Data was clearly surprised to see Counselor Troi waiting with Captain Picard in the ready room.
"Counselor… I was not expecting you to be present."
As they took seats close by Deanna, who was seated next to the captain's desk rather than across from him, the lopsided arrangement seemed to avoid a sense of opposition.
"Please tell me we're gonna talk about the Rhezar mining conflict," Leo attempted to joke lamely. Picard's expression progressed from pained to distasteful and back again.
"I'm afraid you probably already have an idea what this is about. This morning Admiral Halftel contacted me with questions regarding your intention to marry."
For once Leo couldn't manage to come up with a smartass answer. This was beyond belief. Data, on the other hand, questioned quite plainly, "I cannot imagine what concern of the Federation Science division our plans to marry might be, captain. What questions did he have that he would ask you instead of myself or Leo?"
"C'mon, D, you should know by now that at least half the time we're the ones who are talked about, not to. Though I suppose I should be grateful not to be annoyed by this admiral in person," Leo cut in before the captain could reply.
Picard shifted uncomfortably and cut a glance at Troi. She stepped in.
"Admiral Halftel has been authorized to rendezvous with the Enterprise in two days to investigate the situation."
Data and Leo exchanged a meaningful look, then he turned his attention to Picard and Troi. "Then it is evident my success in establishing an intimate primary relationship has commanded his attention, much as my creation of an offspring did before. Considering the outcome of his previous investigation of my activities, I cannot imagine what he hopes to accomplish by yet another inquiry." Without betraying a hint of irony Data's words nonetheless made the captain and the counselor supremely uncomfortable. Once again Leo addressed Data, ignoring the other two.
"You can't imagine? Then let me imagine for both of us. Admiral Halftel is coming to 'investigate' how an android can achieve and maintain a successful committed relationship with a human female, in every traditional sense of the word minus human emotion, and thus accomplish a positronic paradigm shift that makes your attempt to be a father pale in comparison. The short answer is you've exceeded your design specifications and it's driving them crazy." Suddenly she nailed Picard with a dead-on stare. "Would you agree I'm close to the mark, sir?"
"He didn't say so in so many words, but that sounds about right. "
"I sense a growing hostility, Leo," Deanna interjected, "It might be best to approach the admiral reasonably, to convince him he's wrong and that the Federation's concerns are misguided."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "'Reasonable'. Right. Don't shrink me, Counselor. 'Concerns'? What the hell kinds of 'concerns' can they possibly have, when it's none of their goddamn business? Are they concerned that Data's interpersonal development might be a breakthrough that the Daystrom Institute may be unable to quantify, and thus be unable to profit from? I'm not blind, folks, it's quite clear that the ancient currency of filthy lucre has been swapped in this century for power and reputation and on that score the Federation is an avatar of avarice." Abruptly she wearied of being clever and continued in frustration, "All I've heard since I got here is how enlightened everyone is in the 24th century. Well from what I've heard it seems that androids are just the latest unlucky race to be sent to the back of the bus." Her reference to the American Civil Rights movement wasn't lost on any of them.
"No, Leo, this is different." Even if he disagreed with the Federation's interest and would oppose it, Data thought he could see from where it arose. After all, he was a machine, no matter how uniquely sentient and self-aware, and Leo was human. It would be very difficult for most organic life forms to comprehend.
