#so in the Picard verse as I will call it now | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

green-blooded-computer · 4 years

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A Guide to RPing on Tumblr

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately, so here’s my complete walkthrough on how to create a Tumblr RP blog.

If you’d rather view on a Google Doc, here’s a link.

Enjoy.

Create Blog

Howdy, so the first thing you’ll have to do is click ‘register’ and make yourself a blog. You also have the choice of making a sideblog instead. I’m a person who likes to have this separated, so if you are only thinking of playing a couple characters, this might be the way to go for you. Here’s the difference between main/side blogs (taken from Tumblr’s help center):

Choose any url for now (we’ll talk about that later), and go to the next section.

Please note: When you make a new blog, it won’t show up in the search/people’s notifications for a bit of time (a day or so). Make sure you validate your email address asap.

Get xKit

If you haven’t installed xKit, I highly suggest it. Go to their blog here, and get it for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Opera.

What is it? A little toolkit to make Tumblr easier to use.

When you install it, it’ll pop up on your top bar thing next to the lightning bolt like this:

It’s that thing with the x’s on it.

When you click the x’s this pops up:

Brill.

You can click ‘Get Extensions’ at the bottom and basically choose whatever you want, but may I recommend the following:

1) Editable Reblogs allows you to edit reblogs. Right. This is good because when you are replying to RP threads they tend to get rather long. Some advice that was given to me when I started: when you add your reply, delete everything before your partner’s last reply. So you should have your partner’s post and your post and that’s all. You just click ‘reblog’ and it pops up like normal, except now there’s this little guy:

If you click that, it will make everything in your reblog box editable.

2) One-Click Postage gives you a little box if you hover over the reblog button. It lets you reblog, queue, draft, tag, and add replies right from that page. You can even choose which blog (main/side) you want it to go to. It looks like this:

The rest I will just say play around with! They are easy to add and take away.

Decide what kind of blog you want.

Multimuse Vs. Single muse:

Do you want to play one character or a bunch of them? If you choose one character, your blog icon and theme will presumably feature that character or something to do with them. If you choose to focus on one, you should have info about your character available on your blog somewhere. If you choose to have more than one muse, you’ll need a list of the characters you offer and some info about them.

When choosing a url for a multimuse, choose something that encompasses the spirit of you and your characters.

When choosing a url for a single muse, I go for quotes, nicknames, something about where they are from, what they like, their name, etc. Note: if you have dashes in your url (like mine @strings-have-been-cut) these won’t work with tags. People will have to turn them into separate words or one big word.

I do not have a multimuse, but I have seen them done all sorts of ways. Some people offer characters from all different fandoms, some are just one fandom, one genre, OCs, canons, a mixture...you can do what you like.

If your blog is not affiliated with any sort of organized game, this is referred to as ‘independent’ often shortened to ‘idie’.

Your blog description should mention which kind it is. For example: a sci-fi multimuse blog; a Star Trek OC blog; an indie Bill S. Preston Esq. from Bill and Ted RP blog. Details help sometimes.

Canon Character Vs. Original Character

If you decide to make a canon character, make sure you have it clear somewhere where they are from! Canon characters can be canon divergent (your own version), they can crossover into other fandoms, they can be exactly as they are in your favourite book/show/movie/podcast...each version of a canon is unique and lovely.

If you decide to make an original character, make sure you give plenty of info about them! You want to tell people what fandom they fit into or if they are fandomless. ‘About’ pages are really important for OCs because there is no fanbase for them (yet!).

What should be in your description?

When someone clicks your blog, they will first see a dash preview sort of thing. It shows a description and a small header, along with the posts you’ve made. This description also shows up somewhere on your actual blog and on the top of the page on mobile view. It’s a great spot to give all the info about your blog real quick. I always include the following:

What is it? (Independent Data from Star Trek RP blog)

Age restrictions (21+)

Who you will RP with (mutuals only is called ‘private’ and choosing who you follow back is called ‘selective’.)

Mun’s name (played by [insert your name])

Possibly a link to your about/rules for easy access on desktop and mobile. I’ll talk about this more below. I call this ‘navigation’, but it varies. Note: if you edit your icon/dash header, any html links seem to go away. I’ve needed to go back into the theme customizer and add them back in. To add a link to your description, go into your customizer, go to the description section, and add the html as follows:

So mine is: <a href=”https://data-all-in-one.carrd.co”>Indie Data from Star Trek blog.</a>

The description for my Data blog reads: ‘Indie Data from Star Trek RP blog. Click here for navigation. 21+. Private/selective. Played by Fool.

What should be on this blog?

In my experience, you need a couple of pages on your blog to get you started:

About the character - basically a biography

Rules - so people know what you are about

About the mun - so people can know about the person they are writing with

Possibly a link to your ‘ask memes’ tag - see below.

These can be organized however you like, but people tend to look for a few specific things.

About the Character

This should read like a biography. Back in the day, we used to call them ‘character apps’ and they had all your basic info about the character. Sometimes this section contains a subsection called ‘verses’ in which the mun spells out what universes they exist in. Say I had an AU where Data owns an arcade in San Francisco in the 80’s. I’d list that as one of his ‘verses’. This is extremely important for OCs, but very helpful for canons too.

Data has four: TNG era, TNG movie era, AU where he lives after Nemesis, AU where he’s around during Star Trek: Picard. I gave a little info about both.

Rules

Rules are usually organized into the things people are looking for before they start playing with you. Some good info to include:

Mun age

Your policy on adult content

How you deal with tagging triggers

Your policy on following back

Your policy on writing with mutuals vs. anyone

Do you allow personal blogs (non RP blogs) to follow you?

How fast do you reply?

How does your tagging system work?

How do you deal with shipping?

Here is a link to my usual Rules page for reference. Remember, it’s not wrong if it’s different than mine!

Note: People will look for how old you are. Many people in the RPC are adults, and they want to write with people their own age. If your age is not posted somewhere clearly, they may not follow you back.

About the Mun

This is really just a little blurb about you. Some people include their age here. Some people include links to their other blogs. Some people include their Discord info, as that’s really popular right now. It’s just nice to know who you are writing with.

It’s important to note that there are different ways to present all of these blogs. Some people have them as pages on their Tumblr blog itself, some people put all of this (Bio, About, Rules, etc) in a Google Doc and link it, some people use Carrd.co - there are a ton of ways. A friend of mine did this amazing post about some options out there. I personally go for Carrd.co, seeing as I am on mobile a lot and I find it very helpful, but it’s up to you.

Now I have a blog with all the info. How do I get started?

Well there are a few things you can do to get yourself out there.

Make yourself a promo. It’s basically an advertisement for your blog. If you aren’t good at graphics, you can head to an RP Resource blog and see if they have any you can use with their permission. You can also just post a picture with some info. For me, the info on this promo matches that of my blog description - I want people to know what I’m all about as soon as they look at it. Then you can tag for your appropriate fandom RP. Your mutuals will likely reblog to help spread the word. Yay.

Find a directory for your RPC by searching in the search. This will allow you to a) reblog your info and be listen in a place where people can find you and b) allow you to find others in your RPC in an organized way. Then you can go through, find people you think you’d like to follow, and follow them.

Make a starter or plotter call. This is, again, just a picture or graphic and some information about it. Here is one I made for Data specifically asking for Picard threads:

I asked for a specific universe and a specific character here. I also put all relative tags in case someone is just searching Tumblr (although I think it’s more for the people who follow me). Here’s a simpler one I made for B-4 that’s a lot more open.

They don’t have to be super fancy.

When people see a starter call, they can like your post. This is a quick an easy way to let you know they are interested in a thread.

4. Ask Memes. Asks are invaluable. There are whole blogs dedicated to ask memes that you can post to your blog, and these can be really easy ways for people to come up with plot ideas or just to read some of your writing. I always keep a link on my blog to everything tagged ‘ask meme’ so if people want to find a meme they have choices!

It seems like there’s a certain aesthetic on these new fangled RP blogs. Do I have to do that?

No! But you can, if you want. If you aren’t good at coding and graphics, there are a lot of RP resource sites that can help you. (Can I recommend this one?) It is nice to have things like a face claim, a nice looking promo, a cool theme, etc. but at the end of the day, we all just want to write and have fun.

Advice?

Look, I’ve only been RPing on Tumblr for a couple of months and I am by NO MEANS an expert. I have gotten all of this knowledge through the help of friends and nice strangers willing to answer questions for me. Here are a few things I have picked up:

Respect people’s rules - We are all shy and all have our own thing going on. If someone says they’re uncomfortable doing one thing, just like...don’t do it.

Talk to other people - Don’t ignore the mun! Unless they really want you to. It’s better to ask questions, compliment writing, talk about your plots and stuff...it’s so much harder than trying to figure out what the other person feels/wants.

Ask questions - I’m a 6th grade teacher, and I get a million and fuckton questions every minute usually. It’s been eye-opening, because now I’m all about asking questions about everything all the time. I think knowledge is amazing. People know all different things, and the most logical way to be a productive society is to share knowledge (that’s one of the main teachings of Surak) so ask some questions! Hell, ask me some questions! Reach out to someone who seems nice!

Okay, that’s all. Good luck!

#RPG #RPC #RP Resource #RP Guide

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halfblood-fiend · 4 years

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Star Trek Bingo 2020 MASTERPOST

Oh my goodness! I can’t believe it’s all done!!

I’m very glad I participated in @star-trek-bingo this year, it’s been a super rad and wonderful experience! Thank you to the mods who put it on and were so kind and understanding about time zones, full time jobs and computer crashes, thanks for the fun Discord and all the supportive and wonderful people I met and befriended. It was all just amazing!

VERTICAL BINGO

Transformation - Here, There Is No Golden Ball

A First Contact with a hyper-telekinetic race called the Haijinn turns quickly from routine to devastating when Spock has an un-frog-ettable run-in with one of the race’s priests. Captain Kirk, with the begrudging help of Bones, has to find a way to turn Spock back or doom him to a long and des-pond-ent life.

TOS, Spirk, General Audiences Read on AO3 Read on Tumblr

Shapeshifters/Changelings - Don’t Skip the Bill

Three Ensigns rumormonger on their first night aboard the Federation Station: Deep Space Nine.

DS9, Implied Quodo, General Audiences Read on AO3 Read on Tumblr

Chess/”Board” Games - Dungeons and Bandwagons

When Giana attempts to organize her first D&D campaign onboard the Voyager, it turns out to be a bit more complicated than she thought.

Voyager, General Audiences Read on AO3 Read on Tumblr

Sleeper Agents - Voq in the Mirror

Ash Tyler struggles to come to terms with his own identity while he is supposed to be undercover in the Mirror-verse. His mysterious stalker complicates everything he's fought for.

Discovery, Mentioned Ashburn, Mature, Graphic Violence, Blood, PTSD Read on AO3 Read on Tumblr

Fuck or Die - The Ex in Extra-Terrestrial

Mestral had known that this outcome was inevitable. His biological needs would always catch up with him, he had only hoped that it wouldn't come to this, to her. It's been three years since he last saw Maggie, now she was his only hope if he wanted to stay alive. He only wished she would not judge him too harshly.

Enterprise, Maggie x Mestral, Mature, Explicit Sexual Content Read on AO3 Read on Tumblr

HORIZONTAL BINGO

Borg - The Executive Director of the Borg Reclamation Project

Hugh reflects on the monumental task that lies ahead of him and takes his position on the Artifact very personally.

Picard, General Audiences Read on AO3 Read on Tumblr

Sex Pollen/Alien Plants - Pining for Silver and Gold

Ensign Vorik has trouble putting the Voyager's current predicament into words and reflects upon the specific event that is giving him trouble. Obviously, all his crewmates falling ill is a bad thing, but as the Human idiom goes: Even thorns have roses.

Voyager, Vorik x OC, Teen and Up, Minor DubCon (but also not really?) Read on AO3

Mentors/Teachers - Platonic

Giana and Vorik meet up for another lesson in Kal-Toh, only this time, Vorik gets wise to her game and she wants to throw herself off a cliff.

Voyager, Vorik x OC, General Audiences Read on AO3

Transformation - Here, There Is No Golden Ball

Secrets or Lies - Ascendancy

The last chip is about to fall, and with it, Emperor Georgiou. Michael personally sees that the last piece is in place. And next?

The Empire.

Discovery, Mirror Michael x Mirror Lorca, Teen and Up, Explicit Language Read on AO3

#trekbingo2020 #Star Trek #Star Trek fanfiction #masterpost #Fiend writes #I might update this someday with the last Bingo on Tumblr but ugh #everyone has already been so patient #<3 #Fiend posts

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galactic-pirates · 4 years

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Ok I’m all caught up on Star Trek: Discovery now.

