XXX.
Data bowed over his desk and stared at the information pad Geordi had provided him. "What purpose does this serve, Geordi?" he asked.
Geordi had been absentmindedly petting Spot as he watched Data inspect what he'd given. Earlier that day, he had gone to the captain with an idea on how to get Data's memory back. He'd implanted subliminal messages into the data pad that referred to his relationship with Heva in the hopes that it may spark something that may be stored in his internal memory circuits. The captain gave the get go and here he sat.
"Oh, that's just my research on the Frugians. I haven't turned it in to the captain yet because he asked me to get more input from you." Data nodded and turned back to the pad. He picked it up and scanned it quickly, occasionally putting in his own information.
After only a few moments, he set it down on the desk and pushed it toward Geordi. "I am finished. You may find that some of the things I have added will be of great importance to the captain."
Geordi slowly took the pad in his hand and nodded back. "Thanks…I'll give it to him now. You don't…feel anything do you?" Data twitched his head the side. "Geordi." He replied. "I do not feel."
Geordi sighed and forced a smile toward Data before standing to leave. "Geordi." Data said, standing. Geordi turned to him slowly. "Yes, Data?"
"I want to ask you…what is Commander Brookes really like? I have seen so little of her on this mission, though I have worked in close proximity to her. I have hardly gotten to know her and I hear that she may be leaving the Enterprise. I was…just wondering."
Sighing again, Geordi tried to find an answer to give that could give his memory a surge. Not being able to find one, he merely said what he felt was best to say.
"She's…an amazing woman. And you know that more than you think you do." With that, he bowed himself out and left the room. Data stared after him, and his neural net surged.
"Come." Picard said as his doorbell rang. He stared into his previous log entries about the trip and let out a great sigh, seeing entries that referred to Heva and Data.
Geordi entered the room fumbling with the information pad and Jean-Luc sat up quickly. "Any luck?"
"I don't think so, captain." He slumped into the chair opposite the captain. "He looked at it, put in some stuff himself and then asked me what Heva was like because he hardly got to know her."
Jean-Luc took the pad and looked at it, nodding.
"I just don't think anything will-"
"Hold on a second!" the captain interrupted. His eyes scanned the information pad wildly and he let out a laugh of victory.
"What is it?" Geordi asked.
"Listen to this." The captain went on. "During this trip, we have learned extensive and valuable information about the HEVA. Their culture is severely guarded by a BROOKES which has KISSED our LOVE in such a way that we have HEVA thanks to BROOKES….it just goes on like this!"
Geordi suddenly stood, knocking his chair onto the floor. "When I tried to put the emotion chip back in, it surged! It could have transferred all of the input information to the rest of his positronic net and his memory components!"
"You don't think-?"
"Oh, I do! Now, all we have to do is wait and let…NATURE…act its course!"
Data made his way down the hall toward Heva Brookes' quarters, a pile of information pads stacked in each arm. He had been assigned by the captain to give them to her for her final research before she left the Enterprise.
The past couple of days had been curious, Geordi and the captain had been making frequent visits to his quarters, asking him questions and telling him about the Commander. He had seen her several times in the hall, every time she had ignored him completely. He felt that perhaps she had no interest in him, and he wasn't sure why.
As he reached her quarters, Data struggled to keep both piles of pads in his arms as he reached for the doorbell. Once he pressed it he quickly attempted to catch a few of them and failed, causing the whole of each pile to fall to the floor.
The door opened and he looked up. Heva's eyes were red and puffy, as though she had been crying; however they were wide with surprise as she knelt to assist him.
"Thank you, Commander. I was unable to keep a hold of both piles at once." Data said. Heva looked at him for a moment and continued to pick up information pads.
"No problem. What are these for? For me?" she asked, her voice scratchy.
"Yes. The captain insisted that I deliver them to you to complete your research before you left. May I come in?"
Heva nodded and lead the way. Data entered and observed her quarters. Something felt very familiar about it, especially the bed. He looked over at the Commander and watched as she took the last pile from his hand and set it on her desk. She walked over to her replicator and said something inaudible to it. He heard the computer beep and she took something from it. She turned to him with two mugs of something steamy, a tower of whipped cream with chocolate flakes on the top of each one.
"Sit, Data." She said, waving him toward her table.
At first, he felt he had to object. But something inside him compelled him to sit with her. Heva handed him one of the mugs and he took it. "What is this?" he asked.
She looked at him, frowning. "It's hot chocolate. Try it…you'll like it." She sipped from her own mug and licked away the creamy mustache left on her top lip.
Data followed suit, licking his own mustache away to a small chuckle by Heva. He looked at her and nodded. "It is very delicious. I feel as though I have tried this concoction before. It has a very familiar flavor and density as it touches my taste receptors. Thank you." He took another sip and Heva stared at him over her own glass.
