A/N: Enjoy, people.

Disclaimer: Yadda yadda... Don't own... yadda yadda...

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...Chapter Eight...

- USS Titan

'Shut your wining Jean-Luc!'
'But Will, we just left without getting me a woman!'
'There wasn't exactly a whole lotta choice, was there?'
'Well, you could have…'
'NO. You are not getting Deanna! Period!'
'But I hear she's insatiable!'
'Well, you're old body couldn't please her if I let you, so just forget about it!'

The three of them walked through the hallway.

'What are we doing on your ship anyway, Riker?'
'Didn't you hear, I have an emergency!'
'Bullocks! We have emergencies every week! There's not even a Red Alert!'
'No, as I understand, they're keeping it on the down-low... or low-down... or whatever.'

They entered the bridge and found the Commander and Lieutenant Doe.

'What is it Commander?' Riker asked.
'Captain! Keep your voice down! I've called you because of this shady fellow over there! We have evidence that suggests him spreading the Alf-virus that originated from the Blowdryer.'

Meanwhile, Deanna was clasping Lieutenant Doe.

'My CAKE! Where's my CHOCOLATE-CAKE?'

Lieutenant Doe and the Commander quickly exchanged glances.

'Euh… I don't now ma'am. In addition to the shady fellow, we seem to have a chocolate-cake-thief aboard!'

Riker turned to Picard.

'Jean-Luc, you have much more experience as a Captain. What would you do?'
'Well Nr 1. Naturally it is imperative that you locate this chocolate-cake-thief before anyone else gets hurt!'
'Uhm, yes… Naturally. But I am more interested in the shady fellow standing by that console.'

All eyes turned to the shady fellow by the console.
He was recognizable by the shady brown cloak and hood he had donned.

'Uhm yes, that is a problem indeed. But as always, I have the solution, Nr 1!'

Picard walked over to the fellow in the coak and hood and pointed an accusatory finger in his direction.

'You there, shady fellow! Explain yourself! Why have you spread the dreaded Alf-virus across the ship?'

The fellow did not respond, or even give any sign that he had noticed Captain Picard.

'Come on man, speak!' Picard shouted, stamping on the deck.
'Enough!' Riker called.

He walked over to Picard and the shady fellow, and ripped the hood and cloak off, thus exposing the person underneath.

A loud gasp was clearly heard across the bridge.
Picard and Riker stepped back, eying the person with big eyes.

'It can't be…' Deanna whispered.
'You?' Riker asked.
'Yes. It is I.' The figure spoke.

'Data…' Deanna said softly.
'Are you… are you a real boy?' Picard asked.
'What? No! I am the same Data you all know. The same Data that sacrificed his… well my life for all of you!'
'But how?' Picard asked.
'How could you have survived the blast?'
'Simple.' Data said.
'I am just that good.'

Riker sat down in shock.

'But Why? How? Who? How did you get here?'
'Well first I had to drift free from the wreckage. Then I found that my ship had already left me to die.'
'Data I swear. We searched the wreckage for minutes and minutes!' Picard exclaimed.
'Yeah, yeah, whatever. Years, Captain! For years and years I drifted through time and through space…'
'Actually, it has only been a few months.' Riker said.
'Really? Anyway, I drifted through space, and finally met a starship. By unconceivable chance, it turned out to be the Titan. I got aboard, posed as one of the crew using my trusty cloak-and-hood-disguise, and voila. Here I am.'

Picard sat down, tears in his eyes.

'Data I… I don't know what to say. This is all too much for me, I... I must take the Hummer and return to my ship. Data… I am sorry.'

He turned around and prepared to step through the doors when Data held him back.

'Wait, Captain. I do not hold a grudge. Seriously, I am a machine. I am simply incapable of holding grudges.'
'That's… Thank you Data. I am touched.'

Picard now walked through the door.
Moments later, Riker caught up with him.

'Wait, Jean-Luc. We haven't found you a woman yet.'
'Oh, Will. Never mind. It was but a dream. A foolish dream.'
'No, no, Jean-Luc. Don't give up, man! We still have Orion! Trill! Ferenginar, if we must!'

Jean-Luc faced him and held him by the shoulder.

'You are a good friend Will. And a fine Captain. But I'm afraid this voyage is over. I shall discontinue my search for a woman.
You go and enjoy your life, Will. With your beautiful wife. Unless of course…'
Riker's face went stern again.
'NO, Picard…'
'Then alas, no woman for me. I shall not remove you from my will, Will…' He stopped, and raised an eyebrow in thought.
'Will, Will...' He muttered.
'Anyway, best of luck to you. I shall keep you no longer.'

Picard patted the Captain of the Titan on his back a final time, turned around, and headed to the shuttle-bay.
Will Riker watched him as he left.

A lonely man. A great man. A phoney Frenchman with a British accent.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard.