...More Human Than Human...
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek. Reviews are welcome. I don't own any characters other than Fenix/Fi Flarestone, Faloray Skyborne, Lord Flarestone. I own Electi Illiusia/Electi Illiusians/Semita Caelesti. Enjoy and stay ethical y'all.
Chapter 39: Blossoms
Previously…
It was getting dark as River turned on the cassette deck and the song 'Don't Know What You Got (Till it's Gone)' by Cinderella was blaring and lit a cigarette. He drove by the pub where he and Rain had met the very first time almost three years ago. He smiled with tears in his eyes as he began singing along to the song at the top of his lungs. Lore understood the pain he felt as he too shed tears. Looking over to Fenix, knowing they couldn't see or feel each other, he still placed his hand on hers. Fenix, too was crying seeing her biological father completely broken. Lore noticed River had stopped singing as he wiped his tears away. He saw the headlights of an on coming on-road tractor and understood. Lore and Fenix braced themselves as River stepped on the accelerator. Without warning he turned the steering wheel to the left just enough to drift onto the oncoming lane. The on-road tracker blared the horns but it was too late. Lore and Fenix saw River turn into a crash test dummy as the truck collided into his Firebird. Everything went black for both Fenix and Lore.
Lore woke up with wide teary eyes and reached for Fenix's hand. He collected her into his arms and pleaded, "Fenix, please wake up… Please..." Her eyes remained close but tears escaped from them. He could hear heart racing heart knowing what they had just witnessed. He looked to Faloray, "Put me under again, she's still there!" Faloray sighed with a nod as he put himself in stand-by mode once again.
Lore was back in Fenix's dream. This time, he was sitting on the rocks overseeing the sunset during golden hour. I recognize this place… Fenix showed me when we were in the holodeck. We're in Long Beach, California. A hidden spot where she always went to before she was shafted into my time. He looked to his left and saw her 1979 matte-black Chevy pickup. 'High Enough' by Damn Yankees was blaring from the vehicle with Fenix perch on the roof smoking a joint. He instinctively reached his hand out to her but halted seeing his own skin. He inspected his hand and realized he was human. What the hell? I can't smell her, I can't hear her heart, this is… strange. Am I human? He neared the truck. Fenix heard footsteps and snuffed the joint and tucked it away in her leather jacket as she turned her head. "Hey." Lore smirked. She scowled, "What do you want, stranger?" he quirked his head in confusion, "What do you mean? It's me!" She shook her head, her scowl still present, "I don't know you, man." Lore halted as his face fell. She doesn't know me in this dream. He noted the old leather jacket she wore and her long hair. Her mullet is gone… She looks a bit younger… Am I…? This is before she was put into the future! He sighed, "Look, I've had a really shitty day and I just wanted to get away for a bit." She sighed, "It is a good isolated spot here..." He felt something in his back pockets and found a pack of cigarettes. He pulled one out and lit. She looked at him and eyed the cigarettes. "Can I buy one off of ya?" He smirked as he walked over to her. He handed one to her as she handed him a dollar bill, "Thanks." He leaned his back on the grill of her truck as they stared into the setting sun. He began, "Rough day?" She sighed, "Naw… just thinking." Silence fell between them again. "Good song." He commented. "Yeah, it's a good one to play, too." She added taking a drag. He smirked and added, "That it is..." She tilted her head, "What do you play?" "Drums." She smiled, "That's rad. What music you into?" Lore smiled, "Motely Crue, Judas Priest, Dokken, Ozzy… some 90's punk rock… But I love the 80's metal days." She beamed, "You got good taste." He stared into her purple eyes, "Yeah… some chick got me into it a while back actually." She nodded, "Good on her." Fenix tilted her head as he scrutinized Lore. "You seem familiar but I know we never met." He smirked, "You just haven't met me yet, Fenix." "What? How do you know my name?" he turned around to see her confused purple ones. "Like I said, you just haven't met me yet." and began walking away.
"Wait!" Fenix was too curious whether he was crazy or maybe she was. She hollered, "What's your name?"
"Lore." he smirked in hopes she would remember him by chance.
"Lore… That's a badass name." Fenix hopped off her truck and ran to him. "Where're you going?" He smiled with sad blue eyes, "Home. And you should, too. Remember me, Fenix..." His eyes perked when his surroundings changed.
