Comment: This is mostly an interlude from another point of view, AND my personal little homage to our favorite android. It is mostly descriptive of a situation on the Enterprise and not as lighthearted as the previous chapters, but hey, don't blame me! I can't make such a serious confrontation between the captain and Number One lighthearted, right? I'm just trying to swing us both (writer and readers) into the right mood.
You might think I am exaggerating the captain's and crew's reactions, but I always believed one of the reasons the Enterprise is such a special ship (and the reason we love her so much) is the fine equilibrium in the relationships between all the members of the bridge crew. When you're on a starship and everything may change radically every minute, the last thing you need is for someone to question the very structure of your family...
Of course, and as always, I couldn't do this without you, so please tell me what you think!!
Chapter 5: Die hard
That evening, Data decided that enough was enough.
For four days now he had been increasingly puzzled, then outright worried by the unaccustomed behavior of several of his crewmates and friends - ALL of them, actually. From the moment everyone had returned from shore leave and the routine of duty shifts and normal occupations had settled in, there had been sidelong glances, tense silences, whispers and abruptly interrupted conversations whenever two or more members of the bridge crew where together.
And the phenomenon (for Data had begun to consider it as such) was spreading. Soon it was not circumscribed to the bridge crew. Crewmembers would gather in corridors and engage in heated discussions, then speed apart when an officer approached them. And the captain - he walked around shrouded, as it were, in a blanket of icy silence even Data could perceive clearly.
It reminded Data of the time when his severed head had been found at an excavation and they were all convinced that he would die during the next mission. Only this time nothing out of the ordinary had happened. At least, nothing that he was aware of. However, Data was conscious of his limitations. He had ceased long ago to believe that human reactions and emotions could be categorized, analyzed and understood. To solve this mystery and to help his friends (he had a somewhat confused but very strong feeling that they needed to be helped) he needed help himself. And he knew just where to get it.
"I don't think you can help them, Data. Not with this."
"But - if I understand correctly, Guinan, this situation rests on a misunderstanding. Captain Picard and the greater part of the crew are mistaken in believing that Commander Riker and Doctor Crusher are romantically involved. Although I do not fully comprehend why that should make everybody so... uneasy, the logical solution would seem for the Commander and the Doctor to declare that such a relationship between them does not exist."
"Yes... the logical solution. But you know there are no logical solutions in these matters Data, don't you? You're not the only one who doesn't 'fully comprehend' them."
"So you are saying that nothing can be done?"
"Oh no, a lot of things can be done, Data. In fact, almost everything could be done now. What I am saying is that they have to do it themselves."
Data started to nod his understanding, but then tilted his head slightly to the right in that quizzical way he had.
"Who has to?"
Guinan smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Beverly's nervousness, Will's sad eyes, Jean-Luc's stony silence and Deanna's unnatural cheerfulness had been weighing heavily on her. She could feel how it was affecting the rest of the crew, imperceptibly unsettling the fine balance that had always made the Enterprise something more than just a ship and the sum of people who worked and lived aboard her. The very core of her was breaking apart, and, like so many times before, all she could do was watch.
"Well, mostly Doctor Crusher and Commander Riker."
"But they are blameless. Others started the rumor."
"Of course they are blameless. And so is everyone else. No one is to blame. But one way or the other, they started it, and one way or the other, they will have to end it."
"That seems - unfair."
"Yes, it is."
Data nodded thoughtfully. Two, three years ago he would not have been prepared to accept unfairness could be inherent to a given situation.
"So, do you think I should just - step aside?"
Guinan's smile grew wider and more genuine. This man would never cease to surprise her, his ability and willingness to learn, the compassion in him."
"Well, you could try to let them know that you're there for them whatever decision they take, that they are your friends, and that you understand."
"Don't they know that already?"
Guinan was about to answer but changed her mind when she saw Will Riker enter Ten Forward. There was a split second of nearly complete silence in the room, then the conversations were resumed. Will knew at least half of them had changed topic. For a moment he thought about leaving again, but then he spotted Data. He was the only one who hadn't been giving him queer looks, probably because no one had told him about the terrible scandal - and because he wasn't interested. To sit beside a person who was not speculating about his private life and his sexual preferences was something to be cherished these days.
"Hi, Data. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Thank you Commander, but I have an appointment with Geordi in Holodeck Two in five minutes."
"Oh."
"It is a new program designed by Ensign Rodrigues, and she asked Geordi to take a look at it. There seem to be some loops in the design she is unable to bypass."
"What's it about?"
"As I hear, it is a mixture of action entertainment and hand to hand battle training, based on a twentieth century moving picture called 'Die hard'."
"Ouch, that doesn't sound very nice."
"On the contrary, it is said to be very funny and ultimately relaxing." Data hesitated. "Would you like to accompany us, Commander?"
"Me? Now? Uh... I - I don't know..."
This hurt Guinan more than anything she had seen or heard in the past few days. Four days of suspicion, weird looks and coldness had been enough to make him react like this when someone, a friend, was merely being nice to him. Suddenly, she felt very furious, although no one could have told by looking into her placid eyes.
