Data: I have often wished to be human. I study people carefully in order to more closely approximate human behavior.

Timothy: Why? We're stronger and smarter than humans. We can do more than they can.

Data: But I cannot take pride in my abilities. I cannot take pleasure in my accomplishments.

Timothy: But we never have to feel bad either.

Data: I would gladly risk feeling bad at times if it also meant that I could taste my dessert.

[TNG S5E11 Hero's Worship]

Data opened his eyes and noticed that he was in the lab surrounded by T'Mal, Geordi and Picard.

'May I ask you a question?' He looked confused.

'Yes, you may, Data,' replied Geordi with a wide smile.

'Why am I here while you are looking at me, displaying expressions of concern?'

'You were in the holodeck with Lieutenant Ortez,' explained Geordi, 'and she couldn't wake you up.'

'What happened?'

'I don't know. I've run every diagnostics, checked every system. Theoretically there's nothing wrong with you.'

'How did I wake up?' asked Data.

'I don't know either. You just did. I've also run diagnostics on the holodeck and checked the program you were using. Everything seems fine. How are you now?'

'I am functioning within normal parameters.'

'We've seen the recorded program,' said Picard. 'Perhaps it was the memory itself that caused the malfunction.'

'That's possible,' stated Geordi. 'You've just started adjusting your mental pathways to manage your emotions and such an emotional memory could have caused an overload. You may not be able to keep completely calm anymore, but you're also not ready to handle it.'

'However, the memory didn't seem deeply disturbing,' said Picard. 'Perhaps the knowledge of the boy's inevitable death was too overwhelming.'

Data nodded his head but was silent. His eyes were moving a bit as he was analysing the situation.

'Perhaps you are right, sir,' he said, but didn't look fully convinced.

— — —

Troi came into Data's quarters where he was painting something.

'I've stopped by your quarters so we can go to Riker's together. What are you painting?' she asked curiously and looked at the image which depicted a woman's face. 'Is this Lieutenant Ortez?'

'That is correct.'

'You haven't painted many portraits before, have you?'

'I have not,' replied Data. 'However, after practising many different styles of painting I have decided it is time to try something new. I have read that great artists look for special moments in which they see fleeting beauty. Therefore, when I saw Lieutenant Ortez smiling, I thought that this is one of the moments I had read about. She looked very aesthetically pleasing, so I decided to paint it. She rarely smiles,' he added and continued painting.

'It's really good, Data. I like it.'

'I have a clear memory record of that moment, so it might be easier for me to paint it.'

'I guess it is.' Troi smiled.

— — —

'Geordi,' said Data when they were working in Engineering, 'I need to tell you something.'

'I'm listening.'

'For several weeks I have suspected that I am malfunctioning.'

'Can you tell me more details?' asked Geordi.

'I prefer not to tell. I have the following questions: Is there a possibility that your diagnostics is not capable of identifying some malfunctions? Can my problems be related to my mental pathways adjusting to emotional input? Could it have been the reason behind my malfunction in the holodeck? Should I relieve myself of duty?'

'Without more details I'm not sure how to answer, but I'm positive that any serious malfunction would be detected during your diagnostics. I think you're just not used to, uh, feeling or at least acknowledging your emotions. This is a new experience for you and you may confuse it with a malfunction.'

'I have another question,' said Data. 'I have noticed that quite often you meet Lieutenant Ortez in Ten Forward. Since I consider both of you my friends, may I inquire about the nature of your relationship?'

'Are you asking if we're dating? No, we aren't. We talk about you. I try to understand your current situation and she offers valuable insight into it. I've always considered you my best friend but also an emotionless machine. And you are a machine but not as emotionless as I thought and I'm not sure how to proceed.'

'I appreciate it, Geordi.'

— — —

Data and T'Mal were standing inside the empty holodeck.

'Computer,' said Data, 'display the recorded program Ortez Number Six.'

They watched the whole sequence again.

'Is this how you saw it?' asked Data.

'Yes. Did you see something else?'

