Chapter Three; Peto
Peto. Verb. 1. Beg, entreat 2. Desire 3. Reach for 4. Aim at 5. Attack
It took three days before he was satisfied with his efforts. He checked the terminal in his room for details of his security clearance. The personal terminal had been locked down, allowing him access to only basic information, but he was able to ascertain that there were no special orders posted regarding his movements around the ship. This was reassuring, as he had no wish to break any more rules or regulations. Still, he resolved to have a word with Daniels. Surely a guard should be posted, his movements restricted. Nevertheless, the situation suited him for now, so his concerns could wait. Probably, he reflected, until after he had tendered his apologies to the security chief. He pinned the empty arm of his uniform up to stop it from flapping, and left his quarters.
He hadn't realized just how difficult his mission would be until he was halfway down the corridor and the first pin snapped. He examined the damage and decided that the rest would hold, but he would have to be much more careful.
"I... Is everything alright, sir?" An ensign asked, looking at him with a mix of nervousness and concern.
"Yes, quite all right, thank you." Data replied, straightening up and resuming his halting journey, his one hand on the wall for support.
"Do you need some help, sir?" The ensign called after him.
"No, thank you. I would like to do this on my own. Your offer of assistance is, nevertheless, appreciated."
It took him over forty minutes to reach main engineering, by which time he was extremely thankful that he had checked that Geordi would be there. He had no wish to wander the ship in this state for any longer than was necessary.
The first person he saw was Hesling, standing with her back to the door, poring over a read out on one of the display panels.
"Excuse me..." He began, and she whirled around with a yelp.
"Data! I-I mean, Commander! Wh... what are... I mean..." Her freckled face had flushed, and her cry of surprise had caused heads to turn. Data could hear muttering. He held out his hand in a calming gesture, and then had to grab at the console to steady himself.
"Please, where is Commander La Forge?" He asked, trying to keep the tremble of nervousness from his voice.
"Um, he's over by the warp core, but..."
"Thank you, that will be all." Data cut her off and lurched with as much poise as he could muster towards the glowing heart of the ship.
Geordi was standing with Fisk, going over something with the tall man as he held out a PADD. Fisk looked up and his mouth fell open as he saw the android approaching. Geordi turned to see what had captured the engineer's attention, and it was his turn to gape in surprise.
"Data?" He breathed. Data drew himself up as best he could with his hand on the nearest console, and fixed Fisk with his gaze.
"Would you give us a moment, please?" He asked, and the lanky man was only too pleased to scuttle away to join the small cluster of murmuring people. Geordi's jaw clenched as he glared at the android stood before him.
"Data, what the hell do you think you're doing here?" Geordi growled. His silver-blue eyes were hard, his posture tense, and Data began to recalculate the projected outcome of his actions. He dropped his gaze.
"I wished to convince you of my sincerity. And..." He shifted awkwardly, and then bent one knee to lower himself to the deck. Geordi's heart constricted in his chest.
"You've got to be kidding..." He croaked. Data pulled his other leg under himself until he was resting on both knees, kneeling in front of the engineer.
"... I wish to apologize." Data said. He raised his head, gazing up at Geordi with simple dignity. "I hope that you will accept."
"A-accept what?" Stammered Geordi. His fingers felt numb, his heart was in his throat.
"My apology." Data seemed confused. Geordi dragged his hands over his face.
"Just... get up, damn it, you're embarrassing the hell out of me." he hissed.
"Not until you accept my apology."
"Okay, yes, fine, I accept your apology!" Geordi whispered harshly, leaning towards the android. "I don't know what the hell you were thinking coming down here and... Just... Get up!"
Data's eyes flicked from side to side. "Ah. Um, I... appear to be stuck." He looked up at Geordi apologetically, and the man gritted his teeth, his eyes sparking dangerously.
"Fisk! Tramin! Get over here and help!" He bellowed. The two engineers scurried over and grabbed the android, hauling him to his feet, Data struggling to straighten his right leg.
"Well, I suppose now you're here we're going to have to try and fix you." Geordi grumbled. "Come on, let's take a look. How did you repair the legs anyway?"
The android made his way unsteadily to a nearby work station, assisted by the two engineers. He shook his head as he sat on the surface, shoving himself up on to the surface with difficulty.
