Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. Reviews are welcome. I don't own any characters other than Fenix Flarestone. Enjoy and stay ethical y'all.

Chapter 7: The Stars Will Be Our Witness

Previously…

Lore stated, "I haven't done a diagnostics test for a while, it needs to be done." And walked over to the work station and flipped open his scalp. I need to stay away from her for a while. I don't want to harm her. Fenix was beyond confused as she set her empty beer mug down and stood up to stretch, "Umm… yeah, okay. I'll be outside for a bit, working on meditation..." He didn't dare look up to see her stretching but his eyes betrayed him. Her midriff flashed for a moment as she stretched and he forced himself to tear his eyes off her. Stop looking at her. Stop thinking about her. Just do the diagnostics test… Fenix walked outside and began stretching some more. Eventually she closed her eyes and let her body go through the slowed motions of katas. After a while, Lore was perplexed to see there was nothing wrong with the diagnostics test he ran. Nothing… I'm fine… I don't understand. How am I fine? This must be what Fenix felt when all of her tests came back as human.

A few months later…

"Stop moving or I will purposely butcher your hair." threatened Lore. She couldn't remember the last time she got her hair cut and her hair has become overgrown so much so that she desperately coerced and pleaded Lore to give her a hair-cut. Thus, led to this moment with her sitting backwards on a chair and Lore sitting on a low stool playing hairdresser. Fenix retaliated, "I AM staying still! I can't be 'mandroid-still' like you..." Lore chided, "Obviously..." "My mum always tellin' me... 'For the love of God, child… why can't you just sit still for like five minutes?'" Lore snickered as she added, "I'll try harder, it's just kinda hard for me to sit still for some reason." defeatedly sighed Fenix unable to see Lore's smirk as he teased her. He finished cutting her hair and brushed it out. He secretly enjoyed touching her silky straight hair even though he purposely made such a fuss when she asked him to cut it. Bringing a long strand of her hair to his nose, he discretely inhaled her scent, softly smiled in content. She closed her eyes enjoying the tingling sensation that came with her hair being touched.

She pouted when he stopped, "Don't stop!" She blurted out, "I-I-I mean… j-just forget I said that!" she tried to rectify herself feeling embarrassment sinking in. He chuckled, "I don't mind..." and humoured her. He noticed the small goose-bumps on her arms, he cautiously leaned forward and took a quick glance to see her face contented, her lips partially parted, and her breathing shallowed. "Autonomous sensory meridian response." He stated. "Huh?" Her eye's remained closed. Slowly running trailing the brush through her silky hair, he explained,"Autonomous sensory meridian response. It's a combination of positive feelings and a distinct static-like tingling sensation on the skin, it's a type of low-grade euphoria or in another words, a form of... pleasure." He suggestively answered knowingly trying to get a rise out of her, expect she stayed silent, too engulfed in her senses. At this Lore quirked his one eyebrow and stifled a chuckle and put aside the brush to start running his fingers through her dark hair, sending more shivers down her neck, she commented, "I like that… it feels really nice." His eyes flickered from her hair to her delicate ear, "I can tell." His long fingers brushed her delicate ears to her scalp. Pushing all her hair off to one shoulder, he gingerly touched the back of her neck. She instinctively leaned her head into his large hands. Skilfully alternating between massaging her scalp and lightly tugging small strands of her long locks, he learned quickly to what she enjoyed the most. He continued his ministrations for twenty minutes until she grasped one of his hands, halting him. She turned around to face him, her cheeks were stained red, stuttering as she asks, "Um… do you... can you experience what I just experienced?" He smiled sweetly, "You're asking me if I feel pleasure?" He slyly asks, relishing in her discomfort. Fenix made a face of displeasure, "Why do you have to make everything sound dirty? But yeah, that's what I'm asking because... I don't know and I'm just kinda curious."

