"I should have said it earlier. I ... want to thank you," she said.

"Thank me?"

"For making me arrest Dare. You were right. It was my duty, not yours, although I know you'd have done it if I hadn't."

"You are-" He stopped the automatic response midstream. "No. You are not welcome to the pain I caused you. Tasha, I hope I never again have to cause a friend such pain, but I am glad you understand I had no choice."

"I understand," she replied, and left him.

Data found the falsified entries easily: inserting a birth record required rearranging the file on all births that day; falsifying school records meant shifting names to insert Nalavia's. Once Data retrieved the original files, which showed no trace of Nalavia's existence, Starfleet Command quickly gave the go-ahead for interruption of all Trevan broadcasts with the information. From that point on, events on Treva became a mere "cleanup operation."

At first people didn't want to believe they had elected an alien to their highest office, but as they were thinking for themselves now, it didn't take long for them to accept that the reason for Nalavia's increasing cruelty could be that she was not one of them. She surrendered to Starfleet when Treva's people stormed the Presidential palace. In sickbay, her ident.i.ty as an Orion was quickly verified.

It appeared, once the storm had settled, that the Trevans were ready to appoint Rikan their new President-even make him king-but he insisted that they follow the const.i.tution and set up elections. He left the Enterprise glowing with health and happiness, and Data was sure he would indeed be elected President-and serve Treva well as it completed its application for Federation membership.

Data and Tasha beamed down with Rikan to his castle, where he accepted the congratulations of his people before the waiting media. He did not speak long, but ended by saying, "I could not have held out against Nalavia alone. Treva owes its freedom not only to Starfleet, but to the man known as the Silver Paladin. He will be remembered and honored always on our planet."

Data heard Tasha's soft gasp, saw her stiffen and fight back tears. He also saw Adin's people watching them from one side of the courtyard, silently accusing. When the interview was over, Rikan tried to lead Data and Tasha over to them, but the seven turned their backs as one, and walked away.

"Let them go," said Tasha. "I don't expect them to forgive me. I can't forgive myself."

"I have always thought Adrian incapable of the charges laid against him." Rikan said.

"I'm sure of it," Tasha replied. "But there is no way to prove it, no way at all."

"Not even with the help of your very clever and talented friends?" asked Rikan, looking at Data.

Data started to protest, but thought better of it. It was better to say nothing, as there was nothing he could do for Darryl Adin.

The strange thing was, despite all logic that said Adin had been proved guilty beyond any doubt, reasonable or unreasonable, he also had what he could only describe as a ... feeling ... that the man was innocent.

On that uncomfortable note, they bade farewell to Rikan, and beamed back to the Enterprise.

Data went back to the bridge, but all during his shift, with nothing to do but routine checks, his primary consciousness kept focusing on the two prisoners in the Enterprise brig. They were now headed to Starbase 68, where both Nalavia and Darryl Adin would be handed over into Starfleet custody.

Nalavia would probably be confined in comfort if not luxury for a time, until the Orions arranged some kind of exchange-probably for Federation citizens taken on a slaving expedition. Of course he had no way of knowing what punishment might await the woman among her own people, since she had failed at her mission. He hoped it was severe.

Data was startled at the thought. Vindictiveness? So soon after jealousy? What was happening to him? In his wish to be human, he had never considered such emotions. Unlike anger, which he had often observed to give people strength to change their lives, these feelings had only negative value. He decided to delete them from his programming.

But ... he could not.

They were entwined with too many other bits of memory; he could not delete his jealousy over Tasha's feelings for Darryl Adin without also removing parts of his respect and friendship for her, as well as numerous concrete facts about their mission to Treva. It was the same with his antipathy toward Nalavia.

He had no choice but to do what humans did with negative feelings: contain them, refuse to dwell on them, and most important, refuse to act on them.

Or ... refuse to let them prevent him from acting.

Suddenly Data realized that he had been repressing one area of his programming ever since Rikan had suggested he might do something to prove Darryl Adin innocent. He didn't know if it could be done ... but once he had acknowledged even the remote possibility, he knew he had to try.

Data didn't know why he thought such evidence existed. He had been over those records; there were no time/entry discrepancies. But then ... an expert with such, a computer would know how to avoid those. He would.

He was an android; he was not capable of intuition, or what Captain Picard called a "hunch." Yet despite all evidence to the contrary he was certain Adin could not have committed the crimes he was convicted of.

