A/N: Thank you all for your words of affirmation, love, and support as we journey through this story. It's a multi-chapter drop this week as this particular "episode" provided a lot of great inspiration.
Again, we're playing a wee bit fast and loose with canon here as I'm attempting to weave in some new material into the show.
So yes, some of what I've written regarding this mission did not actually occur in the episode.
We've gone AU but that's what fanfiction is for, eh?
As the day went on, Captain Picard's behaviour had continued to be unusual, but not necessarily dangerous. Doctor Crusher had turned over the results of the medical examinations and he'd dismissed them without even reviewing the report.
Commander Riker had been ambushed by two of the Selay delegates on the Engineering deck and Tasha had just about had it with her security team.
"How does this keep happening?" She asked seriously as she met up with the team that was supposed to be guarding the entrance and exit to the delegation's corridor.
It was the third time she'd had to rush down from the Bridge to see to a scuffle between the two. Riker's incident with them in Engineering had just been the latest development.
"We suspect they are using an access port at section 27A to get into the Jefferies tubes," Jeffords explained.
"Then I want that access point guarded," Tasha ordered.
"Yes, sir," Jeffords acknowledged and set about assigning a team to it.
Tasha felt so embarrassed that her security team was struggling with the assignment. She took it as a personal failure that they had been unable to contain the problem.
Suddenly, the klaxons began to howl, and Riker's voice came across the ship wide com.
"Red Alert! Security to the Bridge. Restrain the Captain!" Riker ordered.
Tasha tapped her combadge as she ran down the corridor.
"Yar to Lieutenant Worf, where is the Captain?" she said as she raced for the nearest turbolift.
There was no response from Worf.
"Yar to Lieutenant Commander Data, what's happening on the Bridge?" she said as tried again to reach someone on the Bridge.
"This is Ensign George to Lieutenant Yar, Captain Picard was spotted headed toward the Transporter Room," her badge pinged.
Tasha ordered the turbolift to redirect to the Transporter Room. Stepping off the lift she drew her phaser and set it to stun. Sticking close to the panels that lined the corridor she noted the emergency lights were on as if one of the power fluctuations had impacted this level recently.
Ahead, there were two security officers on the ground.
With her back to the wall, she crept carefully to the door to the Transporter Room. It was open and she could see Captain Picard was standing in front of the console that operated the system.
On the ground, the Assistant Transporter Chief was not moving.
"Yar to Bridge, I've located the Captain in the Transporter room. Moving to intercept," she said very quietly.
Taking advantage of the situation she stepped behind him and fired her phaser. There would be time for questions later. At the moment, she needed to stop him at all costs.
But the phaser blast had no effect aside from alerting him to her presence. It was as if he absorbed the energy.
He turned to face her. She quickly placed it back into her holster, determined that if she could get him into the corridor, then she could lock the Transporter Room access to at least stop him from getting off the ship.
Standing between the Captain and the transporter pad she noted there was something foreign in the way he was staring at her. It was as if the entity had completely replaced the good-natured Captain with something driven only by an insatiable desire to leave the ship.
The Jean-Luc Picard that Tasha knew and admired would never have made this choice uncoerced.
He lunged, but her aikido skills enabled her to anticipate his move. She tried to toss him into the hallway. Normally, she would have dispatched even someone Riker's size with ease. But something about the entity had made him strong, more agile, and dangerous.
"I believe ultimately he will become dangerous," Deanna had warned them.
Deanna had been right. In a flash, Tasha was thrown against the transporter panels with great force and slid down to the floor.
Her head hurt. At least she was fairly sure it was her head. Tasha brought her hand up to touch her right temple. She hissed as her fingers made contact with the abrasion.
That's blood. She thought to herself. But she wasn't surprised, no human alone was capable of that kind of strength.
Standing above her, she was certain he was about to strike. Instead, he hesitated and took a step back.
"Sir?" Tasha managed to say.
"Help me," Picard said as he took another step back.
