Lost Past; A Star Trek Story

Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation characters.

The Arboretum

“Data,” Counselor Troi’s voice caused his spine to crawl. She had cut through his sadness when all he wanted was to be alone. He wasn’t at all sure why he was sad. “What are you doing in the Arboretum?”

Why didn’t she just leave? He thought before answering her. “I started walking; just ended up here.”

“Just walking?”

“Yes, just walking.” He didn’t look up from the object that had focused his full attention.

“Oh!” she gasped. “They are gorgeous. Did you do this?”

“No.” Came a very dry reply.

“Water lilies are so beautiful. I almost expect frogs to start jumping onto the lily pads. She walked over to the pond, in the middle of the room. “I had a class in here yesterday, none of this was here.” She sat in the grass trailing her fingers across the water. “Come join me.” She patted the ground beside of her.

“I would prefer not.” He stumbled backwards falling into a seated position on a wall behind him. He didn’t see the lilies anymore. He saw a foot, a very dainty elegant foot. The toes, his stomach cramped with exquisite pain. The toes were wiggling happily in the water. The smell of honeysuckle flooded his senses. Then he saw a leg wrapped in soft yellow cloth. The cloth had little green frogs printed all over it. He was fighting hard to breathe. He heard laughing and giggling. He felt those soft sensual lips caress him. His hand trailed from the ankle up under the fabric to her knee. Her skin was the softest thing he had ever felt. He felt happy and in love.

He said something in a strange language. Deanna had never heard this language before. And the Enterprise’s onboard language translator didn’t translate it.

As quickly as the vision had appeared, it disappeared. He saw nothing. He felt nothing. His android body fell to the ground.

“Data!” Deanna jumped to her feet. “Data!” She rushed over to him, shaking him the best she could. “Data!” she tapped her communicator, “medical emergency in the Arboretum.”

Through the darkness Data heard a soft voice calling his name. “DaTa.” He could smell her skin. Her cheek fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. Her thumb outlined his eyebrow. Her middle finger traced his ear. “DaTa please wake up. You must help me.” Her voice grew faint. “Help me.” He didn’t want to hear her voice. But he longed to feel it. He felt it so close to his neck that the wind from her breath created goose bumps. “Help me.”

Then another voice called to him. It was louder, over powering the softer voice he heard. It took several minutes for him to realize it was Dr. Crusher’s voice. Drowning out the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He opened his eyes to find the Captain, Geordi, Dr. Crusher, and Counselor Troi standing around him.

“You gave us quiet a scare Mr. Data. What just happened?” Picard asked. Tugging at the bottom of his shirt.

“My best guess would be,” Data paused, “I passed out sir.”

“You passed out?” Geordi questioned in shock.

“I believe so. I cannot formulate any other explanation.”

“Data do you think the emotion chip is malfunctioning?” Picard asked.

“I do not know Captain.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “However, I do believe there is something wrong with me. I have asked Geordi to help me run three diagnostics. He has found nothing. I have ran two self-diagnostics finding nothing.” He stopped.

“Data, what is going on?” Troi asked. “This isn’t like you. Oh, and by the way, what does LB EVAG AE TG PAXU mean?”

He looked stunned, “Where did you hear that?”

“From you.” Came her direct reply. “Before you, passed out.” There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

“Data?” Picard asked.

He closed his eyes while turning his head toward Captain Picard. He opened his eyes before saying, “my skin is on fire.” Data started to visibly shake.

“I think we should leave now.” Beverly was trying to be nice about ending the line of questioning. It was obvious it was upsetting Data. He sunk back down onto the table. She stayed for a moment to make sure everyone had left.

Worf