Chapter 28: It Never Happened
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. This is for fun. Enjoy and stay ethical.
Deanna pinched her temple as she received a message that her mother, Lwaxana Troi was coming to visit and expected a party for her arrival. She sighed. As much as she loved her mother, she was still a handful at times and with recent events that occurred, she was tired.
Lore and Fenix were in the holodeck about to play Sherlock Holmes with Data. Fenix refused to wear a dress and corset, instead she wore a late Victorian era fitted men's attire complete with a hat. Data delightfully blinked his eyes when he saw Fenix wearing a similar attire as the rest of the men and commented, "Fenix, you look... smashing." She grinned and replied with a British accent, "Thanks, mate. You're looking like a fit bloke yourself." Lore scoffed, Fenix scowled at him and continued her British accent, "Put a sock in it, you nitwit." Lore chuckled at her, enjoying seeing her in full character. "Oi, that's the pipe and the baccy we got you!" She mentioned. Data smiled and replied, "I fancy this pipe."
When the three were done they walked out of the holodeck, their coattails trailing behind them as the three of them existed with style, Fenix commented, "I feel so majestic right now. We are lookin' so fly, boys!" as she ran a good way ahead of them, spun and did a cat-walk. Deanna and Tasha saw Fenix and giggled at her antics. Tasha commented, "Not many women could pull that off." Fenix smiled and replied, "It's because I'm part of the itty-bitty-titty-committee and I have a compact booty." as they women laughed, Lore and Data caught up to her. Data's eyes darted Fenix up and down, then commented, "You have small, perky, symmetrical breasts. For your small slender frame, they are rather decent in volume." The women held in a laugh and Fenix smiled and said, "Wow, no one's ever complimented on my little boobs before, thanks Data!" as she patted him on the shoulder. Lore rolled his eyes. Data looked to Lore and asked, "How come you have never complimented on her boobs? You are her husband." Lore's grinned as he answered, "I compliment her; I compliment her frequently." He finished with a wink. Tasha, Deanna and Fenix were blushing and chuckling and then he deviously smirked with a quirked eyebrow as he nonchalantly continued, "She has the cutest little nipples." "LORE!" Fenix yelled; her face red in embarrassment. Data looking deep in thought added, "Yes. My brother is right. I remember in detail from the time I was intimate with Fi who, at the time, I thought was Fenix, though they are the same person but from a different time." Fenix double face-palmed and said, "Data... you're not helping the situation. Please stop talking about my boobs, both of you. And Data, if you compare me to 'Fi' one more time, I will open up a can of whoop-ass on you, got it?" Deanna and Tasha were bright red as they held their laughter in but could no longer contain their humour.
When the laughter subsided, Deanna asked, "So, my mother is arriving tonight and I was hoping you two would join us for a get together. She's the ambassador of Betazed for the federation. She can be a handful but it would make it more enjoyable for me if you two were there, she wants a dance party. Maybe you could make a song selection?" She pleaded. Fenix smiled, "You asked the right person, 'dance-party' and 'music' are both my middle names, I grew up in the 90's, I know a thing or two 'bout having a good time. You up for a stylish dance party, Lore? And it's our last night here. Then, I finally have an excuse to dress up if we go." "Yes, we'll be there." Lore hastily answered. Fenix looked to Deanna and confirmed, "There you go, I will make up a song list and we'll be there in style." And winked.
Fenix already had a full song-list done in an hour for the party and set it up with the coordinator, it was a breeze. She carefully selected songs to build up intensity as the night went into full swing. Later that night, Fenix was getting ready for the semi-formal dance. Lore was already dressed and waiting for her as he sat on the couch near the entrance. She walked out of the bedroom, stylishly dressed in a white fitted men's shirt with the sleeves rolled up, complete with black tie, suspenders and her hair tucked away in her fedora. She twirled around in front of Lore and asked, "Do I look dapper?" She smiled. Lore eyed her mesmerized; he wasn't sure what he was expecting, all he could say was, "Yes." She grinned and eyed his attire, "Hot damn, Lore. You lookin' fly." Lore just wore a fitted black button-down his sleeves rolled up with an unbuttoned black suit vest over his usual pants and boots.
