Narsil – The Blade that was Broken

Chapter One; Turpitudo

Turpitudo. Noun. 1. Disgrace. 2. Nakedness. . 4. Depravity.5. Ugliness/deformity.

They had finally found the ship. The signal from the visual acuity transmitter was spotty at the best of times, and it seemed to have disappeared altogether for a while. However, Geordi's perseverance had paid off, and when his retuned scanners picked up the signal he almost shouted out loud with joy.

His delight at finding the ship was brutally short-lived.

"Here, get a blanket."

"Commander... what's wrong with him?"

"I don't know. Where's Geordi?"

"I'll get him, he's preparing a workspace."

"Quickly. Data? Data, can you hear me?"

He was finally free of the restriction of that miserable device. He heaved a huge lungful of air into his cooling cavity and cried out as the expanding of his ribs opened wide the gash on his back.

"Here, sir."

Data felt hands on him, wrapping something around him, and he was pathetically grateful for the covering of his nakedness. The blanket was too warm, but that was better than the embarrassment.

"Okay, give me a hand, we'll get him up there. Geordi?"

"One moment, Commander." That was Geordi's voice. He opened his mouth to call for him, but nothing came out but a groan as the hands grabbed and lifted him. He was placed on a hard surface, and there were people all around and they were looking and staring and talking.

"Geordi." He croaked.

"Okay, I'm here... What... What's happened to you?" Data could hear the shock and horror in his friend's voice and he cringed. He knew how he looked, felt sure that Geordi could see the marks of his shameful acts tattooed on his skin. Maybe he could smell the other men on him... He gagged on the memory of the taste in his mouth.

"Looks like that wound under his arm is the worst of it. He's lost a lot of circulatory fluid. Data, you've gotta move your hand, let me see." It was Geordi, he reminded himself, Geordi wouldn't hurt him. Slowly he uncurled his arm from his face and looked up into the face of the engineer. Geordi's brow was furrowed deeply over his visor, and he was holding a sonic driver. The thought of having the tool inserted into the knife wound made Data shudder. With sudden clarity, he realised that he didn't need an engineer.

"Doctor." He murmured. "Doctor Crusher, and a medical tricorder."

Geordi rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.

"Okay. Okay, I'll call her." He tapped his combadge and quickly outlined the situation to the CMO.

"I'll be there in a moment. Crusher out."

"I'm heading back over to the Jovis." Riker said. "I want as much evidence of illegal activity as I can get my hands on, we're going to nail this bastard to the wall." He patted Data sympathetically on the shoulder and strode out.

Geordi leaned down close to the android's face.

"Data." He whispered. "What happened? How did he do this to you?"

"Geordi." Data held up his hand. Geordi gripped it tight, willing strength into the android.

"I... I was so worried..." Geordi shook his head. "I thought I might never see you again. And, the last time we spoke it was an argument, and it was just killing me that that might be the last thing I'd ever say to you. I... I'm sorry. You know that, right?"

Data opened his mouth to answer but retched instead. His system was trying to purge itself of the stagnant material in his stomach.

"I'm here." Crusher came bustling into engineering, her white coat flapping in her wake. She pushed past a gaggle of engineers and made her way to Geordi's side.

"Hello, Data." She had her 'doctor' face on, the one she had to wear every time she patched up her friends. She smiled tightly. "What can I help with?"

"Scan..." He said weakly. Then his golden eyes widened in panic and he clawed his way to the edge of the work station he was lying on, gagging. With a heave, he regurgitated a spatter of milky foam onto the floor, feet scrabbling for purchase as his synthetic muscles spasmed. He spat and coughed the last of the matter from him, finally ridding himself of the foul stuff of his sins.

"Whoa!" Geordi let go of his hand to step back. "What is that?"

Crusher was already scanning, and her face had gone deathly pale. She looked at the scanner, looked at Data, and then round at the gaggle of engineers behind her.

"Out." She turned to the rest of the room. "Everyone, out, now. I'll let you know when you can return to your duties. Go, everyone, out. You too, Geordi." She turned to the engineer.

"Now, wait just a second..." Geordi began, but Data reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Geordi. Stay." He was breathing hard, and his eyes seemed too yellow bright, almost feverish.

"Are you sure you want him here?" Crusher's face was white, her lips drawn taut. Data nodded.

"Yes, I... he is... my friend."

