Thanks very much! :) Sorry I wasn't able to finish the story yesterday. I fell asleep and then I didn't get a chance to get back to writing until late, late, late this evening. But, here it is: the last part! Thanks for reading and reviewing, and I hope you enjoy the conclusion of this story! :D

It was still early for lunch, but Commander Evans wanted to talk and The Porthole seemed the perfect neutral spot – not too informal, but not too official either. The cavernous, buffet-style cafeteria was located in the Student Union, but faculty and staff had their own dining room with its own door, set apart from the students' common area.

With quick, sure strides, Evans led the android cadet through the sliding door into the dim, quiet dining room, and smiled. Just as she had expected, at that time of morning the place was nearly deserted, save for one teacher in the far back corner sipping coffee as she slowly flipped her way through an imposing stack of student essays.

"Pick a table, Cadet," Evans said, and strode to the matter replicator that dominated the front of the room. The bulky device was new tech designed to replace kitchens in deep space vessels, and the academy was one of three Starfleet institutions where they were being tested. "You want something? Tea? Coffee?"

"No, sir. Thank you," the android said politely, choosing a table with a view of the large window overlooking San Francisco Bay.

"You sure?" Evans prompted, ordering a black coffee for herself. No matter how many times she used the thing, watching the mug with its fragrant, steaming contents materialize out of thin air never failed to amaze her.

"I am an android," the android said. "I do not require food or drink in the way that humans do."

"That's interesting," the commander said, bringing her coffee to the table and taking the seat across from his. "Does that mean you don't eat at all?"

"No, sir," Data said. "I am capable of ingesting and processing a wide variety of raw materials, and I do have organic components that must, occasionally, be replenished."

"Ah," she said, quickly swallowing a sip of almost too-hot coffee. "Then, you can eat. You just don't have to very often.

"Yes, sir," Data acknowledged. "If you are interested, I could provide you with a detailed schematic of my digestive—"

Evans raised a hand to head him off.

"No, no, that won't be necessary," she said, and smiled a little. "But, I do have to ask: when you do eat, what do you like?"

Data cocked his head.

"Like, sir?"

"I mean, do you have a favorite food? Me, I like lemon brined olives. Oh, and fresh cherries – real ones, right off the tree. These clunky replicators will surely have their uses someday, but nothing will ever beat the taste of real, fresh food. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I would not know, sir," Data said, his yellow eyes fixed on the table. "I do not have the capacity to 'taste' my food, as humans do."

"Really? You can't taste anything?"

"Not as such," he said, his eyes still downcast.

Evans quirked an eyebrow.

"So, I could put hot dogs in your strawberry milkshake and you wouldn't know the difference?"

"I would know that, sir," Data told her, looking up at last. "I can identify and analyze the chemical composition of the foods I ingest. However, I have been told that the experience is not the same."

"No, I wouldn't think so," Evans said, regarding him somberly as she took another, slower sip of coffee. "Data, tell me something. Do you think you're getting enough support here?"

"Support?" The android blinked. "I do not understand."

"You mentioned before that you've been feeling isolated. Alone." She peered at him. "Have you made any friends, Data?"

The android blinked a few more times.

"There are my lab partners..." he tried.

"Classmates. Colleagues. Acquaintances," she said, and shook her head. "Now, ask me if I've made any friends since I took this position last year."

Data looked up at her curiously.

"Have you—"

"No," she answered before he finished. "The answer is no. At least, not yet. Oh, I like my colleagues here. We have a great working relationship. But, so far, that's all it is."

She sighed a little and sat back in her chair.

"You know, Starfleet Officers can go for years hopping from assignment to assignment, building close and rewarding working relationships with group after group, and that's just fine. But, once you move on, most of those relationships just seem to...fade away. True friendship isn't like that. It's not something casual, temporary, or situational. A real friend will stick with you, no matter where your careers might lead, or how far apart you may end up. I want you to remember that, Data, because humans tend to casually throw important words around until their meaning gets muddled, and it's easy to get discouraged, and confused. Will you remember?"

"I will, sir," Data told her. "I remember every fact I am exposed to. But, I am afraid that I do not understand what you are trying to tell me."

She smiled.

"Maybe not yet," she said. "But I think, someday, you might. And, that's why I wanted to talk with you, Cadet. I think there's more to you than you've been letting on in class. And, it might just benefit us both if we took advantage of this day to prove it."

"Sir?" Data narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Are you referring to April Fools' Day?"

Her small smile turned slightly wicked.

"I'm going to give you a little test," she said. "I'm curious to see if your positronic brain is up to the challenge."

Data tilted his head.

"What is the challenge?" he asked.

"I want you to devise an original April Fools' Day prank. Not some rehash of an old chestnut like the banana esters 'stinkbomb' prank your lab partners pulled on you. I mean something I haven't seen before. And, it has to be something light - playful. In keeping with the spirit of the day."

Data blinked rather helplessly, and he seemed to swallow.

"How long do I have to complete this test, sir?" he asked.