They got to the party and said greeted everyone; met up with the crew and have a few shits and giggles. Tasha complimented, "Fenix, you look... very stylish." Fenix grinned and said, "Thanks, I dig wearing men's clothes, it feeds my inner tomboy." She giggled as Tasha added, "I know what you mean." Fenix encouraged, "I can tell you would rock this style better than I could. With your face, you could totally pull off an undercut. So badass. I'd love to have short hair but I love the feeling of long hair." Fenix smirked. Tasha agreed, "Long hair suits you. You have a very feminine face." Fenix then asked, "Hey, you wanna dance? I'm like the dancing queen after all, ask anyone." They laughed and started dancing, Fenix taking on the male lead dancing behind Tasha. Lore was talking to Data and Riker who spotted the two women dancing. Riker commented, "Who would've thought your wife was such a lady killer, hey Lore?" he nudged Lore. He quirked an eyebrow and commented, "She's gallivanting." Riker added, "She bet me that she could get more women to dance with her than I could, can you believe that? You think she could?" as he chuckled. Lore nodded in agreement, "Actually, yes. She's has a certain flare that attracts people naturally." He sipped on his gin and looked beside him to see Data missing.
Data stepped in to take over dancing with Fenix. She snaked her hand over his shoulders in a flirty fashion as she flashed him a sincere smile. Data faintly smiled as he went with it as he let her lead. Lore snarled and snuck in a while later, leaving Data hanging as he stole back his wife; he took the lead and he winked at Data, he scowled and tilted his head. Deanna saw the whole spectacle, and so did her mother. Lwaxana asked, "Is that her? Why is she's dancing with robots? There's plenty of men around." Deanna sighed and corrected, "They're androids, not robots. And Fenix is married to Lore, the one that just took over." Lwaxana looked shocked as she commented, "Married to a robot? This is unheard of." 'Back to Paradise' by 'Reckless Love' played while Lore and Fenix were intimately dancing as they watched from afar. Lore stole Fenix's hat, her hair tumbled from its confines as he swiftly donned it on himself while continuing to dance. He whispered in her ear, "That's better. Hair as beautiful as yours shouldn't be kept hidden away." as he let a strand of her slip through his hands.
I take my words back, those two are so... passionate! It's quite... exhilerating. You didn't tell me that one had emotions. Lwaxanna telepathically communicated to Deanna. Yes, I know. His feelings are really loud. He loves her very much." Deanna replied. Indeed. She is his obsession and passion. He feels alive when he's near her. As they danced, the songs started to pick up and became louder and upbeat. He saw a mist of smoke floating around everywhere and noticed how everyone started to act more boldly. He smelled the air and realized it was the sacred sake, he looked to Fenix who was smiling like a Chesire Cat and winked at him. He laughed as he started feeling the effects of the sacred sake. She leaned in and cautioned, "It'll keep the night boldly rolling. But we should keep an eye out for Data, poor guy won't know what the hell hit him." And she chuckled. Lore grinned as he shook his head and replied, "I can't believe you pulled that off, but then again... You've always been... mischievous." he chuckled as he kissed her and started making out. Formalities went out the window at this point when everyone was kissing each other.
The Enterprise crew felt familiar effects as they started to loosen up and acted more boldly. Picard was hitting on Beverly and asked, "Is this...? I think we've experienced this before... How come this feels like a Déjà vu?" Beverly came to the realization and tried to be serious, "Jean-Luc... I think you're right. I don't know what it is, but it smells sweet." she giggled. Tasha started dancing with Riker. Deanna was kissing Worf. Data found Fenix eating a vodka-soaked watermelon, he grinned and cat-walked up to her and put his arm around her shoulders as he said, "Hello, there. I have missed you, Fenix. Did you know, I am fully functional and programmed in multiple techniques for a broad variety of pleasuring?" he finished with a wink. "Woah, it's drunk-Mr. Data! You are a thing of absolute awesomeness, my lovely brother." He looked around to see Lore was missing and proceeded to whisper in her ear, "I have really long fingers." She looked at him and played with his fingers and hands as she confirmed, "You do have really long fingers. Look how much bigger your hands are compared to mine!" as she put his palm to her own. He giggled and said, "I like your small hands... to be all over my body." She didn't catch the last part as she asked, "Hey, you wanna see something really gnarly?" He nodded and she led him by the hand to the food table. "Look! These crackers are woven." He took one and inspected, "Intriguing, now that is some fine craftsmanship." She smiled brightly, "Right? Totally life changing." He put the cracker back and looked straight at Fenix and embraced her as he spoke into her ear, "You are like a sunset. I find sunsets intriguing and alluring. I wish you were not with my brother so I could kiss you right now." Fenix slurred, "I can't do that... I'm married to you brother. It's forbidden, Mr. Data!" he answered, "Exactly why it would be the sweetest love affair of a life-time."
