All Together (A Star Trek Fanfiction)

1. Talk in Ten Forward

Space, an endless black void, In that emptiness Stars are passing by. From a far, Stars seem not like the giants made of hydrogen and helium. They are just bright little dots, distorted into thin white lines, because of the Warp speed the Enterprise was travelling on. But if you sat together with someone in Ten Forward, the attention was on your Companion instead of the dark outside. Ten Forward was filled with people, among them the Chief Engineer and the Ship's second officer. They were involved in a conversation, Geordi being the Narrator of his story and Data listening in attentive. "In those Pillow fights with my sister it was a challenge not to hit any fragile stuff. Once when Ariana threw a Pillow at me" Geordi stifeld his laughter. "I ducked and my Mother was greeted with a Pillow that flew right in her face, as she enterded the room". Both of them laughed at that. Amused, Data asked "did you two get in trouble?" "Oh no, my Mother found it just as funny as you did" ,Geordi said. Data looked down at the table, folding his hands together. He seemed preoccupied. The chief Engineer noticed his best friend's Behavior, and asked if something is wrong. The Android snapped back into reality. "No Everything is fine" he muttered embarrassedly. Geordi asked in a concerned voice "Are you sure? If something is going on you can tell me". Data lifted his head to look at his friend, "Geordi, I enjoy hearing different events from your childhood but when you mention your sister and how well you got along" he paused. "It reminds me of my not-so-happy relationship with my Brother and sometimes I wonder if the two of us could be- [...] could be friends, rather than Enemies" he admitted. Geordi rested his chin on his hand "Yeah, I can Imagine that. The chemistry between you two is a complicated one". The second officer sat back, gazing out of the window. If the stars had the answer to his question.
"My Brother hates me. He would probably get angry at me if I dare to speak out his Name" he stopped. "I just do not understand why he is so hostile towards me? Did I do something that upset him?". Geordi turned to the window as well. "You know Data, we can't look into the minds of other people. The only option we have is to ask them why they do certain things and hope that they're not lying to us." Data watched his reflection in the glass, then his gaze shifted to the floor. "It may be different to achive peace with my Brother but I really want us to get along". The Android looked at Geordi again. "I will find a way to settle things between us", Data added determined. Geordi stopped resting his head on his hand: "Your intentions are noble, but this can be difficult to accomplish, looking back on the encounters we had with him". Data nodded at Geordi's statement: "I am aware of Lores and my complex relationship but I still belive that, somehow it might be possible", he replied in a calm voice. The Engineer leaned back in his chair inhaliling deeply: "Data I'll be real honest.. I don't like the thought of you being close to Lore after everything that happened. But if that's what you want to try then I'll support you". For a moment Data stared at Geordi, broke eye contact quickly and folded his hands together. Watching his hands laying on the table now, he gave a soft smile before adding: "Thank you, I cannot explain how much this means to me". Geordi reached forward and pats Data's shoulder, "Anytime Data, I-", he was interrupted by the chirp of their combadges. Riker's voice echoed: "This is the first officer. All Senior staff report to the bridge immediately!". Both of them shared a look, got up and head for the exit. Still in motion to the doorway Data turns his head only to meet Guinen's gaze. He gives her a slight smile which she returns. Data and Geordi leave the room and the door hisses shut behind them. Guinen keeps looking in the direction of the doorway, before turning away. Preoccupied she thought to herself: "He didn't deserve that".