Chapter Ten: Relieved of Duty

Data tried his best not to include me when analyzing the computer. He enlisted the help of Geordi and refused to even speak to me about the project. He knew that having me assist in them would greatly increase the chance of discovering more about how the device entered the twenty-fourth century; something I knew he didn't want to happen. After I quietly voiced my concerns about the project to the captain, he strongly advised that I be included in the process. I ended up replacing Geordi on the project. He was all too pleased about it since he had a lot of work to do on the warp core and needed time to prepare. That left Data and I to work on the 'laptop computer' project in Engineering. As you might imagine, Data was not happy about my inclusion and he was sure to let me know that he wasn't.

"Kadalynn, may I speak with you a moment?" he asked.

"Yes, sir." I replied, at first not noticing that he had taken a few steps away from me.

I looked up from the laptop I had been working on and met his intense gaze.

"Alone." he added.

'Uh oh. What now?!' I thought exhaustedly, before following his lead, walking to a secluded room just around the corner from Engineering. As the doors closed behind us, he wasted no time in giving me a piece of his mind.

"I understand your desire to work on this project. However, next time I would appreciate it if you would address me directly with any issues or concerns you may have about a particular assignment. I am very disappointed with the fact that you bypassed me, your commanding officer, in order to become involved with this assignment." he said in a calm, but angry voice.

I felt as if I'd been slapped and it took me a moment to respond.

"Sir, with all due respect, you refused to listen to me when I asked to participate in the project. As a matter of fact, you rejected my offer to help. You left me no choice but to go to the captain since you continually pushed me away!"

"Rejection is something you must also accept, not only give. To think otherwise would be quite foolish."

"You're doing this out of spite aren't you?!" I exclaimed, my eyes wide with shock.

"I merely assessed the situation and arrived at the best possible solution. While it is true that you are familiar with the application of the computer we have beamed aboard the Enterprise, you do not possess the extensive knowledge of computer circuitry and composition. If we can not repair the internal damage to the system, your knowledge of the technology will be useless. That is why you were not selected to partake in the assignment."

'Why does he always have to make everything sound so damned logical!?' I thought. I was seething with anger since there appeared to be a very slight triumphant smile on his face. While his explanation made sense, at the same time I knew there were different motives beneath the surface of his decisions.

"Sir, you may believe that's all there was to your decision, but I don't. You're afraid that if I help, it will lead to the possibility of me returning to my time!" I exclaimed before softening my voice, "Data, I know things are strained between us right now, but that doesn't mean that I didn't value the friendship we had. I still do."

"If that is true, would we not have remained friends?" he said in a quiet, almost spiteful tone.

"You know it's not that simple. Things got complicated between us." I said as I lowered my gaze.

"Some of the best things in life are complicated. That does not mean they should be forsaken. However, our relationship was not a complication; it became complicated the moment you decided to abandon it."

If you're thinking that statement hurt me… you're right. It hurt like hell!

"Data, that's… that's not the point. The point is that we're on the cusp of a discovery that could return me back to where I belong."

"There is no need to wait for such a discovery. You belong here."

"I give up. I thought I'd be able to reason with you; to get you to see things my way, but I guess I was wrong."

"I do 'see things your way'." Data replied and I brightened up and looked into his eyes. However, the next words he spoke sent me reeling, "However, I do not accept it."

"It's not for you to accept! It's my decision to make."

"Even if your decision is impaired?"

"Excuse me?!" I exclaimed before deciding not to honor him with an answer to the question.

"During these last few days, you have become obsessed with the prospect of returning to your time even though there has been no indication that it is possible for you to do so. We do not yet know if living beings can safely travel through the wormhole."

"I will volunteer to test it. It's a risk I'm willing to take." I replied hastily. Somehow it sounded like a good idea at the time, but now it just sounds plain stupid!

"You may be willing to take that risk, but I am not. I will do everything in my power to prevent you from endangering yourself."

"No! That's not it at all! You mean; you'll do everything in your power to prevent me from getting home!" I shrieked, fighting back tears. I refused to let him see me cry again. "If an opportunity comes up that gives me the chance to go home I'm going to take it! Nothing you do now or in the future will stop me! You don't own me!"

"I do not believe you are … stable enough to continue this discussion. I will return to Engineering. Please take a few minutes to compose yourself." Data gently replied before leaving the room.

Almost immediately following his departure, I burst into tears. I know realize that he wanted to allow me some time to get my sorrow out of my system. Once he was out of earshot, I said something I didn't dare say to his face.

