Another Favor
Star Trek: The Next Generation, all characters and ideas there associated are the sole ownership of someone that's not me.
All original ideas and characters contained in the following story are the sole property of J.L. Scott.
After that first day's adventures, things settled down to what could almost be called routine. By the fourth day, Wesley had the hyper-drive up and running better than Geordi had ever managed. Morgan had undone her handy work and the replicators were functioning on their own. The next day saw the rest of the ship returned to normal and running at tip top shape.
"It's certainly been interesting" Will said, throwing his chips into the pot. Their counterparts spent their evening hours in family dinners. Will would've missed the poker games.
"Interesting is not the word I would use" Deanna said, adding her bet.
"Neither would I" Geordi agreed.
"Full house" Will announced, splaying his cards on the table. Nobody bothered to exclaim over it and Worf just collected the cards while Will collected his win.
"You've been having trouble?" Data asked.
"Not trouble exactly" Geordi answered, "More just like....differences. I just keep finding myself questioning everything he does"
"Do you find that your counterpart makes incorrect decisions?" Data inquired.
"No. Actually, he does what I would probably do in his position" Geordi answered, collecting the cards Worf had passed out.
"Second guessing yourself" Beverly smiled, throwing down a chip. Geordi opened his mouth to deny it, but he realized it was true. People normally only mentally second-guessed themselves, but he was doing it outwardly.
"It's a very uncomfortable situation" Deanna admitted.
"Cards" Worf called and there was a lull while everyone collected their replacement cards.
"It's not painful is it?" Beverly asked her friend.
"No" Deanna replied, "It's just....it feels like wearing a pair of shoes that are a half size too small"
"Well, at least you don't have to be around your counterpart all day" Geordi pointed out. Deanna didn't reply. It was true, she couldn't really help on the wounded ship, but she still caught the occasional telepathic conversation, mostly between the children. They were efficient at blocking their mothers out, but Deanna was just different enough to catch their thoughts. She hadn't had the chance to see the children, as Will had, but she felt as if she knew them well from their silent talks.
"I am glad I do not have a counterpart here" Worf growled. Though everybody grinned at this admission, no on was brave enough to nettle their friend about it. Instead, they finished the hand (Data won) and started another.
"What about you, Data?" Deanna asked, "How do you work with your counterpart?"
"I have no emotions to interfere with my work, Councilor" the android reminded her, "I find my counterpart to be every bit as efficient as...myself"
"What about Laal, Data?" Geordi asked, "Did you learn anything from her neural net?"
"Unfortunately, no" Data admitted, "It seems fate was the only difference" Everybody knew he'd been hoping to find that one little difference that had made all the difference, and they all felt a moment of regret for him.
"Well, either way" Will said, handing out one last hand, "It'll be over in another few days"
"How long do you think Q will leave them here?" Will asked his wife.
"Oh, I doubt he had any definite plans" Raylyn answered, putting the finishing touches on the gift she was wrapping, "You know Q. He tends to just go with things as they come and go"
"Ready!" Morgan announced.
"Okay, let's go" Will and his family made their way to the holideck. The doors opened to lightly playing music and the smell of a Betazed garden.
"Happy Anniversary!" Will called, shaking his cousin-in-law's hand.
/Happiness, Imzadi/ Raylyn added with a hug for Deanna. The garden was a replication of the one she and Wyatt had been married in 15 years ago. Lwaxana was unable to make the occasion, but she had sent a new set of Betazoid Dinner Bells, which the triplets were trying out.
The doors slid open again and in walked Jean-Luc, who offered his "neice" a kiss and a bottle of the very best Picard wine. The rest of the family showed up in stages with various gifts and greetings. It was to be their last full family dinner for a time, as Wesley was taking off with the Traveler at the end of the week and the children, excluding Laal, were being sent to Betazed for some time with their grandmother. The two sets of parents had decided it might be safer for a little while. It would be hard to kidnap 5 telepathic children on a world of telepaths.
At any rate, everyone was trying to make the most of their evening, but it seemed they all had something else on their minds.
"It think it would be fascinating" Wyatt was telling Will eagerly.
"Yeah, but you don't have to deal with it" the Captain replied, "Did you know Ray kissed him?"
"In my defense" his wife called from across the patio, "He was wearing your uniform" Will rolled his eyes.
/And it's not as if I was exactly cheating was I? I don't see how you can cheat on your husband with your husband/ Deanna giggled.
"Still," Wyatt continued on, "Isn't it...well, fascinating to find out what could've happened?"
"Raylyn was never born and I was with Deanna?" Will asked with a smirk. Wyatt frowned at his friend. He'd been given the account of his life in the other reality by Beverly. Or, rather, her counterpart. At any rate, the point about Deanna and Will's relationship had only been hinted at. Wyatt had had to pull it out of his cousin.
"Well" Raylyn had said, "See, I wasn't there, so, you know, obviously Deanna couldn't have formed any kind of relationship with me and so..."
