Chapter 2 Continued

Data and Geordi were installing an upgrade to the console that monitored the matter/anti-matter intermix. A few times when Geordi asked Data to hand him something, he was forced to ask twice. Data was also quiet unless Geordi asked him a direct question. Geordi let this go for a while, bringing up different topics, but nothing seemed to catch Data’s fancy today. Finally, with a hidden grin, Geordi asked Data how his evening with Raygan had turned out. Suddenly, he could not shut Data up.

"Raygan is a most fascinating woman, Geordi. We discussed ‘The Study in Scarlet’ and other stories for a number of hours. It was a most enjoyable conversation. She also asked me for a tour of the ship. I have been working on an itinerary. Geordi, do you think Raygan would be more interested in seeing nacelle control or the torpedo bay?"

"Whoa! Slow down Data. Nacelle control or the torpedo bay? Why don't you stick to the arboretum and the holodeck?"

"But, Geordi, she requested a tour of the ship. Should I not include areas such as nacelle control in a tour?"

"Do you think she would be interested in those areas at all, Data?" Geordi asked, turning to give his full attention to his friend.

"She did request I give her a tour, but she did not tell me specifics as to what she did not want to see other than excluding Stellar Sciences, the bridge, Ten Forward and both of our quarters as those are places she has already seen,” Data said, doing his imitation of a grimace.

"Maybe you should ask then, Data." Geordi grinned at his friend and turned back to his work. Once again, Data lapsed into silent contemplation but, this time, Geordi let him be.

After they had completed the installation, Data headed up to Stellar Sciences to discuss the upgrades that had been made to the sensor array. Raygan was in her office working on some reports when he arrived.

"Good afternoon, Raygan. I have come to discuss the upgrades. Is this a bad time?"

Raygan smiled at Data. "It's never a bad time for you to stop by. Please come in."

Data sat down and they discussed what work had been done to the sensor arrays and how this affected Stellar Sciences. Raygan was very pleased by the upgrades. When they had finished their discussion, Data got up from his chair. He stopped at the door of Raygan's office and turned to face her.

"Raygan, I was discussing the tour I have planned for you with Geordi. He thought there may be areas of the ship that would not be of interest to you."

She rested her chin on her hands, her elbows propped up on her desk, studying him. "Any area you have something to tell me about, I'm interested in. I’ll follow your lead, Data. All you have to do is lead." She grinned at him and it almost seemed that Data grinned back.

"I will return to begin the tour after my shift ends. Will you want to eat dinner first, or after the tour?"

"I can wait until after. If it runs long, we can stop and pick the tour up after. Okay?"

"Agreed. I will return," he promised and, with a nod, he left.

"And I'll be waiting," she told the space where he had been.

Raygan was trying hard to finish her report but was having some difficulties in maintaining her concentration.

~ I can't believe how many times the word ‘data’ is used in these reports ~ she thought. Every time she read that word, her mind would wander to her tour with Data that evening. She finally finished the report she had been working on shortly before the end of her shift. Matt stopped by and stuck his head in her office.

"It's almost quitting time. Would you like to join Yalla and me for dinner in Ten Forward tonight?"

"Sorry Matt, not tonight. Commander Data is giving me a tour of the ship this evening." Matt smiled and wished her a good evening. Raygan was tidying up her desk when Data arrived. Peeking into her office, he seemed unsure if he should enter until Raygan looked up and beamed at him.

"Data," she exclaimed louder than she had intended, but she had been looking forward to this all day.

"If you are not yet ready, I-"

"Believe me, Data, I am more than ready." The words were out of her mouth before she really had the chance to think about how they sounded. She cringed inwardly, but if Data had found her words unsettling, he gave no indication of it.

"Then we shall begin," he said, leading her out of her office and department.

Data had decided the best place to begin was at the top and work their way down. Since decks one and two she was familiar with, they began on deck three with the upper level of the main shuttle bay.

Data pointed out many of the features of the main shuttle bay from their position above. Data was impressed by the questions Raygan was asking regarding the shuttlebay. She seemed to have a knowledge greater than usual for someone in the sciences departments regarding these matters. Their next stop was deck five and the science labs. Over the course of the next couple of hours, they also visited the battle bridge on deck eight and the gymnasium, arboretum and holodecks on deck twelve.