I can’t believe they played the “these are the voyages” music - that’s for Enterprise! I was like ??? wrong ship dudes. Still that was pretty cool, I mean that is the iconic Trek music.

Little bit sad that Tilly didn’t get more of a hero moment. It was mainly Michael’s show with a side order of Book. Don’t get me wrong that was cool but I just feel bad for Tilly, her first time in the Captain’s chair and that’s what happens. I really wanted her to kick more butt somehow. She was great in keeping it together, and firm about what needed to be done. I guess the vibe I got was more teamwork, rather than that of a Captain leading.

Don’t think I’ve said this before (though it’s been obvious for ages) but OMG are they ever going to confirm Detmer and Owosekun as girlfriends? Because they are totally girlfriends. I thought maybe at first I was reading too much into it and it was just platonic but with the mirror!verse hinting at Detmer/Michael, and then the finale - nope girlfriends.

I love that they saw Gray and I also LOVE that they totally took it to eleven with Stamets actually saying out loud “yeah I have a kid” and Culber was such a dad to Adira and Gray. Their family is the best and Stamets is never going to forgive Michael - is he going to forgive the Admiral? I mean the Admiral agreed with Michael after all, perhaps that’s why Stamets hasn’t tried to transfer off Discovery because what difference does it make? When the head of Starfleet made the same call, anywhere in the fleet would be the same.

You know when I saw gifsets of Michael knocking him out and Stamets pleading “my whole life is in that nebula” I kinda hated Michael a teeny bit. Now I’ve actually seen it in context, I get more why Michael made that call. Stamets was just reacting emotionally (which was completely understandable!) but his only thought was for Culber whom he’d already lost once. So I see more both sides now. I hope Culber talks to Stamets about it and can help him with it because the bitterness/resentment will only hurt him in the end.

That was certainly a ride and a fourth season - and a fourth new Captain for Discovery - as Michael now finally has the big chair. I am a bit curious as to how season 4 will pan out but I imagine something will happen, as it did in the first episode of season 2, which will kickstart next seasons storyline.

Oh and new uniforms! I’m not overly keen. They don’t look as easy to move in as the form-fitting blue ones. At least though they are still jacket and trousers (I side-eye the one-piece Picard-era uniforms so much). It looks like season 4 won’t be until 2022 so I’ll need to be patient. Looking forward to it though!

#sam rambles (a lot)#Star Trek: Discovery

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annoying-lucy · 4 years

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Evan Evagora did an AMA involving the Star Trek Shitposting Facebook Group - the questions and answers below were copy/pasted direct from the collated master post. Evan is a member of the group, who participates under an unknown pseudonym.

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AMA Master Post!

Thanks so much to Evan Evagora for taking time out of his day for our AMA earlier. To make the questions and answers easier for ya'll to find, here they all are together below.

Q: How does my love of cats compare to Elnor?

A: Im actually more of a dog person, there was a scene that had Elnor and spot 2 unite briefly but unfortunately it didn’t leave the editing room

Q: How familiar was I with Star Trek before and did I have to do research?

A: I grew up with TNG, I’d have to say either worf, Guinan or Q are my favourite characters. And I was given episodes to watch that were to help with information before filming Picard

Q: How was I prepped to deal with the crazy fans?

A: I got told to join Star Trek shitposting 😉. Not but in all seriousness, it was Jonathan Frakes who gave me advice on entering the world of fandom from the other side and he said it’s been nothing short of a pleasure

Q: So if Hugh had survived would they have made out?

A: what happens on the cube stays on the cube

Q: My favourite moment of s1

A: getting to slice that romulans head off

Q: How did I hear about Star Trek shitposting?

A: most of the crew is either a part of the group or knows about, one of the amazing hair and make up ladies got me into I think my first or second day

Q: If I had to be Tuvixed with someone excluding elnor?

A: mirror verse Elnor, nah worf to be honest

Q: What is something I’d like to do in season 2

A: Id like to see Elnor and spot 2 together

Q: How am I passing my time woth quarantine?

A: ama for the gronp! Nah I’ve just been reading, writing and also the contact I’m having with the fans too has really helped a lot

Q: If I had to quarantine with any of my costars who would it be and why

A: I’d go with hardy treadaway he’s got the nicest place

Q: What am I hoping to see in Elnor’s future

A: Inner peace, contentment and possibly shorter hair?

Q: Am I intimidated by working on a show with such a big fan base?

A: no I grew up with Star Trek, you’re really in a bubble of filming when you’re making the show, it all didn’t really hit home until the first trailer at San Diego

Q: Would I consider playing Elnor as non binary

A: I’ve seen a lot of debate and discussion about not only my character but others in the series, if there is something that connects you with a character on this show and it resonates with you, even if it’s shown, not shown or hinted at I’m all for it. I am not for the constant belittlement, bullying and criticism of not only the characters on the show but also other fans. It really does break my heart reading comments where people aren’t welcoming of one another, because that is the whole reason why Trek has bought so many together and by spewing these disgusting cruel words out your not only showing the world you don’t understand the meaning behind the show, you also are destroying the thing that makes us all love it

Q: Is there Australia on romulas

A: yeah they have a down under I’m sure of it. No the accent can easily be explained with, Elnor left romulas at a young age, moved to a planet with different species and languages spoken so that influenced his accent

Q: Have I seen Elnor fan fiction and art?

A: yeah some of it has been really amazing! And some others have been...creative

Q: How excited am I to make home movies with my action figures?

A: my plan is to buy everyone’s, make them record audio and then film shit using the dolls and their voices

Q: Are you playing animal crossing?

A: I’ve preordered it because they’ve sold out here in aus, but in playing civ 6 to pass time and Mario party

Q: Did I get to try Romulan ale?

A: no I wish, I’m kind of hoping for a scene next year where Elnor gets drunk for the first time

Q: What character did I wish would appear in our show?

A: one word, one letter Q

Q: What’s my background have I been acting long?

A: Picard was my third acting gig, and the first project to release, so I have got some experience acting and I have previous work but it has either just aired or is going to next year

Q: Please my friend choose a charity you would like us to donate to

A: food bank

Q: Favourite ninja turtle

A: it’s always been Raph and always will be

Q: Do I know much about Elnors background

A: I know things that haven’t been mentioned yet, but also given his character is new and season 1 just finished, hopefully some of those things are explored

Q: How would o feel about the fan theory that Spock is my father

A: I mean, I’m not really sure, I can always shoot Ethan a message and ask him what he thinks too

Q: Which classic episode trope would I like to see?

A: mirror universe

Q: Can we look forward to more ninja representation?

A: is Elnor not enough? ☹️

Q: Were there any particular characters I drew inspiration from, any elves?

A: there’s a particular group of people I think Elnor might have been inspired from. Can I just say how cool it would be if Elnor is just cosplaying as an elf because Picard left him a copy of Lotr when he was young

Q: Would I be open to exploring Elnors sexuality in s2 and what would it be?

A: I am totally open for that, and as for Elnors sexuality, I’m not sure he’s only 17 he’s just left his planet and gone off on an adventure where he openly knew the success may lead in his death or others he hasn’t had time to figure himself out so seeing his sexuality explored would be amazing

Q: What stories did you hear about working on precious trek series from the OG actors?

A; So we found out Michael Dorn used to muddle his lines up because he was normally the last close up of the day. They used to put bets on to see how many takes he’d have to do. All I must add in very fun spirits nothing ever malicious or mean

Q: My long term career goals

A: id like to keep pursuing more roles I’m acting, I’m a big writer and have some projects I’m looking at getting created but right now I’d say I’m just here to learn and grow

Q: What do I write?

A: right now I’m working on three screenplays and two pilots most of the stuff I’ve written is just sitting on my hard drive just waiting to be used

Q: Ever fried an egg, buttered and vegemite'd some toast and eaten it like a sandwich?

A: what I just read, scared the crap out of me, I love vegemite but the most I’ll do is add cheese to it

Q: What is one of my favourite stories about s1

A: Jeri Ryan and I had a scene together in the borg cube (what a queen she made!) it was shooting at night and I think it was the final shot of the day, we couldn’t keep a straight face and just laughed through about fifteen takes

Q: Are you a big fan of fandom besides Trek?

A: Star Wars, lotr, the magician series Raymond e feist, a song of fire and ice series, avatar last air bender and legend of Korra (would love to play zuko) and of course Batman (fav Jason Todd as the hood)

Q: Could I see myself playing Elnor for six or seven years?

A: as long as there’s a good story that myself and fans will enjoy, but if it didn’t meet my expectations no. And also hopefully the writers and creators would want to

Q: My top TNG eps are in no particular order

I borg, all good things, tapestry, the measure of a man and all good things

I’ll also add I borg especially because it’s just cool seeing where Hugh began and how he ended up

Q: How did I land the role of Elnor?

A: I was on a break from filming Fantasy Island (a movie based off the old tv show) and I was home for pilot season which is when they cast for shows, I had two weeks of daily auditions before I was due to fly back and start filming again, two days before I was meant to leave I got an audition for Picard, the script had a code name and Elnors name was Kbar on it, but I was told it was Star Trek. I went into the room and thought I didn’t do a very good job, then I flew to film and two days later I was told I’ve made a list of people being considered, after a few more auditions and a couple of phone calls from producers and everything I found myself on a plane to LA five weeks later

Q: Have I made friends among the cast?

A: no, we tried really hard to become friends, but unfortunately we ended up becoming a family instead. Everything we say in interviews about us getting along is all true and not fake. I’m the newest to acting out of everyone so I was kind of of shocked to find out that how close we all are isn’t necessarily how it will be when I shoot other projects, so I think we just got lucky or they casted really well

Q: Have the Picard people seen your memes?

A: yes I’ve shown them the memes from the page, I’ve shown everyone including Patrick we find most of them funny (some shocking)

Not shocking in a bad way

Unexpected I should say

Q: How do I feel about the ears?

A: I wore them so much they came up in my dreams, but they were the easiest thing to apply onto me

Q: Which non tng character would I like to see return?

A: I wouldn’t mind seeing the doctor

Q: The most relatable Star Trek character?

A: Look for me growing up it was Wesley, i just picked anyone who was the young one. And I grew up with my sisters and was always being told I’m either wrong, an idiot or just to shut up

Q: Did I have previous martial arts experience before the show?

A: I have a background in boxing which helps when it comes to movement, reflexes and just all around fitness for stunts. I didn’t have any sword fighting experience before we began training for the show however

Q: How do you think being raised by an order of women affected Elnor?

A: I think it gave him a healthy understanding of not only the strength and resilience of women but I think he understands not only gender equality but just equality in general and I think that’s directly to do with growing up in a sect of all female warrior nuns

Q: What is a type of meme you would like to see more of in the group?

A: I love all the memes in the group, I hardly like any of them now incase someone figures out who I am though ahahah

Q: Favorite recent memes?

A: See my comment below

#evan evagora #star trek #star trek: picard #picard #elnor #ama #stsp

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fand0mfancies · 4 years

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Came across this on Tumblr a few days ago, it amused me for a couple of hours or more, filling it in, while watching QI.

Fandom Questions

1. What was the first fandom you got involved in?

Star Trek: Voyager, I suppose at least for reading. Started writing with Stargate SG-1.

2. What is your latest fandom?

I dip in and out of lots of fandoms on and off, the most recent ‘pick up’ is Ballam from Eastenders, I don’t watch soaps, but Robron and Ballam both appear a good bit on my tumblr, so I eventually gave in to checking them out via fic and youtube – thank god for youtube, lol! I still don’t watch soaps, but I watch those storylines!

3. What is the best fandom you’ve ever been involved in?

Gosh, that’s... actually no that’s really easy. Primeval. For anyone not familiar, it’s a ‘silly little dinosaur show’ produced in the UK. It had 4 short seasons, with a somewhat revolving main cast – although they managed to keep 3 of them through all 4 seasons – but the fandom was/is amazing. I made life long friends through the fandom and even though I don’t write much any more I still read some and still talk with those people.

4. Do you regret getting involved in any fandoms?

I would say no. I can’t say every fandom has always been amazing – ship wars anyone! – but mostly fandom has been a very positive experience in my life.