Data's comment nearly brought Leo out of her chair and he reached a hand out to grip her arm and try to calm her. She shook him off, but fell back in her seat as she rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and shook her head as if hearing something she'd expected all along. "Well there we are. The three magic words that every hypocrisy in history depends upon: 'This Is Different'." Blank stares all around. "You really don't get it, do you? Every time some 'enlightened' soul comes up with a reason to exclude someone from the rights he enjoys it's 'different'. Meaning here's the line drawn in the sand. Sure Data, you can live your life, and do your job, and go and think and do what you please. Why, because you have the same inborn intrinsic rights as organic life forms? Hell no, because they LET you. And as long as you remain within the solid parameters we're too polite to describe aloud, you may be granted certain freedoms enjoyed by everyone else as a birthright." She addressed Troi and Picard now, her level voice at odds with her obvious agitation. "For christsake, do you really think the powers that be at Starfleet Academy were entirely unaware of what was happening with Data and me? News travels, or is that a surprise too? It was okay for us to play at going steady, it was fine for the human female to get her jollies with her life-size electric friend, but marriage? This is different. I've been choking on those three goddamn words for too long. Oh, we know you've scored well enough on your tech exams to pass, Leora, but your situation makes it different, so you're going to have to sit an extra set of exams." All three of the others appeared surprised as Leo went on. "I know the Catholic funeral mass is supposed to honor the life and faith of the departed and his loved ones, but you must understand we can't mention them because your friend was homosexual. It's not really denying Christian love. This is different. It's always different, but it's always the same, centuries don't mean a thing. Play at enlightenment, but you'd better not shine that circle of light too far. There is a limit, after all, a limit to inclusion, a limit to decency, a limit to free speech, a limit to human rights. A limit to enlightenment."
Finally Deanna spoke quietly. "You know that tendency is based upon fear of what people don't understand."
"I'll tell you what they're afraid of here. The all-wise and enlightened humans are afraid that they're losing the wall between 'them' and 'us' and they're just a little edgy about the comparison. After all, if an android can establish a committed relationship that fulfills every highly celebrated aspect of 'love' while remaining virtually untouched by things like jealousy, infidelity, selfishness, and who knows what other hormonal failings, then how will humans excuse themselves for being unable to do the same thing? So much for organic superiority. You're showing them up in some very itchy ways, Data, and they're looking for a reason to stop it."
When Data spoke, it was with agreement touched by disappointment. "But when Lal began to surpass my knowledge and abilities, I encouraged her. I did not wish to maintain my 'superiority'."
"There you go again. Making humans look bad by comparison." She turned accusingly to Picard. "Can you honestly say that this has nothing to do with what Halftel's coming here for? The Starfleet proprietary attitude is being threatened in a new and different way."
Picard was shaking his head. "Long before you arrived, attempts were made to define Data as less than he is. In both cases his rights as a free being were firmly established."
"Yeah, after he was put in his place they cut him a break. He was told he was property and sat through testimony and insult before he was grudgingly granted quasi-human legal status. He lost his daughter, who was never actually defined as such by anyone of Federation note, but her death made the entire argument of her upbringing moot and gave Starfleet and the Federation a nice opportunity to bask in their own sympathy while basically showing Data who's the boss. It doesn't hurt as much to raise someone up if you've put them down far enough to begin with. Humans are born with rights, according to the enlightened powers that be. But Data was merely granted them, like some sort of good conduct reward. Apparently nobody expected him to take them too seriously." Still she hadn't raised her voice, but Deanna sensed a boiling rage.
"I hope you will count us as exceptions to that," the captain noted.
"That remains to be seen." She turned to Data and gripped his hand. "You feel this, don't you? You feel more than my hand and temperature and texture, you feel our connection. God, Data, I know better than anyone your entire life hinges on understanding things, behavior, phenomena, cause and effect. And when you're in conflict with others you want to help them understand that there needn't be a conflict."
"You have said you consider it to be a cherished part of my character." They were speaking as if they were alone in the room. "Is it no longer?"
Leo squeezed his hand as hard as she could. "It won't ever stop being that. But just this once, just for us, I need you to forget about understanding others and educating them, because in this case they aren't worthy of it. This isn't ignorance, it's denial of reality. What we have between us isn't a privilege, or even a right, it's reality that came from who we are. To question it is nothing but stupid."
"And 'there is no cure for stupid'," Data offered one of Leo's own sayings in reply.
"Exactly. Stupid can't be corrected, it can only be ignored as irrelevant."
Picard reacted to this with some concern, looking again at Troi before speaking. "Lieutenant, as distasteful and pointless as it seems you and Data will be required to cooperate with Admiral Halftel's inquiries. You may count on me to be opposing this all the way to the high council. The wisest course is to mount a challenge within Starfleet's own protocols."
"Fuck 'protocol' and cooperation. I will not sit at the back of the bus while you explore bureaucratic judo holds. I've had enough. How's that for three words to trump 'this is different'?? I've. Had. Enough. Admiral Halftel can expect no cooperation from me."
