After the second visual run-through of the interactive negotiation simulator, Data raised an issue with his seminar teammates.

"I believe I have discovered a useful piece of information."

The simulation involved a basic negotiation for right-of-way across land held on an Earth colony. The negotiator presented the landowner with a very reasonable request, that the Federation be permitted access to a narrow neck of an used portion of land to access a water source for agricultural research purposes. The ¼ mile roadway would be built, maintained, and policed by Federation personnel, and 36 hours' notice would be provided – refusal and rescheduling permitted – prior to each use of the right of way. The landowner in the simulation, one Argan Temulian, refused even to consider discussion. The simulation had been discussed in the five classroom sub-groups from every conceivable angle. Remuneration had been discussed, engagement of Temulian's own workers (he operated an independent hydroponic farm) was proposed. The granting of several of the Federation's adjacent agri-acres for Temulian's own cultivation had been proposed. In the end, Temulian was asked flat-out what it would take to engage even his willingness to discuss the matter. The interactive response was always the same: "I will not engage in negotiations."

Data's team, comprised of himself along with an Andorian male, a Klingon female (who was having particular difficulties), and an Earth human female, were frustrated by their lack of success and unconvinced that Data would have gleaned useful information where they had not. What would a machine have to offer to facilitate exchange between true life forms? However, the simulation time was running out and nobody else had any suggestions.

"All right, Commander, what insight can you provide that all of us cannot?"

"Perhaps," he suggested, "we should approach the problem from a more oblique angle?" Blank stares greeted him. "Mr. Temulian made a comment in response to the negotiator's insistence that the Federation could be trusted to fulfill their contract. He stated that he was aware of this, because on his homeworld of Tanarsis his father had had dealings with the Federation in matters of business."

Ensign Whitney, a diplomatic attaché from the USS Christopher, responded, "What can that have to do with anything?"

"Tanarsis is populated by a strictly homogenous and patriarchal society. As we see in the simulation, the Federation negotiator is female. Thus we may assume that, based on his origins and upbringing and regardless of the beneficial aspects of a contract with the Federation, Mr. Temulian will not consider negotiations simply because the Federation representative is female. I suggest we consider replacing the negotiator with a male alternative, and gauge his response."

The Klingon female bristled at the suggestion. "The Tanarsian's attitude is outdated and dishonorable."

"Nonetheless," Data responded mildly (knowing any show of even intellectual aggression would trigger an opposite and unequal response), "the perspective of the negotiatons must be based upon the position of the other. Anything else guarantees failure."

The other three team members looked at each other, then at Data. "I think we all knew about Tanarsis and its social structure," the Andorian replied a bit defensively, then addressed the others, "Well it's not as if we have any other ideas. " The Klingon entered the agreed-upon proposal into the simulator, and pressed Process . In seconds the image of Temulian appeared on the viewscreen, smiling and agreeable. "The Federation offer appears quite acceptable, I think we can do business," he said. Data's teammates could hardly comprehend that a synthetic life form had been better able to interpret human behavior. Confronted by the consternation of his teammates, Data told them somewhat glibly, "It seems we simply needed a 'sideways' approach."

When their solution was presented to the session facilitator, it turned out to have been the only success in the room.

"So you see," the facilitator announced to the class, "in negotiations, everything counts. If you concentrate only on the issue at hand, you may find yourself returning empty handed."

It seemed Leo had repaid Data's assistance without being aware of it. He would certainly tell her when he saw her this evening.

Leo was already halfway awake when her door buzzer sounded. "Leo," she heard the mellow voice through the intercom, "It is Data. Are you there?"

"Computer, chronometer reading please."

"The earth Pacific region time is 1800 hours."

She must have slept through the alarm she requested. She jumped off the bed and asked, "Computer, what is my evaluation score for the warp history and technology examination?"

"History, 9.7 out of 10 possible; mathematics 8.2 out of 12 possible." Holy shit, she'd passed. The door buzzer repeated.

"Leo? Are you there? It is Data."