"I was unable to repair the limbs, the damage was too extensive. I decided instead that a temporary set would suffice."
"Wait, what?" Geordi frowned. "What temporary set?"
In answer Data reached down and hauled one of his legs up onto the work station. He dragged the cuff of the trouser leg up, and Geordi gaped. Where before the leg had been smooth white-gold bioplast, now there was just a jumbled framework of chrome and steel, cables and springs, the barest bones of a limb. The engineer leaned in close to gaze at the structure.
"Holy crap, Data..." He breathed. "Did you... make this?"
"Of course. My replicator is locked into domestic mode, and therefore I am unable to procure the specific items and materials that I would require to replace the limbs."
"So this... this is all household stuff?" Geordi whistled low. "This is... this is amazing!" He turned his head to call; "V'Las! Hesling! Come look at this!"
The Vulcan and the red-haired woman came scurrying over to examine the android's makeshift self-repairs, and begin to discuss what to do next.
"I have removed the damaged limbs at the mid-thigh detachment point. This should make it easier to replicate and attach the lower limbs, without the need for extensive re-wiring." The android was explaining. Geordi had cut away enough of his uniform to expose the android's legs (much to the embarrassment of a furiously blushing Hesling), and Data was now sitting with both limbs stretched on the work surface, gesturing to the strange assortment of objects he had cobbled together.
"Are these..." Geordi reached out tentatively to run his fingers across a cluster of thin cables.
"Guitar strings." The android answered, and Geordi looked up at him sharply. Data shrugged one shoulder.
"They had approximately the correct tensile strength. I feel the need to inform you that they are replicated, and not actually the set from my guitar, although, as a romantic gesture, that may have had more of an emotional impact."
Geordi shook his head, and Hesling clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle a nervous giggle. V'Las settled with raising an eyebrow.
"Y'know, this really is amazing." Murmured Geordi, absorbed once more in his examination. "You got table legs, guitar strings, sofa springs... what the hell are these?" He pointed at the shining curved surfaces protecting the cables running across the knee joint.
"Teaspoons. They had the correct curvature and..."
"I don't believe it... This is nuts!" Geordi shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you walked through the entire ship with kneespoon teacaps..." He frowned. "Teacap kneesp... Teaspoon kneecaps!" He glared at a giggling Hesling. "You try saying that five times fast." He turned back to the android, shaking his head again, his silver eyes wide. "You got just about everything but the kitchen sink!"
Data frowned. "I fail to see what use..." His head twitched. "Ah. A common phrase, used to indicate..." He slowed to a halt as he realized that Geordi was quirking an eyebrow at him. A shy smile spread across the android's face.
"Of course, I would have used the sink had I wished to improve my tap dancing."
Geordi groaned out loud, and Hesling dissolved into a fit of giggles. The chief engineer dragged a hand over his face and glared at the android.
"I can't believe I have to say this again; No puns!"
It took several hours to replicate a new set of legs, plus a replacement left arm. Geordi balked at the dental work.
"I, I dunno, it feels..." He shrugged awkwardly. "Creepy. I... I don't like teeth." He shivered, looking into Data's mouth and surveying the damage. Barclay leaned over his shoulder.
"Um, perhaps I could..." The man began. Geordi glanced at him.
"You sure? It's... kinda freaking me out. You know we're going to have to... remove..." He shuddered at the thought, and Barclay put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"H-honestly, sir," Barclay smiled anxiously, "Teeth are one of the few things I can deal with. I-I've had a l-lot of dental work myself, you see, a-and..."
"Okay, great, thanks Reg." Geordi visibly relaxed. "I'd love for you to take that on."
"And thank you, also," Data said, "for looking after Spot."
"Oh, that's no problem, sir, no problem at all." Barclay beamed. "She's such a sweetheart!"
"Yeah." Geordi grimaced. "If what you find 'sweet' is a set of claws in your shin."
Barclay bustled away to the replicator and Geordi looked at the android sat before him.
"You gonna be okay?" His voice was soft and low, pitched only for Data. He saw the clenched jaw, the hands balled into fists.
"I..." Data's eyes flickered. "I am sure that, with a little discipline..." His voice petered out. Geordi put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Would you rather be deactivated while Reg works on your teeth?" He felt Data shudder.
