A/N: Witness a side of Data no one knew existed.

Disclaimer: Star Trek and all its characters belong to Paramount Pictures. Carrie belongs to author Stephen King but the words are mine. The characters of the Four Orders (FO*) are entirely my own.

Requested Story by T-Rex-1000

Part Two:

AU/Multiple Star Trek Shows/Carrie: Having become part of 24th century, Carrie White is enlisted in the clandestine organization Section 31 to help protect the Federation from a looming threat that has the power to change Starfleet's future forever.

Chapter 13

Carrie started to hear something. She had the impression that this tunnel will never end. She had been walking for so long. She increased her pacing. The sound of voices increased in volume but it was not a joyful sound of a party. It felt more like screams.

Carrie slowed down until she stopped. She focused her mind and used it to see forward. Her inner eye saw the remaining distance to the exit. Outside there were shapes of beings with some kind of pistols that she recognized as disruptors. It was the weapon of choice for several races – Klingon, Breen, Romulans, and a few others.

She noticed blasts everywhere. It appeared to be an all out battle. Bolts of red and green illuminated the night. Soon the shapes took form and she recognized a few of them as the ground security forces of the Academy, a few Starfleet ones and a few other carrying black badges. The other shapes also took form and for a moment she thought they were Vulcan if she had not come to study their cousins the Romulans.

Romulans on Academy grounds in the heart of Starfleet – that seemed impossible. How did the Romulans manage to bypass Starfleet's defenses and infiltrate the Academy grounds? She had no answer for that. She retreated back to the exit point of her tunnel. She ensured that there was no one near it and proceeded carefully to it.

She did not dare though to look into anyone's mind as it bore the very possibility someone might spot her intrusion and she wanted to keep her hide safe. Besides, the professor had told her to maintain a low profile at all costs. The information on the flash drives must be extremely valuable. But did the Romulan attack have anything to do with it? Could it be a coincidence? While everything is possible she did not think so. It was merely several minutes after she left the Professor that all hell had broken loose.

She wondered though what was on these flash drives that were worth this level of disturbance and open combat. It must be something worth killing for. It could be a secret or plans for invasion. She had many lessons that suggested that the Romulans would gladly destabilize the region as they have never liked the idea of a united front of races. But in any she had to keep away from the battle.

She examined the area around the tunnel's exit. It was indeed Boothby's garden. No one had stamped over it yet. The fights were contained around the Academy. Still the best for her now would be to remain where she is. Fear crawled into her and she gasped for air as panic swelled in her but she took a few deep breaths and calmed herself.

The image of Data emerged from a memory. She tended to remember him in such situations not because he did not experience fear or anything else but because he was the one who taught her how to control her emotions. Weird, right?

After the holodeck, they met a few days later. It was Data's day off which as he said usually consisted of writing a letter to Commander Bruce Maddox. Maddox as she checked was a scientist that was most familiar with Data's positronic matrix (or his guts) even more so than Commander LaForge.

The first thing Carrie found out as weird was that Data actually had a day off. Of course, if there was trouble he would be on the bridge.

"All senior officers have a day off." Data had replied as she could not resist asking.

"Even an android?"

"Yes,"

She spent the day with him. They first went to his quarters as Data wanted to show her Spot, his cat. Spot was a Somali cat and as she came to notice she had trained Data what to do instead of the other way around. She found that cute especially when he got to caress her and Spot started to purr with satisfaction.

The two spent time speaking about ordinary things teenagers of the 20th century did as Data wanted to know more about Carrie. She shared with him things that she would have never considered to share with a boy. It was girl stuff. And while Data was modeled after a man and was a man and fully functional as Data described it she still did not see him as a man. She thought of him more as gender neutral.

"You spent two hours combing your hair?" Data asked. He found that peculiar. How long does one need to comb his hair? Since his hair was synthetic he did not feel or have the need to comb it.

"It was one of the few times my mother was actually a mother."

"Oh, so it was a joyful memory?"

"I wouldn't go as far as joyful but nearly enjoyable."

"Two hours seems to be an extreme waste of time for a job that takes no longer than a minute." Data observed.

"Well, that is because you have a short hair. Women or girls that have long hair take longer time to comb that. Every thread must be perfect – straight or curled."

"Intriguing," Data said and then he did something she did not expect. "Geordie, would you join me in my quarters?"

Commander LaForge came but was thunderstriken with Data's request. He had opened and closed his mouth many times before managing to utter. "You want me to make your hair long as the one of Dr. Crusher?"

"Yes, Geordie," Data replied with his usual tone.

"Aaaaa," Geordie blinked several times. "Why?"

"I wish to experience long hair."

"I see." It was then when Geordie noticed Carrie. "Hello?"

"Ah, Geordie, this is my friend Carrie."

"Your friend?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"No," Geordie replied. "Data, do you mind if I borrowed her for a moment?"