"Or what about tomorrow? Then the program will be complete, and you and I can take the first official tour."
Die hard. Sounded like just what he needed right now. And Data was obviously trying to show his support. "You got it, it's a date!"
"Thank you, Commander. This is my first date in over four years." With this rather depressing statement, Data left, leaving behind a completely cracked up Riker, holding on to the bar to keep from falling off his stool.
"It's good to see you laugh, Will."
He stopped abruptly and looked up at Guinan. His eyes were tired, defeated somehow.
"Well, the last days haven't been very funny."
"I know."
"You know what the worst thing is?" Will was staring into the drink Guinan had placed before him. He hadn't tasted it. "The silence. I never realized how much we actually talk to each other every day, all of us: about the mission, about who is dating who, about duty shifts, promotions, holodeck programs... stupid things, you know? And now it's just 'good morning' and 'good evening' and nothing in between. I feel so... lonely."
Will couldn't keep the helplessness and confusion out of his voice. "What have I done, Guinan? What have I done?"
"I don't know, Will. What have you done?"
This made him react, and he hurled the answer furiously at her, as if she had been the one accusing him silently of unspeakable things.
"Nothing!! Absolutely nothing! I went out on a date with Beverly, and then we spent a day together. That's all! Why should I be punished for that??"
"Do you feel punished?"
"Well, what do you call this? The captain giving me the silent treatment as if we were in school, bypassing me on decisions we used to take together, and everyone else walking around me in circles and whispering in corners?"
"Have you talked to Beverly?"
"Talked to her? I haven't even seen her in two days! I don't know how she does it, but she manages to run out of every room exactly five seconds before I come in."
"It's hard to imagine Beverly running from anything - or anyone."
"Well, it's hard to imagine Jean-Luc Picard behaving like a jealous boy whose girl went to the prom dance with someone else. God, if I had only known..."
"You wouldn't have gone out with Beverly?"
" No, I..." He paused and finally took a sip from his drink. Then he put it back on the counter, very slowly.
"You know what, Guinan? I would have. I wouldn't want to miss that night and day we spent together. They meant a lot to me." Now he wasn't speaking to Guinan, but to himself. "I like her. I like her a lot. She's beautiful, she makes me laugh, she makes me feel at ease with myself like no one ever has, not even Deanna. Like it's ok to be just - me."
Will looked up at Guinan, eyes wide with surprise. "Isn't that amazing? All these days worrying about the captain, about what everyone else thought and felt, and not once did I think about what I feel!"
"Or what Beverly feels..."
"Right. What WE feel." He stood up. "Thank you, Guinan. Thanks for listening."
"Where are you going?"
"I think there's someone else who needs to know how I feel."
You might think I am exaggerating the captain's and crew's reactions, but I always believed one of the reasons the Enterprise is such a special ship (and the reason we love her so much) is the fine equilibrium in the relationships between all the members of the bridge crew. When you're on a starship and everything may change radically every minute, the last thing you need is for someone to question the very structure of your family...
Of course, and as always, I couldn't do this without you, so please tell me what you think!!
Chapter 5: Die hard
That evening, Data decided that enough was enough.
For four days now he had been increasingly puzzled, then outright worried by the unaccustomed behavior of several of his crewmates and friends - ALL of them, actually. From the moment everyone had returned from shore leave and the routine of duty shifts and normal occupations had settled in, there had been sidelong glances, tense silences, whispers and abruptly interrupted conversations whenever two or more members of the bridge crew where together.
And the phenomenon (for Data had begun to consider it as such) was spreading. Soon it was not circumscribed to the bridge crew. Crewmembers would gather in corridors and engage in heated discussions, then speed apart when an officer approached them. And the captain - he walked around shrouded, as it were, in a blanket of icy silence even Data could perceive clearly.
It reminded Data of the time when his severed head had been found at an excavation and they were all convinced that he would die during the next mission. Only this time nothing out of the ordinary had happened. At least, nothing that he was aware of. However, Data was conscious of his limitations. He had ceased long ago to believe that human reactions and emotions could be categorized, analyzed and understood. To solve this mystery and to help his friends (he had a somewhat confused but very strong feeling that they needed to be helped) he needed help himself. And he knew just where to get it.
"I don't think you can help them, Data. Not with this."
"But - if I understand correctly, Guinan, this situation rests on a misunderstanding. Captain Picard and the greater part of the crew are mistaken in believing that Commander Riker and Doctor Crusher are romantically involved. Although I do not fully comprehend why that should make everybody so... uneasy, the logical solution would seem for the Commander and the Doctor to declare that such a relationship between them does not exist."
"Yes... the logical solution. But you know there are no logical solutions in these matters Data, don't you? You're not the only one who doesn't 'fully comprehend' them."
"So you are saying that nothing can be done?"
"Oh no, a lot of things can be done, Data. In fact, almost everything could be done now. What I am saying is that they have to do it themselves."
Data started to nod his understanding, but then tilted his head slightly to the right in that quizzical way he had.
"Who has to?"