"Come on in, Data, it's not locked," Leo called out as she jerked a brush through her hair and made for the door. The door had barely slid shut behind Data when she literally jumped into his arms shouting "I passed, you positronic savior!" Data caught her by reflex and she kissed him smack on the very surprised lips. He staggered back a step, still holding onto her, and she disengaged from him quickly and smoothed his uniform shirt with a sheepish smile at his stunned expression.

"I'm a little excited… I just got my scores. 9.7 of 10 in history, and…" she did a little pirouette in front of the fairly overwhelmed android, "8.2 out of 12 in mathematics! Which means I passed, which means I get to go on to the core studies in my program!" Unable to help herself, she gave him another enthusiastic hug and kiss, then stepped back. "Sorry… I hope you don't mind, I'm just so grateful, I'd never have managed it without you." He looked as if he were bracing himself for another attack. "Jeez, now I've got you all nervous."

Data recovered himself and assured her, "You have not made me 'nervous'. I was merely concerned for my balance; my internal gyroscopic systems did not respond quickly enough. And I do not 'mind' your physical show of gratitude. I am pleased that you did well on your examination, and that I was able to assist you."

She just couldn't stop smiling, and it became contagious. Data's normally neutral expression warmed a little with what Leo could see was his approximation of a smile. It was rather nice, actually, especially because she knew it was in response to her hysterical joy at achieving what she wanted so desperately.

"You are very happy," he observed unnecessarily. "It is an agreeable contrast to your mood when we first met."

"I'll say it is." She noticed Data's smile had faltered, and he appeared contemplative. "What's wrong? Hey, no need to keep standing around," she flopped on the sofa and indicated he should do the same. Data, of course, sat down as someone who does so as a learned social behavior.

"Nothing is 'wrong', " he was having difficulty phrasing what was on his mind. "It is just that I, too, had a successful day. But unlike you, I am unable to experience it with such… enthusiasm."

"You experience it whatever way works for you, and the hell with anyone who says otherwise."

He appeared satisfied, if still a little caught in his thoughts. The tentative smile returned, though. "You are much like one of my friends. She, too, often told me that I should not gauge my responses by comparing them with those of others."

"Sounds like my kind of person. And the kind you need to keep around."

The smile faded. "Yes. She was 'my kind of person' as well. Although I cannot experience emotion as you might understand it, from time to time her absence is quite apparent."

"'Was'? Did she go away?" Whatever the 'non-emotional' android approximation of sadness was, it was all over Data's face.

"She was killed in the line of duty some time ago, on an away team mission. While dangerous missions are not uncommon, some deaths seem more significant. I am not sure I am expressing it clearly. Other crew members have died during my service, and while I found their loss regrettable it did not linger for a long period after their deaths. From time to time the place that Tasha occupied in my everyday existence still echoes with her absence."

Struck by his casual poeticism, Leo moved closer and put her hand on his arm. "You miss her, Data. What you just said is exactly what I still feel about losing Paul. My life echoes with his absence, as yours does with Tasha's. I suppose it may grow more subtle with time, but my guess is it never goes away because the effect someone you care about has on you never goes away. You make a new discovery, or read a certain passage, or hear some music you know they'd have liked, and the first thing you think about is 'I have to share this', as if they never went away, and not having that new sharing is worse than any picture or story that reminds you of the past. It's the present you miss, and the future. And it hurts like hell, and I don't care what you call it or how you interpret it. You say you have no feelings because they don't manifest like ours, because your 'feedback loop' between stimulus and response doesn't involve anything hormonal or chemical. Well I say you're wrong; knowledge and people and events trigger a reaction in you, loss, and interest, and friendship, you just process them differently. That doesn't make them less real and it sure doesn't make them nonexistent." She leaned in and hugged him for the pain that he refused to define as pain, because she knew the distinction was false. It had to be, because he'd captured her own pain so vividly. He didn't stiffen or retreat from her, but returned her embrace as he had when she'd said goodbye that morning, with warmth.

"Thank you, Leo. Even if I do not fully understand what you have said, thank you for saying it."