It was as if he was fighting within himself for control. He took a slow, straining step toward the transporter pad.
Tasha managed to stand up and quickly regretted the decision as a wave of vertigo and nausea overwhelmed her.
She managed to stumble onto the transporter pad. Wrapping her arms around him, she tried to pull him off. It hurt to touch him, as if the entity was burning her each time she made contact. They struggled for a moment before he threw her off and into the console.
"Energise," he ordered.
In a flash, he was gone.
As soon as the command had been carried out the console blew and Tasha was thrown up, landing on her back on the floor.
Tasha had landed on her back on the floor. Her body ached and she could hear her own heartbeat beating loudly between her eardrums.
Straining against the pain in her back she tapped her combadge.
"Yar to Sickbay, I need a medical team in the Transporter Room," she choked out.
"Lieutenant, where is the Captain? We can't pick up his signal," Riker's voice boomed from her combadge.
"He's gone, Sir," she replied weakly.
"How? Your orders were to restrain the Captain," Riker said seriously before adding, "I want to see the Senior officers in the observation lounge immediately."
"Sir, I need to-" Tasha tried to say but was cut off by Riker.
"Now, Lieutenant. That's an order," he commanded.
Riker regretted his words as soon as she walked into the observation lounge. 'Walk' was a bit of an overstatement. She looked beat to hell with a gash on her face. She was walking with a limp and he suspected she must have taken quite a beating. Her left sleeve was ripped below the shoulder and he noted the particularly nasty burn on her arm.
She sat down stiffly. Out of habit she went to fold her hands on the table. Upon seeing them, she quickly put them in her lap. They were red and swollen, bleeding and burnt from where she had made contact with the Entity.
"I will escort you to Sickbay," Data said as he stood.
"I'll go after our debrief," Tasha replied.
"That is not acceptable," Data stated.
"Well, it's gonna have to be," Tasha snapped.
She wasn't mad at Data. Truthfully, she wasn't mad at Riker either. He hadn't known when he'd ordered her to the meeting, and it had been clear in his face that he felt terrible for popping off at her moments earlier.
But she also knew she had been the last person to see the Captain and may have vital information to aid in finding him.
"Lieutenant, we can continue this after your wounds have been attended to," Riker stated.
"I'm fine, Sir," Tasha replied professionally.
She explained to the other officers that two security personnel and the Assistant Transporter Chief had been unconscious when she arrived. She walked the team through her observations during her encounter.
"It was like he was in there, fighting for control of his own body," Tasha explained.
"And these burns?" Geordi asked. "Worf and Doctor Crusher didn't experience this."
"I think it was a defence mechanism. It was as if he could adapt once he realised I wasn't just going to let him walk out of there. Every time I tried to detain him, they grew more intensive," she said.
"Do we have the location yet on where he beamed to?" Riker asked.
"We're not sure yet. There was damage to the console. They're working on it now," Tasha explained.
"What kind of damage?" Geordi asked. "I'd like to get down there help if that's alright with you, Commander Riker?"
Riker nodded to Geordi.
"An explosion," Tasha informed them.
"Were you on top of the console?" Worf said with a hint of a smile.
Many of the crew hadn't ever picked up on Worf's sense of humour. It was something Tasha had grown to appreciate, especially when things got bad.
"You could say that," Tasha replied dryly.
"Data, can you adjust our scanners to try and locate the Captain's energy signature?" Riker asked.
"I will need to make several adjustments and amplify the signal in order to compensate for the extra energy given off by the cloud, but I believe so, Sir," Data nodded as he began to punch in instructions into his PADD to rework the main Bridge scanners.
Tasha sat back in her chair. Everything hurt, but at least the chair felt nice.
"Do you sense anything Counsellor?" Riker asked as he turned to Deanna.
She shook her head.
"No, I'm not picking up anything," she said sadly.
Tasha closed her eyes. She knew she needed to get to Sickbay, but she wanted to rest her eyes for a moment.
"Lieutenant Yar," Data said sharply.
Tasha's eyes snapped open.
