konstantya (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
konstantya) wrote2012-10-11 01:44 pm
konstantya) wrote2012-10-11 01:44 pm
Entry tags:
[fic] Star Trek (TNG) - "Façades: A Mirror Universe Story" (Chapter 9)
Title: Façades: A Mirror Universe Story (Chapter 9)
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Genre: AU, drama, adventure.
Characters/pairings: Mirror!Data/Mirror!Tasha.
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 3,160
Summary: In this universe, the Terran Empire didn't fall. A tale revolving around the ISS Enterprise, with Tasha Yar still alive, Data as this century's Casanova, Worf playing for the wrong side, and a one-eyed Wesley Crusher. (Rewrite of this fic, by Pseudo Posthuman.)
All other chapters can be found here.
Chapter 9
Will Riker paced back and forth with Data's security analysis in his hand. He frowned every so often and occasionally let out a disgruntled sound, but, unfortunately, knew he would have to accept the android's report as truth. Data might have been enigmatic and unreadable, but his service record to date indicated an implacable loyalty to the Empire, and his reports were well-known for their impeccable thoroughness.
Will sat down hard at Captain Picard's desk. "What course of action do you recommend now, Mr. Data?"
"All Romulan explosives on the ship must be removed to Imperial tactical outposts. We may also benefit from an investigation of the previous outpost, as our visit there coincided with the sensor malfunction."
Will stroked his beard. "…And?" he prompted.
Data hesitated. "With all due respect, sir, we should not eliminate the suspect."
Will's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward on the desk. "Why? Don't tell me you have some sort of emotional attachment, Mr. Data."
"No, sir. I am not capable of such emotional responses. I respond only to the call of duty and serve only the Empire," Data stated matter-of-factly. "However, in this case, it would not be wise to eliminate the suspect."
"Elaborate."
"With the captain incapacitated, it will be your duty to ensure the right person is punished. I would not like to see the wrong person removed from the ship, thus leaving the true culprit free to strike again. Such an error would not only put our positions at risk, but our lives as well."
Will made an impatient gesture with his hand. "So…?"
"I would like more time with the report, sir. Our sensor malfunction may have caused inaccurate results—or else the culprit could have altered the sensor readings. As you know, it is not unheard of for cover-ups to occur."
Will mused a little at that. "Well." He tossed the report to Data, who caught it effortlessly with his lightning reflexes. "Finish it. 2200, tomorrow."
"Perhaps, sir, I could have an extra twenty-four hours? As you know, I was due off duty two—"
Will stood up abruptly. "Mr. Data, do it!"
Unaffected, Data nodded and turned to leave. Before he reached the door, however, he stopped and turned back. Will was reseated, concentrating on the computer console. "Sir, if I might ask—why did you choose me to investigate the incident, and not Lieutenant Yar?"
Will looked up. "Well, from your report, it's a damn good thing I did."
Data nodded, even though he was still confused. Will couldn't have known Tasha was meant to be the suspect, and as Chief of Security, investigations usually fell under her jurisdiction.
"And Mr. Data," the commander added, before he walked out, "I'll be interrogating Lieutenant Yar. She won't die, but she'll likely want to."
Data, with his back to Will, allowed himself the tiniest of smirks.
---
Sin had been waiting in Data's quarters for so long that he eventually slipped into a doze and started day-dreaming in his half-conscious state. Spike, Data's dog, had provided some entertainment, but the boy had given up trying to play with the creature after not too long; it was used to playing rough, and Sin didn't really fancy getting his arms and face scratched up.
After what must have been a few hours, he heard the door to the cabin open, and recognized the perfect footsteps of the android. Data walked around his small sofa, to where the boy was sitting on the floor, and frowned at him.
"Why do you have your face covered with a towel?" he asked. Sin gave no reply, as usual. "Take it off," Data ordered. Again, no response, and so Data reached down and pulled it from the boy's face. His disheveled blond hair obscured his eyes, but Data could make out enough of his face, and he frowned in confusion.
"Where is the damage?" Data asked. He pushed back Sin's hair to get a better view and cocked his head in curiosity. "Even your ear is healing…" He knew some species were fast healers, but this was well beyond anything he had ever encountered. The tip of the boy's ear was slowly growing back, and no bruises at all remained on his face. Nor were there any signs of phaser burns on his hands or neck, when just days ago, he had been a wreck, a showcase of Imperial torture.