5. Which fandoms have your written fanfiction for?

How long have you got... in genuinely no particular order (basically as they came to me) Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Star Trek (TNG, DS9, Voy, Ent & Reboot Movies), Marvel, Kingsman, Person of Interest, Due South, Quantum Leap, Firefly, Buffy/Angel verse, Harry Potter, The Sentinel, Torchwood(/Doctor Who), Hawaii Five-0, Shadowhunters, Sherlock, Primeval, Emmerdale (Robron), NCIS, CSI (Vegas, NY & Miami), White Collar, Empire Records, Bull, Diagnosis Murder, MacGyver (the original), 1-800-Missing, CHAOS, Without a Trace, M*A*S*H, Charmed, Queer as Folk (US), Will & Grace, Bring it On, Nash Bridges, Magnificent 7 (TV series), House, Babylon 5 – I think I got them all... a few of those were one time only deals, but a lot of them have more (anywhere from 2-52 (or more still!) ranging from 100 word drabbles, to thousands of words – hey I’ve been writing fic for 21 years... you tend to amass a lot of fandoms...

6. List your OTP from each fandom you’ve been involved in.

Oh geez, here we go, lol! Okay...

Stargate SG-1: Jack O’Neill/Daniel Jackson

Stargate Atlantis: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard

Star Trek: Elim Garak/Julian Bashir, Chakotay/Tom Paris, Jonathan Archer/Malcolm Reed, James Kirk/Spock – I don’t particularly have an ‘otp’ in TNG, the couple I’ve written were Picard/Data, I’ve also dabbled reading Data/Gordi)

Marvel: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark

Kingsman: Harry Hart/Eggsy Unwin

Person of Interest: Harold Finch/John Reese

Due South: Benton Fraser/Ray K

Quantum Leap: Sam/Al

Firefly: Malcolm Reynolds/Simon Tam

Buffy/Angel Verse: Buffy/Giles, Angel/Spike, Xander/Spike, Willow/Tara

Harry Potter: Harry/Draco, Harry/Hermione, Harry/Hermione/Draco

The Sentinel: Jim/Blair

Torchwood: Jack/Ianto

Hawaii Five-O: Steve/Danno

Shadowhunters: Magnus/Alec

Sherlock: Sherlock/John, Mycroft/Lestrade

Primeval: Nick Cutter/Stephen Hart, James Lester/Hilary Becker Emmerdale: Robert Sugden/Aaron Dingle

NCIS: Gibbs/DiNozzo CSI: Nick Stokes/David Hodges, Mac/Danny, Horatio/Speed White Collar: Neal/Peter/Elizabeth

Empire Records: Joe/Lucas

Bull: Benny/Jason

Diagnosis Murder: Steve/Jesse

I’ve left a few out where I don’t have particular OTPs

7. List your NoTPs from each fandom you’ve been in.

Here we go again... lol!

Stargate SG-1: Jack/Sam, I just... no. I’ve read a few where it’s a background or secondary pairing, but it always makes me wince a bit. I’ve read a few with Sam/Daniel as a secondary pairing that didn’t make me react that way and I’ve read Sam with other characters, but Jack/Sam just is a nope for me.

Stargate Atlantis: McKay/Keller – no, just no. that was horrible. She treated him like... awfully, trying to change him to suit her, just... no.

Marvel: Contentious, but Tony/Pepper, also Peter Parker/Tony Stark. Maybe because I saw the movies before I ever looked at the comics, but meh.

Due South: Benton Fraser/Ray V – again, contentious, but honestly I think Ray V was kind of a shit friend to Fraser.

Firefly: Anything with Jayne. No really, I just can not stand the character. I spent most of the series wanting to punch him in the face and sometimes you get characters you love to hate, but I just hated him.

Buffy/Angel Verse: Buffy/Spike, Willow/Kennedy

Harry Potter: Ron/Hermione, Ron/Harry, Harry/Ginny... basically, Ron and Ginny should just be loveless hermits who live by themselves. Ok, no, that isn’t fair... but as much as Ron was Harry’s first friend, he was selfish and bitter and Ginny/Harry just... never sat right with me. Ron literally says she spent ‘all summer talking about’ Harry, when she’d met him for all of three seconds. She didn’t know him. It always felt like she fell more in love with the *idea* of Harry Potter, than Harry Potter himself.

Sherlock: Sherlock/Molly, he’d eat her for breakfast. Serious, she’d never survive him.

Primeval: Oliver Leek and anyway. Arg. Creepy little dude is creepy and evil.

NCIS: Ziva/DiNozzo – ugh, just no.

Again, I’ve left out ones where I don’t have particular NoTPs

8. How did you get involved in your latest fandom?

Tumblr, god damned bitches posting gifs of pretty boys falling in love, roped me in!

9. What are the best things about your current fandom?

I dabble in several fandoms at once... but if we go by ‘most recently picked up’ as ‘current’ we’re talking Ballum, which hey, it’s always fun to have an actual canon pairing be my OTP, that’s rare for me, lol.

10. Is there a fandom you read fic from but don’t write in?

Well (so far) I haven’t written any Ballum. (I say so far, because I’m a realist, lol). I rarely read in fandoms and not end up writing in them at some point. Although I have probably dabbled in a few I’ve not written for, but if I read it with any sort of consistency, I mostly end up writing it. I am weak!

Ship Questions for your Current Fandom

11. Who is your current OTP?

Okay, so that list above, just basically go with that. While I do drop in and hour of fandoms and some I certainly read in more than others, I do tend to go back to fandoms... If we were talking about what I’m mostly focused on writing atm... Steve/Tony, Mycroft/Lestrade, Harry/Draco and Robron are ones I’m currently working on most.

12. Who is your current OT3?

I’m not currently writing anything that’s OT3 with any real focus. I have a couple of Neal/Peter/Elizabeth WiPs that I will at some point finish, but they aren’t a big focus just now. I did recently read a fabulous Neal/Peter/Elizabeth fic that’s been on my tbr list for ages.

13. Any NoTPs?

Just... see above, lol!

14. Go on, who are your BroTPs?

Harry Hart/Merlin, those two are Bro’s until the end and I will fight you on this. Also, Eggsy/Roxy! OMG they are such a BroTP! And Tony/Pepper/Rhodey – I may no like Tony/Pepper as a pairing, but I love them as best friends and of course, our Rhodes, because again, I will fight you on this, they are awesome and Tony needs his best friends!

15. Is there an obscure ship which you love?

I’m not sure there is. I suppose I’ve read a few fics for some random pairings over the years, but nothing that’s made me really ship-ship them. I like Clint Barton/Bucky Barnes, after seeing it as a secondary pairing in a Steve/Tony fic, but I’ve seen that pop up a few times since, so maybe it won’t stay obscure for long!

16. Are their any popular ships in your fandom which you dislike?

Jack/Sam, Tony/Pepper, Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Buffy/Spike – they all seem to be het pairings, oops. But I am mostly a slash fic reader/writer, so I suppose that’s not too surprising.

17. Who was your first OTP and are they still your favourite?

Jack/Daniel from Stargate SG-1. I still love them. I still read them, although it has been a while since I’ve written them on their own (I have got some SG-1/SGA x-overs where they feature)

18. What ship have you written the most about?

I’m genuinely not sure... without going and counting (and I’m not going any counting!) I’d guess Jack/Daniel, McKay/Sheppard, Jack/Ianto and Steve/Danno.

19. Is there a ship which you wished you could get behind, but you just don’t feel them?

No, not that I can think off. I either like it or not. I do occasionally feel bad for not reading a fic if it’s an author I really like, but I don’t read that fandom or pairing, but nothing specific.

20. Any ships which you surprised yourself by liking?

Robron and Ballum, lol. I do not do soaps!

Author Questions

21. What was the first fanfic you ever wrote?

Stargate SG-1, Jack/Daniel, a story called The Dare, The Disaster, The Almost Happy Ending, And The Very Happy Ending – it was awful. Don’t go looking, lol!

22. Is there anything you regret writing?

Don’t we all? No, I wouldn’t specifically say so. There are certainly fics, especially older ones, I wish I could have written better, but nothing I’d go, ugh I should never have done that.

23. Name a fic you’ve written that you’re especially fond of & explain why you like it.

Uh... honestly that’s really hard. I... um... yeah, I don’t know, really. I wrote a nice little flower one in POI that I felt worked rather beautifully. The Language of Flowers. An I wrote an SGA fic for NaNo a few years ago, called A Different Life, but it’s not online, because I didn’t finish it yet and I knew I wasn’t going to finish it any time soon, so I didn’t feel it was fair to leave it up unfinished (there is a reason I don’t read WiP fics and I don’t post them either, because I know how much I hate unfinished WiPs) Edit: After writing this I reminded myself of a POI fic I wrote called Hours of Separation – It’s a Harold/John break up story that I always intended to write a sequel too where I ‘fixed’ them, but I just couldn’t do it. I broke them a little too well. But I really love it actually.

24. What fic do you desperately need to rewrite or edit?

The afore mentioned A Different Life needs to be edited and finished, lol! Also a Primeval fic with the working title Crypt Keeper (don’t ask) that I worked myself into a bit of a corner on and I figure out how to fix it, but I haven’t done it yet, so it’s still needs fixing and finishing, lol!

25. What’s your most popular fanfic?

I haven’t the foggiest.

26. How do you come up with your fanfic titles?

Sometimes, really easily, a quote, a line from the fic, a song title... other times it’s like pulling teeth, hence working titles on things like ‘crypt keeper’ which is a reference to one scene near the very start and has no actual hint of the plot, lol!

27. What do you hate more: Coming up with titles or writing summaries?

Oh the titles. Summaries you can just copy a few lines from the fic if you are desperate, if you had to post ‘untitled mcshep fic #67’ people would get cranky, lol, hell I’d get cranky!

28. If someone were to draw a piece of fanart for your story, which story would it be and what would the picture be of?

Oh... I... huh. I mean who wouldn’t love fanart for their stories? Any of them honestly! But if I had to choose just one... I guess something in my Animal Instinct verse, which is Primeval (although I always intended to write other fandoms in the verse) where some people transform into animals, based on their ‘spirit animal’ and some art of the characters with their spirit animal form would be awesome.

29. Do you have a beta reader? Why/Why not?

Sometimes, look if you’ve read this far, you know I write in a lot of fandoms, lol. In some fandoms it’s easier than others to find beta readers. Also, sometimes if it’s just something short, I won’t bother. But I do try for my longer fics.

30. What inspires you to write?

That old adage, if you want to read it, sometimes you just have to write it? Spite? Boredom? Honestly sometimes I just have ideas I have to get out of my brain and it’s write or go mad(der)

31. What’s the nicest thing someone has ever said about your writing?

That it inspired them to write something.

32. Do you listen to music when you write or does music inspire you? If so, which band or genre of music does it for you?

Sometimes, sometimes I find it distracting when writing because I end up singing along and forgetting what I’m writing, lol! I do sometimes get inspiration from songs, I guess mostly from the lyrics, but no particular band or genre – although I listen to a lot of country music!

33. Do you write oneshots, multi-chapter fics or huuuuuge epics?

Little from column a, little from column b... littler still from column c...

34. What’s the word count on your longest fic?

Around 60k, I think.

35. Do you write drabbles? If so, what do you normally write them about?

I have. Primeval had/has a week drabble challenge, mostly when I’ve written drabbles it’s been for a challenge, with a specific prompt.

36. What’s your favourite genre to write?

Uh... I mean, my fandoms really span the genres, but I guess sci-fi or crime are probably my favourites.

37. First person or third person - what do you write in and why?

Third mostly, I have occasionally written in first person, if it felt like the fic needed it.

38. Do you use established canon characters or do you create OCs?

Little from column a, little from column b... it depends on the fandom and the story. Sometimes you just need more characters, mostly they are minor roles, I don’t tend to write much established character/oc fic

39. What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Ability to convince myself people will want to read it, lol! No actually to be honest, I love to know people read and like my stuff, but I gave up a long time ago on trying to ‘please’ people with what I write. I write what I want to read.

40. What do you struggle the most with in your writing?

Focus. The problem with 21 years of fandom history, is well... 21 years of fandom history. A lot of fandoms, a lot of pairings and as I say, I never really ‘leave’ a fandom, I just drop in and out and sometimes that means I’ll write on something consistently for weeks or months and then end up getting distracted by another fandom again and not touch it for weeks or months again. Hence, I don’t post WiP fics, because I know I’m easily distracted and don’t want anyone to suffer my lack of focus but me.

Fanfiction Questions

41. List and link to 5 fanfics you are currently reading:

I don’t read WiP fics, so yeah... but 5 I’ve recently read in different fandoms that I’ve really enjoyed

Turns Out, I Have a Rose Garden by betheflame (Steve Rogers/Tony Stark)

Lucky by china_shop (Neal Caffery/Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke)

Colors by Quesarasara (Sherlock/John)

Betrayal by Blackghost7 (Gibbs/DiNozzo)

Matchmaker (Part 1 of the Marmalade Series) by HastaLux, Mottlemoth (Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade)

42. List and link to 5 fanfiction authors who are amazing:

See now this is hard, because... ahh so many...

