The Sky's the Limit - Marco Palmieri [119]
DEANNA TROI’S DESTINATION WAS NOT HARD TO IDENTIFY. It was the only one of Starbase 264’s guest quarters to have a guard posted outside the door. “I wouldn’t recommend going in there alone,” the starbase’s security chief advised her.
She threw the Ktarian a look. “The commander is under confinement at his own request,” she reminded him. “I’m certain he’s no danger.”
“I know you served with him for eight years. But you didn’t see what his little tantrum did to that lab. Maybe he’s not the person you knew anymore.”
“And were any people hurt in that outburst?” she said pointedly.
The security chief sighed. “We’ll be right outside if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” she said, reminding herself that the man was simply doing his job. And from what Geordi had told her, even he had been afraid for his safety at the time. Clamping down on her own momentary burst of fear, she stepped inside.
The room was dark. She spotted him brooding in the shadows and moved closer. “I would not advise that, Counselor,” he said. “It would be safer if you kept your distance.”
“Nonsense. I know you’d never hurt me.”
“Not if I were in control of myself. But the way I am now…I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you, Deanna.”
She eased herself into a seat opposite him. “The way you are now is something you can learn to manage. And I’m here to help you do that. If you’ll let me.” She reached over and placed her hand atop his. “I’m not running away from you, Data.”
Her eyes were adjusting to the dark now, and she saw his nervous smile and blinked-away tears. “Thank you, Deanna. Your friendship means a great deal to me.” He gathered himself, pulling his hand back to rest upon his lap. “Still, it is best if I avoid becoming overemotional.”
She sat back. “Is it all right if I turn on the lights?” He nodded, and she gave the computer the order. She studied his face, trying to gauge the extent of his tears. It was harder with him. Although the emotion chip Data had implanted in himself several months ago allowed his brain to simulate human emotional states, it did not enable his face to simulate puffed eyelids and red eyes. And she didn’t get the psionic input from him that she’d get from an organic being. Sensing Data’s emotions was not unlike reading them over a viewscreen, relying mainly on a skilled reading of body language and expression plus whatever EM-frequency neural emissions she could pick up.
Still, she gave him a reassuring smile. “There, that’s better. One thing you should learn about emotions is that darkness tends to promote depression.”
“I am aware of that, Counselor. Yet oddly, despite the unpleasantness of depression, I find myself motivated to prolong the experience. Perhaps because I deserve the punishment.”
She studied him. “Data, why don’t you tell me what happened?”
He moved uneasily in his seat. “I am uncertain how to characterize the experience. It is…disquieting to reflect upon.”
“Well, let’s ease into it. Talk to me about the work you were doing. How you and