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Isaac trailed off, finding it difficult to verbalize his thought processes.

“Then you might be tempted to follow in Data’s footsteps,” Picard finished for him.

After a moment’s consideration, Isaac nodded. “Yes, Captain. Succinctly put.”

Picard smiled and reached over to pat Isaac’s shoulder in a familiar gesture. “I think you worry needlessly, Isaac. If the experience of these last years is any indication, you have the potential to be as fine an officer as Data ever was, if not better. And I have come to trust your sense of judgment, as well as your dedication to duty. If you have concerns about what future actions you might take, rest assured that I do not.”

Isaac considered the captain’s words for a moment. “Still, Captain, I find it difficult to reconcile my admiration for someone with my disagreement with the actions they take.”

Picard’s smile widened. “That’s what being part of a family is all about.”

“Family, sir?”

“Of course, Isaac. What else is Data but a part of your family? Oh, perhaps not in the biological sense, but in terms of sharing a common origin, in having a similar makeup and similar capabilities, most definitely.” The captain paused, and his face took on a somewhat wistful impression. “Take it from someone who knows, it is quite possible to love and admire a member of your family while still disagreeing with them vehemently. My own brother…” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I doubt there is a person alive with whom I have the potential to disagree more than I do with Robert, but I love him no less, for all of that. That’s part of what brothers do…part of what families do…They disagree, they argue, they fight. And yet, at the end of the day, there are ties there stronger than any difference of opinion.”

“I suppose so,” Isaac said, far from convinced.

“Blood is thicker than water, Mister Isaac.”

“Sir?” Isaac wore a quizzical look.

“It’s an old expression. It means…” The captain scratched his chin. “Oh, I’m not sure what it means, to be honest. But what it suggests is that family is family, and that admiration and respect do not always run parallel with agreement and concord.”

Isaac nodded, thoughtfully. After a moment, he said, “Thank you, Captain.” He rose to his feet. “You have given me much to consider.”

Picard smiled, and stood beside him. “Try not to worry, Mister Isaac. I have every confidence in your judgment. And as for me, I’m most curious to see this planet of androids.”

“As am I, Captain,” Isaac said with an eagerness that surprised him. “As am I.”

Wesley Crusher had finished meeting with his staff in main engineering, a brief session to make sure they were prepared for any contingencies, and stood waiting for the turbolift that would take him to Deck 6. When the door slid open, Sito Jaxa smiled at him from inside.

“Going my way, Wes?”

Crusher grinned, and stepped inside, sliding a phaser and a tricorder into their respective pouches at his waist.

“It’s been a while since we were on an away mission together, hasn’t it?” Sito asked.

After thinking back for a moment, Crusher grimaced. “Oh, that time on Risa,” he said. “When the weather control network went down.”

Sito wore a lascivious grin. “And that Orion woman gave you a horga’hn, remember?”

“Remember? How could I forget?” Crusher rolled his eyes. “How was I to know she was inviting me to join her in jamaharon?”

“Well, if you’d paid attention at the briefing…” Sito began, with a shrug.

“I was busy recalibrating the warp coils!”

Sito grinned. “You know, Wes, I think that if you could just marry your warp drive and get it over with, everyone would be much happier. No mere woman could ever command such devotion.”

Crusher scowled, playfully punching her on the shoulder. “That’s not fair, Jaxa. I’ve dated loads of women.”

Sito narrowed her eyes. “Name one,” she challenged. “And nobody that you shared dinner with once at the academy mess hall counts.”

Crusher opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Well, there was