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.

Cheeseburgers in space

Data wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing the top of her head. He took

another deep breath, “peaches. That is what I smell.”

She giggled, “It is already coming back; one memory at a time. But you have to take it slowly. If you try to open that file all at once, it will overload your posatronic matrix. In essence, frying your brain.”

“I got that message.”

She turned around in his arms. “DaTa, I am so sorry. I didn’t know you had you’re emotion chip installed. If I had, I wouldn’t have caused you so much pain.”

“We have had this conversation. I would have done more if you had let me. Let me ask you, how long would you have survived if you had not contacted me?”

“Honestly?”

“Always.”

“I would have been dead when you found me.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “I would go through it all over again. More if I had the chance.”

She smiled. “I owe you so much.”

“You owe me nothing.” He enjoyed kissing her soft lips. The timer went off on the burgers. He released her. She flipped the burgers adding a little garlic to the cooked side and added the fries to the oil. “We were in love were we not?”

“Yes we were.”

“Why do I feel so empty? I have this feeling of longing but I do not know what I

am longing for.”

“That feeling is common. Humans feel it all the time. Some never fill that void. Some just ignore it and hope it goes away. Others search their entire lives to find the answer.”

“Do they?”

“Some do, some don’t.”

“I am so happy to see you; to be with you again.” He caressed her face. “Yet I feel like something is missing. I keep seeing Dr. Soong compressing my memories. I keep seeing you leave me. I do not know how to feel.”

“It will come to you. We will work these feelings out. I promise.” She kissed him. The timer on the grill went off. “Dinner.” She smiled. Her stomach growled at the smell of fresh cooked burgers.

Data laughed. They built their burgers. “If I remember you like lots of salt?”

“Yes I do.” She took a bite of a fry. “You know what we need for dessert?”

“Watermelon,” they said in unison, laughing.

“It is going to take some time getting used to someone being able to read my thoughts. I didn’t think anyone could do it.”

“Remember what I said?”

“You are as different a creature as l am.”

“Correct.”

They had a quiet dinner by the door. There was a small door where they changed clothing into swimwear.

Sher ran from the door jumping into the pool. “That was fun.”

Data did the same, sinking immediately to the bottom. He popped up gargling water. “I have never been able to swim. I sink.”

“I remember.” She giggled

They played and had a wonderful time. 

“This is nice.” He smiled.

“I like it as well. We need to do more of this.” He was sitting on a ledge. The water lapped at his chin. She swam over to him. They kissed. He could feel energy flowing from her. This feeling was familiar and addictive. “Let me give you a piece of advice. Westerfield isn’t stupid. He lets on like he is but that is farthest from the truth. It’s true that he spends 70% of his time drunk. If he wanted too, he could talk a Ferengi out of his purse.”

“Why does he hate me? I had never met him up until this mission.”

“He is jealous of the position you’re in right now.”

“The position I am in right now?” Data questioned. He thought about it for a long time. “He out ranks me. He is not interested in my job. He does not seem to enjoy space travel.” He looked at Sher, “you? He is jealous of the relationship we have?”

“Extremely. Charles has been after me for years. I have never been interested in him. Never will. If you really want to piss him off sometime, when he is pretending not to know what you’re talking about. Explain whatever it is in terms of alcohol proofs.

“Interesting.”

“I did that to him one time, he stayed bent out of shape for weeks.”

“He cannot do anything to you. He can recommend me for a court marshal.”

“Are you so sure about that?” Data didn’t know how to respond to her question. They climbed out of the pool. “Don’t let me forget to turn the heat off.”

“I will.” They lay in a lounge chair. Data held her tight as she went to sleep.