A few brief (yeah, right) notes before the story:

Disclaimer:

My disclaimers are boring,

I fear this is true.

So set them to rhyme,

I'm trying to do.

I don't own Kirk,

Nor McCoy and Spock.

I don't own the Enterprise,

Or how Chekov seems to talk.

I don't own Scotty,

And how he gets them out of a jam.

I don't own Sulu and Uhura,

Nurse Chapel and Yeoman Rand.

I DO own Jones,

But not his red shirt.

Nor even the way,

He always gets hurt.

I don't own the Klingons,

Or a single Vulcan.

I own very little,

Yet writing it's SO fun!

Whew, that was interesting!

Keridwen: Glad you like.  Too bad about your boss.  It is too late for the letters, but thanks for the info anyway.  If they wind up writing Christmas cards I'll remember it.  Ensign Jones does have relatives, as you can see if you read that chapter.  The thing about Spock makes sense now that you explain it.  And so long as I'm on that topic, I've got to say: please post more!  I understand if you haven't got time, but I'm absolutely dying to know what happens and I go on vacation this Friday.  I'm kind of demanding, aren't I?  Sorry about that if it gets annoying.

Ensign Expendable: Obviously you managed to post somehow.  Excellent by the way!

EmpressLeia: I know I explained this to you, but in case someone else is wondering: when Spock doesn't recognize Data's insignia, he's referring to that round thing in back of it, and any other subtle differences.  This is Spock.  He notices things like that.

And all three of you, please post more of your stories!  They're great!

Anyone else: No other reviews when I wrote this, so I'm kind of lacking in something to say…

About this chapter: You will undoubtedly notice that this chapter doesn't follow the usual pattern of reactions.  Actually, it has pretty much nothing to do with reactions.  Guilty as charged.  Hey, if you had Spock, McCoy, and Data on the same ship, would you be able to resist a scene like this?  Well, maybe you could.  But I can't.  So here it is. 

Part Seven:

A Matter of Debate

Data is still on the Enterprise: specifically, in one of the rec rooms, talking with McCoy:

"You know, you don't seem very upset about winding up in the past," McCoy commented to Data.

"I doubtless would be upset, if I had emotions.  As things are, I am naturally interested in returning to my own time, but am incapable of feeling worry," Data said.

McCoy nodded.  "Yeah, I figured it was probably something like that.  So you haven't got any emotions at all?"

"None whatsoever."

"That's a shame," McCoy said absently.

"Yes, it is," Data agreed.

McCoy did a double take.  "What did you say?"

"I said 'yes, it is.'  I was agree—"

"You agreed with me?"

Data seemed mildly perplexed.  "Yes.  As an android I have superior reflexes, superior intellect, superior strength, and other apparent advantages.  Yet I would gladly give it all up to be human."

McCoy broke into a wide grin.  "You want to be human?"

"I believe I just said that."

"Sure, of course you did!"  McCoy nodded, grinning.  "I've got to find Spock!  Come on!"

McCoy rushed out of the room, Data obligingly following behind.

*  *  *

Spock was finally located in the Mess Hall, eating a bowl of plomeek soup, which he had obtained from the completely repaired replicators.  McCoy came over to his table, and, not waiting for an invitation, sat down across from Spock.  Data, after a moment of consideration, also took a seat at the table.  McCoy was still grinning broadly.  Spock glanced at him, and continued eating his soup.

"Spock, old boy, guess what I just found out!" McCoy said with delight.

"Doctor, there are millions of possible things that you could have 'just found out.'  For me to guess would be a pointless exercise and a waste of time."

McCoy waved a hand dismissively.  "Right, fine.  But you know what I found out?"

"Doctor, if I knew what you found out I would have been able to guess accurately," Spock said patiently.

McCoy rolled his eyes.  "Right.  The point is, I just found out Data has no emotions!"

Spock did not seem impressed.  "I calculated a 98.3% chance of that yesterday."

"Yeah, but I also found out that he wants to be human!"

Spock stopped eating.  He looked from the beaming McCoy to the composed Data.  "Is this information correct, Mr. Data?"

Data nodded.  "I would very much like to be human."

Spock blinked.  "That is a highly illogical stand."

"Isn't it though?" McCoy agreed cheerfully.  "Here we have a highly advanced android, apparently superior physically and mentally, yet he'd abandon it all just to be human and have emotions.  Did you catch that, Spock?  Emotions!  It just proves my point: everyone needs emotions, even those who'd deny it."

Spock considered this carefully.  "I cannot agree that this proves your point.  I may be able to prove a point of my own though."

"I'd love to see you try," McCoy said generously.

"Mr. Data, may I ask you a few questions?" Spock asked, ignoring McCoy.

"Certainly, provided they do not corrupt the timeline," Data said.

"A natural precaution to make.  I will be careful in my questions.  First: you are in Starfleet.  What is your rank please?"

"I am presently a Lieutenant Commander."

