"The planet was an Earth colony."

"Yes, sir."

"But you told me you were built by an alien race."

"That is also correct," Data replied calmly. "It occurred on Kiron III, where a human colony there faced accidental extinction. Unknown to that colony, an alien race of highly advanced machines lived there too. Seeing that the humans were to be destroyed, the aliens built me. They wanted to preserve what they considered the most important quality of the humans -their knowledge. Being machines themselves, they naturally considered information the most important quality of all. It appears I was completed and programmed shortly before the final catastrophe."

"What happened?"

"I am-afraid I don't know, sir. I have a conscious memory only of what happened after everyone was dead. Someone had set a repeating distress beacon in orbit. A Starfleet vessel finally responded and discovered I was the only one alive on the planet. Humans are the first sentient life form I ever met." He smiled a little shyly. "I was taken to Earth for study by Starfleet, but in the question of how the catastrophe occurred or what its trigger was, I have no programmed information."

"The aliens?"

"Their fate is also a mystery to me. Apparently, they died as well."

"Odd that they built you in the shape of the humans and not themselves."

"Perhaps they felt that humans would relate better to me this way. At least, they built me to approximate what they judged to be human form."

"Mmmm." Riker looked at Data's yellow eyes and opalescent-gold skin, the only two features he could see that signaled that he was not human. "You are biomechanical in construct. Does that mean you eat?"

"I can consume almost any kind of solid material and convert it to fuel, and my systems do require oxygen for certain chemical balances. Ordinary liquids are of no use to me, which was why I was puzzled when the admiral insisted on trying to press a drink on me."

"Don't worry about that." Riker smiled. "That's just the admiral."

"Yes, sir, I understand," Data said eagerly. "Perhaps you can explain something else to me. Do you understand why he kept calling me 'boy'? Of course, I was designed as a fully functional male."

Riker cleared his throat, unsure of what to reply to that. "I believe... it's just an expression the admiral uses for any male younger than he is."

"Ah." As far as Data was concerned, that answered that.

Riker was still uncomfortable and decided to push the conversation into areas in which he had concerns. "You have the rank of lieutenant commander. Honorary, of course."

Data shook his head and replied cheerfully, "No, sir. Starfleet Academy cla.s.s of "78; honors in probability mechanics and exobiology."

The android smiled at Riker's expression of surprise. "Actually, sir, Starfleet regulations allow the acceptance of any qualified candidate so long as he, she or it tests out as a sentient life form.

Does any of this trouble you?" asked Data.

"To be honest... yes, a little."

Data nodded sagely. "Understood, sir. Prejudice is very human."

"Now that troubles me. Do you consider yourself superior to us?"

"I am superior in many ways. But-" Data hesitated. "I would gladly give it up to be human."

Riker studied him a moment, a.n.a.lyzing his own emotions. The fact Data was an android seemed less and less important in the face of his open honesty, his gentle philosophy, and his obvious yearning to become more than a biomechanical construct. Finally Riker said, "Nice to meet you-Pinocchio." Data stared at him, uncomprehending. "A joke," Riker explained.

"Ah! Intriguing," Data said. "You must explain it to me."

Riker grinned spontaneously. "You're going to be an interesting companion, Data." Aware of the time, he added, "We should go back. The captain will want the away team to get started as soon as possible."

They walked back along the path that Riker had followed to the glade. Riker looked around again at the incredibly convincing foliage and shook his head. "This is marvelous," he said. "The Hood had a holodeck, but it was nothing like this. I understand it can be programmed in almost endless combinations."

"Yes, sir. Some seem to be requested more than others. For instance, this woodland pattern is quite popular. Perhaps because it duplicates Earth so well, coming here almost... makes me feel as if I'm human too."

Riker paused and picked up a long blade of gra.s.s to study. "I didn't believe these simulations could be so real."

"Much of it is real, sir. If the transporters can convert our bodies to an energy beam, then back to the original pattern again-"

"Yes, of course." Riker pointed the blade of gra.s.s. "The rocks and vegetation here have much simpler patterns. I saw a hummingbird on my way in ... and I heard squirrels and a crow... ."

"Projections, sir." Data waved his hand at a nearby area. "The rear wall."

Riker stopped and stared intently. The wooded area stretched away in a dense growth of trees, low brush and shrubs. A few spots of color were visible where wildflowers spread a throw rug of blossoms on the gra.s.sy stetches. "I can't see it."

