It was nice to have some time off after the destruction of yet another Enterprise. The Soong family returned to Brisbane, Australia, to live near Melina's parents. It was quite hilarious taking Data to his first Aussie Rules Football match, which he throughly enjoyed (although Melina was quite upset when he declared himself an Essendon supporter over her beloved Lions!), and having a 'barbie' in the back yard was an adventure in itself.
The worrying thing was when Data and Rex met the Drowse family droids.
"Hi Mum! Hi Dad!" Melina called as the Soong family came to visit their in-laws. "I'm fine Andrew, why don't you go and take a break?" Melina brushed off the butler droid as she walked in.
"What would you like me to break?" Andrew immediately asked.
"No, Andrew, I mean you should go and take a rest." Melina tried as James walked down.
"My power cells are fully charged Miss." Andrew replied.
"Melina, it's just a droid, let it be." James shooed Andrew off. "Aah, Data, nice to see you again, and this must be my grandson Rex!"
"My name is Issac." Rex frowned at his grandfather.
"Aah. Okay then." James looked down his nose at the boy. Melina groaned inwardly. This was not going to go well.
"It is indeed agreeable to see you again." Data shook his father-in-laws hand.
"You're different." James noted.
"I have installed my fathers Emotion Chip." Data informed him.
"Oh." James said.
Melina's heart sank further.
The group moved into the living room, where Darline, Darlina and Darlina's new boyfriend Eugene sat.
"Oh, hello!" Darline kissed her daughters cheek. "Data." She nodded.
"Mum, meet your grandson...Issac." Melina introduced her glowering son. Rex had noticed Sally pouring the coffee and tea.
"Grandson?" Darline jerked her head slightly. James made a face at her behind Melinas back (which Melina felt) and she smiled. "Aah, my grandson. It's lovely to meet you."
"Would you like a hand with that Sally?" Melina asked as the droid lifted up the heavy tray. Sally looked blankly back.
"Don't worry about it darling, it will be right." Darline waved Sally off. Neither she nor Melina failed to notice Rexs fist clenching. Data rested a strong hand on his sons shoulder, and both of them sat down next to Melina.
–
"That could have been worse I guess." Data walked inside the front door of the Soong home.
"Rex, I know you were angry with how they treated the androids but did you HAVE to upset the dinner?" Melina followed him, still wiping gravy off her shirt.
Rex didn't say anything, and stormed up the stairs towards his room.
"Rexie, please come here." Melina opened her arms for a hug. Rex glared at the handrailing, before relenting and accepting his mothers embrace.
"It was like I was a second-class citizen to my own grandparents." He mumbled into her shoulder. "They even called me 'it' once!"
"Actually, they refered to us as 'it'...nevermind." Data quickly stopped as his wife glared at him. "It was a most uncomfortable suitation for all of us, and hopefully with time their attitudes will improve."
"I doubt I helped the situation much." Rex mumbled, feeling sorry for himself.
"That's my temper you have." Melina smiled wistfully, kissing the wounded forehead. "One day you'll learn to control it to your advantage.
"We both have faith in you." Data rested his hand on the boys head.
Rex smiled at his parents.
"Now you go for a bath and get that chicken off you." Melina smiled back. Rex rushed upstairs to get his dinner off him, while Data put an arm around his wife.
"I did find myself getting angry as well my dear." He sighed.
"I wasn't too impressed myself. I bet they think this is a huge joke or something." Melina shook her head. "Just like they thought it was a joke when I went into the Academy. They see you and Rexie as just toys that I like to play with."
"What do you see us as?" Data asked as Melina unpinned her hair.
"I see you two as my husband and son. I see you as a fine Starfleet officer who will one day be Captain of his own ship, and I see my son as one day being the Captain of an Investigator-class ship." Melina told him. She kissed him gently. "I'd better go clean myself up. Gosh Rexie made a mess."
Data watched lovingly as his wife ascended the stairs.
–
"So explain to me why we needed a shed large enough to house a fleet of planes?" Melina walked into their new hanger.
"I have been doing research on your positronic arm, with help of my able-bodied assistant." Data motioned towards Rex, who looked smug. "I was wondering if you would like to test its magnetic ability, as you have used it to cling to ceilings before."
Melina remembered dropping down to the floor in Lores Lair.
"I have put protective padding on the floor, so you should not hurt yourself too badly should things go wrong." Data told her.
"Let's just see how this goes." Melina grinned. She touched the wall with the electrified arm and walked up it.
"Whoa!" She soon fell into Data's arms, puffing. "It takes stamina to do it though."
"Unless you are in an emotionally charged state." Data theorised.
"Yeah, but humans can do extrodinary things under the influence of adrenaline." Rex said.
"You are NOT pumping me full of steroids, you can both forget it!" Melina extracted herself from Datas hold. She immediately regretted it though, as she was too exhausted to walk, and ended up on her backside.
"I think we should end todays experiment." Data helped his wife back to the house.
"Really Data?" Melina said, voice full to the brim with sarcasm.
Rex chuckled.
"Mary had a little lamb!"
Rex stopped chuckling.