Having nothing better to do before i wrote the serious stuff, i thought i'd insert Charlotte into the relevant scenes in the movie. I'll be doing the same for the other 3 as well.
Standard disclaimers, plz r/r.
After Worf's promotion ceremony, when Geordie installs Data's emotion chip.
Charlotte skipped down the corridor, in a good mood and proudly wearing her second pip. She paused at the door and pressed the button, and stepped inside.
"…But I'd stay out of sickbay for a while if I were you," Geordie was saying as the two of them looked towards the visitor.
Spot jumped off Data's lap and sauntered over to Charlotte and rubbed against her legs, and she patted the cat as she remembered what she was there for. "Sorry for interrupting, but I just had to talk to you. Deanna said that you pushed Doctor Crusher into the water at the ceremony!"
Geordie grinned. "That he did."
Her eyes opened wide in disbelief. "Whatever possessed you to do that?"
"I was attempting to…" Data tilted his head, searching for the right expression, "…get into the spirit of things, as Doctor Crusher put it. I thought it would be amusing." He frowned, clearly troubled by his inability to understand.
As Charlotte shook her head, Data got up and walked over to a bulkhead, where he activated a control panel. A small compartment slid open to reveal a tiny chip suspended in a crystalline case. Charlotte didn't recognise it, but Geordie seemed to. He moved closer, both curious and apprehensive. "Data… are you thinking about actually using that thing?"
"I have considered it for many months." The android focused his golden eyes on his companions. "And in light of the incident with Doctor Crusher, I believe this may be the appropriate time."
Geordie frowned. "I thought you were afraid it would overload your neural net?"
"This is true," Data replied. "However, I believe my growth as an artificial life form has reached an impasse. For thirty-four years I have endeavoured to become more human- to grow beyond my original programming. And yet I am still unable to grasp such a basic concept as humour." He turned back to the case. "This emotion chip may be the only answer."
An emotion chip? Charlotte grinned, remembering a brief story Geordie (from the other universe) had told her. Another thought entered her mind. Maybe he'll be able to return my feelings…
Geordie leaned forward top dubiously study the chip, then sighed. At worst, it could cause some complications, but not permanent damage. And what right did he have to deny his friend such an experience? "All right… but at the first sign of trouble, I'm going to deactivate it. Agreed?"
"Agreed." Data promptly sat down, offering himself as a willing subject, while Geordie moved behind him and opened a panel in his head, revealing blinking circuitry.
"This won't take long…" Geordie said, as Charlotte settled at his friend's feet.
And it didn't. Once the delicate operation was done and Geordie had pushed the panel back, Data blinked a few times and looked around the room before his eyes settled on Charlotte. They held each other's gaze, neither moving nor blinking. Hope flared in Charlotte's chest, and her heart started to beat excitedly. Please oh please oh please…
"I believe…" Data started slowly, "I believe… Charlotte's presence… has produced an emotional response…"
Charlotte's heart leaped, while Geordie grinned. "Oh yeah? Would you be able to put a name to it?"
"I do not know…" he shook his head slightly, "I cannot name this feeling…"
Charlotte took his hand and smiled fondly up at him. "You don't have to."
Geordie started to edge away. "I'll be in Ten-Forward, guys."
"No." Charlotte stood up and pulled Data out of the chair. "We're coming with you. This is a big event, guys- we should celebrate. There are feelings and emotions and sensations that you've never experienced before, and I wanna be there when you do. And you know what? It is gonna be… fantastic."
And Data nodded, a proper smiled spreading over his face as she squeezed his hand and lead him out of the room, with Geordie following close behind.