"Damn you Data! I'm not like you! I can't just shut off my emotions!" I sobbed.

I became even more determined to help fix the computer when it dawned on me. Perhaps we were going about it the wrong way? I quickly dried my eyes and returned to the task at hand.

Data was looking through the computer's hard drive when I told him my idea.

"Commander, I think we should remove the computer's memory chip and connect it to one of the ship's consoles. I think that way, we'll be able to read the information stored in the computer's hard drive." I said with calm resolve.

"That is an intriguing idea; one which I have considered. However, it will take some time to determine whether or not the information can harm the systems on the ship."

"I understand your concerns, sir, but that's time we may not have. We don't know how much longer that wormhole will stay open. If we wait too long…" I broke my sentence upon recalling Data's blatant statement that he would do whatever it took to block my attempts.

Data sealed the computer before regarding me.

"Kadalynn, to what extent are you willing to go in order to fulfill your mission?" Data asked but was called away.

"As far as I have to." I whispered silently to myself, but didn't realize that he wasn't out of earshot.

He reemerged from around a corner and addressed me.

"Kadalynn, please return to your quarters. Your need for rest is clearly indicated."

"Sir, I would do more good if I continued to work on this."

"I disagree. In fact, I believe you are unfit to continue any of your tasks. Therefore, I am relieving you of duty." Data answered firmly.

"No, you can't do this!" I whispered as my heart crumbled.

"I believe I have. Do not resist the order. If you do so, I will be forced to have you escorted to your quarters by security."

I didn't scream, fuss or make a scene, but I took a step closer to Data and looked in his eyes.

"Fine. You win. Is that what you want to hear? You win." I said in defeat.

"No. Quite the contrary. We both lose." Data replied glumly, "Please, go to your quarters and get some rest. You are visibly exhausted."

'Well that's no surprise since you've been putting me through hell!' I thought before accepting my defeat and returning to my quarters.

As much as I hated to admit it, Data was right about at least one thing — I was exhausted! I don't even think my head hit the pillow before I fell asleep! As I slept, I was tormented by dreams of my parents and my friends. It felt so real and I thought I was really there until I awoke. I suddenly felt so sad I became sick… literally! I spent most of the evening vomiting and not being able to keep anything down after that. I went to sickbay as soon as I felt confident enough to go three minutes without hurling.

Beverly gave me something to stop the nausea and retreated into her office for a moment to load a hypospray for me in case the nausea returned. As an added bonus, she gave me another hypospray with a sedative to help me sleep—not that I wanted to sleep. I was scared to death of continuing the dream that triggered my illness to begin with.

I was on my way back to my quarters when I received a message to meet Data in Engineering. All sorts of thoughts ran through my head as I wondered what I'd be facing this time. However, when I entered, I was surprised to see the captain, Geordi, Data and the counselor standing around a table analyzing something. They looked at me somberly before standing aside to reveal an open briefcase on the table. Its contents included a fresh-looking newspaper, a portable email device, and some files.

"What's all this?" I asked.

The captain sighed before explaining.

"These items emerged from the wormhole a short time ago." Capt. Picard replied and I immediately moved to analyze them, but he gently held my arm, "Kadalynn, I must warn you, some of the content is very disturbing."

Frightened and curious I looked at through the newspaper which was dated July 17, 2008. I saw my name… in the obituaries! But wait, it gets worse; the files on the table belonged to a Medical Examiner and among many autopsy reports were my own! According to the report, after my car accident I suffered severe burns and was listed in critical condition. I slipped into a two month coma before dying of heart failure!

I shrieked as my knees became weak. Capt. Picard and Data held me from falling to the floor.

"What is this?! What does this mean?!" I screamed.

Suddenly everything became garbled as the three men and Counselor Troi tried to calm me. I heard their voices, but it was like I was listening to them from under water. I felt trapped, closed in and unable to breathe. I needed to get out of there. I tried to run but Data held me. He said something I couldn't quite understand and I struggled in vain to get away from him. My hearing returned to normal in time to hear the counselor address Data.

"Data, let her go." she said, an expression of intense worry etched on her face.

He hesitated for a moment before releasing me and I nearly tripped as I ran out of Engineering, not sure of where I was going. My head became clouded, my thoughts askew and focused on one thing… getting off the ship! I quickly returned to my quarters to retrieve the hypo with the sedative and quickly rushed out, obscurely avoiding the security teams that had been searching for me. I don't recall how I got to the deck where the shuttlecraft bay was located, but I do remember the panic in my heart. My world was upside down! Scratch that, it wasn't even my world anymore and it was completely twisted.