"Ray!" Wyatt had interrupted. Picards rarely skirted anything.
"Well, they're Imzadi" she finally admitted. Wyatt had stared. Sure, Will and Deanna got along well, but...Imzadi?
Will's laughter brought the research doctor back to the present. Will clapped the smaller man's back with another good chuckle and Wyatt realized what his expression must be saying. He smiled and moved off with his friend.
/And how are you, Imzadi?/ Raylyn asked.
/It's odd/ Deanna admitted, /Every time our minds brush.../
/She feels just like you!/ Raylyn cried.
/But I never knew how I felt to others before/ Deanna pointed out.
/Hmm. True. Uncomfortable?/
/No. Just odd. Like wearing shoes that are half a size too small/ Deanna replied.
/Did you introduce her to the kids?/ her cousin inquired.
/No. I didn't think it would be a good idea. Commander Riker only ran into them by accident/
/But he was pleased he did. Don't you think she would be too?/ Ray asked.
/I don't know. I tried to think about what I would want in her situation. I think it's better left alone/
/Well, if it helps, you're not the only one having trouble with his counterpart/ Raylyn said. Both women turned their heads to glance at Geordi, who was speaking with his best friend, Data. They could see Guinan standing nearby, eavesdropping discretely.
"It's like...he questions everything I do, Data!"
"Do you not question every decision you make?" Data inquired. Geordi dropped his hands.
"Well, yeah"
"Then is this not simply a matter of the manifestation of those doubts?" Data asked. Geordi thought for a second. It was the logical conclusion. Leave it to Data to find a logical response.
"I guess" he admitted, "It's just...weird"
"It's probably even weirder for him" Guinan said. Geordi was little surprised. He hadn't even realized that she'd been listening.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Put yourself in his shoes," Guinan told him, "You're in someone else's reality, but it's so close to your own that you don't feel out of place at all. Actually, you feel right at home. But you have to step aside and let someone else do your job. And that person makes all the same decisions you would. How would that make you feel?"
Geordi sighed, "I'd probably start wondering if I make the right decisions" Guinan just smiled, having dispensed her wisdom, and turned to Data.
"And what about you Data?" she asked, "How've you been getting along with your other self?"
"It has been intriguing discussing out experiences and how they differ" the android replied, "I have found myself wondering what decisions I would have made about various things under his circumstances, and why"
"Did you come to any conclusions, Data?" Geordi asked. Data cocked his head.
"No" he answered. Geordi smiled.
"Data, you're getting more human every day"
Star Trek: The Next Generation, all characters and ideas there associated are the sole ownership of someone that's not me.
All original ideas and characters contained in the following story are the sole property of J.L. Scott.
After that first day's adventures, things settled down to what could almost be called routine. By the fourth day, Wesley had the hyper-drive up and running better than Geordi had ever managed. Morgan had undone her handy work and the replicators were functioning on their own. The next day saw the rest of the ship returned to normal and running at tip top shape.
"It's certainly been interesting" Will said, throwing his chips into the pot. Their counterparts spent their evening hours in family dinners. Will would've missed the poker games.
"Interesting is not the word I would use" Deanna said, adding her bet.
"Neither would I" Geordi agreed.
"Full house" Will announced, splaying his cards on the table. Nobody bothered to exclaim over it and Worf just collected the cards while Will collected his win.
"You've been having trouble?" Data asked.
"Not trouble exactly" Geordi answered, "More just like....differences. I just keep finding myself questioning everything he does"
"Do you find that your counterpart makes incorrect decisions?" Data inquired.
"No. Actually, he does what I would probably do in his position" Geordi answered, collecting the cards Worf had passed out.
"Second guessing yourself" Beverly smiled, throwing down a chip. Geordi opened his mouth to deny it, but he realized it was true. People normally only mentally second-guessed themselves, but he was doing it outwardly.
"It's a very uncomfortable situation" Deanna admitted.
"Cards" Worf called and there was a lull while everyone collected their replacement cards.
"It's not painful is it?" Beverly asked her friend.
"No" Deanna replied, "It's just....it feels like wearing a pair of shoes that are a half size too small"
"Well, at least you don't have to be around your counterpart all day" Geordi pointed out. Deanna didn't reply. It was true, she couldn't really help on the wounded ship, but she still caught the occasional telepathic conversation, mostly between the children. They were efficient at blocking their mothers out, but Deanna was just different enough to catch their thoughts. She hadn't had the chance to see the children, as Will had, but she felt as if she knew them well from their silent talks.
"I am glad I do not have a counterpart here" Worf growled. Though everybody grinned at this admission, no on was brave enough to nettle their friend about it. Instead, they finished the hand (Data won) and started another.
"What about you, Data?" Deanna asked, "How do you work with your counterpart?"
"I have no emotions to interfere with my work, Councilor" the android reminded her, "I find my counterpart to be every bit as efficient as...myself"
"What about Laal, Data?" Geordi asked, "Did you learn anything from her neural net?"
