Chapter Three: Strange Encounter

The Enterprise crew worked feverishly to determine if I was truthful about my account of the events that took place on the day Cmdr. Data discovered me. The vessel I was discovered on was a Federation vessel called the USS Nimbus. There was a system wide failure of the ship's systems which caused an anomaly in the environmental controls. According to autopsy results of several of the Nimbus' crewmembers, the oxygen levels had been depleted throughout the ship. For a while, I was suspected of causing the disaster since there were no records of me ever having been aboard the Nimbus. During that time, I was under constant guard by the Enterprise's security team until my name was finally cleared. However, the Enterprise crew was faced with the task of figuring out how I ended up in their century. Despite their best efforts, they couldn't determine the cause of my sudden emergence into their world.

Each morning, I'd wake up expecting to be on Earth, living my previous life, only to have my hopes crushed by reality. Over time it became tolerable, but not easier. I had been attending regular counseling sessions with Counselor Troi and it was really helping me to process my feelings. Her Betazed roots helped her to really understand exactly how I was feeling and I even enjoyed talking with her. One day, after my session with the counselor, I returned to my quarters and reflected on my life. Sadness still swelled in my heart as I recalled my life prior to arriving in space. I had everything mapped out. I had a successful career, loving parents, good friends and a budding relationship. I sighed and chided myself for tormenting myself with the memories of things I could no longer possess.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed a flash of light. When I turned, I saw a handsome, smiling man who was casually slouched in the chair. He had the kind of demeanor of a person who thought they owned the place. He was dressed in white robes that made his dark eyes and hair stand out. Startled, I leapt from my seat before closing my eyes for a brief moment. However, when I reopened them, he was still there.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Relax my child! I just came to see how you like your new home."

"What?" I was clearly confused, "Are you the reason why I'm here?"

"Not exactly, but I guess you can say I'm part of the cause."

"You put me here? Are you my guardian angel?"

The man chuckled condescendingly. "No, my child, not even close! You may call me Q."

"Q? That's it? Couldn't your parents spare the vowels and consonants?"

"I see you've got a little fire to you! I like that!" Q said after laughing anew.

"Wait a minute… if you put me here, you have the power to send me home!" I said excitedly.

However, my joy was short-lived.

"Sorry, no can do. Actually, that's not true. I can do it, but it would interfere with my plans."

"Your plans? This is my life you're talking about here!" I exclaimed angrily, expecting Q to reciprocate the emotion. However, I was surprised at the laxness of his response.

"My child, your life ended on Earth long ago, but look on the bright side; you have a brand new life ahead of you!"

"I don't care! I want my old life back! I don't belong here!" I sobbed desperately, "Please! Send me back!"

"Now, now, there's no need for tears. You'll get used to your new existence in time." Q said with a smile before he disappeared.

I frantically looked around the room to see if he had relocated, but he was gone. I almost contacted security before I realized that had there been an intruder on the ship, the sensors would have detected it. 'Oh, great! I'm losing my mind on top of everything else!' I thought to myself. I considered telling Counselor Troi about my 'hallucination' but thought better of it. I wasn't sure how they treated such things in the twenty-fourth century and I didn't want to learn about them first hand. So I kept it to myself as I secretly doubted my sanity. It was a very lonely feeling.

Guinan was another person who seemed to really understand me. She was a kind woman who ran Ten Forward. I would go there occasionally and gaze at the stars while sipping a drink or enjoying a snack. I tried several chocolate desserts recommended by Counselor Troi and they were absolutely spectacular! The hospitality of the crew was overwhelming and I wanted to repay them for their generosity. With the captain's permission, I was allowed to help several members by assisting them in non-critical tasks. One day, Cmdr. Data asked me to meet him in Engineering to assist him and Cmdr. Geordi LaForge with a small project. I was to meet with them after helping Beverly in sickbay. However, there was a slight change in plans and I was able to leave earlier than scheduled. I decided to go straight to Engineering since it was only a fifteen minute difference.

When I arrived, I saw Cmdr. Data sitting in a chair alone. As I walked up from behind him, I announced myself.

"Hello Commander. Dr. Crusher got done with me a little early, so…" I replied, but my words were interrupted by the sensation of my heart obstructing my throat when the commander turned around.

There was an open panel on the side of his head, revealing a city of busy circuits and lights. I felt my face contort with intense shock and horror. Seeing my reaction, he quickly closed the panel, but I was already freaking out inside. I had never seen such a sight in my life. I made my best attempt to fix my face so as not to offend him.

"I apologize if my appearance has troubled you." he said.

"N-no. It's m-m-my fault. I should've let you know I was coming. Uh, I'm… I'm a bit early, so I'll come back, okay?"

"There is no need for you to leave. Commander LaForge will be joining us shortly."

"Please. All I need is a few minutes, that's all. I'll be back."

He nodded and I quickly dashed out of Engineering. As soon as I made my exit, tears started to trickle down my face. A few lieutenant and ensigns asked if I was alright, but I bypassed them and quickly returned to my quarters. I was shaking profusely and replicated some water in an attempt to calm myself, but to no avail. I threw myself on the bed and looked up at the ceiling while thinking how drastically my life had changed over the past few weeks. I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to work up the courage to return to Engineering.