"D'you mind telling me what's going on?" Geordi said, scowling at the doctor. She watched the last few people leave before turning back to the engineer. She opened her mouth and then closed it again, shaking her head.

"It's semen."

"What?" Geordi's eyebrows shot up, and he darted a glance at the android.

"It's..." She took a deep breath to collect herself as she ran the scanner over Data's body. "There are two distinct types, different species. One is Zibalian, the other, I don't know..." She paused in her scan to wipe a hand over her white face. "There are both types of genetic material present in his anal cavity as well, and... it's... he's been damaged internally, torn. Data..." She dropped the scanner onto the blanket and bent over the bed, resting her elbows on the edge to bury her face in her hands.

"I did not consent." The android murmured. He looked up at Geordi, whose dark face had gone ashen. "I am so sorry, Geordi."

"No..." Geordi moaned. "No, you don't have to apologise, it's okay, it's not your fault." He bent to rest his forehead on the android's, one hand on his face. "We'll fix you up, don't worry."

"I'll need to get some equipment, and... take samples..." Crusher stood and scrubbed the heels of her hands into her eyes. She took a deep breath. "Data, I'm going to need to examine you."

"Deactivate me."

"Data, no, you hate that, you told me." Geordi stood up, one hand resting on the android's shoulder. Data's eyes were fixed on him.

"I do, but at the moment, it is preferable. No more, please. I have had enough. Let me simply have nothing for a time. Please."

Geordi nodded slowly, and walked around the work station to pull the blanket down and expose the android's back. He heard Crusher hiss between her teeth at the sight of the ugly wound as his hand brushed the switch embedded in Data's spine. He leant forward to whisper in the android's ear.

"Sleep. I'll be here when you come back online."

He pressed his fingers into the depression and found the switch, pressed it firmly. He hadn't realised how tense Data was until the now inactive android relaxed, slumping onto the table limply.

Geordi took off his visor and pressed his fingers into his temples, his jaw clenching and unclenching. Crusher was looking down at Data sadly, brushing his tousled hair away from his face. Geordi snapped his visor back on and strode towards the turbolift.

"Where are you going?" Asked Crusher, startled.

"I'm going to fucking kill him."

Crusher darted after him, grabbed his arm, and he shook her off, fury lending him strength.

"Geordi, no, come here!" She grabbed him again, both hands round his arm. He scowled at her. She glared right back.

"Do you really think that's what Data would want? For you to go storming off while he lies there bleeding? If you want something to do, well, there it is!" She gestured to the prone android. "He needs you, Geordi. Come on." She pulled his arm and his shoulders slumped, and he allowed her to lead him back to the table. She tapped her combadge, her face drawn and grim.

"Crusher to Selar. I need you to bring some equipment to engineering. I'll send you a list, just gather it up and leave it outside, we'll get it when we need it."

"Acknowledged."

"Crusher to Daniels. I need a two man security detail set up outside engineering. No one comes in without my express permission, until further notice."

"Understood."

She sighed through her nose and looked at the engineer.

"Someone needs to tell the Captain what's going on."

"You're not suggesting we tell him..."

"Absolutely not." Crusher said, firmly. "But he needs to be appraised of the situation. You get started here, I'll talk to Jean-luc." She walked to the turbolift, head down and deep in thought, and Geordi turned to the android and picked up his tools.

"Hey, Data. It's me. We're all done."

He opened his eyes slowly. He was still half afraid that this was some elaborate fantasy, and that any moment he would wake on the Jovis with Kivas Fajo grinning down at him. He shuddered.

"It's okay, it's just me, there's no-one else here." Geordi. The dark skinned man was stroking his hair away from his forehead. Data looked up at the engineer, drinking in the sight of his face.

"I require clothing. Civilian."

Geordi frowned. "Why? I'm not sure I've ever seen you wear anything but uniform, unless we were on the holodeck."

Data tried to work out how to tell his friend that the thought of putting his Starfleet uniform on his soiled body was abhorrent, that he had not behaved as an officer should, that he had betrayed his position by his behaviour, had cracked under pressure, did not deserve his rank insignia.

"I do not want to wear a uniform."

"Oh. Okay, that's fine, I'll get you something else." Geordi, still puzzled, moved to the replicator and returned moments later with a simple tunic and slacks in charcoal grey.