Meanwhile, Lore was looking around for Fenix; feeling mildly annoyed that he somehow lost her. He stumbled over people making out and scowled. He spotted Fenix and Data. She was carrying him piggy-back. The sight was just plain bizarre and hilarious. Data's long arms dangled over her small frame and her skinny arms held his long legs. They were laughing so hard as Data leaned to one side sending them falling sideways into a couch. Data saw Lore and blurted out to him, "She likes how numbers sound, Lore." Lore rolled his eyes seeing them both plastered. She pulled away from Data; her and Data both sat up and looked at Lore, her words slurred as she spoke, "Did you know? Data has really long fingers? Look at them!" She grabbed Data's hands and held them in front of Lore, "See, brother?" Data added. Lore sat down beside Fenix, decided to humour them and wiggled his long fingers in front of the two, their eyes widened. "Woah man... that's why you're so good at... never mind." She stopped herself as she giggled. Data tilted his head as he asked, "What is he good at?" Lore answered, "Using my long fingers to pleasure her, brother." he grinned. Data innocently smiled and asked, "Oh, may I try...?" Fenix still playing with his hands clearly stated, "Data, honey... no." Data defeatedly leaned his forehead on her shoulder as he moaned. She encouraged, "But I think Tasha likes you..." He lifted his head and blurted, "She and I were intimate once, but she said 'it never happened', then told me to never tell anyone, oops..." Fenix scowled, her heart broke upon hearing that confession. She caressed his hand as she spoke, "Data..." The alcohol was intensifying her emotions as anger formed within her heart from hearing how he was treated. He leaned his head in the crook of her neck as she put her arm around him and petting his head as he commented, "This feels pleasant." Lore took a look around the room and saw the woman that used his younger brother. Data mumbled, "She was under the influence of polywater, as was I." She countered, "Yeah... flaky people use that as an excuse but it doesn't cut it. Come on, dance with me." She looked to Lore and he winked agreeing with her.
Fenix danced with Data, she just wanted to see him to be happy. The music mellowed into a melodic song. Their hands clasped together, the side of her forehead rested on his cheek, his hand on her lower back, hers on his shoulder. She then said, "I know it's not the way you want me to love you, but I do love you, Data." He smiled as he replied, "I know you love me. I can feel it. I am happy to feel what I am feeling right now, this very moment. I understand that you cannot reciprocate the kind of love I yearn from you, but this is beautiful and warm. Thank you... my sunset." Fenix concentrated her power; momentarily glowed bright as she charged Data as she pecked his cheek. His eye widened at the sensation and smiled, quickly morphing into worry, "Fenix, Q said that you should not be doing that. I appreciate the gesture very much, but..." She mischievously smiled as she reassured, "It was just a teeny bit. I'm okay. I wanted you to feel good." He smiled and kissed her forehead thanking her.
Tasha caught Data kissing Fenix on her forehead. She rolled her eyes as she made a snide remark to Deanna, "Isn't one android enough for her?" Deanna scowled but before she could defend her friend, Lore sneered, "Tasha, Tasha, Tasha. You're a piece of work, you know that? 'It never happened.'" He mocked with a wink then walked over to his brother who was still dancing with his wife. Tasha was red with embarrassment and anger. Lore approached the dancing pair, they both stopped dancing when they noticed him. Lore used Fenix's lingo, "Let's blow this joint, there's better things to do anyways." Data and Fenix looked to each other and smiled and both simultaneously answered, "Sure." Then Lore continued, "You guys go on to 10-forward. I won't be long." Fenix nodded as she replied, "Um, okay. We'll see you soon, babes." then she chastely kissed him then left with Data. Lore's smile turned into an unreadable expression. He tracked down Tasha who just finished downing her drink and approached her. She saw him and spat, "So, that blabbering android told you about our tryst?" Lore laughed at her, then grabbed her neck and swiftly pinned her to the wall. He didn't hurt her too much; only just enough to remind her what he's capable of doing... She needs a reminder on how easy it would be for me to kill her; it would be just as easy for Data if he didn't have that ethics program installed. We are androids. We are the superior beings. You are nothing more than a mere, pathetic, dirty human. He began, "I understand very clearly where Fenix's hatred comes from. Oh, she tries to bury it very deep. She tries to make friends... But in the end, she and I both know... Humans always choose themselves over others. Now, Tasha... If I were to kill you right now, no one will ever miss you... not Data, not even your friend Deanna. I would be doing a service for society." He let her go as she cough then he continued, "Oh and Tasha? This little incident? Don't dare tell anyone about it because... it never happened." He threw her words right back her, tilted his hat with a smile and walked out to meet with his family.
