Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [107]
“What?”
She smiled. “Can’t you see it? You’re in love with Thelia. Passionately in love with her. No other woman can overcome such a force.”
He sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Then … that’s why I feel guilty when I have a pleasant time with another woman.”
“Yes,” Deanna said. She sat down on the couch beside him. “I’ve rarely come across such intensity of emotion, Data.”
He nodded. How could he not have known? It was so plain now, the feelings overwhelmed him. He wanted Thelia, and no one else. “Counselor-what can I do?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You must get permission to return to Elysia. If my experience means anything, she is probably yearning for you in exactly the same way.” 297 He nodded, still half-dazed. “I hope so, but .
. . why couldn’t I see it for myself? Why didn’t I know it was Thelia?”
“For completely understandable reasons, Data. At first, you were overwhelmed simply by the sensations of being human,” she reminded him. “More recently you have been consumed by your duties-but Data, if Thelia feels as you do, you will have little trouble persuading her to join you on the Enterprise. his “Yes!” he said, feeling a grin spread across his face. “She will …” His voice trailed off, his grin faded, and his expression turned to one of surprise. “Deanna, she doesn’t know we can be together! She was sent back to her land before my transformation took place. She must think she’s in love with an android!”
When Data approached Captain Picard with his request, and Troi confirmed it, the captain considered the options. Data could spend several months in a shuttle or several weeks working his way from starbase to starship to reach Elysia in stages. “And then how long to get you back again?
No-the study of Elysia is far from complete; I expect Starbleleet will approve our having another look.”
There was no way to hail Thelia from orbit so, using the ship’s sensors, Data and Geordi worked out which habitat was hers. Atridia turned out to be by far the biggest of the habitats, more heavily populated than the ones the Enterprise crew had visited, with one large city, several smaller ones, and numerous towns and villages.
Data shook his head in frustration. “Geordi, how am I ever going to find her?”
His friend laughed. “She’s a local heroine, rernember? We’ll put you down in the biggest city, and I’ll bet the first person you ask can tell you where she is.”
Data nodded. “You’re right. I guess I’m just not thinking straight.” “Don’t worry about it.”
Geordi clapped him on the shoulder. “Everyone’s rooting for you, Data. Good luck.”
He beamed down near the bustling city-and from the moment he materialized, Data was overwhelmed with happiness. Thelia was somewhere nearby, breathing the same air, being warmed by the same sunshine. When he reached the town itself, he couldn’t help but think that the entire place shared his mood, for all about him were healthy, well-dressed people in the midst of preparing for some sort of celebration. Banners and flowers festooned the buildings, some just being hung up as Data watched. Loops of white and gold intertwined with loops of blue and maroon, while huge garlands of yellow, pink, and orange flowers turned the street into a rainbow.
At first no one took particular notice of him.
His uniform was of different material, cut, and style from the clothes of the passers-by, but among the gaudy colors the greenish gold and black did not command immediate attention. And of course he now appeared as human as any of the natives.
He looked along the street in either direction. There was nothing to see but people and buildings one way, but in the opposite direction there rose above the city a turreted castle that he recognized: the one in the background when Elysia’s gods had unsuccessfully tempted Thelia with the vision of her home. He set 299 out in that direction, winding between people busily cleaning and decorating the city.
The place had obviously grown up without the advantage of a designer; the cobbled street twisted and turned,