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

Let’s grill

Data walked into his quarters rubbing his head. He let out a long sigh. Sher ran across the room and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. “Hard day at the office?”

They kissed. “Not really. It is tedious trying to explain something only to explain it over his head.”

“Westerfield never was one for details.”

“That is very correct. You must feel better.”

“Yes, I do.” She hopped down. “I am starved.” She was wearing a pair of boxer shorts with strawberries on them and a white tee shirt.

“Where did you get those shorts?”

“The replicator.”

He smiled, “What do you want to eat?”

“I want a big juicy cheeseburger, with all the trimmings, and crinkly French fries.”

“You do not want much do you?” He said playfully. 

“I never want much. I just want it all. Come.” She extended her hand toward him. 

“Your hair has grown so much.” It was now down to her shoulders. That long red hair that he was accustomed to was growing back. He ran his fingers through it, inhaling deeply. The smell of her hair flooded his mind with memories. 

“It is the smallest of things that release the most powerful of memories.” She commented as he pulled her to him. 

He couldn’t get his fill of those soft lips. “What is it about you?”

“Hmm,” she moaned. “Everything. Come,” she said playfully, “I am starved.” They went to the Jormungand. “Did you find this room when you and Geordi were mapping?”

“No.” It was a large room. There was a round pool in the center. The edge of the pool had a concrete path around it. Half of the flooring was wood decking and the other half was grass. On the grass were three lounge chairs on each side of the pool. In the corners of the room, were palm trees. The walls where lined with flowers. She pushed a button, from behind the wall came a grill. “You have everything here.”

“Yes, I do.” She winked, opening a cabinet. Everything she needed to make hamburgers was there. She pulled out ground beef, cheese, an onion, a tomato, a head of lettuce, pickles, mustard, mayonnaise, hamburger buns, ketchup, a clove of garlic, salt, pepper, and the most important ingredient, crinkly French fries. She turned the grill on; Data took his jacket off as they started cooking.

“I find this amazing, you will create your clothing from a replicator but not your food.”

“Food is meant to be enjoyed. You can’t enjoy something from a replicator. It’s like eating MRE’s.”

“Those are military food packs.”

“Yelp.”

His communicator beeped. “Yes.” It was Picard just checking up on him.

“Ask him over for dinner.” Data did.

After he was finished talking to Picard, he asked Sher, “What is the garlic for?”

“Watch and learn,” she said playfully and winked. The grill was set up with a container of oil in one corner.

“I have never seen a grill made this way.”

“You will see many strange things with me around.” She put the hamburger patties on the grill, peeled the garlic, crushed it, and then sprinkled a small amount on each hamburger patty. “Not too much.”

“I remember the first time I cooked. I had your kitchen a mess. You never got upset. We laughed, playing in a cloud of flour. We never did get to eat breakfast.”

“That was so much fun. I had the hardest time getting the flour off of you. It wanted to stick like glue to your skin.” She covered the burgers, setting the timer.