Epilogue; Olim
Olim. Adverb. 1. In the future 2. Once upon a time
He was singing. For fuck's sake, he was singing again. Some stupid old song, a thousand years old.
"For nobody else gave me a thrill..."
"Data..." Geordi groaned, rolling over and dragging the pillow over his head.
"With all your faults I love you still..."
"Data!"
"It had to be you, wonderful you..."
Geordi rolled onto his back and flung the pillow in the general direction of the voice, only to find it thumping into his own face, the source of the song returning the pillow with a flick of his wrist.
"It had to be yoooou!" Data threw his arms wide and Geordi spun the pillow at him again.
"I'm not due on until Beta, I could have had a lie-in!"
Data strode to the side of the bed and solicitously slipped the pillow under Geordi's head, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"And you may, once I leave."
"Like I'm gonna get back to sleep now." Geordi grumbled. He sat up, stretching, and watched Data striding around the room, dragging his jacket on and checking himself in the mirror.
"You're getting vain." Geordi chuckled, and Data raised an eyebrow at him in mock annoyance.
"I was merely appreciating the cut of this new uniform."
Geordi snorted. "You're appreciating how good it looks on you."
"As were you." The corner of Data's mouth twitched into a half smile, and Geordi barked a laugh.
"Yeah, okay, you caught me looking. Well, so maybe it does look good on you."
Data nodded in agreement, tilting his chin at his reflection as he smoothed his hair.
"Some others I've seen might never be mean..." He crooned, looking at Geordi's face reflected in the mirror, and the man rolled his silver eyes and slumped back onto the bed, dragging the sheets over his head with a groan.
"I'll be so glad when this concert's done with. You don't need to practice, you know."
"Perhaps I merely feel like singing to you." Geordi felt the bed shift as Data flung himself onto the mattress and teased the sheets away from Geordi's face.
"My baby don't care for clothes..." He serenaded, and Geordi grabbed the sheets, trying to bury the android into the bed.
"My baby don't care for shows, my baby just cares for me..." Data tugged at the man through the sheets and Geordi laughed out loud as he shoved at the android's chest, wrestling the bedding back over himself.
"May baby don't caaaare who knows it..." Data's mellow voice filled the room and Geordi gave up, grinning and looking up into his lover's golden eyes as Data deftly extricated himself from the tangled sheets and tucked them around the man's body, before leaning over to press their lips together.
"My baby just cares for me." He purred, and Geordi shook his head, his bearded face creased with humor.
"You're an idiot."
Data smiled. "Happy anniversary."
Geordi groaned as Data stood and tugged his jacket straight. "Is it really? Damn it, I forgot. Hey, hey, wait up, no way is today our anniversary!"
"That depends on what you class as the beginning of our romantic relationship. By my calculations, it has been exactly two years since we officially became a couple."
Geordi frowned as he threw his arm over his face. "So you class the beginning of our relationship as when exactly?"
"From our first intimate encounter."
Geordi snorted. "We were hardly in a relationship then. But sure, you know what? Happy anniversary." He dragged the bedding up to his chin and wriggled into the mattress with a sigh. Data smiled at him before turning back to the mirror.
"Are we still intending to attend the poker game tonight?" He queried, smoothing his hair once more.
"Sure, if I can get some more rest! I'm beat, yesterday really took it out of me." Geordi held up his hand as Data quirked an eyebrow and opened his mouth. "Yeah, I know, you're gonna come out with some comment about 'putting it in', or something. But seriously, just let me try and get some more sleep, will ya?"
"As you wish. Please do not forget to feed Spot before you leave for your shift. Will I see you for lunch?"
"I dunno, depends, I'll com you." Geordi mumbled, rolling himself up in the sheets. Data smiled fondly at the man's back.
"All senior staff to the bridge. Repeat, all senior staff to the bridge."
Geordi was up in a flash, all thoughts of sleep forgotten as the adrenaline surged through his veins. Data threw him his shirt and trousers and strode from their quarters, Geordi following only moments behind.
The atmosphere on the bridge was strained, there was no shouting or bustling around, merely a quiet tension as the turbolift door slid open and Data stepped out. He quickly scanned the room as he strode towards his usual station at ops.
"Data." Picard stood from the command chair, his face dark. Data stopped.
"Sir?"
"Is La Forge with you?"
"He will be here momentarily. Sir, should I take my station?"
Picard held up his hand. "No, stay there." His eyes were shadowed, his jaw muscles tense, and Data felt a tremor of anxiety sleet down his spine.
When Geordi stepped briskly onto the bridge he immediately registered the group standing before the viewscreen and came to a halt, tense. Riker turned his bearded face, his expression grim. Picard was staring fixedly at the starfield as if demanding the universe itself for answers. Troi had one hand on Data's shoulder, and her eyes were downcast and troubled. Then Data turned his head towards him, and Geordi felt his blood run cold. Data looked shocked and bereft, as if his world had crumbled beneath his feet.
"La Forge." Picard said, low, and Geordi walked slowly to join the group before the command chairs.
"Sir?" He queried, and Picard turned his distinguished face toward him. He looked haggard and tired, as if every year of his command was stacked on his shoulders.
"We've received a distress call. Play the message."
An ensign punched at his panel and a voice filled the bridge, choppy with distance and interference.
"This i... distress call, any assist... critical... ife support gone, hull beaches on decks two an... uck's sake, anyone! I don't know..." The message ended with a suddenness that left the room ringing with silence. Riker ground his teeth.
"We've located the craft, it seems to still be intact. We're scanning it now, while... while we decide what to do."
Geordi's eyes were locked with Data's. He felt as though he had been punched in the gut, all the air driven from his lungs. He opened his mouth but nothing came out for a moment, before he managed to croak, "No, no way, it can't be, please..."
Data looked at him, and his golden eyes were filled with sorrow as he said one word.
"Lore."