed an accusing finger at her. "You fucking cock-blocker."
Kayla blinked at him in surprise. "That is the first time I ever heard you swear, dude. And how the hell do you know the phrase 'cock-blocker'? Even I had to think about that one for a second."
"I'm around you a lot—way too much for my liking, actually—I pick up a few things here and there. You're a cock-blocker though," he crossed his arms, pouting.
"I'm sorry, okay? I figured you'd have at least locked the damn door if you were gonna…do things," she waved her hand noncommittally.
Rekku shrugged, going a little red. "The door wasn't exactly the most important thing on my mind."
"Yeah, I don't wanna hear it."
"Well, job's done now, isn't it? You wanted to say something anyway, so shoot," he said as he moved over on the couch to give her some space.
"Well," she huffed as she took a seat. "You might have been right about something—stop smiling like that, I'm trying to be serious here!"
"Sorry," he chuckled. "Right about what?" Kayla looked down at her lap and twiddled her thumbs.
"Come on, Kay, you came this far. Tell me." Still, she pointedly looked away, silently urging him to figure it out without her actually having to say it.
"Are you serious? Why can't you just—" his eyes widened. "Ooooh." His eyebrows shot up. "Oooh! Oh my god!"
"I fucking get it, you're shocked. Now stop it, I need help," she whined.
"What do you—How—I don't—What?!" he sputtered.
"Holy hell, I should just leave. I knew it was a bad idea to tell anyone."
"But—But I don't even know what happened. You didn't actually tell me anything. Maybe you should, you know, because I am getting the most extreme version of things up here," he said, pointing at his temple.
"Oh my god, no, nothing actually happened! I just meant about the whole feelings thing."
"Oh."
"Are you… disappointed?" asked Kayla incredulously.
"Well, kinda."
"Wow. You know, you're the best friend a girl could ask for. My feelings for a fucking android aren't scandalous enough for your liking. No, you'd rather have me, an underage girl, sexin' it up with one."
"Okay, it sounds bad when you put it like that. I just mean… Well, I could've told you about you having a crush on Data."
Kayla paused. "What."
"Well, it's pretty obvious," Rekku grimaced. "Everyone in our friend-group knows."
"Everyone knows?" yelled Kayla.
"Yeah, we talk about it all the time!"
"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, slapping his arm.
"We assumed you knew!" Rekku yelled back, rubbing his arm.
"Well, you obviously severely overestimated my capacity to not be a completely emotionally-constipated doofus."
"Point." Kayla let out a noise of frustration and buried her face in a pillow.
"Mwh thw hwell wahmi s'pose to do mow," she said, her voice muffled.
"Care to repeat that in a dialect I can actually understand?"
She lifted her face. "What the hell am I supposed to do now?"
"How about you start by telling me what happened?"
They sat there talking for the next half hour about the long-winded journey that had led to Kayla's confused and maddening feelings concerning a particular android.
"This would be really, really cute if it weren't so tragic," Rekku muttered sympathetically.
"Tell me about it. How can I get over someone I never even dated?"
"Well, how did you get over your crushes until now?"
"I don't know… they just sort of blew over with time. This just feels different for some reason, and I don't know why. The fact that this has a total of 0% chance of happening should make this easier, right?"
Rekku furrowed his eyebrows. "What makes you think there's a 0% chance of it happening?"
"Just look at the facts; I'm a teenage girl who has a crush on an android with no feelings. No feelings equals… well, no feelings. Towards anybody. And especially not towards me."
"Why especially not you?"
Kayla squirmed at the question. "He's just so… you know. And I'm just so… you know."
"Nope." Kayla covered her eyes with her hands, really, really not wanting to have that conversation anymore.
"The fact is that I'm just a kid. At least technically until five months from now, I'm a kid. He's not only an adult, and my teacher, and my friend, but he's this amazing person that has the brain capacity of who knows what—and has all these unbelievable qualities… And his life span. If nothing else, I'll just keep getting older and older, and he'll stay the same. It's a crush that never should have happened. I should have been more careful about this…" she looked up Rekku, eyes red-rimmed from the sudden burst of emotions. "It's hard not to fall in love with someone when they're someone like Data."
Rekku remained silent for a long time. "You never said it was love."
"I don't know what it is. Calling it a crush just seemed a bit… Inaccurate."
"I really don't see what you could do about this, other than waiting it out. Maybe you should put a little more distance between you two to make it easier," he suggested.
"I can't do that; I'm supposed to be training him to develop emotionally."
"How fitting."
Isn't it.
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