Leo who felt a little awkward. She wasn't given to extravagant displays of "HDM", or "heavy-deep-and-meaningful", in fact her friends from her past life used to tease her for seeming aloof. She didn't cry at sad movies, or fall in love with every man she met. She certainly didn't wear her heart on her sleeve, as the saying went. What she felt she felt deeply, but it wasn't for display and it wasn't often shared. Something about this newcomer in her life got past the wall, though. And her earlier warning to Data regarding her being hard to get rid of suddenly seemed more than ironic. She already was sensing that she'd never be able to "get rid of" Data, even if she wanted to, and even if he wanted her to.

After a moment they separated, and Leo needed to lighten the mood. "So you haven't told me about your successful day. Give it up." She was gratified to see the return of what she'd later come to characterize as the "Mona Data Smile", and this time it was even accompanied by a dash of cockiness.

"My negotiation team was the only one of five session sub-groups to achieve a successful agreement in simulation. It was not until I suggested employing 'sideways reasoning', and described what conclusions might be arrived at, that progress was made." He filled her in on the details of the simulation, the two unsuccessful counter-offers, and the final discovery arrived at via the method she had suggested the previous evening.

"Congratulations! You've learned to adapt intuition to your own parameters!" She saw Data was looking at her a little strangely, a little closely, as if making up his mind about something. After a second or so he placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, and leaned in to give her a kiss. This time she noticed the warmth and softness of his mouth, which she'd somehow expected to be rather like delicate plastic but hadn't really noticed at all when she's grabbed him the first two times. It was her turn to be puzzled as he explained, "I am grateful for your assistance. And I am glad you wish to continue our acquaintance as a friendship."

Suddenly she remembered her conversation with Boothby, and gave Data a playful shove. "Hey, you never told me you were famous!" she accused.

"Famous? I do not understand."

"Well when I was planting with Boothby today, he told me a few things about you. Like I'm some sort of Philistine for not having heard of you."

He cocked his head, birdlike. He seemed to do that when he was dealing with an unexpected situation. "My curriculum vitae is a matter of public record. Did Mr. Boothby not tell you this?"

"'Mr.' Boothby told me you'd hung out with him during your time at the Academy just like I do now, and pretty much for the same reasons."

"I found talking to him to be helpful in processing the difficulties I was having developing social skills with non-synthetic life forms. He is very logical in his outlook, and very accepting of those different from himself."

"And very impatient with those who aren't. You're beginning to scare me, Data."

He became concerned. "I do not wish to frighten you, Leo. What have I done that is 'scary'?"

Laughing, Leo shook her head and patted his arm. "No, Data, I guess I mean it's really weird to meet someone so suddenly who I just seem to resonate with. I thought it would take forever in this new, perfectly perfect world. It's a little surprising, is all. 'Scary' is an overstatement. It's unusual."

"I agree. It is rare for me to make a social connection so rapidly and on several different planes of experience and outlook simultaneously."

They sat in silence for a few moments, not out of things to say so much as comfortably quiet between thoughts. Finally Data suggested, "Do you wish to celebrate our respective successes? There is a club on the south campus where there is music and dancing."

Leo sat back, eyebrows raised. "You like music and dancing?"

He looked a bit self-conscious. "Our ship's medical officer helped me learn several dances in preparation for a crew mate's wedding in which I gave the bride away. I am afraid that in social situations my dancing ability is limited to the genre known as 'big band' and 'standards'."

"Well I'll be damned. An android with style. I grew up with rock'n'roll, and love the blues and classical, but Glenn Miller and the Dorseys really get my party on too."

"'Get my party on'… I am afraid I do not have a reference for that colloquial expression."

"Gimme a few minutes to get into some clothes that I haven't slept in, and I'll demonstrate when we get there." Just before disappearing into the bedroom, she turned and regarded Data with a delighted smile.

"I think Boothby's right about you. As friends go, I could do a whole lot worse."

Data responded to her smile with his own version, of which Leo was already growing inordinately fond. "I believe the same is true for myself as well."