Exploring Humanity (Data x Reader)

Chapter 9: The Difficult Decision

A week had passed by ever since the confrontation in your quarters between Lieutenant Marsh, Data and yourself. You felt more lonelier than ever. The days went by slowly, and all you could do is count every minute go by. You spent the first two days in sickbay. Although you woke up an hour after you blacked out and you were fine afterward, Dr. Crusher decided to keep you in to monitor your vital signs. She then dismissed you to your quarters and once again, you were restricted not to leave until further notice. The only two people that would come in daily were Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi. When they would stop by, you were glad to have company, and it was the highlight of your day. You received no other visitors.

You would ask Deanna Troi who this Lieutenant Marsh was and requested details on Data, but she insisted that she would talk about it soon and promised that it would be clear to you over time, you just had to trust her. You had no idea why she would hold back such information, but you didn't want to scare her away considering she was one of the only people that came in to see you. Whenever she came, she would instead go over other things that you had gaps in your memory. Dr.Crusher didn't say anything either.

The incident that occurred left you perplexed and deep in thought. You were confused and lost. You'd spend your hours reflecting back on what happened, and you tried to connect it with your limited memory. You still had no idea who this Data was. He was a mysterious stranger. When he confirmed that he was in fact an android, it shocked to you. You wondered why he never told you this important detail. But you decided to not judge him on that, it should be obvious that in this era of time there is no need to explain who you are. What did concern you though was one detail that Marsh mentioned, the fact that he had an android brother that almost killed people on the ship. What if this Marsh was correct, and Data is a threat to you? But there were other details that kept you from not completely going against this android. Up until the confrontation, Data was the only one that truly was there for you, taking time out of his day to come and help you gain memory. You would pick up each gift he gave you and reflect on his kindness and generosity. But at the same time, Marsh's words would haunt back, and you wonder if Data did it to befriend you and cover up the tracks of the possible dirty truth of androids with his supposed twin brother. But... which was the truth? Thoughts like these would run for hours in your head. It was like a mental ping-pong game, where you would go back and forth.

You would also wonder why that golden-eyed stranger never came back ever since the event. You had a communicator and you could ask for him. But because he never contacted you back, you decided to just let things be. Maybe Marsh was right and he left because the truth was exposed.

On the other end of the situation, you were not aware of the conversations that took place after you blacked out in your quarters a week ago:

"I have located Lieutenant Marsh and he is placed in the brig. Are there any further orders Captain?" Worf asked over the communicator.

"That will be it for now. Just keep him there while we continue the investigation. Picard out."

The captain rubbed his temples and looked over at Data. They were gathered at the counselor's office.

"I'm sorry for what happened Data, I truly feel for you. Do you have any idea as to why Lieutenant Marsh reacted that way?" the captain asked.

Data sighed and gave a nod.

"I believe so. I have known Lieutenant Marsh ever since we were both at Starfleet Academy. We shared some classes and we both graduated the same year. We hardly ever spoke to each other; it was only done when we were assigned together to complete tasks or simulations. When we did, I noticed that he seemed irritated by me, but of course, with no emotions back then, I felt neutral. However, one cadet came forward and spoke to me in private. He heard John Marsh say that he hated the way I spoke, the way I explored everything with open-mindedness, how I was easily accepted into the academy while it took him a few years, and how I was quickly being promoted. He did not agree with the fact that they could trust an artificial being to join Starfleet, I am the first one of my kind. I tried to speak to him on that matter when I learned that it was unhealthy behavior for humans, but he always rejected my presence. After we graduated the academy, I did not see him after until a year ago, when he joined the Enterprise."