She wanted nothing more than to take Data's hand and tell him everything on her mind, in her heart…She wanted so badly for him to wrap his arms around her and tell him he loved her just one more time before she left. Data's gaze went to the bed. Three luggage bags lay open upon it, clothes and uniforms laying lazily over the edges of each one. Not far from the first one lay a silk night gown, lavender. Something flashed in his memory and he dropped his mug, spilling the hot chocolate on the table. Heva stood and rushed to her sink to retrieve a towel.
Data's mind began reeling and he put a hand to his forehead. Heva began to wipe the mess up, asking over and over if he was alright, if it had burned him, and if he needed a napkin.
He stood without a word and began to leave, Heva watching him as tears began to invade her cheeks.
Just as Data reached the door, he doubled over and held a hand to his chest, he felt a rhythmic pounding on his breast he had never felt before. He went to press his com badge when suddenly, flashes of memory flooded his brain.
Heva smiling, the tango, her dress, her nightgown, the lake, the wine, her lips on his, her fingers in his hair, I love yous, running through the Borg cube, she got shot, he blocked her from being killed, he fell, blackness, waking up, being here right now, and…the bracelet. He looked back at her and eyed her left wrist. Her hand stretched toward the table and it protruded from her uniform. There on her wrist was the white ribbon bracelet. The pearls shined in the light and the tiny silver rings dangled from the bottom along with the longer strands from the knot. She hadn't noticed him bent over, leaning against the wall in front of the door. She must have assumed that he left.
He straightened up and walked over to her. "Are you alright?" he asked her. She nodded. "I'm fine. I just didn't think it was that hot. I'm sorry. You can go if you want to." Her voice began to shake and he heard her utter a small sob before turning away with the cocoa drenched towel. He reached out and grabbed her wrist lightly, turning her to him. Her eyes met his and they looked at each other for a long time. He reached for her left wrist and pulled it to his face, fingering the pearls softly.
"It's….a Forget-Me-Knot bracelet…" he whispered. Heva let out a choking sob and she held a hand to her lips. "The three pearls signify…friendship, loyalty,…and love. You tie knots at either end to bring the three together." He began to smile, tears forming under his own eyes. "The silver rings…signify a solid bond between the giver and the receiver…they lay on either side of the knot to keep it strong…"
He looked at Heva who had put her face in her hands and was crying uncontrollably. He put two fingers under her chin and lifted her to look at him. "Data?" she asked, hardly able to believe that the man she loved had come back to her by some miracle.
Data nodded. "It is me, Heva. I'm here." Heva jumped and let her lips collide with his. They wrapped their arms around one another and held each other tightly, losing themselves in this precious moment as they reunited. Their lips parted and they pressed their foreheads together. Data caressed Heva's face gently with his hands and she returned the gesture. They shook their heads and smiled softly in their silhouette, whispering silent words of love toward each other and the pearls on her bracelet twinkled in the light, signifying hope for their bright future.
Captain's Log
Star date 67849.8
The Enterprise is still under repairs and our losses were many, but I feel that we have gained more than lost anything on this voyage. The Frugians, I hear, are repopulated on the first three planets of their system and are still growing ever quicker as the days pass. I have the unfortunate duty of replacing my fallen officers once we re-dock back at headquarters; which is under repair itself. Commander Data and Commander Brookes have reunited in their love together. It seems that when the emotion chip sparked while being replaced into Data's neural port, it sent the entirety of its memory into the rest of his memory components and he is slowly regaining all of his emotions, as well as the relationship he and Heva Brookes have created. I am pleased to say that he and I are on good terms again, though I still regret my actions: he tells me that he understands and forgives me to the fullest extent. Heva has agreed to remain on the Enterprise, not just for Data, but for the opportunity to embark on many more journeys with my crew and me. I have a feeling that this adventure wasn't the only one she will share with us. For a bright and exciting future is to come, not just for her, but for all of us here on the U.S.S Enterprise.
Picard out.
The End
Hi Everybody! Smitty here,
I had such a good time writing this fan fiction. I know that some things were misspelled, some things weren't exactly Trek correct and others were just...well...sloppy. But I truly hope that you enjoyed this. I intend to continue writing stories that involve Heva (whom I've grown quite fond of.) and Data (whom I adore:D fav character ever...next to the doctor in voyager and Spock. haha.) in the future. I am currently beginning an outline for my next story "Uncharted Territory II." that's not the title, but is the second in my Heva Brookes series. Expect more from me soon! I truly hope you enjoyed my story. Feel free to review, I'm open to criticism (as long as it is constructive and not cruel for no specific reason.) and for my fellow Trekkies, if I did anything wrong, let me know!I want to get it right for your reading pleasure! By the way, with all of my stories I compile a soundtrack for inspiration. If anyone wants a list of the songs I listened to for this story, let me know:) Have a good day everyone! God Bless!
Smitty Out.