Data considered the circumstances, and spoke again. "Sin, you need to speak to me. I need to find a use for you within the Empire. We need to prove to the captain that you are useful, or else you will be destroyed. I would like to send you to Dr. Crusher so that she may perform a physical and compile a report on you, but I would prefer to do it with your consent. You must openly approach Captain Picard, expressing your interest in serving the Empire, or you will be put to death."
The boy moved his hair back into his eyes and said nothing.
Data knelt down, grabbed him by the shoulders, and turned him around, willing the boy to pay attention. "Listen to me. You are condemning yourself. I regret that service to the Terran Empire is your only option, but you will die otherwise. Will you go to Dr. Crusher? Please?"
The boy stared at Data absently. There was something in those blue eyes of his that Data could never pinpoint. Not an emotion, exactly…more like a story. A story and a blur of life that was too difficult for even the android to understand. Finally, the boy nodded a 'yes' to Data's question.
Data straightened. "Thank you. I must complete a report for Commander Riker now. I will replicate a book for you—though I must apologize in advance for the state of Terran literature."
He left the boy alone and patted his dog on the head before it removed itself to the other room. Data glanced back at Sin and caught his eyes again; the boy stared at Data without fear or mistrust—almost like he was looking at a brother.
"My name is 'Sinba,' " the boy told him. "Not 'Sin.' "
The smallest of smiles touched Data's mouth. "As I had hoped. You do not fit such a name. I prefer 'Sinba.' "
---
Tasha held her head high and kept a certain amount of composure about her in the face of Commander Riker. He paced slowly, looking over a PADD and scratching the radiation scars on his eyebrow. He glanced at her every so often, just to make her uncomfortable.
"…What do you have to say for yourself?" he finally asked.
"Nothing, sir. These allegations are completely unfounded."
Will narrowed his eyes and came to stand in front of her. He towered above Tasha like a monster, flexing his chest like an ape. "You have access to all weapons on the Enterprise. You have access to the sensors, the logs, the security details… Who else has the knowledge to allow such a security breach?"
"Why would I try to kill the captain, Commander? It's not as if I'm next in line for the position." To say nothing of how the very social structure of the Empire made female captains virtually nonexistent; there had been more than a few throughout history, of course—but they had only risen to such positions by being even more ruthless than their male counterparts. Self-titled Empress Sato sprang to mind—and even she hadn't long-enjoyed her power before being summarily hunted down and executed. Tasha was smart enough to keep her ambition in check.
Will growled. "I didn't ask you that! I asked you to name who else had the expertise to get around the Enterprise's security!"
"A number of officers," she said. Including Will, himself, she thought—who was next in line for the position. "But it wasn't me. I was speaking with Lieutenant Astor during the attack. Surely the report—"
Now he was right in her face and clutching at the collar of her uniform. She leaned her head back slightly, but held her fear in check—she wasn't going to let him walk all over her. Riker was nothing short of an animal, but Tasha had had her fair share of dealing with Imperial animals over the years.
"Our captain is in sickbay, fighting for his life, and I have to put up with a stupid little girl as my security officer! You think I'm gonna let this drop? You think you're getting off the hook? I knew we should have killed you and that filthy bucket of bolts as soon as you got back. You're worthless, Yar, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you get away with this."
Tasha managed a smirk. "See some of yourself in me, Commander?"
He back-handed her. She staggered, but kept her feet, and reflexively raised a hand to her face. Her lip was bleeding, and left a crimson smear across the back of her hand. "Why don't you try that again, and this time aim somewhere it'll hurt?"
Will bounded forward. "Get out of here before I kill you!" He shouted so loudly, the entire bridge heard him. Tasha left, with her pride intact and her head held high, smirking at any of the bridge crew that dared to stare.
She made no stops and went straight to her quarters to clean up. Only then, when she spotted the reflection of her bloody lip, did she feel the full force of Will's allegations. A wave of anger rode over her, directed at whatever asshole had written the report, and a sea of worry was left in its wake. With a heavy sigh, she gripped the wash basin and stared at the floor.
"Shit, Tash… Shit, shit, shit…"
She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes, swearing under her breath. How was she going to get out of this one? She hadn't done a thing wrong, but the Empire wasn't interested in right or wrong—just a scapegoat. Find someone to blame, sentence them, and be done with it. Out of all the frame jobs she'd heard of, not a single person accused had survived…and that sent a wave of dread to her stomach, to the point where she almost felt physically sick.
