Chapter Five

Lessa sat on the floor, with her back against a wall, her legs crossed at the ankles, reading a PADD Data had loaded with his tea research study.

"Quitron A made you burp?" she asked with a chuckle. "I didn't think that was possible for an android. You have internal-"

Coming out from behind the storage unit he was building to house her two burners, Data did not let her finish. It was embarrassing enough already.

"They did not work. I will never again drink Quitron A. I do not like to recall the expression on the Captain's face…" Data grimaced at the thought. He ducked back behind the storage unit.

Lifting a brow, Lessa asked what had happened. "You can't stop the story now! Please!"

When she saw his face reappear, resolve melting, she tilted her head to the side and gave him an exaggerated, pouting frown. She could almost hear the splash…

"I had tried that tea just before we were called to the bridge for a diplomatic encounter with someone I cannot mention. They were already in contact with us over the main viewer. The captain was standing next to my station. He asked me for our ETA to the planet, and when I opened my mouth to answer him..." Data was the one frowning now. Lessa, however, was laughing so hard she dropped the PADD.

"Data, I have to say, when we're not working, you're very different. Not at all what I would have expected." She met his eyes with a penetrating gaze.

Data looked back at her, wondering just as deeply what was behind those light purple orbs.

"I am curious, what did you expect?"

She grinned. "More a cross between your captain and Bruce, less Geordi. You have more playfulness in you and...some of...well, I recognize someone a little like me in there. But the rest is just you. Different, but just you. You get on with people. Better than I ever have. A good skill to have. One I envy."

Data moved closer. It was not a graceful move, since they were both still on the floor. More akin to crawling than Data was comfortable with.

"You can manage that skill when you try, Lessa. I have witnessed you use it successfully."

"When?" her expression was so open and hopeful.

"On Britta III, with Geordi." And before that, Data was thinking.

"There was another time. You're holding it back. When? Tell me." Something in her voice, in her eyes, compelled him to do just that.

"The first time we spoke. I believe I knew I could choose no other but you after that communication. Even if you were green." Data smiled at her and chuckled when she blushed.

"A green Orion slave girl, I am not," she teased.

"Of that I am thankful."

She looked doubtful now. "Are you sure about that, Data? The slave girl would argue less. Probably, not at all."

"Then I will need to improve my debating skills. To keep up with you. Will you help me with this?" Data came to his feet, pointing at her burners. He offered his hand to help Lessa to her feet.

Together they finished the work. Though it actually took days. Once the burners were housed, Lessa wanted a place to prepare the food for cooking. A chopping area and a sink. A cold storage unit and a normal storage area that matched. What had started as two burners ended up being a full, old fashioned kitchen. More than Data had ever expected to install. But it had all been enjoyable. Mostly due to the company. The more he got to know her, the more he wanted to learn. Lessa took her time deciding what she wanted and where. That was the only reason it had taken days to complete. But once it was, Data had no other good excuse to see her outside of the lab. But he wanted a reason. He just needed to find it.

In Data's project personal log, he made new observations on his collaborators. "Commander Maddox has found a way to manipulate our young associate. He has finally found his footing when dealing with the design for the new android's central processor. But when he came to an area where his ideas were stumbling, he gave young Lessa what I recognized as a calculating look before putting forth an obviously foolhardy suggestion. Lessa leapt in, just as he had intended, battering the man with her insights at top speed. All the while, the commander hid a gratified smile from the girl.

"Lessa, for her part, does try. I have noticed she is more forgiving of me than the commander. When I asked her about this in private, she mentioned a time when she had mentored under the man. She had overheard Maddox make an offhand comment to another of his staff regarding me. Although it had been years after the hearing had given me the right to choose, the commander did not extend those rights to my brother, and perhaps by extension, did not truly recognize them for me. According to Lessa, he had uttered the words 'All I need is one damned Soong type, and my goals would be at my fingertips. But Starfleet will not listen.'

"While the young lady would not speak of it at first, a small amount of prodding allowed me to gather the last facet to her story. Namely how she had requested a transfer away from him that same day.

My comfort level with the young lady had stabilized. Affected, certainly, by her story. Her sorrowful anger during her retelling I found curious. She reluctantly admitted that she did not wish to cause me distress. There is something to her supposition. I find I am again weary of my older collaborator. Even if Geordi cautioned me that both could be attempting to manipulate me."

As it was, Data still felt the inner push to learn more about the girl by encountering her out of the lab.

