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You get what? he asked the android.

Data erupted in laughter again, then finally controlled himself enough to gasp out, When you said to Commander Rikerand he perfectly mimicked Geordis voice The clown can stay, but the Ferengi in the gorilla suit has to go.

Geordi stared blankly at him. What?

During the Farpoint mission. We were on the bridge and you told a joke. That was the punch line.

The Farpoint mission? Data, that was seven years ago.

I know. I just got it. The android began giggling again. It was very funny.

Geordi shot him a dubious glance before turning away. Thanks …

He headed down a short corridor that connected the main operations room with several compartments; Data followed, still chuckling softly.

Geordi stopped abruptly in front of what appeared to be a standard bulkhead. He turned excitedly to Data. Wait a minute. Theres a hidden doorway here. I can see the joint of the metal with my VISOR. He ran his finger in a vertical line over the deceptively smooth metal.

Data stepped beside him and scanned the section with his tricorder, then frowned at the readout. There appears to be a dampening field in operation. I cannot scan beyond the bulkhead.

Geordi slung his tricorder over his shoulder and pressed his hands against the metal, trying to coax it open. I dont see a control panel … or an access port.

It appears to be magnetically sealed. Data put his own tricorder away, then peeled back the pale golden flesh on his wrist to reveal flashing circuitry. As he spoke, he made a deft adjustment. I believe I can reverse the polarity by attenuating my axial servo.

He finished his task, then waved his exposed circuitry over the bulkhead panel. Open sesame.

From within the panel came a hum, followed by a loud click. The door slid open; Data turned toward his friend with a smug grin. You could say I have a … magnetic personality.

Ive created a monster, Geordi thought, but restricted himself to a grimace. Maybe if he ignored the androids annoying attempts at humor, they would pass. He moved quickly into the small room, which housed several probes stacked in holding racks, and began again to scan.

Almost immediately, he realized that they were very close to discovering the reason for the attack and turned to Data. Im still not picking up anything. Someone went to a lot of trouble to shield this room.

He put his tricorder away and moved over to the probes, ignoring Data, who was still snickering at the accumulated punch lines of a lifetime. One probe in particularsmooth and dark as polished onyx, the size of a burial tubecaught Geordis attention.

Data, take a look at this. He glanced over his shoulder at the android, who hurried over. You ever seen a solar probe with this kind of configuration?

Grinning maniacally, Data held his tricorder toward Geordi like a puppet, then opened and closed it rapidly, like a ventriloquist making a mannequin speak. No, Geordi, I have not. He then turned the tricorder toward himself, as though it were addressing him:

Have you? He shook his head solemnly, answering his makeshift puppet. No, I have not. It is most unusual.

He burst into high-pitched laughter; Geordi felt his own expression harden. Thats it, Data; the minute I get you back on the Enterprise, that chip is coming out … Just help me get this panel open, he said shortly.

Data controlled himself long enough to comply. Soon the panel swung open.

Whoa! Geordi recoiled. My VISORs picking up something in the theta band. It could be a trilithium signature …

Data erupted into giggles.

This time, Geordi made no attempt to hide his irritation. Data, this isnt the time

I am sorry, Data gasped between peals of laughter; his eyes were wide with alarm. But I cannot stop myself. I think something is wrong …

His laughter soon escalated to full-blown hysteria. As Geordi watched, helpless, the androids limbs began to tremble and jerk, as if he were having a seizure. A rapid cascade of emotions convulsed his features: anger, joy, passion, terror, hate, longing, in such rapid succession that to Geordi they were