Data dressed hurriedly, keeping the blanket over his body awkwardly. As soon as he was clothed he swung his legs over the side of the table and then stood. Geordi grabbed his arm as he lurched sideways.

"Whoa! Careful now, we've done a lot of work, but you still need calibration."

"I want to go to my quarters."

"Yeah, okay, but slowly, I'll help." Geordi slung one of the android's arms over his shoulders and steadied him as they moved out of engineering. He would have liked to have kept Data there for tests and observation, but he could understand his desire for privacy, and the familiar comforts of home.

In the turbolift Data leant against the engineer, allowing the repaired parts time to adjust.

"How are you feeling? You're so quiet, it's weird, you're normally so verbose isn't he?" "I quite like it, I enjoy the formality, gives everything a sense of class." Fajo gestured airily with his glass. "Data, come on, out of the lift." Geordi had a hand on his arm, pulling gently. Data allowed himself to be led to his rooms, guided in through the door. He walked straight into the bathroom, shedding the clothes as he walked, and climbed into the shower. He slumped against the wall, allowing the pulsing waves to cleanse the filth from his body. His legs had given way, but he couldn't remember sitting down, then Geordi was holding his hand, crouched in front of him on his knees and hands andkneesandhands and talking gently, and he was being led to the couch and Geordi was holding out these lovely new clothes and sit in the chair. So he got dressed and waited to be told what to do next.

A minute or two later the door chimed. Geordi acknowledged, and Deanna Troi entered. Her dark eyes were wide and sad, and she hurried straight to the couch to sit beside the android. She spent a long moment simply sitting next to him, watching and reaching out with her mind to explore his emotional state. She reached out and took his hand, and he turned his head to look at her.

"I thought that I would feel sad, or angry, but I feel nothing. Why?"

"It's very common to have periods of emotional numbness after a traumatic experience like yours. It's a sign of shock."

Data nodded to himself thoughtfully. "When will it stop?"

"It's different for everyone. But you will get better, we're here to help you."

"I'll leave you two to talk." Geordi turned to the door.

"No, Geordi, please stay." Data reached up to him, beckoning. Geordi sighed, folded his arms.

"I... I don't know if I'm comfortable eves-dropping on this kind of thing."

Troi cocked her head at him, puzzled. "This does affect you directly, Geordi. Your relationship is going to..."

"Our... Our relationship?" Geordi's eyebrows shot up and he turned to Data. "What happened to keeping secrets?"

To Geordi's astonishment the stoic android seemed to crumple, folding in on himself. "I... I did not want to tell, he made me, I tried, Geordi I tried, I did not want to tell, you did not want me to tell..." His voice tailed away and he sat staring at his lap. Deanna squeezed his hand gently, looked up at Geordi.

"He didn't tell me. Have you really forgotten that I'm an empath? I've known for weeks." She frowned at the engineer. Geordi shook his head and laughed bitterly.

"You're wrong, there's nothing between us. Nothing 'substantial enough to break', isn't that what you said?" Geordi threw the words out, caustic and careless. He had thought his heart would die when Data was lost, had cherished the thought of their reunion, but all the anger and bitterness he had thought buried had come bleeding to the surface like a lanced boil when confronted with the knowledge that their relationship was not secret. He was angry with Data, angry for making him care, making him worry and weep in the dark, and the shame of their sordid affair was a burning pain in his chest.

He had wanted to wound with his words, but when they hit home he immediately wished he could take them back. If, somehow, he could have turned the razor sharpness of them on himself, he would have thrown himself onto his words to protect his lover. But it was too late, and they had flown from his lips like darts and buried themselves deep.

Data seemed to have frozen solid. He made no move, didn't raise his head. He just said two words.

"Get out."

"Data, I'm so sorry, I... I didn't mean..."

Data's head snapped up and he surged to his feet, Troi yelping in shock as he tore his hand from hers and advanced on the engineer, eyes blazing.

"GET. OUT." He didn't open his mouth any wider than he would have had to to speak, but he had turned his vocal synthesiser up to a level where the words were an almost physical pressure on Geordi's ears. The engineer flinched, and did as he was told. As the door slid shut behind him, Data sank to his kneesandhandsandknees and then the tears came, tearing, wracking sobs wrenched from his chest in hysterical gasps. Troi knelt down next to him and cradled his head on her shoulder and rocked him like a child, murmuring soothing nothings and soaking his hair with her own tears as he howled.