Update! Thanks for reading, for your fantastically thought provoking reviews which I appreciate enormously, and I hope you enjoy this next part! Just where did Data leave his skin...?

Chapter Seven

Picard and Troi were pulled from their sleep by a startled, horrified yelp.

"Gah! What the hell did I just touch!" Riker cried.

Troi sat up at once and scanned the cave for Data, but saw only the android's sleeping bag, neatly rolled up by the entrance.

"Counselor? What's happening?" Picard asked irritably, blinking the sleep out of his brain.

"I think Will found Data's skin," Troi said, fighting to maintain a straight expression in the face of Picard's utter befuddlement. She climbed out of her sleeping bag and strode from the cave into the cool, morning light, the captain following not far behind.

Their eyes soon fell on a squareish patch of white-gold synthoskin, which had unrolled from an open pack to the sandy ground. Riker stood staring at it, anxiously rubbing his hand against his blue pajama top. Lying in the sand, like that, the normally convincingly flesh-like material looked alarmingly dry and artificial, almost…plastic…

"Will, what the devil is going on out here?" Picard demanded.

"Captain, Deanna!" Riker glanced up at them, still flustered from his shock. "I was just going through the saddlebags, looking for my razor and toothbrush, but when I put my hand in…in—"

"Will, it's all right," Deanna said, the look on his face as he frowned at the bag forcing her to swallow a rather inappropriate spate of giggles.

"I just want to know… Is that what I think it is?" he asked warily.

"Rolled up sections of bioplast sheeting?" she asked innocently. "Looks like it."

"And it's packed in this saddlebag because…?"

"Because I've chosen to remove it for the day," Data said, joining them from the direction of the stable. There was a notable lightness to his step, and he seemed quite chipper. "Good morning, Captain. Will. Deanna."

"Good morning, Data," Troi said with a warm smile. "You're looking well. Did you find the time for another dream?"

"I did, thank you," Data told her, and smiled back, the colored lights that had limned his silvery skull the night before nearly unnoticeable in the daylight. He had changed from his pajamas to a lightweight desert hiking outfit in shades of olive, blue, and brown, secured at the neck, wrists, and over the tops of his boots to prevent any sand from getting in.

Picard frowned in some concern at the startling sight of his second officer, but Riker stared openly, half-wondering if he'd been transported to another reality during the night.

"Data…? Why…what—?"

"I've chosen to remove my…mask…as it were. To reveal my true face," the android said. "Today, I intend to be entirely myself."

Data spoke calmly, even confidently, and Picard's worried frown lightened somewhat. He seemed more curious now, even intrigued. But, Deanna sensed Data's inner turmoil. Beneath that strong, composite skull, the android was a conflicted mass of nerves, uncertainties, and doubts, not only about whether he could pull this off, but whether he should – and his anxious embarrassment was only heightened by Riker's ongoing stare.

"Well, I think that's admirable, Data," Deanna said, her eyes on Riker, "and I highly endorse your efforts."

If Data could have blushed right then, his entire face would have been burning.

"Yeah…" Riker tried, confused by Deanna's response and looking torn between following her lead and giving in to his initial inclination to chew them both out for this utterly unorthodox and bewildering behavior. Android or not, responsible, stable Starfleet command officers did not just up and remove their skin. And when had Data started addressing him and Deanna by their first names, and using verbal contractions…?

For all Riker knew, the captain was feeling just as upset by all this as he was, but the commander noted Picard had chosen to keep his silence, perhaps understanding that in an emotionally delicate situation, like this, an ill-timed criticism, no matter how well-meaning, could do more harm than good. With some effort, Riker took the hint and managed to reign in his reaction.

"I was just…looking for my razor…" he said.

"Allow me, Will," Data said helpfully, and efficiently set about repacking the sheeting that had fallen from his saddlebag and locating the small, black bag containing the commander's razor and other toiletries in another. "Here you are."

Riker took the bag, still too disconcerted to quite trust himself to speak.

"I think I need to sit down," he said.

"No, you just need some coffee, and a hot breakfast," Deanna said, clasping his arm and walking with him toward the cave. "Captain? Data? Will you be joining us?"

"In a moment, Counselor," Picard said, and motioned for Data to stay behind.

"Captain?" Data inquired.

Picard regarded the android for a long moment, his eyes compassionate but still concerned.

"I think I understand what this is about, Data," he said. "And I agree with Counselor Troi – it is admirable, even courageous, to step out in front and acknowledge yourself, your identity…your feelings, for what they are. But, you must know your…your skin is an essential part of you. Your face is your own."

Data lowered his eyes slightly.

"You are alluding to my outer resemblance to my brother, Lore...and to my father," he said. "You believe I have done this as a means of differentiating myself, and my feelings, from them."

"Haven't you, Data?"

"Perhaps…" Data knit his brow…an interesting achievement for a man with no skin, but the silvery covering that protected the delicate inner components of his face and skull was remarkably flexible and expressive. Picard reflected it was probably this smooth, muscle-like layer that had always controlled Data's facial expressions. It was an undeniably fascinating experience to see those synthetic muscles at work now as Data struggled to put his turbulent feelings into words.