"Now, now Fenix, it's not nice to tell lies. Oh, I know you know by now..." His eyes flickered to her lips, "Even that sweet, innocent mind of yours can't deny that. Surely you remember the first time we embraced each other? Why, you're the one that pointed out that I was 'fully functioning'. So, you tell me, my dear sweet Fenix, do I feel pleasure?" tantalized Lore. She was so embarrassed, her hand ran over her blushing face as she replied in a defeated mumbling manner, "Oh my God... Why must you do this to me? Yeah, you do." Lore arrogantly grinned and added, "Now that wasn't so hard now was it? And I tease you because you're so deliciously cute when you're embarrassed." He stood and he drummed the chairs and counters with some sticks. She shook her head, still blushing,"Ugh, whatever, dude." She watched Lore's wrist movements as he kept drumming objects. "Hey, have you ever played drums?" she inquired changing the subject. "Nope. Never crossed my mind. Never tried. Why?" he answered honestly while continuing to rhythmically tap the counter and the chair. Fenix eyed the way he was using the sticks. He's got good form, rather graceful.. a lot like Tommy Lee. He'd be a great dummer. I bet he'd like rock and classic metal… those kinds of genres. "Well, you've been tapping the shit out of everything in sight the past week. I think you'll like hitting things other than me. Just saying." She shrugged. His eyes became serious and pointed at her with one of his sticks, "Watch your tongue, you're insinuating I'm abusive when the only time we hit each other is when we're sparring. Besides, it gives you a reason to improve your Jeet Kun Do if you want to avoid getting hit. And you've also hit me rather hard yourself." he countered. "You're really good at pissing me off at times when we're training, then my strength gets all amped up!" Fenix exclaimed then sighed, "I'm sorry if I ever did hit you too hard." She concurred and looked down guiltily. Walking towards her as he carelessly tossed the sticks, he lifted his hand and mused her hair, "Apology accepted. Now you were saying something about drums." He reminded her. "Yeah, I think you'd like it. I could replicate each drum parts and build a set. I've done it before with Oisin, it won't take long. And we can listen to music while we do it so it's not so quiet. So, you wanna join me?" she persuaded and batted her eyelashes playfully. Lore shrugged, "Sure, it's new to me, and since we fixed everything, we can play some tunes now." Fenix beamed and commanded the computer, "Computer, music, 'Pain Killer by Judas Priest'." Lore's yellow eyes widened in excitement his face immediately morphing to pure joy and roared.

For the next hour, Fenix and Lore built the drum set whilst listening to various metal from RATT, W.A.S.P. to Motley Crue and progressed into 90's rock, grunge and punk rock. Fenix also replicated an electric guitar, amp, PA system and a microphone. Lore noticed she was keeping things ancient and smirked, "Why do you like to do things the old way?" Fenix tilted her head and thought, "I don't know… I kinda like it. There's something nostalgic about it I guess." He nodded in understanding. She misses her time… Fenix tightened the last bolt on the high-hat, "All done! You gotta move them around and adjust the chair to your liking." Lore grinned as he adjusted things the way he saw fit, and Fenix handed him a pair of drumsticks to him, "Have at 'er Lore!"Once Lore started playing drums, Fenix was stunned by his speed and accuracy. He's replicating one of the songs we were listening to! That's so bitchin'! She shamelessly stared at him in astonishment and whispered, "Flawless." assuming he wasn't going to hear her. He stopped playing and muted the crash cymbal and replied snobbishly, "Thanks, I know I am." and twirled a stick in one hand. She donned her guitar and countered, "What I meant to say is that I need to level up my guitar skills and try to catch up to your level, because I get to jam with the best drummer ever! I want to improvise and warm up a bit before we get into any songs. That cool with you?" He grinned, "Doesn't matter to me, I'm having fun either way." They played for hours on end, with Fenix taking a break to eat and drink beer while conversing about music and nonsense in between.

"I like playing all of it but I really enjoy classic metal especially the aggressive complicated ones, on the contrary, I also like that one song we played, 'Hysteria' by Def Leppard. It's nice to hear you sing normally for a change." Lore stated as he sipped on beer. Fenix was pleased to hear that he liked her style of music and replied, "Right? It's a fucking amazing song! Brings chills to my skin every time. You gotta give those English boys props for writing one of the best love songs of all time in my opinion."

"You're bleeding, Fenix."

"What?"

"Your fret-board." He pointed at her hand with a drumstick. She looked at her left hand and sure enough it was bleeding but her cuts closed seconds later. "There, all better!" she exclaimed and flashed her hand. She added, "You know what this means? My fingers are soft and I need to play more guitar. Gotta build up those caluses." And with that, they continued into the late hours of the night. "Lore, you're the most badass metal-head ever." Lore looked at her, slightly perplexed so she continued, "I'm trying to say you're a badass metal drummer made from mostly... metal." She winked. Lore face-palmed but he couldn't contain his amusement.