The door chimed. Automatically, she shouted for them to enter, and turned around to see the figure of Lieutenant Commander Data standing in her living area and looking around for her. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
"You!" she screamed, bounding out of the washroom and managing to startle him. "You've got some fucking nerve! You set me up and then you come to rub it in my face! You fucking piece of shit!" She picked up the first thing she could find and launched it at the android's head. As usual, he dodged it with his expert reflexes, but found himself having to back away to avoid the sudden onslaught of hurled items.
"Tasha, st—"
A vase cracked above his head. He frowned. "Do not force me to—"
She picked up a sculpture. A heavy sculpture.
He rushed her and grabbed her wrists before she could pick up a chair. Despite her protests and attempts to fight him off, he forced her to the nearest wall with a crash, pinning her arms and legs.
"You sound upset, Tasha," he said. Quite the understatement, that; she was practically frothing at the mouth.
"You set me up! You set me up because you're such an insecure little prick! You can't stand it, can you? Can't stand people having enough dignity to not sleep with you!"
"This is not about me," he tried to say, but she wasn't having any of it.
"You set me up!"
"I was merely reporting my initial findings!" he said, loud enough to cut through her tirade. She was still struggling, but at least wasn't screaming at him anymore, and he continued. "I came here to report new findings to you, Tasha. I knew you would be upset about the accusations. Further investigations have revealed some…interesting facts."
She froze.
"But after that display," he went on, "perhaps I will destroy the new report."
She relaxed a little, but he didn't release her. "You've got something to show I'm innocent, haven't you?" she asked, voice hushed.
Data feigned thought. "The information is still inconclu—"
"Tell me!" She bucked and tried to shove him off of her, but he just pressed harder.
"I may have some information that would be useful," he admitted. "However, your reaction concerns me. Perhaps my assignment on the Enterprise will be better without you as a threat. Perhaps the ship will benefit from your departure. It is about the bigger picture, after all…"
She couldn't back away any more, but decided to try to stay as calm as she could and not give him the pleasure of seeing her afraid. He stared at her intently, long enough for her to make out the various shades of gold in his eyes. And then he dropped his gaze to her mouth, bringing his lips a little bit closer.
"…But I could easily be convinced otherwise," he added.
She could feel his breath and even smell the faint scent of alcohol. Not that he was drunk; he just didn't need to clean his mouth the way an organic person did, and so any drink he chose to consume would stay on his tongue for a few days. She turned her head to the side—the only form of escape she had left.
"So you're blackmailing me."
Data shook his head. "I do not want—"
"I know what you want," she said, whipping her head back around. "You're asking me to sell myself for that information, aren't you? Do you know how low that is?"
"On my part or yours?"
She gritted her teeth. "Jesus, Data! I expect this from Riker! I expect this from the fucking gangs in the Betelgeuse system! You're supposed to have a little bit of class about you, but you're just as bad as the others!"
He took his hand from her wrist and slammed it into the wall. The nearby holo-frames crashed to the floor and the shelves shook. He leaned down, so close that their noses almost touched, and hissed in her face. "At least you thought highly of me at some point. Believe what you will, but my intentions, however, are good. I do not want you in that way. Why would I?" he demanded. She tried to turn her head away again, but he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "The act is relatively pointless to me unless I feel—yes, feel—like participating in sexual intercourse." He closed his eyes and sighed a little, letting his forehead rest against hers. The stress of his words and his shifting moods made Tasha nervous. This was nothing like his normal behavior and more like a malfunction—a madness program constantly in the back of his circuits, ready to flick on at any moment.
She couldn't control her breathing any longer, and finally let out a long, shaky breath. He looked at her intently, and she wondered for a moment if he might kill her—but she couldn't see it in him. He had never killed a crewmate in cold blood. By order, yes—but never for his own gain or for the thrill. He wouldn't kill her…but he would certainly leave her to die. His kind nature only appeared once in a blue moon.
"So what do you want?" she breathed shakily.
He let her chin go, then, and backed up a little so she could breathe better. He still kept her caged against the wall, though, and touched a finger to her hair. "You misinterpret my actions at every turn, Tasha," he whispered. "I told you I would never hurt you. I am not a murderer like William Riker, nor am I a mindless robot meant for war. I want you to come for a drink with me. I want you to be seen with me. I want you to want to spend time with me."