“Data, would you mind if we take a break to feed the poor organic life form?" Raygan asked as they walked towards the turbolift.

"Of course not. Would you like to dine in Ten Forward?"

"Sure, but we can't stay too long. I want the rest of the tour," she smiled.

"I do not wish to embarrass you, Raygan, but I find you to be a very fascinating individual. Your wide range of knowledge and abilities are intriguing." Data spoke with obvious fascination.

"Thank you, Data. That means a lot to me coming from you. I find you to be very fascinating as well."

They reached Ten Forward in a few minutes and Raygan was able to order immediately. They discussed the tour to that point as Data wanted to make sure she was satisfied with his choice of destinations so far.

"How many people have you given this tour to, Data?" she asked between bites of food. Data looked taken aback.

"I have given tours of the Enterprise to 189 individuals over the years, but I have never given a tour of this nature to anyone but you. I designed this tour with you in mind," Data told her.

"Oh," she answered softly, wondering why she felt a flush rising to her cheeks.

"May I ask you a question?" Data said, after a moment of silence between them.

"Sure."

"Of what you have seen of the ship thus far, what is your favorite area?"

The flush came back to Raygan's cheek because the first thing that popped into her mind was Data's quarters.

"I don't know if I could pick one area as being my favorite so far. The whole tour has been incredible. You’re a great tour guide." She smiled and reached for Data's hand, which was on the table, squeezing it slightly with hers. "While the arboretum is very beautiful and I can't wait to try the holodecks, I found the information you gave me about the main shuttlebay to be fascinating."

"You are not just saying that so as not to hurt my feelings. As you are aware, I do not have emotions therefore you may be forthcoming with your opinions and I will not be hurt by them."

Raygan looked Data in the eyes, "Data, I would never lie to you."

Data looked at her for a moment in silence. He cocked his head to the side, studying her face. He finally raised an eyebrow. "An exaggeration?"

Raygan laughed. “You sound like you’re suffering from self doubt, Data. I am not lying, exaggerating, or in any other way not telling the whole, complete and unaltered truth...except for one tiny little omission,” she admitted, obviously reluctant to do so. Data leaned forward, his interest piqued. Raygan sighed. “If you’re going to make me tell the absolute, honest truth, my favorite place on the ship was not on the tour,” she admitted with a guilty grin.

Data looked confused. “A place we have yet to go?” he asked but she shook her head. “Your own quarters?” She shook her head again. “The bridge?”

Raygan laughed. “No, Data. Your quarters.“

"My quarters?" he seemed puzzled by her admission. "I do not understand. While my quarters are functional, I do not believe them to be as aesthetically pleasing when compared to other areas of the Enterprise."

Raygan smiled. "It's not a matter of functionality or aesthetics, Data. It's about spending time with someone I consider to be a wonderful friend."

"And I consider you to be my friend, Raygan," Data agreed, his eyes wide.

"That makes me very happy to hear that."

As soon as Raygan had finished her dinner, they resumed the tour. Next stop, deck thirteen and the cetacean ops area and cargo bays.

The pair made their way from the cargo bay to the saucer section's torpedo bay. They spent quite some time there before moving on. There was not much to see in cetacean ops, so they moved on to the location where the captain's yacht was stored.

"Wow!" Raygan exclaimed when she saw the ship. "I didn't expect it to be so sexy."

Data looked almost startled. "You think the captain's yacht is sexy? Is that due to the design of the ship itself or are you attracted to Captain Picard?" Data asked, hesitantly.

"The captain? Oh no, I respect the captain but I’m not attracted to him. It’s the design of the ship. How did you put it, Data?"

"Aesthetically pleasing?" he supplied.

"That's the one, exactly." Raygan put her hand on Data's arm and gave it a squeeze, smiling at him warmly.

Data did not think there would be a problem with showing Raygan the interior of the captain's yacht so the two boarded it to take a look around. Data pointed out many of the features the captain's yacht had that other crafts did not. After looking around, Data led Raygan to the photon torpedo launchers. They spent another thirty minutes there before heading to Engineering on deck twenty-six. They had been in Engineering for almost an hour when Geordi appeared.

