Hi Everyone! I hope you're having a great holiday! I've been having a lot of fun: I got to make all the Christmas cookies for my family this year, and I also cooked our special Christmas Eve seven-fishes feast! Holiday cooking and baking is fun because, for me, it's like I get to build all these complex little model kits we then get to eat, and I love building models! Planes, ships, my little robot Lenny... I'm trying to teach my dog to sit when Lenny tells him to and take a treat from Lenny's hand, but Lenny kind of scares him half to death. Poor guy has no idea what to make of him! But, now Lenny's starting to smell more like treats and less like plastic and batteries, I'm sure he'll get over it pretty soon. LOL! :D
Hope you enjoy this chapter! :)
Chapter Six
It had been over a year since Geordi La Forge last shared his sister's company…and that had been for their mother's wake.
The Stardate was 47215.5. Captain Silva La Forge; her ship, the USS Hera; and her entire crew had been reported missing and presumed killed in action under mysterious circumstances that, to Geordi's intense frustration, were neither satisfactorily defined nor explained.
In the absence of any hard evidence revealing the cause of the Hera's loss, Geordi had risked his own life and career to prove the reports were wrong, that his mother was alive, and that she and her crew could still be found and rescued. To that end, he had acted against his captain's orders and commandeered experimental Starfleet equipment for his own use, his determination to pursue his theory at any cost compelling Data, his best friend, to risk his own career and lend his assistance in an attempt to keep the engineer from harming himself.
The results had been mixed.
Geordi's dangerous act of defiance had led to the inadvertent discovery, and release, of a somewhat enigmatic alien species, but shed no real light on the Hera's disappearance, or his mother's fate. Geordi had to endure an official reprimand and a rather serious dressing down from Captain Picard…but, after his experience, he found himself more willing to accept the hard fact that his mother was, most likely, never coming home.
Still, Geordi's father had not been pleased to learn what Geordi had done.
And, neither was Ariana.
"Yet, you say you are not estranged," Data said as they walked past the decoratively pruned lemon tree that accented Ariana's front yard. Her two-story house was compact, cozy, and mostly yellow with blue trim and a wide front porch littered with balls, hover boards, skates, and various other paraphernalia that indicated the presence of two very active children.
"No, we're good," Geordi assured him as he led the way past neat hedges and cheery flower beds, then up the blue-painted stairs to the front door. "Well, pretty much. We worked everything out at the wake."
"How so?" Data asked curiously, tilting his head.
Geordi shrugged.
"My father called me a hothead and gave me a solid lecture about respecting my mother's sacrifice and dedication to the service, then I explained my own feelings, we all sat down to dinner, watched one of Mom's favorite old holovids, and that was that. You know. Family stuff."
"I do not know," Data said, his golden eyes growing a little melancholy. "But, I will take your word for it, Geordi."
Geordi patted his friend's arm, then reached out to ring the doorbell.
The tinkling chime set off a galloping, thundering din somewhere deep inside the house – a din that grew rapidly closer until the front door swung open and a nearly identical pair of shouting eight-year-olds charged the two officers with artificial phasers set to blink.
"Ah, you got me!" Geordi exclaimed, pretending to collapse to his knees while the boys closed in around him with cries of: "Uncle Geordi! Uncle Geordi! Hey, Mom! MOOOOM! Uncle Geordi is here!"
Data stepped back, intrigued to watch the complex interactions as Geordi and his nephews half-hugged, half wrestled their enthusiastic greeting.
"When did you boys get so big!" Geordi exclaimed as they hugged and tussled. "Last time I saw you, I could lift you both in my arms. Now— Hey…! OK, watch the VISOR—!"
"Sly! Teddy! Get off your uncle before you crush him to death! NOW!"
Geordi's sister, Ariana, was a petite, slender woman about half a head shorter than Geordi with smooth, delicate features, large almond eyes, and the sharp, carrying voice of an angry drill sergeant.
The boys scrambled to their feet, phasers at their sides, while Geordi rose more slowly, straightened his badly rumpled uniform, and offered his sister a bashful smile.
"Hey, Ari," he said. "The boys and I were just—"
"You don't have to tell me, Geordi," she said, stern eyes still locked on the wilting twins. "I know roughhousing when I see it."
"Mom!" the boys protested. "We—"
"Save it," she snapped. "Or those phasers go back in the lock box!"
Data raised his eyebrows, not quite sure whether to feel impressed or intimidated.
Ariana stepped forward and wrapped her brother in a quick, warm hug.
"Welcome to Earth, Geordi," she said. "I really am sorry about your ship. And, who's this with you?"
She shot Data a rather suspicious glance.
"I told you about him, Ari," Geordi said, his manner oddly awkward. "This is Lt. Commander Data. He was Second Officer on the Enterprise. And, my best friend."
