Geordi: Data, you've wanted emotions your whole life.

Data: Yes. But emotions are responsible for what I did to you. I would never risk letting that happen again. My friendship with you is too important to me.

[TNG S7E01 Descent, Part II]

'Tomorrow I'll add this to the program and see if it works,' said T'Mal as she and Data were walking down the corridor. 'I can't wait to see the results, it's really exciting!' She jumped slightly. 'I've been working on this for weeks and it never occured to me that I could modify the loop in the algorithm. It sounds so easy, why didn't I see this? Such an elegant solution. Who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll see what the chip is hiding.'

They reached her quarters. She opened the door and they went inside. As soon as the door closed, she turned to him and hugged him. He was a bit stiff, but there was a slight smile on his face.

'I love hugging you,' she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. 'I hate other people in my personal space except you.' She looked at him with adoration and kissed him. He kissed her back, gently at first, but then more passionately. After long seconds he suddenly stopped and stepped back a little with a serious expression.

'Has something happened?' T'Mal looked at him, confused.

'I must terminate our relationship.'

'What are you talking about?'

'I believe I have made myself clear,' said Data dispassionately. 'This is imperative that we stop being a couple. Now if you excuse me, I have to go the Bridge. My night shift begins in seven minutes.' He turned around and made a few steps towards the exit.

'You're not serious, are you? Data? Data, stop. You can't just say these words to me and walk away.'

The door opened and Data walked out with an impassive expression. T'Mal ran after him.

'Data, please tell me what's going on,' she said, trying to keep up with him. 'I don't understand. Don't do this to me, please.'

He entered the turbolift and turned around, finally looking at her.

'I am sorry,' he said and the lift closed, leaving T'Mal alone in the corridor.

— — —

T'Mal was sitting in her lab when the door chimed.

'Come in,' she said a bit anxiously.

The door opened and Riker went inside the room.

'Commander.' T'Mal got up quickly.

'Please sit down, Lieutenant,' said Riker and sat down at the silver table, leaning a little toward her. 'I've received your transfer application and I'd like to talk with you about it.'

'How can I help you, sir?'

'May I speak with you candidly, Lieutenant?'

'Yes, sir, you may,' replied T'Mal.

'You've justified your application by the fact that you finished examining Commander Data. However, I suspect that your real reasons are personal, am I right, Lieutenant?'

'Does it matter, sir?'

'Commander Data is my friend,' said Riker. 'I know you were dating. I have no idea what happened between you two and I have no right to ask, but I can see that Data's been acting weird lately.'

'Perhaps you should ask Commander Data about it then, sir.'

'Perhaps I will, Lieutenant. This is between me and him. I won't keep you here by force. If you want to go back to Starbase 173, you'll be allowed to. I just want to make sure that's what you really want. That I won't ruin any chance of reconciliation between you and Commander Data.'

'May I be completely honest with you, sir?' asked T'Mal.

'Yes, you may, Lieutenant.'

'It seems to me that you think I was the one who ended our relationship. I didn't. It was Commander Data. I don't know why. I tried to talk to him several times, but he refused to give me any explanation. Frankly speaking, this is a very unpleasant situation for me and I don't want to stay aboard the Enterprise any longer. Perhaps this isn't very professional behavior on my part, but due to my emotional turmoil I believe I'll be more efficient while working on the Starbase 173. It's more logical than it seems.'

'Oh.' Riker was silent for a while. 'I see. Well, as I've said, I won't keep you here by force, so I won't oppose it. Anyway, it'll be weeks before we get to the closest starbase, so if you change your mind, just let me know.'

'I won't hesitate, sir.'

— — —

T'Mal was sitting on the couch, wrapped in the gravity blanket, when the door chimed.

'Come in,' she said, looking at the door with confusion.

The door opened and Data came inside. He glanced at her and stood at the entrance. T'Mal straightened up, but didn't get up. There was an awkward silence for a while.

'I have realised you deserve an explanation of my recent behavior,' he said finally.

'I believe I do.'

'I did not wish to hurt you.'

'But you did,' said T'Mal.

He glanced at her again.

'I know I'm just a witless weirdo,' continued T'Mal, 'but I thought that even if you were fed up with me, you would end our relationship with greater kindness. If you had come here just to say that I wasn't enough for you, please go now.'

He looked very perplexed.

'I do not consider you inadequate in any way,' he said.

'Just unsuitable for you?'

'No. This is not what I think.'

T'Mal didn't answer.

'I terminated our relationship because of me,' continued Data. 'When I was with you, I began experiencing strong emotions. Last time I felt like that was with Lore and I almost killed Geordi. I promised myself I would never risk letting that happen again. I am not ready to control it.'

'These situations are vastly different, Data.'

'I do not agree.'

'Lore deactivated your ethical program and fed you with pure anger that wasn't even your own. He manipulated you and brainwashed you. You can't compare it to a normal situation.'

Data stared at her in silence for a moment.

'Manipulation or lack thereof does not change the fact that I am not ready to control these emotions,' he said.

'Nobody fully controls it.'

'But others are not as dangerous as I am. Was it not the reason why Dr. Graves left my body, even though it meant his death?'

'He wasn't used to your body,' said T'Mal. 'You are. Look at Lore—he was full of anger and hatred, yet he didn't kill people by accident. And you didn't seem angry and hateful with me. I know that what Lore did to you must've been devastating and that feeling something remotely similar could bring back those memories and emotions. I guess you felt guilty and you had no way to process it. But now I ask you to look at this logically. It wasn't your fault. And it's highly unlikely to happen again, judging by your kind character.'

Data looked at the floor for long seconds.

'Why did you think you were inadequate?' he asked eventually. 'You should be angry. You should hate me for what I did to you.'

