I DO NOT OWN STAR TREK OR ANY OF THE ELEMENTS OR CHARACTERS THEREIN. THEY ARE THE PROPERTY OF GENE RODDENBERRY AND PARAMOUNT.

THIS STORY IS PART 3 OF MY DATA/HEVA SERIES! Author's note to follow

"Captain's Log: Stardate 49389.12

For the past four weeks, we have been tasked with scouting a small area of the quadrant for a missing engineering station known as 'The Colossus'. Aboard this station, we were informed there would be a team performing a series of complicated experiments. I was informed that we are not allowed access to the nature of these experiments. Our main objective was to find the station and ensure its residence's safety as there had been some troubling transmissions sent over the receding months. I was also informed that the nature of the transmissions are to be kept from us as well. We have at last found the empty station. After scanning for life forms, we found that the station had been left abandoned. I am currently awaiting permission from Star Fleet Headquarters to send an away team aboard to scout for any foul play. It is frustrating to say the least that we have so far been kept in the dark.

Meanwhile, Admiral Quinn, who assigned us this mission, has also instructed that we build a sophisticated transportation vessel to carry the crew of The Colossus and any of their equipment back with us should the need arise. If the crew has indeed abandoned the experiments, we will undoubtedly be tasked with bringing them back in this vessel. I have tasked Lieutenant Commander Heva Brookes along with Commander LaForge with this assignment. At present, they are still reviewing the schematics sent to us with the original assignment. I trust, however, that with their combined engineering strengths, the two of them will undoubtedly proceed higher than the expectations set for them. However, as a precaution, Star Fleet has assigned an unnamed Engineer to assist them with the construction. Apparently, he is very close to this secret project and has high recommendations. His stay is limited, but I do hope that he will shed at least a little bit of light on what we are dealing with here. I have sent Commander Data to retrieve this mysterious man from his ship, The Laconia, at a scheduled rendezvous point. I am still awaiting their return."

Heva's head gradually nodded off to the side as Geordi struggled to hold the schematics up for her. The two of them had been working relentlessly over the course of 18 hours to construct at least the first component for the transport vessel, per Star Fleet's orders. The fact that this mission was coated in secrecy bore them no help. The two of them had constant struggles with the equipment sent to them; the elements of every last scrap were almost foreign to them. It was as if they were looking at hundreds of alien components, which while not altogether new to them, was still frustrating. It was a good thing that they both had a knack for deciphering the complicated. Otherwise, nothing would have gotten done that day.

"Geordi…" Heva yawned, stretching out her hand and wiggling her fingers tiredly. "Hand me the uh…the um…" She squinted at the charts Geordi held before her, trying to ignore the fuzziness in her eyes. "It's called the..Quaratic Feloderator…Good lord, what the hell is that supposed to be?"

"It's kind of like a sonic screwdriver." Geordi replied, feeling himself begin to nod off himself. "What do you say we finish with this last step and call it a night? We will have tomorrow to do more."

He handed her the instrument, which to Heva looked like a tiny scythe with the handle of a 21st century wrench. There were tiny buttons lining the handle that twinkled at her sleepy eyes with bright blues and purples. She inspected it, swaying slightly, and read the instructions on the schematics before applying it to the pieces of what she guessed would be the propulsion systems for adjustments.

"Just one more little….THERE!" Heva tossed the quadratic feloderator to the floor and stood, staggering slightly before gaining balance. "Let's get the hell out of here. I don't wanna see this cargo bay again for at least another twelve hours."

Geordi lifted himself to his feet and arched backwards, rubbing his back with both of his hands and groaning.

"Neither do I. I'm going right to my quarters and falling right into bed." He sighed, patting Heva on the back.

"Me too. I hope that Data is back, I haven't heard word from him and he was supposed to be back hours ago." Heva said, slumping her shoulders as she followed Geordi to the cargo bay door.

"He only had to go a few lightyears away to rendezvous with the Laconia. That is a bit odd that he hasn't checked in. Who was he supposed to be picking up?" Geordi inquired, feeling the same tiny twinge of worry he was sure Heva was feeling.

"Star Fleet didn't say." Heva replied, pursing her lips with disapproval. "The Captain AND he both told me that he's an engineer specifically assigned to help us with this construction. I don't understand why they are being so elusive with us about this. What could they possibly be working on?"

Geordi simply shrugged as they walked the halls of the Enterprise. At his quarters, he bade Heva good night and told her to meet him at 09:00 hours in the cargo bay to continue their work. Heva nodded to him, yawning widely and continuing to the turbolift and to her and Data's quarters.

It had been two years since Heva joined the crew of the Enterprise, and respectively two years since she and Data had gotten together. Even so, the halls of the ship still seemed to amaze her. What amazed her even more was the growth of her beloved android.

Together, Heva and Data had made quite an impact on their friends on the senior staff as well as with the rest of the crew. Their relationship, while unique, was a strong one and in everyone's opinion, made them both better for it.

