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Data's Journey
By : K_nz
Category: Star Trek > The Next Generation
Views: 1351 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 for full Disclaimer
Chapter List
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Q popped onto the bridge in his captain’s uniform with typical flare, “Hellooo mon Capitaine!” Everyone, including Data, turned to look. “Have you missed me? Well, I already know the answer to that – of course you have!” He stopped, his face frozen. Then his eyebrow raised, “Now what do we have here?”
Instantly Neara appeared on the bridge. She looked down at herself, then up at her surroundings and saw Q. “Awww fatat!” she swore and started yelling at Q in rapid Ahmrian while waving her hand from side to side repeatedly, as if she was waving him away. With each wave, dozens of tones played, and she varied them each time. Many of the beginning tones were within the crew’s hearing range.
“Now you know how the Q hate that singsong Ahmrian language of yours. I wasn’t planning on staying long, but how about this? I’ll add five additional minutes to the clock for each word of Ahmrian you utter.” With that, a large clock appeared behind him.
Neara muttered under her breath and five minutes was added. She silenced herself and continued her waving.
“Is that any way to treat an old friend?” Q asked, gesturing to her hand. “Trying to wave away my harmonic state? I thought we could catch up, since I haven’t been able to see you.”
He continued with interest, “So what are you doing on my captain’s ship, Weaver?… Not going to tell me? I’ll find out eventually. When I’m done here, I’ll flip through this timeline like flipping through the pages of a book,” he said with a flick of his hand, then grinned. “But it is so lovely to see you again. How are your family, the handsome Leyna and the stunning Yara?” he drawled. “You Ahmriana are such an attractive and joyful people. I have missed our times together. I don’t even hold what you did against you – that Q was a bore! But you’re so placid now – this gentle waving,” he said, indicating Neara’s hand. “You know who I miss – your Weaver predecessor. How her eyes would become blue ice and she would fling us to the opposite end of the universe. That was a rush. Why don’t you do that anymore?”
With that, Q’s image started fading in stripes.
“Ah, I see you’ve found me already. But I’ll be back. I know where you are now...” Q’s lilting voice trailed off as he faded away.
Neara cursed and shook her hand, trying to shake off the bad energy. Data came over to her, a look of curiosity and wonder on his face. He had never seen nor known Neara could do this.
“Are you alright?” he questioned.
Neara was bemused, “How did he find me?”
“I do not think he was here for you. He has been here before. He has taken a special interest in Captain Picard,” Data explained.
“He has been here before?” she asked worriedly.
“Yes,” Data answered, and Neara walked immediately to the center of the bridge facing Captain Picard in his chair.
Picard was speaking to her, but she did not hear. Neara dropped to her knees, then sat back on her ankles and took three quick breaths. She closed her eyes, took one large breath in, drew her hands together in a prayer position and lifted them together above her head. She opened her eyes, looking up at her hands, and parted them, stretching her arms to the sides, making a large circle, lowering her head until she was looking down at her hands, palms on the floor in front of her. When she looked forward, Picard saw her eyes had changed to blue ice. Although he spoke to her, she did not seem aware of his presence.
Neara repeated the circles, and with each one, the ship creaked. When she placed her palms on the floor, a large boom sounded and the ship shook. The instruments were going crazy, reports of damage from all over the ship. Data returned to his station to keep watch.
“Neara,” Picard instructed, “you need to stop this.” She continued.
He leaned forward in his chair, “Neara, please…” he appealed.
When that didn’t work, he commanded, “Na Soonga, stop this now!” Neara still did not respond or discontinue.
Worf went over to grab her, but a protective bubble shocked him. He put his phaser on stun and fired, but it did not penetrate the bubble.
Data looked over his shoulder, worried. “Please Neara, will you stop?” he asked.
“Should I try a higher setting Captain?” Worf questioned.
“No. There has to be another way. What’s she doing Data?” Picard asked.
“I do not know. I have never seen her do this before. I did not know she had this ability,” he marveled.
The red alert sounded.
“Captain,” La Forge hailed, “there’s been a warp core breach.”
“Neara you must stop this now!” Picard yelled.