"I'm sorry, Sir. Wha 'sa question?" she asked lazily.
Data had been monitoring her since she had entered the room. He could tell her that her pupils were dilated, and she seemed to be struggling to maintain focus. He was no doctor, but he felt confident in his assessment that she had sustained a head injury that would require medical treatment.
Tasha could feel the back of her uniform at the base of her neck was wet. She leaned forward and brought her hand to the back of her head where it made contact with something warm, wet, and sticky.
Pulling her hand back in front of her she examined the blood on her fingers before she slumped onto the table.
Deanna gasped as she noticed a spot of blood on the back of the chair where Tasha had been resting her head.
Data didn't wait for permission. He stood immediately and made his way to the other side of the table.
"Sickbay now," Riker ordered.
Data picked her up and made haste toward Sickbay. Riker must have alerted Doctor Crusher because she was waiting for them upon their arrival.
Data chastised himself internally for failing to think of that. In situations like this, that would be protocol. However, he had found himself overwhelmed with concern for Tasha that he had been unable to think clearly.
As he set her down on the exam bed, he felt afraid.
For the third time in his memory, he failed to follow protocol because of his feelings for Tasha. He felt like he had betrayed the promise he had made to Captain Picard.
Suddenly his thoughts shifted to Captain Picard and he felt a great sense of loss that the Captain was drifting out there somewhere with the entity that had overtaken him.
Doctor Crusher's hand on his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts.
"She'll be fine, Data," the Doc reassured him. "I'll take care of her. You go get the Captain back."
Data resumed his position on the Bridge and set to work adjusting the scanners to try and locate the Captain. Everyone was on edge. There was ship wide sense of disbelief.
After an hour of scanning, Geordi entered the Bridge and Data could see he was frustrated. Geordi took over at the helm and gave Riker the latest from the Transporter Room.
He had managed to fix the console, but they had been unable to detect which coordinates the Captain had beamed out to.
"Still no readings, no sign of anything," Data advised.
Riker stood up from the command chair and approached the main view screen slowly. There was no sign of the Captain. Furthermore, even if they locate the Captain there was no telling if they would be able to separate him from the entity.
He had a seriously injured Chief of Security in addition to four other officers that had been hurt in the last twelve hours – three by the entity and one by the two rival delegations that had proved to be uncooperative, sneaky, and harmful.
In weighing these options, Riker felt he had only one choice.
"Mister La Forge, it's time to set a course for Parliament. Warp 8," he ordered.
In his heart, he didn't feel right about it. But everything in his Starfleet training told him this was the necessary, although difficult, choice.
Data felt a sinking feeling inside, as if he had failed.
He looked across to Geordi who shared the feeling.
"We're really leaving him?" Geordi said in disbelief.
Geordi had done everything he could to try and find the coordinates, but the damage to the panel in the Transporter Room had been too extensive. Although Data had modified the scanners, there was no way of knowing just how far the entity and the Captain had travelled.
Deanna was suddenly hit with a sense of panic that sent a chill up her spine.
"Commander, wait!" she cried as she stood up abruptly.
Everyone froze. Riker whipped around to listen to the Counsellor.
"It's the Captain, but only the Captain. He's out there. Alone," she explained.
The feeling was strong. Too strong to ignore. She could sense that the Captain was out there, but he was alone, frightened, and feeling great remorse for leaving the ship.
"The Entity?" Riker asked.
"The combination wasn't possible out there. He's in trouble, Sir. We have to beam him back," Deanna said as she felt the Captain's fear was rising.
Deanna didn't know what state he was in – energy, man, or somewhere in between. But she could sense he was worried the Enterprise would leave without him.
"Beam him back as what?" Riker questioned.
Data's positronic brain began to work overtime. He was simultaneously analysing the Entity's energy signature, assessing the report Geordi had filed on the Transporter Room console, and calculating the likelihood that his plan would result in success.
It took him 1.74 seconds to complete his task.
