Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [73]
“What did you want to see me about, Dare?”
“Captain Picard has invited me to act as advisor in the Samdian situation. He told me to work with you.” The mercenary smiled again, this time in his usual sardonic way. “I take it that’s a polite way of keeping me aboard the Enterprise?”
“I’m afraid so,” Data replied. “I will be confined to 202 the ship for some time. But you are a free man, Dare. You can always take your ships and leave.”
“You’re right, of course. Actually, this puts me in an enviable position: Enterprise computers and scanners will provide the most accurate information, we’ll arrive at Dacket in the shortest possible time, and if for some reason the Federation should refuse them aid, we’ll be right there to offer ours.” “I don’t think the Federation will refuse,” Data said.
“However, your experience may prove invaluable if we are forced to fight. Which reminds me, may I presume on our friendship for further lessons? Commander Riker tells me your accuracy with a phaser still stands as a Starlleet record.”
“Does it? After all these years?” He was obviously pleased. “All right, Data, I’ll help you with that, too. It would probably be a good idea to alternate days of practice at weapons and unarmed combat.”
They made an appointment for the next morning, and Dare got up to leave. He paused, glancing toward the crystal holograph base still on Data’s desk, then turned back. “Data,” he said, “you know it is no betrayal of Tasha’s memory to interact with other women, perhaps eventually find someone … special.” “As you have done?”
It was out before Data realized what he was saying. But Dare’s mouth only quirked up in a one-sided smile. “Probably,” he replied, and Data understood the veiled admission that he had little success following his own advice.
Dare continued, “Pris likes you, Data. She wouldn’t expect commitment from a Starfleet officer, but you seem to enjoy one another’s company.”
“I enjoy hers,” Data admitted.
“And you’ve met twice already within the past year. The galaxy is not so large as the planet-bound tend to think.” Dare paused. “When you left the holodeck so abruptly, I thought you might have feared I would object-not that any of my people would allow me to influence their personal affairs. But when I found you…” He shrugged. “Enough. You and Pris are both adults. There is a great deal to be said for an … intimate friendship.”
The next morning Data awoke disoriented again, but this time without panic. He knew that he had dreamed … and yet, peculiarly, he could not recall what he had dreamed. He thought of consulting Counselor Troi, but instead called up information on human dreaming from the ship’s computers and was quickly reassured that his was a perfectly normal experience. That made him smile. He would tell Troi; it was evidence that his psychological state was settling into a human norm.
But he had work to do. He dressed, called up breakfast, and settled at the computer.
Three hours later he logged off in frustration, when the computer reminded him of his appointment with Dare on the phaser range. There was nothing in Starfleet records that he could connect with the Konor. If the Samdians did not insist that they were attacking their planets, there would be no reason to believe they existed. On the phaser range, Dare started Data with a fixed target. “Loose grip,” he instructed, positioning Data’s fingers around the weapon. “Your thumb points at the 204 target. Most people push down with the thumb, which jerks the hand and spoils the aim. The secret is to hold the thumb steady and squeeze with the fingers. Try it.”
Data concentrated, aimed-and missed the target by a meter. Then by half a meter in the opposite direction. “Hold it loosely,” Dare kept telling him, and “squeeze-gently, gently!” but Data could not seem to follow the instructions. He eventually began hitting the target, but