Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

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
- 34
- 35
- 36
[Author’s note: In my version Data’s mom is human and not an android.]
It had been five months since the tribunal, during which time Tala’s nature had been discovered by the scientific community, prompting much interest. On several occasions, scientists in various fields had come to examine Tala. For a three-year-old child, she had sat with impressive patience while they scanned her and discussed amongst themselves.
Today, another scientist boarded the Enterprise in order to meet her, and also to meet Data. Her name was Juliana Tainer and she said she had some things to discuss, so Data met her in Ten Forward. She asked if he recognized her, then told him she was his mother. She had been married to Dr Soong and fled with him in an escape pod before the crystalline entity struck. Eventually she left Soong, because his work meant more to him than she did. She hadn’t tried to contact Data before because she felt guilty. They had lost so many other children before creating Lore, then Lore’s immoral behavior meant he had to be deactivated. She was afraid the same thing would happen to Data and she couldn’t face losing another child. In her fear of this outcome – of this potential pain, she made Soong leave him on the planet. She was hoping Data would forgive her and let her into his life. She was hoping to get to know Tala – to get to know him and his family.
Data was uncertain if he wanted to proceed, so he did some research into her story. It all checked out. She was apparently the doctoral student Altan had mentioned. He spoke with Geordi about it, “That's life Data. Part of being human is learning to deal with the unexpected – to risk new experiences.”
Then he spoke with Neara. She felt if he could forgive Lore, then surely he could forgive his mother her weakness. She felt it was worth the risk to let his mother prove herself to him – to be the loving mother she should have been. And it would also be good to learn more about his past.
Given their encouragement, Data decided to get to know his mother. He went for a walk with her in the arboretum, and she talked about his early days and asked him about his life and his family. They sat on a bench and talked until dinner time. Data decided to let her meet Neara and Tala.
“Would you like to have dinner with us tonight?” he asked.
Juliana’s smile was beaming, “I’d love to Data. Thank you.”
They went to Data’s quarters where they found Neara and Tala on the floor playing with toys. When they entered, Tala shot up.
“Daddy!” she yelled, running to Data with her arms outstretched. He lifted her up and held her and they kissed, her arms clinging to his neck.
Neara floated up and walked over. “I see you bring company ka’lee,” she said, giving him a kiss.
“Neara, Tala, this is Juliana Tainer, my mother.” He looked at Tala, “Your grandmother.”
“But I thought you only had a daddy,” Tala said in confusion.
“I thought so too. But I found out today, I also have a mother,” Data confirmed.
“It is wonderful to meet you,” Neara said, coming over and giving her the Ahmrian greeting.
Juliana was a little taken aback by it, but smiled warmly. “Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. And you too Tala,” she said, extending a hand to the child.
Tala leaned over and also gave the Ahmrian greeting. Juliana laughed delightedly.
They sat in the living area and talked, Tala sitting on Data’s lap playing with her stuffed animals, Spot on Neara’s lap getting strokes. Juliana looked over at the side table with pictures on it and a painting above it of a beautiful female.
“Are all those people your family?” she asked Neara
“All but the painting. That is Data’s daughter Lal,” Neara answered.
“Data’s daughter…” Juliana looked at Data, “You made a sentient android? I’d love to meet her. Where is she now?”
“She suffered cascade failure of her neural net and only lived a few weeks,” Data replied.
Juliana looked pained, “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“But Daddy has all her memories and he’s told me all about my sister,” Tala chimed in, still playing with her animals. “She was smart, and she loved Daddy too, and she was really pretty, see?” She scampered over to the painting and pointed at it using her stuffed animal. “Maybe he’ll make me another sister, or Mommy could do it.”
“Thank you for allowing me that honor Tala,” Neara kidded. “But I have told you and your father I will not make you a sibling until we are living on a planet. I do not want to raise another child on a starship – biological or artificial.”
“I imagine it’s difficult, not having your family close by,” Juliana said sympathetically.
“We see them regularly, but I would prefer to be on Ahmria,” Neara confirmed. “I told Data he has until Tala is fifteen, then we will move there. Ahmriana typically have children between their mid thirties to their mid fifties, so I will have another child once we get there. And Data can make as many children as he wishes. I am certain with Ahmriana help, they will all survive. This is my compromise for him, seeing as he enjoys traveling the stars so.”
“It looks like you’ll have to wait for that sister Tala,” Juliana laughed.
“I know,” Tala sighed and slumped onto the couch.
They moved on to other subjects, and eventually Neara got up and started dinner. She was making Ahmrian food for Data’s mother to try. She left things to cook and came over to the little group.
“If you do not mind, I would like some moments alone with Data,” Neara requested. Juliana nodded her acceptance, and Neara reached out her hand to Data. He took it and got up, following Neara to the bedroom.
“Tala, please take care of your grandmother for us,” Neara called over her shoulder.
“I will Mommy,” Tala agreed. “What would you like to play?” she asked Juliana.
“Whatever you’d like to play Tala,” she assented.
“Mommy and Daddy will only make love for twenty or thirty minutes before dinner, so we don’t have long enough for a long game. Maybe we can play Go Fish,” Tala suggested.
Juliana wasn’t certain which to be more surprised about – the fact Tala knew her parents were making love, or the fact she could tell time.
Twenty-eight minutes passed, and Neara and Data emerged. Data had changed out of his uniform into, what Juliana assumed to be, Ahmrian clothing. They sat at the table and had a wonderful meal with lots of joy, stories, and laughter.
