Pran and Juliana greeted the captain, Geordi, Data and Leo with handshakes, hugs, and kisses respectively. Commander Maddox shook Data's and Geordi's hands enthusiastically and accepted Leo's kiss on the cheek with great warmth. Picard excused himself, heading off to join several fellow ship's captains to "catch up".

"Please, sit down," Maddox invited. Dinner had concluded, and dancing had yet to begin.

Leo had been reveling in her unofficial role. Holding Data's hand and smiling uncontrollably, she felt less in her husband's shadow than illuminated by his brilliance and was enjoying having no greater responsibilities for the first time in recent memory.

"Because of the success of our collaboration something very exciting has been proposed by Starfleet," Maddox began almost immediately. His enthusiasm was countered by Juliana Tainer's frown of disapproval.

"Our proposal has been accepted by Starfleet," she corrected.

Geordi and Data's pleasure was so obvious that Leo finally had to ask. "Okay, I've been 'patient, supportive, and loving' but can I finally know what's been going on here?"

All assembled deferred to Data.

"Leo, you remember what I told you about Lal, about the cascade failures that were triggered when her neural net was overwhelmed? She absorbed new input with far more speed than she could assimilate it, and her systems collapsed."

Leo gulped; she still had a hard time hearing Data relate his loss with such an air of logical acceptance. "Yes, I remember."

"Well you also remember the buffer we came up with to augment Data's e-chip for your wedding," Geordi added. "I can admit now that I wasn't entirely sure it would work," he added hastily, "though I knew Data's systems would only go into stasis, not melt down completely!"

"Not to shock you, but I knew that too," Leo confessed. "Both parts. So you've expanded on that, right?" She beamed at Geordi and Data. "You've come up with a way to allow the positronic matrix to develop exponentially and synapses to adapt to new input without shutting down!" The Tainers and Maddox all smiled in agreement. "So did you adjust the heuristics component?" Impressed looks all around, which made Leo squirm a little. "Okay, so I've been doing a little studying about cybernetics. And I read the cyberforensics report written after Lal's cascade failure. At first I couldn't understand how she could parse all that new data if she couldn't assimilate it into her net, but I figured out that Data had advanced her heuristic capabilities to accept loads of new input. The positronic processors just weren't up to the load, I guess." She paused. "Does that make sense?"

"That makes perfect sense," Data assured her. "I had no idea that you were applying yourself to cybernetic studies."

Leo shrugged. "Just the basics, really. Some computer concepts don't change all that much, do they? Anyway, this whole thing came from what Geordi and Data devised to keep Data from melting down during our wedding?"

"Exactly," Juliana said. "What Geordi and Data devised to help Data more fully appreciate your wedding has become a gift for the advancement of positronics entire."

"So, what's next?" Leo wanted to know. She figured she was here as a proud spouse, nothing more.

"We've got a preliminary proposal for Starfleet… for the Federation," Maddox announced. "We believe that where once androids were conceived as mere functionaries, they may now be developed as fully participating members of Starfleet, with unique aspects that will distinguish them as uniquely qualified to expand our knowledge and colonization of new worlds."

It was apparent that even Geordi and Data hadn't been informed of this newest possibility.

"Okay, I give up. What are you talking about?" Geordi asked.

Pran leaned forward across the table. "We propose developing a true culture of androids. Interdependent, socially interconnected and developmental, and dedicated according to their abilities just as organic members of Starfleet have been."

"Whoa," Leo interjected. "Androids are already integrated into organic society, after a fashion," she winked affectionately at Data. "But you're proposing the establishment of their own society? An entirely new culture, apart from organics? Hey, they could specialize in colonization and adaptation of areas that humanoids couldn't survive, they could become terraformers extraordinaire!" She was unable to contain herself, and burst out in entirely unscientific fashion, "Cool!"

Juliana smiled as if she'd known all along what Leo's response would be. "Indeed. And as part of the proposal, we've included Geordi, Data, and yourself as essential team members."

Leo, Geordi, and Data exchanged surprised looks.

"Is Captain Picard aware of your proposal?" Data inquired.

"We would never have presumed to propose your inclusion without informing him," Pran said firmly.

"No wonder he took off like a shot," Leo observed. "He's gotta be wondering how all this will affect ship's operations… hey wait a minute. What could I possibly have to do with this high-concept cyber stuff? I've barely learned how things break, let alone how they're put together!"

"This project will require a great deal of administrative organization, documentation, scheduling, and reporting, Lieutenant," Maddox explained. "Not to mention ongoing communications with Federation and Starfleet divisions that will be monitoring the project; that alone will demand a liaison with above average diplomatic skills."