FredBassett – Primeval author, her Stephen/Ryan series is epic and brilliant and endless

https://archiveofourown.org/users/fredbassett/pseuds/fredbassett

Keira Marcos – I know other people will have said her, I don’t care. I love all her stuff, across all the fandoms she writes in

http://keiramarcos.com/

theapplepielifestyle – her Steve/Tony is amazing. Hands down some of the best I’ve ever read. I will fight you on this.

https://archiveofourown.org/users/theappleppielifestyle/pseuds/theappleppielifestyle

JillyJames – her Tony DiNozzo is a real life grown up... exactly as he should be considered given he’s a goddamn federal agent!

https://jillyjames.com/

missbecky – I’ve read pretty much all her Steve/Tony and Harry/Eggsy and it’s awesome.

https://archiveofourown.org/users/missbecky

Honestly, I could have listed so many more, but, I’m being good!

43. Is there anyone in your fandom who really inspires you?

Everyone. The thing is, fandom at it’s best is like crack, the more you get, the more you want. The writing, the gifs, the art... it feeds you and makes you want to make more of it, because more of it needs to exist and if that means you need to do it yourself, so be it!

44. What ship do you feel needs more attention?

ALL OF THEM!

45. What is your all time favourite fanfic?

Oh hell no, not even, I can not. It took me an hour to narrow down 5 authors, I can not narrow down one fanfic!

46. If someone was to read one of your fanfics, which fic would you recommend to them and why?

I mean, it depends on what they like... probably the Hour of Separation I mentioned above, if they like the fandom/pairing, or my Animal Instinct stuff.

47. Archive Of Our Own, Fanfiction.net or Tumblr - where do you prefer to post and why?

Archive of our Own. I haven’t touched ff.net in *years* since they started getting super restrictive about what you could post. I do occasionally post stuff to tumblr, but mostly I now post to AO3. I did have my own site and I’ve yet to upload a lot of stuff to AO3 – one of these... months... that will be a project – but it’s amazing. Seriously, having been in fandom 20+ years, going from having to search all over a million different places and now it’s all in one place, where we’re honestly, spoiled and protected. The kids now have no idea how crazy impossible that once seemed.

48. Do you leave reviews when you read fanfiction? Why/Why not?

Yes, but not as often as I should. I love AO3s kudos button, so I can sort of say ‘hey I enjoyed this’ without having to comment, because I sort of hate leaving comments just going ‘hey I enjoyed this’ because I always feel like I should say more, like, oh I enjoyed this specific thing, which yes is an unnecessary hang-up, but there ya go.

49. Do you care if people comment/reblog your writing? Why/why not?

Of course it’s nice to get comments, kudos, reblogs etc. I’m not as attached to them now as I was when I was younger, because I learned along the way that it was more important that I like what I’m writing than that other people do, but it’s still nice to know that something I’ve created is enjoyed.

50. How did you get into reading and/or writing fanfiction?

I went looking for Star Trek Voyager stuff online, pics etc, waaaaaaay back when! And I came across fanfiction entirely by accident... and I read some – het stuff mostly, then I started watching Stargate SG-1, went looking for fanfiction for that, but was not on board with Jack/Sam, found Jack/Daniel went ‘huh really? That’s weird’ read it... and yeah... 21 years later... lol!

51. Rant or Gush about one thing you love or hate in the world of fanfiction! Go!

Ship Wars. No seriously, just don’t. Like, who the actual fuck cares. I like my ship, you like your ship. I don’t care if it’s canon or not. I don’t care if it’s popular or not. I don’t read my NoTPs, but I’d never dream of telling someone else not too. Yes I think they are terrible, bad, no good pairings, but that’s *my* opinion. Don’t try to change my mind and I won’t try to change yours. I avoid them like the actual plague. If someone starts that shit around me, I will shut it right down. You are a dick. Go to Jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect £200.

#fandom life #fandom

9 notes · View notes

set-phasers-to-whump · 4 years

Text

not invincible

X=done, O=taken

Prompt: fevers

Whumpee: Will Riker

Fandom: Star Trek TNG

For: @has-a-blonde-sidekick

team riker whump let’s gooooooo,,,hope u like this!!!

Will Riker was not the type of person that would go to Sickbay at the slightest inconvenience. Or the largest one, really. He had more important things to do than be injured or sick.

Like today, for example. He had the responsibility of leading a small away mission to a new Federation colony to deliver some supplies and check up on the colonists’ progress. While this wasn’t exactly a thrilling exploration, he enjoyed visiting colonies, and besides, he could get some real fresh air, maybe even take a little nature walk-the holodeck, for all its capabilities, really couldn’t compare to the bona fide outdoors.

Maybe a walk in nature would lessen the pounding in his head. It had begun as soon as he had woken up, spiked dramatically when he’d gotten up out of his bed, so that he’d had to collapse back onto it for a second, and then mellowed out into something tolerable but irritating. Not the end of the world, he figured.

He’d skipped breakfast, having felt extremely and decidedly Not Hungry, and arrived for his shift on the Bridge slightly earlier than he needed to. He chatted with a young Ensign who had also shown up for shift early until shift began, at which point he gratefully sank down into his chair next to the Captain. Why did his legs ache? He hadn’t done any strenuous exercise involving them recently.

“Morning, sir.”

“Good morning, Will. Sleep well?”

Not really. He’d woken up twice in the middle of the night, the first time feeling entirely too hot, the second entirely too cold. “I slept fine. Any important news yet?”

“Nothing. The colonists are expecting our visit at 1100 hours.”

He nodded, then relaxed into his chair. He had a few hours of hopefully-not-much before he had to do anything. He’d be fine by then, he told himself. He just needed a minute to relax, or something.

The morning was filled with usual, menial activity. Reports came and went, small talk was made, and the ship cruised along at warp three, uninterrupted by anything out of the ordinary.

They arrived at the colony slightly ahead of schedule, and its leader invited the away team down at once, if they wished, to have a look around.

Ordinarily, Riker would have been appreciative of the chance to explore the colony, but as the morning had progressed, his headache had grown more intense, not to mention he’d steadily felt colder and colder, yet he was pretty sure he was sweating. He was sick, he knew. But not that sick, not really. Certainly nothing worthy of a trip to Sickbay.

He took a second to mentally prepare himself for the task of standing up, and called to the members of his away team-“Data, Worf, with me. A science officer will meet us in Transporter Room Three.”

He stood up and wavered on his feet for a moment as black dots swam in his field of vision. Picard reached out and steadied him by the elbow.

“Are you alright, Number One?”

He jerked his elbow out of Picard’s grasp, a little harder than he’d perhaps meant to. “I’m fine. Sir.”

Picard looked at him, something like worry on his face. He looked as if he might say something, but didn’t. He sat back down, and the three members of the away team stepped into the turbolift.

Riker leaned-what he hoped was subtly-against the wall of the turbolift. His legs, apparently having decided that aching was not enough, had begun to shake slightly, and, while he didn’t think it was noticeable to the others, it was certainly noticeable to him. Stop shaking, he thought at himself, as though that would do anything.

But if the others noticed anything unusual about him, they didn’t mention it. The three arrived at the transporter room, where they were met by Lieutenant Alvarez, a science officer specializing in horticulture, who would be checking up on the colony’s plant life. The four of them beamed down, and were immediately greeted by a smiling woman with dirt on her clothes and mud in her hair.

“Good morning, officers! I do apologize for my messy state, I’ve been tending the gardens all morning. They’re doing just marvellously, by the way-but let me show you!”

Data and Lieutenant Alvarez followed her, while Worf and Riker each picked up a box of supplies and headed towards the main building of the colony.

Ordinarily, a large, heavy box would have been no problem for Riker, who was, after all, very capable of lifting heavy things. However, the universe seemed to really have it out for him today-his palms were sweaty and he kept almost losing his grip, his legs were still shaking, and now his arms had decided to join in as well, plus his head was still pounding. He nearly lost his footing several times on the fairly short walk, and by the time he arrived, Worf was already inside, his box having been placed on a table. Its contents were being unpacked by a small group of colonists, who were attempting to engage in conversation with him and finding it difficult.

As soon as Riker stepped into the room, the box fell out of his hands and to the floor. It landed the right way up, as though he’d carelessly dropped it on the ground instead of losing his grip on it. His hands were shaking, he noticed, and he looked down at them, and then looked up, to where everyone in the room was looking at him.

“Didn’t mean to drop that quite so hard,” he said, in what he hoped was a lighthearted tone. He picked the box back up, or did his best to, and Worf came to his side, taking the box from him and gently setting it on the table like it weighed nothing at all.

“Are you...okay, Commander?”

“Of course, yeah. I just...lost my grip on the box, that’s all.”

Worf looked at him skeptically but said nothing. He headed outside, nodding slightly at the confused-looking colonists who had watched that whole exchange.

Riker also turned to the colonists, nodded sharply (which made the pain in his head spike once again), and followed Worf out of the building.

The two of them milled around for a few minutes, waiting for the other two members of the away team to return, so that they might discuss how the colony was progressing. Or rather, Worf milled around, wandering among the colony’s few buildings as though he were inspecting them for safety violations. Riker simply stood in the dirt, watching the scenery around him tilt and blur, feeling like his whole being was slowly melting.

He attempted to lessen this feeling in the only way that made sense to his fever-ridden mind, and sat down on the ground, placing his head between his knees. This accomplished nearly nothing, but he wasn’t in danger of collapsing and falling to the ground any longer, so he counted that as a win, somewhere in the back of his mind.

Somewhere even further in the back of his mind, he recognized that he had to be nearly delirious with fever, but that thought was overrun by the more pressing matter of said fever, which was making it very difficult for him to do any kind of thinking beyond “everything hurts and I might be dying.”

Through his distorted vision, Riker managed to make out a shape advancing toward him. As that shape got closer, it resolved itself into the muddled form of Worf. Without thinking, Riker shot to his feet, not wanting to be caught sitting down in the dirt for no good reason.

This was, naturally, an extremely foolish idea, as he had no sooner shot to his feet than he was pitching forward, an intense wave of dizziness knocking him too far off balance to possibly recover. He nearly fell to the ground, but was stopped at the last second by a pair of arms which caught him and pushed him back into a standing position.

He most likely would have collapsed again, but the owner of the arms had apparently realized that something was wrong, and had placed hands firmly on his shoulders to prevent that outcome.

Riker slowly blinked his eyes open, trying to clear the fog of dizziness. His eyes made out the gold color of an Operations uniform, and he became dimly aware that someone was speaking to him.

“Commander!”

“Hm?”

A hand came up hesitantly to his forehead and was quickly withdrawn. “Commander, your temperature appears to be far too warm. Are you ill?”

“Worf?”

“Yes.”

Had he been about to say something? There had been something he’d needed to say...what was it again?

A sharp tap to the side of his face brought his thoughts back into reality. “Commander!”

“I feel...really bad,” he managed to say, feeling his words slide and melt into each other. “Hurts.”

“What hurts, Commander?”

“Dunno. Everything.”

He decided he’d said enough at this point, and simply slumped forward into Worf’s arms. Everything was so very uncomfortable, and he just wanted to fall asleep and wake up and feel better.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The next time he woke up, he was lying face up on a couch which was most definitely not aboard the Enterprise. He was freezing, and his head still hurt.

“Wh’re am I?”

“You are in the home of Miss Marion Jones, one of the colonists, Commander,” said Data, from somewhere to his right. Riker attempted to look for him, moving his head, but felt something-something very cold-slip off of his forehead.

“Don’t move, please,” came the voice of the woman who’d greeted them-Marion, Riker took it.

Whatever had slipped off his forehead was put back. He clumsily reached up a hand to move it. “What is that?” he muttered. “‘S cold.”

“It’s just a cold cloth, Commander. You have a dangerously high fever, nearly 104 degrees,” said Marion.

“Oh.”

He thought for a moment, doing his best to process. “Why...why am I not back on the ship, then?”

“Electromagnetic storm,” piped up Lieutenant Alvarez. “Not a big one, but bad enough to interfere with transporter function. The colonists estimate it will take about an hour to pass.”

“Oh.”

“You will be fine,” Data added. “The colonists lack sophisticated medical supplies, but they are well versed in basic Earth medicine, and they are confident that, providing they keep your fever below 104 degrees, you shall not sustain any damage.”

He supposed he should have been grateful for this news, but he was freezing and achy and once again on the edge of delirium, so he said nothing beyond a simple “mm.” of agreement.