"Sir, the Entity was caught in the ship's circuitry. The captain might try to get in the same way if he's in trouble," Data explained.
They all sincerely hoped for the Captain's sake that whatever form he was in had reached the same conclusion as Data.
Deanna had tried to communicate with him but found it was to no avail.
Commander Riker ordered them to move in closer to the cloud in hopes that the Captain would get the message. Geordi deftly moved the ship in closer.
They all waited in suspense as they ship slowly manoeuvred into the energy cloud. The energy bursts that looked like lightning continued to grow more intense the closer they got to the core of the cloud.
Were it under different circumstances, Data would have considered the soft purple hues and scattered illumination to be a thing of beauty.
"How will we know if the Captain has been able to access the circuitry?" Worf asked.
"I'm not sure," Riker replied. "We have to hope he can send some kind of signal."
Deanna was still attempting to communicate with Picard but was having no luck.
They were about to turn back when Worf noticed something strange happening at the Tactical post.
"Sir! My sensor controls," he called out as the computer program began to flash.
"There's something here," Deanna said as she felt a presence.
She still couldn't communicate with it, but she could sense the same feeling as before - only much closer.
Geordi pulled his hands off the helm suddenly as the panel began to react strangely. Data pushed the Operations con away and stood to examine it.
The portion that would typically display the power cell readings suddenly shifted to a 'P.'
"P for Picard?" Riker asked, looking to Deanna in hopes she could sense if this was the sign.
For Data, it was all the sign he needed. Nothing else could have caused the display to change to that letter.
Having eliminated all other possible outcomes, he knew that what remained, however improbable, had to be the truth.
"To the Transporter Room. This way, Sir. There may still be a chance. Hurry!" Data stated as he stepped onto the turbolift.
Commander Riker, Deanna, and Data made their way to the Transporter Room.
Data explained cautiously that the Captain's physical pattern was still retained as he had been the last one to beam out. This meant that if his energy signature had made its way to the transporter relays, then they should be able to theoretically activate the pad and re-energise Captain Picard.
"Is what you're thinking even possible?" he asked Data.
"Unknown at this time," Data replied.
Riker had his doubts. This was risky business. However, Data was often correct in his theories and Riker rationalised that risk was their business.
There would be no way to know without trying.
Data activated the transporter pad. The three breathed a collective sigh of relief when Captain Picard appeared.
"What the devil am I doing here?" Picard asked as he looked around the room confused.
Data had never felt so relieved.
Picard stepped off the pad and approached the three. It was evident that he was very unsure of the circumstances that had led to this.
"What happened? I remember I was about to beam out somewhere. And there was talk of an Entity. It all seems so vague," Picard said looking around.
Suddenly, the Captain's eyes grew wide.
"Lieutenant Yar?" he asked suddenly with worry.
He didn't recall what had transpired, but he had a hazy memory of her hitting the wall in this very room.
"Will be fine," Data said.
Data turned to Commander Riker to speak.
"I believe the Captain is now himself, Sir. Much of what happened is naturally missing," Data surmised aloud.
"What are you talking about, Data? Is this still Sherlock Holmes?" Picard inquired.
"Indubitably, Sir. Indubitably," Data said, pleased with himself that his theory had been correct.
Riker was beaming.
Picard made a gruff comment about Data dropping the pipe, but it didn't phase Data. He felt elated that he'd managed to solve the mystery of the Entity plaguing the Enterprise.
Picard made a move for the door, but Commander Riker gently stopped him. Riker suggested that Picard should head over to Sickbay for an examination and some rest.
Naturally, Captain Picard rebuffed the idea.
The door slid open and Tasha stepped into the room.
To his relief, Data noticed that her head injury appeared to be mostly healed. She was still in her original uniform but there was a protective regeneration sleeve wrapped around her upper arm. Her hands were still red and swollen, but much improved over the last time Data had seen them.
"Captain! It's good to see you, Sir," Tasha said excitedly.
He nodded to her awkwardly, noting the dried blood on the side of her face and feeling a pang of guilt knowing he had likely been the cause.
