A/N: Thank you for your patience as I work to get caught up on this story. It's taken a backseat to my Lore/Sela work, and I apologise for that.

Working to plow forward and get us on track with "The Complication."

Chapter specific C/W: Some fairly intense sexual content. Following the incident with the Edo orb, Data is overly-enthusiastic about assuring Tasha about his feelings. Tasha misinterprets this. Keen to help Data, she's willing to push herself. They're both loveable and sometimes dumb. Hurt/comfort.

This is set during "Justice" (Chapter 16 of "The Complication).

Thanks for reading, reviewing, and sticking with this story!

The last few chapters have been more emotional. In part, that is to show the shift in Data and Tasha's relationship – they have reached a whole new level together. But don't fret – there's plenty of fluff and feel-good smut to come once we complete this section.

Data's got a very…extensive…programming repertoire and he fully intends to get functional.


When they beamed back aboard the Enterprise the next morning, Data was ready to get work on finding the link between the storm and the meteor shower.

Stepping onto the Bridge, Captain Picard was looking pleasantly relaxed after having seventy-two hours rest.

No one was quite sure what the Captain had gotten up to during his time away – he'd been notoriously secretive about his plans.

And everyone had far too much respect to publicly speculate.

"Was it as good as reported?" Riker asked eagerly.

He was on the beta shift and was looking forward to enjoying his time on shore leave.

"Oh, I think you'll like it, Number One," Picard said as he took his seat in the command chair.

"They're wild in some ways, actually puritanical in others. Neat as pins, ultra-lawful, and they make love at the drop of a hat," Geordi reported.

"Any hat," Tasha added as she made eye contact with Data briefly before he turned in his Operations seat to face the viewscreen.

Deanna noticed the look – and feelings – that passed between the two and her curiosity was now in overdrive.

"Any negatives?" Riker questioned.

"There was a large storm the first night," Worf explained. "Otherwise, the weather was most pleasant."

"No problems?" Riker asked in disbelief.

"None, sir," Tasha responded.

"But there is a problem here, Captain," Data said as he scanned the readings on his console.

"It's a faulty reading that I reported on our first day, sir," Lieutenant Wu advised.

She had been the Lieutenant sitting in at the Operations post during alpha shift the last three days.

"I'm reading something off the starboard bow, but there is nothing there," Data explained.

"Sensor technicians are working on it, sir. They've identified a glitch in the system," Tasha said as she scanned the report at the Tactical station.

"Captain, with your permission, I'd like to begin beaming our people down for the second shore leave rotation," Riker requested.

"Of course," Picard nodded.


Tasha and Worf joined Commander Riker, Counsellor Troi, and the Crushers on the transport pad. Although Worf and Tasha were beaming back down to the planet, this time it was in their capacity as Security Officers, just as Lieutenants Moran and Ross had done during the first rotation.

Several of the Edo came running over upon their arrival to greet them.

"You have returned with your second grouping!" Liator said as he greeted the team.

"Health and happiness," Rivan said as she greeted Commander Riker with a hug.

"This is Counsellor Troi," Riker said as he introduced Liator to Deanna.

"Slowly, slowly. I must welcome this lovely one," Liator said as he leaned down to give Deanna a hug.

"Healthy sensuality, sir. I feel mainly friendship and happiness," Deanna reported as she read their feelings.

"Welcome back huge one," Rivan said as she threw her arms around Worf in a warm embrace.

"Nice planet," he said seriously as he caught Tasha holding back a smile.

"You have returned," Farren said brightly as she gave Tasha a tight hug.

Farren glanced around and frowned.

"The pale one has not come back," she observed, noting Data's absence. "Was your coupling unsuccessful?"

Fortunately, it seemed Worf and Commander Riker were far too fascinated with being the centre of Rivan's attention to have picked up on the comment.

But Deanna had heard it.

Farren leaned in close, sensing, but horribly misinterpreting Tasha's discomfort.

"Was he incapable of bringing you happiness?" Farren whispered, concerned.

She stroked Tasha's bicep and Tasha cleared her throat nervously.

"Um, no," Tasha responded, uncharacteristically flustered. "That, uh, that was not a problem."

The gay panic was real.

Tasha could be cool as a cucumber whenever she flirted with a man. Throw a pretty woman in the mix and Tasha turned into a stammering, sweaty mess.

Just my luck. Thought internally.

The one time she was not unattached, and they beam down to a planet full of gorgeous people who weren't just ready to have no-strings-attached sex – they also found Tasha attractive.

Had they gotten this mission six months earlier, this would have been an entirely different trip.

"We can discuss more at the Council Chambers," Liator explained.

"Shall we go there now? Or would you like to remain and play?" Rivan asked as she traced her finger across Worf's chest.

Seemed like Tasha and Data weren't the only ones to enjoy their trip to the Lodge.

"Play?" Riker asked.

"At love," Rivan answered. "Unless you don't enjoy that?"

Riker chuckled. She'd certainly asked the wrong person that particular question.

"And you?" Farren asked.

She reached up and tucked an errant strand of hair behind Tasha's ear.

Tasha smiled nervously.

"I'm actually here on duty," she managed to squeak out.

Real smooth, Yar. She chided herself.

Deanna gave Tasha an inquisitive look as she read the feelings coming from Farren.

"That's a story for the Circle of Secrecy," Tasha whispered before they headed off for the Edo Council Chambers.


Back aboard the Enterprise, Data and Geordi had traced the strange sensor readings back to some kind of object that was in orbit around the planet. They still did not have a visual, but their investigation had been thorough.

"Captain, it's like a shadow," Geordi advised from the helm.

"Exactly, as if it were neither in nor out of our dimension," Data added.

Despite his attempts to enhance the sensors and adjust their frequency, Data was unable to get a lock on the mysterious object.

There was a growing sense of trepidation in his positronic brain.

"It is not cloaked. And it is neither Romulan nor Klingon," Data explained. "Whatever is sitting out there it is doing so without triggering our alarm relays, sir."

Captain Picard ordered them to centre the main viewer on the area.

"Enterprise to the object off our starboard bow. Request that you identify yourself," Data ordered.

They were hailing on all frequencies in all languages in hopes that whatever was out there would respond.

Suddenly, a mysterious looking ship materialised off the starboard bow. Data was picking up definitive signs of something onboard, not necessarily humanoid life, but definitely an energy pattern that signalled intelligent life.

As a precaution, Captain Picard ordered shields and deflectors up.

"There's a message coming through, Captain. It reads 'stand by'," Geordi said with confusion.


"Be safe, and don't do anything I wouldn't do," Beverly said as she gave Wes a hug.

Although she had anticipated he would want to spend his shore leave on the Enterprise, Wesley had eventually decided he wanted to head down to the planet. Beverly had found him lodging in the main Edo village and Tasha and Commander Riker had both promised to help keep an eye on him.

"I'll be fine, mom," Wesley said.

Beverly gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then joined a group of Edo that would be heading to the lodge where she was planning to stay. It wasn't far outside of the main village, but it was far enough that Doctor Crusher would get some time alone.

Wesley joined a group of young Edo while Commander Riker and the gang headed off to the main building in the centre of the village.

"This is the good life, Worf," Riker said with a grin as he took in the sights surrounding them. "What did you spend your time doing?"

"A quiet lodge on the backside of the mountain," Worf said cryptically.

"Quiet huh?" Riker said with a smile as he spotted Rivan on her way toward Worf with a tray of snacks and a drink.

At every turn, Riker was blown away with the Edo hospitality.

"I'll leave you to enjoy a quiet afternoon," Riker winked before heading off.

He wandered past a group of Edo playing a game on the floor. At one end of the hall, some of the Edo were doing a form of meditative yoga. Others were playing music. All around him, Riker was surrounded by blissful living.

It was absolutely what the team needed to relax.

At the far end of the chamber was an arch that led to a beautiful garden.

Lieutenant Yar was sitting between Liator and Farren as they discussed something. Tasha bit her lip and pulled on her ear.

Even from across the room, Will could see she was floundering.

He made a beeline for their bench.

"Lieutenant, I'd like to go over the schedule for the crew rotation if you've got a minute?" Riker asked, offering her his hand.

"We will leave you to your work," Liator announced.

As soon as they were gone, Tasha downed her drink in one gulp.

"Pretty rare moment that Tasha Yar needs rescuing," Riker quipped as he sat down next to her.

Tasha made a face.

"That bad?" Tasha asked.

"Let's just say I've seen Reg Barclay act better under pressure," Riker laughed.

Tasha closed her eyes and sighed.

"It's not that there's pressure," Tasha shared. "They're very kind people."

The Edo had readily welcomed them – opening their homes and amenities for the crew, offering them the best of what their planet had to offer, and keen to share their food and experiences.

"I don't mind her advances. It's kind of flattering," Tasha admitted. "But these people are so open with their thoughts. There's no filter between what they think and what they do."

Riker nodded in agreement. He'd read that in the report. And from what he had seen thus far, it seemed the Edo were true to their word.

Their motto of 'health and happiness' wasn't just their guiding principle. The Edo were honest to a fault. They had no concept of deception and they acted on their feelings.

"But I find myself running into a cultural discrepancy that is proving too difficult to explain," Tasha went on. "Something's been lost in translation. You know they can sense attraction right? Limited telepathic abilities."

"I read that," Riker said with a grin.

An attractive pair of Edo passed, eyeing him. It was a look that Will Riker was familiar with and one he welcomed.

"Health and happiness," he said.

"And to you," the man responded as the walked past.

"You'll want to be careful how many people you flash that smile at," Tasha warned.

