Stepping into Star Trek
This story takes place just after season 7 of The Next Generation, so Data is still alive and the Enterprise D is still in tacked.
The Enterprise was on its way to Earth to give everyone some shore leave, Captain Picard thought the crew needed a well-deserved rest; he also was invited to a family reunion.
Picard was sat in his ready room sorting through some reports that needed his attention before his departure. He was sipping his Earl Grey tea when the door charm went off. 'Enter" Data entered the room carrying a pad, 'Ah Mr. Data please come in, sit please".
'Thank you sir" Data said as he took his seat. "So Data, I hear your not taken any shore leave, may I ask why"? 'Yes Sir, I do not plan to go down to Earth, however I do wish to take leave of my duties."
This caught the Captains attention and he sat up more in his chair. 'Oh, what is it your thinking of doing with all that time off Data?" Data looked at the captain, he almost looked hesitant to answer.
'I am working on a personal project sir, I am doing some controlled experiments with parallel universes.' Now this certainly got the Captains attention! 'Now Data is that wise? What type of experiments, I don't want to return and find my ship gone only to be in another reality!"
Data tilted his head with confusion, 'none of my experiments could produce such an outcome Sir, I have wrote a report on what I intended to do and achieve". He handed the report to the Captain.
Picard eyebrows rose with the thought of another report to read. "I will read this report Data and get back to you, is that all?" Data got up pushed his chair in and said, "Yes Sir" and headed for the door.
The next day, Picard had given Data the go-ahead to do his experiments. The crew were busy getting ready to leave, Geordi La Forge decided to go and say goodbye to his friend before he left.
'Hay Data, are you sure you do not wish to leave the Enterprise, might be awhile before we return" Data was sat at his computer looking through his experiment plans with Spot on his lap, he picked Spot up and placed her on the floor.
"Geordi come in please take a seat" Geordi walked over to Data but did not sit on the seat but leaned on it. "I have no family to visit on Earth..", before Data could finish his sentence Geordi interrupted. "You know Data, you could always come along with me!"
Data looked up at his friend and gave a gracious smile. "That is very kind of you Geordi, and if I was not so captivated with Dr Stevens work on parallel universes and there affects they have on our own universe, I would love to have joined you".
Geordi walked over to Data's computer to take a look at his work, "well Data if you get finished early come join me down on Earth". Data looked at Geordi and nodded. As the friends said their goodbyes they were unaware that they were been watched.
Data had agreed that he would keep a eye on the skeleton crew on the bridge and running of the ship from time to time as he would be the most senior staff on board. He began that afternoon, visiting the bridge to brief the staff and check on things.
As he was addressing the staff, Q appeared in the corner watching him. "So you want to know about Parallel universes do you Mr. Data, well it would only be polite to help you out. Ahh perhaps I will add a twist as well!" Q said to himself then clicked his fingers.
Data turned his head not sure if he had heard something. Then suddenly the ship shook the bridge filled with a blue light. " Report shouted Data!" The young Henson looked at his monitor, 'we seemed to of entered a temporal anomalie Sir!" Data ran over to look, "we seem to be in the year 2018 Sir!".
Another blue light filled the bridge then a image appeared on the screen. It was a country road with a figure in the distance. The figure was walking slowly down the lane; it was a woman with some sort of bag on her back.
The crew just watched for a moment not knowing what was happing or how it happened. Data looked down at the conceal to see if he could get a location, before he could figure out what was going on the figure walked out of the screen falling to the floor.
The security Officer ran over to the shocked woman sat on the floor with her mouth wide open staring at Data.
The woman slowly go to her feet, still keeping eye contact with Data, but before Data could say anything the Enterprise shock again the blue light returning. This is when the woman fell forward, Data catching her, her head now on his shoulders.
Once the ship had settled the woman left Data's embrace looked up at him as said "Thank you Data". It was Data's mouth now open, he looked at her then said "report" not taking his eyes off her.
'Sir we have returned to Earth, were back in our time", the young Henson replied. The woman now shaken a little looked around, 'I'm on the Enterprise, oh my god I'm on the Enterprise".
'May I ask how you know who I am, and how did you get here!" Data said with a stern voice". The woman looked at Data then collapsed in a heap on the floor, "take her to sick bay and make sure you have a security team meet you, I will contact Starfleet' Data ordered the security officer and another crew member.
As the woman opened her eyes, she was face with a man looking down on her then she heard the sound of a door open, it was Data coming towards her. "Have I died!" she said without realizing she said it out loud.
"You are quiet alright, you are just in shock", the man's voice said. 'You're a Doctor, but not Crusher!" she said sitting up rubbing her head. 'How do you know Dr Crusher and I!" asked Data sounding a little more friendlier, with a curious look on his face.