I opened my eyes to find that I was still on the sofa. I must have dozed off.. I sat up and let out a yawn accompanied by a good stretch. It was still dark outside... The stars shown through the window…

Wait.

"Computer?" I called out anxiously. A beeping sound rang out in reply. "What is the time?"

"It is O-eight hundred hours."

Right. Military time.

I hurried over to my drawers to change into a new set of clothes. I would have been late to work if I was still on Earth. Thankfully, I didn't have a set time to meet with Data.

"Computer." I waited again for the chime. "Set a recurring alarm for five A.M. for all days of the week."

"Please specify preferences for wake-up protocol."

I hummed in thought for a moment, buttoning up my white blouse. "Raise light levels to 50% and play a song."

"Please specify song."

I stopped for a moment, trying to think of an appropriate song. "Anything from the classical era will do."

"Acknowledged. Recurring alarm has been set to specified parameters."

I pulled a dark green dress down over my head and patted it down into place. It was long and stopped just above my ankles. I then walked into the bathroom to brush my hair. I kept it simple today, no fancy braid, no makeup. Once I was freshened up I went to the replicator and called for a light breakfast. Just two slices of sourdough toast with butter and a glass of water. I ate it quickly and grabbed my tablet before rushing out the door.

I was eager and even excited to meet Data. I only knew the version of him told through Starfleet records and from the documents Counselor Troi had sent me. An android modeled after humans now finding himself becoming human.

I rounded the corner and stopped at the guarded door. The two officers quickly stood up straight and stared at me sternly. Both were human. One male and the other female.

"Hello!" I offered a smile but their expressions did not soften. "Ah- I am Counselor Rees. May I see the Commander?"

"Would you like for us to accompany you?" The man asked.

"Oh, no. I think I will be fine. I'll call for you if I need anything."

The man gave a nod and they stepped aside to let me in. I took a deep breath to settle my nerves before pressing the doorbell. After a few seconds I pressed it again. Still there was no answer. I looked to the officers but they returned a shrug. I gave a couple knocks as a warning before entering.

As the door opened the sound of piano blasted into the hall. I stepped in quickly to allow the door to shut again. To my left the room branched into an office. Data was behind the desk and called for the computer to pause the program. He looked at me with a blank, yet surprised expression.

"My apologies! I was not expecting a check-up at this time. It is not noon yet, is it?"

"No… It is about nine I believe…"

Data looked instantly relieved and wiped at his face. Was he crying?

"Are you alright?" I stepped closer.

"I…." He paused for a long moment trying to find the answer. I could see in his expression how hard he was thinking. "I do not know. I usually play up to six pieces of music at a time to analyze the cords and the structures, but lately I find that I cannot focus on more than one at a time… This particular piece has brought forth a reaction I was not expecting. I found myself unable to focus on analyzing the piece, but of the sounds instead."

He paused to look at me with a confused expression and I allowed him to continue.

"I have listened to this piece thirteen times and it has brought up the same reaction each time. Is this normal?"

I smiled. "Yes it is normal. Music is a form of art and like art it can be experienced and interpreted in many ways."

"But Claire De Lune was created after the poem written by Paul Verlaine. In the poem he describes a sad scenery and dancing under the moonlight… It is something I have had no part of, though I feel…" He paused again to think.

"What do you feel?"

"I think I am feeling sad. How is it that I can feel sadness while listening to music? Is this what it means to be moved by a piece?"

I nodded. "I believe so. Even though you have not shared in the same experience as the author of the poem, you must be drawing some sort of parallel through the music."

"What do you mean?"

"When listening to music, humans tend to make connections to the feelings the sounds bring to them and it may bring up memories and thoughts as well. When I listen to this song I-" I drifted off, stopping myself from elaborating. "Well, what do you think of? You said that every time you listened to the song it brought up the same emotion."

He looked down at his desk and leaned back in his chair to think. "I feel…." He paused again on that word. "Uneasy. Restless. And what I believe is sadness like the poem described."

"A longing, maybe?"

"Yes… I believe so. I feel a longing to be dancing with the others in the poem. To be out of this room and back to work with my friends. To be somewhere else."

"You must miss them…" I took a seat at the chair in front of his desk and placed my tablet down on the surface.

"Hmm…" He put a hand to his chest. "Is that what I am feeling? That is what this heaviness is in my chest?"

I nodded. "It sounds like it." I gave him a few more minutes to process before continuing. "How long have you been confined to quarters?"

"Exactly one week, five days, and thirteen hours." He paused for a moment before cocking his head to the side and narrowing his eyes at me. It was like he was snapping himself out of his emotions and back to reality. "Have we met?"

I smiled. "Not yet. I am Abigail Rees."

"I am Lieutenant Commander Data. I apologize for not introducing myself right away when you entered."

"That's alright."

"Is there something I can help you with?"

I shook my head, still trying to find the best way to explain this to him. "They didn't tell you… but I was brought aboard last night. I have been assigned to assist you with controlling and understanding your emotions."

Data leaned back in his chair again and nodded slowly. "The Captain did mention it to me last night. Are you a doctor?"

I stifled a nervous laugh. "Just a counselor, actually." He paused in thought so I continued. "I majored in human behavioral psychology."

"I see…" He looked up at me, his expression changing back to a blank stare. "Then I am no longer working with Counselor Troi?"

I shook my head. "As much as she would like to continue helping you, she just does not have the time. She believes that you would benefit with twenty four hour care."

"Will you be with me during all hours of the day then?"