"Ariana La Forge Greene," she said, and offered Data her hand.
He smiled, and took it.
"I am very pleased to finally meet you," he said politely. "You have a beautiful home."
"Well," she said, "we do what we can to make sure it is a home. Which isn't easy in this impersonal, over-teched society."
"Ari…" Geordi drawled warningly, but his sister ignored him.
"So, you're the robot Starfleet made an officer."
Data blinked and stared at Geordi, who buried his face in his hand.
"Oh, God…"
Edward and Silvester stared from their uncle to Data, as curious and suspicious of this strange-looking newcomer as their mother.
Data frowned, just slightly.
"I am an android," he corrected firmly. "And, I attended the academy and earned my rank and position just the same as any biological officer."
"Incredible," Ariana muttered. "They've even got synthetic officers now."
Data's mouth dropped open, but Geordi quickly stepped between his friend and his sister.
"Ari, let's not do this. Not now, OK?" he pleaded. "We came here to try to unwind before court – to enjoy some real, quality time as a family. Just because you and Wendie have been on this anti-tech kick for the past decade or so—"
"You grew up under the same conditions I did, Geordi," Ariana snapped. "You remember those cold, impersonal starships and starbases, all those nights we fell asleep to the sound of the computer's synthesized voice reciting stories to us…! I don't want that for my kids! I want them to live a natural life, a human life, with trees and grass and real food grown and nourished by the earth and sun…"
"I think that is quite admirable," Data said, and Geordi stared at him.
"Data…?"
"I do," Data insisted. "I came to maturity under similarly impersonal conditions, and I can understand the longing for genuine human contact...the warm vitality of a living planet to nourish, and from which to draw nourishment in return."
He turned his golden gaze to Ariana.
"I endured years of social isolation before my assignment to the Enterprise. Geordi was the first person who ever treated me as if I were a real, living being. His support helped me find the strength and, perhaps, the courage to explore my own potential. I hope you can understand, now, why his invitation to spend these few days with you and your family held such an appeal for me. But, if my presence here should make you or your husband uncomfortable, there is a hotel in the city that—"
"No…!" Ariana said, staring at Data with a strangely transfixed expression. "No…I wouldn't hear of you going to a hotel." She squinted at him, her high forehead slightly furrowed.
"You really do understand, don't you?"
Data smiled, his white-gold expression as warm as his eyes.
"I daydream often," he told her. "And, when I do, I sometimes imagine a home like this. The scent of the earth and trees, the security of putting down roots, guiding your children as they grow..." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Yes, I do understand."
"Well…" Ariana said, swallowing slightly as she drew back. "You're certainly welcome to share our home with us, Mr. Data. But, what kind of host am I being? Wendie's still at the studio, but I was just getting ready to start making supper – won't you both come in?"
She held open the door and the twins charged through under her arm, already resuming their pitched phaser battle.
Geordi took the door and gestured for her to precede them, turning on Data the moment she disappeared into the kitchen.
"Who are you?" he whispered.
Data knit his brows.
"I am sorry?"
"I mean it Data – first that hot waitress, and now my sister? How the hell did you get to be such an expert on handling women?"
"First of all, Geordi," Data said, "I did not 'handle' anyone. I merely listened, and responded accordingly. In addition, I told your sister the truth. We do live the majority of our lives largely cut off from 'nature' – and no," he anticipated the engineer's objection, "the ship's holodeck and arboretum do not count. I have often wished I had spent more time exploring the Earth when I was a cadet, but I was terribly socially inexperienced at the time, and far too focused on making it through to graduation. Now…"
He smiled, and glanced happily around the cluttered, cozy, slightly shabby living room, breathing in the very human atmosphere all around them.
"I value this opportunity to observe a genuine Earth family – their habits, outlooks and values, their ambitions and their dreams. I am grateful that you invited me to share this time with you."
"Hm…" Geordi grunted, eyeing his friend a little suspiciously. "Just don't go too native on me, Data. Some of Ari and Wendie's conservative, anti-tech rhetoric can get pretty nutty. I know a lot of it's a reaction to how we were brought up. Computer programs were our babysitters. Replicators fed and clothed us, advanced technologies allowed me my sight… But, none of it took the place of our parents' attention. I have to admit, I got more than my share, what with my eyes and… Well, Ariana was older. I guess she felt more…"
"Ignored? Left out?"
Geordi shrugged.
"So, now I'm an engineer and she's an anti-tech nut," he said, "married to an anti-tech nut. But, the kids seem pretty normal so far, so…"
Data nodded.
"I believe I am starting to understand, now, why you chose to separate your work life and your family," he said, and smiled. "But, do not worry, Geordi. From what I have seen, humanity seems to exist in a permanent state of counterintuitive cognitive dissonance. Had I not been raised among you, I might suspect you enjoy the utterly maddening inconsistencies you display in your thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Now, as I have never 'cooked' a meal before, I believe I will offer my assistance to your sister in the kitchen. Please, excuse me."
