Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek: The Next Generation or any of its compelling characters. Please don't sue me or steal my story. Thanks!

NOTE: This story is a result of insomnia, TNG: Thine Own Self, and a note in the Star Trek Companion book indicating the name 'Jayden' was from a Barkon IV fairy tale similar to the Earth story of the Frog Prince. It's not finished, it has just four of, maybe, eight chapters, but it is starting to spark my curiosity, so I'm going to post it here and see what you think so far. I hope you enjoy it! :)

1.

"It came out of nowhere, Captain," the navigator, Ensign Martinez, exclaimed over the blaring alert klaxons, his fingers flying over the console's surface. "There was no way to avoid it!"

"Mr. Data, report," Picard demanded, fighting to maintain his footing despite the violence of the storm that was pummeling his ship.

"It is a spaceborne ionic disturbance, sir. Quite severe, and growing in intensity," the android said from his ops station, enduring the jostling jolts with his customary calm.

"Can we ride it out?" Riker asked, struggling to keep from being tossed from his chair.

"The magnetic interference is making it difficult to determine the size and extent of the storm, Commander," Data said, aiming a slight frown at his console's unsatisfactory readouts. "I estimate we have approximately three minutes before the stresses overwhelm our shields and—"

A blinding electrical bolt hit the ship, leaving the bridge crew dazzled and disoriented. Another immediately followed, then another.

Picard felt an uncomfortable, static tingle crawl over his skin, and saw Riker's shadowy form twitch beside him. He squinted through the crackling electrical arcs snapping through the charged air, the bursts of white light causing his eyes to tear.

Martinez was gripping his chair for dear life, swaying and rocking with the rest of them, but Data seemed unnaturally still, his normally busy hands stiff and unmoving.

Picard tried to move toward his second officer, but found himself thrown back against his command chair. He climbed into it with difficulty, wondering how many minutes had already passed, whether the shields or the storm would give out first…

A horrible, bucking turbulence rattled the ship, the chairs, Picard's teeth—

—and just like that, the space ahead of them was clear and black and dotted with stars.

"The storm… It's gone!" Martinez said, still rather winded from the ordeal. "Dissipating…almost to nothing. It must have been a localized phenomenon, sir. Something about that particular area of space."

Picard released a careful breath, the residual electrical tingle making the hair on his arms and at the back of his neck stand on end. He stood, only to find his uniform clung uncomfortably to his legs and torso.

"Nothing like a case of static cling to prove you've been through an electrical storm," Riker commented, pulling at his own uniform.

"Indeed, Number One," Picard grunted wryly. His first officer's normally neatly brushed hair looked as though he'd rubbed it with a balloon. "But, at least we did make it through. Mr. Data, has there been any damage to the ship's systems?"

The android didn't reply.

Picard and Riker shared a concerned glance and headed toward him, but Data slumped forward and slid from his chair, lying flat and still on the carpet.

"Data!"

Riker was at his side in a moment, gently shaking his shoulder, but the pale android remained unresponsive, his wide, golden eyes staring blankly toward the ceiling.

Picard slapped his combadge.

"Picard to sickbay: medical emergency. Mr. Data is down, most likely a result of the ion storm we just encountered. Inform Commander La Forge: Data requires immediate assistance."

"Understood, Captain," Dr. Crusher's voice responded. "We're on our way."

To Be Continued…

Reviews welcome! :)