Throughout the following hour, the fully lucid members of the away team took turns talking with the few colonists who had congregated in the house and trying to make contact with the Enterprise.

Marion made tea for the group, and she and Alvarez chatted about the plants she was hoping to grow in the coming years. Data engaged in conversation with two children who had come by who were fascinated by the idea of an android. Even Worf found a suitable conversation partner, a young woman with a passion for studying weaponry. The room was filled with quiet chatter, and it would have been a lovely, peaceful scene, if it weren’t for the underlying worry for the Commander’s state-while his temperature was not yet dangerous, it had most likely been rising all day, and there was no guarantee that it would not continue to do so. Therefore, every few minutes, someone would check up on him and report his status to the group.

This went on for perhaps half an hour, at which point the storm reached its peak. Conversation had reached a lull, cups of tea had been emptied, and a tense silence filled the room.

This was the scene to which Riker awoke, his mind hazy, his thoughts still jumbled. He groaned lightly and tried to sit up. A gentle hand was placed on his chest, stopping his movement.

“Still here?” he asked clumsily.

“Yes, Commander,” replied Data, sitting down on the floor next to the couch. “The storm has reached a peak, however, and the colonists estimate it will be over within twenty minutes.”

Twenty minutes should not have seemed like a long time, because it wasn’t, but to Riker, it seemed like an eternity.

“Twenty minutes? That’s...that’s so long.”

Data might have said something in reply, but his ears suddenly chose to not cooperate, and whatever was said was lost in a distorted garble. He felt so bad…

He woke up the next time to near silence. He could hear faint voices coming from somewhere, and attempted to focus on them.

“-gets much worse and I don’t know what else we can do. The electromagnetic interference should fade within another half hour, maybe even less, but-”

Another half hour? He was so tired of being here, of being sick...but what could he do?

The answer was, obviously, get up and leave. He was fully capable of that, right? He had to be. So he stood up and made his way towards the door. His hand was on the knob when he felt himself be pulled away, and he reached desperately out for the door.

“Commander, you cannot leave. You should not be standing,” Worf instructed, steering him back to the couch.

“‘M fine. Don’t wanna be here.”

“I do not wish you to be here either, Commander. However, it will be only a few minutes before we can beam back to the ship.”

“You said half ‘n hour.”

“Lieutenant Worf said that twenty minutes ago,” Data informed him. “The electromagnetic radiation has nearly dissipated.”

“Oh.” Time, apparently, did all sorts of strange things when you weren’t capable of paying attention to it. “That’s nice.”

He drifted in and out of consciousness for the next several minutes, until he heard the distinctive voice of Captain Picard come through a combadge. “Understood, Mr. Data. One to beam directly to Sickbay.”

The next instant, he was lying on the floor in Sickbay. Someone hauled him to his feet and said something which he couldn’t quite make out, and he blacked out once again.

He woke up the next time feeling uncomfortably warm and a great deal less achy.

“How are you feeling, Will?” came the voice of Dr. Crusher.

He looked up at her and managed a small smile. “Hot. But better.”

She smiled back. “Your fever’s broken. It was already starting to come down when you beamed back up, but I gave you a little something to speed it up. You’ll be back on your feet in no time.”

“Thanks.”

“Although,” Dr. Crusher began, and he cringed inwardly, knowing exactly where this was going, “if you had just come to me this morning, you could have avoided most of your suffering.”

“It wasn’t that bad this morning,” he defended.

“Really? Jean-Luc told me you nearly collapsed on the Bridge. Why he didn’t stop you then…” she drifted off, then looked at him with a glare that wasn’t really angry, more just...concerned.

He couldn’t think of what to say besides, “sorry.”

“It’s okay, Will. Just please come to me next time? You don’t have to be strong and invincible all the time, you know.”

He nodded. “I guess.”

She ran a hand through his hair, which he noted, belatedly, was plastered to his forehead with sweat. “Get some sleep,” she advised.

He did.

*insert obligatory “I know the ending isn’t that great, sorry” here* Thanks for reading this!!!!!! Hope it was alright!!!!

#bad things happen bingo #fevers #fever #sick #delirium #will riker #star trek tng #my writing #i say things #i looked up fever symptoms for this one and i was about to try and add the website to my nonexistent works cited page sjkdfhjdfhs #anyway hope this was ok!!!!

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sttngfashion · 5 years

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“Picard” Trailer – Captain’s Fashions

Those of you who have been with us for a while may know that, while we know and love all of the Stars Trek, our deep passion is for TNG. There are a lot of reasons why this is so, ranging from the clothes in TNG have a different level of pure-bonks than any of other series, to the fact that WE WERE RAISED ON THIS AND WE JUST LOVE IT.

So even as the franchise has been getting revived in different ways, while these new iterations were exciting, they weren’t quite hitting our sweet spot (well, I don’t want to speak for Anna, they weren’t hitting my sweet spot).

That changed this weekend.

youtube

Damn right that’s a prime teaser, f*ck.

Trailers are actually kind of hard to examine fashions through, because there’s so much footage and its hard to get a good screengrab of things, so I’ve limited myself to taking a close look at the fashion that really matters: the Picardwear.

Spoiler alert: the watchword for this series is “practical comfort.” Okay, I don’t actually know how any of these costumes fit or feel, but considering the troubled past between Starfleet Uniforms and Patrick Stewart’s spine, I think we can all agree he’s earned some casual wear.

Heathered fabric for a Heathers-like shot

I’m actually a little ashamed to admit that I assumed that this was Data and then heard rumblings on the internet that it might be some other Noonian creation? I immediately looked away to avoid spoilers. But the real attraction here is this sophisticated looking blazer (I’m assuming its a blazer from the shoulders, but really, anything could be happening on the front of that thing). The fabric looks warm and welcoming, perfect for being comfy during those French vineyard winters, when the vines are leafless and the fog sits low in the orchard. Take special note of that collar, because, friends, we have a recurring theme.

Everyday Essentials by Starfleet

This I suppose isn’t that exciting, and in some ways the fit reminds me a bit of TOS-era clothing. That being said, I’m definitely getting season-7 Captain-isn’t-gonna-wear-no-red-no-more casual vibes. On the other hand, is that... a mock turtle?!

From the Under His Eye collection for Men

I’m sure it must just be a thing in future-fashion at the moment that costume designers believe that in the future all colors will be from the Crayola Bold Box, but this is actually a nice, cozy-looking burgundy sweater (to go with your glass of Bordeaux, way-oh!). Unfortunately we don’t get a head-on look at the garment, but whatever is happening in that ribbed collar region is intriguing and I have time for it. Is there a potential for a sexy partial unbuttoning?

Category is: Indiana Jones Grampa

I mean, slap a beat-up fedora on his head and hand him a whip and some sensible walking shoes, AMIRITE? We should all aspire to jobs where we can dress like this in our seventies.

Also this feels like as good a time as any to think about the circular nature of fashion, both how “late 20th/early 21st century fashions” are coming back into vogue in the Trek-verse, but also the idea that (maybe?) these costume designers feel the need to throw contemporary looks into futuristic stories. Are they worried the kids won’t be able to relate? Because I have definitely seen that sweater at Costco.

Desert-wandering is always business casual

Difficult to make out much here, but thank god he’s undone the top button. Also here’s hoping they’ve figured out sun-skin protection in the 24th century, because that dude is gonna have one rosy scalp otherwise.

Stick a top hat on him and hand him a walking stick, and he could be a friendly narrator for A Christmas Carol or Oliver Twist.

But maybe that’s more a function of Sir Patrick’s unstoppable Englishness. Anyway, this looks like the perfect thing to wear to get plastered at a hotel bar. The brickwork behind him makes me think we might still be in rural France, but those shoulderpads say business. Really solid shirt color choice (literally and figuratively).

Go Bold™, the new line of men’s adventure gear from Banana Republic

I actually really like this look—it’s my second-favorite of the trailer!—the divide between top and bottom on the jacket gives a soupçon of that TNG uniform vibe, while the asymmetrical collar says “It’s the future we do not give a f*ck.” That backpack could be saying “I’m about to trek through the jungle for a Louis Vuitton photoshoot” but it could also be “could I get my cappuccino with oat milk and the WiFi password?” I still have the Indiana Jones theme song stuck in my head, and now so do you. You’re welcome!

Yes, kids, I’ve been spending a lot of time with a woman called Indigo and we had the most wonderful weekend in Taos. I’m not trying to replace your mother, but Indigo makes me very happy.

This is the look that I’m living for. That comfy statement swear, complete with buttons that are almost never actually buttoned, but is still lightly quilted to keep off the chill. And while it fits into the muted rainbow of the future-fashion moment, it has a playful quality to it, which, I guess if I think about it, is what makes the TNG fashions the funnest to write about.

Okay, that’s it for now. But, with rumors being confirmed daily that other TNG friends are returning, I know that I, for one, am *very* excited.

I don’t know about Data but this really got my emotions chip fired up.

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pb1138 · 5 years

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A Mission Gone Wrong

I DID IT!!! I FINALLY DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

“”””Hey i was wondering if you could do a data x reader inly if you have time, i loved your other fics!!! If you could do one where he only realises he loves her after she gets kidnapped and tortured but then disobeys orders to save her. Please make it a happy ending Only if you want though Once again I absolutely loved your fics i keep rereading them Thanks””

Oh my god???? An actual submission??????????????? EEEE!! Sorry if you sent this like…a longass time ago, Ruby. It took me a while to find it, and then obviously a long time to write it. I hope it was worth it!

ANYWAYS. Data x Fem!reader (I hope the fem is ok. It said “her” in the request. I can change it if you’d like.)

Gonna put a warning here: Gonna get graphic up in here. Like super graphic. Like, it’s a torture story m’dudes. There’s gonna be blood and pain. It’s also 9k words long sooooo.

The mission had started out so promising. A simple scan-and-sample mission, common place. Scans had shown no intelligent lifeforms or budding civilizations to get in the way, no threats in the surrounding system. In fact, it was meant to be so easy an assignment that half the crew of the Enterprise was taking shore leave on a rather large satellite—a class M planetoid with miles of beaches, warm, sunny weather, and a naturally occurring spring of alcohol. If Picard hadn’t granted the shore leave, you suspected the crew may have mutinied.

It worked out well, in the end. The planet offered some unusual resources, materials never before studied by Starfleet. Of course, Data had jumped at the opportunity to study them. Through your engineering expertise (Riker had once referred to you as a “grease monkey,”) you’d made friends with Geordi and subsequently Data, so when you heard he had elected to go on this mission you volunteered as well. You have a background in geology and xenobotany from growing up on your agrarian home planet, and Picard agreed this knowledge could prove useful. (You suspected Data had also personally appealed to him on your behalf.) In addition to your team were a young, bright eyed lieutenant well versed in xenobiology, and three standard security personnel, though nobody really expected them to be of any use to you. To say you were excited to have this time with Data would be an understatement. Three years is a long time to form a friendship, and if you were honest with yourself, he’d been more than a friend to you for quite a significant portion of that time. Part of you had hoped, however foolishly, that when he got his emotion chip that he might reciprocate your feelings, but unfortunately it seemed you would not have the honor of being Data’s first love. It was difficult to push past, but at least you now knew he actually enjoyed your company. Since his emotion chip had been put in, the friendship between the two of you had only grown stronger, if not deeper.

It was going smoothly, the scans promising, the samples ready for study. The planet itself was lovely—a woodland type environment with a plethora of large, beautiful flowers, vines, even the trees were pretty. The sun shone down through the canopy of the trees in such a way that it almost felt like twilight, despite the sun never setting. It was a little hard to focus on the task at hand in such a beautiful place, but Data’s enthusiasm for the discoveries at hand were enough to keep you working.

The ambush was surprisingly effective. Sensors didn’t pick them up, and they moved easily, silently. There had been an explosion, the others in the team dead upon impact, but from your place a few meters away, Data had enough time to grab you and shield you from the blast. A second hit came, but not an explosion this time, something else, like a shockwave, and suddenly you were being crushed. Data was sprawled over you, eyes unfocused, jaw slack. “Data?” You’d asked, struggling to push his unmoving body off you. A fog was being filtered in from somewhere nearby, and it made your body feel heavy and weak. It was quickly becoming difficult to breathe under Data’s weight. “Data, please, I can’t breathe.”

There was a series of strange clicking sounds a few feet away, and you turned your head to look for the source. Your universal translator kicked in after a moment, allowing you to catch the last of what was said. “…survivors. Wait. Look there. Still alive. Take it. Good specimen.” Your vision was beginning to blacken, but you could make out something moving toward you on multiple unsteady feet. Instinctively, you tried to wrap your arms around Data to protect him, but you could only manage the strength for one. Just before you passed out, a face leaned down into your view, lightly blue skinned with shockingly bright, glowing green eyes. Several of them, in fact. “Intriguing. Protective towards synthetic. May be important.” The creature reached out a spindly talon, long and slender, as if to touch you, and darkness swallowed you.