He accessed information about intuition and hunches. They were explained as the organic mind determining a pattern from various disconnected facts, some of which might not be consciously remembered.

But Data remembered everything; he could not be reacting to forgotten information.

Still ... it was something like his antic.i.p.ation, opinion, and gestalt programs. Consciously, he let his search function examine the data that formed his opinion that Adin was innocent. The man's actions. His activities as the Silver Paladin. His Starfleet record before the Starbound incident-On his last mission before the training cruise of the Starbound, the defeat of the Orions at Conquiido had been led by a.s.sistant Security Chief Darryl Adin of the U.S.S. Seeker. In recognition, he had been promoted to Commander, and sent to the Academy to update his training prior to posting aboard one of the larger starships.

When the Starbound was a.s.signed to transport dilithium, how could the Orions miss the opportunity to steal such a treasure, and at the same time destroy the man who had dealt that hard and recent blow to their plans of conquest? The prosecution charged that the Orions had not missed it-that they had worked on Darryl Adin's greed to lure him into conspiring with them, and then let him "take the fall."

But what if they had not found such a weakness in his character? What if the tenuous evidence linking Adin to the Orions were forged? If the man were innocent, he must be set free.

Even if when he left the Enterprise he took Tasha with him.

The moment he was off duty, Data went straight to his quarters and instructed the ship's computer to link directly with the main computer at Starbase 36.

"That is not necessary for the files you are seeking," the female voice told him. "All data from those files is in the ship's computer."

"I must have access to the memory in which that data was originally stored."

"You are creating an unnecessary overload on ship's communications," the computer objected.

"Just do it," said Data. "That is an order."

As he expected, the memory of the main computer at Starbase 36 was a Standard Unlimited Virtual. What he had done with Nalavia's computer was impossible, for there was no physical storage to retain discarded information.

Yet ... Data's own brain was a highly-advanced adaptation of the same concept, and he remembered every experience. Even given the instruction, "It never happened," he did not forget; he simply inserted a new command not to act on that information. He placed a similar safeguard on information requiring a security clearance, so that he would neither divulge it upon a routine request for information nor speak or act in such a way as to reveal that the secured information existed.

Data had used computers with unlimited virtual memory all his life, but never before questioned what happened to information deleted from them. Was it truly erased, or did it simply become inaccessible? There was supposed to be no way to retrieve it.

No human way.

But suppose he could access the memory of the Starbase 36 computer directly, using his own mind to manage the data? Intriguing! Whether he accomplished his goal or not, it would be a unique experience- - and a potentially dangerous one. He was almost certain he could make the connection. But ... would he be able to disconnect? Was his personal consciousness strong enough, differentiated enough from that of a sophisticated computer, to allow him to maintain his ident.i.ty?

There was only one way to find out. Cautiously, Data tapped into the link the ship's computer had provided, trying to remain conscious of his own body seated at his terminal while his mind reached out- The starbase computer had no personality, no self-awareness to object to his intrusion. He found he could impose his own order on the chaotic ma.s.s of information: just think about the stardates he wanted, and he had access to the comlink data, hotel registrations, everything. It all matched the evidence provided at Darryl Adin's court-martial.

But had it been changed, tampered with in any way?

As Data formulated the question, he ... felt something. In its information processing mechanism, the computer's brain had similarities to his own-and he sensed familiar patterns a.s.sociated with that particular set of data. Frightening patterns.

Frightening?

The starbase computer could not be frightened. It was Data's fear-a memory from his past.

Priam IV!

It was the most terrifying thing he had had to do in order to become a candidate for graduation from Starfleet Academy. All cadets had to pa.s.s the test, but there was no way to fool an android into believing the situation was real ... except to alter his perceptions.

There had been no projections in a holodeck for Data, no Starfleet test personnel acting roles in his psychodrama. Rather, he had permitted, in fact aided, Starfleet's most skilled computer experts to block his awareness of where he truly was, and place the Priam IV scenario directly into his personal consciousness. His most vivid memories of the test did not stem from the scenario itself, although it had certainly been frustrating enough while he thought himself living it. No, the horrifying parts for Data had come before and after the test, when he felt his mental control taken from him, albeit with his permission and cooperation, and later, unexpectedly, when his consciousness was restored.

