*Disclaimer: Star Trek the Next Generation is property of Paramount Pictures and all respective cast, crew, and employees. I am not making a profit off this. This is simply for fanfiction enjoyment.**
Summary: The crew of the Enterprise battle with the devastating loss of their comrade. But one friend is still holding back...
Fallen Angel
Geordi finally moved, breaking the silence with the sound of his footsteps. He moved back to Data's desk and opened the top left-hand drawer.
Slowly, he pulled out its contents: Picard's literature book, a clear jewel bearing a holographic image of Tasha Yar, poker chips, and finally… Starfleet's most prestigious awards, kept in a glass case. Data had earned more awards than any other officer on the Enterprise . Yet he still admired those around him, even those in lower rankings… because they were human.
Gerodi ran his hands around the glass case and felt the rice-paper thin pages of the literature book.
"I can't believe he's gone," he whispered, barely able to form the words.
Carefully, he placed the cherished items back into the drawer and looked out at window into the vast blackness of space, sparking with stars. Just when the tears threatened to overtake the chief engineer, Geordi quickly excused himself, grabbed Spot, who growled warningly, and strode out of Data's quarters.
All the while, Picard's gaze into the wall never faltered. Several minutes after Geordi left, he finally allowed himself to look at the rest of Data's quarters. Data's quarters were not only filled with attempts at being human, but with his personality as well.
In all ironies, the android who was "incapable of emotion" taught Captain Jean-Luc Picard about humanity. Since the discovery of Schinzon, Picard had tortured himself with the question of whether he would turn to be as evil as his clone had he experienced the same childhood as Schinzon had. Was he staring at, not a mirror of himself, but a reflection? Could he become so sinister that he would destroy all of humanity? Was he exactly like Schinzon inside; just like Data was like B4? Was Schinzon simply a reflection himself in another life? Minute by minute, hour by hour, he had grappled with these questions. And Data had eased all of his fears with just one statement.
"I aspire, sir; the B4 does not. Nor does Schinzon."
Before all this, Picard had been bracing himself for change. He had been prepared to say good-bye to his former First Officer so that he may take command of his own ship. He had been prepared to say farewell to Dr. Beverly Crusher, who was changing careers to Starfleet Medical. But in all the loss, he took comfort that he would start a new life with Data as First Officer. There was no other man he wanted by his side.
Now he had lost Data; someone whose life to took most for granted. Though he always knew there was a possibility that Data would be forever damaged, he still had no doubt in his mind that his new First Officer would always be with him.
Drawing in a shaky breath, he again thought back to his last moments with Data. The yellow eyes and almost sorrowful expression would forever be imprinted in his mind. He then imagined what it must have looked like just before Data fired upon the Thaleron weapon. Just before his friend and comrade was incinerated.
It was because of Data he could even have these thoughts. It was because of Data that Worf, Deanna, Will, Beverly, Geordi, and he were living. It was because of Data, thousands… billions were living. Had Data not stopped the Scimitar, it would have undoubtedly gone after Earth. He wished he could have at least embraced the android; to thank him. But he knew that would be far from sufficient. He wished, above all else, that he could express these emotions to a certain android. Data would have been fascinated with the flood of emotions. He wished that Data was by his side.
Suddenly, the captain's resolve finally crumbled. The stoic, strong, tough-as-nails captain collapsed into a fit of tears. The cold tears burned wavy paths down his cheeks and his shoulders shook with each sob. Captain Picard tried desperately to regain his composure, but it was a losing battle. The tears consumed the captain and soon, Picard made no attempt wipe them away.
**~~~~~~~~~~~~~**
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