"No. I... I..." He sighed and looked up at the engineer. "I am not sure where, or when, I may be reactivated."
"Hey..." Geordi bent to look into Data's eyes. "You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you."
"Yes." Data looked away. "It is... difficult to trust."
"Yeah, I'll bet." Geordi patted him companionably as Barclay returned with a tray of, quite frankly medieval looking tools, and a rattling Perspex jar. Geordi swallowed and glanced at Data.
"I'm gonna go... check on the others' progress." He croaked, and Data nodded.
"Don't worry sir." Barclay said cheerily. "He'll be smiling in no time."
Geordi managed a weak smile of his own. "Sure, sure. Well, go ahead."
He scurried away as Barclay set to work, and found Hesling busying herself with a sensor cluster, preparing to install it into one of the replicated limbs.
"How's it coming?" He asked, trying to keep his tone light and conversational, but Hesling's head turned, her gaze penetrating.
"Just fine, sir." She replied mildly. He sighed.
"What is it?" He asked, and she darted her eyes away for a moment.
"Permission to speak frankly sir?" She asked, her cheeks flushing. He quirked the corner of his mouth into a smile.
"Granted. No need to be nervous, we're all friends here."
She laughed anxiously. "Sure. But there are things you can talk about with your friends, but maybe not with a superior officer."
"Hey, whatever's bothering you, you can tell me."
"Well, frankly, sir, it's you." Her blush deepened. "Not that you're bothering me, but that I'm... well, we're all worried about you."
Geordi looked at her, startled. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you're not yourself. I know it's been hard, but..." She jerked her head back towards the android. "You know, it's obvious something's not right between you, and I know you've had your own troubles, but isn't it time you patched things up with him? I mean, he cares about you a lot, anyone can see that, and it doesn't seem fair that you're, well, blocking him out."
"I..." Geordi was taken aback. He hadn't realized how obvious the rift had become, how blatant his rejection of his lover. "I don't see that it's anyone's business."
"Oh, please!" Hesling tossed her head in irritation. "It's all of our business! It's not right down here when you're so tense, snapping and stomping around. You need him, he's good for you! Sir." She added belatedly, blushing furiously as she realized that she had overstepped her mark. To her surprise, La Forge's shoulders drooped and he dropped his eyes.
"Look, I know I've not been... well, myself." He sighed. "But, damn it, he's... we're... it's just not gonna work. I don't know how to think about him, he's so different."
"It's pretty obvious how he feels about you." Hesling said softly, bowing her head once more over her work. "Seems to me that if you're looking for proof, the fact he's even here pretty much says it all."
"I know he stayed, when he could have left, but..."
"No, I mean here, in engineering." She glanced up at him. "Doesn't it mean something to you that he spent three days building a new set of legs out of scrap and then hauled himself all the way down here, just to apologize?"
Geordi didn't reply. He was staring down at the leg that Hesling was holding as she carefully teased the tiny wires into place. She smoothed the bioplast over, and sealed it with a dermal regenerator.
"There!" She announced. "All ready for the foot and knee units. Tramin! You got that right knee yet?"
"All set here!" The Bolian replied, hefting the joint aloft with a grin.
"Looks like we're pretty much set to start putting things back together." Hesling looked at Geordi. "How about you?" He stared at her for a moment, his silver-blue eyes bright, before smiling.
"Yeah, I guess so. Tell me one thing..."
"Sure." Hesling smiled in return.
"You El-Aurian?"
She laughed, a little nervous again. "Naw, just..." She rolled her eyes. "People are all the same, under the skin. Whether it's circuits, or cells, underneath it all, we're all just people."
Geordi grinned and clapped her lightly on the back. "Damn straight. Funny that it takes an android to remind us what being human is all about."
Data bounced up and down on the balls of his feet, swung his arms experimentally.
"I believe that these may be an improvement on the previous design." He mused appreciatively. V'Las looked at him blandly.
"We have made a number of modifications to improve efficiency. We are sure that you will find them satisfactory."
Data nodded. "By my calculations, they will increase my maximum lifting capacity by five point three percent, and my potential top speed by four point two nine percent. An appreciable improvement."
