Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [78]
“It could as easily have blown the game,” Pulaski said. “Your friend Mr. Adin is a master con man, Data. Be careful how you let him use you.” “He came very near to losing,” Data replied. “In the lightning barrage, aim is less important than the pattern of attack.”
“Only when the contestants are as good as you and Worf,” she told him. “So the score could have gone either way. In the end, I won by … luck.”
Other people came up to congratulate Data; even many of his crewmates who had lost money wished him well as they paid up. He sensed no hard feelings; the match had been truly close. Dare might have “hustled” to increase the size of the bets, but he must have known that either of such evenly matched opponents could have won. He and his gang could have lost just as much as they had won.
Now that the test was over, Data found he was both hungry and tired-and learning to distinguish between different kinds of tiredness. He did not need to sleep; he needed a meal and some time sitting down, preferably in pleasant company.
That was easily arranged: Pris Shenkley left the knot of people still paying off bets, and came over to Data. “Congratulations. You did beautifully, Data. Do you have plans for this evening?”
“No-would you care to introduce me to more new foods?” “Certainly. Where shall we go?”
Just then Counselor Troi came over to them.
“Data, you have passed all objective tests to requalify you for bridge duty, and I have observed no extraordinary emotional instability.
Your confidence was justified. I think you should resume all your duties now, except away team assignments.” “Thank you, Counselor.”
“So even more congratulations are in order. Will you come to TenForward for a drink to celebrate?”
“Certainly.”
As they walked through the corridors, Pris asked, “Why shouldn’t you go on away teams if you’ve passed all the tests?”
“Bridge duty is relatively predictable; away team duty is not. In only these few days, how can I know how this body will react in new situations? Furthermore, should any crew member on the bridge fail in his duty, he can be quickly replaced. That is not true of as away team member. Pris, I have no complaints; look at the progress I’ve made already.”
He . did not add that, aside from the android strength and information retrieval abilities he had lost, his job on away teams included the scientific skills in which he had majored at the Academy. Those he had not yet been retested for, as he had been concentrating on what was… humanly … possible in the brief time he had: achieving active bridge status. “You’re right, of course,” Pris agreed. “Let’s go celebrate your achievement.”
The party in TenForward was fun. Data tasted 217 champagne, and found that it tickled his nose as it had his nasal sensors as an android, but was not particularly appealing in taste. There were a good many toasts, though, and after a while he began to feel slightly … intoxicated. It was a pleasant feeling, so he just let it happen. After a time, the party began to break up. Pris asked, “Are you hungry, Data?”
Yes, he still was, now that he thought about it.
“Let’s go get something to eat,” he agreed, climbing to rather unsteady feet. Out in the corridor, he realized he didn’t know where they were going.
Pris seemed to. He let her lead him, enjoying the pleasantly muzzy sensation of his head seeming to float just slightly above his body. He was vaguely surprised when they reached his quarters.
“You want to eat here?”
“You have a food dispenser, haven’t you?”
“Oh, yes. Only the best for Starfleet officers.”
“Excellent,” she said, and while Data watched, bemused, she started ordering, not food, but a lace cloth for his worktable, settings of crystal and china, a rose in a bud vase, and more champagne. The bottle arrived chilled but sealed; Data got the wrappings and wire off, and laughed as he popped the cork and the champagne fizzed up.
Capturing the bubbling fluid in glasses, he and Pris drank another toast