Meanwhile Fenix was eating her usual sticky rice and drinking green tea while talking to Data and both sobering up. "You know, that thing you had with Tasha and how she went about things? That was so wrong. She could've at least have said 'Hey, last night was great. But I only want us to be just remain friends' or some shit. I can't get over that she used you. Heartless of her..." She was furious. Data looked to her and spoke, "It was confusing for me when she told me it never happened... because it did. I still do not understand why she told me to not tell anyone, either. I thought I meant something to her. Why be intimate with someone if it did not mean anything?" Fenix knew and tossed back and forth whether to tell him or not. She decided this is part of learning so she proceeded. "Data, first off. Alcohol doesn't make a person do something they don't want to do. It only frees them of their inhibitions. People might do things they wouldn't normally do if they were sober, but that doesn't mean they can use that as an excuse for whatever actions they chose to do while being shit-faced." She took another sip of green tea and continued, "Second, Tasha banged you because she wanted to at the time. Then, after she sobered up, she realized what she did and she regretted it. And I'm damn sure she regretted it because she banged an android and apparently there's a stigma around you guys which pisses me off so much." Data thought for a moment and stated, "I now understand why she acted the way she did. She felt less of a person because she was intimate with me, an android. I can now move on. Thank you for enlightening me, yet again." She soberly smiled and added, "I've noticed that a lot of people have casual sex, you know? No matter what century. No strings attached. To each their own, but then there's some of us that sees intimacy as something that should only be shared with someone really special." Data thought for a moment as he asked, "What are your personal views on the subject?" She looked to him and answered, "Love making is a very sacred gift that should be taken seriously." Then she proceeded to finish her rice.
Data watched her intently as he processed his files that he learned from her. Then he asked, "Why are you not unsettled when I stare at you? Most people seemed to become uneasy or uncomfortable, even paranoid when I unintentionally stare at them. You however, seem to be unperturbed." She giggled before she answered, "Lore used to do that to me, I admit, it was kind of weird at first but I just kept ignoring him. Actually, he still does it every now and then... Anyways, I realized he's usually organizing his thoughts or cataloguing info when he does 'the stare', he's learning. After that, the staring thing hasn't fazed me since then." Data blinked in understanding then Fenix joked, "You know you've been around an android long enough when..." He confusedly asked, "When what?" Fenix smiled knowing he didn't catch her joke as she answered, "When you're not wigged out when they stare at you." He tilted his head as he said, "Oh, I understand. But I fail to understand the humour in it." She patted his shoulder as she encouraged, "That's okay, you're doing just fine, bro."
Lore showed up at that moment and slung his arms around Fenix and Data and asked, "What mischief have you children been up to?" Fenix smiled and bluntly answered, "Oh, we were talking about androids that like to stare." Lore sighed and mumbled, "Why do I even bother asking...?" Lore composed himself and suggested, "Hey, why don't we go to the holodeck?" Fenix had the best idea and yelled, "Yes! I have the most amazing idea, EVER. Trust me, it'll rock your guy's socks off. We must make haste. We must bring peace to the land of Hyrule and destroy Ganondorf!" She hinted. Lore grinned like a Chesire-cat understanding what she was hinting, Data tilted his head in confusion as he asked, "Who is Ganondorf?" Fenix grinned, "I'll show you in the holodeck."
"Polywater! They used polywater in the distilling process instead of regular water to make this sake!" Beverly exclaimed. Picard then questioned, "But who would turn it into a mist for all to inhale and intoxicate?" Deanna giggled as she tried to answer, "Lore and Fenix brought some from one of their travels. I remember Data let me read their email saying the sacred sake was so strong it even got Lore shit-faced!" Picard and Beverly laughed. Picard decided, "How much of the bottle is left in that contraption? Would we need to be responsible and get rid of it before anyone does something they'll regret?" Beverly answered, "It just ran out. Damn." Then the three kept laughing unaware as Tasha walked by glaring at them as she headed back to her quarters.
