Chapter 4: Geordi
One foot in front of the other.
Geordi walked down the hallway toward his engineering class much more slowly than usual.
It's just a little prank.
We didn't do any harm.
He's an android! He can't be offended or upset or anything!
Geordi sighed.
Why was am I worried? Everything will be fine! Worst case, Data'll tell a teacher and I'll get a detention. I bet I'll be laughing about this with Seth and the others by tonight.
And it has been worth it! Now that I'm on Seth's side, I'm finally being included! No one has given me any trouble for days, thanks to him!
With that, Geordi shook off his guilty feelings, and strode into the engineering class, ready to face the android with a clear conscience.
Except Data wasn't there.
Geordi thought this unusual, but he didn't let it bother him...
Until Data was absent the next day, too.
As Geordi trudged into class two days after the prank, he felt a pang in his stomach. The android's seat was still empty.
Where is he? What could've happened?
Geordi glanced at Seth and his posse as he settled down in his seat. They were laughing and talking in the back of the room, as always. He sighed.
I'm just being paranoid! No one else is worried. Data probably just switched classes or something.
Uneasily, Geordi pulled out a Padd and prepared to start taking notes.
"Now, in this model of a warp drive—"
Halfway through class, the door to the classroom opened with a bang, and Data, soaking wet and bedraggled, dashed inside. Every eye—and VISOR—snapped to Data as he ran down the aisle. When he tried to stop at his seat, his wet boots slipped.
A loud "THUD" resonated through the room.
The cadets snapped out of their shock, and started snickering. Seth was outright guffawing.
But Geordi stayed frozen.
The laughter died as Professor Blake planted himself in front of the android, who was awkwardly sprawled on the floor. With pale fingers, Data pushed his dripping hair out of his face and looked up, meeting the professor's stern gaze. His yellow eyes looked even wider than usual.
"Mr. Data? Where have you been the past few days?"
"I was... in the reservoir, sir."
Geordi's stomach panged again.
"Why, exactly, were you in a reservoir for two days when you should have been in class?"
Now I'm gonna get it! Why I did help Seth with the prank?!
"I...I thought that I heard someone asking for assistance in a frantic manner, sir, and I fell in the reservoir when I went to see if I could provide aid."
Geordi snapped his head up.
"Indeed?" The professor raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Mr. Data, go to your quarters immediately and dry off. Come back here when class is over to serve detention for two cuts and disruption of class."
"Yes sir." He climbed to his feet carefully, and walked out.
Professor Blake strode back to the front of the classroom.
"Now, as I was saying—"
But Geordi couldn't listen anymore.
At the end of class, Seth, Hayden, and Kaav ran outside, laughing and talking. Geordi, however, stayed behind. He took a deep breath, and walked up to Professor Blake.
"Sir? Could I talk to you for a moment?"
The professor looked up.
"Very well, Mr. Laforge. Step into my office."
Once the door had swished closed behind the two, Geordi turned to face Blake.
"Sir, Data—he didn't fall in the lake. I pushed him."
An eyebrow went up.
"You?"
Geordi looked down.
"Y-yes sir. Just me."
The professor looked at Geordi skeptically for a moment. Then he sighed.
"Very well. I will let Mr. Data off the hook. As for you..."
Geordi gulped, but he stayed calm.
At least my conscience is clear.
"Your punishment will be to catch Mr. Data up in class. He missed three lessons, so I imagine he's a bit behind."
Geordi's head shot up.
That's a punishment?
I got Data trapped under water for almost three full days. He could still stuck at the bottom of the reservoir, and no one would know!
Did Seth know what would happen?
Geordi absentmindedly thanked the professor and walked out of the office, still lost in thought.
No, he wouldn't go that far...I think. I mean,"trapped," heck! He's an android—a bit of water in his system, and he's a goner!
Geordi stopped short, for he spotted the android himself waiting outside of Professor Blake's office.
Data.
I could have killed him.