NOTE: Due, in part, to the 'devistating new weapon' hinted at in the summary, this story will eventually involve several alternate timelines, all slightly AU. The part of the story that follows the crew of the Enterprise-D takes place about a year after All Good Things... but does not include the movies Generations, First Contact, etc. So, regarding continuity, in this universe there was no Nexus ribbon and Data did not yet choose to install his emotion chip. The Enterprise-D never crashed on Veridian III and, instead, went on to have further adventures. :)
Hope that makes sense, and I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Chapter One
The door signal chirped. Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge winced and rubbed his aching temples where his VISOR attached to his head, tired enough to hope that if he stayed very still and didn't make a sound, whoever it was would think he'd already left his quarters and go away.
The door signal chirped again, then again.
The chief engineer groaned and forced himself to his feet.
"All right, I'm here! Just give me a sec," he called, blanking out the monitor screen that had been playing and re-playing the last message he had received from his mother just over one year ago. He splashed some water on his face at the sink, then headed for his adjacent bedroom to swap his rumpled pajamas and slippers for his gold-and-black Starfleet uniform and polished boots before striding back into his living room to face the doors.
"Come on in."
As he'd expected, the doors slid open to reveal La Forge's best friend, Lt. Commander Data, the ship's second officer and the only sentient android in Starfleet. La Forge was glad it was Data and not Troi, the ship's counselor, who'd come to see him. But, something inside him still bristled at the unwanted company.
"Hey, Data. What brings you here?"
"I did not see you in Ten Forward this morning, so I thought I would 'drop by,'" the android said. La Forge could tell Data was trying his best to sound casual, but he saw right through the awkward little act.
"Checking up on me, are you?"
"Yes," Data said honestly.
La Forge snorted despite himself and shook his head.
"Well, there's no problem here, Data. I'm fine."
Data regarded his friend, his head slightly tilted.
"Your defensive attitude is to be expected, Geordi," he said. "It is very human to experience a resurgence of grief, anger and resentment at a time like this, and to attempt to distance yourself from those who would seek to comfort you."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Data's face scrunched in confusion.
"Does today not mark the one-year anniversary of the Hera's disappearance?"
La Forge turned away.
"Data… Look, I don't want to talk about this, OK? So, why don't you just head to the bridge."
"Would you prefer I contact Counselor Troi—"
"No!" La Forge exclaimed. "No, Data. It's just…today, you know? I…I need some time. Let me have some time to myself, and I'll be fine by tomorrow. I promise."
Data didn't seem convinced. His yellow eyes narrowed until La Forge could practically feel him analyzing his facial expressions, his posture, his tone of voice…
"Are you certain you do not wish to talk about the loss of your mother? I am willing to listen, should you require 'a friendly ear.'"
La Forge sighed and scrubbed his hands through his short hair, recognizing that Data wasn't about to leave until whatever criteria had brought him there had been met to his satisfaction. La Forge sat back in his desk chair and gestured for Data to pull up a seat of his own.
"It's been a year, Data," he said. "A whole year with no word, no leads, not a scrap of wreckage. I…I know… I told the captain I understood. That I know and accept that my mother's ship was lost, that she and her crew are most likely dead. And yet… There's some part of me that won't believe, it, you know? Without some hard evidence – without a body, I…I just can't…"
"The Black Cluster is an exceedingly dangerous and unpredictable region of space," Data said. "Extreme gravitational forces could easily be responsible for—"
"I know!" La Forge exclaimed "I know, and I don't need rationalizations right now! I'm just… I'm angry and I'm frustrated and I just need to feel this right now. OK? Can you understand that?"
Data nodded very slightly.
"As you wish, Geordi," he said, seeming a little subdued. He blinked and straightened in his chair. "The captain wishes you to attend the morning briefing today. We will be meeting in the Observation Lounge at 0915 hours."
"Has something come up?"
"A Priority One message from Starfleet Command," Data said. "It came in last night. Captain Picard and Commander Riker have been in the Captain's Ready Room all morning."
La Forge furrowed his brow.
"Sounds like something big."
"Without specific information, I can only speculate," Data said matter-of-factly, and stood. "Geordi, I am sorry if my attempt at commiseration has been unsuccessful. I hope that you will feel better soon."
La Forge pursed his lips and shook his head, his fondness for the android cracking through his anger and pain.
"You did just fine, Data," he said. "I'm glad you decided to 'drop in'. Your visit did help. I mean it."
The android seemed to brighten, and he nodded. Then, he turned and strode out to the corridor through the sliding doors.
La Forge rubbed his rough chin and checked the time. If he moved fast, he had just enough time to spruce himself up, grab a quick bite, then check in with Engineering before heading up to the bridge for the captain's briefing.
Turning his computer console off, he straightened his shoulders and got to work.
To Be Continued…
References Include - TNG: Interface; Hero Worship.
Thank you! "Mother's Day" never came together, but I hope this story will have better luck. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and thanks so much for the review! Your thoughts and comments really help. :)
More of this story and my other in-progress stories are in the works and will be coming soon. Stay tuned, and please let me know what you think! :D