His smile broadened, and he headed in the direction Ariana had gone.
Geordi frowned at Data's departing back.
"What? Was that an insult? What the hell is going on with him?" he muttered, wondering if Data's emotion chip was sparking some new spike of cognitive development, turning his innocent android friend into some manipulative, flirtatious jerk.
"Phiieew! Phiieew!"
"You're dead!"
"No, it was just a stun beam!"
"Don't think that pillow will save you! The Gorn fleet will be here any second!"
"Gorn? I thought it was the Cardassians!"
"It's both! Whoa – ow!"
"Hey – oof – ouch…! Get off!"
The twins' phaser battle seemed to have taken a tumble behind the sofa. Geordi smirked, and rushed to the rescue, holding out his hands to the fallen boys before the screams could begin.
"You kids OK?"
"Hey, Uncle Geordi!" the boys cheered, and dragged him to the front of the sofa, where they pushed, prodded, and arranged him like a cushion until all three were seated in a comfortable clump.
"Did your ship really crash?"
"Are you going to get a new one?"
"Is that really Commander Data?"
"Can you get him to show us his brain?"
Geordi felt too overwhelmed to do much more than laugh and wrap his arms around the boys.
"First thing's first," he said. "And tell your old uncle the truth. Which one of you is Edward, and which is Silvester?"
"He's Teddy," Edward said, pointing to Silvester.
"He's Sly," Silvester said, pointing to Edward.
"And I'm Deanna Troi," Geordi said, wrinkling his nose. "It's the other way around. You're Sly, and you're Teddy."
"Yeah? How do you know?" Edward said.
"You haven't come to see us since the Borg attack," Silvester added, "back when we were, like, four!"
Geordi tapped his VISOR.
"I can see everything," he teased. "And, I can always tell when someone is lying."
"Because their heart rate goes up?" Teddy asked.
"Because the temperature in their face rises?" Silvester suggested.
"Because I'm your uncle, and I've known you kids since you were born," Geordi said, and stood up. "Now, come on. Let's go see what your mom and Uncle Data are up to in the kitchen."
"'Uncle' Data?" Silvester repeated.
"How can a robot be our uncle?" Teddy asked.
"Data's not a robot," Geordi told them, a little sharply. "He's a person, OK?"
"A mechanical person," Silvester said.
"Maybe," Geordi said. "But, why should that matter? He's still my best friend."
"You're best friends with a machine?" Teddy giggled.
"Daddy said Uncle Geordi fell in love with a holodeck lady once," Silvester said teasingly. "He said it was the saddest thing he ever heard of. But, what can you expect when you're stuck out in space in some tin-can starship?"
"All right, that's enough," Geordi snapped, knowing intellectually that the kids were only repeating what they'd heard and that they probably didn't fully understand, but feeling himself getting riled just the same. "You're both going to come with me to meet Data, and then you'll see how foolish all this talk really is. Drop those toy phasers, and let's go."
Edward and Silvester shared a significant glance then tucked their phasers into their belts, covering them covertly with their shirts before following their irate uncle to the kitchen.
Tasha Yar stood on the wide, white sidewalk and stared up at the quaint yellow house with the blue trim and wide front porch. She could smell something cooking – actually cooking – something warm and savory and inviting and, for a moment, she almost turned back.
This was a family moment, a family meal – who was she to interrupt their special time together?
"I'm a friend who needs their help," she said, fisting her hands as she strode past the lemon tree and the flower beds and up the porch stairs. "And, if they believe my story, maybe I can find a way to help them back."
Taking a strengthening breath, Tasha raised her finger to the bell…
And pushed.
Meanwhile, the man who had followed Tasha into the pie shop was just stepping out the sliding doors of a twenty-four hour sonic laundry and replimat service; his goo-and-coffee-stained skin, hair and clothing having been whisked clean and fresh by a 'shower' of tightly focused sonic waves.
Oblivious to the figure crouching low behind a parked speeder, the man strode to the crosswalk, looked both ways, and dashed across the empty street, heading in the direction of the shuttlestation. As he walked he whistled to himself, a cheery little tune from an ad he'd heard on some holovid program. His whistling diverted his attention, and effectively masked the quick, close footsteps click-clacking in time with his own…
The cool kiss of metal against his neck, the sharp hiss of a hypospray…
And only one, long shadow was left to scurry from the scene.
To Be Continued...
References Include - TNG: Interface; Booby Trap; Encounter at Farpoint; Relics; The Next Phase; Best of Both Worlds; Family; The Measure of a Man.
Next time: Data and Geordi's reunion with Tasha Yar. Stay Tuned! :D
Thanks so much for reading! Reviews are always welcome! :)