Tam Elbrun: It worries you that I can't read your mind?

Data: Perhaps there is nothing to read. Nothing more than mechanisms and algorithmic responses.

Tam Elbrun: Perhaps you're just different.

[ST:TNG S3E20 Tin Man]

Deanna Troi came into the captain's office.

'How can I help you?' asked Picard.

'I want to ask you the same question. You're very anxious. Has something happened?'

'I'm the captain, of course I'm anxious. Managing the whole starship is not a piece of cake.' Picard tried to downplay the situation.

'Captain, I can feel you're worried much more than usual.'

Picard looked at her thoughtfully and sighed.

'A new science officer is joining our crew,' he said eventually, 'and I'm worried about Mr. Data.'

'Why?'

'This science officer used to study Lore, the other android made by Dr. Noonian Soong. She also wrote a whole research paper, trying to prove that the Exocomps are just machines, nothing more.'

'I see,' said Troi. 'But is it really a threat to Data?'

'I'm afraid yes, it is. This is exactly why she's coming aboard the Enterprise. To study Mr. Data. And if she's convinced that Lore with all his emotions and ambition was just a machine that could be dismantled and experimented on, how can she see that Data is so much more?'

'Can you refuse her transfer?'

'Unfortunately I can't,' said Picard. 'This is Starfleet Command's decision. My hands are tied.'

They looked at each other in silence for a while.

'When she comes,' said Picard, 'please watch her closely.'

'Yes, sir!'

— — —

Troi was standing in the transporter room, waiting for the new science officer. The fuzzy blue silhouette appeared on the platform and transformed into a solid body of a young woman wearing a blue uniform. She had rather short dark wavy hair and seemed to be Vulcan.

'Welcome aboard the Enterprise, Lieutenant Ortez,' said Troi. 'I'm counselor Deanna Troi.'

'Live long and prosper,' replied the woman, raising her hand in the Vulcan salute.

'Are you Vulcan?' asked Troi as the lieutenant was coming off the platform.

'I'm half-Vulcan. My mother comes from Vulcan. My father is human.'

'Then we have something in common. My mother is Betazoid and my father is human too. It's not easy, is it?'

'Are you an empath?' Lieutenant ignored her attempt to hold a nice conversation.

'Yes, I am.'

Lieutenant looked at her distrustfully.

'I've never met any empath.'

'And here I am!' Troi smiled. 'Come, I will show you to your lab and your quarters.'

— — —

Picard was looking at his computer, when the door chimed.

'Come in!' he said loudly.

Troi went into the room and sat down.

'Yes, Counselor?' said Picard.

'I've just met Lieutenant Ortez, the new science officer we talked about.'

'And what's your opinion about her?' asked Picard. He was a bit anxious, although he tried to seem calm.

'I haven't sensed any malice from her. She seems sincere and determined to know the truth.'

'I'm glad, but unfortunately she might still use definitions and assumptions that will prevent her from perceiving Mr. Data as a person and harm him eventually.'

'You're right, Captain. I've also sensed she's been sad and afraid, although she's tried to hide it,' said Troi.

'Perhaps that's just a natural reaction to the transfer to a new ship,' suggested Picard.

'It's possible.'

— — —

The door chimed and Data went into the lab.

'Good morning. I am Lieutenant Commander Data,' he introduced himself, watching closely the new science officer.

'Lieutenant T'Mal Ortez.' She was silent for a moment. 'You're very similar to Lore.'

'Yes, we are almost identical.'

'Well, except that he was partially dismantled.' She laughed awkwardly and stopped quickly. Data stared at her steadily.

'Have you read my paper?' she asked.

'Yes, I have. It was—interesting.'

'So I assume you're familiar with my method of studying the way his brain worked. I'm going to …'

'I am sorry, Lieutenant,' he interrupted her, 'but I do not wish to be examined by you. I refuse to undergo the procedure.'

'Oh.' T'Mal looked disappointed and a bit devastated. Slowly she put down the tools she was holding in her hands. 'So … maybe we can just talk instead?'

'That is preferable.'

She gestured him to a chair next to a big silver table. They sat down. There was an awkward silence.

'Why do you refuse?' she asked finally. 'It's in no way dangerous to you.'

'While I agree that the procedure itself does not appear to pose any risk to my functioning, I have serious doubts about its impact on my status as a person.'

'I see. I'd like to assure you it's not my intention to deprive you of your personal rights. I'm only interested in the truth.'

'I appreciate it, but in my opinion you are unable to determine whether I am a self-aware person or just a machine with advanced mechanisms and algorithmic responses,' said Data.

'I agree. I'm unable to do that, but that was never my intention.'

'What is your intention then?'

'I just want to know how your brain works, how you react to different stimuli, how you think or feel,' she replied.

'I am not sure if you are aware of that, but contrary to Lore I was not given any emotions. It is not possible for me to feel anything.'

'Maybe it's true, maybe not. You're not exactly the most reliable source on this matter.'

'I dare to disagree,' said Data. 'I am the only one who can tell my inner experiences.'