Tasha turned to Commander Riker and he noted the back of her hair was also matted with blood and he suddenly felt horrible.
"Sorry Commander, but we've got another problem," Tasha explained.
Riker wanted to snap, but he held his tongue. He'd already dismissed Tasha earlier that day and he realised he probably should hear out the Chief Security Officer before making an assumption.
"Security team two discovered a puddle of blood outside the Selay quarters. One of the Selay delegates is missing. One of the cooks has just been asked to boil reptile for the Anticans and it looks like the Selay delegate," she said.
Riker and Picard exchanged a disgusted look. They were used to dealing with all sorts of different life forms, but these two delegations had long worn out their welcome aboard the Federation Starship.
Tasha wasn't even supposed to be cleared yet for duty, but she had insisted Doctor Crusher let her go. There were limited circumstances under which a medical clearance could be waived. However, between the Captain's situation and all the delegation problems, Tasha had successfully argued that she was needed back on duty.
Doctor Crusher had begrudgingly agreed on the condition that she would return again for follow up as soon as the Anticans and Selay had been detained.
Tasha wasn't taking any more chances.
Tasha had set to work quickly. Although the Federation had always taken great leeway to recognise the diplomatic immunity of delegates, the possible abduction and murder of a delegate meant that Tasha could now detain them in the brig.
Upon leaving Sickbay, she had ordered two security teams to escort the delegations down to the brig and hold them there until further notice. Each delegate was to be given a separate, contained cell. She didn't want them talking with one another or coordinating stories.
After hearing the latest update, Picard had decided he would allow Commander Riker to take control of the ship for the next few hours while he retired to Sickbay for an exam and some rest. Deanna could sense his apprehension and internal turmoil. She decided she would accompany him and try to reassure him that he had been under alien influence and was not responsible for his actions.
"It's good to see you up and about even if you do look a little worse for wear," Riker said to Tasha.
"Thank you, Sir," she replied.
"I am deeply sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have come down on you like that," he went on. "And I wanted to say how proud I am that you did everything you did to try and stop the Captain."
"Thank you, Commander," Tasha said with a smile.
"It took a lot of courage and strength, Lieutenant and I just want to say that you really went above and beyond today," he said proudly.
Tasha grinned as she caught Data's eye. He was thrilled for her, positively glowing.
"Now, get to the bottom of this situation with the delegations. Please," Riker added, exasperated.
"Right away, Sir," Tasha acknowledged.
"And Mr Data, since I'm now in Command I'm reassigning you as the liaison to the delegations," Riker said with a wink as he exited the Transporter Room, grateful to step away from that role.
Data stepped out from behind the console and ran his hand gently along the side of Tasha's face next to the wound that was now just dried blood and a small abrasion.
"I'll be alright," she said as she noticed his hands and sleeves appeared to have dried blood on them.
"You lost consciousness in the observation lounge due to your head injury," he explained. "I have not had time to change into a clean garment."
"Thank you," Tasha said as she placed her hands on his chest.
Data pulled her in close and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was quite worried," he said quietly. "I wish you had waited for backup but I understand why you could not given the circumstances."
Tasha didn't respond. Instead, she was just content to be in his arms.
"You are very brave, Tasha. But I worry that your inclination to throw yourself into danger could lead to you getting hurt," Data said as he tightened the grip around her.
"That's sort of my job, golden eyes," she said as she playfully smacked his arm.
They stayed silent like that for a moment before Tasha sighed.
"I am beginning to regret pushing Doctor Crusher to release me early," Tasha laughed. "I just want a bath and cup of hot tea."
"Then let us not delay in solving this mystery," he said as he broke the embrace.
The same excitement that had taken root in him earlier had re-emerged although Data found he was missing the pipe.
"Come my dear colleague, the game is afoot," he said with a grin as stepped out into the corridor.
Tasha rolled her eyes playfully and followed him down to the canteen.
"Fascinating," Data said as he studied the reptilian creature that was laid out on the table before them.
