Update! Thanks so very much for your wonderful reviews! I hope you enjoy this next part! :)

Part Three

"Now I know why they call this the Grand Canyon," Geordi said, staring in wonder at the stratified cliffs rising up from the flowing Colorado. "This place is incredible!"

"Indeed," Data agreed, his golden eyes wide as he soaked in their surroundings. "The layered bands you see represent one of the most complete geologic columns on the planet Earth. This canyon was formed by erosion starting some seventeen million years ago, and the process has exposed rocks dating back billions of years. The Kaibab Limestone that forms the canyon's rim is approximately two hundred thirty million years old, while the Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Inner Gorge was formed over two billion years ago."

"Impressive," Worf grunted.

"I'll say," Geordi agreed, easing his oar through the smooth, brown-tinted water. "You know, I'm really starting to enjoy this. Hey, Chief! How far do we go before we make camp?"

"It'll be a while yet, lads," O'Brien called over his shoulder. "Hear that sound?"

Data cocked his head. Presuming, with some hesitation, that the Chief was not referring to the birdcalls, insect noises, and other various cries and rustles of the surrounding fauna and flora, or to the sound of the wind in the cliff caves above, he said, "It is rushing water."

"You got it, Commander," O'Brien said. Data looked like a kid who'd scored right on a pop quiz. "You probably noticed the current's been picking up. That's because we're about to hit our first stretch of the Canyon's infamous whitewater rapids. Hang on to your oars, men. The ride's about to get a lot more exciting."

Worf's eyes took on a brighter sheen, but Geordi seemed to pale behind his VISOR.

"Just what I wanted to hear…" the young officer muttered to himself, his fingers clenching around his oar. "OK… Let's get this over with."

Data regarded him curiously.

"Geordi?" he inquired. "Does the prospect of navigating the rapids concern you? If so, I can assure you that you are in no danger of drowning. The Holodeck safety protocols –"

"I know all that, Data," Geordi cut him off, annoyed the android had been able to pick up on his rising anxiety. "I'm not scared. I just…don't like getting wet, that's all."

"Hm," the android responded, but he didn't look entirely convinced.

The river curved around and down a sharp bend, the water now moving noticeably faster. As the bend straightened out, a long, narrow stretch of churning, white rapids was revealed, the roiling water whooshing and splashing over and around a scattered mix of deadly-looking rocks and boulders.

"Oh, hell…" Geordi winced, but O'Brien let out a mighty whoop, raising his oar in the air.

"This is it, men!" he cried. "Follow me!"

Geordi had to admit, the first stretch of rapids actually hadn't been all that bad. Even the second had been more exhilarating than truly frightening – just a short, sharp stretch between two calmer pools, where he'd had a chance to catch his breath and stretch his aching arms and back. The third, though…

The river was much deeper here, the drawing current more insidious. Geordi was finding it increasingly difficult to control his kayak, to make its course follow his will rather than the will of the river itself. He had no idea if the rising difficulty levels were part of the program, or an accurate representation of the river's actual course, but he did know he was getting very cold and very tired, and more than a little hungry. His uniform was soaked through, and the inside of his kayak, and his boots, sloshed with water.

Cruising beside and just a bit behind him, Data seemed as cool and calm as ever. His uniform and life vest had a few wet patches too but, despite the wind and splashing water, his hair remained neat and unmussed. It made Geordi wonder – not for the first time – if it was naturally like that, or if the android used some kind of super-hold product to keep the dark strands so firmly in place.

Worf and O'Brien were paddling far ahead, almost out of sight around the upcoming bend. Watching them gave Geordi the irritating suspicion that Data was holding back his own progress just to keep an eye on him.

"Hey, you don't have to slow down on my account!" he called over the pounding water. "I'm just fine back here!"

"I do not understand," Data called back. "Did you not invite me on this trip so we could share each other's company? Would that purpose not be defeated if I moved ahead?"

That took Geordi aback for a moment. But, of course, this wasn't a test of pride or strength for Data. Merely a chance to be with his friends and observe human behavior. The young navigator suddenly felt a little silly for snapping at him.

"Yeah, you're right, Data," he said. "I'm sorry I – yai – oh, oh no. Oh, shiii-i-i-i-!"

A sudden upswell caught his boat and Geordi felt himself begin to spin. He jabbed his oar into the water, trying to force himself out of the current, but the prow of his kayak knocked hard against a rock, which forced him smack! into another, then another. The harsh jolts loosened his VISOR but, before he could push it back into place, a rising wave smashed against him, tilting him frighteningly sideways as it washed the device right off his face.

All of a sudden, his world went dark, leaving him entirely adrift. He tried to listen, to follow the sound of the water as it crashed against the rocks, but he could barely tell if his oar was hitting the river or just fanning the air.

"Oh, God…" he gasped, his voice starting to rise and crack with panic. "Data! Data, are you there? Data, can you hear me!"

But, there was no response from the android. Nothing at all. Geordi was alone, as lost and helpless as a leaf caught in a swirling wind…

O'Brien and Worf pulled their kayaks onto the gravelly bank, elated by their adventure. As he wrung the river water from his uniform's red sleeves, it looked like Worf was actually smiling.

"Enjoyed that, did you?" O'Brien said, tilting his kayak to drain out the mud and water that had splashed inside.

"That last stretch was most…invigorating," Worf enthused, emptying his own kayak with little effort. "But, where are the others?"

"Oh, they'll be along," O'Brien said. "Greenhorns always take it slow. But the safeties are on, and Data's back there with him, so I wouldn't worry."

Worf nodded. "I presume there are fish in this river?" he said. "And wild game among the trees here?"

