Title comes from the Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs."

"Soji," Picard says one day over breakfast, "there is someone I believe you should meet."

Soji looks up at Picard, as do Raffi and Rios, who are eating breakfast with them. Agnes is doing something with one of the holograms, much to Rios's dismay, and Seven of Nine is off answering a distress call with Elnor following after her like a somewhat-murderous puppy. His devotion to her - and his hero-worship - is endlessly amusing to everyone else, but it's not the point right now. The point is, Picard looks solemn, and while that doesn't always mean anything, it still could.

"Who?" Soji asks.

"An old friend of mine," Picard says, because apparently he enjoys being endlessly cryptic.

"Are you going to tell us who that friend is, or should we start guessing?" Raffi asks dryly.

Picard gives her a look so dignified it's almost weaponized. "A member of the Enterprise crew, and perhaps the best engineer I've ever known."

"We should start guessing," Rios says, just loud enough that everyone can hear it. Soji does her best not to laugh.

"And," Picard says, not allowing himself to be interrupted or distracted, "he was Data's best friend in this world, as far as I know. His name is Geordi La Forge."

"And that's why you think I should meet him?" Soji asks. "Because he was Data's friend?"

"I think it would mean a great deal to him to meet you," Picard says. "And I believe you may well enjoy meeting him."

The first part is probably true, but Soji isn't quite as sure about the second. Yes, she was made from Data, but she doesn't know him. She may be his daughter in some ways, but he was never there as a father for her. That's not his fault, of course, but it's still the truth. How much will she enjoy meeting someone who has no connection to her other than through the theoretical father she never knew?

"You don't need to meet him if you don't want to," Raffi says, her brow creased slightly in concern. "JL, you can't keep shoving her at old friends of yours like she'll know who they are."

"I have not shoved her at a single old friend!" Picard protests. "And that's not what I'm doing now."

"It sort of is," Rios says, and Raffi gestures at him triumphantly.

"Soji is her own person, not just the daughter of a man she never knew. Let her make her own choices."

"I was never intending to make the choice for her," Picard says. "Soji, would you like to meet Geordi?"

"I…" Soji thinks about it for a moment, then she nods. "I would."

"You sure?" Raffi asks.

"Yes," Soji says. "I want to meet him."

She never knew Data. If this Geordi La Forge expects her to be like him, he'll be disappointed. But Soji is curious about the man she was based on, and perhaps La Forge will be more forthcoming with stories than Picard. And if she can bring him some comfort, then that's all the better. She likes helping people. If she can help this friend of Picard's, then she'd like to do so.

"I should change the ship's heading, then," Rios says, standing. "Where does this La Forge live?"

"Earth," Picard replied. He stood as well. "If we are to meet him, I should tell him we're coming. Do you think we'll be there by tomorrow, Rios?"

"Unless something goes wrong, which happens with at least half our trips," Rios replied. "But you can probably tell your friend we'll be there tomorrow."

"I'll mention that our timeline is barring unforeseen circumstances," Picard says with a wry grin.

The two of them leave, and Soji turns to Raffi. "Have you ever met this Geordi La Forge?"

"Commander La Forge helped build ships when we were trying to evacuate Romulus," Raffi says. "I never met him in person, but I sort of knew him through JL. He found the synth ban tooth and nail when it happened, and after it passed anyway, I think he might have left Starfleet. I don't think he's on active duty, at least." Raffi sighs. "He was a good man. Kind. I'm not surprised to learn he was Data's best friend."

"Do you think that'll make it weird?" Soji asks. "I mean, I never knew Data. Will it be weird for me to meet La Forge?"

"No one is expecting you to be Data," Raffi says. "You said that Riker and his wife and kid were nice, right? They liked that you were the sort-of daughter of their friend, but they also liked you for you. I bet La Forge will be like that."

"I hope."

"You don't have to meet him if you don't want to," Raffi adds. "You can still tell Picard not to send him the message. Or I can tell Rios to make sure we run into some sort of emergency. We can find something, I'm sure."

"No, it's fine," Soji replies quickly. "I… I do want to meet La Forge. I just hope it goes well."

Raffi shrugs. "Honey, that's what we all hope the first time anyone meets anyone. For what it's worth, you're a likable girl. I bet it'll be fine."

"Well, I guess we'll see," Soji says. "And if things are going badly, you can just make up an emergency so I have to come back to the ship."

Raffi laughs. "Yeah, we can do that. We might not even be making it up, given our luck. Tell you what, if it's a real emergency, I'll have Elnor tell you, and then you'll know it's not a lie."

Soji can't help but smile. "Sounds like a deal, then."

Agnes comes over to them a moment later, looking somewhat starstruck. "Are we really going to see Commander Geordi La Forge?" she asks in a reverential whisper.

