Chapter Twenty: Called Away

Data and I managed to curb our desires for a while after that. I was eventually called away to serve on the USS Stratus. My estimated time there was undetermined and could be anywhere from a few days to a few years. Upon hearing the news, I cried my eyes out in Data's and my quarters. I now loved the Enterprise and it became my home. Yet I was being yanked away from it like I had been yanked away from Earth. Data was upset as well and he demanded that I undergo a complete physical examination before reporting to Stratus. I was confused at the urgency of his request since it was standard procedure for all crew members to undergo such an examination before transferring to another vessel. The results of my examination turned out to be exemplary, which seemed to almost surprise Data. It seemed he was secretly hoping for a medical excuse for me to stay on the Enterprise.

The days before my scheduled departure were torture since he and I could do nothing more than kiss and hug in order to spare the counselor any more embarrassment. I also realized that I would miss her wedding during my service on the Stratus. Data had been practicing a musical number called 'Blue Skies', and I looked forward to hearing him sing it at the wedding. I also knew I wouldn't hear him serenade me in the evenings as he often did. Data, however had other concerns, he knew that Lt. Jerome Baxter — my ex-boyfriend — was on the Stratus. I assured Data that he could trust me and that I wouldn't let anyone come between us. Time seemed to fly by and before I knew it, it was time for me to leave. It was one of the saddest days of my life. Data prepared a package for me, it contained a photo of us, recordings of multiple songs he often sang to me and a PADD. Upon further inspection, I realized that it didn't work.

"Data, it's broken." I replied tearfully.

"It is not. It has been modified to read only one isolinear chip… this one." Data answered as he held up a rectangular strip in his fingers, "This chip can only be read in that PADD. It contains a message I want to give you. However, you must return to the Enterprise in order to receive the message."

I purposely kept my goodbyes short in order to minimize the sorrow of my departure. Once aboard the Stratus, I was placed on the same projects as Lt. Baxter. He informed me that he had recently divorced and I voiced my sympathies. He noticed the engagement ring on my finger and asked who the lucky guy was. Clearly, he didn't care and was ready to flirt regardless. He nearly passed out when I told him it was Cmdr. Data. Since he was not a suicidal man, Lt. Baxter immediately backed off. Days went by. Then weeks. Then two months! I thought I would go insane! Data and I were limited to having a relationship via communiqué messages. I even missed Cmdr. Riker and Counselor Troi's going away party as well as Data's induction as first officer.

Finally, I received wonderful news that I was to return to the Enterprise. During the Stratus' trip to rendezvous with the Enterprise, we encountered a ship in distress. Its explosion was inevitable and we only had minutes to beam off the survivors… there were only two. I was told to go to the transporter room and escort our two newest passengers to sickbay. When I entered the room, I couldn't believe who I saw… it was my parents! Everything immediately paused and the other animate person in the room besides me was…

"Q! What are you doing here?!"

"Isn't it obvious? My child, I see that you're engaged, betrothed, affianced… congratulations!" Q exclaimed. I noticed he was dressed as a priest.

'What is it with this guy and his getups?' I thought.

"I'm here to give you an early wedding present. You did say you missed your parents didn't you?" he asked.

"Yes, but…"

"Well here they are!"

"Q, you didn't make them sacrifice anything did you?"

"Of course not! I'm not a monster!"

I glanced at my parents, who were in suspended animation and noticed that I missed them so much. It felt like a decade since I'd last seen them. Although it felt good to see them again, something in my gut sensed that something was off, but I didn't know what it was.

"Something's strange about this… why are you being so nice?"

"Why can't you just accept a gift for what it is? Besides, I may need another small favor from you someday. Well? Do I get a 'thank you'?"

"Thanks, Q." I whispered tearfully, I was so happy my parents were alive and that they would attend my wedding. Something in the back of my mind was leery. Why was he being so nice? Then something he said hit me, "Wait a minute… what do you mean…?"

Q disappeared before I could finish the question. I was left to tearfully reunite with my parents.

When I introduced my parents to the Enterprise crew, they were thrilled to see how well I had done for myself — almost as thrilled as when they discovered I was alive. However, things didn't exactly go as smoothly as I planned when I introduced Data as my fiancé. My parents' joy was transmuted to grave concern and immediately pulled me aside.

"What?! My daughter is marrying a machine?!" My father exclaimed. His normally tanned face seemed to grow pale.

"Data's an android, Dad, and he's better than any of the so-called men I've dated on Earth!" I exclaimed in a hushed voice.

"But Kadalynn, sweetheart, surely there are suitable men who would love to be your husband. You don't have to settle for…"

"Settle? I'm not settling! I love Data for who he is! That's what love is supposed to be about!" I hissed.

"That's sweet of you Kadalynn, but…"

"There are no 'buts'! If not for Data, I would've died before I had the chance to discover what true love really is! We've worked damned hard to get to where we are and I'm not about to give that up!"

The expressions on my parents' faces were of pure shock. In all their life, they've never seen me so passionate about anything.

"Kadalynn, how will you cope in a marriage without… well… you know...?" My mother tried to ask delicately.

"What? Intimacy? Don't worry about it. It's not the most important part of a relationship, but I certainly won't have to live without it. I won't discuss the matter any further, it's personal."

My parents all but fell out of their seats.

"Kadalynn, it is alright. Your parents are understandably concerned about with whom their daughter spends the rest of her life." Data replied as he entered the room.

"Data, you don't have to do this. You don't have to explain yourself if you don't want to."

"It is my wish, Kadalynn. I could not fully enjoy our marriage, wondering if your parents are contemplating the nature of my construction. Therefore, I wish to discuss the topic at this time." He explained.