Data turned and reached for her. His hand went easily through the bubble. He gently touched Neara’s shoulder and said, “Neara, you must stop. We have a warp core breach. If you do not stop, we will all die.”
Neara interrupted her circles, placed her left hand in front of her, palm facing her. She used her right hand to draw a line with her fingers across the palm of her other hand. Then she continued on with her circles. Data removed his hand.
The red alert ceased. “The breach somehow repaired itself Captain,” La Forge informed in bafflement.
Neara continued her circles to a final boom, and then bent down and let out a long breath above her hands. When she did this, the air seemed to shimmer with a sensation like a vacuum popping. She sat up and slid off her ankles, sitting one side on the floor, her arms propping up her torso like an easel.
She was breathing heavily. Data came and crouched down beside her.
“Do you need Dr Crusher?” he asked.
“No ka’lee, I am fine. I am only tired. I will be OK,” Neara assured.
“What was that? What did you just do?” Picard questioned sharply.
“I have created a temporary shield against the Q,” she answered breathlessly. “They are dangerous,” she paused, looked at Data and spoke to him in Ahmrian.
He responded, “Mercurial.”
She looked back to Picard, “They are mercurial. Very dangerous for you. You must go to Ahmria so we can place a permanent barrier around your ship. That way, they will not be able to see or find you.”
“Ensign, lay in a course for Ahmria. Na Soonga, I would like to see you and the senior staff in the conference room where you can explain to us how this protection works, what your people will be doing, and what exactly we just witnessed,” Picard commanded.
“Perhaps she should go and rest Captain,” Data suggested.
“No, he is right La’Ma – you deserve an explanation,” Neara concurred and attempted to get up. Data helped her stand.
The staff made their way to the conference room, Neara and Data lagging behind, Neara walking slowly.
She sat down heavily and looked around the table at Data’s family – Jean-Luc, Will, Deanna, Beverly, Worf, and Geordi. It was time to let Data know – it was time to let them all know.
“What I am about to tell you is only for the people around this table. You are Data’s family, and I know he trusts you and would give his life for you, so I will put the same trust in you. I have not even spoken of this with Data,” she looked at him, “it was for your own protection ka’lee,” she looked back at the group, “for all of your protection.
“Perhaps I should start at the beginning,” Neara paused and took a deep breath. “The Ahmriana are an ancient people. We remember the first beings – the Doud, the Q, the El-Aurians – we have been there through them all. We remember when humans were created.” The crew looked at each other. “Yes, you were created by an alien species who spliced their DNA with the indigenous beings on the planet. That is why you have a gap in your evolutionary timeline and cannot find physical evidence of your development to this stage. The aliens used you as slaves to mine gold and abandoned you when you were no longer needed. They were feudal and killed themselves off in a great war with another species. That is most likely why you feel the aggressive tendencies they engendered in you. That is also why you have your ‘junk’ DNA. They turned off their higher abilities, deactivated that DNA, so that you would not be as capable – so they could more easily control you.
“But that is just some of your history. As for my history, on Ahmria, I am called a Weaver. In the aeons we have existed, there have only been twenty-six Weavers. I am the twenty-sixth. As you are aware, Ahmriana can manipulate the universal harmonic. You especially, Beverly, are aware of their ability to heal and protect. You are also aware of their vocal range and that they can sing many, but not all, notes at once. This is why, for larger projects, many Ahmriana must come together to weave a specific harmonic. As you know, my range far exceeds theirs and I can sing all of the notes at once, so I can weave this same harmonic on my own. I am also able to think of the notes, without singing them, and vibrate them to weave a harmonic. The other Ahmriana can do this, but it requires many of them thinking on one note, but this allows them to manipulate the harmonic outside of their vocal range. Although it is much easier, and more powerful, if we are able to sing the harmonic. The hand gestures we use help to direct it, like putting it on a loom.
“As you also know, the Ahmriana credo is to improve the universal harmonic. When a Weaver is born, Ahmriana believe there is a reason for it. In that time, there will be a situation or circumstance in the universe that will need assistance only a Weaver can give.