"Why me? Why not some naïve ensign?" she snapped.
"Why not you, Tasha?" he countered.
She didn't reply and instead turned her head away with another shaky sigh. She didn't like this one bit; another officer doing this would have been bad enough, but having the smartest and strongest man in the fleet on your back? Even worse.
"Tell me, Tasha," he prompted. "Why not you? Is there any reason I should pursue another?"
The fear and anxiety were finally starting to get to her, and she raised pleading eyes to his and whispered, "Why this way, Data?"
He traced a finger down her cheek, and she managed to not flinch. "I do not know another way. I will never hurt you, Tasha—"
"But you'll blackmail me and treat me like an object the way any other man would? Expect me to be waiting ready for you in bed after every shift? Throw me away once you get bored?"
Data shook his head. "I do not know another way." He looked her straight in the eye. "Nor do you. Nor does anybody on this ship. Women are not treated equally in the Terran Empire. You are a second-class citizen compared to a man." Tasha felt she should have been insulted at that, but the truth was the truth. "I am…an alternative. I do not have it in my nature to become a slave to desire. Consider me a child, Tasha; I have learnt from the Empire and know no other way of life. I was once a second-class citizen, myself—I was the butt of attacks at the training camps. The only way I am here now is by making this"—he stroked her cheek again—"my nature. What did you expect? A box of chocolates and roses? That does not happen in the Empire. Only in horror stories."
He may be a cracked-up bastard, but he's the best of the worst. C'mon, Tash, you'll find a way out of this, she prayed in her head. She let out another sigh.
He tilted his head a little, and she knew what he wanted. She tried to relax and moved to kiss him, but he turned his head, and she only brushed her lips against his cheek. He kissed her on the temple instead, softly. He was so often like that—gentle and kind. Almost like it was some façade for the madness inside of him. He lingered there for a moment, closing his eyes and sighing into her ear.
"Tomorrow. Ten Forward, 2230. You may be pleasantly surprised."
And in a flash he was gone through the doors, leaving Tasha with her back to the wall, looking up at the ceiling in dismay.
-----
A/N: Welp, that's the end of the rewrite! Sorry it's unfinished! ^^' In any event, I had a lot of fun with this, and hopefully you had a lot of fun reading it!
All other fics can be found here.
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Genre: AU, drama, adventure.
Characters/pairings: Mirror!Data/Mirror!Tasha.
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 3,160
Summary: In this universe, the Terran Empire didn't fall. A tale revolving around the ISS Enterprise, with Tasha Yar still alive, Data as this century's Casanova, Worf playing for the wrong side, and a one-eyed Wesley Crusher. (Rewrite of this fic, by Pseudo Posthuman.)
All other chapters can be found here.
- Façades: A Mirror Universe Story -
originally by Pseudo Posthuman
originally by Pseudo Posthuman
Chapter 9
Will Riker paced back and forth with Data's security analysis in his hand. He frowned every so often and occasionally let out a disgruntled sound, but, unfortunately, knew he would have to accept the android's report as truth. Data might have been enigmatic and unreadable, but his service record to date indicated an implacable loyalty to the Empire, and his reports were well-known for their impeccable thoroughness.
Will sat down hard at Captain Picard's desk. "What course of action do you recommend now, Mr. Data?"
"All Romulan explosives on the ship must be removed to Imperial tactical outposts. We may also benefit from an investigation of the previous outpost, as our visit there coincided with the sensor malfunction."
Will stroked his beard. "…And?" he prompted.
Data hesitated. "With all due respect, sir, we should not eliminate the suspect."
Will's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward on the desk. "Why? Don't tell me you have some sort of emotional attachment, Mr. Data."
"No, sir. I am not capable of such emotional responses. I respond only to the call of duty and serve only the Empire," Data stated matter-of-factly. "However, in this case, it would not be wise to eliminate the suspect."
"Elaborate."
"With the captain incapacitated, it will be your duty to ensure the right person is punished. I would not like to see the wrong person removed from the ship, thus leaving the true culprit free to strike again. Such an error would not only put our positions at risk, but our lives as well."
Will made an impatient gesture with his hand. "So…?"
"I would like more time with the report, sir. Our sensor malfunction may have caused inaccurate results—or else the culprit could have altered the sensor readings. As you know, it is not unheard of for cover-ups to occur."