'You didn't explain your decision, just walked away. I didn't know why, so I assumed it was my fault.'

'But I do not understand why you did. You did not do anything wrong. How could it be your fault?'

'This is what I always think. This is always somehow my fault. Part of me is still inside that miserable learning pit on Vulcan, trying desperately not to be so stupid and disappointing, yet somehow failing everybody every time. In my mind I see those Vulcan children making fun of me, because I was different and clumsy, and shy, and too quiet, and too talkative sometimes. Because I couldn't understand simple things. Because I couldn't be normal. Since I joined Starfleet, I've tried so hard to pretend that I'm a cold, logical Vulcan, so nobody would ever know who I really am. I felt I could be different with you … And when you broke up with me, I thought you were disgusted with my weird talking and silly jumping, and everything.' Although she seemed composed throughout their conversation, now she started crying.

Data looked at her helplessly and approached her carefully.

'May I sit next to you?' he asked.

T'Mal nodded. Data sat down on the couch and hugged her gently. A long time passed before she calmed down.

'I wanted to avoid hurting you,' said Data, 'but I did. I am sorry. I am unable to decide how to proceed.'

'Do you still want to definitely end our relationship?'

'I do not know.'

'Why?' asked T'Mal.

'I do not want to hurt you and I cannot decide if I will hurt you more by staying or leaving. I love you, but I consider myself … inadequate.'

'You're not.' She took his hand and interlocked her fingers with his. 'Please stay.'

He looked at her with sadness.

'Are you sure?' he asked.

T'Mal smiled slightly and nodded. She kissed him gently and hugged him again.

They sat together in silence for a long time.

— — —

T'Mal swore. Data looked at her a bit anxiously.

'Are you sure you do not need any assistance?' he asked.

They were in her lab where T'Mal was working on Soong's chip.

'Yeah, I'm okay.' She checked the chip and connected it to her computer again.

'I hope you have not taken my remark as doubting your abilities.'

'No, don't worry. I'm perfectly aware that my working style is a bit chaotic.' She started tapping quickly on the console, focusing entirely on her program.

'I want to make sure that you do not think I consider you inadequate in any way.'

She stopped tapping on the computer and turned to him.

'Data, you don't need to do that,' she said. 'I know.'

'Do you?'

'Yes, I do. At least most of the time.'

'Your words imply that there are indeed moments when you have doubts about my opinion about you,' said Data.

'Well, sometimes I'm wondering if you wouldn't prefer someone more courageous, clever and ambitious. You know, someone who would work with you on the Bridge.'

'This would be disadvantageous for various reasons. We could have less time for joint activities outside of work. We could have arguments regarding the situation on the Bridge. Our personal feelings could interfere with our decisions, making us less capable officers. Last but not least, should we ever leave the Enterprise, we would face a conflict between our relationship and ambition. After all, there cannot be two captains on one ship.'

'You've been thinking about our future?' T'Mal smiled.

'Yes, I have. Is it inadvisable?'

'You can think about anything you like.'

'Should I avoid telling you this candidly and keep it to myself instead?' asked Data.

'I don't know. I prefer honesty. I've been thinking about our future too.'

'May I ask how you envision it?'

'Frankly speaking, quite traditionally and sentimentally.' She glanced at him carefully.

'Hmm. Should I not consult your father before I proceed, according to your traditions?'

'You did study my traditions!' She smiled widely.

'Indeed. I have serious intentions towards you. However, I have imagined that I would talk to you about them in different circumstances.'

'Too early?'

'Yes, I would say the evening would be preferable,' said Data. 'It is considered more romantic.'

'I've asked if it's too early at this point in our relationship.'

'Hmm. I do not know. Is there any specific time frame I should adhere to?'

'No, not really,' replied T'Mal, 'but, personally, I would say a year is enough. At least I know how I would answer a certain question if it was ever asked.'

'May I ask—how?'

'I would say yes.'

— — —

'Would it not be advisable to see my quarters first?' asked Data. He was standing at the entrance to T'Mal's bedroom, while she was going through her things.

'Uh, yeah, I guess it would be.'

'I have the impression that you are deliberately avoiding going there and I do not understand why. Is there some kind of tradition or superstition that I am unaware of?'

'No, no,' replied T'Mal. 'It's just, uh, it's … Frankly speaking, it's your cat.'

'Spot? Why? Are you concerned about her behavior?'

'Uh, yes, a little bit.' She turned to him and started playing nervously with her fingers.

'I believe that once she get used to your presence, she will not try to attack you. Perhaps she will like you more when you give her food.'

'Yes, I think this is probable.'

'You do not seem convinced,' said Data.

'It's just that … I'm scared of cats. And dogs. And other animals. They're alive and moving, and unpredictable. They've always terrified me.'

'Did you talk about it to Counselor Troi?'

'Yes, a little bit, but so far it's never been a pressing problem,' said T'Mal.

'I would like to point out that we have known each other for thirteen months. Perhaps we should have talked about it sooner.'

'I guess so. I'm sorry. I know how much you love that cat. I figured I should just pull myself together and try to get used to it. Fear is something that should be dealt with in a counselor's office. I can't force you to abandon your beloved pet because of my personal problems.'

'However, I also should not force you to live in fear,' said Data. He was silent for a long time while T'Mal—a bit anxious—continued packing.

'If I gave Spot to a trusted friend, I could visit them often,' said Data eventually. 'I would be sure she is well looked after and I would not have to part with her completely. Lieutenant Barclay seems to get along with her quite well and he is lonely. Perhaps taking care of her would make him happy. I shall ask him.'

'I feel bad about it.'

'You should not. A relationship is an art of compromise, is it not?' He walked up to her and kissed her gently.