Xxx

The chains clink softly against the wall, rhythmically, tauntingly. The bite of the cold metal digging into your wrists is the only thing keeping you awake, giving you focus. The small bit of light streaming in through the slat in the ceiling allowed you to watch the slow dripping of water from the wall ahead of you. How long had you been here? It felt like weeks, but it could easily have only been a day. The sun never set on this planet, no nighttime to witness the passing of days. The water was your only source of timeframe, but that was useless given that it leaked down between the stone slats on the cold floor rather than pooling. Seven hundred forty…two? or was it four?… Shit. With a sigh, you adjusted your legs, stretching them in front of you. You’d lost count again, for who knows how many times.

There was no escaping this room. You hated to admit that you’d given up, because a Starfleet officer never gives up, but in truth you’d run out of ideas. The room was small-ish, maybe 3 meters by 3 meters, but tall, well over 8 meters. There were no doors, no windows, only the source of the drip and the slat in the ceiling, and unless you suddenly could turn yourself into goo, that wasn’t even remotely an option. You doubted even your hand could fit through it. The walls and floor were made of thick, dark stone, impenetrable without a weapon. Even your chains were unbreakable, made of some strange metal you’d never seen before, sturdy, thick, no way to break them or break out of them.

And so you sat. And counted. And waited. And despite your best efforts, the worry that had settled into your gut flared back up again, turning your mind to Data. Your fists clenched at your side, biting hard against the restraints. Where was he? Was he still lying there among your deceased colleagues? Was he even alright? That blast had done something to him, basically turned him off, and you’d never seen that happen before. Along with the worry that was overwhelming you came a twinge of guilt. You knew it was ridiculous—you couldn’t have prevented the attack, couldn’t have done anything to save any of them—but knowing Data could be in danger or worse because he was protecting you? It was the worst feeling in the world. Another pang of guilt, because here you sat, worrying about Data, feeling sorry for yourself, when your fellow crewmen were lying dead somewhere. Did Enterprise know what had happened? Would they come for you? Would they even know you were alive? You let your head drop, staring at the pores in the stone, and tears came.

Drip. One… Drip. Two…

Xxx

Data’s systems were rebooted some time after the attack. His internal clock indicated that it had been precisely 13 hours, 53 minutes, and 12 seconds. He pushed himself to his feet quickly and took stock of his systems. .03% slower than normal parameters but functioning nonetheless. He turned to survey the area and frowned. The accompanying away team was dead, a result of the original explosion. The phasers and tricorders were completely unusable, indicative of a strong EMP which likely accounted for his temporary shut down.

With a sudden jolt, a new emotion filled him, made him vibrate with worry and his system’s equivalent to adrenaline. Where were you? Tapping his comm device, he called, “Data to Lieutenant…” He paused, turning on his heel. “Lieutena…” There. He stepped quickly, eyes scanning until he found it. A communicator device, lying underneath a bush. He picked it up and turned it in his hands. Yours. Without a doubt. Upon the back was the nick that you’d accidentally placed in it while working with a laser cutter. Scowling, Data clenched the communicator in his fist and spun around, eyes scanning every square centimeter of the surrounding area. When he could not find you, he set out in search, calling your name. You could be injured, or worse for all he knew.

After nearly half an hour of intense searching without even the smallest of signs, he stopped despite his best instincts and growled, punching a tree. With a trembling hand, he activated his comm device. “Commander Data to Enterprise.”

Xxx

A loud rumbling sound jerked you from your thoughts, and you scrambled to your shaky feet. The wall across from you split apart in the middle, blinding you with a sudden burst of light. Before your eyes could adjust, there were hands upon you, disconnecting your cuffs from the wall, pushing you forward. You stumbled, feet heavy beneath you, but complied. You were taken out into a long hallway, tall and wide. Once your eyes adjusted to the light, you turned to look at your captors, and immediately had to suppress a shudder. They resembled Terran arachnids in a way—standing on four long, spindly legs which connected to a sort of thorax, two arms on either side of their body, their hands holding six long, spindly talon-like fingers, heads held aloft by disturbingly thin and long necks, nearly a dozen eyes embedded in their heads. You’d never seen a creature like them before, never even heard of something resembling their description. Data would be fascinated, you thought dismally, and again he returned to your thoughts. Would he come for you?

You didn’t have long to ponder your unnaturally white knight in golden armor. The creatures brought you to a large set of doors as high as the ceiling which parted slowly. They pushed you into the room beyond, a dark, humid place wherein every little sound echoed violently from the walls. It was too dark for you to see even your own feet, but you could feel eyes upon you from every angle. The creatures threw you down to your knees in what you estimated was the center of the room. There was tugging on the chains that held you before the heavy metal fell to the floor beneath you. You tested it once, a confirmation that they had reattached them firmly to something stationary.

Overhead, a light flicked on, nearly blinding you in the process. You flinched, holding your hand up to cover your eyes and squinted through your fingers. After a few moments, your eyes readjusted, and you were able to make out the general setup of the room you were in. It was like an old earth amphitheater, a large circular room with varying levels upon which about half a dozen of the creatures sat, watching you.

“Interesting.” You turned to see which one had begun talking. It sat on the ring closest to you, an ugly thing which was notably smaller than its companions. “Bipedal. Strange.” It stood up, crossing one set of arms in front of its chest, a note pad of some sort in another of its hands.

You cleared your throat, your Starfleet training kicking in. “My name is—”

“Language. Suggests intelligence. Unexpected.”

You frowned, looking the creature up and down. “I am a lieutenant serving aboard the Federation Starsh—” Before you could finish your sentence, a jolt of electricity emanated from your chains, shooting up your arms and across your body. You yelped in pain and fell off your knees.

“Fascinating. Shows pain.”

You scowled, glaring up at your captors. “I am a lieute—” Another shock, this one longer, stronger, tore a loud shriek from your throat. “—aboard the Federation Starship USS Ent—” one more “—erprise!” You grit your teeth against the pain, doing your best not to give into the pain and cry.

The creatures were whispering all around you, but the leader was sitting, staring at you in silent contemplation. After a long moment, it stood, and a hush fell around the room. It moved slowly and deliberately towards you, its many eyes watching you intently. It stopped a few feet away and leaned its upper body down closer to your level, scrutinizing your features. “Very promising. Excellent specimen. Strong.”

You glared indignantly up at the creature. “State your intentions.” You prayed your voice was as level as you thought it was.

A slow, wide grin spread across the creature’s face, and you had to suppress a shudder when its sharp teeth were revealed. “Intentions? Study.”

A chilly fear settled in your gut. “Study what?”

It leaned down further so that its mouth was near your ear and whispered, “Study you.”

Before you could react, there was an intense pain running from your neck down your arm, and you cried out in pain. The creature was walking backwards now, watching your face. A few tears skimmed down your face when you turned to look at what it had done to you, and bile rose in your throat at the sight of the blood racing down your arm from four long, deep, parallel cuts in your skin.

“Fascinating. Musculature. Circulatory system. Iron-based.” Several of the creatures around the room were jotting down notes, nodding in understanding.

This mission started out so promising.

Xxx

“Scans still show no sign of humanoid life on the planet’s surface, and no vessels in the vicinity.” Data clenched his fist against the helm, a scowl plastered upon his face.

Geordi rested his hand upon his friend’s shoulder from behind. Picard rubbed a hand across his face in exasperation. “No warp trail signatures, no residue, anything?”

Data grit his teeth. “No. Sir.”

“Very well. Number One, Worf, Data, assemble an away team. Do another sweep of the area. There must be something we missed.”

The three men were quick to jump to their feet and join in the turbolift. Worf was already calling for a security team to meet them in the transporter room, though Data hardly heard it. Ever since he awoke upon the planet, a deep sense of…something had been brewing within him, threatening to swallow him whole at any given moment, the only thing on his mind you. He wished with all his might that he could turn his blasted emotion chip off, to focus on the task at hand, but he and Geordi had been unsuccessful in their attempts to de-fuse the chip from his positronic net.

“Data?”

Data snapped out of his thoughts of you and turned to his friends who were looking at him with concern. “My apologies, Commander. I was not listening.”

Riker frowned, his brow furrowed. “Data, are you alright?”

Data opened his mouth to reply, but as he did, the turbolift doors opened. The three men exited and made their way to the transporter room, Riker’s query forgotten.

They landed in the middle of the blast radius, phasers drawn. The corpses of their fallen comrades had been removed, much to Data’s relief. In hindsight, the discovery of their bodies had only worsened his concern for your safety.

“Now, Data, run through what happened just one more time. You were standing here, yes?” Riker pointed to the area that Data had indicated to him earlier.

Data nodded, assuming his position at the location. “Yes, sir. I was standing here, scanning this piece of flora when the sound of an incoming incendiary device registered in my processing system. I calculated the time required to reach the now deceased ensigns and determined that they were too far to help, though Lieutenant Y/L/N was within an acceptable distance. I shielded her from the blast, but soon after an electromagnetic pulse was sent, temporarily deactivating me. When I awoke, I discovered the deceased away team, then found Lietenant Y/L/N’s combadge underneath that bush.” He turned to indicate the bush in question.

Riker paced the area several times while Worf surveyed the perimeter of the blast, rerunning the scans they’d taken before. Riker paused at the bush, then stepped a few feet away, out of Data’s immediate line of sight. Data clenched his fists several times, teeth grinding despite himself. The feeling had reasserted itself when they’d materialized, something he was beginning to believe was intense worry. It was true you were one of his closest friends, so of course it would be understandable that he would be worried about you, but something about it felt deeper than that. He reserved himself to analyzing the sensation at a later time.

They split up and searched for over three hours, spreading out in a circular search pattern which broadened. As the sun came back around to be high over head for the second time that day, Riker called them to a standstill and rubbed his face. “Gentlemen, I think it’s time to call it a day.”

Data frowned. “But, sir—”

Riker patted his friend on the back and looked upon him with pity in his eyes. “Data, I know how deeply this must hit home, but I think we, particularly you, could do more good from the ship than down here. We’ll send out search parties, alright?”

Data pondered his words and looked to Worf. He was scowling at the ground but nodded in agreement. Data clenched his fists twice before nodding. “Yes, sir.”

Riker nodded and patted Data’s arm again. “We’ll find her, Data.” He tapped his combadge and called O��Brien to beam them up.

Xxx

They’d stopped for now, though they continued to watch you. You assumed they were interested in how your species recovered from such pain. Over the past few hours, they’d ramped up the electrocutions before they’d moved on to more…colorful means. Your whole body was aflame with pain. They’d drenched you in freezing liquid (something like water but thicker,) and taken note of your body’s natural reaction to the shock before promptly throwing scalding water at you. Thankfully, your uniform protected you from most of the heat, but your pant leg had been ripped open during your capture, so the flesh there had begun to blister. They’d stretched your bonds apart until one of your shoulders dislocated, something which earned quite a bit of chatter from your captors.

They were watching as you fought to catch your breath, teeth grit against the pain. For what must have been the thousandth time, you croaked, “I am a lieutenant with the Federation Starship USS Enterprise. I demand to know what you want.””

“Enough.”

You looked up at the one who had spoken. She was larger than the others, sat higher up in the theater. The others stopped and turned to look at her. Their queen maybe? You coughed and tried again. “I am a lieute—”

“No matter. Study only.” She moved, stepping smoothly down the stairs until she stood at the lowest level, staring directly at you with glowing eyes. You suppressed a shiver. “What species?”

You narrowed your eyes. “You first.”

There was another shock, causing you to cry out. “Species.”

You scowled. “Human.”

“Human. Unfamiliar. Galactic designation?”

Galactic designation? Planet? Was it safe to give these creatures that kind of information? One look at the queen told you that no, it was not. If their treatment of you was any indication, these beings are less than cordial. You didn’t have to be a Betazoid to know they weren’t just studying you to learn about you. They were having fun.

Another shock. “Galactic designation.”

You growled through the pain. “Bite me.”

Slowly, a grin spread unnaturally far across the queen’s face, revealing several rows of sharp teeth. You swallowed hard, a deep pit of fear welling up within you. She leaned over the railing, her neck stretching out a ways, so close you could almost smell her. “A pleasure.” She leaned back and looked behind you, the grin still plastered upon her unnatural face. “Prepare it.”