"It doesn't sound like much." Hesling looked somewhat crestfallen, and Data smiled at her reassuringly with his new teeth.
"It is estimated that I had a maximum top speed of sixty-four point nine-oh-two four kilometres per hour. With your improvements, I have recalculated that to be sixty seven point six eight six kilometres per hour."
"Oh!" Hesling appeared somewhat mollified. Geordi grinned.
"And I'll bet the added lifting strength will come in handy." He said. Data turned and, with one swift movement, swept the chief engineer up into his arms. Geordi yelped as he found his feet leaving the deck, two strong arms wrapped around him. He thumped his fist into Data's chest.
"Put me down!" He barked. "Right now!" Data acquiesced and placed the man back on his feet. He was confused. He had expected Geordi to laugh, for the other engineers to laugh too, or perhaps even applaud. Instead, everyone just looked nervous and embarrassed, with the exception of V'Las, who was regarding the android with his customary Vulcan stoicism.
"Commander," Geordi growled, "A word. Now." Geordi strode away, barking back over his shoulder; "Back to work!" The engineers scattered to their various duties and Data trailed after Geordi, confused and ashamed.
When they were in a quiet room off to one side of the main engine bay Geordi whirled to face the android. Data put his hands up in supplication.
"Geordi, I assure you, I had no intention of embarrassing you..."
"Twice, Data!" The man snapped. "Twice in one day! In front of my crew! Now, I don't know where you've got these ridiculous ideas from, but it stops, right now!"
"I... I do not understand..." Data stammered. Geordi sighed and threw his hands up in exasperation.
"These... big, romantic gestures! Coming down here, picking me up, going down onto one knee... For crying out loud, I-I thought you were going to propose! I was mortified! It's... it's crazy!"
"I..." Data's eyes flicked back and forth rapidly. "I had not considered..."
"No, no, you didn't think, did you?" Geordi growled. "You didn't think about what all... what all this would look like to everyone else! You... you don't bring this stuff to work, and you definitely don't bring it into my engineering department, you got it?" His silver-blue eyes were hard steel and lightning in his haggard face, and Data recoiled away from the harshness of the glare.
"I am sorry, Geordi, truly I am. I had not considered the ramifications of my actions. I simply wished to convince you of my sincerity."
Geordi sighed deeply and dragged his fingers through his unruly hair. "I know, and I'm trying to understand, but..." He gritted his teeth and forced his shoulders to relax. "You can't expect me to just... take you back. Just because you apologize, it doesn't make things right. I-I've got a lot to think about, a-and it's going to take time. Some of the stuff you told me..." He shook his head, folded his arms as he looked away. "I'm trying to see things from your point of view, and I know that you weren't in a good head-space, that... that you were being manipulated..." He closed his eyes, bit his lip. "But it doesn't change the fact that you were with someone else. I... I don't know how to deal with that. I'm not sure I can."
"Do you somehow think that it has been any easier for me?" Data's voice was harsh, and Geordi's eyes snapped to the android's face. Data's eyes were blazing, his teeth bared. "Do you imagine that my time with Maddox and Lore was spent in a blissful haze? Have you somehow forgotten everything that I went through? Can you really blame me for seeking comfort in the midst of a nightmare?" His voice had risen as he spoke, and he took a step towards Geordi, his face contorted with rage and grief. "Do you have any idea what it is like, to have your mind twisted and tangled, to be given love and have it snatched away by the people you thought you could trust? You used the inhibitor on me as I watched my brother torn apart!" His voice had risen to a howl, and Geordi was gaping at him. Data closed his eyes. With a visible effort the android relaxed his posture, smoothed his expression, un-clenched his fists. He opened his eyes to look at the dark skinned man. His voice had lowered to a hiss. "You asked me before, did I think of you? Every day, Geordi. Every hour, every second, in a way that only an android can comprehend, I latched my mind to your memory to try to keep myself sane. I dreamed over and over of our reunion, and I clung to the hope that you would come for me, for both of us. Every. Day." Two yellow-gold tears spilt down his cheeks and he brushed them away roughly with the back of his hand as his eyes hardened. "I had convinced myself that you were different from the others, that I could trust you and rely on you. But you are just the same."
Data took a deep shaking breath and blew it out, before turning and walking away, leaving Geordi in stunned silence.