"Oh it's just a little harmless people watching," Riker replied.

Tasha shook her head. Their First Officer was in for one helluva a rude awakening.

"Commander, the Edo sense attraction. And they don't quite understand that just because humans find someone attractive, doesn't mean we want to act on those feelings," Tasha notified him.

It was growing more difficult to explain that to Farren.

"They aren't trying to pressure anyone," Tasha continued. "But they genuinely don't get it. They're so open with one another and have different cultural norms. It's like a foreign concept to them."

That's what Liator, Farren, and Tasha had been discussing before Riker's arrival.

They had legitimately thought they were helping Tasha by trying to explain why it was perfectly acceptable for her to act on the mutual attraction to Farren.

"The Edo don't limit themselves with traditional relationships," Tasha said.

They all lived in shared housing structures. When they wanted to pair off as couples, throuples, or groups they simply booked time at one of their many resorts.

Not all intimacy was sexual, and not all sexual activity was intimate.

While it wasn't necessarily her cup of tea, Tasha was fascinated by and respected their way of life. It seemed their society shared a high level of happiness, long life spans, and had eliminated poverty centuries earlier.

"So you're saying these people just garden and fish and play?" Riker asked as he surveyed the room.

There was so much to do. So many people that he could learn from and share with.

Three days would never be enough time.

"It's like talking to a wall," Tasha laughed as she watched the First Officer.

"Tasha, we landed in paradise!" Riker replied as he gestured vaguely.

He threw his arm around Tasha and gave her a friendly squeeze.

"T, how many times have we ever beamed down to the perfect planet?" Riker asked. "This place was designed for people like you and me."

It was a bisexual paradise.

And for two senior officers that were conscientious about their positions of authority and careful in how, where, and when they engaged in relationships with other crew members under their chain of command, it was like an Eden.

They didn't have to worry about a power imbalance between a senior officer and a subordinate or the interdepartmental drama that went along with being on a starship.

"Look, if I wasn't in a committed relationship I'd be right there with you," Tasha replied.

"Committed relationship?" Riker inquired.

All thoughts of planning how to make the most of his next three days suddenly went out the window.

Data and Tasha had been incredibly tight-lipped about their relationship.

And this was a huge shift in the manner in which Tasha had discussed it. It was no secret that she hated labelling it – and hated the term 'girlfriend' even more.

As a romantic philosopher, Riker wanted details.

"T?" Riker asked as he pressed her to elaborate.

Tasha looked away and chewed on the inside of her lip as she contemplated how to respond.

"We just, erm, we had a really good trip," Tasha replied cryptically.

"Worf had a good trip. He's not calling it a committed relationship," Riker retorted.

Tasha uncrossed and re-crossed her legs. She set her hands in her lap as she tried to formulate a response. It was difficult to describe the feeling.

It wasn't just the sex. Data and Tasha had adored the domesticity of it all. Waking up together without having to sneak out, their long talks, sharing their dreams with one another – it had all felt so right.

She wasn't sure she could put words to it.

They both just knew.

And they had agreed that while they may not have a proper word for it, they were definitely committed to one another.

Tasha turned back to Commander Riker and smiled, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Sometimes you just know," she shared. "Sometimes things just feel right."

Riker was beaming.

"Well, I'm really happy for the two of you," he said as he gave her shoulder a squeeze.

"Thanks," Tasha replied sincerely. "It just feels like everything's coming together, you know?"


Back aboard the Enterprise, they were monitoring a small orb that had somehow penetrated both the shields and hull. It had travelled through the corridor, drifted through main Engineering, and eventually emerged on the Bridge.

It was a small orb and Data's optical scanner determined it was approximately eight centimetres in diameter. It appeared to be a glowing mass, and it was off the charts when it came to energy readings. His working theory was that it must be some kind of advanced probe and not a weapon as it appeared its purpose was to collect information rather than inflict damage.

The globe of light hovered in front of the viewscreen briefly.

"We've lost contact with our people on the surface," Data advised.

His neural net began to race with concerns. Unable to control his thoughts, his mind was overtaken by the thought this strange intruder had to be related to the storm, the meteor shower, and their communication problem.

Deductive reasoning. He mused to himself.

"STATE THE PURPOSE," a loud, forceful voice said.

The noise was loud enough that it caused the entirety of the Enterprise to shake. It was so powerful that Data's audio receptors were lightly damaged by the vibration.

The orb seemed to adapt and adjust the volume. It repeated its question at much more natural volume for humanoid ears.

Captain Picard stepped forward and introduced himself, but the orb seemed unimpressed with his answer.

"We are visitors," Picard explained.

"Do you plan to leave lifeforms here as well?" the orb inquired.

"No, we are merely visiting," Picard stated.

"But you did more on another world," the orb said angrily. "You left lifeforms."

"We are colonising an uninhabited world," Picard said acknowledging their recent nearby trip to the Strnad colony. "Life on our world is driving to protect itself by seeding itself as widely as possible."

"Do not interfere with my children below," the orb commanded.

The orb drifted around the Bridge before setting in front of Data.

He couldn't explain it, but he could sense the orb was probing his neural net. They could communicate wordlessly as if the orb could read his thoughts.

'You are a being of more sophisticated electronic makeup than those of flesh,' Data heard the voice say in his head.

Focusing his attention, Data tried to mentally ask the orb who or what it was.

'You do not like us probing your thoughts, ' the orb said.

Data was afraid. It was true, he did not like the idea that the orb could probe his mind. It felt like a violation of his privacy and he had to surpass the urge to shudder.

'We do not wish to harm you. Do you consent to an information exchange?' the orb inquired.

He was unsure how he could tell, but he just knew – this orb was powerful but not malevolent. Listening to his gut, he decided to rely on the feeling.

"Captain, I do not understand how, but it is asking me if I was constructed for information exchange," Data said aloud.

A part of Data hoped the Captain would say no, he wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of sharing his mind with this mysterious orb.

"If there is any way of finding out whatever is out there, Data," Picard began to say.

In his mind, Data understood the Captain's wishes. Despite his reservations, he felt his duty to Starfleet required him to open his mind to the orb.

Wordlessly, the orb sensed this.

It moved close and attached itself to Data's forehead, entering his positronic brain in both a literal and figurative sense.

As soon as it made contact, Data fell back hard against the floor of the Bridge, unable to control himself.

Geordi rushed over and knelt down next to Data.

"Captain, these energy readings are off the charts," Geordi said as he scanned Data and the orb with his VISOR. "I can't make heads or tails of it."


Keep off the grass.

Sure, in theory it was a simple enough concept.

But on the Edo planet, it was a rule that carried a deadly consequence.

Tasha pinched the bridge of her nose as she tried to round up all of the crew. They weren't all spread out yet – travel on the Edo planet was predominantly limited to running or through the use of a handful of ferries.

Everything had been going fine until they had lost contact with the Enterprise .

Deanna could sense the ship was still in orbit, but their communications were down. Unlike the storm, there was no atmospheric interference this time.

To make matters worse, Wesley Crusher had inadvertently violated one the Edo 'punishment zones' - a crime that carried the penalty of death.

For being such an advanced and open-minded culture, they sure had a backwards way of handling law enforcement in Tasha's opinion.

One punishment for any crime. Liator had said.

It hadn't been a fact included in their initial report on the area. Despite extensive questioning, the Edo had always insisted there was no crime.

It was another matter that had been lost in translation.

Crime was such a foreign concept and rare occurrence that it hadn't even crossed the Edo representatives' minds to mention their Mediators or their God.

They assumed their God was known to the Enterprise crew.

After all, their God was omnipotent and surely existed everywhere.

"Alright, I'm going to speak with Liator to see if we can determine what's blocking our communication signal," Riker ordered. "Deanna, I want you to speak with the Elders. See what you can find out about this God they keep referencing."

"Commander, you're not going to leave me alone?" Wesley asked Riker, gripped by fear.

"Of course not," Tasha said as she took his hand. "I'll stay right here with you. And nobody is going to hurt you."

Riker nodded in agreement. It was best to keep a security detail with Wesley for the time being and he knew he could count on Tasha to keep him safe.

"Worf, I need you to keep our people in line," Riker commanded. "Keep your chin up, Wes. We'll get you out of here."

"Sir, if communication is restored, I think we need to be cautious about how we inform Doctor Crusher of what has transpired," Deanna advised.

"Understood," Riker said solemnly.


Twenty-two minutes later, Tasha's combadge pinged and she was relieved to hear the voices of both Captain Picard and Commander Riker.

Picard was now apprised of the situation and took it upon himself to inform Doctor Crusher. Picard also informed them that he would beam down to the planet following the discussion.

"Captain Picard is going to be pretty angry with me," Wesley thought aloud.

He was pacing back and forth in the room. The Edo did not have any kind of holding facilities. As they had only one punishment, there had not been a need for any sort of jail cell for hundreds of years. Instead, they were waiting in a side room off of the main hall.

"You didn't know. This isn't your fault, Wesley. Captain Picard is going to sort it out," Tasha said, trying to reassure him.

"Still, this is all my fault," Wesley said as he slumped down onto one of the cushioned benches.

Suddenly, Tasha's combadge pinged.

"Lieutenant Yar?" Beverly's voice rang out. "Is my son alright?"

Beverly was alone in her office in sickbay. She had slipped away for a moment and was trying her best to keep her calm. She trusted Jean-Luc, but there was no amount of trust that would reassure her everything would be alright until her son was back, safe aboard the Enterprise.

She detached her combadge and handed it to Wesley. She moved to step away and give them some privacy, but Wesley looked back at her- eyes wide with fear- and Tasha found she couldn't leave him.