Leo looked around the room at the "empty suits" and laughed out loud. "I think my worthy husband and his worthy associate could fill you in on important details regarding the limits of my 'diplomatic skills'." She looked at Geordi and Data, and noted that both of them had that "processing" look… their minds were already traveling at warp speed. Well why not? Cybernetic development was Geordi's specialty, and Data's… well it was Data's life, wasn't it? And the notion of a community… finally a society where Data wouldn't have to "fit in"… the potential was mind-bending, and not just for reasons of technology.

Geordi was eyeing Data. "Well what do you think… no matter where it ends up, the initial stages would yield all sorts of useful knowledge, and who knows what kind of ancillary technological advancement."

"That is correct," He was caught up in the possibilities as well. "Leo has raised an important point," he reminded Pran, Juliana, and Maddox. "How would this impact our current duties aboard the Enterprise?"

"Captain Picard is looking into redistributing some of Commander LaForge's more basic duties to other senior engineering personne," Pran explained. "His contribution would be largely in terms of research and computer simulation, requiring scheduled visits to the Daystrom Institute for conferences and field testing. Of course your involvement, and that of Lieutenant O'Reilly, will be more intensive."

"I dunno," Leo looked doubtful. "As great as this sounds, I have my hands really full already. Keeping on top of the Federation Snakepit…" she winked at Geordi and Data, "I mean flagship, not to mention keeping up with Captain Galactic Overachiever Picard isn't exactly a part-time job!"

"No need to worry there, Lieutenant," Maddox informed her, "if you accept the position, the Captain is aware we'd be arranging for your reassignment to the Daystrom Institute under the title of Chief Administrative Officer, though you'd retain your current rank and commission. Of course you'd receive all necessary briefing to bring you up to speed. Commander Data's duties will become more solidified as the project progresses, but for the moment we're encouraging him to evaluate where he might make the best contribution, considering his 'unique' skills and knowledge."

While Data absorbed the ongoing details proposed by Commander Maddox he turned a subtle eye on Leo. Though he'd disengaged the e-chip after his acceptance speech it was obvious to him, knowing his wife as he did, that the word "reassignment" was echoing loud enough to drown out the remainder of the conversation.

"Well that's a lot to get our heads around, right guys?" Leo asked Data and Geordi a little too brightly.

"Naturally we won't press you for any quick decisions," Juliana declared. "Of course we'll wait for you to discuss this amongst yourselves and with Captain Picard. We realize this is no small career change we're proposing."

"Well, sure, thanks," Geordi was a little stunned by the whole idea. He looked at Data and Leo. "We'll keep you informed, right?"

"Yes," Data concurred.

"Well then, that's enough business for now. Let's go enjoy the occasion, shall we?" Pran stood and offered his arm to Juliana as Maddox took his leave to rejoin some Daystrom colleagues.

"I'm gonna hit the bar," Geordi told Leo and Data. "Rumor has it they have a stash of the real stuff." He shook his head as if organizing his thoughts. "I don't know about you two, but I need a drink."

"We will find you later," Data told him as he left. He turned his attention to Leo.

"You are uneasy about this proposal." Before she could shrug it off Data took Leo firmly by the shoulders and looked down closely at her. The wheels were turning inside, he could tell, as plainly as his own "processing" expression appeared to others. "We will talk about this. On this matter especially, you must not keep your thoughts to yourself."

"Not now. We will, I swear I will, but not now."

"Cara mia…" he began, but was silenced by her pleading look.

"D, please. Not now."

"Very well." He studied her face, stood back and studied her entirely, and re-engaged the e-chip.

"You look lovely tonight. I am sorry I have not said so already." She'd selected a gown of deep green satin brocade, the stitching a bronze color that complemented his formal uniform perfectly, the neckline an asymmetrical scoop that exposed most of one shoulder. She'd left her hair undone, a preference they shared when off duty (Leo for relaxation, and Data for tactile enjoyment). He could see she was overwhelmed by the opportunity that had been offered them, and the changes it would require. More profound changes for her, he knew, because the Enterprise was the only home she'd known in this world, and the notion of leaving it had never occurred to her. With one hand Data smoothed back Leo's hair where it had fallen against her cheek.

"Tell me," he coaxed, "what can I do that will make you smile as you did just a short while ago?" When he stood at the podium, and she appeared lit from within. The shadow he saw on her now pained him because he knew that what had put it there could not be avoided for long, no matter what they decided.

"Dance with me, okay?"

He took her hand and they walked to the ballroom floor. "Is that all you require?"

"Yeah. Just 'you, and the night, and the music'… right now it's all I want."

Data took her in his arms and moved them to the slow, contemporary music that surrounded them.

"Then you shall have it." He could feel her clinging a little closer than usual. "I would love no other," he whispered into her hair.

"I know, me too," she answered.

Afraid to say more, Leo shut her eyes and forced herself to empty her head of everything except Data, and the night, and the music… just a few hours, she begged in her mind, just a few hours, with no decisions, no challenges, no leaps of faith… just a few hours where things could be simple.

Was that so much to ask of this goddamned, relentless century?