Conveniently, Lessa was the one to give Data a reason.

"Okay, yes, I know you remember it...when you offered to help me work on my memory of where things are in sickbay. Can we do that?" Lessa asked, as they were straightening up the lab after Bruce had stalked out, claiming he was done banging his head against hers for the day. Lessa took Bruce Maddox's reaction in stride. It happened too frequently for her to act any other way.

Data looked up from the area where they stored the twenty million PADDs they used for ideas.

"Is that your way of not asking me if I remember it?"

Lessa flushed. "It is a common expression that's totally inapplicable to you. Will you?" She did her best to look the role of damsel in distress, but wasn't sure if Data was susceptible or if she was that good an actress. But she did need the help. She was having waking nightmare-like visions of people dying because she couldn't find something the doctors needed in time. It was past time to get this taken care of.

"Yes. We can go after you have had your meal. I am sure your dinner companion is waiting for you. I will meet you on holodeck three in ninety minutes." With a nod, Data turned to go.

"Is that enough time for you to create the program?" she asked. It wasn't much time, but this was Data, but how long would something like that take?

"I created the program the day I suggested it. I wanted to be ready should you decide to take me up on my offer. And now you have." With another nod, he was gone.

"Nothing like I expect...every time," she mused to herself, before heading out for her dinner meeting. Lessa planned to invite Akayla to have dinner in her quarters tomorrow. It was time for some real food now that she had a kitchen again!

Deanna Troi suffered no long term effects from her head injury, but for one. The unsettling memory of looking at Lieutenant Barrows and sensing nothing. The sensation had been akin to having a blank wall shoved in her face. The sensation bore too close of a similarity to how Deanna's senses were lost during the Enterprise's encounter with the cosmic string. She had to know the reason behind her sense failure now.

Deanna had pulled up the girl's medical history that very night. Her story was a sad one at the start.

At the age of eight, Lessa Barrows had been found in an escape pod of unknown configuration, alone. The Director put in charge of Data's project had taken the child in, becoming her legal guardian months later, when no one had come forward to claim her.

The girl was found to be quite gifted intellectually. She had entered the Academy at the age of fifteen, with special dispensation to do so. She'd gone right back to the Daystrom Institute upon graduating. The published papers had begun only a year later.

The girl reminded Deanna of Wesley Crusher in some ways, but Wesley had not been as focused on his true calling, and Lessa had not been destined to leave this plane of existence.

But both were human...weren't they?

All the records indicated she was human. So why couldn't Deanna sense her?

Data was in his quarters, playing his violin when the chime announced he had a visitor.

"Come in, please," he called. He was surprised to see Counselor Troi entered a second later. The fact that she seemed very worried was alarming.

He put his violin away and guided Troi to his sitting area. She declined a beverage.

Once he took a chair near hers, she dived in.

"Data, do you think it's possible that Lieutenant Barrows is an android?"

This was a startling suggestion, but one he knew the answer to. "No. Why do you ask, Counselor?"

She sat back, stunned at his decisive denial. "You're sure? You said it took you some time to be sure about your mother," Troi reminded him, as though he was capable of forgetting.

Data nodded. "That is true. But I have spent many hours with Lieutenant Barrows in the last few days. I have not noticed her blinking patterns being governed by the Fourier series, or any other. I would have seen that by now were it true. Plus, I have seen her err. In sickbay she could not recall where some items were kept. I assisted her in remembering. She also likes food a great deal more than I would assume an android would."

"What if she's not a relative? What if she was not created by your father, but someone else?"

"Counselor, why do you think she is an android?" Data asked, deciding it was time to get to the real issue.

Troi sighed, but looked nervous too. "When I was in sickbay with my concussion, it was the first time I'd come in contact with her. I thought the concussion was the reason I could sense nothing from her. But I just found her in the lounge. I still can't sense anything from her."

"Even so, with my emotion chip active, you can sense emotions from me."

Troi lifted her hands in defeat. "True. But what other explanation is there?"

Data thought this over. "You have been blocked before by beings of greater number or power."

"She is only one girl, but if she is really human, how can she be more powerful? Empathic or telepathic gifts are very rare in full natural humans. They're never very powerful either."

This was correct. "I have no answer for you, Counselor. But perhaps it would be prudent to ask her."

Assuring the Counselor that he would see to the questioning, Troi left Data to collect the chip where he had stored the holodeck program he had designed for Lessa. He was ready for her in holodeck three, five minutes before she arrived.