Guinan smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Beverly's nervousness, Will's sad eyes, Jean-Luc's stony silence and Deanna's unnatural cheerfulness had been weighing heavily on her. She could feel how it was affecting the rest of the crew, imperceptibly unsettling the fine balance that had always made the Enterprise something more than just a ship and the sum of people who worked and lived aboard her. The very core of her was breaking apart, and, like so many times before, all she could do was watch.
"Well, mostly Doctor Crusher and Commander Riker."
"But they are blameless. Others started the rumor."
"Of course they are blameless. And so is everyone else. No one is to blame. But one way or the other, they started it, and one way or the other, they will have to end it."
"That seems - unfair."
"Yes, it is."
Data nodded thoughtfully. Two, three years ago he would not have been prepared to accept unfairness could be inherent to a given situation.
"So, do you think I should just - step aside?"
Guinan's smile grew wider and more genuine. This man would never cease to surprise her, his ability and willingness to learn, the compassion in him."
"Well, you could try to let them know that you're there for them whatever decision they take, that they are your friends, and that you understand."
"Don't they know that already?"
Guinan was about to answer but changed her mind when she saw Will Riker enter Ten Forward. There was a split second of nearly complete silence in the room, then the conversations were resumed. Will knew at least half of them had changed topic. For a moment he thought about leaving again, but then he spotted Data. He was the only one who hadn't been giving him queer looks, probably because no one had told him about the terrible scandal - and because he wasn't interested. To sit beside a person who was not speculating about his private life and his sexual preferences was something to be cherished these days.
"Hi, Data. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Thank you Commander, but I have an appointment with Geordi in Holodeck Two in five minutes."
"Oh."
"It is a new program designed by Ensign Rodrigues, and she asked Geordi to take a look at it. There seem to be some loops in the design she is unable to bypass."
"What's it about?"
"As I hear, it is a mixture of action entertainment and hand to hand battle training, based on a twentieth century moving picture called 'Die hard'."
"Ouch, that doesn't sound very nice."
"On the contrary, it is said to be very funny and ultimately relaxing." Data hesitated. "Would you like to accompany us, Commander?"
"Me? Now? Uh... I - I don't know..."
This hurt Guinan more than anything she had seen or heard in the past few days. Four days of suspicion, weird looks and coldness had been enough to make him react like this when someone, a friend, was merely being nice to him. Suddenly, she felt very furious, although no one could have told by looking into her placid eyes.
"Or what about tomorrow? Then the program will be complete, and you and I can take the first official tour."
Die hard. Sounded like just what he needed right now. And Data was obviously trying to show his support. "You got it, it's a date!"
"Thank you, Commander. This is my first date in over four years." With this rather depressing statement, Data left, leaving behind a completely cracked up Riker, holding on to the bar to keep from falling off his stool.
"It's good to see you laugh, Will."
He stopped abruptly and looked up at Guinan. His eyes were tired, defeated somehow.
"Well, the last days haven't been very funny."
"I know."
"You know what the worst thing is?" Will was staring into the drink Guinan had placed before him. He hadn't tasted it. "The silence. I never realized how much we actually talk to each other every day, all of us: about the mission, about who is dating who, about duty shifts, promotions, holodeck programs... stupid things, you know? And now it's just 'good morning' and 'good evening' and nothing in between. I feel so... lonely."
Will couldn't keep the helplessness and confusion out of his voice. "What have I done, Guinan? What have I done?"
"I don't know, Will. What have you done?"
This made him react, and he hurled the answer furiously at her, as if she had been the one accusing him silently of unspeakable things.
"Nothing!! Absolutely nothing! I went out on a date with Beverly, and then we spent a day together. That's all! Why should I be punished for that??"
"Do you feel punished?"
"Well, what do you call this? The captain giving me the silent treatment as if we were in school, bypassing me on decisions we used to take together, and everyone else walking around me in circles and whispering in corners?"
"Have you talked to Beverly?"
"Talked to her? I haven't even seen her in two days! I don't know how she does it, but she manages to run out of every room exactly five seconds before I come in."
"It's hard to imagine Beverly running from anything - or anyone."
"Well, it's hard to imagine Jean-Luc Picard behaving like a jealous boy whose girl went to the prom dance with someone else. God, if I had only known..."
"You wouldn't have gone out with Beverly?"
" No, I..." He paused and finally took a sip from his drink. Then he put it back on the counter, very slowly.
"You know what, Guinan? I would have. I wouldn't want to miss that night and day we spent together. They meant a lot to me." Now he wasn't speaking to Guinan, but to himself. "I like her. I like her a lot. She's beautiful, she makes me laugh, she makes me feel at ease with myself like no one ever has, not even Deanna. Like it's ok to be just - me."
Will looked up at Guinan, eyes wide with surprise. "Isn't that amazing? All these days worrying about the captain, about what everyone else thought and felt, and not once did I think about what I feel!"
"Or what Beverly feels..."
"Right. What WE feel." He stood up. "Thank you, Guinan. Thanks for listening."
"Where are you going?"
"I think there's someone else who needs to know how I feel."