“So I searched the universe with my psi wave for this, and I found the El-Aurians. As you are aware, their planet had been attacked by the Borg, and thousands of their people assimilated on a single Borg vessel. This was the vessel that Hugh returned to and due to his disruptive influence, when Starfleet came across them, it was easy to capture the ship and remove the artificial parts from the biological beings.
“But this had an unintended consequence. The El-Aurians had been part of the Borg collective for many years. When they were returned to their home planet, they suffered greatly because they were no longer connected. They could no longer feel or hear each other like they used to. They had a deep depression, a gut-wrenching sadness that incapacitated them. They barely moved or ate, and the Federation could not comprehend, could not fathom, the depths of their sorrow. They were at a loss with what to do for them. That is when I contacted the Federation and went to help the El-Aurians.
“At first, I tried to remove the debilitating sadness from each, individually, but somehow it would return. There was still a connection between them, a vibration, and the others would hit that note. And like a tuning fork, the ones I healed would return to their previous state – their previous vibration.
“So I went to each individual, one at a time, and found the strings, the threads, of that vibration. I would connect the strings from them to me, then go to the next person and do the same thing. It took me eighteen months to reach every person on the planet. I had all the strings anchored to me, and I needed to yank them out of the El-Aurians at the same time. So I took all the strings, and gave them a mighty pull… and I screamed. I screamed in agony and collapsed.
“I do not remember what happened next, I only know what I have been told by Starfleet personnel and my people. They say I did not stop screaming all the way to Ahmria. My people said it was days before I stopped, even with their healing. I was broken, but at least the El-Aurians were healed.
“In the time following, I found I could hear the Borg. They call me ‘Many Eyes,’ and I know they are looking for me. That is why I had Starfleet seal my records. If anyone knew who later became assimilated, then the Borg would know who I was. If they could assimilate an Ahmriana, and an Ahmriana Weaver no less, then they would have power beyond their imagining. I obviously could not let this happen and would have to destroy them. But I do not wish to kill. It is very painful, very hurtful. I have killed before. It is against the Ahmriana credo, but I did so when I was young. This is not an excuse, just a statement of fact.
“Some beings do not like that Ahmriana can kill them and would wish to destroy us. Some find me, in particular, very threatening, because I can kill them on my own. Some of the Q feel this way. When I was nineteen, there was a Q that kept coming to the planet. He kept testing our defenses. I would push him across the universe, and he would return. I would wipe away his harmonic, and he would return. I would try to obscure our planet, and he would find us. I would try to blind his senses, and yet, he would clear them and come and find us. He was relentless. He kept testing and testing and testing, picking and picking and picking at our defenses. I knew he would eventually get through, and he would kill us.
“So I destroyed him instead. In my intense anger, I saw all the threads of his being. I pulled them apart with my mind and obliterated them, into what I believe you call antimatter. Once this is done, the being is no more. They cannot be returned.
“The Q do not have this ability, because they are not physically present in the Now. Only matter can create antimatter. All of us are beings made of matter inhabited by dimensional energy. Our dimensional energy, or spirit, is woven into our physical form. Our DNA acts as an antenna for our spirit. In your case La’Ma, your neural net is acting as this antenna. The Q are pure dimensional energy who span across the Before and After. Any physical form they take is like clothing for them, there is no antenna. The Q are only able to move matter and energy about in the Now, like your shell game. If they destroy a being in the Now, that being’s dimensional energy is transferred out of their physical form. The energy they are converted to, the energy that was powering their matter, moves into the After dimension. The Ahmriana call this energy essence a dimensional energy being or light being.
“When I destroyed that Q, I destroyed a dimensional energy being. I could not just kill a physical form and let the energy move to the other dimension. The only way to kill a dimensional energy being in the Now is to make it antimatter. So that Q was obliterated – it pains me to this day. The only good to come of it is now the Q leaves us alone. It is an uneasy truce.
“But the pain is not the only reason I do not wish to do these things. I must be very careful about what I change in the universe. It is truly a tapestry. If you pull on one thread, there is no knowing what will unravel. So I choose where I help very carefully. The El-Aurian suffering had no purpose, so I knew I could safely change this.
