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You Can't Fight a Tidal Wave	By : madradena Category: Star Trek > The Next Generation Views: 1693 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own ST:TNG nor Dreamland, nor the characters from either. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Data was eyeing his reflection in a thin metal surface behind the scenes just minutes before having to go on stage. He put a hand to his hair self-consciously. It was odd to feel so embarrassed because of a new hairstyle; he played roles wearing more extreme make-up than this - though at that time he had no emotions. He suddenly felt somebody touch his shoulder and turned to see Beverly smiling at him encouragingly:
"You look great, Data." she reassured him but she noticed his gaze wandering to the side - through a thin opening of the curtains, he was just able to get a glimpse of the audience slowly arriving and taking their places at the round tables. He just spotted the Captain sitting down with Counsellor Troi, and as fear surged up in him, he suddenly realized that he wasn't apprehensive because of his new hair! It was actually stage fright! He looked into Beverly's eyes with panic steadily growing in his own, and she too realized finally what was happening to him.
"Doctor Crusher..." he whispered "I-I cannot... I will not..." he shook his head, and his gaze wandered back to where he could see the audience. He felt his vision blur with fright and felt he had to hold on to something - he never thought he was capable of that kind of sheer panic without being in a life-threatening situation! In itself, it was fascinating - if completely distracting.
"Data! Please, stop this! You'll be fine! This is not your first performance, and you've always done perfectly fine. There's no reason for you to get butterflies just now!" she frowned in disbelief.
"No, Doctor! I will not do it! I-I do not remember any of my lines!" he shook his head getting agitated. He took a step back and felt a railing of some sort at his back. Groping, he put his hands on it and grabbed it as if he wanted to keep himself being dragged away from the very spot he was frozen to.
Beverly chuckled despite trying to be sympathetic "Data, you are the one person who cannot forget any of his lines!"
"Mmmm...." he shook his head stubbornly "I cannot... please do not make me go out there!" he pleaded when Emma, Reg and Sonya stepped up to them.
"What's up?" Emma looked at them frowning.
"Data is having a bad attack of stage fright." Beverly looked at her now a little bit frustrated. She was expecting Reg or maybe Sonya show that they were having some butterflies, but Data?! He was the one person she thought would never have any issues of this kind!
He looked at Emma "I will... to use a colloquialism you usually do, 'screw up'! I will ruin the play!" he explained wide-eyed - the railing was now bent, where he held on to it with his fists.
"Oh, baby!" Emma smiled and stepping up to him stroked his cheek lovingly "I'll be there with you, and watch out for you, as you will watch out for me! You’re not doing this alone! I'm joining you on stage in a few minutes."
"Two minutes forty-four seconds." he nodded grabbing hold of the rationality of that thought - and then of her hand as if he was a drowning, looking for something to hold on to.
"Yeah, so. Only 2 minutes 44 secs, and we'll date on-stage! It'll be fun, don't be scared!" she smiled encouragingly, then her expression changed to a disillusioned one "Besides, if somebody ruins this play, it will be those two!" she pointed to her side where Reg and Sonya were STILL kissing - seemingly not really caring about where they were or what they were about to do.
Data and Beverly gazed at them a little taken aback, while Emma snorted annoyed "I should never have interfered in the processes of mother nature."
Beverly looked back at Data "Just concentrate on the one scene you're doing. On the one song you're singing. Don't be bothered by the audience. Pretend they aren't there! Or that they're just holodeck characters. And you'll be fine, I promise." she smiled patting him on the arm. "Okay?"
He took a shaky breath and nodded "Okay." he whispered. His vision was clear now, and the panic lessened even if only for a bit. How could this have happened to him? he needed to run a diagnostics after the performance for sure! He was always baffled when his programming made him realize that he was actually more human than he ever expected and this occasion was no exception.
"Alright. Then let's get down to business." Beverly looked at Emma and Data smiling then as her gaze went from them to the other couple, her smile turned into an annoyed frown.
Emma cleared her throat "Khm! Hey, you guys over there! If you've had enough of examining each other's tonsils, we could start this petty little premiere of ours we've been working our asses off for the last month!"
They broke away and looked at them as if waking from a dream. Reg blinked surprised "S-sure!" They both were flushed, and Sonya tried to hide her embarrassed expression behind Reg's arm as she snuggled up to him.
Beverly looked at all four of them with a smile full of pride "You will be great! I'm very proud of all of you! Now break a leg!"
They said goodbye to her and a minute after she left, the lights went out in the house, and so it began!
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You Can't Fight a Tidal Wave