Just to make sure, Data observed her again. He watched her eyes, her movements and tested her memory. She was a quick study, but she did get a few wrong, but only once. But Data detected no attempt to pretend ignorance as he had once in Lore. In under two hours she had the placement of every instrument in sickbay memorized. They were both pleased with her progress, but the evening was not over yet.

"Okay, free the bagged cats, or whatever. What's bothering you?" she asked, looking very confident in her certainty that something was troubling him.

Data shook his head at her mangling of the old saying, but wondered at her intuitive inquiry. He was almost certain he had kept his behavior free of any indicators of distress. How did she know?

"While I do not believe I have given you cause to believe so, you are correct. It may be a small thing, but Counselor Troi is very concerned." At the mere mention of the Counselor, Lessa Barrows looked deflated, defensive and a little sad, if Data was reading her correctly.

"I knew it couldn't last forever. I just didn't expect you to be the reason the walls fell down." She turned from him, moving to stand by one of the holographic biobeds, placing her hands there and staring off at nothing.

"I do not understand. I have caused a problem?" Data moved closer to her. Coming to where he could see her face. Her expression was rigid, but more or less blank. "The counselor was concerned that she could sense no emotions from you. I see them often, so I know you have them. Do you know why the counselor cannot sense you?"

"I think we'd better speak with your...the Captain, Data. And we'll need a tricorder."

Data tried prodding her for more information, but she staunchly refused to say more until they were before the Captain, and Deanna Troi. Lessa asked Data to get a tricorder from sickbay that she would meet him outside the Captain's quarters. She told him she needed to get something first.

Troi was there, looking unnerved, when Data and Barrows arrived outside Captain Picard's quarters. Troi rang the chime. The call to enter came a second later.

The captain was in his off duty casual clothing, but he was not dressed for bed at least. They had called ahead, to be sure he was up.

"I'm sorry about this," Lessa began, still standing while everyone else had taken seats in the Captain's living area. "Data, would you scan me with the tricorder, please?"

Data rose to do so. The readings showed just what one would expect when scanning a perfectly healthy young human female. "Show the scan to Troi and then the Captain, since she is the one that's sure I must not be human."

The looks thrown around the room varied wildly. But Data did as he was asked, showing Troi first so the Captain could study the results at his leisure next.

"As you can see, the tricorder shows me as human. Every medical device or any other device I have ever been scanned by also says I'm human. So for many years, I thought so too."

"But you're not? Is that what this is all about, Lieutenant?" Picard already looked irritated.

"I don't think I am, no. I was found at the age of eight, I do know that was my age, since I remember my birthday party, but since I was found in an escape pod that none recognized and no one came forward to claim me, I never knew I wasn't human.

"It wasn't until after I had entered the Academy that things convinced me otherwise. I learned I could hear other people's thoughts."

Troi sighed with relief. "So you are a telepath and were blocking me." It was not a question.

"Yes, but I blocked too much. I'm sorry I alarmed you, Counselor. I've not been around this many people in years. I may have overcompensated."

"But you have lied to Starfleet," the Captain said, bringing the focus back to the reason he was present for this.

"Technically, they were the ones to tell me I was human. I just never argued, since I didn't have a good alternative to suggest. I know I'm not Vulcan or Betazoid or Cairn, but I suspect I'm not human, but I could be. I just don't know." Lifting her hands, palm up, she lowered her head for a moment, like a small bow before the Captain. She then awaited his conclusion.

"You are a fully functioning telepath?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes, sir. I can 'speak' with Troi, and I suggest her since she would be more adjusted to that form of communication. If you agree, of course." Lessa looked to both the Captain and Troi. The captain looked at Troi, who nodded. She then looked at Lessa.

"I won't push," Lessa assured the counselor. "I know you have secrets and confidences to keep. Ready?"

Taking a moment to center herself, Troi nodded. She was gasping a second later. "Too much!"

"Sorry!" Lessa whispered her apology, but the two were quiet for a moment after that. Their expressions turning to ones of peaceful contentment. The captain and Data looked on, both wondering what this experience would be like. The captain recalled the link he had shared briefly with Beverly, but it had not made him feel like what he saw on the women's faces.

"You're right, they do," Troi commented, casting a glance at both Picard and Data. Troi smiled at the Captain and explained. "Lessa was just telling me that you both looked bored. I'm sorry, Captain. It's pleasant to speak that way with someone who is not as...pushy as my mother." Troi looked regretful to be speaking of her mother this way, but she knew the men understood. They had met her mother, many traumatic times.