“This is another reason I did not tell you of my abilities earlier. Some might be tempted to ask me to change things, to intervene where I should not. Some might ask me to do things I cannot do, like revive the dead, and become irate when I say I cannot, thinking I am withholding. Or they might want me to takes sides in a war and kill off the other side. All things I cannot, should not, or would not do.
“As you may have guessed, the Federation does not know of my full abilities. They believe I have an advanced psi mental healing ability, and that is all. I would like to keep it this way.” Neara looked pointedly around the table, and the group nodded.
“Of course Neara,” Picard spoke for everyone, “you have our word.”
“What was it that brought you here?” Data asked.
“Well, you of course ka’lee,” Neara answered with a warm smile. “After healing the El-Aurians, I was on Ahmria for nearly two years being healed. It takes very little energy to destroy, as you know from your observations of universal entropy, but it takes a considerable amount of energy to create or to heal. Towards the end of the two years, I cannot explain, I was drawn to find you. I just knew I had to find you. I do not know why the need was so strong, but I heeded it and sent out my psi wave. I finally saw you – a bright white flame with a little red dancing at the bottom. I came to you immediately. It took me less time to get to here than it did to find you on this ship!” Neara laughed.
“That is why you said ‘val na ha,’” Data translated for the group, “‘there you are,’ when you first saw me. I thought it was because you were looking down when Geordi introduced me, then looked up to see me.”
Neara laughed again, “I said it because I was relieved I had finally found you.”
Data looked at her in wonder, “On our first date, you said you would give me anything I want.”
“Yes,” Neara confirmed.
“And the next day you told me the harmonic was for feeling. But you did not mean physical feeling, did you? You meant emotion,” Data realized. “Is that correct? Have you been creating emotions in me?”
“Yes. You did say you wanted it,” Neara recounted. Data nodded. “It is very delicate, time-consuming work. I have never done anything like this before. I have to be very careful, very patient,” and she reached up to caress his face. “The emotions might seem small to a biological life, but for you, I know they shake the roots of your being. Such delicate strands have such a profound effect on your spirit. I take every care to make sure I do it correctly.”
“You said it takes a considerable amount of energy to create, but I have not seen you tire while doing this,” Data noted.
“You give me back so much energy, I do not feel the effort,” Neara informed.
She turned to the group, “Before healing the El-Aurians, I would have been strong enough to create a permanent protection for the ship. But since my injury, I cannot raise the vibration to that point. It is like making a tight weave on a tapestry – I no longer have the strength to pull it tight.”
Picard interjected, “So that is what they will be doing on Ahmria? They will tighten the harmonic – the protection?”
“It will actually unravel before we get there,” Neara answered. “It is fading now. They will need to create a new one. After that is done, the Q will no longer bother you.”
“Neara, I know you do not wish to kill, and you need to be mindful of any alteration,” Data started, “but what if a being was pure evil? What if their destruction would improve the universal harmonic?”
“Their destruction will create a vacuum, and we do not know what will fill it,” she answered. “Also, a vibration of destruction can ripple out. It may have adverse effects that may even impact the one doing the destroying.”
“I realize you have put a great deal of trust in us, in me, and I would not wish to exploit our connection. But I would ask, this once, for me, that you get rid of that evil being. I know its destruction will improve the universal harmonic. It has no redeeming qualities. There is nothing worse that could fill the void. I cannot see any adverse effects from its obliteration,” Data reasoned.
Neara knew the being of which Data spoke. It was Armus, who had killed Tasha Yar. In relating her death, Data had spoken of its extreme cruelty and sadism.
“Are you doing this for revenge Data, because it killed someone you cared for?” Neara questioned.
“It is not about that. The universe truly will be better without its existence,” Data maintained.
“Data, although I agree with your assessment, is it really right to ask Neara to do this?” Picard opined.
“For you, and only for you, I will do this,” Neara gave Data her consent. “But I will not be the one to kill it. I will make it so you can use my abilities and kill it yourself.” Data nodded.