Will mused a little at that. "Well." He tossed the report to Data, who caught it effortlessly with his lightning reflexes. "Finish it. 2200, tomorrow."
"Perhaps, sir, I could have an extra twenty-four hours? As you know, I was due off duty two—"
Will stood up abruptly. "Mr. Data, do it!"
Unaffected, Data nodded and turned to leave. Before he reached the door, however, he stopped and turned back. Will was reseated, concentrating on the computer console. "Sir, if I might ask—why did you choose me to investigate the incident, and not Lieutenant Yar?"
Will looked up. "Well, from your report, it's a damn good thing I did."
Data nodded, even though he was still confused. Will couldn't have known Tasha was meant to be the suspect, and as Chief of Security, investigations usually fell under her jurisdiction.
"And Mr. Data," the commander added, before he walked out, "I'll be interrogating Lieutenant Yar. She won't die, but she'll likely want to."
Data, with his back to Will, allowed himself the tiniest of smirks.
Sin had been waiting in Data's quarters for so long that he eventually slipped into a doze and started day-dreaming in his half-conscious state. Spike, Data's dog, had provided some entertainment, but the boy had given up trying to play with the creature after not too long; it was used to playing rough, and Sin didn't really fancy getting his arms and face scratched up.
After what must have been a few hours, he heard the door to the cabin open, and recognized the perfect footsteps of the android. Data walked around his small sofa, to where the boy was sitting on the floor, and frowned at him.
"Why do you have your face covered with a towel?" he asked. Sin gave no reply, as usual. "Take it off," Data ordered. Again, no response, and so Data reached down and pulled it from the boy's face. His disheveled blond hair obscured his eyes, but Data could make out enough of his face, and he frowned in confusion.
"Where is the damage?" Data asked. He pushed back Sin's hair to get a better view and cocked his head in curiosity. "Even your ear is healing…" He knew some species were fast healers, but this was well beyond anything he had ever encountered. The tip of the boy's ear was slowly growing back, and no bruises at all remained on his face. Nor were there any signs of phaser burns on his hands or neck, when just days ago, he had been a wreck, a showcase of Imperial torture.
Data considered the circumstances, and spoke again. "Sin, you need to speak to me. I need to find a use for you within the Empire. We need to prove to the captain that you are useful, or else you will be destroyed. I would like to send you to Dr. Crusher so that she may perform a physical and compile a report on you, but I would prefer to do it with your consent. You must openly approach Captain Picard, expressing your interest in serving the Empire, or you will be put to death."
The boy moved his hair back into his eyes and said nothing.
Data knelt down, grabbed him by the shoulders, and turned him around, willing the boy to pay attention. "Listen to me. You are condemning yourself. I regret that service to the Terran Empire is your only option, but you will die otherwise. Will you go to Dr. Crusher? Please?"
The boy stared at Data absently. There was something in those blue eyes of his that Data could never pinpoint. Not an emotion, exactly…more like a story. A story and a blur of life that was too difficult for even the android to understand. Finally, the boy nodded a 'yes' to Data's question.
Data straightened. "Thank you. I must complete a report for Commander Riker now. I will replicate a book for you—though I must apologize in advance for the state of Terran literature."
He left the boy alone and patted his dog on the head before it removed itself to the other room. Data glanced back at Sin and caught his eyes again; the boy stared at Data without fear or mistrust—almost like he was looking at a brother.
"My name is 'Sinba,' " the boy told him. "Not 'Sin.' "
The smallest of smiles touched Data's mouth. "As I had hoped. You do not fit such a name. I prefer 'Sinba.' "
Tasha held her head high and kept a certain amount of composure about her in the face of Commander Riker. He paced slowly, looking over a PADD and scratching the radiation scars on his eyebrow. He glanced at her every so often, just to make her uncomfortable.
"…What do you have to say for yourself?" he finally asked.
"Nothing, sir. These allegations are completely unfounded."
Will narrowed his eyes and came to stand in front of her. He towered above Tasha like a monster, flexing his chest like an ape. "You have access to all weapons on the Enterprise. You have access to the sensors, the logs, the security details… Who else has the knowledge to allow such a security breach?"
"Why would I try to kill the captain, Commander? It's not as if I'm next in line for the position." To say nothing of how the very social structure of the Empire made female captains virtually nonexistent; there had been more than a few throughout history, of course—but they had only risen to such positions by being even more ruthless than their male counterparts. Self-titled Empress Sato sprang to mind—and even she hadn't long-enjoyed her power before being summarily hunted down and executed. Tasha was smart enough to keep her ambition in check.