"And is that an honorary rank?"

"Not at all.  I have moved up through the ranks following Starfleet procedure."

"Did you graduate from Starfleet Academy?"

"Yes."

"I see.  Have—"

"I don't see," McCoy interjected.  "What's your point?"

"I am getting to that, Doctor, if you will exercise a bit of patience, difficult as that may be for you."

" I suppose I should have said 'apart from the obvious points,'" McCoy muttered.  Spock ignored him. 

"Now, Mr. Data," Spock continued, "you mentioned something about beaming to the wrong Enterprise.    Am I correct is thinking this indicates that you serve aboard a ship called Enterprise in your time?"

"Entirely correct," Data said.

"What is your position aboard that ship?"

"I am second officer."

"So you would say that you have thus far had a successful career?"

Data considered.  "Yes, I think that could be said."

"Successful, despite your lack of emotions?" Spock pressed.

"Yes, I suppose so."

"But he wants to have emotions, Spock," McCoy said, still smiling.

"But he has been successful without them," Spock countered.

"But he wants to be human, Spock."

"Allow me to continue please.  Mr. Data, do you have friends aboard the Enterprise?  Your Enterprise, I mean," Spock asked.

"I have many friends.  Also a pet cat."

"So we could extend the definition of success to include socially."

"It does make sense to do so," Data agreed.

Spock seemed satisfied.  "I believe that settles it.  You have been entirely successful in your work and in your social circles, completely without a trace of emotions."

"But he wants to have emotions, Spock," McCoy pointed out.

"But he does not need them, Doctor," Spock responded.  "You originally stated that this proved all life needs emotions.  All you have proved is that one person lacking emotions desires them, for reasons I will not pretend to understand.  I, however, have proven that he does not need them.  What you are suffering from is an inability to distinguish between want and need, in which case further discussion is futile."

That said, Spock rose from the table, and exited the Mess Hall.  McCoy watched him go, and started to chuckle.

"Well!  Have I got him on the ropes this time!" McCoy said cheerfully.

Data seemed puzzled.  "Once again I am not comprehending your terminology, Doctor."

"Oh.  Well it means I…it means I've got him beat.  I won the debate, for the moment at least."

Data continued to be perplexed.  "He completely disvalued your argument, countered with one of his own, accused you of not understanding the point, and left."

McCoy beamed.  "I know."

*  *  *

Not too much later, Kirk, Spock and McCoy were gathered in the Briefing Room.  They were discussing what to do with Data.  [A/N: Primarily so this can have something vaguely resembling a plot.]

"Now it seems to me," Kirk said, "the trouble all began at the Guardian of Forever."

"That is known fact," Spock commented.

"Right.  So to fix something that started with the Guardian we should go back to the Guardian!"

"That is logical, Captain," Spock agreed.

"Why thank you, Spock."

Spock raised an eyebrow.  "It is not logical to thank me for stating fact."

Kirk shook his head.  "Sure, Spock.  Anyway, what do you think of it?  The Guardian ought to be able to solve the problem."

"Are we sure on that, Jim?" McCoy asked.  "We know the Guardian can send us back in time, but we've never tried to get into the future."

Spock took it upon himself to answer that one.  "Mr. Data is from the future.  For him, this is the past, and he is not going to the future but to the present.  Provided the Guardian realizes that fact, it should have no trouble sending Mr. Data back to his present, even while that present remains our future."

McCoy blinked.  "You're slipping, Spock.  I actually understood that.  I think."

Kirk interrupted what very easily could have escalated into another debate.  "Right, that's fine, gentlemen.  Let's go ahead with the idea and get Data to the Guardian of Forever."

"I believe the U.S.S. Nectarous is on a course which will take it near the Guardian of Forever," Spock volunteered.  "It should be simple to arrange a transfer—"

"Why, Mr. Spock," Kirk interrupted.  "Are you suggesting we send Data to another ship and have them take him to the Guardian?"

"Yes," Spock answered without batting an eye.

"I don't think that would be wise.  No, not wise at all.  After all, sending Data to another ship could corrupt the timeline even more than it already has been.  And that could be quite bad.  I think we should take him ourselves.  The Enterprise isn't doing anything important right now."

Spock blinked.  "We're en route to a planet where we are to observe the indigenous, pre-technology culture, and determine—"

"Right.  Nothing important.  It's far more vital to get Data back to his own time."

"Starfleet will not be happy," Spock warned.

"Starfleet will survive," Kirk said dismissively.  "Besides that's just the risk we take.  And, of course, risks are our business.  When man first looked at the stars—"

"Don't bother.  We've heard it many times, Jim," McCoy interrupted.

Kirk seemed vaguely surprised.  "Oh.  You have?"

"Everyone has."

"Well.  In that case, meeting adjourned."

I noticed I wasn't having Kirk spout off about risks.  Had to fix that!  So, off they're going to the Guardian of Forever.  May run into problems first…next chapter up soon!