"Mom," he said as he tapped the badge.

"Wes, how are you doing?" Beverly asked.

"I'm fine, Mom," Wes replied.

He didn't feel fine, but he didn't want to scare her. Truth be told, he didn't want to admit to himself how not fine he truly felt. He was scared of the Edo. He was worried he had let Captain Picard down. And he was confused by all of it.

"Wes," Beverly said, as if she could sense his feelings.

"I'm not fine, Mom. I'm…I'm…I want to go home," Wesley said, unable to put words to his fear.

Tasha threw an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close, her nurturer instinct kicking into full gear.

"Captain Picard is going to get you out of here. He is not going to be angry with you," Tasha said, tapping the badge in Wesley's hand.

"I will beam down and join you as soon as I can, Wesley," Beverly explained.

"Mom, I want you here," Wesley confessed.

"Soon, son. I promise," Beverly said, her voice shaking.

She cleared her throat before continuing.

"I need to speak with Lieutenant Yar now, Wesley," Beverly advised. "Alone."

"About me? About what happens if Captain Picard can't save me?" Wesley said sadly as he looked at Tasha.

He didn't want to be alone. He wanted his mother. And most importantly, he didn't want to be left out of any conservation about his execution.

"Actually, I need to ask Lieutenant Yar some security questions about Mr Data," Beverly explained.

Tasha's breath hitched for a moment, suddenly afraid of what was coming next. As much as she valued the private nature of their relationship, one look from Wes's sad brown eyes and she couldn't find it in her heart to tell the kid to scram.

She brought a finger to her lips to indicate to Wesley he could stay if he were quiet.

"Go ahead, doctor," Tasha said as she tapped her badge.

"I need to know if Data has some sort of reboot or activation option," Doctor Crusher said.

Tasha felt like she couldn't breathe.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I'm not exactly sure," Beverly told her.

Doctor Crusher explained that there was something drifting in space near the Enterprise.

It was like a ship, but it wasn't entirely there – like a non-corporeal being. Some kind of object had drifted from the ship and attached itself to Data.

He had collapsed on the Bridge. A moment later the orb had shrunk in size before disappearing into Data's head.

They had taken him to Sickbay, but Doctor Crusher was concerned about the readings she was getting.

It was as if he were all over the place – his artificial circulatory system for temperature regulation was running at an alarming rate, he had had several convulsions not unlike a human seisure, and his brain scans were indicating sensations of pain and fear.

Tasha absorbed Doctor Crusher's words but was having a hard time accepting them.

"I'm worried this object is damaging him. If there were some way to shut him down or restart his system," Beverly trailed off. "I don't know what else to do and Geordi is trying to-"

"Run your hand along his spine until you feel a small ridge under the bioplast. In the lumbar region. Press it," Tasha said.

She knew about Data's deactivation switch.

She also knew that it was something he regarded as private information.

"Doctor, promise me you won't say anything in your report about the switch?" Tasha asked.

She also looked at Wesley who nodded in understanding.

"You have my word," Beverly said.

Beverly ran her hand along Data's back. She found the spot Tasha had mentioned. It was like a ridge under the skin. With two fingers she gently pressed the spot. Instantly, Data's eyes stopped flipping back and forth under his eyelids and his brain scans on the computer flatlined.

A moment later, Beverly watched with wonder as an orb of light appeared to travel out of Data's head. It floated above him for a moment before drifting through the hull and out into space.

Beverly looked back to the computer screen. There was still no brain activity coming from Data. She whipped out her tricorder and scanned it along his body looking for any signs of activity from his positronic brain.

Panic began to set in. If he were a human, she could diagnose the reason as to why his body had stopped functioning. But there was no amount of adrenaline hypospray that would help an android. Unsure of what to do, but know she needed to do something, Beverly ordered Ensign Black to grab the neurostimulator.

There was no way of knowing if it would work.

But she had to do something.

Down on the planet, Tasha was counting the time, each passing second feeling like an entirety as she waited.

This couldn't be happening. They had just confessed their feelings for one another. She had just managed to swallow years of trust issues and learn to take that leap with Data – she couldn't lose him now.

"Tasha," Beverly's voice came softly from the combadge.

There was something very wrong, she could sense the hesitation in the Doctor's voice.

"What's wrong?" Tasha asked as she closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall.

A part of her didn't want to ask the question. But she had to know.

"I don't want to tell you like this. But, Tasha, he's not…there's no brain activity," Beverly said. "I've paged Geordi but the situation on the Bridge is critical."

Tasha didn't respond and Beverly didn't know what to say.

"I'm not exactly sure what to do here. I'm a doctor, not an engineer," Beverly said sadly.

Tasha's throat was tight. Her hands were balled into fists. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to stop the flow of hot tears that were threatening to leak down her face.

"I'm sure once Lieutenant La Forge is done on the Bridge, he can figure out what's going wrong with Mr Data," Wesley said in an attempt to be supportive.

"Everything went off after I hit the switch. It's like he's not rebooting," Beverly explained.

Tasha sat up and opened her eyes as a thought suddenly occurred to her.

Could it be that simple? She thought to herself.

"Doctor, did you press the deactivation switch once or twice?" Tasha asked. "Maybe you have to hit again to reactivate his system."

She metaphorically crossed her fingers in hopes that this would work.

Beverly found the switch again and pressed her fingers onto the ridge. As if on cue, the computer began to beep as registered brain activity.

Doctor Crusher smiled to herself, Data was coming back online.

"That was good thinking, Tasha," Beverly said as she monitored Data's readings.

Her tears flowed a little freer and as she found herself simultaneously laughing and crying.

At the very least, it had gotten young Mr Crusher to smile despite his situation.

"I need to run some scans. I'll be back in touch as soon as I can. And Tasha," Beverly said. "Watch over my boy."

There was a brief pause.

"Back at you, Doc," Tasha said as she tapped her combadge.

Aboard the Enterprise, Data stirred. Beverly watched as the brain scan began to suddenly show rapid brain activity. A second later, Data sat up.

His head was twitching involuntarily, and he seemed to be struggling to concentrate.

"I need to speak with-" he paused and grimaced as if in pain.

His brow furrowed. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it quickly, tilting his head to the left as if he were deep in thought. It was like he was unable to find the correct words.

He looked at Doctor Crusher pleadingly and tapped the pips on his collar four times.

"Data, I don't-" Beverly said as she shook her head.

Data looked frightened. He was rocking back and forth. After a moment, he tapped on his pips four times once again.

"Four. You need four, what?" Beverly asked.

In his mind, Data could see exactly who he needed to speak with. But he was unable to state his request. The orb had nearly fried his neural net and Data knew it would take time for his system to correct itself from the surge that had scrambled his system.

Rocking faster he tried to reroute all of his free processing capacity into explaining his request.

"Make it so," Data said as he tapped his pips again.

Beverly nodded excitedly in understanding.

"Doctor Crusher to Captain Picard," Beverly said as she tapped her combadge with a smile. "Mr Data is awake and he's insisting on speaking with you."

"Then put him on the com," Picard ordered.

"It's hard to explain, sir. But I don't think that's going to be possible right now. You'll need to speak with him in person," Beverly advised.


Captain Picard was frustrated. Negotiations with the Edo were having little impact on the situation and Jean-Luc was having a hard time separating his role as Captain and his personal concern for the Crusher family. Between the communication and transporter issues they had experienced, he didn't feel right beaming back aboard the Enterprise and leaving Mr Crusher on the planet.

However, he knew that whatever information Data had gained from the mysterious object would be necessary to solving this enigma.

Picard was beamed directly to sick bay where he found Data sitting on an exam bed near Doctor Crusher.

"What can you tell me about this object?" Picard asked, eager for information.

"They communicated quite," Data paused. "I was about to say 'easily,' but there was nothing easy about it."

"Please, Data," Picard pressed.

Data closed his eyes and tried to formulate a coherent response.

"They, they overloaded my circuitry," Data said with considerable effort.

His positronic matrix was scrambled. It was working to correct itself, but it was making it difficult for Data to access his speech and memory engrams.

"They? You said 'they.' Is this some sort of people? Or vessel?" Picard inquired.

"They," Data nodded. "Not a single entity. They know the Edo worship them."

They were some kind of unusual energy beings, and they considered the Strnad star cluster to be their home. Furthermore, Data shared that they were unhappy at the Federation colony placed in the area. They were also displeased with their capture of the Byaki creature at the colony. They regarded it as one of their children, just like the Edo.

Most importantly, Data told the Captain that these energy beings were now observing them in order to evaluate the Enterprise and judge what kind of lifeforms they were.

"Do they know of the Prime Directive?" Picard questioned, concerned.

He theorised this strange lifeform would consider violating the Prime Directive to be a sign of bad faith and a threat. But Jean-Luc could see no other way in which to free Mr Crusher – and he wasn't about to let a child die over a policy.

The crew had taken an oath to uphold the Prime Directive – Wesley Crusher had not.

"They know everything I know, sir," Data advised darkly.

"And if we violate the Prime Directive?" Picard asked.

"It would be a case of judging us by our owl rules, sir. They cautioned us not to interfere with their children below. The Edo are very precious to them," Data said.

He could see that Doctor Crusher seemed to be very emotional.

"What has happened?" Data asked as he pieced together something had to be wrong.

"The Edo want to execute my son. I will not allow that to happen, Jean-Luc," Beverly stated defiantly.

"Motherhood. Compared to all others felt by," Data stopped as his neural net began to race with the same feeling he had experienced back on the planet.