"You're still conducting your tour, Data? Maybe you should have considered an abridged version," Geordi joked.

Data seemed concerned.

"Do you believe the tour has been too extensive, Raygan?" Data asked.

"No, Data, I don't. I've enjoyed every moment of it," she assured him.

"So what did you like best - the arboretum, the holodecks?" Geordi inquired.

"While I did enjoy that part of the tour, I would have to say the most interesting areas have been here in Engineering, seeing the captain's yacht and the torpedo bays," she responded.

Geordi looked like he was about to swallow his tongue. "Captain's yacht and the torpedo bays?" he repeated with disbelief.

"Data told me just about everything one would want to know about the launch sequence, maintenance, payload, distance. He is a fount of information and I just can't seem to get enough." Raygan looked over to Data, smiling fondly at him.

Geordi watched Data to see his friend's reaction. Data's features softened and he was giving Raygan his best impersonation of a smile.

~ This is worse than I thought possible, ~ Geordi thought to himself. This woman seemed totally enamored with Data and Data was not unaffected.

Lieutenant K'cabmi approached Geordi.

"Sir, we’re having a problem with one of the consoles."

"Data," Geordi turned to his friend, "would you mind taking a look for me?"

"Of course not, Geordi." Data turned to join Lieutenant K'cabmi at the console to find the problem.

"Commander La Forge, I would like to apologize to you for being so rude last night in Ten Forward. You shouldn't have had to leave," Raygan told him with regretful sincerity.

"No need to apologize, Commander, but please call me Geordi."

"Thank you. Please feel free to call me Raygan."

"I asked Data to look after that because I wanted to talk to you for a moment...about Data." 

Raygan looked startled. “What about Data?” she asked. Geordi motioned for her to follow him to a more secluded area of Engineering. He turned to give her a compassionate look.

“You understand Data is not capable of emotions like we are?”

“Yes, he explained that the first day I was aboard. Why?” she asked, confused.

“Then you understand he can’t return your feelings like you may want him to.”

Now Raygan looked almost angry. “What are you talking about? I understand you and he have been friends for years. Why would you think he isn’t capable of friendship?” 

"Yes, we’ve been friends since we first came aboard the Enterprise but for Data, friendship is familiarity. His positronic net becomes use to someone being around and he programs responses based on his familiarity with that person. He can't be emotionally hurt by another person's actions but you could be unintentionally hurt by his," Geordi explained, compassionately.

"I appreciate your concern, however I need to point out two things. Number one, Data and I are friends, you make it sound like we're dating or something, and number two, I'm a big girl."

"Forgive me if I’ve stuck my nose where it doesn't belong but I just felt you should know the score before...well, know the score anyway. I hope this won't affect our becoming friends."

"Any friend of Data's is a friend of mine, Geordi," Raygan said with a smile. 

“Ditto,” Geordi said, returning her smile, but when Data came back to collect Raygan and continue with the tour, Geordi’s smile faded. He was just not convinced there was not something going on between those two.

Once Data and Raygan finished with viewing the antimatter generator, the tour was over. It was late, but Raygan was off duty the following day, so she had told Data not to worry about how long the tour ran. Judging her comment about his quarters as significant, Data guided her back there. They found themselves plunging into a long and thoroughly enjoyable discussion of ‘The Hound Of Baskervilles’. Data was surprised at Raygan’s stamina. Even at 0232 she was still going strong and the conversation gave no indications of even slowing down.

“You are certain I am not keeping you from your rest?” Data asked at 0314.

“I’m sorry, Data. I’m boring you, aren’t I? I’ve monopolized you since yesterday evening. I’ll go.” She got to her feet and moved reluctantly towards his door.

Data moved to stop her, employing his superior reflexes. “No, you misunderstand me, Raygan. It was not my intent to ask you to leave. I simply wished to be sure I was not monopolizing your time.” 

"You're not, Data," Raygan laughed. "I’ve enjoyed every moment we have spent together."

"Raygan, may I ask you a personal question?" he said, remaining near to her.

"Ask me anything, Data."

"You had indicated you read ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ a number of years ago." Raygan nodded her head in the affirmative as Data continued. "You appear to have a superior memory compared to most humans."