Tasha felt like she wanted to puke. She had horrible memories of the kind of 'meat' that was available on Turkana. Although there had been some limited production of livestock and fisheries, most people that consumed meat were eating cats or valishe, which was a small rodent native to the planet.
Insects were the most common source of protein for most families.
In some of the worst parts of Turkana, cannibalism was both a means of survival during famine and a method of terror used by the various cabals to instil fear in the local population.
Tasha had been completely repulsed by the Antican delegation's insistence on slaughtering live animals for food purposes.
As she ran her tricorder over the body in question it wasn't clear if it was Selay or not.
"Jeffords to Yar," her badge pinged.
"Go ahead," she replied.
"I've just finished checking the Antican delegation records for the supplies and animals they brought aboard. There were two reptilian creatures taken aboard for food purposes. I'm sending you the reports on them now," he explained.
"Acknowledged. Please also send the information to Lieutenant Commander Data," she asked as she tapped her badge to respond.
Tasha put down her tricorder and pulled out her PADD to examine the information.
The manifest log did confirm the Antican delegation had brought aboard two reptilian creatures for consumption.
"We should check the cargo bay to see if the creatures are still there," Tasha said.
"It appears that the reptilian creatures they brought aboard share a similar common ancestor to the Selay," Data explained. "As the skin has been removed, it will be difficult to assess without DNA evidence. I think we should ask Doctor Crusher to perform an autopsy."
Tasha felt sick to her stomach. She looked away from the body and steadied her breathing.
She ordered the two security personnel that had been guarding the scene to fetch a stretcher and take the body up to Sickbay.
"Is there something bothering you?" Data asked as he looked up at her through the ridiculous magnifying glass.
"Put that away!" Tasha smiled. "It's not as if you need it. You can see better than all of us except Geordi."
Data tucked the magnifying glass into the small briefcase he had brought along that contained his PADD, phaser, tricorder, and several other devices. True to his word, he had largely toned down the Sherlock Holmes act, but Tasha could tell he desperately wanted to explore it.
They escorted the body to Sickbay and advised Doctor Crusher of what kind of evidence they were looking for. Fortunately, she would be able to cross reference the molecular structure of the body to scans that had been taken when the delegation beamed it. If it was a match for the missing delegate, then they would have their answer.
As the Doctor and Data discussed the details of the autopsy, Tasha stepped over the bed Captain Picard was resting on. He was propped up on his elbow with a book in hand.
"How are you feeling, Sir?" Tasha asked as she approached him.
"Tasha," he said with a smile.
The Captain set the book down on a table beside the bed.
"I fear I am the one who should be asking you that question," Picard replied with a knowing look.
"I'm fine, Sir," she replied.
"I am terribly sorry for what happened," he stated. "But I was astounded to learn of what you did to try and stop me."
"All in a day's work, Sir," she said with a grin, hoping to set him at ease.
She admired the Captain. She knew it was her job to protect him at all costs.
"Well, don't ever do it again," Picard said as he gave her a warm look.
"Aye, Sir," she nodded.
In the meantime, they headed down to the cargo bay to check if both reptilian creatures were still present. To their disappointment, both of the creatures were still very much alive.
"How is this even fair?" Tasha said as she shook the edge of the cage that housed one of the creatures.
Data was unsure how to respond. He could see that the sight of these life forms in this state was distressing her. She had shared previously that she did not care for the Antican's treatment of their livestock. But something in the way she was reacting indicated this frustration ran deeper.
"I think we have gathered sufficient evidence here," Data said as he guided her away from the cage.
He gripped her hand and leaned in close to her ear.
"I have a surprise for you later," he whispered.
It had the desired effect at taking her mind from the dark place it was in. His neural net surmised there was probably something in her past that was causing this anxiety. He knew enough about Turkana to suspect the worst.
By no means did he want to dismiss that part of her. No, he had desperately hoped she would open up more about her experiences there so that he might better understand her as a whole. But Tasha had been cautious about sharing that information with him. He concluded he also had his own information to share with her about his own dark times that still haunted his memory engrams.