It had taken him days to reconcile the true and false memories occupying the same s.p.a.ce and time in his awareness. It was not only illogical, it was a flat impossibility, something the mind of a sentient android was not designed to accept. He knew why his mind contained the two sets of memories-himself lying still in a Starfleet laboratory while technicians monitored his body to be certain nothing malfunctioned, and himself on Priam IV coping with the Prime Directive in a no-win scenario. However, knowing why did not make it easier to live with the sense of paradox.

As it was the Priam IV scenario he was intended to remember, he finally put an access-denial command on his true condition during that time, and it stopped surfacing to disturb him. Still, like everything else he had ever experienced, the memories were available should he lift the prohibition.

What he felt in the Starbase 36 computer was similar: two conflicting sets of memories occupying the same s.p.a.ce-time, one set resident, the other restrained by an access-denial command. The starbase computer had no consciousness to be disturbed by the paradox. It was also incapable of removing the command, even though it had created it when the operator who had changed the files "deleted" the originals.

Data tried various utilities, but whoever had done this piece of programming knew every method for covering his tracks. Not surprisingly, the android could not lift the prohibition by any means available to purely organic programmers. He would have to interface directly with the starbase computer's memory.

Determinedly, Data let his consciousness merge with the computer memory, and reached to access the hidden files. Paradox awakened fear, but he set it firmly aside, seeking, seeking- The prohibition held. He was perceived as an outside force, like any user of the computer. What was deleted was not accessible to him.

Unless he could persuade the computer he was part of it.

He had begun this search for Tasha's sake, but now his own curiosity was aroused. He knew that the information had been tampered with. If he could just maintain his self-awareness, he should be able to access the hidden files and emerge unharmed. Letting go all but the most tenuous link with his body on board the Enterprise, Data became one with the non-sentient ma.s.s of-Conflicting information!

Not merely the memories he was seeking, but everything ever entered or deleted from the Starbase 36 computer bombarded him. With no judgment to a.s.sert priorities, the files in the virtual memory free-a.s.sociated in overwhelming abundance, overpowering Data's own memories, a.s.saulting his consciousness! Drowning in paradox, he fought for control, struggled to impose the order of his self-awareness on the uncaring chaos dragging him toward annihilation.

Weak-kneed and fighting back tears, Tasha Yar approached the brig for the first time since she had forced Darryl Adin to beam aboard.

He was wearing a gold standard-issue coverall. The force field glowed across the front of his cell, and two armed guards stood alert before it.

Sound traveled perfectly well through the force field. At her footsteps, Dare looked up from where he was sitting on the platform that served as seat or bunk, then stood to face her, again completely expressionless.

Yar carried a bundle of clothing. She stopped, facing Dare, and said, "Guards, you are dismissed."

"We can move off so you can talk privately-" Anderson suggested.

"I said you are dismissed." she repeated firmly. The two men looked at one another, but turned and walked away.

Yar waited until they were around the curve in the corridor before she palmed the switch and the force field died.

Still Dare stared at her, neither moving nor speaking.

She stepped forward, holding out the bundle of clothes, the black jacket he had beamed up in on top, displaying the Silver Paladin combadge. "You are free, Dare," she said. "Here-you can call your friends. I'm sure they're following the Enterprise, even if they can't match our speed."

Finally he spoke. "Tasha." It was a harsh whisper. "What are you doing?"

The tears spilled even as she smiled. "I told you-you're free. Dare ... you've been exonerated."

His mouth opened as he took a sharp, disbelieving breath. "What?"

"It's true! You were framed-the Orions set up the attack on Starbound to get that consignment of dilithium and discredit you at the same time. They altered the records in the Starbase 36 computer. You were never notified of the Security meeting, but they changed the records to show that you were there-the evidence of their tampering was in the computer, once Data dug it out."

"Data!"

"Yes," she explained. "No one else could have done it. No human could have gone into a modern Starbase computer and traced long-erased records, but Data got the idea after doing something similar with Nalavia's old computer to find out who she really was."

"Another b.l.o.o.d.y Orion," Dare snarled.

"Yes. But Dare-that's what made the connection for Data: the Orions you defeated at Conquiidor, then your supposed deal with them at Starbase 36. We all knew that made no sense, but only Data was able to prove it-at the risk of his life."

"What?" sharply.