It was stronger than any desire he had ever experienced before – family was something he desperately longed for. For some reason that he could not pinpoint, Data felt a strange longing to procreate. He tried to access his memory files regarding family but came up empty.

But he knew there was someone important to him, only he couldn't remember.

Suddenly the same orb from before floated through the hull of the ship. It danced around sick bay before settling in front of Data.

"No," Data said as he put his hand up to try and signal that he was not comfortable with doing it a second time.

"DO NOT INTERFERE WITH MY CHILDREN," the same strong voice from before said, shaking the ship and causing supplies in the medical storage to fall to the floor.

"Data, whatever you can do to communicate to this 'God' that we have no wish to interfere," Picard ordered.

"Sir," Data said pleadingly as the orb hovered inches away from his face.

"Data, please," Picard implored.

Thus far, Data had been their only link to the strange beings and Jean-Luc was going to do whatever he could to ensure the safety of Wesley Crusher.

The orb disappeared into Data's forehead. He slumped over and was caught by Captain Picard who pushed him back onto the table.

A moment later he began to spasm violently. Beverly looked to the viewscreen and could see the readings of fear and pain from earlier had returned.

"Captain, this is dangerous," Beverly warned. "Whatever this being is, it is scrambling Data's positronic brain and there's nothing I can do."

"Beverly, please," Jean-Luc said. "I'm trying to save your son."

It was hard for Captain Picard to watch but he had to make a choice and the choice he was making was for Wesley. He couldn't allow the boy to be executed. He admitted to himself, he did care more about Wesley Crusher than he ought to. And he knew a large part of that came from an unwarranted sense of duty to care for the boy after Jack's death under his command.

"I don't know how to communicate this to you, but the question of justice has concerned me greatly of late. We have no desire to interfere with your children. I am merely trying to reunite a mother with her child!" Jean-Luc said loudly to any deity or being that was listening.

Without warning, Data stopped convulsing. He sat up straight and opened his eyes.

"Our laws have been violated," he said in a neutral tone.

It was apparent the beings had overtaken his communication programme to use Data as an intermediary.

"My son had no warning," Beverly pleaded.

"We cannot permit ignorance to be a defence," Data replied plainly.

"I say to any being that is listening that there can be no justice so long as laws are absolute. Even life itself is an exercise in exceptions," Captain Picard argued.

The beings did not respond. Data stared blankly at nothing for a few seconds.

"Captain, the object off the starboard side of the ship is pulling away," Geordi's voice rang out from the Captain's combadge.

"Is that a signal?" Beverly asked.

"I was hoping for more," Picard admitted.

He wasn't entirely certain that appeal for mercy had been successful.

Suddenly, Data fell back against the exam bed. A moment later the orb appeared to pull itself out of his forehead. It hung for a moment above his face.

"You are a most interesting lifeform," the commanding voice said. "We understand and share your desire for procreation. May your children be blessed with health and happiness."

Without another word, the orb flew over to the hull and disappeared out into the vacuum of space.

Beverly wanted to rush down to the planet and grab Wesley, but she knew she couldn't leave Data.

And unspoken understanding passed between the Captain and the Doctor.

"I will bring him home," Jean-Luc said softly.

Beverly nodded as she fought to keep her composure.

Captain Picard stepped out of sickbay while Beverly scanned Data. It appeared the spasms had stopped. His brain activity was minimal, but it was present and slowly growing.

She surmised she would not have to reboot him like she had earlier although she was deeply worried about what kind of lasting damage there may be to his system.

She didn't know how she would ever be able to thank him for going through that to help save her son. Beverly had no understanding of what he had experienced during his fusion with the beings, but she knew that it had driven his processing into overdrive.

After a moment, Data sat up and looked around as he took in his surroundings.

Beverly smiled and took hold of his hand.

"Mr Data, how are you feeling?" she asked.

His head flipped back and forth to the left and right quickly before it finally stilled. Beverly let go of his hands as he raised them in front of his face.

Eying his hands, he turned them over as he inspected each of his palms.

Data opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words there a garbled mechanical noise was emitted from his auditory programme.

Data closed his mouth quickly and tried to calm the sense of panic that was rising inside of him.

Doctor Crusher tapped her combadge and asked if Geordi could come down to sickbay.

"Dam…aged," Data managed to say after a moment.

He could feel internally that his system was working to correct itself. But he also knew the damage was extensive and it would take time for all of his neural synapses to properly reroute themselves back to their correct functioning.

"You saved my son," Beverly said. "Thank you."

Son. Data thought as his neural net worked to process this information.

Son.

Offspring.

The energy being had understood his desire to procreate.

"Friend," Data replied as he looked at her.

"Yes, we are friends," Doctor Crusher said with a big smile.

Data shook his head. He could see the person in his mind that he needed but he didn't know how to communicate it. He didn't know their name.

He only knew they were important to him – they would be able to answer his question about if he had a family.

He could see her image clearly in his mind. Yet, Data was struggling to access any other memories or information.

Did he have children?

Had he forgotten them?

"Geordi is coming to sickbay and will be able to help," Beverly explained.

"Geor…di?" Data asked, struggling to piece together the name.

Beverly nodded.

Strangely, Data began to hum. He knew deep down that he knew the words, but for some reason they were out of his grasp.

He brought his hand to his chest and continued to hum as he stared off into space.

Geordi stepped through the doorway and looked at Data, his face full of pity.

"Oh Data, what happened to you?" Geordi said as he scanned his friend's body.

It was evident there was some pretty extreme damage to Data's neural net and internal systems.

Data nodded to Geordi, trying to convey that he was glad to see him. It was a relief for Data to recognise someone. He knew that this Geordi person was very special to him, but it wasn't the person he was trying to find.

He put his hand on Geordi's shoulder and looked back at Doctor Crusher.

Data shook his head in the negative.

"Friend," he repeated.

"Tasha? Do you want Tasha?" Beverly asked, trying to understand.

It was like hearing a foreign word for the first time.

"What is Tasha?" Data inquired as he tilted his head to the side.

Geordi froze. This was not a good sign.

There was something in the way Beverly and Geordi looked at him that told him whatever 'Tasha' was, it was a bad sign he didn't understand.

And that thought troubled him. Deeply.


Down on the planet, Wesley and Tasha were still sitting in the room. It had been quite some time since they had heard from anyone, but Tasha wasn't about to leave.

"I think it's grand, you know. You and Mr Data," Wesley said.

Tasha eyed him hesitantly, unsure of how to react.

"Everyone at school does," Wesley said with his signature smile.

Tasha was dumbstruck.

Tasha blinked slowly, trying to fathom what Wesley was saying.

"He didn't say anything," Wesley said in an attempt to reassure her as he noted her surprise.

"Well then," Tasha said.

"He'd make a really great dad someday. That is if you ever thought about, well, you know," Wesley got quiet, suddenly feeling like perhaps he had stepped over a line before quickly adding "I'm sure he's going to be fine."

He glanced out the window and the circumstances of his imprisonment came back to the forefront. The sun was beginning to set.

As if on cue, a group of Edo led by Liator stepped into the room.

Tasha was quick to her feet and bowed politely to them.

"It is now sunset. We have upheld our end of the agreement to delay punishment until sunset. It is now time that we carry out punishment for the transgression," Liator said.

Tasha stepped in front of Wesley.

"I can't allow that," Tasha said.

"Our laws have been violated. What of justice?" Liator asked.

"What of justice for Wesley? Does he deserve to die?" Tasha replied.

"Our ways have served us for centuries. We must preserve our laws as sad as it may be," Liator responded.

"And you would execute a child to preserve them? Your system has failed this child," Tasha countered. "There can be no justice when the law is blind."

"Please step aside," Liator asked. "We do not wish to harm you."

"No," Tasha said, refusing.

There was nothing that could make her step aside and allow this to happen. Tasha pulled her phaser out and pointed it at the Edo.

"Yar to Enterprise, two to beam out at my position," Tasha instructed.

It was a direct violation of the Prime Directive, but she felt her obligation to the safety of a child on the Enterprise outweighed her duty to Starfleet.

"Belay that order," Captain Picard said as he stepped into the room, accompanied by Commander Riker and Deanna.

The Edo greeted Captain Picard with a curt nod. It was a far cry from the warm affection they had shown the crew only a few days prior.

"I am truly sorry our relationship has soured, Liator. Your people are wonderful, but this punishment is unacceptable," Captain Picard stated.

Suddenly, the room began to shake. Tasha grabbed Wesley and pulled him close as she gripped the wall to remain upright.

"THE CHILD WILL BE GRANTED MERCY," a powerful voice stated.

The Edo dropped to the ground in fear.

"It seems God agrees with you, Captain," Liator said apologetically.

Captain Picard motioned for Tasha and Wesley to join the other three for transport back to the ship.

As she passed by the Edo, a hand reached out and gripped Tasha's.

"I am sorry our friendship has had to end this way," Farren said.

"I am too," Tasha replied.

"Health and happiness to you and your pale one," Farren smiled sadly.

Tasha nodded, unsure of how to respond.

"Thank you, Liator," Captain Picard said. "Transporter Room, energise."


When they rematerialised on the transporter pad, Deanna looked over to Tasha and raised her eyebrow.

'Later' Tasha mouthed silently to her friend.

Deanna gave her quick nod to let her know she got the message loud and clear.

"Mr Crusher, if you will follow me to Sickbay," Picard said as he stepped off the pad. "I believe the rest of you are needed on the Bridge."

The two headed off in the direction of Sickbay while Commander Riker, Deanna, and Tasha made their way to the Bridge.

When she stepped onto the Bridge, Tasha noticed Data was not at his post.