The group looked on, uncertain. Neara planted her elbow on the table with her arm up, hand outstretched. She placed her other hand on top of Data’s head. “Just think of it, and it will come. Once it is here, you must think of its obliteration.”
Data thought of the horrible black creature, and it started to materialize above the table in front of them. When its writhing, inky black mass was fully formed, it spoke. “I am free!” it rejoiced, but its joy quickly turned to alarm. “What’s happening… Stop that.. Stop it! STOP IT! NO! NOOOOO! AAAAWWWWRRRRGGGHHHH,” it wailed in agony as it was slowly torn apart, its own malevolent energy being used against it in its destruction. In directing Neara’s abilities, Data realized she was able to find the unique vibration of a being and rapidly oscillate its specific tones until it was destroyed. It reminded Data of demonstrations where people could break a glass singing a particular note.
The creature’s death throes were horrifying, and Deanna and Geordi covered their ears. Its shriek trailed away as the creature slowly dissipated. Afterwards, Neara looked somber and Data looked resolute.
The room was silent in the aftermath, everyone in their own thoughts. Then Picard spoke gravely, “I think we’ve taken in a lot today. Neara, I want to thank you for sharing with us, and I can vouch for everyone around this table – we will keep your confidence. Data, I imagine you and Neara have a lot to talk about, so you’re dismissed for the day. I will see you back on duty tomorrow.” With a nod to the others, Picard and the rest filed out of the room leaving Data and Neara alone.

Neara and Data went back to their quarters. Neara wanted to get into bed, so they undressed, got in, and held each other.
“Do you feel better now that the being is gone?” she questioned Data.
“Yes, I do,” Data responded without hesitation.
“Would you want to destroy any being who killed me?” she wondered.
“I do not know. Most likely, if it were done intentionally,” he reckoned.
“I am afraid for the depth of my feeling, because I would tilt the universe on its axis if it would save you from death,” Neara pronounced.
Data gently stroked Neara’s hair, “And would you kill any being who took my life?”
“If it were done with intent, I am afraid I would. Does this make me a bad Ahmriana?” she asked sincerely.
“I think we are simply beings with deep feelings for one another who do not wish to live without the other,” Data stated insightfully.
“Now that you know the whole of me, there is one last thing I need to tell you. I did not tell you before, because I could not explain to you where my knowledge came from. And also, I am afraid to tell you,” Neara looked at him apprehensively. “I am afraid you might leave me.”
“I cannot imagine what you could tell me that would incite me to leave. Please Neara, do not be afraid. I love you,” Data reassured.
Neara’s eyes began to well up, “With my abilities, I sometimes know things. I do not know how I know this, but I know it will happen.” She took a steadying breath, “When I went to look for you, I knew I could either have a long, happy life on Ahmria, or a short, spectacular life with you. I felt so drawn to you, I knew I had to choose the shorter life.”
“Why would this make you fear I would leave you?” Data asked, bemused.
“Because it is not only my life that will be shortened,” Neara explained. “By being with you, I will shorten your life as well.” Neara started crying and touched Data’s face. “I am sorry, it was selfish. I should have told you before now. If you ask me to leave, I am certain your life will continue on without aftereffect. You can have as long a life as your body will allow.”
Data placed his hand over hers, “I do not wish you to leave. I do not wish to carry on indefinitely. I have told you, I do not wish to carry on without you.” He removed her hand from his face and held both her hands in his. “To know that I will die is comforting – to be mortal. To have a beginning and an end. I want to live this life with you, and be with you in the After you have described. I will take whatever time I have here with you, and I am grateful for it. I am grateful you knowingly chose a shorter life to be with me. I will do everything in my power to ensure you do not regret that choice.”
Data wiped the tears from Neara’s cheeks, pulled her close, and kissed her tenderly. As their lips separated, a radiant smile broke across Neara’s face, and she wrapped herself around him and kissed him ardently. As they made love through the night, she felt a profound relief and joy that she had made the right decision. Data had accepted the whole of her – the whole of what that meant. He was remarkable.
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Data's Journey	By : K_nz Category: Star Trek > The Next Generation Views: 1351 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 for full Disclaimer

Data's Journey