Six weeks later


"Goddammit!" Leo slammed her chair back and stomped over to the comport.

"O'Reilly to Grayson! Mr. Grayson, I have another issue here!"

After a few initial meetings with Bruce Maddox, it had been determined that the first order of duty for Leo would be the establishment and population of a master database that would be used to contain and track personnel, technical, and developmental records of the first group of prototype androids whose specs currently were being refined by Geordi, Data, and Juliana Tainer. As Leo was no kind of programmer – she had announced that fact in so many words – she was outlining the logistical and record keeping requirements of the database design, which were then passed on to the project's IT/programming department. When coding was complete Leo ran tests on the applications end to determine if further refinements would be necessary. It had not been going well. The most basic interfaces between data were not happening correctly, and cross-referencing between the three predetermined areas of concern weren't happening at all.

"What issues are those?" Lemar Grayson was far from happy with his current assignment. Though he was a gifted programmer, intuitive even, this wholly new concept of the program was giving him fits. It should be basic, and simple… and was not. The Lieutenant approached the database construction from an applications and end user perspective, and Grayson from the software engineering perspective, and the chasm between was beginning to appear insurmountable. It didn't help that she was treating android documentation as organic personnel development.

"My entered data aren't talking to each other! For christsake, I'd be better off with a stinking spreadsheet." She paused and took a breath. "Look, I'm not blaming you personally," (not much, Grayson muttered inside his head), "It's just incredibly frustrating that the simplest things just aren't getting accomplished."

"Perhaps if you were able to communicate in the proper syntax," Grayson suggested icily.

"How about if you were able to remember that this is going to have to be useful to a larger group who will not be Grade 1 positronic programmers!" Leo responded in a sweetly poisonous voice. "Really, if your department can't get a simple three-level database to work, it scares me to think of what kind of people you'll be creating!"

"Machines," Grayson corrected.

Oh, nice work, Leo thought, push that button why don't you.

"People, Mr. Grayson. I'll thank you to remember that. If it's too much of a problem for you, a transfer can be arranged. O'Reilly out."

Leo glared at the now-dark viewscreen and erupted in a baby-elephant squeal of frustration, pounding both fists on the desk. What she wouldn't give for a complicated diplomatic conference… juggling Cardassians and Klingons would be paradise compared to dealing with these fucking chipheads!

"You are having a challenging morning." Data's quiet voice made her jump a mile. It was typical of him to come to her combination of office and data lab when he wished to speak to her. Their days were filled with so much technology that even he craved face-to-face contact rather than communicating with her via comlink.

"'Challenge'?" she echoed, turning to face him. "You mean like to a duel?" She jerked a thumb at the comlink. "I'd love to. Phasers at dawn, I'll take on those idiot programmers one at a time, with pleasure!"

Data attempted to placate her. "You must learn to accept these difficulties without becoming so upset. There will be many," as Leo's eyes widened in horror Data rested a hand on her shoulder, "for all of us. It is important to remain calm and focused on the goal we have before us."

Leo pulled a face. Right, he was always right. "You're saying I need to dial back the Bitch-o-Meter."

He raised his eyebrows and offered a coaxing expression, "Perhaps a degree or two."

"But that lousy racist Grayson called you a machine!"

This was perplexing. "I was not aware that Dr. Grayson harbored any hostility toward me." He paused, then understood. "Ah. You mean he referred to androids as 'machines'." Nothing could fling Leo headlong into a rage quite as quickly as anyone who she felt was belittling their project or androids in general. She took it all very personally. "He is a programmer," Data reminded her gently. "He will learn, in time, to see our project as we do."

"Not soon enough for me, lemme tell you." She huffed a breath, then forced a smile and gave Data a big kiss to make up for the scene she'd just made. "Don't tell anybody, but I have inappropriate designs on your person, Commander," she smiled. "Even though fraternization is frowned upon."

He bent his head to hers as if sharing in the conspiracy. "I will tell no-one," he promised in a whisper.

Her mood recovered, Leo asked, "So what brings you to my corner of the future of cybernetics?"

"Commander Maddox has informed met that Captain Picard requests a subspace conference with us at 1100 hours." He frowned slightly. "I do not believe it is simply a 'social call'."