He was in a music store and saw Fenix looking at guitars. He walked up to her, "Hey." She looked at him, "Hey, it's that guy I met at that place a month ago or something. Lore, right?" He smiled, "Yeah…" And commanded, "Try that one out, I'll play the drums with you." She beamed, "Sweet. Good thing I'm on good terms with the owner, he lets me jam out from time to time." She grabbed the guitar he pointed out and plugged it in. She tuned it to Drop D and started bending the strings. Lore smirked knowing she was going to play 'Kick Start My Heart' By Motely Crue. He started hitting the drums with a huge grin on his face. For first time in his life, a bead of sweat formed on his temple from excitement and his hands began to hurt. Blisters began to form on the pads of his palms. He noticed and felt his heart beating wildly. This is what it's like to be human… so fragile yet… so… alive. Fenix noticed the way Lore played the drums and felt something within her. He plays like Tommy Lee but… This feels nostalgic for some reason. I don't know him but he feels… familiar. When the song finished the owner came up to her, "Dude, your drummer kicks ass. That was bitchin' you guys." "Thanks man." Lore saw the blood on her finger and realized it wasn't healing right away like it usually did.
"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. Eyeing the small smear on her left fingertips, her eyes widened and looked to Lore. Recognition crossed her face. He smirked when he knew she finally remembered, and said in a sing-song fashion, "Wake up Fenix. Remember LÖRNIXX. Wake up Fenix. I got sticks n' skins. Wake up Fenix. Remember LÖRNIXX..." She put the guitar back on the stand and ran to Lore. He stood up dropping his drumsticks to the floor and opened his arms.
"Lore!" She threw herself into his arms, "I remember now..." Tears formed in his blue eyes, "Are you ready to go home?" he smiled lovingly.
"Yes." She nuzzled into his chest as a tear escaped from her purple eyes.
Fenix's eyes opened to see herself in Lore's arms as he too, woke up. "I missed you Fenix." Tears spilled from her eyes, "Lore… I… I was there… I saw my bio-parents and-and-" He kissed her temple, "I was there beside you the whole time." She sniffled, "You were? You saw it all?" He nodded, "When you didn't wake up in the morning, I got Faloray to put me under and into your dream." and wiped her tear away. "Lore… you were by my side in that… that dream. But it wasn't a dream." He shook his head, "No, that was the past. Your parents' past… It was real. It had to be." More tears formed in her purple eyes remembering her parents, "Rain… she killed herself after she ran off." Lore's eyes widened, "That's what happened… River never found out before he..." He squeezed her, letting her cry into his shoulder. History likes to repeat itself… River did the same for Rain as I do for you, Fenix. After she calmed down, he asked, "How do you feel now that you know why you adopted?" She sighed as she wiped her tears, "Heart broken for Rain and River. They were both broken, and it was through dysfunctional home life and empathy that brought them together. They… They really loved each other." Lore added, "Under different circumstances, they would've lasted." She closed her eyes remembering her mother, "Rain… she lost her mind after she had me… She was so scared when she got knocked up. And I don't blame her for rejecting me. I looked nothing like them… Fucking RCE." She chuckled with a sniffle. Lore touched the side of her face, "There was nothing wrong with you. Sometimes a mother regects her offspring. Seeing you completely different from them would've ticked her. Besides, the odds were against her from the very beginning." She nodded, "Past is the past and as emotionally tormenting as that was, I'm glad I got to know my bio-parents." He smiled kindly, "Even though you looked nothing like them, you have their mannerisms. I knew right away they were your parents." He sat up, "Speaking of people losing their minds… you need to go to Data. Faloray was mentioning the unfinished bond with Data was causing you to be stuck in your dream." She paled remembering Rain's psychosis as Faloray entered the room, "Fenix! I'm so glad you're awake!" "Faloray… How long was I out for?" Lore realized his internal clock was out of sync and recalibrated himself. "You were sleeping for two days. Both you and Lore." "Yeah, she helped me out." Lore looked to Faloray, "Hey, sorry I was so… rude." Faloray shrugged, "It's understandable. You love her and I understood the circumstances she was in." Fenix stood up and embraced Faloray, "Thank you." "I was really worried about you, Fenix. I honestly didn't think you'd wake up." The two released each other, "Once you and Lore catch up, I suggest you go to Data." Fenix nodded as Faloray exited the room. "Hey Lore, you were human in the last dream. How did that feel?" He shrugged, "Fleshy." and the two chuckled. "To be honest, it was weird. I felt my heart beating, I needed to breath, I couldn't smell you or see things as well… I was sweating when I was playing the drums…" Fenix smirked, "You smelled." "What?" "No no no! Like… you had your own scent for the first time. It wasn't bad or stinky. Smelled like cigarettes, the outside, some nice fresh cologne that went well with the cigarettes and something distinctly you. It was… comforting." She noted, "Speaking of smells… I know I don't smell as much as most people but I need a shower. I've been out for two days."