"We are practically next to it." The android bent and picked up a large rock as Riker squinted vainly to see the wall. He pitched the rock about eight feet in a line directly ahead of Riker. The stone hit something in midair with a heavy thud and then bounced back to fall in the thick gra.s.s. "Right there, sir," Data said helpfully.

"Incredible." Riker knew he had twenty/twenty vision, but stare as he might, he could not make out the wall that confined the holodeck. Wesley's voice in the near distance brought Riker around as the boy called out.

"Isn't this great?"

Wes was hurrying down the opposite slope toward the stream. "This is one of the simple patterns, Commander Riker. They've got thousands more, some you just can't believe." He started across the creek, nimbly bouncing from rock to rock. "I was just over in the Himalayas, tracking the Yeti-"

Riker suddenly remembered the stone that had wobbled perilously under his feet when he had crossed.

"Careful," he yelled, "that next rock is loose!"

Wes stepped on the slab, and it tipped sharply under him. His arms flailed, and he fell off balance, tumbling into the stream with a huge splash. Data bounded down the hillside in swift, ground-covering leaps, landed with perfect balance on the treacherous rock, and reached down to grab the front of the boy's tunic. Riker stared in amazement as the android easily lifted Wesley out of the water with one hand and hoisted him overhead.

Wes shook the wet hair out of his face and stared at Data in awe. "Wow!" he gasped. Data smiled faintly and set him down on a dry rock. "You must be the android. I mean, sir... uh, thank you. I can swim, but-"

"The water is ten degrees centigrade to simulate a mountain stream. I believe you should return to your quarters and change into dry clothes as soon as possible. It is an old Earth remedy for such an event."

"I'd have to agree, Wes," Riker said. He saw the plea dancing in the boy's eyes and knew what he would have wanted at that age. "Lieutenant Commander Data," he said formally, "may I present Wesley Crusher."

"How do you do, Mr. Crusher," Data said. He offered his hand and lightly but firmly shook the boy's. Wesley loved it. Now he had an adventure to tell Adam and Craig Harris.

The intricate hatchway from Holodeck area 4-J into the corridor slid smoothly open at their approach.

Data, Riker, and a very soggy Wesley stepped through. The boy was happily trailing behind a dirty wake of muddy water as he listened to the two officers talk.

Picard was on his way through the holodeck with Commander Reasons of Stores and Supply when the three figures emerging from the parkland area caught his eye. Two of them were instantly recognizable as Riker and Data. The wet and bedraggled boy was unknown to him, but he was clearly making a mess on the scrupulously clean deck. Reasons paused and looked inquiringly at him, and Picard motioned him ahead. "Go on, Mark. I'll meet you in the Stores office." Picard waited for the other three to approach him.

Wesley cringed inside, aware of his dripping clothes, his squelching shoes, and the long snake of muddy footprints he was leaving behind. There was no doubt in his mind as to the ident.i.ty of the intimidating man with the severe eyes who waited for them at the corridor intersection. Even if he hadn't immediately recognized the four small gold disks of a Starfleet captain, he had seen the holo of his mother and father and Jean-Luc Picard often enough. As they halted in front of the captain, Wes would have liked to wish himself away-but there he had to stand, his wet clothes steadily forming a puddle on the deck around his feet.

"I'm glad we met you, Captain," Riker said. I was going to report as soon as I returned to the bridge." He glanced at Data and then met Picard's eyes again. "I investigated the subject you recommended. Most informative, sir."

"I'm glad you found it instructive, Commander," Picard said. His eyes tracked down to the puddle at Wesley's feet.

"Yes, sir," Riker continued. "Data has agreed to join my away team. I've decided to include Lieutenant Yar and Lieutenant Commander Troi."

"An excellent choice."

Wesley shrank inwardly as he felt the water dripping off him in what seemed like a river. It's only a few drops, he kept telling himself. And he knew very well that even one drop on Picard's deck was an offense to the captain.

"I have one other suggestion, sir. There's a young lieutenant who reported on board with me.

According to his medical record, he has some interesting visual capabilities that might be of help to us. His name is LaForge."

"Very good." Picard lowered another glance toward the puddle collecting around Wesley's feet.

Wes cleared his throat and managed to say humbly, "Sir, maybe I should get something to wipe this water up."

"Good idea," Picard replied coolly. He turned and strode away.

Wesley continued to drip.