"I see," said the Captain, acting as though he did not. "So she is a telepath, Counselor?" he asked, getting the conversation back on track.

"Yes, captain. And a very strong one, if I am any judge, though being only half Betazoid, I'm not the best by far."

"You're good enough for me, Deanna." His firm declaration ended that aspect of the discussion. "As for you, Lieutenant Barrows, since you have not caused any disruption that I am aware of," he paused a moment to see the heads of his officers shaking in response to his implied question. "And the tricorder bares out your story, I will not recommend any action be taken against you. I want you to work with Dr. Crusher to see if she can come up with any clues that will lead us to a more informed idea of your origins. The senior staff will be informed of this in the morning. Is that everything?" he asked them all.

"Will all the senior staff be informed, sir? I have kept this information private since puberty, sir. Since the doctor needs to be informed, could we not keep it to her and Commander Riker as the only others that need to know? And can they be instructed to keep this quiet? I don't exactly like being a telepath, so I'd prefer others not be put off by it. If possible." Lessa gave the Captain a hopeful shrug.

The captain looked confused by her claim to dislike her ability, but he nodded. "I see no reason for it to go beyond there, agreed. But I will have the right to add to that circle as I see fit. If that is all, dismissed."

Relieved, Lessa nodded her acceptance of the Captain's decree.

Once they were in the corridor, Lessa apologized for upsetting Troi. Troi smiled. "I'm sorry for overreacting. I think it will be good to have another...non-Vulcan telepath on board. Vulcans don't exactly enjoy their gifts."

"They don't enjoy anything," Lessa noted, chuckling.

Deanna grinned at this. "They don't admit to it, at least."

The two shared a knowing smile before Deanna wished both Lessa and Data a good night, going her own way.

Left alone, Lessa turned to Data. "Can you come with me? I still need to talk with you alone for a moment, if that's okay."

"Do you wish to go to my quarters or yours?" Data asked, moving with her as she started down the corridor.

"Isn't that close to a pick up line? The mine or yours part?" she asked, trying to recall.

"I am not sure. I have never used it with that intention," Data admitted, making a note to check this.

"Me neither, but it sounds like something I heard in a story once. Maybe one of us needs to get out of the lab and off the bridge long enough to find out," she teased, chuckling again. "My quarters, if that's alright with you."

It was.

Once there, Lessa asked him to sit down, and she did too this time.

"I think I need to come clean about something else, but if it's okay with you, I'd like this to stay between us."

Data noted her braid was back over her shoulder. He tried to imagine her without the braid, but failed.

"You left something out of your report to the Captain? Lessa, this is not wise. You must tell him what he needs to-"

"I didn't leave anything out, I just left someone out. And that someone is you."

Data gave her a predictable confused expression, but Lessa just needed a moment to ready herself for this. She got up, meandering around her quarters aimlessly. Data stayed seated, watched her and waited.

Finally she stopped in her tracks, turned and said. "I can read you too."

Data came to his feet, shocked by this revelation.

"That cannot be so! I have met several telepathic races. The counselor can sense my emotions most of the time, but none of her race or any other I have encountered can penetrate my thoughts. You believe that you can?" How could that be possible?

"I can. I told you before, you were what set this in motion. I keep trying to block you out, but you keep punching holes in my mental barriers. I can not only hear you, I hear you loudly!" She moved to her kitchen and Data followed.

"I assure you, I am not trying to punch any part of you." Data felt he needed the humor to lighten his own mood. He was unsure how he felt regarding this new information.

She gave a wan smile, acknowledging his attempt. She pulled out a small pot and some liquids, and various containers.

"It's just as confusing for me. One more tiny...or I hope you'll consider it tiny, thing. But I don't think it really was." She looked up from her work and paused, frowning. "That day you showed me my quarters the first time...I was a little rude to you. It was... when I came to realize it was actually you that was getting through my barrier. You were pushing, and for a time, I thought you knew what you were doing. I was irritated, then I got a little angry. I pushed back." Her expression was mournful.

The error messages! This was the reason, Data realized.

"Yes, just that. I could hear the alarms go off in your head too, and pulled back right away! I realized I pushed too hard, like I did with Troi at first. I'm very sorry, Data. Once I connected with you, I knew you were completely unaware of the effect you were having on me. I haven't tried to make contact with your mind since then. But in order to not hear you, I've had to tighten my mental shield more than I've ever needed to before."

