Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation.
Continuum
Picard walked onto the bridge. He looked around, “where is Data?”
“I have no idea sir.” Wil answered.
“Sir, something very strange is going on. There is an overabundance of tension and despair here.” Deanna reported.
Westerfield scoffed, “can we just get on with the mission?”
“We are on with the mission.” Picard was getting more and more annoyed at his old friend. “Computer, locate Lieutenant Commander Data.”
The feminine voice of the Enterprise answered, “Lieutenant Commander Data is in the brig.”
“Brig!” Wil snapped.
“Counselor, come with me.” He tapped his communicator. “Dr. Crusher, meet me in the brig.” Picard and Troi left the bridge.
They met Beverly in the corridor to the brig. “I have had about enough of this charade.” Picard growled. Q was watching Data. Data lay face down on the floor. He wasn’t in his standard uniform. He was dressed completely in black. “Q, what are you doing here?”
“Watching.” Came a very dry, emotionless reply. He never took his eyes off Data.
“Do you know what is going on here?”
“I have an idea?” Q stood as the door to the brig slid open.
“Westerfield?” Deanna gasped.
“You’re not welcomed here.” Q roared. He snapped his fingers and Westerfield was gone.
“Everyone seems to hate Charles,” Picard remarked.
“Hate is too nice of a word, Picard.” Q spoke.
Everyone turned their attention back to Data. “Data?” Beverly got as close to the force field as she could and knelt. He rolled his head toward her. He was sweating profusely. “Why are you locked in?”
“I am going to hurt someone. I cannot allow that to happen.”
“Hurt someone, how?”
“I do not know. It is best this way.” He drew a sharp breath, rolling his head back toward the wall. His body flipped over and began to levitate. Beverly stood up, moving backward toward Picard and Deanna. His body began to jerk. You could hear him muffle a scream. Q waved his hand making the force field sound proof.
“Why did you do that?” Deanna asked with displeasure.
“If you had 4 people standing around gawking at you, would you want them to hear you?”
“I don’t want anything to happen to him. He is a fine officer and as far as I’m concerned a great person.” Picard remarked.
“I can’t control what happens to him, Picard. Like you, I am only an observer.”
Data began to shake. You could tell by the pain riddled expression on his face that he was suffering. His body bowed in the middle.
Deanna shuttered, “oooo.”
“What?” Beverly asked.
“Cold chills.” She stared at Data, walking closer to the force field.
“Counselor,” Q hissed.
Data was shaking violently. “If he was a person, he would be dead by now wouldn’t he?” She commented more to herself than anything.
“Yes,” Q answered.
She felt a presence with Data. She held up her hand to see if she was really feeling what she thought was there. “ST…” In an instant Q was behind her holding his hand over her mouth. Data’s body became still.
“What?” The voice only Q heard was distorted almost unrecognizable.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” To the crew of the Enterprise, he was talking to air.
“Q, you know better than to lie to me. I have always been able to see right through you. Let her finish.”
Q slowly removed his hand from Deanna’s mouth, backing away. “Finish your statement.” He stared at the floor.
“I was going to say stop.”
“Why?” The voice asked. “Why!” It shrieked. He was visibly shaking. He knelt in the floor next to the force field. “I can’t do this.” He never looked up.
“Why?” Came an irritated question.
“The Continuum has forbidden it. I can’t get involved.”
“Since when have you done what the Continuum has instructed?” Q lowered his head to the floor. “Why would this distrustful Beta say stop?”
Deanna looked around at Picard and Beverly. They were just as confused as she was. Who or what was Q talking too?
Data was still floating. “Why!”
Q jumped, repeating the question. “Why?”
Deanna whispered, “You’re hurting him.”
“Hurting him? I don’t understand.”
Q, still with his head on the floor said, “Explain.”
“Data had his emotion chip installed.”
Q finally looked up. As he did, a silhouette was standing beside Data. Tears rolled down Q’s face.
“He can feel?”
Q couldn’t control the crack in his voice, “yes.”
The silhouette stroked Data’s hair. Then lowered him to the floor. The crew looked on in amazement.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?
“How would you suggest I would have done that?”
“I didn’t know my Prince. I’m so sorry.”
“Let me help you.” Q begged.
“I can’t do that.”
Q was now sobbing, “I am omnipotent. You can’t destroy me.”
“No but the Continuum can.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“No!” He shouted. “I’d rather have you.” The moment it left his lips he knew he shouldn’t have said it. “I’m sorry. Please let me help you.”
“I’ve done enough. Not like this.”
“No!” Q held out his hand. “Don’t leave. Where are you?” The silhouette was gone. He laid his head on the floor. After several minutes he stood up exposing his tear stained face to the crew, “I hope you are happy, Beta.” He vanished with a hiss.
Beverly threw herself to the floor. “Data!” She patted the floor trying to get his attention. “Data, wake up!” He rolled is head toward her. “Data turn the force field off.”
He glared at Deanna, “leave me alone.” He could barely speak.
“I can’t do that.”
“Data, may I stay?” Picard asked.
“Very well,” Data closed his eyes.
“Captain, please.” Beverly jumped up in protest.
“It’s okay. Don’t let Westerfield in here on your way out.”
“Yes, sir.” Deanna replied.
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