"Yes. I think, on some level, you are right," Data said at last, his golden eyes deep and distant as he turned his thoughts inward. "But, I believe…there is more to it than that. I am an android. Right now, I look like what I am: a mechanical construct, designed and engineered by a human scientist to appear humanoid without being human. Yet, I have always wished to be more than just a machine. It has been my life's ambition to improve myself, to grow beyond the limitations of pre-written programming and algorithmic responses and reach a place of…of independence. These past few years have demonstrated that my emotion chip, and the responses it provokes, is just another program and, far from bringing me closer to my goal, installing it has only served to confuse matters. To confuse me. Last night, I began to realize… If I am ever to find my independence…to reach that place where my consciousness is not ruled by programmed impulses but is, instead, informed by them…where I no longer seek validation through imitated responses, but rely on my own innovation, judgment and intuition, as humans do… I must learn to better understand myself before I can make any truly meaningful advancement. And the first step must be to acknowledge…truly acknowledge…my android nature."

His eyes focused and he looked at Picard, his expression vulnerable and anxious as he awaited his captain's response.

But, the captain was looking back at him with a slight, fond little smile. All this may have been a revelation for Data, but much of it was advice Picard and his other friends had been trying to tell him for years. If Data had reached that understanding now, on his own...finally made the cognitive leap from theory to application...

"And there it is…" he said softly.

"Sir?" Data inquired.

"Emotional maturity... Somewhere, in these last few seconds..."

Data canted his head in confusion.

"Captain…I don't—"

"Are you sure you'll be all right to travel like that, Mr. Data?" Picard asked. "The wind and the sand won't trouble you?"

"I will be fine, sir," the android assured him, still looking puzzled. "Even if we encounter a sandstorm, I'm equipped with diagnostic shields that would effectively protect my more delicate components."

"Very good then," the captain said, and rubbed his hands in front of him. "Now, Will and Deanna were saying something about breakfast… I suggest we eat up and get moving before the sun climbs too high. Oh yes, and we were going to take a look at that painting of yours. Don't let me forget."

Data frowned slightly but, if he was planning to say something, he let it go. Instead, he fell into step beside the captain, the two of them entering the cave to the smell of rehydrated coffee and slowly heating ration packs.

"Captain," Riker greeted, handing him a cup of steaming coffee. "Data, will you be eating with us this morning?"

"Yes, I believe I will," Data said, noting that Riker and Troi had taken advantage of their absence to change into riding clothes and finish packing up their sleeping gear. As he spoke, the captain set down his coffee and headed off to do the same.

"Although my power cells are self-charging, without my outer sheath and its accompanying fluids to help regulate the flow of energy and chemical nutrients to my systems, primary power resources must be rerouted to compensate. If I wish to continue running at peak efficiency, I will be obliged to ingest nutrients periodically throughout the day to make up the difference."

"Are you saying you'll need to eat?" Riker attempted to translate. "Regular meals, like we do?"

Data opened his mouth, ready to refute the comparison. But then, he paused.

True, there were notable differences between the way his body processed raw materials and the way a human body digested food. But, Riker wasn't asking about those differences. Quite the opposite: if he was interpreting the commander's words, non-verbal indications, and apparent intent correctly, his question seemed to invite a parallel association between android and human requirements and functions.

Didn't it?

Today was a day for trusting himself, no matter how uncertain he might feel, not backing safely behind walls of facts and figures. In that spirit, Data canted his head slightly, and took a chance.

"Yes," he asserted. "Yes, I will need to eat. And drink. Just like you do."

The android's eyes flicked tentatively from Riker to Troi, half-expecting the two biological humanoids to immediately call him on his technically inaccurate and rather grandiose claim. What he got was:

"Hmm. Well, that's great, Data. Maybe there's something to this experiment of yours after all."

Data blinked at Riker, and his whole demeanor brightened.

"Thank you, Will," he said through a happy smile. "What are the available breakfast options?"

"Well," Riker said, sorting through the warming packets he and Deanna had set out, "we've got scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs and…oh yes, scrambled eggs."

Data recognized this routine. He even knew the appropriate response.

"Hmm," he said, cupping his chin in mock thoughtfulness. "I believe I shall try…the scrambled eggs."

"Fine choice," Riker said, and tossed him a packet. "Coffee?"

"Please. With milk and sugar…if we have it."

"Can do," Riker told him, and shot him a rather appraising look. "You know, I think I'm starting to get used to you looking like this. You say it's just for today?"

"Well, at least until we approach the first site this afternoon," Data said.

Riker nodded thoughtfully, and handed the android his coffee. Data sipped it and winced a bit. The milk and sugar made the bitter drink palatable, but only just. Like the captain, Data found he much preferred tea to coffee.

"All right, Data," the commander said, grabbing a ration pack for himself and settling onto his comfortable rock. "I guess you know what you're doing."

"No," Data said with a very slight laugh. "I don't. But…somehow…I think that's the point."

To Be Continued...

References include - TNG: Thine Own Self; The Most Toys; The Naked Now; Deja Q; Code of Honor; Tin Man; The Defector; the novel 'Metamorphosis;' and the movies 'Generations' and 'Finding Neverland.'

Next time: The intrepid expedition will head out for the first archaeological site, the Stairway of Sawrina the Great, and run straight into N-

I'll tell you later. ;) Stay tuned!

Your reviews are always welcome! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! :)