Wes found his mother in sickbay and begged a towel from her. Once he had mopped up the entire muddy trail he had left from the holodeck to sickbay, he dried himself off in Beverly's office while he regaled her with his adventures.

".. . and there's a low gravity gymnasium too. Did you know they have a pair of Sondrian marsh boars on the ecology deck? It would be hard to get bored on this ship-"

"All I want to know is how you got so wet." Beverly picked up another soggy towel coated with mud streaks. "Look at this mess."

"I couldn't help it, Mom. The rock I stepped on tipped and I fell in the stream and Commander Data had to pull me out."

She went back to the medical supplies check she was running to establish the state of her inventory on hand. "I'm sure there's a long tale that goes with that synopsis. Do I get to hear it at dinner?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Now go and clean yourself up properly." "Okay." He looked up at her hopefully, deciding to ask for the favor that he had been mulling over since the day before. "Mom ... could you get me a look at the bridge?"

"That's against the captain's standing orders. Unless there's a medical emergency or the captain specifically requests me to report, even I'm not welcome on the bridge."

"Are you afraid of the captain, too?" Beverly turned on him, her cheeks flaming with color. "I certainly am not!" "But Captain Picard is a pain, isn't he?" Beverly paused and weighed her answer carefully. It would be easy to agree, to get Wes out of her hair for a while. But she had always been aware of her responsibilities as a single parent and had tried to answer her son's questions honestly. "Your father liked him very much. Great explorers ... great captains ...

are often lonely ... no chance to have a family...."

"Just a look, Mom. I could stand in the turbolift and just get a peek when the doors open. The doors are going to open and close anyway, right? I won't get off."

"You're looking for trouble, Wes," Beverly said ominously. Then she glanced at him and saw the very real want in his eyes. She sighed. Never could deny him much. "Let's see what we can do."

Chapter Eight.

GEORDI LAFORGE WAS startled to hear his name called over the intership. "Lieutenant LaForge, please report to First Officer Riker in Transporter Room Three. Lieutenant LaForge to Transporter Room Three immediately."

Hughes stared at him in equal surprise. "What's he want you for?"

"I don't know. But I'd better get to Transporter Room Three."

"What about Commander Barton? He wanted us to report at 1300. It's almost that now."

Geordi shrugged. "First officer ranks him."

When he arrived at the Transporter Room, Geordi found Riker waiting with two services officers and a sciences officer. He came to attention in front of Riker and announced formally, "Lieutenant LaForge reporting as ordered, sir."

"Right, LaForge. You're beaming down with us on an away mission. This is Commander Data, Commander Troi and Lieutenant Yar."

Geordi acknowledged the senior officers, a little uncomfortable with so much rank, then he looked back at Riker. "Sir, I'm supposed to report to Commander Barton-"

"We're aware of that. Captain Picard will clear it with the commander. On the platform, Lieutenant."

Geordi quickly took a place on the transporter pad with the others. "Could I ask what my a.s.signment will be, sir?"

"I need your eyes, Lieutenant." Riker nodded to the transporter chief. "Energize."

They materialized near the foyer into the shopping area. The mall was crowded with off duty Enterprise personnel and civilians browsing and shopping. The Bandi were busy catering to their visitors, and Riker even noted that most of them looked decidedly happy instead of merely accommodating.

Tasha sent a practiced eye around the mall and moved up beside Riker briskly. "Recommend that someone begin by examining the underside of the station, sir. If this place was built the way most of them are, there'll be service tunnels under the whole complex. Sometimes looking at the underside gives you a better view of the top."

"Our sensors do show some pa.s.sages down there, sir. Perhaps you and I?" Troi accompanied the suggestion with a slightly arch glance that carried another suggestion entirely. Riker looked away, troubled.

"Tasha-you and the counselor."

"Sir." Tasha strode away quickly. Troi shot Riker another look, one that was somewhat amused, and then followed her.

Riker turned to Geordi and Data and gestured them after him. "Let's start with the topside.

Lieutenant LaForge."

"Sir, I still don't understand exactly what I'm looking for."

"There are a lot of questions about the construction of the station, Mr. LaForge," Data explained.

The most basic appear to be how the Bandi built it so quickly and what materials they used."

"Take a good look around you, Lieutenant. Do you see anything unusual about the structural materials?"

Geordi began to scan, moving his head slowly. The VISOR allowed him to adjust his vision in a number of ways, microscopically, telescopically, and thermal register among others.

"Well, Lieutenant?" Riker prompted.