Leo had to agree. "We've only been here a little while, he can't be fed up with the new crew members already." Commander Anthony Tassaverde, who had replaced Data as Science Officer, and Lieutenant B'rok who had taken her position as AE. As it was 1045 hours, they hurried to Maddox's office.

Leo didn't expect to feel such a rush of pleasure as Captain Picard's face appeared on the viewscreen.

"Commander, Lieutenant, thank you for making time for this."

His smile was a little strained, Leo noticed. "What's going on?" she asked by reflex. It was what she'd always asked when he wore that look. The smile became more familiar.

"Trust you to cut to the chase, Lieutenant. I've received orders from Admiral Janeway, the Enterprise is to travel to Romulus to address a rather abrupt change in government. It seems a Reman Praetor is now in command of the Romulan system."

Data and Leo exchanged a look.

"A Reman?" Leo echoed in disbelief. "How in the world did a Reman get within shouting distance of the Imperial Command?" Remans were considered by the Romulans to be the lowest of the low, used as cannon fodder in war and as virtual slave labor in the dilithium mines, and captive to their own limitation to darkness.

"A very good question, Lieutenant, and the fact you have asked it brings me to the reason for this conference. The new Praetor of the Romulan empire has requested an envoy from the Federation to begin negotiations for an alliance, and perhaps eventual membership. He has specifically requested that the Enterprise, and I as her commander, serve as that envoy."

"It is an unusually specific request," Data observed, "given that the new Praetor would have had little contact with the Federation. It would seem to be important to determine the chain of events leading to the regime change."

"You got that right," Leo agreed. Wheels spun in her mind... this all sounded extremely bizarre. "Even if the Remans managed a coup against the Romulan Command, they're not what I'd think of as advocates for peace and unity. And since they did manage a coup against a previously unconquerable military regime we'd better find out how, because whatever extraordinary gifts they possess can someday come back and bite us on the ass."

Picard responded with a satisfied smile. "Exactly. Which is why I require someone with superior knowledge and understanding of the history and culture of both the Romulans and Remans, and their scientific and tactical possibilities, to accompany us on this mission. For all of Commander Tassaverde's skills and Lieutenant B'rok's willingness… I require the assistance of a seasoned command staff who have an established team history. Commander LaForge already has been restored to his full duties as chief of Engineering. I realize it means an interruption of your project, but Starfleet has authorized your reassignment to the Enterprise and to your former posts for the duration of the mission. I wanted to inform you myself, rather than simply sending orders. I hope this is agreeable to you both, as in any case the transfers have been approved and you are scheduled to depart at 1500 hours."

"Today?" Leo asked.

"Yes, Lieutenant, I'm afraid there will be no time for more elaborate arrangements."

"Captain," Data assured him, "it will be a pleasure to be of assistance." He cast a look at Leo, whose response was a given.

"A diplomatic mission to an entirely new government? And under such bizarre circumstances?" She practically shouted at the viewscreen, "Deal me in!"

"Your enthusiasm is noted," Picard commented with a barely-contained smile. "I will expect your arrival at the rendezvous point by 2000 hours. All details have been transmitted to Commander Maddox, who will assist in the logistics. Picard out."

As they headed to their quarters to pack Leo couldn't control her excitement. "Can you believe it, D? We're having it both ways… working on a new project here, and getting to go back and work on a new mission with the Enterprise!"

She flung her arms around Data's neck as he observed, "I believe you are more excited by the prospect of leaving Dr. Grayson behind for an indefinite time."

"Blah, blah, blah, Mr. Know-it-all! I don't care what you say… there is no way this won't be absolutely the most life-altering mission imaginable!"


A/N: Those of you who have been with Data and Leo from the beginning will recognize that this brings us back to where we started; just prior to the events of Moonlight Becomes You. In "my" universe the wedding of Troi and Riker doesn't happen at this point, and the discovery of "B-4" does not occur at all (I always felt B-4 was a lame device designed to leave a door open through which Brent Spiner might be dragged if another film was made). One-shots follow, filling in the gaps between Nemesis and Moonlight Becomes You.