All the Ways That Matter

Star Trek Winter Gift Exchange 2025

Data and Geordi have a conversation about what it means to be human.

Fandom(s): Star Trek TNG
Character(s): Data, Geordi La Forge
Tags: Conversations

Rating: General Audiences
Content Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 773
Type: Oneshot, Standalone

Notes: Written for startrekwintergiftexchange for neil-armsloth

Data sat on a chair in engineering, his hand outstretched and held perfectly still on a workbench. Geordi was leaned in close to the exposed joints and wires in Data's hand, and was focusing on delicate repair work.

"What is the prognosis?" Data asked, mostly to make conversation.

Geordi sighed and leaned back in his seat, stretching his arms. "Well," he said. "Let's just say it's a good thing you're an android. If you were anything else, there wouldn't be a hand left for me to repair."

Data tilted his head to the side. "If I were not an android, I would be in sick bay being operated on by Doctor Crusher."

"Fair enough," Geordi said. "But the only operation she would be doing would be an amputation. Human hands don't survive getting crushed by three tonne boulders."

Data's hand, which had indeed been crushed by a three tonne boulder, didn't look good after the fact. His synthetic skin had been torn and ripped. A few of his joints had been warped in such ways that he couldn't move the corresponding finger. Lubricant lines had burst. Electro-synthetic nerves had been severed. The damage was extensive, but compared to what would have happened to a human, it was nothing. This, at least, could be saved.

"I suppose that this is one of the rare times I am grateful not to be human," Data mused.

Geordi picked up his tools and resumed repairing one of Data's finger joints. "Honestly, Data, I don't understand why you're so hung up on this 'being human' thing. Being different isn't a bad thing. As an android, you can do things that lots of humans wish they could do. Why can't you just be happy being you?"

Data was silent for a moment. "Perhaps it is because I was created to imitate a human," he suggested. "It is in my original programming to strive to become as human-like as possible. I hypothesize that this is where my preoccupation with becoming more human stems from."

Geordi didn't answer until he finished replacing the warped joint bearing— delicate enough work without having the additional distraction of talking. "Huh," Geordi said finally, glancing up at Data. "So it's like, something you can't control? That feeling like you have to become more human?"

"Of course it is something I can control, Geordi," Data said. "I have since developed free will. I do not have to obey that programming any longer. I was only suggesting that that programming is from where this desire is rooted."

"I see," Geordi said. "So if it's not your programming, why are you trying to hard to be human?"

Data shrugged. "Because I desire it. Whether because of the initial programming, or whether that desire developed independently. Humanity is something I am curious about and fascinated with. And I wish to experience it myself."

"Well, I don't know that being human is all it's cracked up to be," Geordi admitted. "But if you ask me, you're pretty human as it is. In all the ways that matter, at least."

Data tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean?" He asked. "I am not human in any way. I am made of synthetic parts. I have a computer for a brain. I am merely a machine."

"First of all, you are not 'merely' a machine," Geordi argued. "And secondly, just because you have steel for bones and wires for nerves and a computer for a brain, it doesn't mean you can't have humanity."

"I am afraid I do not understand," Data said. "I do not experience emotions. I cannot feel empathy. From my understanding, the concept of humanity is greatly defined by these characteristics."

Geordi sighed, and gave up on Data's hand for the time being. "Data, whether you like it or not, you do have feelings," he said. "I've seen it. You get worried about your friends when they're in the middle of something dangerous. You're content when you're playing with Spot, or looking at art. You have feelings. You might not experience them in the same way as other people, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that they're there.

"And sure, maybe you can't feel empathy, I wouldn't know. But you're wrong about your definition of humanity. It's not about empathy, it's about compassion. And you show a lot more compassion than a lot of humans out there."

"So you believe that in some ways, I am human?" Data asked.

"Like I said," Geordi said. "Human in all the ways that matter. Now, you have to let me concentrate so I can reattach this electro-synthetic nerve."

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