***
"Picard to Commander Data," Picard said lamely. This was to be his first action in a day. He had given Riker total command of the Enterprise...not that there was much to do. At that very moment, Riker was probably snoozing in the Captain's chair on the bridge...not that it mattered. Picard himself was lying facedown on the couch in his ready-room, having been awake all night thinking about how *incredibly* cruel the Universe was. He had his arms draped over the armrest on one end of the small couch, and his feet were propped up on the armrest at the other end. His chin was placed not-so-delicately in between his arms, and he was staring fixedly at the floor. Picard waited numbly for his third-in-command's response.
"Data here. Is something wrong, Captain?"
"No, no," he lied dully. "Everything's just peachy up here. Tell me, Data. Are you still in that *blasted* Holodeck?"
"Yes, sir. Why do you ask?"
"You are? Well, get the hell out of there, Data, and give someone else a bloody chance to use it! It wasn't built for your exclusive use, you know."
Data was taken aback. "Yes, sir. I will leave the Holodeck immediately, sir. I apologize for any offense I may have caused anyone, and I-"
"Oh, shut up, Data," Picard mumbled into the armrest. "This is all your fault, anyway. Picard out." Rolling over onto his back, Picard found that the light in his ready-room was too bright for his eyes. He squinted up at the ceiling angrily. "Computer, lights." He had to restrain himself from throwing curses at the Computer. "Merde," he said again, and it certainly wasn't going to be the last time he said it.
***
Geordi rubbed his temple underneath his visor. _Boy, has it been a long day. I don't know what's wrong with me. I shouldn't be this stressed out._ Sitting down on his bed, Geordi began to remove his visor (he didn't usually wear it in his own quarters, since he knew the place inside-out), but then thought better of it. _Hey, maybe Reg is right. Maybe I *should* try out that Holodeck program. It sure seemed to make *him* feel better._ Facilitating his usual brisk stride, Geordi made his way down the corridor to the Holodeck. Once he reached the door, he asked the computer a few quick questions, and managede to call up the same program he had used on Barclay. For some reason, he had started one of Data's programs. Stepping inside, Geordi was greeted with one of the strangest things he had ever witnessed.
The entire room *reeked* of something particularly pungeant. _Say, isn't that Earl Gray tea? I thought the Captain liked that stuff._ There was a giant screen floating in the air, with nothing to back it, and on which there was playing a series of images faster than Geordi could blink. Various people were positioned around the room, and they were all speaking at once. _Let's see...Noonien Soongh, Lore, Worf's dead parents, Alexander's dead mom, Lwaxana Troi, Riker's Dad, and...wait...isn't that Dr. Crusher's dead husband?_ He swiveled his head so he could see what was behind him. Nothing much, except for... _Mom?_ Geordi's eyes widened as he saw his missing mother standing in the corner of the room, speaking to the chair in the center. _What the-_ Riker's awful trombone music was playing in the background of all this. The room was chaotic.
Geordi stood stock-still, staring at his mother in disbelief. "M - Mom?" She continued speaking to the chair. Geordi didn't know how long he stood there, watching his mother talk, before he realized the way that everything appeared in the room. _It's all configured to the...to the wavelengths of my visor..._ "Computer, end program!" Geordi shouted above the din, unable to bear it any longer. Immediately, the room fell silent. Everything was cut off in mid-hijink.
Settling into his depression, Geordi was only able to manage: "Some friend *Data* turned out to be," before he turned around and headed to his quarters, planning to live in blindness for awhile. On his way out, he knew he had to do something about his upset, so he tapped his commbadge.
"C - Counselor?" he stuttered.
"Ugh. What, Geordi? What is it this time?" Troi sounded repulsed. "You don't think you're good enough to be Chief Engineer? Nobody cares about you because you're blind?" she mocked. "No woman will ever go out with you? You have no friends? Nobody likes you?" Geordi could hear her rolling her eyes. "Puh-lease. Go bother someone else about it. Because *I* don't care." There was a tap from the other end, and then silence. Geordi stood still for a moment, deciding something. Then he picked up his brisk stride once more and headed for Ten-Forward.
***
"Is the Doctor in?" Dr. Crusher looked up from her computer to see Commander Riker standing in her doorway, looking around cluelessly. Smiling fondly, she stood up so he would notice her. He did, though it took him a minute.
_He really *is* just like a lost puppy._ "What can I help you with, Commander?"
Without waiting for an invitation, Riker spun a chair around and straddled it, facing her desk. For some reason, he looked a little perturbed. "Doctor, I've been feeling really depressed for some reason, and I was wondering if you could help me."