Doctor Crusher's autopsy had confirmed it was, in fact, the Selay delegate. Tasha had been ready to break the news to Commander Riker when Data stopped her with his hand.
"No, please accompany me to the brig," he had said as he guided her to the nearest turbolift.
Once inside, Data addressed both delegations. To Tasha's dismay, he had resumed his Holmes act.
Data was pacing back and forth across the brig, calabash pipe in hand as he puffed away with a focused look on his face.
"Now then, shortly after 17:00 hours our security team reported a puddle of blood outside of the Selay delegation quarters. A search was conducted, and it was quickly determined that one Selay delegate was missing," Data recapped.
"Antican scum," one of the Selay hissed.
"Shortly thereafter a reptilian body was transported to our canteen along with a request that the meat be boiled for the Antican delegation," Data went on.
"These are lies!" the lead Antican delegate growled.
"You have murdered Sistakken!" the Selay shouted in response.
"We have conducted an autopsy and confirmed the identity of the deceased to be that of your missing delegate," Data said as he turned to address the Selay.
"Alright, enough Data. Security notify Starfleet of the situation and have the Antican delegation charged with murder," Tasha said.
She was tired and long overdue for a rest.
"Belay that order," Data said to the security officer guarding the brig.
Tasha put her hands on her hips.
"I know this is fun for you and you're exploring a new part of your personality but wrap it up already!" Tasha replied curtly.
Data sauntered toward her with his pipe in hand.
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact!" he cried dramatically as he stopped and whipped around to face the delegation again. "Anticans do not consume food that has been prepared in a traditional humanoid manner. They consume all of their meat raw."
Realisation hit Tasha hard. She suddenly understood where Data was headed with his big reveal.
"Our security records show that the Anticans did not access the cargo lift following the disappearance of delegate Sistakken. Nor were quarters breached by any Antican," Data snarled.
"These are lies!" the Selay cried in frustration.
"And is it not a fact that Sistakken was the lead Selay advocating for peace to join the Federation? And if something ill were to befall him, that none other than Mistraan would assume the lead role. Mistraan who opposed this peace summit with Parliament because it would be detrimental to his own financial interests on Selay," Data declared as he walked over to stand in front of Mistraan's cell.
"It is untrue. The Anticans will see us destroyed!" Mistraan hissed as his reptilian eyes grew small.
"For you see, as the largest trader of Selay defence technology, Mistraan's business prospects would suffer a significant blow if peace were to be achieved," Data said wildly.
For once, the Anticans were silent.
"I am left with only one conclusion, you murdered your own colleague in an attempt to cast blame on the Anticans in hope that the war would continue," Data concluded with flourish.
Tasha was shocked.
"How did you know?" she asked Data.
He instantly dropped his Holmes attitude, turned around, and walked toward her normally as he pulled the pipe out of his mouth.
"I noticed that whoever removed the skin from the Selay delegate would have required intimate knowledge of Selay anatomy to avoid cutting into venomous sacs that are located around the necks and claws," Data explained. "I then surmised that based on their behaviour it was likely that in the event they had been unable to harm one another directly they would seek to fabricate a crime in hopes of casting blame on the other party."
"But how did you know about Mistraan? And how did you figure it out so quickly?" Tasha asked as she was still bewildered.
"In the time it took us to walk from Sickbay to the brig, I accessed the files on the delegates and their respective backgrounds in order to narrow down the suspects. Mistraan is the only Selay delegate with sufficient motive," he stated.
"Brilliant," she laughed.
"Do you wish to release the Anticans?" he asked her.
"No, I think it's best for everyone if they all remain here until we've reached Parliament," Tasha responded.
This did not sit well with the Antican delegation and they began to howl about their treatment.
In a flash, Data had resumed being the smug detective.
"There is nothing more to be said or done tonight, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour this miserable situation and the still more miserable ways of these Anticans and Selay," Data said loudly.