"Do you speak for Mr. Data as well?"
Now Leo leaned forward and responded with an intensity that disregarded every aspect of rank and position, "He is his own man. Or have you entirely missed the point?"
When Deanna spoke to break the tension it was as if the other three had forgotten she was there. "Leo, you have to be careful not to hurt your cause."
"I have no 'cause', Deanna. I have reality, we have reality. Maybe I'm channeling Rosa Parks, and I'm just too goddamn tired and fed up to move."
"Rosa Parks was guided and supported by a large coordinated effort," Data reminded her. "We are not."
The look on Leo's face was utterly defiant, yet even Troi could sense no lack of awareness of the nature of the Federation's intentions. And power. It just didn't seem to matter.
Leo smiled sadly at Data. "Maybe not. But if I go down solo, I promise you a hell of a show." Now it was he who reached for her hand, and squeezed gently.
"You will never 'go solo', Leora Eileen, not so long as I am here. And I will always be." He faced the captain and Troi.
"However unintentionally, Leo has spoken for both of us. We will not cooperate with the admiral's 'inquiry'."
Picard considered this. Nobility, he knew, was useless against the Federation and Starfleet interests even if it was to be admired. But nobility wasn't the issue here. He recalled his tirade when fighting the Borg as he and his crew were struggling to assure Zefram Cochrane of a successful first contact. They attack, we fall back. With something more metaphysical than lives at risk, perhaps that rage to resist might be much more appropriate to the current situation.
"Data's right, Leo, you don't have the righteous force of well-led thousands behind you," he began, and the look of disappointment on Leo's face was painful to see until he continued, "but with some luck and creativity maybe all you'll need is the commander of the Federation flagship." Leo's eyes narrowed, and Data looked both fascinated and impressed, but neither spoke. Deanna sat up straighter, questioning Picard silently.
Picard went on, as if having come to a new decision. "Cooperation assumes there is some nugget of reason to be addressed. On careful consideration," meaning the substance of their conversation, "I can see none here. Rights are intrinsic, not 'granted' by others. And they are neither negotiable, nor subject to review. Whatever decision you two make regarding the Admiral's visit, as your commanding officer you will have my full and unqualified support, all the way to the Federation High Council and beyond."
Deanna observed, "Captain, there is no authority 'beyond' the High Council."
He smiled wryly. "Not yet, perhaps."
Picard hadn't "granted them authority", or "given them permission". He'd told Data and Leo he had their backs, whatever happened. The distinction was enormously important, and Troi noted that the fear and hostility that had been fairly buzzing in Leo since her arrival was cut off as if by a switch and had been replaced with a humility born of the realization that she couldn't be sure of having made the same decision as the captain, had their positions been reversed. Leo stood and leaned across the desk to offer her hand, which Picard took and held firmly.
"I knew there was a reason I hung around here," she told him before releasing his hand and sitting down again.
"I, too, am grateful for your support captain, though I cannot say that I am surprised by it. I understand," and here Data cast an uneasy look at Leo, expecting a reaction, but failed to see one, "the gravity of this decision given your rank and position in Starfleet."
"Mr. Data sometimes that rank and position inflicts the sort of amnesia regarding matters of substance that I would be wise to expend more effort to resist." He grinned at all assembled, seeming pleased to be reviving a fondly-recalled sense of activism. "I wonder if Admiral Halftel is familiar with the final scene of MacBeth?"
Leo was, but couldn't make the connection and Deanna, being only familiar with the plot and not the lines, was lost.
Cocking his head rather grandly, Data provided the reference.
"Lay on, MacDuff! And damn'd be him that cries 'Hold, enough'!"
When they were alone in the turbolift, Leo turned to to Data with a shudder. "Do you think I was convincing?"
He was mystified. "You appeared in all respects very much in control of yourself and your intentions were very clear. Was that not the case?"
She gripped his arm and leaned on him as if ready to faint. "Shit, D, I made it up as I went along."
At that Data smiled and patted her hand reassuringly. "So did William Shakespeare."
Gazing up at him in shameless adoration, Leo told him, "I would love no other. I'd be crazy to."