'This is partially true, but even humans aren't always able to recognise and describe their own emotions. Why should you be any different?'

'Because I am different. Why do you even want to know? Why do you want to study how I function?'

'Frankly speaking—I don't. I didn't want to come here. Aboard the Enterprise,' she replied.

'Why have you come here then?' Data asked calmly.

'It's quite simple—I received the order and didn't have much to say. Studying Lore was fun, I was alone in my lab, there was no pressure. But here … you're a famous Starfleet Commander and I guess half of the ship started to hate me before I even came here.'

They were silent for a moment. Data looked at T'Mal thoughtfully.

'I have to go to Engineering now,' he informed her, 'but when I come back here next time, you will be able to continue your research. I agree to undergo the procedure. I must admit I find it … intriguing.'

'Thank you.'

— — —

Data was sitting in the lab at the table. T'Mal was standing next to him, tapping on the computer in front of him.

'Just look at the photos. I will be monitoring your reactions,' she said and stepped behind him. 'May I … ?'

'Yes, you may.'

T'Mal carefully touched his head and opened his right cover. Then she connected a transparent cable right in the middle of the tangle of the flashing lights.

'Is it okay?' she asked.

'Yes. I remind you that I do not feel any pain.'

'Yes, I remember, I'm just trying to be nice.'

'Thank you,' replied Data.

'You're welcome. Lore wasn't so polite.'

'Indeed he was not.'

'It's fascinating that you are so similar yet so different,' said T'Mal.

'He was more human. He could easily use contractions—I cannot. He had ambition—I do not. He had emotions—I do not.'

'He did, but having emotions is much more complex than just feeling. Feeling is not the same as recognising emotions, processing them or expressing them.'

'I am not sure what you are trying to tell,' said Data.

'Emotions are a very basic yet complicated issue. They motivate us, yet we can't fully control them. We can't easily pinpoint what they really are—'

'A feeling, a thrill, agitation, excitement, passion,' recited Data.

'Oh dear,' sighed T'Mal. 'What I was trying to say … We don't really know what they are. Especially when we consider different life-forms. Typically humans and most humanoids experience emotions as a feeling that is hard to define and which includes thoughts, physical sensation and some change in behavior. We don't always express what we feel. What's more, sometimes it's hard for some people to recognise what they feel.'

'This explains why my quest to understand human emotions is so difficult.'

'Well, it's hard to understand something that isn't clearly defined. Ok, I want you to be silent for some time and look at the photos displayed on the computer screen. I know you can watch them much faster, but the slow pace is essential to monitor your reactions. Let's begin.' T'Mal tapped on the computer that started displaying different photos.

— — —

The door chimed.

'Please come in!' said T'Mal.

'Good morning, Lieutenant.' Data went into the lab. 'Last time you told me to come back a week later.'

'So I did, thank you for coming, Commander.'

'Have you finished processing the results of the last experiment?'

'No, I haven't. I need more data,' said T'Mal. 'Please sit down.'

'What have you planned for me today?' asked Data, having sat down in the same place as before.

'You'll be listening to some music. You are a musician yourself, aren't you?' T'Mal carefully connected the cable to his head.

'I consider myself more of a reproducer than a true artist. But I do play, mostly the violin.'

'Ok, so let's begin.' T'Mal tapped on the computer and suddenly the room got filled with classical music.

'Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,' noticed Data.

'Indeed. But please be quiet.'

After about five minutes the music ended.

'But it is not the whole piece,' protested Data.

'I know, but we don't have time to listen to every second of every piece. I'm interested in your reactions, not the music. A few minutes will do. Let's listen to the next one.' T'Mal tapped on the screen.

'String Sextet Number 1 by Johannes Brahms,' said Data.

T'Mal nodded in silence.

After another five minutes the music ended abruptly. Data opened his mouth, but after one look at T'Mal he closed it. She smiled a bit and tapped on the computer again.

'Trio in G minor by Frédéric Chopin.' Data identified the music once again and kept listening in silence until T'Mal turned it off.

'Interesting,' said Data. 'Not only do I know all of the pieces we have been listening to, but also I performed them during my concerts.'

'I did my research. I wanted to include something that might be meaningful to you. But I've also prepared other kinds of music.' She tapped on the screen and the room got filled with weird, rhythmic sounds.

'Interesting choice.' Data frowned at T'Mal.

'Is modern Talarian music somehow worse than centuries-old one from Earth?'

'Captain Picard believes—and I agree with him—that this, as you put it, centuries-old music requires much more skill than this …'

'... noise,' finished T'Mal. 'Poor Talarians. I guess they tried.'

They listened to the disturbing sounds for a few more minutes. Then T'Mal turned on another piece—a song "Pop Goes the Weasel". When it was over, she changed the tune to an advertising jingle from the beginning of the 21st century. Data looked at her quite peculiarly, but didn't say a word.

After a few other songs T'Mal turned off the music. She walked up to Data and disconnected the cable from his head.

'Is that all?' asked Data.

'Yes, for today. But I'd like you to come again next week.'

'I will.'