'He's just different that's all.' I thought to myself, 'You're in a different time now Kadalynn. This sort of thing is probably normal. Just pull yourself together, Kadalynn.'

'Alright, Kadalynn?'

"Are you alright, Kadalynn?" Cmdr. Data asked while nudging me gently, jolting me out of my thoughts… and my sleep.

"Commander!" I exclaimed as I leapt out of bed, "I'm so sorry! Am I late? I was just about to come back down. Did you guys start without me?"

"Kadalynn, we have completed our assignment."

"What? Already?"

"When you did not return, I became worried. So I came to your quarters to check on you and found you were sleeping. I decided not to wake you and returned to finish the project alone with Geordi. That was five hours ago."

"Five hours?! My goodness! I'm so sorry Commander. I won't let this happen again."

"Please, call me Data. It is alright. Your assistance is not a requirement, but a voluntary act on your part which is widely appreciated. There is something I would like to show you. Would you accompany me to the holodeck?"

I was aware it was the second time he'd asked me to address him as 'Data', but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was growing increasingly uncomfortable around him. Suddenly the image of him with the open panel crept back into my mind and I was terrified.

"I'm sorry. Can you show me whatever it is another time? I'm still pretty tired." I lied.

For a brief moment, I could've sworn I saw a look of disappointment cross his face, but thought better of it. As far as I knew, androids had no emotions.

As time went by, I did my best to avoid him. I successfully did so for two weeks until one day I received an order to go to the holodeck to assist in repairs. On my way there, it dawned on me that I wasn't authorized to do such work. When I entered, there Cmdr. Data was standing in front of a lake, skipping stones. It was nighttime and the stars were out. The lake was so smooth; it was like a mirror for the starry sky.

"You ordered me here, sir?" I asked, my voice cracked with a bit of nervousness.

"Yes, Kadalynn. Please, join me." he replied.

Something was different about him, but I couldn't put my finger on it. It probably was my imagination since I hadn't seen him in a while. I walked through the plush blades of grass with amazement and nearly stumbled on a hidden stone. The commander cautioned me to watch my step. Once I made it over to him, he motioned for me to sit on a large boulder before handing me some stones. He then threw another stone across the water and it skipped a remarkable twelve times! When I threw mine, it skipped a pathetic two times.

"I wish to talk to you about recent events." Cmdr. Data said. There was something strange about his face, but I still couldn't tell what it was.

"So much has happened. What exactly are you referring to?"

"Your avoidance of me." he answered.

I sighed with great abashment and anxiety. Then I realized the tone of his voice was different too.

"I'm sorry about that. But…"

"Please. I was not finished." he replied and my cheeks grew even hotter with embarrassment, "Kadalynn, I do not want you to be afraid of me. I am aware the fact that I am different, but I do not want your fear of that fact to stand in the way of our friendship. I am aware that you have developed friendships with other members of the ship's crew. I would like to be counted among them. I am afraid the only way you can truly do that is if you truly understand me."

He began to explain the basics of his construction. The more he spoke about it, the more at ease I became. My vision of him as a foreign, frightening machine quickly began to fade away as I started to see him for who he was… an individual. I was amazed that he trusted me enough to explain these things. Even more amazing was the fact that he had emotions! That's what was different about him that night! I hadn't noticed his emotions prior to that night since I was so focused on either avoiding him or thinking about how different he was.

"How is that possible?" I asked with astonishment.

"My father created a chip for me; one that would allow me to experience emotions."

"I can't believe I didn't realize your emotions before! I'm so ignorant!"

"You are not ignorant. The reason you are only just learning about my emotions is because I never activated my emotion chip in your presence."

"Why?"

"I thought it would make you… uncomfortable."

"And why did you think that?"

"When I discovered you, you were in an extremely vulnerable state. I sensed that you were uncomfortable with me seeing you that way. I thought that if you believed I had no emotions, it would make it easier to come to terms with the fact that I had seen you in such a state." he explained, choosing his words very carefully.

I was shocked. He had deprived himself for the sake of making me feel more comfortable. He had done all this before even getting to know who I was. He had done so much for me and I had repaid him by avoiding him. Feeling awkward and ashamed, I tried desperately to change the subject by asking a question, one that I now feel was blatantly stupid.

"How do you know if your emotions are like everyone else's?" I asked.

"They are not. Nor are your emotions the same as those of everyone else. Emotions are reflective of perceptions and experiences, since each person perceives and experiences life differently, it is only natural that their emotions are experienced differently as well." he explained.

Well, he certainly put me in my place didn't he? Cmdr. Data took his time and continued to tell me about himself. He occasionally paused to give me a chance to digest the information and ask questions. I had a ton of questions, but I kept most of them to myself since some were way too personal and embarrassing to ask, and others would likely warrant an explanation that would probably last for hours.

The weeks rolled along and before I knew it, the Enterprise was set to rendezvous with the Earth-bound ship within days. I was given the offer to remain aboard the Enterprise or begin my journey back to Earth. During the time that had passed, I had grown attached to my new life. I once again had a place I could call home — although it wasn't the same as the home I once knew.