Practice! w/ TL

[ol_yellow_eyes]

Lieutenant Commander Data walks to his quarters on the Enterprise, having just been relieved of night-shift duty. He plans to spend his time off entertaining his cat, Spot, and perhaps studying up on the works of William Shakespeare (again).

When the door to his room opens, however, it is not his room at all.

It is a bar.

Is this some sort of malfunction? Perhaps the holodeck has somehow gone haywire and remotely projected this image into his quarters. But the holodeck's technology should not be capable of that...

He considers closing the door, but he notices the presence of several life forms in the bar, and remembers the primary mission of the Enterprise. The captain would be very displeased with him if he did not take the time to study this place, and try to make contact with the beings he finds there.

So the android walks into the bar, his pale yellow eyes mechanically and curiously flickering about his surroundings.

Comments

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

Data looks towards the mentioned window, and is greeted with the familiar sight of stars and galaxies. Currently, he does not see any of the destruction that Legolas mentions... He is silent for a moment, and his eyes flicker back and forth as he processes the new information.

Another world... Data has visited many worlds, but none have appeared in his quarters before. Perhaps it is more like another dimension, some sort of rift in the time-space continuum...

He continues to ponder this, but then looks up suddenly, realizing that he has not spoken for a while. He considers asking more about the physics involved, but remembers that the elf mentioned a possible lack of understanding about its workings, so he decides to drop the subject.

"Thank you, Legolas. I appreciate your assistance." he says finally, then glances at the bar. It looks much like the one at Ten Forward on the Enterprise. "May I join you?" he asks, gesturing towards the seat next to Legolas.

[findsthesun]

"You may," Legolas says, and smiles at him. "They do not charge for the first drink, if you would wish to order one."

He eats the chunk of bread he tore off from the whole--not delicately, but gracefully.

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

Data sits down, considering the suggestion. He has no need of a drink, but perhaps it is usual to order one... On the other hand, it seems they use money in this place, and he has none. Perhaps it would be best to save the free drink for another time.

"No thank you," he tries, watching Legolas for any strange reaction.

[findsthesun]

Legolas nods. "Are androids a common race in your world?"

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

"No they are not," he responds, immediately. "I am only one of two known androids in our galaxy, both created by the same man." He pauses, noticing subtle confusion in Legolas's bright eyes. "Have you never heard of androids?"

[findsthesun]

"No," Legolas responds, easily, "there is no such race in my world, that I have heard tell of."

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Androids are not a race, exactly..." Data hesitates for a moment, wondering if the elf wants him to explain. He remembers the primitive weapon at Legolas's side and wonders if he would even be able to describe himself in a way that the elf would understand.

Asking is often the best choice. "Would you like me to explain to you what I am?"

[findsthesun]

"As best you can, if you would," Legolas says, tilting his head. "There are many creatures I have not been acquainted with before I came here, and they seem to each have an interesting history."

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Webster's 24th-Century Dict--" Data stops himself, realizing that the words might be confusing to his companion. He corrects himself, using a simpler generalization. "Where I come from, an android can be defined as an automaton made to resemble a human being. In other words, I am a machine, a computer that was programmed to think and behave like a man."

He pauses again to ask, "Is this confusing to you? Judging by your weapon, I would guess that the technology of your world is not as advanced as that of mine. Perhaps you do not know what I mean when I use words such as 'computer' and 'programmed.' If there is anything that you would like me to clarify, please feel free to ask questions. I will try to explain to the best of my ability."

Data stops speaking finally, unaware (as usual) that he is on the verge of babbling.