Part I

Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge strode into Ten Forward and scanned his VISOR over the early morning breakfast crowd. Unless he took the time to concentrate on facial features, most of the officers, crew, and family members sitting at the glowing tables looked like dull silhouettes overlaid with washes of color that indicated shifts in body temperature, among other readings. But, one figure stood out in a way only Geordi could see.

"Data," he called and smiled, raising his hand in a wave as he homed in on the golden electromagnetic aura that surrounded his android friend. Data's 'halo', Geordi called it. "How was the night shift?"

Apart from crew training rotations, which he also oversaw, the ship's tireless second officer spent most of his nights commanding the bridge.

Data opened his mouth to answer, then paused and narrowed his gaze.

"Do you wish me to provide a detailed account," he asked, "Or is your true intent merely to open conversation with an innocuous comment?"

"Option Two," Geordi told him.

"Then the night shift was 'just fine'." Data pronounced the words with care, like a traveler attempting a foreign language.

"Well that's great," Geordi said, his smile broadening as he sat down. Data really had come a long way in the nearly four years since the Enterprise-D's first mission. The android officer was getting better at informal social interaction by the day, and Geordi liked to think he'd had a hand in his friend's progress.

"I took the liberty of ordering your preferred morning beverage in anticipation of your arrival," Data said, indicating the steaming coffee mug sitting between them on the table. "I hope you do not mind."

"No, that's really thoughtful," Geordi said, lifting the mug taking a long whiff of the warm, toasty fumes. "Thanks, pal."

"No thanks are necessary," Data assured him. "Pal."

Geordi laughed and took a sip, the intense, focused look Data was giving him not quite registering until after he'd swallowed.

And his mouth and throat immediately caught fire.

"Gah!" he exclaimed, fanning his tongue and sucking in quick, cooling breaths of air. "Water! I need some water!"

"I believe milk may be more effective in this instance," Data suggested, pouring out a glass from the small jug he had ready. "Milk contains casein, which will bind with the capsaicin oil currently stimulating the heat-detecting neural sensors on your tongue and—"

"OK, fine, just give me the milk!" Geordi exclaimed, and Data willingly handed it over, tilting his head in fascination as he watched the suffering human chug it down.

"Was the casein effective, Geordi?" he inquired.

Geordi sighed and ran a hand over his short hair before turning an irritated, baffled look on his friend.

"What the hell was that, Data?" he demanded. "Did you spike my coffee with hot sauce?"

"It was not 'hot sauce,' per se," the android clarified. "'Hot sauce' usually implies a blended condiment including vinegar and spices as well as chilies. I 'spiked' your coffee with three drops of non-extract capsaicin made from refined capsaicin powder in order to add heat without altering the flavor profile of your beverage."

Geordi stared at him. "Why?"

Data blinked his yellow eyes.

"Because, according to Earth's seasonal calendar, today is first of April," he said. "Colloquially known as—"

"April Fools' Day!" Geordi realized. "Of course!" He shook his head and snorted. He still felt annoyed, but it was tempered now with amusement – even pride in his friend for showing the initiative and creativity to pull the prank in the first place. "Actually, that wasn't a bad trick. Just, don't try anything like that on the captain, OK? Or…well, anyone else for that matter."

"If you say, Geordi," Data acknowledged. "Then, you would deem my April Fools' prank a success?"

"Yeah," Geordi said. "I sure didn't see it coming. But, Data—"

"Riker to all senior staff," the first officer's voice sounded through their combadges. "Please report to the bridge."

Geordi sighed a little, and gave his friend a wry smile. "To be continued?" he said.

"Certainly, Geordi," the android acknowledged. Geordi grabbed his spiked coffee, Data took the empty milk glass and jug, and the two officers headed toward the crowded bar, when Geordi paused and nudged his friend's arm.

"Give me a second," he said, and made his way over to a young ensign he'd spotted sitting on a stool, eating breakfast and looking over a data padd.

"Hey, Wes," he greeted.

"Oh hi, Geordi," Crusher greeted back. "Something I can do for you?"

"Nah, thanks," Geordi said. "Data and I just got called to the bridge. You're welcome to my coffee if you want it. I didn't get a chance to touch it."

"Sure, OK," the young man said, and Geordi set the spiked mug down beside the ensign's plate of scrambled eggs. "Thanks."

"See you later in Engineering?" Geordi said.

"I'll be there," Crusher assured him, and Geordi headed out, giving the young man a clap on the back.

Data regarded his friend curiously.

"Geordi," he said. "Why did you—"

"It's April Fools' Day, right?" Geordi smirked. "Consider this paying it forward."

"Hm." Data jutted his lip and raised his eyebrows, the double doors closing behind the two friends just as Wesley Crusher's epic spit-take drenched the crowded bar in a shower of spittle-laced coffee.

To Be Continued...

References Include: Menage a Troi; Night Terrors; Data's Day; Heart of Glory.

Hi! Hope you're enjoying the story so far! Croaked is next in line for an update, but I'll be adding more to this story soon. Stay tuned and thanks for reading! :D