"Geordi-Lieutenant LaForge-found him unconscious. Data doesn't black out, you know. I don't really understandI don't think any of us can-but Data somehow connected himself with the Starbase 36 computer, and got inside its memory to locate the tampering. He almost couldn't get out again."

"Is he all right?" Dare asked, genuinely concerned.

"Yes. Apparently Geordi was able to call him back. They're good friends."

"I think your Mr. Data has a very large number of good friends, including me. But after all that, will Starfleet accept evidence that is really just his word?"

"They already have!" she told him gleefully. "Dare, there is no questioning evidence from Data. And besides, it's been corroborated. Captain Picard sent the information to Starfleet Command, they ordered an investigation of Starbase 36-and found the Orions' mole still in place. The owner of a club frequented by Starfleet personnel on sh.o.r.e leave."

"Another Orion?" Dare asked.

"Yes-altered to appear human. Not being Starfleet, he was not subject to medical examinations. But when the authorities set up a scan of civilians, he gave himself away by trying to run."

"A publican," said Dare. "Who knows what a clever spy could make of the babbling of drunken crewmen? But is it enough, Tasha? Even if I'm cleared of the original charges, there is still escaping from custody-"

"In light of circ.u.mstances, they've dropped those charges, since you didn't kill or injure anyone in your escape. And"- she grinned-"apparently embarra.s.sed some highly experienced Security personnel."

"I had equal experience, and I was fighting for my life. Tasha-I find it difficult to believe there's a chance. Even with the evidence that I was set up at the starbase-what about the sabotage aboard the Starbound? I know I didn't do it, so who did?"

"It looks as if it was Nichols," said Yar.

"The Chief Engineer? But why, Tasha? He was ready to retire after an honorable career. Why would he do such a thing?" Dare asked.

"His records show he had no income besides his pension, and no plans for the rest of his life. He was retiring because he couldn't do his job anymore; no company would take him on with that recommendation. Dare, I don't fully understand, but Data uncovered communications between Nichols and the Orion agents. I really don't think he knew they were using him to set you up; he probably thought they just wanted the dilithium. He ... he used the Starbase 36 computer to study businesses for sale. There is no way he could have afforded a business of his own on just his pension."

Dare nodded. "As Chief Engineer, Nichols had access to the entire ship; it would have been no trouble to install that circuit breaker." He shook his head. "I can't even feel anger at him. The Orions used him, and then they killed him. He was just a foolish man who was only ever good at one thing, and when he lost that he didn't know what to do with himself."

Yar smiled, relieved that Dare was not vengeful. "At least it's all over now."

"Not quite," said Dare. "I don't know if I can face a hearing-"

"You don't have to," she explained. "Captain Picard has good friends among the admiralty. Starfleet Command organized an emergency board of inquiry, and the results came not five minutes ago. You are a free man ... and"- she turned the pile of clothing she carried over to reveal the garment on the bottom-"if you want it, you can be reinstated in Starfleet Security at the rank of commander."

He reached hesitantly as if to touch the green-gold and black of the uniform she offered. But then he put out both hands, took the entire pile of clothing from her, and tossed it onto the bunk. He pulled her into his arms, murmuring into her hair, "Thank you! Oh, G.o.d-thank you, Tasha!" And he kissed her. Only to break off to ask, "Why didn't you tell me all this was going on?"

"Because I didn't know. Data confided only in Captain Picard, and he contacted Starfleet Command." She sighed. "They didn't know if it would be enough to clear you, so they decided not to get my hopes up. And when Starfleet Security arrested the spy ... he said he was your contact. It was Data's evidence against his word-but in the end Starfleet believed Data. It's all over, Dare."

"Thanks to you," he said. Then his beautiful smile. "And Data. What does one do for an android who has just saved much more than one's life?"

"Your thanks will be sufficient," she a.s.sured him. Then she went to the pile of clothing and located his silver combadge. "I do think you should let your followers know at once, before they do something stupid. They followed us when we left Treva; we tracked them on the sensors until our speed left them behind. They must know we're headed for Starbase 68. Why don't you tell them it's only Nalavia we'll be dropping off there? I don't think they'll be much interested in mounting a prison break to rescue her."

"Tasha," Dare chided, "you can't think my gang would have tried to break me out of a Federation Rehabilitation Facility."

"Think it? I know it. And I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd succeeded. I'm just glad that now they won't have to."