Chapter 2:

"Is everyone alright," Commander Riker asked?

Geordi responded. "Everyone seems to be ok, but Data and Skyler are missing."

"What?" Riker turned to the pile of debris. "Dammit!" He walked closer to the debris and yelled out, "Data! Can you hear me? Are you and Skyler all right?"

There was no reply.

"We got to move these rocks," Riker said trying to see if he could even grab one.

"I don't think that's wise, sir," Worf said. "They may collapse on us."

"Not only that," Geordi began, "but those are way too heavy, only Data can lift those. And we don't even know how damaged he is or if he's even still alive."

Commander Riker cursed at himself once more. Then said, "What the hell's going on up there?"

"Evasive maneuvers," Captain Picard ordered! "Fire phasers to take out there weapons systems!"

"Aye, sir," answered an ensign from behind him.

Phasers fired.

"Direct hit, but it wasn't enough. They're still firing down at the surface."

"They want war; we're going to give it to them!" Picard said mostly to himself. "Fire torpedoes! Let's chase them away from the planet!"

"Aye, sir!"

"We need to try and cripple them, then try to get some answers."

"Are we going to follow them once they leave the planet," asked Counselor Troi who sat to his left?

"Yes." Then to the communications officer he said, "Ensign, hail Commander Riker."

"Aye, sir."

A few moments, then the ensign answered, "Sorry sir, but I can't get a signal to anyone on the planet."

Picard looked to Troi and she knew what he was silently asking her. "They are still alive. I'm also sensing worry from Will and Commander La Forge."

"I am picking up life signs," said the ensign. "They seem to be all in some sort of cave. Two appear to be separated from the rest of the group by a cave in."

"Can you identify the two peoples?"

"Yes, sir. It's Commander Data and one of the planets residents."

"Data? Data!" Skyler ran towards Data's body that lay still on the ground, part of his right leg was under the pile of fallen rocks.

"Data?" She called out again.

Suddenly there was movement, and Data turned his head toward her. "My leg is damaged. I can not yank it for fear the rocks will fall upon us." Then Data made himself a small u to be able to reach his pant leg and ripped around it in order to get to his damaged leg better.

"What're you doing," asked Skyler?

"I am removing myself from my damaged limb."

"Will you be ok without it?"

"Yes, I will be fine, though, I will not be able to walk."

"I, I'm sorry I got you injured."

"I do not blame you for this incident."

She looked away. "I'm still sorry this happened to you."

"It is all right. Once we get out of here, I can get my leg repaired."

She smiled. "That's good." Then she noticed that the walls around them stopped shaking. "It looks like your starship stopped the bad guys."

Data then noticed that as well. "It appears so."

A clicking sound sounded, and Data pulled away from his damaged leg. He put himself against a wall opposite from the debris.

He looked up and noticed that Skyler was still standing in the same spot. "Join me," he asked?

"Ah, sure," she answered shyly. And she sat down beside him, though not too close.

"May I tell you something?"

"Go, go ahead."

"I know that you have a thing for me and I just wanted to tell you that I share those same feelings."

"Y, you do?"

"Yes." Then to prove his point, he slid closer to her, laid a hand on her left cheek, and then kissed her on the lips.

Skyler had shock running through her about so many things at once. Shock that his mouth was unexpectedly warm and that he didn't really taste like metal, her crush was making out with her, and that he, too, had feelings for her!

The kiss only lasted for twenty seconds.

Skyler licked her lips.

"Was that satisfactory," Data asked?

"It was wonderful…"

"Is there a 'but' to the end of that sentence?"

"Yes, but don't worry, it's a good 'but'."

"Then what does this 'but' imply?"

"Only that I would like the next one to be a French kiss. I mean, that is if, if you want to."

"That sounds reasonable." This time he had Skyler on top of him, and they French kissed for five minutes.

But the kiss didn't end there. Data then started kissing her neck, his hands going under her shirt.

Back on the other side of the debris, everyone was relieved to hear that the firing had stopped.

"Thank god," Commander Riker said with relief! "Maybe the communicators will work again?"

He tapped his comm. badge, and then said into it, "Riker to Data. Do you hear me?"

Again, there was no response.

"Skyler, if Data is out, I need you to tap the communicator on his shirt to tell me if you're ok and what Data's injures are."

He waited.

Still no answer.

"Dammit! It must be the cave then, I hope."

"I hope so as well," La Forge agreed.