Heva, however, never felt that she was anything extraordinary. What continued to bemuse her was Data's continuous elevation in the ways of being human. Each day, she thought of him less and less as an android and more as a man. Yet, she never really saw him as an android in the first place. He was the man she loved, and each step of progress he made only caused her to beam on him with great joy.

After a year and a half of being together, Data had informed her that Counselor Troi suggested that they move into the same quarters. He had told her, "The Counselor believes that it is a necessary step at this stage of our relationship. She said that typically, when couples get as close as we are, they take things to the 'next level'. She continued by saying that a lot of couples believe that this simulates the feeling of marriage and gives a couple insight into what marriage will feel like for them. If you are willing, I would like to move you into my quarters."

Heva gave a small chuckle at this memory as she turned another corner. It had been six months since had made a lot of accommodations for her moving in. The bed he had was outfitted with a new mattress and sheets from Heva's old quarters. He had added some floral décor along with pictures of Heva and her late parents, them together, and even a stack of old files containing 21st century cinema for Heva to enjoy. He knew how much she loved old films.

After a long day like this, all Heva wanted was to walk in and see Data and Spot in their usual spot at his desk. Data always sat there working by the time she got off duty, idly petting his beloved feline as he purred happily beside him. Data would always stand and round the desk to give her a big, long hug. Not before Spot would hop down from the desk to round her legs, though.

Tonight, though, Heva was met with a disappointing sight. The doors slid open to reveal a room in darkness. Data had not yet returned from his away mission. As she switched on the lights, Spot leapt down from the bed and ran up to greet her, mewing excitedly.

Heva gave a small smile and bent to pick him up, reveling in his loving rubs and purrs. She held him and absentmindedly pat his furry head while she made her way to Data's desk. She sat with Spot in her lap and reached over to turn on the monitor. The traditional Star Fleet emblem appeared with Data's name splashed across the bottom. She entered his password and looked at his last log entry:

"Second Officer's Log: Stardate 49385.24

The Captain has informed me that I am to rendezvous with The Laconia and retrieve their Engineer at predetermined coordinates. This engineer will be aiding Lt. LaForge and Lt. Commander Brookes with the construction of the transport vessel. So far, our readings on The Colossus have proven inconclusive. Unless we are permitted to board, we will not know what we are dealing with. This troubles me, as Heva has been working endlessly to concoct reasoning and logic behind the schematics handed to her and Geordi. I am scheduled to leave the Enterprise at 14:00 hours this afternoon. The rendezvous point is only a few lightyears away, a duration of 10 hours via shuttlecraft. However, I expect that my trip may take slightly longer than anticipated as I was also told I would be briefed on some elements of our mission. I certainly hope that this will be so. I would like to help Heva and Geordi at least somewhat with this task. My main assignment with this is not only to retrieve the engineer from the Laconia, but to review the Colossus' trajectory from their last known point to attempt to decipher what could have driven them so far out of range. It is frustrating not to be able to help neither Heva nor Geordi. Perhaps what little I will be told will be enough to give them a push forward to completing their goal."

Heva felt her lips curl into a warm smile. Data was so caring to her and Geordi. She knew how badly he wanted to be assigned to construction. However, the Captain felt it would be better to use his skills to track the Colossus' last known coordinates. From what she knew, the Colossus was originally stationed just beside a moon near a system at the outer reaches of the Alpha quadrant. How it had gotten all the way to the other side was beyond them.

What puzzled her the most, as well as everyone else, was that although Admiral Quinn had given them this assignment, he was being so touchy and enigmatic about the whole thing. He had told Captain Picard that he assigned the Enterprise because of their legendary history. Yet they were given foreign treatment on the matter. She supposed that soon, she and the rest of the crew would know. Things never stayed secret for very long.

Just as this thought entered her mind, she heard the most welcoming sound she'd heard all day.

"Data to Commander Brookes. Guess who's home? Meet me in shuttle bay one before I hunt you down."

Spot yelped as Heva jumped up and raced from the room, tearing down the halls as if she were a teenager again. Every tiny bit of exhaustion that had been plaguing her seemed to melt off of her as she ran. She stepped into the turbolift, feeling herself practically vibrate with anticipation.

"Data, I'm on my way."

Hello everyone,

I am formerly Irish-Smitty, the author of Uncharted Territory and The Beast Within

It has been over 5 years since I last posted here and for that, I sincerely apologize. However, I am overwhelmed! I recently unearthed this account to find DOZENS of PMS and emails regarding the continuation of this series. I was so humbled by all of your kind words and I realized that a promise is a promise and I fully intend to continue all the way to part 7.

I truly and sincerely apologize for my ridiculously long absence. See my profile for details, or PM me, or whatever! I'm just so happy to be back and I promise to update this story as often as possible. I certainly hope to hear from you guys soon. And you better bet that things are gonna get PRETTY interesting when Heva gets to Data.

Nikki