My parents were rendered speechless as Data explained virtually every aspect of his basic construction. They learned of his extensive memory, anatomy and super strength, but were extremely shocked to discover that he had a sexual program and emotions. When Data concluded his explanation, my parents sat in stunned silence. Finally, my mother had a question:

"Even though you and Kadalynn are able to…" she stalled.

"Enjoy intimacy?" Data asked as I sighed, blushed and shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I just wanted this part of the discussion to end already.

"Well, yes… the two of you won't be able to… produce children, am I right?" my mother asked.

Data lowered his gaze for a moment and his expression became somber. "Although, I possess the skills to parent a child; you are correct Mrs. Graham. Kadalynn and I will not be able to produce a biological child of our own. However, I have been a father once before. I created my daughter, Lal, using my own positronic brain as a model. Sadly, she did not live for very long."

"But we could adopt." I said to my parents as I gently held Data's hand, "If not adoption, there are other alternatives. If Data is willing, we could try to create an android child together."

Data gave me a brief but faint smile, but the somber expression still dominated his face.

"That's unnatural!" My father exclaimed, "It's not the same as having your own."

"Dad!" I exclaimed angrily.

Based on the look on my father's face, I knew he immediately regretted the statement, but it was too late. Data cocked his head for a moment before rising from his seat.

"No, Kadalynn. He is correct." Data said with a slight quiver in his voice, "If you will excuse me."

Data promptly left the room, he was clearly very upset.

"My gosh!" my mother whispered, "His emotions seem so… real."

"In case you haven't noticed, they are real and so is he! Now if you don't mind, I have to go after my fiancé." I said before storming out of the room.

I had to run at top speed in order to catch up to Data since my legs weren't nearly as long as his. I didn't catch up to him until he got to his quarters. He sat at his console and began to work feverishly.

"Data." I called as I entered the room.

"Please, Kadalynn, leave me alone." He said rather harshly. It was clear he was in a lot of pain.

"No, Data. I can't leave you like this. I love you. I'm sorry for what my parents said back there. They just need some time to adjust that's all."

Data continued to work on the console until I pressed my hands against his chest and pushed him far enough away from the console so I could obstruct his view by sitting in his lap. He immediately turned his face away from me.

"Data, please look at me." I said gently while touching his face.

"No."

"Please…"

"No!"

"Data, I didn't say those things! Why won't you at least look at me?!"

Data startled me as he quickly grabbed me by the shoulders and jerked me closer to look in my eyes. Our noses were nearly touching and I noticed thick golden tears streaming from his eyes.

"This is why, Kadalynn!" Data exclaimed in a low, but forceful voice. "I did not want you to see me like this. I am angry and upset that I can not provide you with a biological child. I want to do everything I can to make you happy, yet I can not provide you with the thing that will make us the happiest. Kadalynn, everyday since I fell in love with you, I have truly felt like a man. Today is an exception."

"Data, honey, you are a man. As far as I'm concerned, you've rewritten the definition of what a man is and what a man should be." I said as I wiped his tears before resting my forehead against his and gazing into his eyes, "I love you in spite of all of your setbacks, just as you've always loved me in spite of mine. That will never change. Data, please don't give up… don't give up on us now. We've worked too hard to quit now."

Data stared at me for a moment and his sorrow had transformed into lust. Before I could say anything else, he kissed me so hard my lips ached at first. He was fervent and promptly carried me to the bed. He quickly removed his uniform while I began to remove mine. Apparently I was taking too long. He nearly ripped my uniform from my body. It was the first time I'd seen Data so impatient and voracious. I figured it was the result of our sexual deprivation since I too seemed as enthusiastic as he was.

The next morning, I was grateful it was my day off since I hadn't gotten much sleep the previous night. Even though I wasn't on duty that day, I still had a lot of work to do, planning the final details of our wedding. My mother assisted in some of the planning as she profusely apologized for what had happened. She and my father personally apologized to Data during dinner that night and it seemed that the ice had finally melted. Data and my father shared many jokes…too many jokes. Well, at least they were getting along. My mother and I wondered who would outlast the other before they ran out. As I recall, it was a draw. We also learned that my parents had gotten jobs as medical professionals. However, they were not stationed in one particular area. They'd travel through various starships — and in many cases, star systems — helping thousands with their medical expertise. It turned out that they would have to travel yet again just weeks after the wedding to resume their work.

For some reason, every time I reached for a glass of wine, Data would offer me an alternative. At a certain point during the meal, I snuck a glass of wine, but instead of wine, the replicator produced grape juice. Data said it was probably a malfunction with the replicator and that he'd look into it in the morning. It seemed strange that he'd let any malfunction sit for a few minutes, let alone several hours. I shrugged it off as Data not wanting to be discourteous to our dinner guests.

Sleep was relatively peaceful for the following few nights, but one night Data severely frightened me. I awoke to him standing over me with a tricorder, scanning me! There was a noticeable frown on his face — which looked eerie since the room was dimly lit. My mind was briefly taken back to the terrifying day he found me. After gasping sharply, I quickly sat up and restored the room's normal illumination.

"Data, what are you doing?!" I asked as my heart pounded like a drum. Data was clearly surprised of my sudden waking.

"Your… breathing patterns became irregular. I decided to… perform a bio-scan to make sure your lungs were functioning properly." Data replied.

"Data, I'm fine. Please… just come back to bed, okay."

When he returned to my side, I expected to snuggle before falling asleep again, but Data initiated yet another taxing lovemaking session. Afterwards, I half-jokingly remarked that we needed to save something for our honeymoon.

Several days later came the day before the wedding. I stayed with my parents in their guest quarters. My gown and accessories were all laid out for the next day.