Fenix ran to the bathroom and started the shower. She sighed still unable to shake off the residual emotions of her parent's past. Walking into the hot water, she hissed at the sensation but felt relief. Rain and River… I wonder why the RCE picked her out of the thousands? They were in the worst possible ones to pick to have a kid. Was it because they had love like no other and the RCE sensed that? She remembered the night that the RCE came to Rain and engulfed her in it's magical light. It was that moment when they truly embraced and confessed their love for each other. And that love was there for a long time before they did. That would only make sense. The couple with the most love and with Rain being young and healthy… Speaking off… she never got sick those three years. She was the one that nursed River when he got sick every year. Amiable qualities… she never got sick. She was a heavy drinker but she never had a hang over. She was… more resilient than most. Reaching for the loofah, she began washing herself. And River… he had so much compassion and love for Rain. He loved her like… like how Lore loves me. He wanted to right his failure with his sister. He wanted to save Rain at all costs. River… it wasn't your fault that things went the way they did. I wish I could've told you that. Wringing her hair of water, she shut the shower off and got ready to see Data. She was wearing her usual clothes again and fixed her mullet. I guess there's a lot of similarities I share with my bio-parents even if I look nothing like them. Rain looked so badass with her jet-black mullet. But her blonde roots was so light and pretty…
Lore saw Fenix walk out of the bathroom looking like herself again and smirked, "Go see Data." She walked to him and kissed him, "Now Fenix. I don't want to see another repeat of Rain." and slapped her bum. "Yeah, I don't wanna end up like her and you ending up like River." He gave her a quick peck on the lips before she left. Lore sighed feeling relief from the two days of being stuck in Fenix's dream. Three years went by in two days… His mind raced thinking back to Rain and River. Unable to shake off the dream knowing it was actually the past he had witnessed. River… He was a beautiful soul. He truly loved Rain with all his heart as I love Fenix. I'd do anything for her, too.
Fenix walked into the library and smiled seeing Data. His sunflower yellow eyes lit up seeing her, "Fenix… I was worried about you. Faloray would not let myself or Lord Flarestone in your room." She hugged him, "It was a long two days. I was dreaming about my bio-parents." He released her with curious eyes. "Don't worry, I'll tell you about it." Fenix told her the three years she and Lore witnessed in her dream.
Data and Fenix were outside near the gliders, they were about to go flying and exploring the floating islands when Fenix revealed her magical abilities she learned from Faloray. She floated around Data and danced in the air, "Guess I am more Electi Illiusian than I thought, huh?" Data marvelled at her new found ability. She came back down and embraced him, "Ready?" he nodded yes, still unknown of what she was implying but he trusted her. She defied gravity for herself and Data as they floated in a circle. With their hands clasped together, his eyes widened in wonder, "Intriguing... Absolutely intriguing, Fenix." She smiled, feeling delight to see Data surprised and happy in his own way. She couldn't fly long with another person so she came back down after a few minutes. "Grab the glider, lets fly!" She spouted with excitement.
Fenix didn't use a glider to fly since Faloray encouraged her to fly without one since gliders were meant for androids and for young-ins who couldn't use magic yet, but to have someone fly with her as a precaution. They found a small island with a giant blossoming tree in the middle with lush purple grass and decided to land there. "It's so beautiful here... I never thought I'd ever see anything like what I've seen here on Electi Illiusia." Fenix mesmerized, feeling emotional, taken aback by the natural beauty of the planet. After her two days of dreaming about her broken parents' past, this was exactly what she needed to refresh herself.
Data sat by the trunk as he watched how the almost-translucent magenta petals gently fell around Fenix as she stared into the distance with a serene expression. He captured this moment, storing it into his positronic net so he could paint this moment when he gets a chance. He softly stated, "Beautiful..." She looked to him and asked, "Sorry I didn't catch that." He spoke more clearly, "Beautiful... this place, and you. I... I love you." She looked at him with kind eyes, "Data..." She walked to him, kneeled in front of him, her one hand on his shoulder steadying herself and pressed her forehead to his, "I love... I love you, too. I love you so much, Data." A tear rolled down her cheek, touched by his words of endearment. He gently wiped her tear away and stroked the side of her face. He leaned in and tenderly kissed her. As gentle as his kisses were, they didn't lack any passion. They held intense emotion through his lips as he kept kissing her. He shifted and seamlessly adjusted her into straddling his lap as he continued kissing her. His kisses were becoming gradually heated as he trailed his lip down her jaw and down her neck as he planted kisses. Her breathing became laboured as she pulled back. Data's eyes wide with excitement, she looked at him and proceeded to take her shirt off. Data's shining yellow eyes marvelled at what she was presenting him, she flashed him a sultry, faint smile as he scanned her body in admiration. He kissed her as he laid her down on the soft grass, this time with more conviction. Kissing her neck and down her chest, he reached her breasts as he lovingly kissed them. Fenix mewled and sighed at the wonderful sensation, her hands roaming through his thick hair sprinkled with petals while he tenderly gave his attentions to her nipples. Petals landed and kissed tier bodies as he kissed ever part of her exposed skin. He moved back up and kissed her again, she took his shirt off and explored his body, kissing his neck and collar bone. His eyes closed at the wonderful sensation he was experiencing, hissing in pleasure. He leaned down and resumed kissing her senseless, she started undoing her pants, Data realized what she was doing and smoothly kissed down her body and slipped her pants and boots off. He softly kissed her mound and gently parted her legs to taste her aroused womanhood. He moaned in pleasure as his senses filled with her essence. His skilful, strong tongue massage her nether lips and clitoris as he indulged in her nectar. She whimpered and mewled as he continued loving her womanhood as he massaged and played with her small breasts and hardened nipples until he knew she was ready for him. She climaxed into his mouth, Data enjoying every drop of it. He kissed her inner thighs, up her torso, ribs, to her breasts, lingering at her nipple and then to her lips. She could taste herself on his tongue. He momentarily pulled back to take the rest of his clothes off, then positioned himself at her eager entranced. Agonizingly slowly, teasingly, he slid into her womanhood. His eyes rolled back as his head sunk into the crook of her neck as he moaned in absolute bliss. She moaned loudly as she wrapped her arms around him. Running her fingers through his hair and caressing his neck, shoulders and back, she felt like she was in heaven. He composed himself as he gently started moving his hips, she kissed his neck. With closed eyes, his head tilted back at the sensation of love-making with the woman he fell in love with. She whispered into his ear, "I love you, Data. You're beautiful." as she neared her orgasm. He could feel pleasure with her, he was having a hard time holding himself back, he buried his face into her neck trying to hold back while she climaxed. He whimpered, his lips quivered, her hair laced between his long fingers, he groaned loudly as he came in her. He whispered her name like a prayer, and she, called out for Data in return. He blinked a few times and realized he had shed tears. Confused, he looked to her to see that he had shed a few tears too. He asked her, "Why did we cry? I thought what we did was beautiful and absolutely wonderful." She smiled and tried to calm her breathing as she answered, "That's exactly why, Data. It was emotional and amazing. They're tears of joy. It's a complicated emotional response." she giggled as she wiped away his tears then wiped her own tears away. He looked at her with love in his eyes, "Thank you for loving me, Fenix." She smiled, touching the side of his face she answered, "It's so incredible making love to you, Data." He leaned in over her and kissed her. He stayed inside of her and laid still in her arms and listened to her heart beating, he asked with concern, "Am I crushing you with my weight?" She chuckled and answered, "You're cute. No, I'm fine. I'm small but durable." She giggled as she stroked his hair. They laid under the tree as they were showered with petals with sunlight peeking through the branches warming their bodies. Data nuzzled into her chest feeling pure bliss. This is what it is like to complete the bond… To make love to someone that I fell in love with who loves me back… I never understood what beauty meant until now.
Fenix and Data returned to the castle hand in hand. Lore spotted them out the open windows as he walked through the corridors. His eye widened at the sight of Fenix letting go of Data's hand as she began flying around like a fairy, he mumbled under his breath in disbelief, "She can fly?" Lord Flarestone chuckled as he informed, "Ah yes, Faloray was telling me that she was teaching Fenix some magic and was doing very well with her lessons. It's good to see her embracing her heritage, won't you agree?" Lore stood still as he stared at her out the window, absolutely enthralled as he blankly answered, "Yes..." Lord Flarestone scrutinized Data and Fenix with a quirked eyebrow, then smiled, "I think it might be a good idea to go see them. Come, Lore, let's greet them." He inclined his head in acknowledgement.
Lore and Lord Flarestone met up with Data and Fenix at the glider hanger. Fenix spotted Lore and flew into his arms and lifted him off the ground giggling. "Hi Lore! Look what I can do!" She beamed at him while she flew around with him and then softly landed them back onto the ground. Lore noticed something was different with Fenix and clued in. He bluntly asked, "Did you finalize the bond with my brother?" She blushed and answered in a hushed voice, "Yes. We did." Still feeling guilty for doing something that had to be done, she looked down. Lore lifted her chin up and reassured her, "I'm glad because... I..." He looked to Data and corrected, "We won't ever lose you. I don't want you to end up as Rain." and kissed her as tenderly as he could, then added, "Don't get me wrong, I'm still jealous. Always will be but it's nothing I can't put up with." as he smirked, Fenix rolled her eyes as she pulled down on his shirt to kiss him, "I love you, Lore. I hope you can feel it." He answered, "Yes, I do." he smiled as he kissed her again. "Lore, I was wondering if I may spend the night with... Fenix tonight? We had a very meaningful day today and you spent the last twenty-four hours, fifty-one-" Data stated. Lore exasperated, "Out of the question! I've been stuck in that emotionally damaging dream for almost three damn years and I couldn't speak or touch her the entire time! You want to have her at night now, too? No! Absolutely not, brother. I won't allow it!" Data blinked a few times, surprised by his brother's tantrum. Fenix chided, "Lore! He said 'tonight', not every night. You do get me every night, he has a point and, I've never spent the night with Data and we've... completed the bond today. It would be... nice. I know you miss me but I'm sure Lord Flarestone won't be needing you any more... probably." She turned to Lord Flarestone and batted her lashes with a smile. "No, I'm quite confident in our strategies with our militia now, thank you, Lore." Lord Flarestone quickly reassured trying to calm Lore down. Lore groaned and rolled his eyes, "I can't win this... Fine." He clenched his jaw, "You may spend the night with her, 'dear brother." He seethed. Fenix then added, "We can spend time tomorrow during the day, just the two of us." He looked to her with a pout, "I'd like that. I just really wanted to spent time with you is all. Even though I was beside you the entire time, I wasn't able to talk to you or..." he touched the side of her face, "...touch you. Then again, we do have all the time in the world. Us... the unholy trinity." He grinned. Fenix rolled her eyes with a sigh, "You're impossible, Lore." She giggled.
The trio with Lord Fenix and Faloray were reunited back together as they discussed whether Fenix, Lore and Data would want to stay at Caelum Volans castle indefinitely or go back to their galaxy. Fenix had to think about it some more before she could come up with an answer. It was still early evening, her and Data went to the bathhouse as they weighed the pros and cons of staying versus leaving Electi Illiusia. Fenix was gently washing Data's back as he kept babbling the pros and cons out loud, "If we were to stay, we would have access to their technologies making research and creating androids easier for you. You would also fit in better here than you would with humans. We can learn the Electi Illiusian customs and learn more about their history so you have a better understanding of yourself, something you have mentioned from time to time. Then again, on the contrary, Electli Illiusia already have many androids inhabiting the planet and now have their Queen back. It might be better if try to accomplish what they have on a different planet, say, Omicron Theta? We could make androids there, and restore the planet. You could be the queen of Omicron Theta and the Borgs. After all, it is Lore and I's birthplace and where all of your adventures began as well." She smiled and let him finish as she moved to lather his chest, "I was thinking that too. It would make more sense to start making androids on Omicron Theta so it's inhabited again, but with androids, and we could try to restore the planet. I know how now, thanks to Faloray. Or we could make them on Terlina III, your father's research is all there, too. Or we stay here for a little longer so I can understand how the androids here are made, that information combined with what I know about you and Lore would become very useful, AND... there's a celebration coming up next week. I think it's the coronation of Queen Faloray. She was hoping we'd stick around for it." Data took the sponge from Fenix when she finished and started gently washing her front, watching how her small breasts moved and fascinated by how the white suds contrasted her complexion. She blushed at his unabashed staring and asked, "What would you like, Data? Stay? Omicron Theta? Or Terlina III?" Data's thought for a moment and answered, "Stay for a while, then we can go back to either Omicron Theta or Terlina III." She nodded and mentioned, "I want to ask Lore what he wants, too. I want us to come to an agreement before we go jumping head-first into anything like I usually do." She chuckled.
Fenix had a great idea to go for a sun-set flying session. Data flew the glider as Fenix flew on her own accord during golden hour. She flew around the phoenix, made eye-contact with one of them and asked, "May I ride you?" The creature blinked and made no qualms. She flew above the creature and softly landed in a straddling position. Data glanced to his right to see Fenix riding one of the magnificent beasts. Her long hair flowing, and everything was illuminated. They were coming across another large island with blooming trees in countless shades of purples. They flew through the trees, creating a gust of wind causing a storm of petals. Fenix had her arms out as she flew with a bright smile, embracing the blossoms that kissed her. A few blossoms had sunk into her hair making her look like an ethereal being. Data was taking in the whole experience and the sights that surrounded him. Seeing Fenix so happy made him feel something in his chest. It was a beautiful sight for him to see, it was another moment he wanted to paint.
They laid in bed together as Data stared at Fenix while she tried to sleep. She opened her eyes to see him staring at her, she was used to this from Lore so she wasn't startled, "Hey Data, if you set your timer to go into stand-by mode, it'll be like sleeping for you." "Really?" She nodded, "That's what Lore started doing after watching sleep for a week straight. I gotta admit, it totally wigged me out the first two nights. He was just… staring." Fenix reminisced with a giggle. Data touched the side of his torso, "I will try it out. I never knew that dreams were possible for androids. I am looking forward to see if I will dream tonight." She cuddled up next to him and finger-drew on his naked, smooth chest and stomach. Data enjoying the sensation. Eventually, Fenix fell asleep in his arms, he kissed her forehead and tucked her in, making sure she was warm and well. He gently plucked a blossom that was missed from her hair, he inhaled the floral scent that mixed with Fenix's own scent and gently placed it on his night stand. He closed his eyes and waited for his timer to countdown to standby-mode.
Meanwhile, Lore paced around his room alone and restless. He wasn't sure what he should do. This was the first time he was alone at night ever since he had been reactivated by Fenix. Ever since Fenix reassembled him, they've always slept in the same room and eventually in the same bed. He walked down to the castle library and decided to read up on the history of Cealum Volans and the Electi Illiusians. I don't want to sleep tonight. I have no need for such things especially if my wife isn't around to snuggle and sleep with me. Fenix wanted to know more about her people and her heritage. Maybe I'll find something on how to make they made androids? Might as well beat Data to the punch. She'll be impressed and thank me later. And I have many ideas how she could thank me... Data's probably snuggled up to her warm little body right now, ugh... lucky bastard. However, I still have the advantage of pleasuring her... I spent more time with her. I could make her do anything and I have, so far... I was able to tie her up and be her master, and her as my prisoner. She screamed in pleasure. Lore's eyes closed imagining how enjoyable it would be for her and chuckled to himself. Hmm... I could coerce her into a threesome one of these days. Why wouldn't she want it? Two mandroids programmed to pleasure giving her the time of her never-ending life? Knowing her, she'll be too coy for that. One day... my brother and I will both have you at the same time. You won't be able to reject us, my sweet little Fenix. We'll have you on your knees. He smirked and began his research in hopes of getting brownie points from his wife.