'Not really. I observed the same events, but… I was the boy.'

'Interesting,' said T'Mal. 'Maybe the boy died at that moment and you experienced some sort of residual trauma.'

'However, he was accompanied by Dr. Soong who survived. It is unlikely that only one of them died.'

'I agree.'

'Do you think it would be highly illogical to suspect that not only the boy's memories were transferred into me but also his consciousness?' asked Data carefully.

'No. I don't see a reason why it should be illogical. You being fully artificial seems more logical only because we're used to this idea. I'm not saying it's true, but it's definitely not impossible.'

'I have researched the question of artificial life-forms and few believable cases were ever documented. They include me and other Soong-type androids, the Nanites and the Exocomps.'

T'Mal raised one eyebrow, but didn't say a word.

'However, there were a few cases of transferring consciousness of a biological being into an artificial body,' continued Data. 'Ira Graves is one example. Another…' He stopped suddenly.

'Yes?'

'I realised I was starting to babble.'

'It was very interesting,' said T'Mal. 'Not to mention, you always listen very patiently when I tell you my conspiracy theories about Dr. Soong.'

'I find them intriguing. Thank you. Another example: in the 23rd century the crew of the Enterprise, under the command of the famous Captain Kirk, encountered beings whose consciousnesses were held in artificial spheres. They intended to build android bodies for themselves. Ultimately, due to scant evidence, I am unable to decide which one is more probable: developing sentient artificial life-form or transferring consciousness of a biological being into an artificial body. Perhaps there are more memories in my subconsciousness which could help solve this mystery. I would like to try again.'

'I think it's a good idea.'

Data sat down under the arch. T'Mal walked up to him and gently opened his head's right cover.

'Does doing this remind you that I am a machine, not human?' asked Data.

'Surprisingly—no. You seem vulnerable now. Vulnerability is very human.'

Data looked at her thoughtfully.

T'Mal connected the cable to his head. 'Computer, activate program Ortez Number Six.'

'Initiating dream program. Stand by.' Data closed his eyes and fell asleep.

The holodeck immediately disappeared and turned into the familiar lab. It was as if there was no pause. Charlie was lying on the minimalistic bed with a small silver object on his forehead. His eyes were closed. Excited, T'Mal stepped closer. Her curiosity quickly turned into horror as she watched what Soong was doing. He leaned over the boy and checked his pulse while looking at his chest. It wasn't moving. Soong smiled and walked up to Data. He checked his circuits visible on his head and removed the chip he had previously installed. Data moved and straightened up. Soong stepped back, looking at him with excitement and some sort of hunger.

'Welcome, Data,' he said.

Data looked around with confusion and examined his hand. He looked up at Soong with visible fear.

'Well, Data? Aren't you going to answer me? That's a bit rude,' said Soong.

Data started searching for something.

'No, no, no.' Soong shook his finger at him. 'You don't need the tablet now. I've cured you.'

Data stared at him with horror.

'It's okay, you can speak,' continued Soong. 'Don't be afraid. You've always loved my androids. Isn't it wonderful that you are one of them now? You're stronger, faster, more intelligent. Immortal. You're taking part in an incredible experiment that may change the future of mankind. It'll take some time before you adjust to your new body and abilities, but if—when—you do… you'll never regret what's just happened. Look at your old body. So fragile. So inadequate. It's never matched your mind. You couldn't speak. You couldn't handle normal sensory stimuli. You've wanted to know so much, yet you've felt overwhelmed so quickly. The way you've been moving was so clumsy. You've felt so much pain. You won't anymore. You're afraid now, but the day will come when you'll be grateful. And you won't even remember those unpleasant days.'

Suddenly everything disappeared and T'Mal was back in the empty holodeck. She turned around and quickly walked up to Data. He was still asleep. This time T'Mal didn't try to wake him up. She knelt beside him and gently touched his hand.

'I'm here,' she whispered.

After a while she took her hand away and stepped back, watching him tenderly.