Tasha rolled her eyes and Data took the hint.
"It is a quote from The Five Orange Pips," Data explained once they were in the corridor.
"Oh really? So, a book written 500 years ago on Earth mentioned the Anticans and Selay?" she smirked.
"Well, I improvised that part," Data replied bashfully.
Once they were back at his quarters, Tasha saw him set the pipe on his table.
Before she could stop him, he pulled out his phaser and disintegrated it.
"Data what are you doing?" Tasha said as she stared wide-eyed at the spot where the pipe had been a moment ago.
"It was obvious you found this irritating and I do not wish to do anything that would cause you unhappiness. Thank you for indulging me today, though. As they say, it was great fun while it lasted," he said simply.
Tasha felt horrible.
"Oh honey, I didn't mean- well, you didn't need to do that. You were having fun. I'm so sorry, Data," Tasha said as she felt tears start to well up.
She had never meant to hurt him.
Data noticed the liquid that was beginning to pool at the edge of her eyes felt ashamed that he was the cause of it.
He walked toward her and took her hands.
"Tasha, I am unsure of what to do. I fear that my attempt to avoid causing you displeasure has only caused you further despair," he said as he pulled her into an embrace.
"No Data, this is my fault. I was a little annoyed, but I shouldn't have been. You were so brilliant. And you were so happy and I'm so sorry," she said with a sob.
"It is a material object. I can easily replicate another. I cannot replicate another you," he replied.
"I know that," Tasha said softly.
She pulled back from him and took his face in her hands.
"Don't ever change who you are or what makes you happy for anyone. Promise me?" she asked as she looked up at him.
There were moments like this where she realised how vulnerable he could be. Sure, he was the strongest and smartest being in Starfleet. But these emotions exposed a vulnerability in him. And in the hands of the wrong person, Tasha feared they could be used to manipulate him.
"Of course," he replied as he noted the look of concern on her face.
"Even me. Don't ever change who you are, even if it's for me because I love you just the way you are – smelly pipe and all. Promise me this," she said as she stroked his hair tenderly.
"I promise," he said.
Tasha still had to return to Doctor Crusher for a final check up to remove the regenerative patch that was healing the burn on her arm.
Data understood, he would need time to prepare before her arrival. His sole request was that she hold off on her hot bath for the time being.
She cocked an eyebrow at Data and he gave her a small, emotionless shrug in response.
Damn his poker face. She mused to herself.
Tasha stepped out into the corridor and made her way to the turbolift. Yet, instead of heading over to Sickbay, she made a slight detour.
She had a favour to ask and there was only one person she could trust.
"Come in!" Geordi called from his desk as his door alarm chimed.
Tasha stepped and gave him a warm greeting.
"You doing OK? I saw that console station. You took quite a beating," Geordi said as he motioned for her to take a seat.
"I'm in good hands," Tasha laughed.
"I bet," Geordi replied in a knowing voice. "Need a drink or anything?"
Tasha shook her head.
"Actually, I have a favour to ask. I need your help with something," she explained.
Tasha knew that Geordi made the best holodeck programs on the Enterprise. She wanted this to be really special for Data. She took a seat and began to lay out what she was hoping to create.
"I really blew it. He was so excited running around playing detective and I was a little short with him," Tasha explained.
"So, you want to create this holodeck program where he can run around as Sherlock Holmes? Pipe and all?" Geordi asked her.
"Yes. Something just like the stories," Tasha said. "You know – a really good mystery. Something that he'll enjoy."
"I think this is a great idea, Tasha! It's going to take some time, but yes. Count me in," Geordi said with a broad smile.
"Just keep it under wraps, please," she replied. "I want it to be a surprise."
Geordi agreed and they set up a time next week to start working on the program.
"Hey Tasha," Geordi called when she reached his doorway.
Tasha stopped and turned back to him.
"This is really sweet," he said.
Tasha just hoped that somehow, in the grand scheme of the universe, this would bring Data some happiness.