I smiled. "Only if you need it. I'll be on call for you if you need me but we do not have to spend all day every day with each other." Data only nodded in response so I continued, grabbing my tablet. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

"I do not mind."

"I will have to ask that you answer them to the best of your ability and refrain from lying. I would like for us to have an honest and open relationship while we are working together."

Data nodded, but looked confused. "What reason would I have to lie to you?"

"Some patients find it easier to lie than to face their emotions or the truth of things."

"I see."

"I want you to remember these three words; Scissors. Ball. Glass."

Data nodded firmly in response.

I took a moment to fill out information on my tablet. His appearance was tidy and he was still wearing his uniform off duty. His behavior and speech seemed normal as well. Even his quarters were neat and tidy. If he were fully human I would consider the thought of him being OCD. I filed the thought away in the back of my head and moved on.

"How are you feeling?"

He looked at me blankly for a moment, as if he were frozen. He opened his mouth but paused again. "I am operating at normal parameters. My last diagnostic was at five hundred hours this morning."

"Okay, but how are you feeling?"

He stared back at me confused. "I am feeling many things I cannot identify… Although we have established the feelings of 'sad' and 'longing'."

I nodded. "Have you been hearing or seeing things that might not be there?"

Data shook his head. "Not at all."

"Have you been fixated on anything lately?"

"I believe that would be my art. I have spent a lot of time painting lately, although I have not had much success like I have had in the past."

"Oh? Why not?"

"Instead of focusing on re-creating prominent artwork I have found myself wanting to create something of my own."

"You want to express yourself.."

"Correct. I have found it difficult to express myself lately. I have created original works in the past, but the image I have in my head is not going to the canvas like it should."

"That must be frustrating for you."

He paused to think it over, matching the feeling with the word. He raised his eyebrows when it clicked. "Yes. I have found it frustrating."

"Have you considered committing suicide since you began experiencing these emotions?"

"I have expressed my desire to be dismantled or shut down, but no one has agreed."

"But have you thought of or tried to do this yourself?"

"No…"

"Do you have any plans for suicide?"

"Not at all."

"Have you ever thought of causing harm to anyone else?"

Data's expression turned grim and he shrunk slightly in his chair, bringing a fist to his mouth. He didn't look at me. I gave him a moment to process.

"Data…?"

"I… did not wish to harm Geordi. It was not something I consciously intended to do!" He raised his voice slightly, visibly upset, but stopped as he looked at me.

"I understand. You must have been really upset, angry even."

He shook his head. "I do not know. I just could not control myself at that moment.." I could see the regret in his eyes. He looked almost scared as well.

"I know this is not normal behavior for you… but it is normal to lose control of yourself if what you're feeling is too much for you to handle. I can see that you regret what happened."

"This is why I wish to be deactivated. I do not want to hurt more of my friends."

I paused for a moment and sighed. "But this very thing is what it means to be human. Isn't this what you've worked for?"

"I… I do not want this if it will cause me to harm others."

I opened my mouth, but paused for a moment before changing my response. "That is why I am here. I am here to guide you through these emotions in safe and productive ways. Your peers have an advantage over you… they spent their younger years figuring out their own emotions and were guided by their families on how to act and respond. Even some adults can carry out actions they later regret-"

"But they do not have the strength that I have."

"No. They don't, but Geordi has healed from his injuries. You are welcome to feel the way you are feeling but you must remember that you are allowed to make mistakes. You will make mistakes."

Data nodded in response. "Humans are imperfect beings.." He seemed to be reassuring himself or maybe reciting what someone else had told him.

"Exactly."

"Geordi has refused to speak with me after the incident… Would you be able to speak with him? I wish to repair our friendship."

I nodded. "I can do that. Can you tell me the three items I had asked you to remember?"

"Yes. Scissors. Ball. Glass."

"Thank you." I filled out more information on my tablet. Most of the subjects on the form were memory based. I didn't feel the need to ask more of those questions at this time as his memory seemed unaffected. "Is there anything else you would like to talk about?"

"You were about to tell me what you thought of the music, but you stopped yourself. Why?"

"I did not want to change what your response would be when I asked you. If I explained first I may have changed your thoughts or feelings."

"What is it that you feel from it?"

"It… mostly brings up memories of my grandfather. He raised me back on Earth and had a special interest in older history like classical music, monarchy- that sort of thing. Claire De Lune was one of his favorite songs."

"Did he ever say why?"

"No. It was played at his funeral though. I felt it was fitting from what I felt from the song. To me it represents the experience of life… The lighter more melodic parts being the happy moments and everyday life but the harsher notes… the darker tones represented the tragedy of it. The sad and difficult times."

"That is what the experience of life is to you?"

"Sort of. If you look at it in a vague perspective. There is so much to life, but I feel it is summed up together in that song almost perfectly…. Although that is my opinion. I've never really heard the poem before."

Data nodded, trying to wrap his head around the concept.

I tapped at my tablet to see the time. "If you don't mind, I need to get to sick bay."

"Oh? Are you not feeling well?"

"It's not that. I have an appointment. I have to get some immunizations since I am new to traveling through space."

"Will you be returning?"

"I can. I will try to find Geordi on my way back and see if he has the time to talk." I stood, brushing at my dress with my free hand.

"I would appreciate that."

"I'll see you later!" I flashed a smile before walking out of the room.

I looked over my notes as I headed towards the turbo lift. Luckily I had downloaded a map of the Enterprise before I had boarded. Otherwise I would have been completely lost. Once inside the lift, I called out the floor I needed and was instantly sent up.