Disclaimer: see my profile.
A/n I took inspiration from the song "My Love Will Never Die." It is a sort of tag to the ST movie "Nemesis," and that is where my adherence to canon ends. I hope you enjoy the story.
When Data's eyes fluttered open, he saw only white. He stood straight and tall despite the explosion he'd witnessed, which had destroyed the Scimitar and – him.
He blinked and then squinted against the brightness of the white light surrounding him on every side. The light shone so brightly that he attempted to engage the dampening field on his visual sensors, but nothing happened. The light continued to swirl around him like a nebula around a neutrino star.
He cocked his head, and – the action felt smooth, not abrupt. It was as though the servos in his neck were – gone. How could they be missing?
You're dead!
"Data," called a familiar voice.
The voice came from everywhere at once, and – he felt a heartbeat in his chest. It wasn't the pulse of his temperature regulation system. No. He'd been destroyed, but how – he turned his head to the left and saw a figure emerging from the white light around him.
"Data," said the voice, and it was as gentle as a rocking chair he'd once sat in while on the holodeck.
The person approached but seemed to glide instead of walk. She resolved out of the white light and held out her hands.
"Tasha," he breathed, tears rolling down his cheeks as he fought to control the emotions that stormed in his chest.
"Data," she said and pressed her lips to his mouth in a kiss that made his knees weak.
"Hello," she said when they parted. "I've been waiting for you, Data."
"Tasha. I don't understand. Where are we? What's happening to me? I – I feel my heart," he beat his fist on his breast. "I'm breathing. I'm using contractions."
Tasha threw back her head and laughed. "Of course, you are golden eyes. You're – no longer a sentient android."
"What?"
"Oh, there's so much I have to tell you."
"Tasha. I don't understand. How did I get here? I was on the Scimitar. I had to destroy the Theleron weapon. I gave Captain Picard the emergency transport link and then felt the explosion and – I'm here. Everything's different.
Date looked at his hands and saw they weren't pale yellow anymore but the same skin tone as his creator, Nooian Soong. "I don't understand," he repeated. "I don't feel like myself."
"Because you're not," Tasha said. "This is your reward, Data. You've done what Dr. Soong created you to do. You saved your family; now we can be together for eternity."
"Why?"
"Oh, Data," Tasha's lovely blue eyes sparkled with tears of joy. Her beautiful golden hair framed her face, and she wore a pair of white trousers with a tunic top and had bare feet. She smiled at him, and Data felt like he'd never lost her – that his life without her had been a bad dream.
"I've finally woken from a nightmare," he said.
"No." Tasha hushed him with a finger to his lips. "You did what I knew you would. You went on without me. Now, we're together.
"I'm afraid I still don't understand."
"Data," Tasha took his hand, and they began to walk.
He noticed that he wore an outfit identical to Tasha's, and his feet were bare. They were also what he used to call a more human skin tone. Suddenly, he longed to look in a mirror.
"You look like Noonian Soong, but that's where it ends," Tasha said as if she could read Data's mind.
"Yes," Tasha said. "He created your physical body but didn't realize what he'd created. He believed that you were – a functioning android that didn't have a soul."
"I have a positronic brain that –"
"No. Data, you remember that Geordi used to see an aura around you before he got the cloned implants. Do you know why?"
"I always thought it was because he could see the energy field surrounding my body generated by my power cell."
"No. Geordi saw what you truly are, but he never realized it."
"Tasha. What are you saying?"
"You're an Angel, Data."
Data stopped walking, and he chuckled. It felt good to laugh again. He never wanted to stop. Finally, he said. "An Angel. Tasha, are you trying to say that – "
"No, I'm not trying to tell you that you have wings or other nonsense. You were created as we all were, by a power I still don't fully comprehend."
"Q?"
Tasha tugged him forward as she laughed so hard, he thought she might choke, then remembered she was supposed to be dead. "No! This is beyond Q. They believe they are omnipotent, but they're not. There is a power – or Being above them that they've forgotten in their arrogance and long lives."
Data stopped again and cupped Tasha's face in his hands. "I don't care as long as I have you."
"You must care because you're the purest soul to exist; believe me, I know. I've seen what the darkest hearts can do. You're the antithesis of them, Data. You're innocent and kind. You belong in this place because you earned your right."
"I'm glad you're here," Data said, kissing her.
"I earned my right as you did. I didn't know then, but my death paved the way for you to become selfless, gentle, and – human. As much as I wish we could've lived our lives together, you needed to purify in the crucible of grief, to give everything of yourself to the ones you loved and beyond. You taught billions of sentient beings that you don't have to be organic to live, love, feel, and think.
"Tasha," Data felt his face growing hot and realized he blushed.
"You see, you're blushing. You're the most humble person I've ever known. I love you, Data. Forever."
"I love you too, Tasha. I've missed you for so long."
Data realized that Tasha was staring at him. "Sorry," she said. "You look different. You're golden eyes are gone. You look like a human man, and I'm not sure I like it. I miss your Android form."
"I don't –"
"I'm sorry, Data. I'll get used to it, and I rejoice for you. It's what you've always wanted, my beloved."
"What now?" Data asked.
"Now, we go on to the next plane of existence. Together. Forever."
A doorway appeared in front of them, and Tasha gestured. "After you, my love."