Will growled. "I didn't ask you that! I asked you to name who else had the expertise to get around the Enterprise's security!"
"A number of officers," she said. Including Will, himself, she thought—who was next in line for the position. "But it wasn't me. I was speaking with Lieutenant Astor during the attack. Surely the report—"
Now he was right in her face and clutching at the collar of her uniform. She leaned her head back slightly, but held her fear in check—she wasn't going to let him walk all over her. Riker was nothing short of an animal, but Tasha had had her fair share of dealing with Imperial animals over the years.
"Our captain is in sickbay, fighting for his life, and I have to put up with a stupid little girl as my security officer! You think I'm gonna let this drop? You think you're getting off the hook? I knew we should have killed you and that filthy bucket of bolts as soon as you got back. You're worthless, Yar, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you get away with this."
Tasha managed a smirk. "See some of yourself in me, Commander?"
He back-handed her. She staggered, but kept her feet, and reflexively raised a hand to her face. Her lip was bleeding, and left a crimson smear across the back of her hand. "Why don't you try that again, and this time aim somewhere it'll hurt?"
Will bounded forward. "Get out of here before I kill you!" He shouted so loudly, the entire bridge heard him. Tasha left, with her pride intact and her head held high, smirking at any of the bridge crew that dared to stare.
She made no stops and went straight to her quarters to clean up. Only then, when she spotted the reflection of her bloody lip, did she feel the full force of Will's allegations. A wave of anger rode over her, directed at whatever asshole had written the report, and a sea of worry was left in its wake. With a heavy sigh, she gripped the wash basin and stared at the floor.
"Shit, Tash… Shit, shit, shit…"
She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes, swearing under her breath. How was she going to get out of this one? She hadn't done a thing wrong, but the Empire wasn't interested in right or wrong—just a scapegoat. Find someone to blame, sentence them, and be done with it. Out of all the frame jobs she'd heard of, not a single person accused had survived…and that sent a wave of dread to her stomach, to the point where she almost felt physically sick.
The door chimed. Automatically, she shouted for them to enter, and turned around to see the figure of Lieutenant Commander Data standing in her living area and looking around for her. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
"You!" she screamed, bounding out of the washroom and managing to startle him. "You've got some fucking nerve! You set me up and then you come to rub it in my face! You fucking piece of shit!" She picked up the first thing she could find and launched it at the android's head. As usual, he dodged it with his expert reflexes, but found himself having to back away to avoid the sudden onslaught of hurled items.
"Tasha, st—"
A vase cracked above his head. He frowned. "Do not force me to—"
She picked up a sculpture. A heavy sculpture.
He rushed her and grabbed her wrists before she could pick up a chair. Despite her protests and attempts to fight him off, he forced her to the nearest wall with a crash, pinning her arms and legs.
"You sound upset, Tasha," he said. Quite the understatement, that; she was practically frothing at the mouth.
"You set me up! You set me up because you're such an insecure little prick! You can't stand it, can you? Can't stand people having enough dignity to not sleep with you!"
"This is not about me," he tried to say, but she wasn't having any of it.
"You set me up!"
"I was merely reporting my initial findings!" he said, loud enough to cut through her tirade. She was still struggling, but at least wasn't screaming at him anymore, and he continued. "I came here to report new findings to you, Tasha. I knew you would be upset about the accusations. Further investigations have revealed some…interesting facts."
She froze.
"But after that display," he went on, "perhaps I will destroy the new report."
She relaxed a little, but he didn't release her. "You've got something to show I'm innocent, haven't you?" she asked, voice hushed.
Data feigned thought. "The information is still inconclu—"
"Tell me!" She bucked and tried to shove him off of her, but he just pressed harder.
"I may have some information that would be useful," he admitted. "However, your reaction concerns me. Perhaps my assignment on the Enterprise will be better without you as a threat. Perhaps the ship will benefit from your departure. It is about the bigger picture, after all…"
She couldn't back away any more, but decided to try to stay as calm as she could and not give him the pleasure of seeing her afraid. He stared at her intently, long enough for her to make out the various shades of gold in his eyes. And then he dropped his gaze to her mouth, bringing his lips a little bit closer.
"…But I could easily be convinced otherwise," he added.