"Oh, yeah, here," O'Brien said, and dug into the front compartment of his kayak. He pulled out a fishing pole in three parts, a bucket, a small pouch of various lures, a knife, and a miniature crossbow.

"Trout or game," he said. "Your choice."

Worf reached for the knife and crossbow. "I will hunt," he said. "You can sit and wait for fish."

"Will do," O'Brien said, grinning as he watched the sopping Klingon march happily off to the hunt.

He'd just gotten the pole assembled and was searching for a lure when he heard shouting, off in the distance. He looked up to see Geordi, drifting alone on the water. But, there was no sign of Data.

"Geordi!" he called out, waving his arms over his head. "Geordi, over here!"

"Chief! Oh, thank God!" Geordi called back, paddling for dear life. "Keep shouting! Let me know where you are!"

"I'm right here!" O'Brien said, still waving. "Can't you see…me…" He trailed off, a spike of concern shooting through him as he realized the young navigator wasn't wearing his VISOR. "Geordi, hang on!" he shouted. "I'm coming to guide you to the riverbank!"

The chief dove for his kayak, pushing off from the bank and paddling straight for Geordi. He hooked the blind man's kayak with his oar and pulled it close, until they were side by side.

"What happened?" he asked. "Where's Data?"

"I don't know, Chief," Geordi said, his dark face sparkling with beads of water, sweat, and tears. "I don't know! We were just talking, you know, and then, suddenly, there was this wave and… It knocked off my VISOR, and I called to Data, but he didn't answer. He didn't answer, Chief, and I keep thinking, what if he went down? What if something happened, if the river shorted him out or something – would the safeties activate for an android in distress? He was only here because of me, if he's hurt or…or worse, I—"

"Now don't…don't panic, Lieutenant," O'Brien said, hopping out of his kayak so he could haul Geordi's boat up the bank. "I'm sure the Commander's just fine. Now, you just hold on to me and I'll get you to where you can dry off."

"I don't want to dry off," Geordi protested, leaning heavily on the Chief's shoulder as he traced his toe up and over the kayak's curved edge. "I want to go find Data! Where's Worf? He can go back up the edge of the bank and-"

"Worf's off hunting for our supper," O'Brien said, leading him over to the broad, flat rock where he'd left his fishing equipment. "Now, you just sit here on this rock and stay put, OK? I'll take my kayak and go looking for Data."

"No, no!" Geordi shouted. "If Data's not here yet, it must mean something's wrong. We have to end the program. Right now!"

"Wait, I think I see something," the Chief said, shielding his eyes from the setting sun as he peered up river.

"What?" Geordi pressed. "What is it? Is it Data?"

"It's Data's kayak," O'Brien said. "But…I don't see…"

"What's that? Do you hear that?" Geordi asked, crawling to the edge of the rock. "That splashing noise – do you hear it?"

The Chief furrowed his brow, searching vainly for the source. But, all he saw was the sun's orange light glinting on the water's rippling surface.

"Data?" Geordi shouted. "Data is that you? Can you hear me, Data?"

"Geordi! I am here!"

Data's voice called out from where he stood, submerged up to his chin in the mud-brown water. Geordi almost collapsed with relief.

"I am crossing to your side of the river," he shouted calmly. "Please wait."

O'Brien watched with some amusement as Data walked forward, his head dipping under the water's surface, then reappearing several meters later as he walked along the river's bottom and up to the bank. He emerged a dripping mess with an incongruously perfect posture: his boots waterlogged, his pale skin and golden uniform stained with mud and silt, and his dark hair hanging down around his ears in sodden clumps.

"The current was quite violent," he explained in response to the Chief's barely stifled guffaw. "Despite my life jacket, I did not have enough boyancy to rise to the water's surface."

"Of course, sir," the Chief said, as seriously as he could. "I'll just go fetch your kayak."

"That would be appreciated," the android said.

"Data, oh my God!" Geordi cried as the Chief returned to the water, stumbling toward his friend's voice. "Oh my God, I was so worried!"

"Do not be concerned, Geordi," Data said. "I have retrieved your VISOR." He pressed the curved device into Geordi's hands.

"My VISOR? What the hell-?"

To Data's bewilderment, Geordi tossed it to the ground.

"Geordi-?"

"I don't care about the stupid VISOR!" he shouted. "Don't you understand? You had me scared stiff! I thought you were hurt – injured, or worse!"

Data blinked, completely taken aback. "I am sorry, Geordi," he said. "I did not anticipate this reaction. I merely thought—"

"What? What did you think?" Geordi yelled. "That you'd jump into the rapids -risk your life - for a stupid piece of hardware?"

"A piece of hardware that allows you to see. Is that not important to you?"

"Not nearly as important as you, you metal idiot!" Geordi snapped, and clenched his fists, turning his face to the sky as he fought to collect himself. After a moment, he reached out and grasped the android by the shoulders.

"Promise me," he said. "Promise me, Data: you will never scare me like that again."

"I promise, Geordi," Data said. "Would you like your VISOR now?"

"Gah!" Geordi exclaimed, then sighed, realizing it was hopeless to argue with him. "Yeah, all right. Thank you, Data."

"No, my friend," Data said, his voice low and sincere as he picked up the VISOR, dusted it off, and pressed the device back into his hands. "Thank you."

To Be Continued…

References include: TNG: Descent II; National Geographic; and memories of the Travel Channel. I've never been to the Grand Canyon (yet), but I saw it from an airplane window once. Well, sort of. I desperately wanted to look, but I was too darn airsick to catch many details... Talk about a wasted opportunity. Bleh.

Reviews welcome! :)