"Where are Lieutenant Commander Data and Lieutenant La Forge?" Commander Riker asked Worf as he assumed the command chair until Captain Picard's return.

"They are in Sickbay," Worf advised.

Tasha had to remind herself that she was on duty. As much as she wanted to race down to Sickbay, they had agreed they could separate their relationship from their duties as Starfleet officers.

"Are they alright?" Tasha inquired.

The fact Worf couldn't make eye contact with her sent Tasha's nerves to Red Alert.

"There was an incident," Worf said. "The Captain will explain."

He didn't want to lie to Tasha, but he also knew very little about Data's condition – only that he had not returned from Sickbay and that wasn't a good sign.

A chill came over Tasha. She felt like all the blood in her body had been drained.

She felt like she was going to be sick.

Tasha went on autopilot. Stepping to the Tactical position, she assumed her post. All her thoughts were fixated on the console she was staring down at.

It wasn't that she didn't care about Data.

Rather, she was in complete denial. She had to be in order to stay upright.

He couldn't be injured. He was an android.

And there was no way that he could have suffered some kind of damage. They'd just spent three whole days making a commitment to one another that they were in love.

Data couldn't be hurt. He was too wonderful, too strong.

Then why do you want to fall down and cry? A little voice asked.

Tasha kept her head low and silently thumbed away a tear, willing herself not to breakdown on the Bridge.

"Set a course for the Strnad colony, Ensign," Commander Riker ordered.

They had to return and begin the ugly process of relocating the colony they had worked so hard to set up.


Down in Sickbay, Beverly pulled both Captain Picard and Wesley into a strong embrace. She knew it was perhaps inappropriate, but in the moment she couldn't have cared less.

Beverly directed Wes to her office and Jean-Luc felt a strange, warm feeling when she invited him to join them with a wave.

"Jean-Luc, please," Beverly asked.

Data was still seated on the exam table as Geordi tried to make sense of what had happened.

The damage was extensive.

However, it didn't appear to be permanent. The being had completely scrambled his positronic matrix. Data's system was capable of correcting the issue on its own, but Geordi surmised it would take about thirty-six hours to be fully corrected.

At the very least, it seemed that the more Data interacted, the faster his neural net was able to re-establish the correct pathways.

Maybe. Geordi thought, reconsidering his hypothesis as he observed Data at the science station in the corner.

Usually, Data's hands danced across a console, adeptly punching in commands at speeds that far exceeded human capabilities. Geordi had been watching Data for about ten minutes and there seemed to be no improvement.

"How is he?" Picard asked, stepping up next to Geordi.

"There's not much I can do. The damage isn't physical in a sense that I can fix it. Whatever that thing was, it scrambled his brain functioning. Data's system is working to correct itself but it's going to take time," Geordi explained.

Captain Picard furrowed his brow as he watched Data slowly tap the console in front of him.

"Based on what I've observed, I would say it will probably take thirty-six hours for all of his neural pathways to correctly reroute themselves," Geordi said.

Unbeknownst to Geordi and Captain Picard, Data was trying to access the personnel files. He could see her in his head – but he couldn't remember who she was. He knew that he knew her. He knew that she was special to him. And he knew that there were memories buried deep in his engrams that just weren't accessible at the moment.

Most importantly, Data knew that wherever she was she was likely panicked.

Data also knew he was moving slowly. Although it would appear to be a casual pace for a human, it was a tortuously slow entirety for an android.

"There's another problem, Captain," Geordi said in a low voice as he turned to the Captain. "The reason why I asked you to keep Lieutenant Yar on the Bridge for now."

Captain Picard gathered from Geordi's voice that this was probably a personal matter.

"Data doesn't seem to have any memory of Tasha," Geordi said.

"I thought you said his system was working to correct itself?" Picard asked, not fully understanding.

"It is. But with you, me, hell even mundane things he has a sense. And the more I jog his memory the more it seems to come back to him – except when I ask about Tasha," Geordi explained.

"I see," Captain Picard said with a stiff nod.

Captain Picard maintained a strong façade, but inside his heart broke for the two of them. It was bad enough that Data had seemingly lost the last few months of his relationship with her. But for Tasha to have to live with those memories knowing Data couldn't remember her – it was all too much for Jean-Luc.

Worst of all, it had been because of his own doing.

He had ordered Data to interact with he orb. And now that order had robbed Data of his first real relationship.

"Is she on the Bridge? I think I better speak with her," Geordi suggested.

"Thank you, Lieutenant La Forge, but I am afraid this is my doing," Captain Picard said.

He didn't feel well. There was a sickening feeling that had settled in his stomach. It was the same feeling he had experienced when he'd carried Jack Crusher's body back to Beverly all those years earlier.

"Beverly, would you escort Mr Data to his quarters? Perhaps it will help him to repair his systems faster to be in a familiar setting," Picard commanded. "And Mr La Forge, if you will accompany me to my Ready Room. We have a meeting with what I anticipate will be a rather angry Security Chief."


Doctor Crusher escorted Data down to his quarters. Once they reached the door, he stepped inside and glanced around.

He circled the main room of his quarters as he took in the surroundings. There was a painting on the floor. It was leaning against the wall next to the door.

He knew it was recent because it hadn't been hung yet. There was blue water and large fir trees. His eyes followed the steam rising from the water upwards to the rocks and into the sky above. His fingers traced a streak of lightning that was painted across the sky.

He knew this painting was important. He could sense there was a memory, buried deep in his engrams.

And Data felt like it had something to do with her .

But he wasn't able to access it.

Data set the painting down against the wall and looked to the built-in shelf along the side wall. There was a book there. He picked it up and turned it over in his hand. It was a copy of the complete works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Suddenly, he was struck by a memory.

"Don't ever change who you are, even if it's for me. Because I love you just the way you are – smelly pipe and all. Promise me this."

She had said those words to him in this very room. He could recall the sound of her voice, but he couldn't recall her name.

Data frowned as he scanned the room. This was part of their life, but not the complete picture.

Data set the book down and turned to the plant in the corner. His informational databank told him the flower had a colour value of red 168, green 211, and blue 196. He knew it was a Himalayan blue poppy and he knew it was the same shade of blue as her eyes.

"She's beautiful," Doctor Crusher said, pointing to the flower as she stepped next to Data.

He was deep in thought as he stared at the flower.

"Jewel," Data said as he traced his fingers along the petal.

He began to hum. Beverly recognised it as the same tune he had been humming earlier in Sickbay.

"Nothing but blue skies from now one," he sang softly.


The door to the turbolift opened. Tasha looked up from her console and locked eyes with Captain Picard and he and Geordi stepped onto the Bridge.

She knew something was wrong even before he asked her to step into his Ready Room.

When Geordi followed them in, Tasha felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.

She grabbed her hands, holding them together in an effort to keep them from shaking.

Tasha was usually the one delivering this speech with Captain Picard.

She knew it by heart.

It was the speech that notified someone their loved one wasn't coming home.

It felt wretched to be on the other end of the conversation. She had been there once before – and it didn't feel any easier the second time around.

Captain Picard motioned for them to take a seat as he stepped behind his desk.

"Lieutenant Yar, you are aware that Commander Data made contact with an alien entity," Picard said, struggling to explain the problem.

"We believe it nearly overloaded his system," Geordi said.

Tasha didn't respond.

Less than twelve hours earlier they had woken up next to one another. He'd been right there beside her. Tasha had snuggled up against him.

They'd taken advantage of their last morning together – a lazy start with a quiet breakfast on the deck overlooking the hot springs.

He'd told her he loved her.

It all felt so bittersweet.

If she had known, Tasha would have skipped breakfast. She would have stayed in bed.

She would have held him longer.

"He's alert and active," Picard said. "But as Mr La Forge has explained to me, there appears to be damage."

He's alert and active.

Data was alive.

Then why are you here? An annoying voice in Tasha questioned.

Her naturally sceptical instincts had kicked into overdrive. Captain Picard wouldn't have called her in for a heart-to-heart chat unless there was something wrong.

"It's like whatever that orb was, it scrambled all of his neurological pathways. It's not something I can go in and fix. His system is going to have to correct itself. And it's working to do so, but it is going to take time," Geordi explained.

"But there's something else, isn't there?" Tasha asked.

She looked up from the floor and straight to the Captain.

"That's why I'm in here," Tasha said.

"Tasha, I want you to know that I ordered Commander Data to do whatever was necessary to communicate with the beings above the Edo planet and I take full responsibility for what has happened to him," Captain Picard said.

"I estimate it will take about thirty-six hours for his pathways to correctly reroute themselves," Geordi told her.

Thirty-six hours for repair.

That wasn't an uncommon Sickbay recovery time. Humans had accidents like that all the time requiring a few days of rest and recovery.

But Captain Picard didn't personally deliver that news for a broken arm or a concussion.

There was something terribly wrong.

Tasha could feel it.

And she sensed neither Geordi nor Captain Picard wanted to break the news.

"Will one of you please just tell me what's happened?" Tasha said.

"It may change. This is all very new, and it may be that in time-" Captain Picard started to say.

"Captain, please," Tasha demanded.

"The damage, Tasha. It appears the part of his brain that contains memories of people has been impacted," Captain Picard tried to explain.

"You mean me," Tasha said as she looked back down to the floor.

It was the only possible reason they were tiptoeing around it.

"He doesn't remember you," Picard said bluntly.

"At all?" Tasha asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

A part of her was afraid to know the answer.

But Tasha realised she had to face it sooner or later.

"It's possible it may come back with time," Geordi said.

"The neural pathways of his brain just need time to realign but otherwise he's operating perfectly fine," Picard said trying to reassure her.

