"Do you think that Kolrami will be all right?" Data asked Pulaski. Everyone else had left after the Strategema game. "He did seem to be quite distraught."
"Oh, he'll be fine. Losing builds character, after all."
"As I stated before, Kolrami did not lose. I simply -"
Pulaski held up a finger. "We all know what you did, Data." She paused before adding, "There was something I wanted to tell you."
"What is it, Doctor?"
The doctor sighed. "I'm leaving my position here on the Enterprise. Dr. Crusher wanted to come back and well, it was her ship first."
"Did you inform the captain?" Data asked.
"Of course I did," Pulaski said. "Well, Starfleet Command told the captain first, and he passed it along to me. I'm sure there will be a ship-wide announcement soon enough."
Data cocked his head in confusion. "Why are you telling me now rather than waiting, then?"
Pulaski sighed again, deeper this time. "I suppose I owe it to you, as a friend. Anyhow, I know you're good at keeping secrets." She smiled knowingly. "I also wanted to apologize for the way I treated you when I first came on board."
"No apology needed," Data replied.
"You say that, but I was still more dismissive of you than I had the right to be." The doctor turned to leave Ten Forward. "There'll be time for more formal goodbyes later, but I have to admit I'll miss our senior staff poker games."
Data concealed his surprise at Dr. Pulaski's sudden transparency and nodded. "I am sure we will all miss your presence at them as well."