"I'll give you ten minutes to give me your best idea," she said, and glanced at her wrist chronometer. "Time begins...now."

Commander Evans glided over to Thackeray's lunch table and dropped a cafeteria take-out box under his nose.

"What's this?" he asked, glancing up from his padd.

"Just a snack," she said. "The replicator got an upgrade this morning. I thought you'd like to try something off the new menu."

Thackeray gave a suspicious grunt, but started opening the container just the same.

"New menu, eh? This isn't one of those weird, extraterrestrial foods you're always— Oh!" He smiled in surprise. "A hot dog! And, it even has mustard and sauerkraut!"

"I thought you'd approve," she said, and sat down. "Ozzy, I want you to nix that eval. I'm recommending Cadet Data advance with his class."

Thackeray paused to stare at her, his hot dog halfway to his mouth.

"What is this, an April Fools'?"

"No," she said. "I'm dead serious, Oz. That android's got potential. I say we give this kid a chance to grow."

Thackeray frowned.

"But you agreed: his cognitive—"

"Trust me," she said. "I think he'll surprise you. And, that's no joke." She smiled. "Now, eat your hot dog."

Thackeray smirked darkly at her, but took a large bite.

His eyes widened, and he quickly reached for a napkin.

Evans laughed brightly into her hands.

"April Fools', Ozzy!"

"Good God, it's sweet!" Thackeray exclaimed. "It tastes like...like strawberries and...and lemon curd...and..."

"Grated pear," Evans offered, struggling calm her giggles. "All on a sweet, eggy bun. Ingenious, isn't it? It was Cadet Data's idea."

"What?" Thackeray frowned at her. "What do you mean? Are you saying that android—"

"I gave him a test," Evans said. "I asked him to put on his thinking cap and use his android ingenuity to devise a suitable prank for April Fools' Day. This is what he came up with."

"A strawberry hot dog? But...why?" Thackeray sputtered.

"Why not?" she retorted. "If you ask me, I think this 'dessert' hot dog is a pretty clever insight into his way of thinking." She smiled. "Not everything should be taken at face value."

Thackeray gave a grudging grunt.

"All right," he said. "I know what you're getting at. But, if I don't see some improvement in Cadet Data's leadership and social skills next semester, I will take my concerns about that machine to the commandant. With or without your support."

"Fair enough," Evans acknowledged, and stood. "But, I don't think there'll be a problem. On my recommendation, Cadet Data has signed up for our Student Mentoring program. Personally, I think he'll make a fine mathematics tutor, and it'll give him a chance to practice those very skills you quite rightly say he needs to improve. Enjoy the rest of your lunch."

She strode toward the door...then glanced back to see Thackeray taking another experimental bite of his strawberry hot dog. He nodded, just slightly, then finished the unique little cake before turning his attention back to his padd.

Cadet Data entered the library's study room, and was immediately surrounded by his three lab partners.

"Data!" Beth exclaimed. "You're still here!"

"What happened with the department chair?" Robby demanded.

"Did she put you on report?" asked Murdock.

"Him? What about us?" Robby said.

"Well, Data?" Beth pressed. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

Data blinked and stared at the three of them in confusion.

"There is no cause for concern," he said. "Commander Evans accepted my explanation. She was most understanding."

"Then..." Murdock stared up at him. "Then, you really took the rap? For all of us?"

"There was no 'rap' to take," Data said, still puzzled. "I explained my mistake, and she invited me to lunch. In fact, she suggested I bring something back for the three of you."

Data reached into his shoulder bag and pulled out three cafeteria take out containers.

The cadets opened them at once.

"Hey, hot dogs!" Robby cheered.

"Wow, thanks!" Murdock said in surprise.

Beth grinned.

"I can't remember the last time I had a hot dog!"

Data slung his bag back over his shoulder, and waited for their reactions. As anticipated, there was shock, then surprise.

Then, came something he hadn't expected.

Laughter.

But, this wasn't the mocking laughter he had heard from them before. This time, it sounded...different.

"Ha!" Robby barked, and clapped the android's arm. "Who woulda thought! Mr. Computer over here has got a sense of humor!"

"I am afraid that I cannot agree with that assessment, as I feel no inclination to laugh," Data said. "But, there is something I would like to say."

"Yeah?" Murdock asked, his mouth full of lemon curd and strawberry mousse.

"April Fools'," Data said, and joined the laughing group at their study table.

The End

References Include - TNG: Hero Worship; The Next Phase; Peak Performance; Deja Q; The Game; Legacy; The Ensigns of Command; Elementary Dear Data... The banana ester prank was my Dad's idea, and so was the idea of a test. The strawberry hot dog was based on a prank I once pulled on him after seeing a cake shaped like a giant cheeseburger. I spooned stripes of super thick strawberry mousse (colored with food coloring) onto plastic wrap, rolled them up and twisted the ends so they'd look like the ends of a hot dog, then put them in the freezer until just set enough hold their shape. They really looked convincing - but the sweet berry smell was a bit of a giveaway... :D

Thanks for reading! Your reviews are always welcome! :D