"Operating perfectly fine?" Tasha repeated. "Operating perfectly fine?"

It was like a slap in the face.

Data had been ordered to undergo a dangerous task that had nearly fried his neural net and cost him all the memories of their relationship.

Tasha was irate that the Captain would consider this 'operating perfectly fine.'

Captain Picard figured it would be best to let her speak her mind. He felt horribly guilty about Data's condition, but it was a necessary choice in order to communicate with the beings.

"If he were human and this had happened, would you still say he was perfectly fine?" Tasha fumed.

She was shocked that he could be so callous.

In the blink of an eye, their entire relationship had vanished – robbing Data of months of personal development, feelings, and memories that he was entitled to.

She didn't want to feel selfish, but Tasha was also feeling hurt.

Her mind raced with questions - What if they never came back? What if this damage had permanently changed Data's opinion of her? Would he want to start over?

Would he even care?

According to Geordi, Tasha was a complete stranger to him.

Despite their unusual start, Data and Tasha had spent nearly a year as friends – getting to know one another and developing a mutual attraction before acting on those feelings.

That had taken time.

And Tasha couldn't imagine what it would be like for her just suddenly drop into life.

"Tasha, I take full responsibility for what has happened to Mr Data. And I want you to know how much I regret that it was necessary, but he was the only one that could-" Picard started to say but was cut off by Tasha.

"Because he's just a machine, right? Did you even consider his feelings in doing this? You would have asked a human before ordering them to something like this. But that doesn't matter with Data to you, does it? You only see him as an android. A machine. A tool," Tasha scoffed.

"Tasha!" Geordi said in shock.

"Tasha, I am so sorry," Captain Picard said apologetically.

And he meant every word of it. His heart went out to her.

"Lieutenant La Forge, you mentioned that it seemed to stimulate his neural pathways when he interacted with familiar things?" Picard asked.

"Well yes, Captain. But that's just a theory," Geordi replied.

"He mentioned how much he enjoyed you reading to him," Picard said looking to Tasha. "Doctor Crusher is with him in his quarters. Lieutenant Yar, I don't want to see you back on the Bridge for the next thirty-six hours," Picard ordered.

"You're putting me off the Bridge?" Tasha asked irately.

Her temper had gotten the better of her.

"I'm asking you to take care of the person you love," Picard said.


When she stepped out of the Captain's Ready Room and onto the Bridge, she suddenly felt as if all of the eyes of the Bridge crew were on her. Geordi walked with her to the turbolift.

"Tasha, we're going to figure this out," Geordi said as he took hold of her hand.

She bit her lip to stop it from trembling.

"Why don't you go collect that book and I'll stay with Data until then," Geordi suggested.

Geordi knew Tasha well enough to understand that she needed a moment alone to compose herself. She didn't like anyone to see her break down – and in that moment, she needed a good cry.

Geordi headed off for Data's quarters while Tasha made her way to her own quarters.

As she made her way down the corridor, she tried to keep it together.

She knew she had to keep it together.

For Data.

Tasha felt horrible. She regretted having turned away all those months ago. She regretted that she had waited so long to tell him that she loved him. She couldn't put to words how much it hurt to know what he'd lost – not just their time together – but that he didn't know how much she really cared.

He was the most wonderful person, and she was lucky enough to be loved by him – even if it had only been for a short time.

When she reached her quarters, she rushed to her bedroom to grab the book from her nightstand. As she stepped into the room, she spied the book on the edge of the nightstand where she had left it several days earlier.

As she reached for the book, she paused. Tasha turned to the built-in cabinet along her wall. She tapped the drawer and it opened. Inside, sitting on top of a clean uniform was a calabash pipe. It was a gift that she had been saving for him with the intention of presenting it to him once they had finished the Sherlock Holmes holodeck programme.

A tear escaped and ran down her face as Tasha traced her fingers along the black, curved stem.

She picked it up and sat down on the edge of her bed. She turned it over in hands and felt horribly guilty for the pipe Data had destroyed previously on her behalf.

She lay back on the bed and turned over. She pulled her legs up onto the bed. Clutching the pipe to her chest, Tasha curled up and let herself cry.


Down in Data's quarters, Geordi had joined Doctor Crusher.

Data was flipping through a stack of paintings that he'd found in his bedroom. He was looking for a clue – anything – that could help communicate.

He wanted to see her. He needed to see her.

"He's still having trouble communicating," Doctor Crusher said to Geordi.

Data sighed, frustrated, and set the stack of paintings back against the wall. His eyes drifted over to the wardrobe that was built into the wall.

He glanced at the bed and then back to the wardrobe. Data knew that he had no biological need for sleep, nor did he have many possessions.

And yet, there was a bed in his quarters.

For her. He told himself.

Although he had a feeling they did not often spend the night in this space.

It was missing a window.

Data could recall they often sat under a window.

He looked back to the wardrobe, suddenly struck with an idea that perhaps there would be a clue to communicate to the people out in the main room who he wanted to see.

Data flung open the door to the cabinet. There wasn't much inside, but there was a dressing gown. He had seen her wear it. He could picture it in his mind. He pulled the garment off its hanger. Closing his eyes, he pressed it to his face and inhaled the scent of lavender.

Scent was supposed to be one of the strongest memories.

In this instance, it brought forward a memory of her laughing and blowing a handful of foam bubbles in his direction.

He knew what she smelled like. He could clearly recall the way she felt, the taste of whiskey on her tongue, and the small noises she made in her sleep.

But he couldn't recall her name, where to find her, or how to communicate his desire to see her to Geordi and Doctor Crusher.

"Data, do you want to play a round of cards?" Geordi suggested as he leaned against the doorframe.

He thought maybe something as familiar as cards would help to jog Data's memory.

Data turned to Geordi and cocked his head to the side. He set the dressing gown down on the bed and pushed past Geordi.

He was on a mission.

"Data?" Geordi asked as his friend passed him.

Unphased, Data headed straight for the door.

"Data, where are you going?" Geordi asked as he followed Data out into the corridor.

Data wasn't exactly sure – only that he had taken this path often.

Data walked with speed and determination, counting each step as he headed for the turbolift. Geordi and Doctor Crusher rushed out after him, but it was as if he were ignoring their questions.

They managed to slip onto the turbolift before the doors closed and Geordi decided to try again.

"Data, where are we headed?" Geordi questioned.

"Maybe we should get you back to your quarters?" Doctor Crusher said as she put her hand on Data's shoulder.

Data looked down at her hand but said nothing.

As soon as the door opened, Data stepped out and made a quick turn to the left. He was walking fast enough that Geordi and Doctor Crusher had to jog to keep up with him.

"Slow down, Data," Geordi said but Data showed no sign of stopping.

Looking around, Geordi realised they were almost to Tasha's quarters.

Data rounded the corner outside of her quarters too fast and felt something – or rather someone – hit him and bounce off. His android frame was heavy. On instinct, he reflexively reached out and grabbed the hand of the person to stop them from falling back onto the floor.

As soon as his hand closed around hers, Data recognised it.

"Data," Tasha said in shock.

He stared back at her.

His breath hitched.

He had hoped that when he saw her, he'd be able to place her name. But now here she was, in front of him, and he was still unable to put a name to her.

Data could see she had been crying.

Her eyes were red, and her face was puffy.

Data didn't need to ask to know her tears had been for him.

He pondered what their friends had disclosed about his condition. A part of him felt awful for having caused her concern.

She searched his face for any sign that he recognised her.

"Do you know who I am?" she asked.

He couldn't find her name, but he knew her.

He just didn't know how to communicate that to her.

It took him 1.87 seconds to formulate a response that would convey his meaning.

Gripping the sides of her face, he leaned down and kissed her.

"That's not exactly what I had in mind, but it seems to be working," Geordi said in a low voice to Doctor Crusher.

After a moment, Data broke the kiss.

Tasha's hand moved to her mouth and traced across her lips in disbelief.

"Data, do you remember me?" Tasha asked tentatively.

She could see he was struggling.

He paused for a moment, cocking his head to the side as he strained to access his memories.

She was right there – just under the surface. Only he couldn't break through.

"Gentleness and joy and love," he said as he ran his thumb along her cheek.

"Close enough," Tasha replied as she grabbed the front of his uniform and pulled him in for another kiss.

His hands found her waist.

Her back found the wall.

And their lips found each other.

"I think they can probably figure out the rest on their own," Geordi said as he grabbed Doctor Crusher's arm.

It was the kind of reunion that Beverly had thought was only found in cheap romantic holonovels.

Doctor Crusher sighed longingly as she watched her friends – lip-locked in one another's arms, the communication issue forgotten as they poured their feelings out for one another in a different language.

"C'mon," Geordi said as he pulled Beverly back to the lift.

Data may not have been capable of recalling her name or exactly where he was on the ship, but he could remember exactly what he was supposed to do with the rather firm organ that was heavy between his thighs.

Without breaking contact, he picked her up.

Tasha wrapped her legs around his waist and Data carried her through the door to her quarters.

She was grateful Captain Picard had taken her off the Bridge for the next thirty-six hours because if anyone had come looking for the Security Chief that night they would have found her thoroughly occupied.

Data didn't stop to look at the window he had missed in his own quarters or the table where they often ate breakfast with one another. In that moment, he could have cared less about the book they were reading or the boxing gloves she kept hanging on a hook on the wall.

They were a source of tension between the two – more so the fact that she had a tendency to box with Klingons and the considerable risk that carried.

Data didn't care.

It all seemed so immaterial given what they could have lost.

He'd gladly take her coming home with missing teeth if it meant remembering her.