"I see where you're going with this, Data. I think the easiest way to explain it would be to tell you that my father is human but my mother is Rekellian. I have inherited many of her Rekellian traits such as having superior and instant recollection.  I also don’t require as much sleep as humans so you don’t have to worry about me staying up late. I’ll be fine."

"Hmm," Data responded. She thought that was so cute when he said that and smiled. 

"I better go," she noted. "I’m a little hungry so I guess I’ll head to Ten Forward for some breakfast. I know your shift starts soon and you probably have lots-. " Raygan had cleared her expression, putting on her best Data face as she tried to sound like she was not suggesting anything.

"Raygan”, Data interrupted, “May I join you?"

Raygan grinned and then caught herself. “Sure, Data. Let's go," she said, trying not to sound as eager as she felt.

In her office, two days later, Raygan was recording her commentary on the odd particle densities they had found of rabium. Matt needed the exact particle count for section A-29 and Raygan had been doing that and the count for A-12 and B-8 as well. She was also thinking how much she missed Data. She had not seen him since the evening...morning after the tour and she wanted an excuse to see him again - any excuse.

"Raygan, where's the data?" Matt asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Data? I imagine Commander Data is on the bridge, since he is on duty at this time. Why are you asking me?" she said, defensively.

"What? Commander Data? Raygan, I was asking for the particle density data. Sounds like someone has a crush on a certain second officer," Matt teased, grinning wildly. He had seen the two together a few times and had noted Raygan talking about the commander.

"Oh please, Matt. We're friends. I'm almost finished with the particle density counts so be patient." Matt turned to go back to his station. "Oh and Matt, I'm the boss remember," she teased back.

"Aye, aye ma’am," he saluted.

Raygan thought about what Matt said and chuckled to herself. ~ A crush on Data. I don't have a crush on Data, ~ she decided with a huff. The whole suggestion was preposterous.

When her shift ended, Raygan headed back to her quarters. When the turbolift doors opened on deck two she was surprised to see who was waiting to catch the lift - Spot. Raygan picked Spot up in her arms.

"Where do you think you're going, Spot?" She scratched behind Spot's ears as she spoke. She pressed the comm panel. "Computer, locate Lieutenant Commander Data." The computer reported Data was on the bridge. Raygan brought Spot with her to her quarters and instructed the computer to notify her when Data arrived at his. She brought the Holmes book out and decided to read another story while she waited. Spot leapt into her lap and was purring contently as Raygan stroked her fur and read ‘The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle’. 

 Data returned to his quarters and immediately knew Spot had escaped again. She would come to greet him almost like a dog when he came in 91.12% of the time. She did not come. When Data called, she did not answer. Data resigned himself to a hunt for her, but on an impulse tapped his communicator.

“Data to Commander Silver.”

“Silver here. Missing someone?”

“I believe I am,” Data replied.

“Should I come there or will you come and retrieve her?”

 "I will come to you if that is okay, Raygan."

"Just come on in then. No need for the chime."

Data arrived a few seconds later to see Spot fast asleep in Raygan's lap while she had the Sherlock Holmes' volume in front of her.

"Hi, Data. Please sit down. Can you stay and talk for a while?"

Data sat on the other end of the couch from Raygan.

"I haven't seen you in a couple of days. How have you been?" 

"I have been well. I hope you have been well."

Raygan looked over to study the golden eyes of the man beside her. He seemed unsettled.

"I've been busy, but good. You seem distracted. Are you okay, Data?"

"I am. However, I have a question for you."

"Okay. Ask."

"I have a very small role in a play that will be performed before the crew in three days. My role will be concluded approximately five minutes into the play. I intend to view the remainder of the play with the rest of the audience. I was curious as to whether you would be interested in sitting with me." 

"I would love to sit with you, Data. I'll make sure to save you a seat."

Data seemed relieved as if he thought she would turn down his request.

"Thank you, Raygan. I am looking forward to sitting with you." He looked over at the book to see what story she was reading.

Raygan smiled at Data, "I've just finished reading ‘The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle’ if you would like to discuss it."

"I would be happy to discuss the story with you,” he smiled.