"Causing the counselor to not be able to sense you at all," Data surmised, still unsure how he felt about all this.

"Yes, exactly." She finished concocting whatever she was making and placed the pan on the burner. "I'm very sorry about that day, Data. I would never intentionally hurt someone on our side of the war. You least of all! But you have to help me. You're pushing at me even now." She met his eyes, hers were very serious. "You have to stop!"

"Am I hurting you?" he asked, repelled by the idea. He was reassured with her explanation of what had happened that day. But this new wrinkle had Data right back to wondering if he had made a mistake in choosing her.

"Some, by thinking rather insulting things loudly, like you are now. It's also not very conducive to our working relationship. Do you really think I was the wrong choice now?" She had blanked her expression, but Data could see the hurt in her eyes.

He buried these thoughts deeply, sorry for having upset her. But this was not an easy situation to be in for him either. Data was capable of thinking of many things at once. He had never needed to police his thoughts before. He did not like the idea of having to do so now.

"I never believed anyone would ever be able to hear my thoughts. I do not know how to stop this 'pushing' you claim I am doing."

"All I know is that every day I can block you out less. I'm not trying to hear you at all, but more and more gets through all the time." Lessa sighed tiredly, but shrugged, pulling two cups out of a cabinet.

"Then I apologize. I was indeed upset the day you pushed back. Ninety one percent of the time I spend with you I enjoy."

She smiled at this, but then shook her head. "I can hear the 'but'. I know my arguing drives you crazy. If you really want to ship me back-"

Maybe it was time to test her. Test to see if she really could hear his thoughts. Trying to clear his mind was not something Data had ever needed to do before. But maybe it was needed now. Pushing as many of the problems he was working on and thoughts he was thinking to his deeper levels, Data concentrated on one message to send to her. To see if she would hear it.

Her reaction was instant, and very dramatic. She collapsed on the floor as though knocked off her feet.

Shocked, Data rushed to her side. She was conscious, but holding her head tightly.

"I'm glad you don't want me to leave, but why did you find it necessary to yell at...oh, you were testing me!" The flow of words was delivered in a soft voice, almost as though she was hoping if she whispered, his mind would not scream at hers.

Data gathered her in his arms and lifted her from the floor. "I am sorry. But you are correct. And you heard my thoughts clearly it seems. Can you send thoughts to me as well as receive?" he asked, as he placed her gently back on her couch.

~ Silly question. You need to take the pot off the burner and pour the drinks. One for each of us. ~

Data stood looking at her in utter astonishment. "I heard you! But you did not speak!" His eyes were as big as stars.

"Of course you heard me, I sent! Now pour it before it burns!" Lessa laughed as he moved to do just that.

"What is this?" Data asked her, smelling the concoction as he poured it. It had a pleasant aroma.

"It's just a little something I found helps me relax. It tastes good, so I thought you might like to try it. Even if it's not a tea."

Data handed her one of the cups and sat back down across from her with his own. It was very warm, but this was not a deterrent for him. She was correct, it had a very pleasing taste.

"You should let yours cool, Lessa. It is-" Too late, she was already sipping. He prepared himself in case she needed medical attention.

She giggled at him. "Relax. I'm fine. I like it hot. You're not yelling, but I can still hear things clearly. It's almost like letting you in made it a little better. Strange." She shook her head at the notion.

"Perhaps we should try communicating telepathically again. I have no desire to cause you discomfort. If this will help you, I am willing to try."

She gave him a knowing smile.

"More like eager to try. I can't believe no other telepathic race can hear you. You need to compile a list for me. That way I'll be able to cross those races off my list of possibles for who the hell I am!" She sighed at the thought and took another sip.

"I will tell you now, but I want to-"

She sat forward, putting her cup down. "Yes, yes, fine! You're pushy in more ways than one!" she teased.

Data gave her an insulted sniff, but she just sighed, readying herself.

"You have to bury anything I can't know...like classified stuff, and anything personal you don't want me to hear. I'll do the same. I don't do this often because it just seems too much like an invasion of another person's privacy. It's much more in depth than just a sending or receiving. And with a non-telepath or empath it's a little different. We will be able to experience each other's memories in full. Sights, sounds, emotions...all of it. In order for me to do this so we can both share in it, I have to...set up camp in your thoughts. I lock onto a part of you, and stay there until we decide to put the campfire out. Is that acceptable?"