"Well, that's really Counselor Troi's area of expertise, I don't know if *I* can-"
"Been there, done that," said Riker, annoyed. "I don't know *what* to do. I've tried *everything.* I talked to the Counselor, but *she* didn't know what to do. I talked to a young, female ensign...in a manner of speaking, and I tried gathering all the guys together for a game of poker, but apparently, they were all busy...nothing works. I'm still as depressed as ever. You're the last person I can turn to."
_Wow, way to make a person feel good, Commander._ A little annoyed now, Beverly said "Well, the most *I* can do is give you an antidepressant."
"What, you mean happy pills? I don't want to be giddy, Doctor."
"They're not happy pills," she said, getting a little pissed-off. "It's just an injection to make sure that you don't get too depressed. I can prepare a hypo-spray for you in a few seconds. Do you want one, or not?" she said coldly.
"Yeah, sure, whatever," he said.
_Your vote of confidence overwhelms me.(Note from author: I wanted to say 'inspires,' but everyone else says 'overwhelms,' so it seemed weird)_ Crusher didn't know why she had such a short temper that day, but for whatever reason, she was getting incredibly pissed-off at Riker. _Maybe it's the long hours. Yeah, that's probably it._ She really *did* have a good idea of what the reason was, since it was always floating at the back of her mind...a certain young, whiny brat (Note: Oh, come on, you know what I'm leading to).
Crusher snapped the hypo-spray into place and inject Riker before he could change his mind. "Come back in a few hours and tell me how you feel," she said shortly. Riker just rolled his eyes, rubbing his arm. Not even bothering to say good-bye, Riker stalked out of sickbay. Beverly sat back down at her desk with a huff. _Well, sorry for wasting *your* time,_ she thought sarcastically. It took a great deal of effort to force herself to get to work again.
***
Yay! Everybody's jumpin' on the boat! Thank you for my *two* reviews (no, really: I *am* grateful, I was just hoping for more). And, don't worry, y'all, I have great plans for this story. Sometimes...it just takes me a little longer to update, that's all. Y'know (*giggles, acts sheepish*)...
Well, more reviews will get you more story, if ya know what I mean...
:D
As always, no flames, please!
"Picard to Commander Data," Picard said lamely. This was to be his first action in a day. He had given Riker total command of the Enterprise...not that there was much to do. At that very moment, Riker was probably snoozing in the Captain's chair on the bridge...not that it mattered. Picard himself was lying facedown on the couch in his ready-room, having been awake all night thinking about how *incredibly* cruel the Universe was. He had his arms draped over the armrest on one end of the small couch, and his feet were propped up on the armrest at the other end. His chin was placed not-so-delicately in between his arms, and he was staring fixedly at the floor. Picard waited numbly for his third-in-command's response.
"Data here. Is something wrong, Captain?"
"No, no," he lied dully. "Everything's just peachy up here. Tell me, Data. Are you still in that *blasted* Holodeck?"
"Yes, sir. Why do you ask?"
"You are? Well, get the hell out of there, Data, and give someone else a bloody chance to use it! It wasn't built for your exclusive use, you know."
Data was taken aback. "Yes, sir. I will leave the Holodeck immediately, sir. I apologize for any offense I may have caused anyone, and I-"
"Oh, shut up, Data," Picard mumbled into the armrest. "This is all your fault, anyway. Picard out." Rolling over onto his back, Picard found that the light in his ready-room was too bright for his eyes. He squinted up at the ceiling angrily. "Computer, lights." He had to restrain himself from throwing curses at the Computer. "Merde," he said again, and it certainly wasn't going to be the last time he said it.
***
Geordi rubbed his temple underneath his visor. _Boy, has it been a long day. I don't know what's wrong with me. I shouldn't be this stressed out._ Sitting down on his bed, Geordi began to remove his visor (he didn't usually wear it in his own quarters, since he knew the place inside-out), but then thought better of it. _Hey, maybe Reg is right. Maybe I *should* try out that Holodeck program. It sure seemed to make *him* feel better._ Facilitating his usual brisk stride, Geordi made his way down the corridor to the Holodeck. Once he reached the door, he asked the computer a few quick questions, and managede to call up the same program he had used on Barclay. For some reason, he had started one of Data's programs. Stepping inside, Geordi was greeted with one of the strangest things he had ever witnessed.