Soji and Raffi share a look. "That's the plan," Raffi says after a moment. "Why, do you know him?"

"I met him once," Agnes says rapturously. "He's technically an engineer, but he knows a lot about synthetic life. I mean, he was probably the closest person to Data, and he learned a lot during his years on the Enterprise with him. He would visit the institute sometimes, back before the ban, but I only crossed paths with him once. He was brilliant."

"Picard could probably introduce you," Soji offers.

"Really? You think so?"

"I'm sure he would," Raffi said. "You should go ask. But give it a minute, because he's in the middle of calling La Forge right now and warning him that we're about to drop in."

"Right." Agnes nods. "Right, I'll just go- I'll ask Picard."

She scurries off. Soji and Raffi share a look, then they both start giggling. "I wasn't expecting that," Soji says.

"If you have a problem with La Forge, we'll just send Agnes in," Raffi suggests. "She'll start gushing, and you can use the distraction to sneak out."

"Sounds like a plan," Soji says with a grin.

"And if you need any of the rest of us, you call us," Raffi adds. "Any time, anywhere. You know that, right?"

Soji smiles. "Yeah, I do."

Geordi La Forge, it turns out, lives just outside Mogadishu, Somalia. "I believe he was born here, if I remember correctly," Picard tells her as they beam down a little ways outside of La Forge's property. "He was… disappointed by the ban and the lack of further aid for the Romulan people, as I was, and he moved back here afterwards."

"Raffi said she thought he left Starfleet," Soji says.

"I believe he's in reserve, like Will," Picard says. "But I'm not sure what would bring him back to active duty, if anything."

"What did you tell him about me?"

"That you were an android and you were modeled off Data. I didn't tell him much. I thought it would be better for him to meet you in person."

Soji nods. She researched La Forge before they left, so she thinks she's got some idea of what to expect. She recognizes him, at least, when he steps out of his door and heads over towards them.

"Jean-Luc," he says with a smile, embracing Picard. "It's been a while. I can't believe you didn't get me to help with the android planet."

"I didn't want to drag you out on another dangerous and madcap adventure," Picard says, smiling as he hugs La Forge back. "I think I've dragged all of you on enough of those for a lifetime."

La Forge laughs, then lets go of Picard and looks over at Soji. "And you must be Dr. Asha," he says. "I'm Geordi La Forge. You can call me Geordi."

Soji gives him a shy little wave. "You can call me Soji."

"Shall we go inside?" Picard asks. "It's hot out here."

"This is a cool day," Geordi counters. "But we can go inside. I've actually got something in there that I want to show Soji."

Soji perks up a little, curious. She and Picard follow Geordi back to his home, Picard and Geordi chatting. "Another member of my crew would very much like to meet you, but I'll warn you, she's a little starstruck," Picard tells Geordi. "Her name is Agnes Jurati. She worked at the Daystrom Institute, and apparently you were something of a legend there."

"Oh, Dr. Jurati!" Geordi says, nodding. "I met her once before. Her work is impressive."

"She would be overjoyed to hear you say that," Picard says dryly. "Raffi is part of the crew as well. Do you remember Raffi?"

"Of course I remember Raffi!" Geordi agrees. "How's she doing?"

"She's well. And you'll never guess who else is in our crew, when she's not off saving people across the galaxy."

Geordi shrugs. "I don't know, who is it?"

"Seven of Nine."

"Seven of Nine!" Geordi looks delighted, then his face suddenly falls. "Oh, I heard about Hugh. I'm sorry."

"As am I," Picard replies. "He was as much your friend as he was mine."

"He was a good man," Soji murmurs. When Geordi looks over at her curiously, she adds, "I used to work on the Artifact. Hugh was in charge of the Borg Reclamation Project."

"You must have known him pretty well, then," Geordi says. "Were you- When he died, were you-?"

"I wasn't there," Soji says. "Another member of our crew was, though."

"How big is this crew of yours?" Geordi asks.

"There are seven of us in all," Picard says. "Myself and Soji, Raffi, Agnes, Seven of Nine, our pilot Cristóbal Rios, and Elnor, a young member of the Qowat Milat."

Geordi's eyebrows go up. "A Qowat Milat? How'd you get a sister to join your crew?"

"Elnor is… not precisely a sister," Picard says. "Did I ever tell you about the young Romulan boy I placed temporarily with the Qowat Milat during the evacuation?"

"I think you brought him up once or twice," Geordi agrees. "Is this- It's not the same kid, is it?"

"He is," Picard agrees. "He's joined our crew."

Geordi laughs. "Well, I can't say that was expected, but it sounds like a good plan." He opens the door to his house and steps aside. "After you."