Data lowered them to the bed gently, tipping Tasha onto her back as his mouth travelled down to her neck.

His hands were nowhere and everywhere at all at once – roaming across the planes of her body, reacquainting himself with the feel of her, and Tasha missing them as soon as they moved on to a new area.

It was slow going as Data removed her uniform. He was keen to see and touch and kiss every inch of her.

He slipped behind her, planting a series of slow, meaningful kisses across her back as he unzipped her jumpsuit.

Data paused to nuzzle between her bare shoulders, grateful that he had finally found her.

He was so worried about the damage to his communication system, he wanted there to be no mistake about his feelings.

His lips were warm as he pressed them against her hip. Data took his time as he peeled off her uniform, savouring each new soft bit of exposed skin on her legs.

Data paused and looked up at her, his expression making clear his intentions.

Tasha gasped as their eyes met. He was staring up at her, his face full of his desire, his golden eyes ablaze with a look signalling he was ready to pounce.

Before he could make a move, Tasha's eyes welled up and she sniffled.

Her face had grown warm. She didn't mean to cry, but she was so overwhelmed.

Data stopped immediately.

He sat up and pulled Tasha into an embrace.

"I-I-I'm sorry," Tasha sobbed. "I t-thought I lost y-y-you."

Data's hand was on the back of her head, holding her tight against his chest. He kissed the top of her head and gave her a squeeze.

Seconds away from being ravaged by the most thoughtful lover she'd ever had - and Tasha Yar had broken down in tears.

It was a strange blend of emotion, but the thought actually made her happy.

It reinforced that what they shared wasn't just some fantastic sexual connection.

She loved him – probably more that she ought to if they were going to keep their promise to one another about not allowing their feelings to interfere with their duties.

Tasha laughed.

Data was still having trouble communicating, so he wasn't quite sure how to convey his confusion at her sudden change in behaviour.

Tasha sat back and wiped her eyes.

Data cocked his head to the side.

He didn't need to voice it – she understood. That was one of the beautiful things about their relationship. She was entirely always ready to explain the nuances of human behaviour without judgement.

Tasha reached up and cupped his face. She stroked her thumb across his cheek and Data felt like he wanted to melt into her touch.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you," Tasha said.

Data covered his hand with her own, holding it against his face to show that he appreciated her concern.

"I don't know what you exactly remember or don't remember, but I love you," Tasha assured him. "And we're going to get through this."

Data took her hand and brought it to his lips.

"Ta-" Data attempted to say.

Tasha's breath hitched as it sounded like was attempting to say her name.

Did he remember?

Tasha smiled, nodding slowly as he tried to sound out a word.

"Tas-" she prompted, thinking she was saying it with him.

"To…geth…er," Data said as he pulled her hand to his chest.

"Together," Tasha repeated.

It was a good sign his communication pathways were being restored.

"Tasha," Tasha said as she brought Data's hand to her own chest.

Data shook his head.

It was the same word he had heard Geordi and Doctor Crusher mention.

But when he scanned through all available information contained in his mind, he came up empty-handed. He could find no person, place, or memory associated with that word.

"It's alright," Tasha said.

She could see he was having a hard time with it and didn't want him to stress about it.

She gave him a small smile, but she was still hit by a pang of sadness.

Data sensed this. He could read the disappointment in her face.

He leaned forward. His kiss was gentle, tentative.

"To..geth..er," he repeated slowly, still struggling with the word.

He rubbed his nose against Tasha's and hoped that it was enough to reassure her that he cared.

Data felt terrible. It wasn't his fault, but he still felt bad, nonetheless. His speech programme had been badly damaged, and it would take time for it to unscramble.

Until those pathways were reset, he was reduced to one- or two-word statements – and from a limited vocabulary.

The only thing he had left in his arsenal was physical reassurance.

"Friend," Data said as he tried to pull her into another kiss.

All of a sudden, Tasha felt that maybe this wasn't the best way to go about things.

It seemed like Data wanted this.

He certainly was eager.

But he had gone through a serious injury – one that had left a good portion of his positronic brain damaged.

She was worried that Data didn't need a lover. He needed a friend.

"Why don't.. mmm… we…. mmm.. Data…read out in… mmmph ," Tasha tried to suggest between kisses.

In response, Data captured her lips again. His tongue darted out, seeking to deepen the kiss.

No. His mind was definitely set on one thing.

"Data," Tasha panted.

He moved onto her neck, giving Tasha a chance to catch her breath.

"Data, wait," Tasha pleaded.

Data stopped and looked up at her. He was curious why they had stopped.

Have I committed an offense? He wondered.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Tasha asked.

"Love," Data said in response.

Tasha's brow wrinkled. She sat up on her knees and cupped his face.

"Data, do you comprehend what's happening right now?" Tasha asked as she eyed him with concern.

It wasn't clear if he fully understood what his actions were leading to.

Tasha didn't know he could recall sex – let alone the complex emotional experience that accompanied it.

The last thing she wanted to do was initiate a physical encounter if Data wasn't able to consent.

"I don't know if much of what I'm saying is making sense," Tasha started.

Data moved in again for another kiss. Tasha recoiled and Data's face fell.

"Bad?" Data asked.

"No, no, sweetheart," Tasha said as she closed her eyes and shook her head.

Gods I've really mucked this up! Tasha thought.

He sat back, mindful of giving her space but longing to touch her.

"Data, I don't want to hurt you," Tasha said. "And right now, I'm worried that you aren't, well, I don't want to have sex if you don't understand what's happening."

He registered that she was speaking.

And he was able to identify some of the words.

But Data had no way of communicating that he understood. He may have been damaged, but his ability to make decisions was not impacted.

He knew exactly what to do – and he wanted to proceed.

In fact, he was hoping that it would help him repair the damage to his neural net faster. In the short time they had been alone, Data had already begun to recall a number of memories.

Yet her identity remained elusive, and he was still a little fuzzy on the details.

Data glanced down at his erection that was straining obscenely against his uniform trousers.

He lifted his head back up.

"Please?" Data asked.

He wanted her to understand that he was making this choice of his own volition.

It was unclear to Data how exactly he knew it, but he could recall that she had always treated him with such warm affection.

Data was scared.

He didn't know what the next few days or weeks would bring or how extensive the damage might prove to be.

He needed to know he was loved.

"Gentle," Data said as he stroked her hair.

Tasha closed her eyes at his touch.

"Joy," Data said.

He traced the bow of her lips with his thumb, drawing out a shy smile.

"Love," Data finished, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Tasha opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with her tender-hearted android.

He was so sweet, politely asking for her affection in the only way he knew how.

Gentleness. And joy. And love.

Data had given her all that and more, time and again. And Tasha had only hoped that she could someday demonstrate the same care for him.

Tasha nodded.

"We can do all of those things," Tasha promised.

She got up from the bed and slipped on her dressing gown. Tasha reasoned that putting some distance between them might be for the best.

"Why don't we read for a while, and we can make some hot chocolate? You like hot chocolate-" Tasha suggested.

She gasped as she felt Data come up behind her.

"Us," Data whispered against Tasha's ear.

It was infuriating to be incapable of communicating his own needs. In a way, Data felt trapped.

He was growing frustrated. He understood why she was hesitant, but he was tired of trying to assuage her fears about his ability to consent.

Data decided a direct approach might prove more efficient.

"Re..mem…ber," Data struggled to get out.

"Data, I don't know if this is the right thing for-" Tasha stopped talking as he rubbed his erection against her backside.

"Please," Data repeated in a strained voice.

Tasha turned around and studied his face.

"Data?" she asked.

Her eyes went wide as Data took hold of her hand and guided it to his stiff cock.

Data closed his eyes. His head jerked to the side twice as he attempted to get out the words. His speech pattern was still disjointed.

"Help..ing," Data choked out. "Helping mem….mem…ory."

He rubbed himself against her hand and prayed that she had understood the message.

"Data, are you saying this is helping you to remember?" Tasha asked.

There was an urgency in her voice that even Data could recognise.

"Us? Intimacy is helping you?" Tasha inquired desperately.

Geordi had said that familiar activities seemed to help jog his memory.

She palmed his cock through the fabric of his uniform and Data keened softly.

"More," he demanded. "Please."

Tasha stopped.

Data's eyes flew open.

Had he crossed the line?

"Can you tell me to stop if you don't want this?" Tasha asked.

Data nodded.

It was all she needed to hear.

Tasha pushed him back toward the bed.

Hell, she would ride him until her thighs were screaming and her voice was gone if it meant helping him remember who he was and what they shared.

She wasted no time in stripping off his uniform.

Tasha climbed on top of him. Data sat up and buried his face in the soft swell of her chest.

He adored the feel of her fingers in his hair.

Her touch was gentle. Her body was soft and warm in his lap. It was exactly the kind of reassurance that he needed.

Tasha guided him to lie back on the bed as she sank down on the length of him.

She hissed pleasantly, smiling at the joy of being connected so intimately.

Data watched, utterly enthralled as she began to move.

Tasha took hold of his hand. With their fingers intertwined, they found a comfortable rhythm.

Data had been in this position before, underneath of her, watching her move on top of him as she panted. He had heard these noises before too – the lovely, small whimpers and the low, longing keens of pleasure whenever he hit that spot that made her swoon.

She was his companion – both his colleague and his friend.

And she was his lover.

Brain fried or not, he knew that much.

Data's neural net began to shut down his extraneous systems as Data accessed a flood of new memories.

They had been alone together. And she had been sad that they were going to have to return to work.

She had told him she loved him.

