Here's the next chapter. Hopefully I'll be able to do weekly updates.
As we walked, with Data holding Geordi's arm to guide him, Wesley asked me questions.
"What instrument do you play in the band?"
"The flute. I can also play the piano and guitar."
"Data can play any instrument. But he prefers the violin. Have you always lived here?"
"No. I was born in Phoenix, Arizona, then lived in Texas, Michigan, Maryland, Japan, then here."
"I've lived the same type of lifestyle. Always on the move."
"Were your parents military?"
"You could say that."
"So, where are you parents?"
"My dad died when I was little. I was just recently separated from my mom."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's alright."
"How did you end up with Data and Geordi?" I asked.
"They're friends of my mom. She works with them. Then I discovered my prodigious talent for engineering and started working with them."
"Your mom's an engineer?"
"No, she's a doctor."
"Have you got other friends?"
"Not really. People my age are usually intimidated by me. Geordi's a bit shy when it comes to people. And people are very intimated by Data because he's a… because of his strangeness." Wesley smiled.
"And naturally, you three gravitated towards eachother," I commented.
Wesley nodded. "What about you family and friends?"
"Two younger sisters, two parents, five friends."
"Only five? I would think that someone as intelligent and… beautiful as you would have more than five."
"I don't like being in large groups of people. I also value my solitude."
"I do hope we're not intruding on your valued solitude," Geordi responded.
"You're not. I was with my friends when I saw you."
"You left them to get a closer look at us," Data said.
"Yes. I feel like I was meant to meet you."
It took fifteen minutes of walking to reach a creek outside of Lakenheath Village.
I sat down near the water and closed my eyes. "We're far enough away to not to hear the cars. Hardly anyone comes here. They don't have time for natural beauty and peace."
"You're right. It is peaceful here," Wesley agreed, sitting down next to me.
"Geordi, we're alone here. You can wear your visor," I told the blind man. "We're staying here for the next hour. I'm going to meditate."
"Meditate?" Geordi echoed.
"I set aside at least an hour everyday for it."
"Do you consider yourself enlightened?" Data asked.
"More enlightened than anyone else around here. Now if you don't have anymore questions…." I sat cross-legged and lay my hands on my knees, palms up.
I wasn't disturbed until forty-five minutes later, when we heard loud laughing. I turned to see who was coming. It was Seifer and his gang. Geordi had already switched out his visor for the sunglasses.
Let's go," I told my three new friends.
As soon as we had started walking away from Seifer, half of his gang ran in front of us to block our way. We turned and came face to face with the rest of them. We were surrounded.
Seifer made his way to the middle of the circle that we were enclosed in. He looked the four of us over. He shook his head and said, "This is worse than your usual group," he commented.
"Really? I'd never thought you'd say that," I responded.
"Well, let's see. A geeky guy, an albino with yellow eyes, and…" he stopped to rip the sunglasses from Geordi's face. "And a blind guy. How did you come across them?"
"None of your business," I shot back.
"Really, Tegan, they look like a lot of trouble. Let me take care of them for you. Consider it a favor."
"The only favor I'd accept from you is to stop wasting my time."
"Here I came, found you, and sincerely offered to do you a favor, yet you respond rudely."
"I know what kind of care you'd give them."
"Still, they'd be off your hands."
I sighed. "Seifer, are you looking for a fight? If so, then stop talking and hit me."
The British boy grinned and threw a punch to my face. I easily cross-blocked it and flipped him over onto his back. He quickly got up and tried to hit me again. I grabbed his fist, then hit his chest and hook-kicked the back of shin at the same time, making him fall flat on his back. I kneeled next to him, holding him down.
"Would you like to know what I can do to you while in this position?" I asked Seifer.
The British boy shook his head vigorously.
"I'll tell you anyway," I said. "I can break your nose, knock you out with a backfist to the temple, break a couple of ribs… need I go any further?"
"N-no," Seifer stammered.
"I'll let you go if you leave me alone."
I let him go as soon as he nodded his head. As he and his gang left, he shouted to me, "This isn't over!"
I shook my head and turned back to my friends. "You know, that was the first time I've had to use my Kuk Sool Won training in real life." I walked past them and looked at the calm, flowing water of the creek.
Wesley put his hand on my shoulder. "You didn't have to do that for us," he said softly.
"Yes, I did. Someone has to put that boy in his place," I replied.
"And you've taken it upon yourself to do so. Well, who better than the Enlightened Warrior," Wesley smiled before embracing me.
When he let go, I smiled back and said, "We should go now. Mr. Barbier should be back soon."
'Soon' ended up being half an hour. We had sat down on my teacher's porch to wait for him. After he parked his car, he said to me, "Hello, Tegan. I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon." He glanced at Data, Geordi, and Wesley. "What's going on?"
"Could we talk inside for a moment?" I asked in reply.
"Uh, sure," Mr. Barbier said before unlocking the door.
As soon as the door closed behind the two of us, he asked, "Who are those three sitting on my porch? What's going on?"
"I found hem talking in an alley, a couple of hours ago. And-"
"A lot of people talk in alleys."
"They were dressed in weird jumpsuits, like the ones from alien movies. They asked me where we were and what year it was."
"They asked what year it was?"
"Yeah. Even though I got them normal clothes, they still seem out of place."
"Where are they from?"
"San Francisco. They were in an accident of some sort. They weren't specific."
My teacher nodded in understanding. "And you brought them here because…?"
"I can't take them home with me."
"And you thought that since I live alone, I could take them in with no problem."
I turned to look out the window at my three out of place friends. "Nevermind," I said. "It's just my compassion going overboard."
"Your compassion saved me. I owe you for that."
I turned back to face him. "So, you'll do it?"
"Yes."
"Thank you," I replied, hugging him tightly.
When we let go, he said, "Bring them in."
Before I did, I told my teacher, "I will find a more permanent place for them to stay before I leave."
"Don't worry too much about it."
I opened the door. "Guys, you can come in now."
They filed in quietly. I introduced them. I saw Mr. Barbier's eyebrows rise at Data's name.
"Data?" my teacher echoed.
"My name is actually Darryl Jameson. My nickname is Data," Data explained.
"Well then, Wesley, Geordi, Data, make yourselves at home."
"Geordi, it's safe to wear your visor here," I told the blind man. He switched out the sunglasses for his special device. "It allows him to see. Without it, he is completely blind," I informed Mr. Barbier.
"And I can expect you back…?"
"Tomorrow at noon."
"Don't be late."
"When have I ever been late for your class?" I asked rhetorically with a smile before leaving.
I didn't get much sleep that night. Instead, I thought about how mysterious Data, Geordi, and Wesley were. And how I had become strangely attracted to them the moment I saw them.