Soji and Picard step in. The house is fairly small, but it's clean and bright. Soji likes it.

"Soji, come over here," Geordi says, walking over to his desk. "I know your design is based off Data, but he died long before you were created, so I wasn't sure if you've ever seen a picture of him."

"I've seen the official picture in his file," Soji says.

"This one is better," Geordi says, showing Soji the picture on his desk. It depicts two young men, one clearly Data and the other clearly Geordi. Data isn't quite smiling, but his face looks open and pleasant. Geordi is beaming, one arm slung around Data's shoulders. He has something over his eyes, and Soji remembers the note in Geordi's records about the VISOR he used to wear, before he got the cybernetic implants he has now.

"He looks happy," Soji says, soaking in every detail of the picture. It is better than the official one in his file. This picture makes Data look alive.

"Data didn't experience emotions in the same way that humans do," Geordi says. "He thought he didn't have emotions at all, but I don't think that was really true. His emotions were just different. I think he was happy here, though."

"Data was happy with you," Picard says quietly.

Geordi's smile goes melancholy for a moment. "I was happy with him."

Soji looks from Picard to Geordi to the picture in Geordi's hands. "Were you and Data-" she begins, then hesitates.

"I loved him," Geordi says. "If you're asking if I was in love with him, I think I did fall in love with him for a while, but romance wasn't Data's thing. He loved me, but he wasn't in love with me." Geordi shrugs. "He was my best friend."

"It looks," Picard says, "like you have a lovely garden behind your house, Geordi. May I go out and take a closer look?"

It's an obvious attempt to give Soji and Geordi some privacy to speak. Neither of them call Picard out on it. "Sure," Geordi says. "Just grab a hat if you're going to be out in the sun for a while. There's one on the hook by the back door."

Picard nods and leaves, and Geordi turns to Soji. "I guess he's not any better with emotional conversations, then," he remarks, and Soji has to laugh.

"Not so much."

"He never was," Geordi says fondly. "Jean-Luc cared about all of us, and we all knew it, but it wasn't because he actually said anything." His smile widens. "It drove Beverly mad sometimes, I know."

"Beverly?"

"Dr. Beverly Crusher," Geordi says. "She was the Chief Medical Officer on the Enterprise. She and Jean-Luc… Well, they had a long past, and there was a lot of drama that I never knew much about, but they were in love with each other. I think they had been for a long time. Of course, Jean-Luc never breathed a word about it aloud."

"He does seem the type," Soji agrees. "Where is Dr. Crusher now?"

"She was the head of Starfleet Medical for a while," Geordi says. "Now, I think she works on a medical ship. She wanted to be more hands-on about helping people, I think." Geordi looks at Soji. "Has Jean-Luc introduced you to anyone else from the Enterprise crew?"

"I met Captain Riker and Commander Troi."

Geordi laughs. "I always forget Will is a captain now. I shouldn't, but he was the commander of the Enterprise, and I still think of him as a commander."

"They were nice," Soji says. "I liked Kestra."

"Kestra's a good kid," Geordi agrees. "Are you interested in meeting other people from the Enterprise, or is it awkward for you? I can imagine it would be."

"I'm interested in meeting people," Soji says, "but I'm not Data. I didn't know Data. If people are expecting me to be like him… I'm not."

"I think you might be, in some ways," Geordi says. "I think you may have some of his goodness. But I know you're not him, and I know I might just be projecting if I see other similarities."

"I am interested in learning more about him," Soji says. "I feel like he's someone I should know about, and someone I should… miss, almost, but I don't know him at all."

"I can understand that," Geordi says, nodding. "He's part of you, but you never knew him. What has Jean-Luc told you about Data?"

"He told me that Data was kind and selfless," Soji says. "He told me that he was brave."

"So he told you the big stuff, but none of the little stuff," Geordi says. "That's about what I expected from Jean-Luc."

"The little stuff?" Soji repeats. "What do you mean?"

Geordi grins. "Wanna hear some of my stories about Data?"

Soji doesn't even need to think about it. Maybe it's Geordi's warmth, or maybe it's some small bit of Data that lives on in her, but Geordi makes her feel comfortable, and she likes him very much. "Yes, please."

Geordi's smile widens. He gestures for Soji to go over to the couch with him, and they both sit. Soji's anticipation grows with every step. She's excited about this, she realizes. She's been told so much about Data, but she knows so little. Maybe this will help her to get to know him more.

Even if it doesn't, she thinks the stories will be fun to hear.

"The first thing I should tell you about Data," Geordi says, settling in on the couch and looking like he's planning on staying there for a while, telling stories of the man he loved, "is that he loved Sherlock Holmes…"