She could feel his breath and even smell the faint scent of alcohol. Not that he was drunk; he just didn't need to clean his mouth the way an organic person did, and so any drink he chose to consume would stay on his tongue for a few days. She turned her head to the side—the only form of escape she had left.
"So you're blackmailing me."
Data shook his head. "I do not want—"
"I know what you want," she said, whipping her head back around. "You're asking me to sell myself for that information, aren't you? Do you know how low that is?"
"On my part or yours?"
She gritted her teeth. "Jesus, Data! I expect this from Riker! I expect this from the fucking gangs in the Betelgeuse system! You're supposed to have a little bit of class about you, but you're just as bad as the others!"
He took his hand from her wrist and slammed it into the wall. The nearby holo-frames crashed to the floor and the shelves shook. He leaned down, so close that their noses almost touched, and hissed in her face. "At least you thought highly of me at some point. Believe what you will, but my intentions, however, are good. I do not want you in that way. Why would I?" he demanded. She tried to turn her head away again, but he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "The act is relatively pointless to me unless I feel—yes, feel—like participating in sexual intercourse." He closed his eyes and sighed a little, letting his forehead rest against hers. The stress of his words and his shifting moods made Tasha nervous. This was nothing like his normal behavior and more like a malfunction—a madness program constantly in the back of his circuits, ready to flick on at any moment.
She couldn't control her breathing any longer, and finally let out a long, shaky breath. He looked at her intently, and she wondered for a moment if he might kill her—but she couldn't see it in him. He had never killed a crewmate in cold blood. By order, yes—but never for his own gain or for the thrill. He wouldn't kill her…but he would certainly leave her to die. His kind nature only appeared once in a blue moon.
"So what do you want?" she breathed shakily.
He let her chin go, then, and backed up a little so she could breathe better. He still kept her caged against the wall, though, and touched a finger to her hair. "You misinterpret my actions at every turn, Tasha," he whispered. "I told you I would never hurt you. I am not a murderer like William Riker, nor am I a mindless robot meant for war. I want you to come for a drink with me. I want you to be seen with me. I want you to want to spend time with me."
"Why me? Why not some naïve ensign?" she snapped.
"Why not you, Tasha?" he countered.
She didn't reply and instead turned her head away with another shaky sigh. She didn't like this one bit; another officer doing this would have been bad enough, but having the smartest and strongest man in the fleet on your back? Even worse.
"Tell me, Tasha," he prompted. "Why not you? Is there any reason I should pursue another?"
The fear and anxiety were finally starting to get to her, and she raised pleading eyes to his and whispered, "Why this way, Data?"
He traced a finger down her cheek, and she managed to not flinch. "I do not know another way. I will never hurt you, Tasha—"
"But you'll blackmail me and treat me like an object the way any other man would? Expect me to be waiting ready for you in bed after every shift? Throw me away once you get bored?"
Data shook his head. "I do not know another way." He looked her straight in the eye. "Nor do you. Nor does anybody on this ship. Women are not treated equally in the Terran Empire. You are a second-class citizen compared to a man." Tasha felt she should have been insulted at that, but the truth was the truth. "I am…an alternative. I do not have it in my nature to become a slave to desire. Consider me a child, Tasha; I have learnt from the Empire and know no other way of life. I was once a second-class citizen, myself—I was the butt of attacks at the training camps. The only way I am here now is by making this"—he stroked her cheek again—"my nature. What did you expect? A box of chocolates and roses? That does not happen in the Empire. Only in horror stories."
He may be a cracked-up bastard, but he's the best of the worst. C'mon, Tash, you'll find a way out of this, she prayed in her head. She let out another sigh.
He tilted his head a little, and she knew what he wanted. She tried to relax and moved to kiss him, but he turned his head, and she only brushed her lips against his cheek. He kissed her on the temple instead, softly. He was so often like that—gentle and kind. Almost like it was some façade for the madness inside of him. He lingered there for a moment, closing his eyes and sighing into her ear.
"Tomorrow. Ten Forward, 2230. You may be pleasantly surprised."
And in a flash he was gone through the doors, leaving Tasha with her back to the wall, looking up at the ceiling in dismay.
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A/N: Welp, that's the end of the rewrite! Sorry it's unfinished! ^^' In any event, I had a lot of fun with this, and hopefully you had a lot of fun reading it!
All other fics can be found here.