The entire room *reeked* of something particularly pungeant. _Say, isn't that Earl Gray tea? I thought the Captain liked that stuff._ There was a giant screen floating in the air, with nothing to back it, and on which there was playing a series of images faster than Geordi could blink. Various people were positioned around the room, and they were all speaking at once. _Let's see...Noonien Soongh, Lore, Worf's dead parents, Alexander's dead mom, Lwaxana Troi, Riker's Dad, and...wait...isn't that Dr. Crusher's dead husband?_ He swiveled his head so he could see what was behind him. Nothing much, except for... _Mom?_ Geordi's eyes widened as he saw his missing mother standing in the corner of the room, speaking to the chair in the center. _What the-_ Riker's awful trombone music was playing in the background of all this. The room was chaotic.
Geordi stood stock-still, staring at his mother in disbelief. "M - Mom?" She continued speaking to the chair. Geordi didn't know how long he stood there, watching his mother talk, before he realized the way that everything appeared in the room. _It's all configured to the...to the wavelengths of my visor..._ "Computer, end program!" Geordi shouted above the din, unable to bear it any longer. Immediately, the room fell silent. Everything was cut off in mid-hijink.
Settling into his depression, Geordi was only able to manage: "Some friend *Data* turned out to be," before he turned around and headed to his quarters, planning to live in blindness for awhile. On his way out, he knew he had to do something about his upset, so he tapped his commbadge.
"C - Counselor?" he stuttered.
"Ugh. What, Geordi? What is it this time?" Troi sounded repulsed. "You don't think you're good enough to be Chief Engineer? Nobody cares about you because you're blind?" she mocked. "No woman will ever go out with you? You have no friends? Nobody likes you?" Geordi could hear her rolling her eyes. "Puh-lease. Go bother someone else about it. Because *I* don't care." There was a tap from the other end, and then silence. Geordi stood still for a moment, deciding something. Then he picked up his brisk stride once more and headed for Ten-Forward.
***
"Is the Doctor in?" Dr. Crusher looked up from her computer to see Commander Riker standing in her doorway, looking around cluelessly. Smiling fondly, she stood up so he would notice her. He did, though it took him a minute.
_He really *is* just like a lost puppy._ "What can I help you with, Commander?"
Without waiting for an invitation, Riker spun a chair around and straddled it, facing her desk. For some reason, he looked a little perturbed. "Doctor, I've been feeling really depressed for some reason, and I was wondering if you could help me."
"Well, that's really Counselor Troi's area of expertise, I don't know if *I* can-"
"Been there, done that," said Riker, annoyed. "I don't know *what* to do. I've tried *everything.* I talked to the Counselor, but *she* didn't know what to do. I talked to a young, female ensign...in a manner of speaking, and I tried gathering all the guys together for a game of poker, but apparently, they were all busy...nothing works. I'm still as depressed as ever. You're the last person I can turn to."
_Wow, way to make a person feel good, Commander._ A little annoyed now, Beverly said "Well, the most *I* can do is give you an antidepressant."
"What, you mean happy pills? I don't want to be giddy, Doctor."
"They're not happy pills," she said, getting a little pissed-off. "It's just an injection to make sure that you don't get too depressed. I can prepare a hypo-spray for you in a few seconds. Do you want one, or not?" she said coldly.
"Yeah, sure, whatever," he said.
_Your vote of confidence overwhelms me.(Note from author: I wanted to say 'inspires,' but everyone else says 'overwhelms,' so it seemed weird)_ Crusher didn't know why she had such a short temper that day, but for whatever reason, she was getting incredibly pissed-off at Riker. _Maybe it's the long hours. Yeah, that's probably it._ She really *did* have a good idea of what the reason was, since it was always floating at the back of her mind...a certain young, whiny brat (Note: Oh, come on, you know what I'm leading to).
Crusher snapped the hypo-spray into place and inject Riker before he could change his mind. "Come back in a few hours and tell me how you feel," she said shortly. Riker just rolled his eyes, rubbing his arm. Not even bothering to say good-bye, Riker stalked out of sickbay. Beverly sat back down at her desk with a huff. _Well, sorry for wasting *your* time,_ she thought sarcastically. It took a great deal of effort to force herself to get to work again.
***
Yay! Everybody's jumpin' on the boat! Thank you for my *two* reviews (no, really: I *am* grateful, I was just hoping for more). And, don't worry, y'all, I have great plans for this story. Sometimes...it just takes me a little longer to update, that's all. Y'know (*giggles, acts sheepish*)...
Well, more reviews will get you more story, if ya know what I mean...
:D
As always, no flames, please!