Before you could react, your chains were released from the floor, and the creatures were hauling you to your feet by your agonized arms, eliciting a cry. They dragged you backwards until your back hit a hard, flat surface and your chains were pulled taut so that your arms were above your head. “What are you—” The table was flipped abruptly backwards so that you were lying level. You turned to look at your captors. They were dragging out a cart which rattled sinisterly, and just before a bright light shrouded your vision you were able to make out a long, thin knife. You swallowed hard and shut your eyes. Data, now would be a good time to swoop in.

Xxx

Thirty-six hours, forty-six minutes, and eighteen seconds. That is how long you had been missing. Since their return from the planet’s surface, Data had run eighty-three complete scans of the planet and surrounding space, and still there were no signs of you or of your potential captors. There had been round-the-clock away teams sent to the surface to search on foot for anything that might have offset the sensors, but nothing had been found. Not even so much as a hair from your head had been left behind. Data sat in the astrometrics lab, practically vibrating with anger. As the results of the eighty-forth futile scan came in, he stood with a yell and began pacing, a scowl on his face. The doors opened, and though he didn’t turn to look, he knew it was Counselor Troi. “Please, Counselor, not now.”

“Data, I’m sensing—”

He turned, anger apparent in his face. “What? That I am angry? You are most correct, Counselor. I am angry. One of my dearest friends is missing, and I am powerless to do anything about it!”

She crossed over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, frowning. “Data, I’m sorry. I know how difficult this must be for you.”

He was trembling now, and he reached up with a shaking hand to brush his hair back out of his face. “I… I am afraid, Counselor. And I am angry with myself. I should have…”

She shook her head and squeezed his arm. “You mustn’t think like that, Data. You could not have done anything. We’ll find her, don’t worry.”

“Captain Picard to Lieutenant. Data, report to my ready room.”

Troi gave him one last smile before she hugged him, a rare display for Data. They separated after a moment, and he smiled weakly at her. “Thank you, Counselor.” He cleared his throat and tapped his comm. “Acknowledged, Sir.”

The bridge was solemn as Data stepped onto it, and if Data had the programming for it, his hair might have stood on end. Riker nodded to him as he passed, and Data locked eyes with him for a moment before continuing to the Captain’s ready room. Picard bid him enter, but as Data stepped through the threshold, he knew something was wrong. The Captain stood, facing the observation window, his hands folded behind his back. “Captain?”

“Data, please sit down.” Picard turned and took a seat at his desk, folding his hands upon it. Data frowned as he sat. “Have you made any progress?”

Data clenched his fist by his side and shook his head. “No, sir. I have run eighty-three complete scans, but I have been unable to find anything.”

Picard nodded solemnly then sighed. “Data… I know you’re close to the lieutenant.”

“Yes, sir. She is one of my best friends.”

He ran a hand over his face. “That only makes this more difficult.” Visibly uncomfortable, Picard stood and crossed to his replicator where he requested an Earl Grey before taking it to his desk. “I have… I have received a communique from Starfleet Command. The Starship USS Abbot has gone silent, and we are the starship nearest its last reported position. It will take us 26 hours at Warp 9 to reach her where all other starships are weeks away. We have been ordered…” He sighed. “We have been ordered to investigate immediately.”

Data stared at his captain, disbelief spread across his face. “Sir… Are you implying that we give up the search? That we leave Y/N for dead?”

Picard looked down at his tea, his own fists clenched upon his desk. “I… I am afraid that is… precisely what I am implying.” Data jumped to his feet, a protestation already on his lips but the captain raised his hand. “Data. I am truly sorry. Believe me, I would stay and scour every leaf for however long it took, but we have our orders. It has been four days. As such…” He took in a deep breath. “As such, I must now presume the lieutenant to be killed in action. We leave orbit as soon as the final search team has returned.”

Killed in action. Killed. In action. Killed. Killkilledkilldkiledkildkilekilled. Killed. As in dead, deceased, no longer living, gone—Data stared Picard for a long moment before he realized the captain was speaking. Picard seemed to realize Data had zoned out because he paused, allowing Data a moment. After another moment, Data whispered, “Captain, may I be relieved of duty until such a time as we arrive at the Abbot?”

Picard hesitated for a minute before nodding once. He stepped around his desk to stand face to face with Data. “If there’s anything I can do for you, Data, please let me know.”

Data regarded his captain with a masked look before nodding. “Thank you, Sir.”

Picard nodded then stepped back. “You are dismissed.”

Data turned on his heel and practically ran to his quarters. He sat at his terminal and scanned over the final environmental scans once more. Something inside him knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were still alive, that you needed help, that you needed him.

A plan began formulating in his mind, and he looked at Spot. “I am going to get her back.” Spot stared up at him listlessly, nothing but a single flick of the tail to indicate Data had been heard at all. He reached up and brushed a finger over the pips on his collar. Was this the right thing to do? He looked towards a picture which sat on his desk of his poker group with the two of you in the center, your wide, cheesy grin pointed at him, the cards laid in front of you showing a straight flush which clearly beat his pair of queens. Decisively, he reached up and removed the pips from his uniform, placing them neatly upon his desk. You were more than worth it.

By his estimation, the away team was only minutes away from beaming aboard, meaning he had to hurry. He set about inputing his new commands into the computer. Zipping about his quarters, he gathered a bag, a medical kit, some rations, his tool kit, as well as a phaser. He acted quickly, diverting transporter functions from the main bridge so no one would be able to pick up his departure then tapped his com badge, assuming Geordi’s voice. “La Forge to Transporter Chief, would you come down to Engineering? We’ve found an anomaly in the power flow to transporter room 2. Data is on his way to relieve you now.” The Chief sent back an acknowledgement of the command, and Data set off on his task.

Just as he reached the transporter room, the away team called for a beam up. Data entered and nodded to the unsuspecting lieutenant. “I will take it from here, Chief.”

“Thanks, Commander.” She gave him a quick smile which he blankly returned and slipped past him.

Data crossed over to the transporter controls and beamed the away team to the Enterprise. As soon as the door slid shut behind them, he input the coordinates of the launch site, leapt over the console, and stood impatiently upon the energizing pad.

The transport was successful, putting Data in the center of the attack zone. He scanned the area with several different tricorder settings, waiting. After nobody from the Enterprise beamed down, he had to assume that his plan had worked thus far. Either computer had accurately hidden his transport as anticipated and lied about his whereabouts, or nobody thought to look for him. They must be en route to the Abott already.

He set to work quickly. Who knows how long he had before the Enterprise noticed his absence and came back? Would they return even before they had completed their investigation of the Abott? Unlikely. Captain Picard, though known for disobeying orders when he felt it best, would not put Data’s importance over that of an entire ship. At the very least, Data was counting on it.

Several hours passed before he was finished with his work, and once he had he stood in the same spot he had been when the attack happened. He looked around one final time, looking once more for anything he might have missed, but found nothing. “Very well.” He bent down and activated the short-distance beacon placed near his feet and began his wait.

Xxx

Consciousness eluded you, the pain too much to endure but too much to avoid as well. You drifted in and out like waves lapping against a boat in a sea of agony. You weren’t even sure what they were doing to you anymore. It all blurred together.

You couldn’t scream anymore though you wanted to. You had long since been rendered hoarse, the only sounds coming from you now no more than soft screeching. How long had you been here? Hours? Months? Years? You couldn’t know any longer. The only thing you did know: Data was coming for you.

Maybe you had dreamt it. Maybe it was a hallucination. You couldn’t be sure. But at one point, amidst the tears and the gasps, the doors had opened, and a creature had scuttled in. It leaned across the counter to whisper in the queen’s ear, and she looked positively furious. “Beacon? Impossible. Undetectable.” Your torturer paused its ministrations to look towards the commotion.

“Synthetic lifeform. Wants attention. Perhaps searching.”

Though your entire body was riddled in agony, you knew you were smiling. The look the queen gave you was positively venomous, and before you slipped out of consciousness again, she crossed the room to you and put her face in your line of view. In a menacing voice, she hissed, “Vessel status?”

“Departed.”

The queen smirked wickedly and reached slowly to touch your forehead. “Retrieve synthetic.” As her talon-like finger touched your skin, a searing pain erupted across your face, sending you back into the darkness again.

Xxx

Data didn’t have to wait long before his hosts found him. He could hear their approach, their hushed chittering, rather like insects. Another moment later, and a small metal ball was rolled near him. It expanded, no doubt another attempt to knock him offline with an EMP. Thankfully, Geordi had analyzed his sensor data and worked to create a sort of inoculation against this type of attack in the future. There was silence after the device was activated before he detected another hushed chitter. Data stood and turned towards the sound of his attackers, hands raised. “My name is Data. I have been abandoned here by my crew due to my failures in your previous attack. I have no choice but to seek asylum with your species.”

The creatures were silent for a long second before one stepped forward. Data was immediately intrigued by them—their insectoid anatomy and how it relates to their language structure, their apparent ranking structure, all of it—but he quickly snapped back to the situation at hand and its stakes. There were three of them, and they advanced on him, circling him, one of them scanning him with a strange device he could only surmise was their equivalent of a tricorder. It nodded to the other two who were quick to advance on Data. He allowed them to take him custody, and as they dragged him through the underbrush, they appeared in a metal hallway, similar to that of a starship. As they walked, Data pondered their sudden appearance here and began working on theories as to how they got there. A subspace transportation device? A controlled worm-hole opening device? While he mused, he took in his surroundings, attempting to identify where they might be keeping you and also analyzing potential exits in the event that his plan failed.

They brought him to a small room with no windows and left him there. He ran some systemic diagnostics while he waited, though nothing took his mind too far from you. After 3 hours, 43 minutes, and 29 seconds, the doors to the room opened again, flooding it with a blinding light. There were hands upon him, dragging him to his feet which he allowed without any resistance.

They dragged him down a few more hallways before finally dragging him into an amphitheater type room. There were six more of the creatures there, gathered among the stands. On the floor stood two more, one smaller than the rest, the other larger and standing proudly. If Data possessed bile ducts, they would be in overdrive right that second. On the floor was a concerning amount of red blood. At least he knew you were here. He was right.

The larger creature on the floor was grinning at him. She leaned forward in a mock bow. “Welcome. Purpose?”

Data tilted his head. “If you are inquiring as to why I have come, it is quite simple. My crew has found me to be inadequate and as such, I have been abandoned on this planet. It logically follows that I would seek asylum with your crew.”

The queen smirked. “Asylum? Not rescue?”

If Data had a heart, it might have jumped. ‘Rescue?’ Then you were alive. He kept his face neutral, however, and forced his voice to stay level. “Any hostages you may have taken have also been abandoned by my ship. As such, a rescue is illogical.”

“Data?”

The voice was weak, trembling, hoarse, but he’d know it anywhere. It was you. You were here, alive, at least alive enough to recognize his voice. The queen’s grin grew sickeningly wide. “Recognition. Intriguing. Perhaps friend? Lover?”

‘Lover?’ The thought did elicit certain…emotions from him, though he’d never considered it before. He shook his head. “The organic life form in question is no more than a simple crewm…” Data’s voice trailed off as the queen stepped aside, and he caught sight of you. How you were alive, he could not say. You’d been tortured nearly beyond recognition, your skin mottled, blood covering not just yourself but the table they’d tied you to and a large portion of the floor below you. You bore over two dozen significant lacerations upon your visible body, and he could only guess as to your internal damage. But your face. Your eyes which he had analyzed on more than one occasion were nearly swollen shut, and one looked as though the pupil had been blown, the sclera surrounding it a shocking red. He could hear your struggling breath from even his distance across the room, and he sounded as though liquid had begun pooling in your lungs.

You didn’t have much time.

“—ember.” Less than .03 seconds had transpired since the queen had moved, and for the moment it seemed as though none of the creatures had noticed his lapse in continuity.

The queen studied his face for a long moment before turning her back to him. “Disappointing.” She walked over to you, her back obscuring Data from seeing what she was about to do. There was a slight rattling as a tool was taken off a tray beside the table. Data’s body tensed and his fists clenched as a simpering sound filled the room that could just barely be recognized as a cry from you.

Data forced his body to relax and made a point to clear his throat, and the Queen glanced at him over her shoulder. “Displeases it?”

“If I may—” he tried to step away but the creatures on either side of him forced him back. He looked pointedly at them then at the queen. “What is your primary objective with the human?”

She snorted as if it were obvious. “Study.”

“Yes, but study what?”

“Pain responses.”

Data nodded. “Yes, I thought so. If I may be permitted, I possess a large quantity of knowledge concerning the human pain response and may be able to provide you with even better results. My presence may also be used to help your physicians keep the specimen alive for more prolonged study.”