Data smiled. He liked her imagery. The idea of sitting by a campfire with her was a welcoming one.

"I accept. I am ready, Lessa."

She nodded...and pitched her tent, lit the campfire.

The sensation was different this time. Data recalled Tam's description of getting information about someone all at one time. But it was not exactly like that. Data could see her memories of him, but from her point of view. He could see her past. Images of her parents. Her rescue. Her meeting with Andaria Wellers. Her schooling, early and later in the Academy. It was here that her telepathic abilities awakened.

~ Director Wellers knows you are not human. ~ Data saw the time Lessa had told her about her telepathy.

~ Sherlock Holmes? I can see the similarities. Geordi is an excellent Watson! You are so cute in that outfit! ~

Data could clearly feel her amusement.

~ You write poetry! ~ He was surprised at this discovery.

~ You write music, but you don't think it's very good! Because you're combining five writing styles...I'm not the only one in your memory to tell you your reasons for believing this can't be called 'yours' is foolish. I'd love to hear you play some of them sometime, Data. ~

~ I think your idea of a dinner party is a good one. But the Captain may decline. He is still very private. ~

~ Did you mean for me to see this trip through time this Q person sent Picard on? I see you didn't. Sorry! ~

~ Q is classified, but it was my mistake. My comment regarding the Captain still being private was due to this adventure Q sent him on. The captain tried to be more...open with his senior staff. He was for a while, but fell back into his private habits shortly after. ~

~ I'm not good with human sayings, but I do know the one about it being lonely at the top. ~

Data agreed. They were quiet for a time, just immersing themselves in the other's thoughts and memories. Data made sure he was more careful after that to keep his train of thought on a safe rail.

He thought he had found a place Lessa was trying to hide, but failing just like he had. It concerned the time shortly after she had discovered her new ability.

Young Lessa had found it impossible to block out the thoughts of others for several months. Her headstrong ways had garnered her the disdain of many of her fellow classmates. Hearing just exactly what each of these classmates thought of her had been very painful for Lessa. It was also a high probability that this had led to her dislike of her own ability. This connection gave Data a deep insight into those feelings. Lessa saw telepathy as an invasion. A cheat.

Whoever created telepathy was a sneaky bastard and not to be trusted.

Data heard this thought, knowing it was a line she said to herself often since the awakening of her 'curse' as she saw it.

Despite her feelings, Data found this experience most gratifying. It was not unlike linking to a computer to download information in its efficiency, but with the emotional aspect added, this was more engrossing. The give and take, the emotions, the memories shared, his and hers...it was all very intimate, and compelling. One of the things he sensed in her confused him. He felt a need...an emptiness, a discomfort. He asked her about this. Data was confused by her mental laugh at his inquiry.

~ I guess it's not surprising you wouldn't recognize that feeling. It's hunger. I didn't eat much of my dinner. I was too anxious about our holodeck appointment to even think about food. So now I'm starving. ~ Even with her amusement over his lack of understanding of this sensation, Data knew it was time to end this delightful immersion.

They agreed to stop, but Data felt bereft as he felt Lessa moving out of his reach. Something approaching panic inspired him to grab her back. She did halt her withdrawal for a moment to reassure him, but a moment later, feeling alone, he opened his eyes.

"How did this happen?"

The sight that greeted them both was stunning. Neither moved in an effort to take stock of what had happened. When this had begun, they were both seated across from each other, a table between them. Now, they stood meters away from where they had begun, facing each other, Data's hands pressed flat against Lessa's.

"I do not know," Data admitted, just as confused. As one, they lowered their hands. She flushed some as she lowered her eyes and moved away from him, heading back to her seat. Her braid was over her shoulder just a second later.

Data did not want to leave. He was fascinated by this whole experience. But she needed to eat and he wanted time to process all he had happened between them.

Since he had not moved back to the sitting area with her, Lessa was giving him a questioning look.

"I will bid you goodnight now, Lessa, and allow you to enjoy a meal. Thank you for a most intriguing evening."

She still fingered her braid as she stood back up, looking a little sad and uncertain.

"Goodnight Data. See you tomorrow. Thank you."

Data turned to go, unreservedly glad now that he had chosen this woman to be part of their team. She was complicated, but very interesting.

As her door closed behind him, Data nodded a greeting to Commander Maddox who was just coming his way. No doubt heading for his own quarters just two doors down from Lessa's.

Data was so intent on his own thoughts and feelings, he did not notice the man stop, take note of where Data had come from and frown.