— — —

Data was sitting at his computer when the door chimed.

'Enter,' he said.

The door opened and Geordi went inside the room.

'Hey, Data. I was just passing by. You're redecorating?' He pointed to a new painting hanging on the wall. It showed a smiling couple with a child.

'No, I am not. Are you referring to my new painting?'

'Yes, I am.' Geordi stepped closer to have a better look. 'This was you? Awesome.'

'T'Mal suggested I paint it. She believes painting and playing the violin help me process emotions. I am not sure, but it seems worth trying.'

'You don't remember anything else, do you?'

'I have their logs and journals,' said Data. 'My father's research involved gamma radiation and my mother was an exobiologist. However, I possess mostly their professional knowledge. Although I am thankful to have it, I wish I had access to their private memories. I contacted Dr. Kila Marr and asked her if she remembered anything about them. I also ran T'Mal's program thirty seven times, but I found only glimpses. Unfortunately, Dr. Soong wiped my whole memory.'

'I'm sorry, Data. The whole thing is just so… I don't even know what to say. How are you?'

'I am functioning… I am fine.'

Geordi smiled.

'But are you really fine or just "functioning within normal parameters"?'

'I am not sure. When the Starfleet officers who first activated me on Omicron Theta told me I was an android, I found it difficult to accept that I was only a machine and chose to believe that I was a person. I always thought this was me passing into sentience, but now I see I was trying to handle losing my own body and memories.'

'I can't imagine how awful it must have been for you. You told me once you thought about total shutdown—about suicide.'

'Yes, you can put it like that,' said Data. 'T'Mal says some of my difficulties might actually be caused by the trauma of my parents' death, Dr. Soong's abuse and autism. For example, my problem with understanding social cues and inability to use contractions. Since I did not speak, my programming probably serves me as a kind of translator and is not as efficient as it could be.'

'Indeed. No other android created by Dr. Soong had such difficulties. However, maybe there are some advantages to this situation. Without your artificial body you wouldn't be able to become a Starfleet officer. You can treat it like my visor.'

'Unlike your eyes, my biological body was not disabled. Moreover, neither I nor my parents consented to the procedure. I do not consider myself cured. I lost a lot. I cannot taste the food I eat. I cannot feel the pleasure of smelling a flower or touching a soft material. I know these things seem unimportant. My computing speed, memory capacity or strength are very useful, but I would gladly give them up just to feel these little things that I do not even remember.'

'I see,' said Geordi. 'Maybe you want them so much, because you used to feel them and they were taken from you. You actually miss them, not only want them.'

'Yes, Geordi. I think you are right.'

— — —

The door opened and Data went into Picard's ready room.

'You sent for me, sir?'

'Yes, Data. Or maybe I should call you Commander Clendenning?'

'I prefer Data, sir,' said Data. 'I am used to being called that. This is my name.'

'I understand. Please sit down.'

Data sat down and looked expectantly at Picard.

'I've just reviewed your application to the Federation to be recognised as human,' said Picard.

'Human with an artificial body, sir. I believe it is an important distinction. I still regard myself as an artificial life-form. However, I presume that emphasizing my human origin will help protect my personal rights. I consider the biological body an integral part of human beings.'

'One you don't have. One that was taken from you. Perhaps that's why you value it so much.'

'I believe that is correct, sir,' said Data.

'Frankly speaking, I'm shocked by this whole situation. I remember all the moments when you were treated as a mere object. When Commander Maddox wanted to disassemble you. If he knew who you really were…'

'Captain, I believe I deserved respect no matter if I had ever been human before or was a fully artificial life-form. In any case, treating me as a thing was insulting and disassembling me would have meant ending my life.'

'Yes, I agree,' said Picard.

'I have noticed that some people treat me with more respect now that they are aware of my origin. While I obviously do not object to being treated with respect, I can see that they did not really value me as a person before.'

'I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Data. I can assure you I've always considered you a valued member of my crew—and a true friend.'

'Thank you, sir,' said Data.