They were sitting together on the floor. Her head was on his shoulder. She was beaming, wide-eyed with wonder as he explained the various points of interest in a star system they were passing through.

Tasha leaned back and increased the tempo of their lovemaking. She gripped his hand tightly and threw her head back, pouring every ounce of what she had into giving Data the kind of physical reassurance he needed.

Data returned her grip, holding her hand tight enough to make her cry out.

"Tasha."

Her name fell from his lips as he came.

Tasha stopped.

Data took a series of slow, steadying breaths.

All of sudden, his eyes flew open.

Data cocked his head to the side.

He sat bolt upright, releasing her hand in favour of cupping her breasts.

Data pushed them together, his tongue gliding across the curve of her as he rubbed his face against them. He might not have been able to say it aloud, but he wanted Tasha to understand just how much he appreciated watching them.

"Data?" Tasha asked, taken aback by this start change in his behaviour.

Data stopped. He looked up, resting his chin between her breasts.

"Tasha," he repeated with a small smile.

"Y-you remember?" Tasha asked.

She broke eye contact, looking away to the wall as she was hit with a fresh wave of tears.

With his hand on the small of her back, Data rolled them so that he was now on top.

"Tasha," he breathed as he nuzzled her neck.

Data may have come, but he was still buried snug inside of her.

Tasha may not have reached her own climax, but she felt wonderfully full.

He guided her legs up around his hips. Tasha crossed her feet behind his back as Data began to gently rut against her.

"Data, you don't have to-" Tasha began to say.

"Shhh," Data said, shushing her.

He began to move, taking her slowly as Tasha caressed his back.

There were a great many things that Data wished he could whisper in her ear – a mix of soft words and affirmations that he felt were a common theme of their lovemaking.

But because of the damage to his speech programme, he was left with limited options.

"Jewel," Data cooed.

Tasha keened as she felt his breath against her ear.

"My," Data went on. "My, my be…love."

He knew that didn't quite sound right, but Tasha understood his intentions.

She squeezed her legs tighter around Data, simply content to lie there as he took his sweet time.


Sometime later that evening, Data had more than worked through his own need for physical reassurance and they had moved on to enjoying the benefits of Data's stamina.

It wasn't that Tasha was complaining. Hell, hours earlier she'd told herself she'd go as long as she could if it helped him.

And she meant it.

But the muscles in her thighs ached. Her back was sore. And she was afraid to look between her thighs.

He'd been more than a little enthusiastic.

She had offered to pleasure Data orally to give her body a breather, but Data had declined. What had initially started as slow, tantric sex had devolved. He'd had her on the bed, up against the wall, and she'd come twice on his tongue already.

Now they were both on their knees.

Data was holding Tasha against his body as he drove into her. He had one arm secured around her chest and another on her lower abdomen.

His chin was on her shoulder. Data was panting as his bony hips snapped against the soft flesh of her backside.

Tasha felt like a ragdoll.

Data's hand slipped down between her thighs.

Tasha shook her head and pushed his hand away.

"For you," Data said with great effort.

"You don't need to do that," Tasha insisted.

"Give," Data breathed.

"No," Tasha shook her head.

Her clitoris felt raw, and she hissed as his fingers began to stroke it.

Data wanted to give her pleasure, to thank her for being so accommodating. He had no inkling that the only reason she hadn't said anything is she thought she was helping him.

Data longed to show her just how special she was to him.

"Give," Data repeated as he kissed her shoulder.

"Uh uh," Tasha grimaced.

He could feel her whole body tense against him.

Suddenly, Data realised there was a problem.

He stopped immediately and felt her visibly relax.

Data got up from the bed and manually turned on the lights in her bedroom.

For the first time in several hours, he took a proper look at Tasha.

"It's alright," Tasha said quickly. "I just need a second."

She sniffed and wiped her face with her hand.

Her eyes were red and puffy, and it was evident that she had been crying silently.

Tasha had gotten teary during sex before, but Data recognised this was different.

He could see the marks along her breasts and shoulders from his duranium teeth.

"It's nothing. I bruise easily," Tasha assured him.

She hissed as she gingerly sat back.

"What?" Tasha asked.

Data looked horrified.

She followed Data's line of sight down her body.

There were marks from his fingers on her hips and legs.

"Oh," Tasha said softly as she eyed the damage.

Well that explains a few things. Tasha thought.

Having barely healed from their first night at the lodge, Tasha found the inside of her thighs were bruised and she was bleeding.

"Hurt," Data commented.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Tasha lied.

Data scowled.

"Why?" Data asked.

It seemed even with his communication issues, they weren't going to be able to avoid another conversation about her disregard for personal safety.

"I just wanted to help," Tasha admitted.

A sorrowful look passed over Data's face.

He shook his head and then headed for the door.

"Data, it's not you-" Tasha asserted.

She moved to follow after him and found her body had failed her. Her legs were like gelatine. Everything was sore.

Data caught her before she hit the ground.

"Care," Data said.

Tasha shook her head quickly.

"Data, I can't go to Sickbay for something like this!" Tasha said in a panicked voice.

There was nothing that could convince Tasha to drag herself to Sickbay and beg Beverly for medical treatment because she'd gotten too wild in the bedroom.

She would never hear the end of it.

Data scooped her up and put her back on the bed. He gave her a look that indicated she should stay put. In the distance, Tasha heard the tap running in the lavvy.

Data returned a moment later with an armful of supplies – a bowl of warm water, soft flannels, a warm compress from the replicator, and a dermal regenerator.

"You don't have to do that," Tasha said.

Data shot her a look.

He most certainly did and was going to.

"Prom…ise," Data said as he cleaned her face.

Data dipped the flannel back into the water and rang it out. He delicately wiped her thighs and was mindful to be extra careful as he cleaned the sensitive tissue between her legs.

"Not," Data paused and frowned as he searched for the right phrase. "Not…no more."

"Data, you can't ask me to stop having sex with you just because of one little hiccup," Tasha replied hotly.

Data stiffened and gave her a sharp look.

That wasn't what he was asking.

"Sorry," Tasha said.

Data took hold of her hand and brushed a soft kiss to the back of it.

"Data, are you asking me to say something next time?" Tasha asked.

Data nodded.

"Data, the only reason I didn't was because I genuinely thought it was helping you," Tasha shared. "I didn't want to stop just because I was a little tired."

She bit her lip.

"Ok, maybe tired wasn't the best choice of words," Tasha confessed. "I love you, Data. I'd do anything I could to help you."

When he was finished, Data activated the compress. Wordlessly, he encouraged her to keep it where she was most sore.

"Thanks," Tasha said.

With a short nod, Data left to clean himself up.

He returned a few moments later and helped her get under the covers. Then Data slipped into bed next to Tasha and pulled her close.

"Tasha," murmured as he snuggled up against her.

It felt good to hear him say her name.

And after tonight, it was Tasha's favourite sound in the whole universe.

Despite being exhausted, sleep eluded Tasha.

It took several hours for Data's speech pattern to regulate, and Tasha was relieved when he began to sound more like himself.

"Please do not push yourself for me ever again," Data asked.

"I won't," Tasha promised. "I just thought it was helping you."

"And I thought I was pleasuring you," Data replied.

"You always do, honey," Tasha grinned. "You know I really didn't mind up until you were so insistent with your hands."

"I am sorry about that," Data apologised.

"Don't be," Tasha replied as she snuggled back against his chest.

She yawned and nestled down into her pillow.

"Oh it's a good thing we didn't have an emergency during all this," Tasha remarked.

"Indeed," Data concurred.

Tasha could think of few more embarrassing things.

"I'd honestly rather scrub carbon for a month than have to explain I was slow to respond after being railed by my Commanding Officer and his rather gifted anatomy," Tasha giggled.

"Mmm ..and his hands…. mmmph …and his mouth," Data murmured as he kissed along her neck.

He wrapped his arms around her and sighed contentedly.

Tasha was so glad he was starting to come back to himself.

"Tasha, there are still one or two things I am, as you would say, fuzzy on," Data said suddenly.

"Hmm?" Tasha replied in a sleepy tone.

"For example, as my system works to correct itself, I have had a hard time distinguishing genuine memory files from what I would consider theories," Data shared.

"Theories?" Tasha asked in confusion.

"Theories about what could happen should I make certain choices in my life. For example, taking up another degree at Starfleet Academy, changing my image to incorporate facial hair," Data explained. "And other things."

Tasha was starting to drift off to sleep as Data went on.

"Tasha, do we have children?" Data asked.

He eyes flew open and she turned over abruptly.

"I am sorry," Data said quickly upon seeing her reaction.

He was afraid that he offended her and didn't know if it was because she was put off by the idea of it or if they did have children and she was bothered that he couldn't recall them.

"Data, we don't have any children," Tasha said.

She wanted to make that abundantly clear.

"Oh," Data replied.

Data's thoughts of tiny toes and mismatched socks, giggles and bedtime stories, first steps and proud parenting moments evaporated before his eyes.

His tone indicated that he was disappointed with that revelation and Tasha realised she may have been a bit too harsh in her answer.

"Hey," she said, stroking his hair. "We just decided to take this relationship to the next level on shore leave."

And by the next level, Tasha meant acknowledging they were committed to one another – even if they weren't sure what to label it as.

But there was something in the way he reacted that made Tasha suspect the idea of having children was something he'd thought about.

"Is this really important to you?" Tasha asked.

She wasn't trying to put him on the spot, but she was curious.

Something told him this wasn't the time to address the issue. If their relationship was all still new, Data didn't want to risk scaring her by moving too fast.

"I was just curious," Data lied.

He'd tell her someday.

But not today.