After dinner, Tala wanted Juliana to watch Data and Neara’s wedding video. Crusher had recorded the bonding ceremony and the dancing, also the wedding ceremony and the wedding gift-giving. It was lovely, and Juliana felt a pang in her heart that she hadn’t been there.
Afterwards, Neara got everybody up to dance, saying it was an Ahmrian tradition. Juliana was surprised as Tala floated off the floor until her head was level with her own. She knew Ahmriana could fly, she just didn’t realize it happened so soon. The group started dancing together.
Data informed Juliana that Tala was not levitating on her own, but that Neara was doing it, and she could do the same for her if she desired. Juliana declined, being concerned she might suffer vertigo. She wasn’t as young as she used to be, and she didn’t want to lose her dinner.
There were times Data and Neara danced with each other, moving smoothly and beautifully together. Juliana’s heart filled with joy to see her son so happy. He had made a wonderful life for himself. He had a lovely family and was doing work that was challenging and he enjoyed. She only wished she hadn’t left him on Omicron Theta. She missed so much time with him. She would do her best to make up for that mistake.
The dancing finally stopped and Data said, “You should get ready for bed Tala. You are up well past your bedtime.”
“OK Daddy. Can Grandma stay with us?” she asked.
“She has her own quarters and would probably be more comfortable there,” Data informed.
“I would like to stay, if that’s alright with you,” Juliana proposed. “I meant what I said about getting to know you and your family.”
Neara instructed, “Tala, your Grandmother will need to stay in your bed and you will need to sleep on the floor. Will you be OK with that?”
“Yes!” Tala exclaimed and raced into her room. Neara went in after her to help her get ready. Tala walked out purposefully with two pillows dragging across the floor, one in each hand. One was a big stuffed animal face and the other was a normal pillow.
“Which pillow do you want Grandma?” she questioned.
“Just the regular pillow will be fine Tala, thank you,” Juliana responded, and Tala skipped back into the room.
“You have made a little child very happy… Mother,” Data said hesitantly.
Juliana smiled warmly, “Oh Data, all of you have made me very happy. You’ve been so welcoming and kind – it’s more than I could have expected. More than I have any right to expect.”
Neara walked out and said, “We must allow others to make up for their mistakes. It is what we would hope they would do for us.” She gave Juliana a hug and pulled Data into it. The three were standing together hugging when Tala came out and wrapped her arms around Data and Juliana’s legs. Juliana couldn’t help it, a tear of joy escaped and ran down her cheek.
When they released, they accompanied Tala to her room. She had a foam chair that extended into a bed laying on the floor. Neara explained that Tala’s friend Thad used it when he slept over. Tala got in, lying her tiny head on the big stuffed animal face, and pulled the blanket over her.
“Would you like Vahtee to read you a story before bed ka’leetee?” Neara asked.
“Would you read me a story Grandma?” Tala requested.
“Of course. I’d be delighted Tala,” Juliana agreed and sat on the bed. Data brought her a book.
“We will leave you two now,” Neara announced, and she and Data gave Tala a kiss and wished them goodnight.
Tala pointed at the book, “I know all that story, but I like to hear Daddy read it.”
“Has he read it to you a lot?” Juliana questioned.
“Three times,” she responded. “But I only have to hear it once to remember it.”
“Really. So you remember what I just asked?” Juliana was curious.
“’Has he read it to you a lot,’” she repeated.
“And what did I say before that?” Juliana wondered.
“’Of course. I’d be delighted Tala,’” she quoted.
Juliana flipped to a random page in the book, “And what is the line after this one? ‘And following the setting sun’…”
“The stars came out, one by one,” Tala recalled. “The sky glittered with their light, and to the world they bid goodnight. But some creatures did awake, the evening world they did retake…”
Juliana interrupted her, “That’s amazing Tala. How far back can you remember things?”
“I can remember everything since before I was born,” Tala said plainly. “I remember Mommy and Daddy singing and talking to me. I remember being in Mommy and it being crowded and dark. Then Mommy told me, ‘There is not room enough in me for both you and my organs. It is time for you to make your entrance into the universe,’ so I did. Then I remember being squeezed out, and the bright light and seeing Auntie Beverly. Then I saw Daddy.”
“That is incredible Tala,” Juliana was gobsmacked.
“Will you read me the book now?” Tala asked.
“Yes, of course… sorry Tala,” and Juliana started reading.
Tala fell to sleep quickly, and Juliana got up to get a drink of water before bed. She heard Neara and Data having sex. It seemed the sexuality programming she and Noonian added was working out well. She had wanted their child to have every human experience possible, including having a creative aspect. During their talk in the arboretum, Data had told her of his violin playing and painting. He had also told her he was experiencing emotions since Neara came into his life. She wondered if it was a combination of these aspects that allowed his emotional development to flourish, with Neara being the catalyst. She supposed she would probably never know but was happy it had happened, however it had happened.
Juliana stayed for three days, and Data took the time off to be with her. She hoped, now that they knew each other, Data and his family would come to visit. Data assured her they would, and Neara assured her they would keep in regular touch. They escorted her to the transporter room and hugged and kissed her goodbye. As she beamed away, she saw Neara and Tala waving and Data smiling, holding his child. How marvelous.
- 34
- 35
- 36
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

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