This seemed to surprise her. “What purpose?”

“I believe it could be construed as a demonstration of good will on my part. If I am to reside here with you and your crew, I would like to be useful.”

The queen stared at him for a moment before nodding once and waving her hand. The guards released Data, and he righted his uniform. “Thank you.” The degree of difficulty required to keep himself from reacting to the state of you was immensely more strenuous than he had anticipated. “First, a brief overview of human female anatomy. This here—” he began pointing out the various parts of your body and giving quick summaries of their functions. As the queen’s attention was drawn to you with one of his hands keeping her attention focused, the other hand set about discreetly lifting up its thumb nail and pressing the button he had installed moments before setting off the beacon. A trick he’d picked up from his dear brother Lore.

‘Now we can only hope the Enterprise picks up the signal and arrives in time.’

Thankfully, you passed out from blood loss before Data had to actually do anything to you. He wasn’t quite sure what he would’ve done to trick them into thinking he was actually hurting you, how he would’ve signaled for you to put on a show for them. The queen called it a night and left Data in charge of getting you patched up, two guards stood nearby to ensure nothing happened.

He did well enough given their utter lack of actually-useful medical tools. He managed to get a large part of your bleeding under control and kept you breathing, kept your heart beating.

You regained consciousness four hours later, though the guards had long since lost interest and were speaking out of what they assumed was Data’s earshot. Once he noticed you were waking up, he put his finger to his lips and winked at you so you’d keep quiet. He knocked a device on the floor near your head and bent down to pick it up, watching as the guards lost interest again. He kept his voice as low as you could hear. “I have signaled the Enterprise. They should be here soon. Just hang on ok?”

The only response you gave was a discreet tapping of your finger, and you shut your eyes again. Data ground his teeth when he noticed the tears slipping silently down your face.

Xxx

Another four hours came and went, and at some point, you had managed to fall asleep—or as close to sleep as you could get.

Your body felt as though it were made from lead. Hot, burning, molten, electric lead. Breathing was the most difficult thing in the world, and the strain to lift your eyelids was nearly impossible to overcome. Somewhere in the fog, however, you were aware of something touching your hand. No. Not something. Someone. Data. That’s right. Data had come. He was here. He’d called for help. Was he holding your hand? Were they saved?

No. The room was too bright to be anywhere on the Enterprise. The table you were on was still cold beneath you, and you were in far too much pain.

The nightmare continues, then.

You heard the doors open, and a chorus of clicking filled the room, and Data’s hand left yours. Your audience had returned, it seemed.

“Status?” Her voice was beginning to be as much torture as the actual torture.

Data’s smooth voice came from beside you, and knowing he was there was enough to make it bearable. Well, no, that’s a lie. This was hell. But it was refreshing to hear. “I have been able to nearly stabilize her vital signs and stop her external bleeding. Though, the internal injuries are quite severe. I estimate that she will not last more than two hours of your tests.”

The queen was angry. You could feel it in the way the room grew silent and tense, and her voice seemed forced. “Extensive knowledge?”

“I do possess several terrabytes of information regarding human anatomy and medicine, however the specimen was already near death when I arrived, and the medical tools on hand are insufficient to return her to peak condition.”

The queen growled, her voice drawing nearer. “Insufficient?”

His voice lowered slightly, as though meek. “I mean no offense. It is only that to repair the damage done, I require certain tools which are not present. I am able to provide a list, if there are adequate replicators on hand. It is possible to restore her completely, and your examinations may continue anew.”

‘Data, no…’ Though you knew, deep down, Data would never hurt you, the fear of the situation had gone to your head. You hoped your body was as immobile as it felt because you were sure you could be trembling. A whole new round? No. Death would be far preferable. ‘Data, please, no. I’d rather die.’

The queen growled again but did not protest and after a long moment agreed. The creatures filed out of the room again, and you sensed you were now alone with Data.

There was the pressure of a hypospray against your neck and the heaviness in your eyes was alleviated. You opened them slowly, blinking at the harsh light. Data put his hand in yours and smiled gently at you. “I am sorry. I had to make it appear as though you were asleep, lest we be discovered.” He squeezed your fingers gently. “We will get o—”

“Suspicions correct.” You froze, and Data spun on his heel, moving to protect you from view. “Treachery! Guards!”

He was quick to act, scooping you up in his arms, eliciting a scream of pain from you. And then you were moving, running down the halls. Every step he made jostled your body though you knew he was trying to be as careful as possible. From over his shoulder, you could see the creatures chasing you, half a dozen or more of them hot on your tail. You noticed that he had lifted his thumb nail and was wildly pressing it as if desperate for something. The creatures began to tire after a few minutes, and Data was able to give them the slip, stowing the two of you away in a sort of broom closet. He arranged the supplies in the closet to hide the two of you and sat down, cradling you gingerly to his chest. Even though he had been the one running, you were out of breath, and each gasp for air didn’t seem to help. Your entire body was aflame with pain. It hadn’t even occurred to you that you had been crying until Data reached up and very gently and slowly wiped tears from your cheek. “It will be alright…”

Your hands found their way to his arm, and you gripped it with all your strength. “How do you know?” The voice that came from your throat was foreign to you, strangled and hoarse. How long had it been since real words had come from your mouth?

Data’s arms wrapped securely around you, protectively, comfortingly. Lovingly. “Because I will never let go of you again.”

There was no chance to respond, nor even to wonder if you had heard him right. A finger went to his lips and he held you still. Outside the door, they were chittering again. Then the queen’s voice—“Locate them!” and a scrambling noise as they took off pursuit again.

You looked up at Data, his yellow eyes nearly glowing in the light. “Data, I’m scared. If… Don’t let them take me again, ok? Whatever it takes, just… Just don’t let them take me.”

He frowned as he considered your words before nodding slightly. “I will not.”

“Promises. Foolish.” The door slid open with a sudden flash of light, and Data tightened his grip on you, turning so he was shielding you from the queen’s icy stare.

You looked pleadingly up at Data, and he nodded in return. Squeezing his eyes shut, he whispered a slight, “Now would be a good time, Captain,” and pressed the button on his thumb again.

You buried your face in his neck, practically trembling with fear. “Data…”

Your only response was a gentle caress of your hair before his hand went to the crook of your neck and pinched, dragging you into darkness.

Xxx

Tired. Heavy. Warm.

“…awake?”

“Nearly. I’m bringing her out now.”

“And her recovery?”

Voices. But whose? Memories arise, but it’s as though they’re being seen through a fog, a haze. It’s familiar and comforting, a relief like none you’ve ever felt before. But why? Relief from what?

“She’s as good as new, at least physically. I’ll have to run some cognitive tests to ensure adequate cerebral functions, but I don’t expect to find any problems.”

“I am sensing disorientation, primarily. She’s not sure where she is. But it seems she recognizes our voices for now.”

Your body blossomed into your reality, slowly. It started from your toes, just a little too cold. Socks. I’d like my pair of polka dotted fuzzy socks. Then, from your toes it spread up to your legs, heavy as though they hadn’t been used in days. Hadn’t they? Surely. Then your hips, your stomach, your chest, shoulders, arms. Finally, your hands. One felt…fuller than the other. A large weight was held around it, holding it up and away from your body. Part of it was brushing along your knuckles. There was a smile on your lips, or the ghost of one.

“Lieutenant?” The ghost was gone, replaced by something much fuller.

“Data.” It hurt to get out, like sandpaper against the back of your throat, but the implications sent a warmth through your body.

Finally, your eyes. They opened slowly, the light sharp, but you managed. Once you adjusted, you turned to look towards him. He was leaning over you, scanning your face, a hopeful smile in place. “How do you feel?”

“I believe that is my question, Mr. Data.”

The other voice dragged your attention to the other side, and several happy faces formed in your line of view. Captain Picard, Dr. Crusher, Counselor Troi, Geordi, Will, even Worf. The doctor was running a tricorder along your body, but she shut it decisively and smiled down at you. “Well? How do you feel?”

You took in the colors around you—the redness of the doctor’s hair, the colors of their uniforms, the silver of Geordi’s visor, the gold of Worf’s sash—and turned to look back at Data. The strangely champagne hue of his skin, the golden tint to his eyes, the darkness of his hair.

And you smiled.

“This is a dream.”

Data shook his head and squeezed your hand gently. “No, Lieutenant. It is not. We are back on the Enterprise.”

“Do you remember anything about the past week?” Deanna put her hand softly over your unoccupied one, dragging your attention back to her.

A frown spread across your face as your brows knit together. “I…” The floodgates opened, images of the arachnoid creatures filling your mind, memories of the pain, their chittering, the queen’s terrible grin, and suddenly it was as though you couldn’t breathe. “N-No, please, no, I don’t… No…”

Deanna made to put her hand on your shoulder. “It’s alright, you’re safe now, it’s alr—”

You flinched from her touch and into Data. “NO!”

The others all looked at one another, and Dr. Crusher everyone except Deanna and Captain Picard away. She prepared a hypospray and approached you slowly, a hand up in a gesture of goodwill. “Lieutenant, this is to help you calm down. Will you allow me to administer it?”

The images were coming too quickly in your mind, causing you to press further into Data who dutifully wrapped his arms around you. “Lieutenant, nobody here is going to harm you. You’re safe now.” Though the Captain’s voice was normally quite soothing to you, the voice of someone you considered to be a father figure, it did little to soothe you now.

Data lightly rubbed your arm and spoke in a soft voice. “The Captain is right. You are safe. I will.”

You looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes. He nodded, a concerned look on his face. Your fingers dug into his sleeve. “Please don’t leave, ok?”

“I promise.” He smiled, causing you to calm slightly, enough for Dr. Crusher to inject you. It was instantaneous, the fear and anxiety from before almost evaporating, and you relaxed significantly, though you continued to hold onto Data’s arm.

Deanna and the Captain began to debrief you with the help of Data’s comforting embrace. They walked through your ordeal with you, slowly, carefully, starting from the attack onward. Once you reached the end of what you recalled, Data slipped his hand into yours. “She had found us and was going to take you again. I initiated a Vulcan nerve pinch upon you to render you unconscious, and I attempted one final time to reach the Enterprise with the homing device I placed in my thumb.”

“It was this final attempt which allowed us to home in on your position in subspace, and Geordi was able to pull the two of you out and bring you home.” The Captain smiled at Data then at you.

The three of you continued to talk for a while before Deanna and Beverly excused themselves. Deanna promised to see you later when you were better rested to discuss setting up counseling sessions. Something told you you were going to need them.

The Captain was halfway through his tea when you whispered, “I’m sorry, Captain.”

A frown struck across his face, and he set his tea down in its saucer. “Whatever for?”

A tear spilled down your cheek. “For the trouble, the worry, the—”

“Nonsense. You are a valued member of this crew. There are no words to describe the joy I have at finding you alive. If anything…” A hint of shame filled his expression. “It is I who must apologize to you. Had it not been for Data, we may never have found you…” The implication hung heavily in the air and straggled in the back of your mind, long after the others had all left.

Data was sitting at your bedside, a book whose name you hadn’t paid attention to sat in his lap as he read to you. His voice washed over you like warm waves on a sandy beach, lulling you into a peace that until a few hours ago had seemed as distant a memory to you as your first steps.

“Data?”

“Yes?” The book was lowered, yellow eyes looking up to meet yours.

“You…” You looked down at your hands and folded them in your lap. “You risked everything. For me. Not just court martial, but deactivation. Why?”

Data was silent for a long time, causing you to peek up at him. He was regarding you with a strange look, and for a quick moment you wondered if maybe he’d malfunctioned somehow.

“I… The truth is, Y/N, that ever since my emotion chip was put in, I have regarded you differently.” Differently? “I thought it was only a strong sense of friendship and did not know what it was until you disappeared.”

Surely you were hearing things, no? “But you know now?”

The smile was back, and he reached over to take your hand. “I do. This emotion I had been feeling towards you had been immensely pleasurable. Your appearances in my days often became something I eagerly awaited. Your smile and laughter filled my mind for long periods of time after your departures.” The smile slipped away, a new emotion taking its place. “When I awoke on the planet and could not find you, it was as though a piece of me had been ripped away. I was worried for you, for your safety. Then, when the Captain told me we were to abandon the search, I was terrified at the thought of losing you forever. Nothing in this existence has ever come close to that feeling, not even the thought of a court martial or deactivation. Nor has nothing in this existence ever come close to the feeling of having you back, of watching your eyes open, of hearing your voice, of seeing your smile.” He brought your knuckles to his lips. “This is how I know what that feeling is.” You held your breath as you watched the grin spread across his face. “I am in love with you.”

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