Eventually Fenix had to call it a night and sleep, she was happily exhausted. She threw herself on the bed and instantly drifted asleep. Lore on the other hand decided to stayed awake, occasionally he'd sleep ever since he saw her sleep-talking and became intrigued with possibly having dreams himself. When he did choose to sleep, it led to the most perplexing dreams, dreams that he couldn't make sense of no matter how hard tried. Lore contemplated while he observed his sleeping companion. Love... The love of a parent differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment. The song Hysteria speaks of a love so strong that affects you physically. Will I ever experience that? Am I even capable of such? Ridiculous. What is it that I intermittently keep feeling...? Compassion? Affection? Gratitude? Desire? I don't need to waste my time thinking of such nonsense. Desire… I felt desire with her… Do I still feel desire? Yes… But she is still too young for me to think of her in such a light. Perhaps that's why I love teasing her, too. To see her reaction, to see her feeling embarrassed, to she her flushed cheeks and to hear her heat beating fast… No. I must desist these thoughts. He shook it off and went for a walk knowing Fenix was safe and sound.

Fenix woke when Lore's footsteps began to diminuendo. She sat up, slowly stretching out her kinks, "Computer, 'water, room temperature. And an acoustic guitar.'" She downed her water and walked outside and started a fire in a fire-pit her and Lore built together. They fixed the place so it was actually liveable and added a few frivolous items. Sitting cross-legged, she started to play the guitar, improvising. The melody that came was beautiful, innocent and full of sorrow. I never thought I'd end up here in the future on a not-so-dead planet of Omicron Theta, and meeting Lore. Lore... the misunderstood android that was thrown away by his own father, the android that let me fix him, the android that became my best friend. We fixed this place together. he probably could've left if he wanted to... instead he stayed. He made improvements in our 'house' so I was more comfortable. This facility is our home now. Lore's sarcastic, cynical, jaded and pretentious at times and loves to tease me, but his true actions contradict everything he says. He's the most complex person I've ever met yet it feels natural being around him. We have an understanding of each other that transcends all odds. All the trials and tribulations I endured is behind me, and I can't imagine living a life without him being around any more. The thought of being by myself is strange and… empty. When I was thrown onto Omicron Theta, I had nothing to lose. But now I do. When have I came to that conclusion? He's my best friend. Sure, he's attractive, but that's just my hormones talking, right? Then why haven't I been attracted to anybody until now? Not that it matters. I don't plan on getting married or having kids, I'd just out-live everyone I come close to. Everyone I care about will burn out quicker than fireflies. Only I can stand still in time. Will Lore be one of those fireflies?

At her last thought, tears well up in her eyes, she refused to let them drop. Her heart accelerated, and hugged her guitar as she stared into the flames that languidly licked the branches. She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Lore return and was sitting beside her. He became concerned when he noticed her unshed tears, he sincerely inquired, "What's wrong?" She put her guitar aside and began, "You know my accelerated regeneration actually prevents me from dying right? I'll never grow old, and I'll never die. Friends and family will be dropping like fireflies before my eyes and everything I know will dissipate over time. I'll never get the peace of finishing my life. There's no 'Congratulations! You lived a good life and now you can stop, you've reached the end.' I'm so scared..." She gripped the dirt beside her her crossed legs, trying to stop herself from crying. Lore saw her amethyst eyes glistening, enhancing the reflection of the flames and felt a tightness in his chest. "I'm scared shitless of losing people I care about over and over again, and it'll be endless. I know nothing is eternal as I am but..." She wiped her eyes with her arm and continued, "...I wish there was something I can hold on to. I don't want to be alone forever."

"I'll be your eternal." Lore stated clear as day. I don't want to be alone either, Fenix. I've been lonely for too long but I don't even remember what that's like ever since you came along. I can't imagine a life without meeting you. I won't let you leave me. And I'll never leave you, either.

Her glistening eyes widened and looked at him as he continued, "As far as I know I'm not going to die unless some catastrophe happens." Linking his pinky to hers, his voice soft, "You can hold on to me. I won't let you get lost in the passage of time." They stared at each other with a look of anticipation, waiting for the other to say or do something. Fenix reached for Lore, wrapping her arms around his torso, and Lore returned her embrace and wrapped his long arms around her shoulders and caressed her head. He felt 'it' again. And then he knew, he found the answer he was seeking earlier, he couldn't deny this feeling. He loved her. He kissed her temple and looked at the stars that witnessed their silent proposal. Fenix nuzzled into his chest with tears of emotion overflowing from her. Lore… I won't let you get lost either. I'm here for you, too. You were right… it wasn't serendipity that we met. With Q taking me to this time… the accident at the academy which led to those horrible experimentations… and being exiled here… I was finally able to be here. If I could change any of my past, I wouldn't because… I might've not ended up here with you. Lore closed his eyes loving the feeling of embracing her knowing he was never going to feel lonely, ever. Be my eternal Fenix… fly with me across the universe… forever and ever.