"Unfortunately, no" Data admitted, "It seems fate was the only difference" Everybody knew he'd been hoping to find that one little difference that had made all the difference, and they all felt a moment of regret for him.
"Well, either way" Will said, handing out one last hand, "It'll be over in another few days"
"How long do you think Q will leave them here?" Will asked his wife.
"Oh, I doubt he had any definite plans" Raylyn answered, putting the finishing touches on the gift she was wrapping, "You know Q. He tends to just go with things as they come and go"
"Ready!" Morgan announced.
"Okay, let's go" Will and his family made their way to the holideck. The doors opened to lightly playing music and the smell of a Betazed garden.
"Happy Anniversary!" Will called, shaking his cousin-in-law's hand.
/Happiness, Imzadi/ Raylyn added with a hug for Deanna. The garden was a replication of the one she and Wyatt had been married in 15 years ago. Lwaxana was unable to make the occasion, but she had sent a new set of Betazoid Dinner Bells, which the triplets were trying out.
The doors slid open again and in walked Jean-Luc, who offered his "neice" a kiss and a bottle of the very best Picard wine. The rest of the family showed up in stages with various gifts and greetings. It was to be their last full family dinner for a time, as Wesley was taking off with the Traveler at the end of the week and the children, excluding Laal, were being sent to Betazed for some time with their grandmother. The two sets of parents had decided it might be safer for a little while. It would be hard to kidnap 5 telepathic children on a world of telepaths.
At any rate, everyone was trying to make the most of their evening, but it seemed they all had something else on their minds.
"It think it would be fascinating" Wyatt was telling Will eagerly.
"Yeah, but you don't have to deal with it" the Captain replied, "Did you know Ray kissed him?"
"In my defense" his wife called from across the patio, "He was wearing your uniform" Will rolled his eyes.
/And it's not as if I was exactly cheating was I? I don't see how you can cheat on your husband with your husband/ Deanna giggled.
"Still," Wyatt continued on, "Isn't it...well, fascinating to find out what could've happened?"
"Raylyn was never born and I was with Deanna?" Will asked with a smirk. Wyatt frowned at his friend. He'd been given the account of his life in the other reality by Beverly. Or, rather, her counterpart. At any rate, the point about Deanna and Will's relationship had only been hinted at. Wyatt had had to pull it out of his cousin.
"Well" Raylyn had said, "See, I wasn't there, so, you know, obviously Deanna couldn't have formed any kind of relationship with me and so..."
"Ray!" Wyatt had interrupted. Picards rarely skirted anything.
"Well, they're Imzadi" she finally admitted. Wyatt had stared. Sure, Will and Deanna got along well, but...Imzadi?
Will's laughter brought the research doctor back to the present. Will clapped the smaller man's back with another good chuckle and Wyatt realized what his expression must be saying. He smiled and moved off with his friend.
/And how are you, Imzadi?/ Raylyn asked.
/It's odd/ Deanna admitted, /Every time our minds brush.../
/She feels just like you!/ Raylyn cried.
/But I never knew how I felt to others before/ Deanna pointed out.
/Hmm. True. Uncomfortable?/
/No. Just odd. Like wearing shoes that are half a size too small/ Deanna replied.
/Did you introduce her to the kids?/ her cousin inquired.
/No. I didn't think it would be a good idea. Commander Riker only ran into them by accident/
/But he was pleased he did. Don't you think she would be too?/ Ray asked.
/I don't know. I tried to think about what I would want in her situation. I think it's better left alone/
/Well, if it helps, you're not the only one having trouble with his counterpart/ Raylyn said. Both women turned their heads to glance at Geordi, who was speaking with his best friend, Data. They could see Guinan standing nearby, eavesdropping discretely.
"It's like...he questions everything I do, Data!"
"Do you not question every decision you make?" Data inquired. Geordi dropped his hands.
"Well, yeah"
"Then is this not simply a matter of the manifestation of those doubts?" Data asked. Geordi thought for a second. It was the logical conclusion. Leave it to Data to find a logical response.
"I guess" he admitted, "It's just...weird"
"It's probably even weirder for him" Guinan said. Geordi was little surprised. He hadn't even realized that she'd been listening.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Put yourself in his shoes," Guinan told him, "You're in someone else's reality, but it's so close to your own that you don't feel out of place at all. Actually, you feel right at home. But you have to step aside and let someone else do your job. And that person makes all the same decisions you would. How would that make you feel?"
Geordi sighed, "I'd probably start wondering if I make the right decisions" Guinan just smiled, having dispensed her wisdom, and turned to Data.
"And what about you Data?" she asked, "How've you been getting along with your other self?"
"It has been intriguing discussing out experiences and how they differ" the android replied, "I have found myself wondering what decisions I would have made about various things under his circumstances, and why"
"Did you come to any conclusions, Data?" Geordi asked. Data cocked his head.
"No" he answered. Geordi smiled.
"Data, you're getting more human every day"