"Not at all,"

They went outside. Geordie was still in shock of Data's request.

"How did Data come up with the idea of having long hair?" Geordie asked finally.

"I am not sure. It was a surprise to me as much as it is to you."

"Were you discussing long hairs in any capacity?"

"We were not that is any of your business, Commander." Carrie replied in a hurt way.

Geordie quickly realized he had crossed a boundary he shouldn't have but he was so stunned of the request that he let his other voice speak for him.

"I meant no offense. It is just an unusual request. And besides, I am not sure the Captain would approve." Geordie said but seeing her expression added. "It is not Starfleet regulation, for the men."

"Really, are you like the military, also short hair and stuff?"

"Starfleet is not a military organization."

"You could have fooled me."

Geordie was a bit hesitant.

"See it this way Commander. You profess that everyone is free in your Federation. Shouldn't everyone choose their own appearance? And besides I can only imagine the comic side of the situation when everyone does see him that way…"

Geordie had actually imagined it and found it also amusing. He was not sure though the Captain would but then again no one had asked Commander Worf to cut his hair regulation style either. He kept it in a bun.

He realized she did not want to embarrass Data but to help him see an aspect of humanity he would normally never see when she did explain the situation.

Geordie entered and soon Data came out. "Come with us to Engineering."

They went down to Engineering and Geordie got to work. Soon after Data had a hair as long as that of Dr. Crusher or Worf. It was a strange sight. It became even stranger when the crew noticed it every time they came to Engineering. They were polite enough not to laugh as it made Data look a bit …like an overgrown fury cat.

"I think it would be best if you transported to your room from here, Data." Geordie said though he was proud of the work he had done.

"Why?"

"I believe the hair could use some work."

"I see." Data said and looked at his friend expectantly.

"Right," Geordie moved to the controls barely suppressing a smile.

"And Carrie too," Data added.

Geordie pressed a few buttons and they were transported straight to Data's quarters.

"Will you do my hair?" Data asked.

"Sure,"

Carrie got to work. She had a few ideas. First she went to the replicators and ordered quite a few beauty items.

"Do you have everything you need?" Data asked.

"Almost," Carrie said. She needed also a change of clothes for Data. While Starfleet uniforms were very comfy they were not going-out clothes.

"What do I need these for?" Data asked as she replicated the clothes.

"Well, on your day off, you can't be in your work clothes. And besides, I thought you wanted to learn more about my time."

"I still do. Will the change of clothing assist with that?"

"Definitely, "

"Ok. Please proceed."

Carrie managed to transform Data into a 20th century punk. She doubted anyone would immediately recognize him. She had perused through the database the different stereotypes of her time and found the punk one to be the most apt one.

She even thought him several phrases though she had to teach him how to alter his pitch and pronunciation so he would not sound like his usual self.

Making Data's hair took more than 2 hours. As Data discovered it was a whole ritual – washing the hair, drying the hair, combing the hair so every threat was perfectly straight, dyeing the hair, straighten the hair and then came the ritual to apply makeup. She made his skin more human color than his usual white.

At some point Ella joined them. She had wondered why Carrie was so secretive. But upon seeing Commander Data she was dumbfounded.

"Carrie, what have you done?"

"Do you not like me hair, Ms. Brigham?" Data asked.

"Oh, I love it." Ella looked at Carrie and then back at Data. "Why did you call me?"

"I could use some help." Carrie answered.

"Sure," Ella said. 'Oh boy'

With combined efforts they transformed Data. Ella then organized a party in which she invited also the senior officers. She actually counted on Dr. Crusher to get the captain by promising her it would be worth her while.

The most difficult part was teaching Data how to walk. It was unnerving how much patience one needs with a stoic such as Data.

"You got most of it." Ella concluded. "I am going to get ready for the party and then I'll signal you when it is time to join us."

"Sure, we will be waiting."

Data was unsure about his new look but was determined enough to allow this experiment to continue. He found it very easy to communicate with Carrie though he knew her life was anything but easy or joyful. But that was one part of her new life that she had yet to grasp – the eager readiness of anyone in Starfleet to make her stay as pleasant and as welcoming as possible.

Ella called at some point and they were ready to go. Data a bit hesitantly opened his quarters' doors and peeked outside. There were no people in the corridors.

"Come on," Carrie said and took him by the arm. She found it amusing and awkward at the same time that the android was actually concerned suddenly how people would perceive him. It was an interesting contradiction with him. He usually did not display such shyness.

They reached the party in Ten Forward. The place was packed full. "Come on. Like we taught you. No worries, man!"

The sight of Data did raise a few eyebrows though no one so far had recognized Commander Data. They engaged a few crewmembers but his disguise was perfect.

"Carrie, over here," Ella shouted through the crowd. Spotting her they headed that way. "Everyone is here except the Captain but Beverly promised she would bring him. It will be the ultimate test."

To be continued…

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