Chapter Four Continued

Data was riding the turbolift to the bridge, trying to decide when it would be appropriate to ask Gemma for another date. It was Gemma’s turn to host poker night this evening. Data had offered to come early to help set up for the game. He decided that would also be a good opportunity to invite Gemma out again.

As he walked out of the turbolift the captain stood up and called to Data to join him in his ready room. Data and Gemma exchanged a quick smile as Data walked across the bridge.

“Well, Number One, we are on course to Starbase 54. We will be taking on a small delegation from the Federation Security Council and providing them transport to Deep Space Seven.” Picard handed Data a PADD. “Here is a list of the delegates and their staff as well as a list of their requests. Have quarters assigned and see to it that they have everything they require.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Also, I would like to have a reception in the lounge in honor of the delegates and I want you to plan it. We will be arriving at Starbase 54 in seventy-two hours and I would like the reception to start at 1800 that day.” Picard paused momentarily. “Mr. Data, I do have a personal request. I was hoping you and Commander Corazon would perform during the reception. A short recital would suffice.”

“I will speak to Commander Corazon. I am sure she will be agreeable.” Data started to rise from his chair to leave the ready room.

“One other thing, when you speak to Commander Corazon will you let her know that I will be able to attend the poker game this evening.”

“Yes, sir.”

When Data returned to the bridge, he called to Gemma, “Commander Corazon, please join me in the briefing room.”

Gemma rose and followed Data. When the doors closed behind her, Data turned to her with a big smile on his face.

“I did not have an opportunity to wish you a good morning. Good morning, Gemma,” Data grinned, with his eyes shining.

“Good morning, Data,” Gemma laughed.

“I do need to discuss some ship’s business with you,” he said, clearing the schoolboy grin from his face. “We will be taking on a delegation from the Federation Security Council. Captain Picard has asked me to plan a reception which will commence in seventy-five hours, twelve minutes,” Data informed her. “The captain has requested we perform a short recital at the reception.”

“I’d be honored to perform with you again, Data,” Gemma smiled warmly.

“I look forward to playing with you as well,” Data grinned. “I do have one other request, would you assist me with planning the reception?”

“Of course. Hopefully we’ll be able to plan some time to rehearse together.”

“Perhaps I could come to your quarters at 1530 so we can have a preliminary discussion on the planning before the poker game.”

“Okay, Data. Would you like to have dinner with me too?” Gemma asked hopefully.

“I would love to,” Data responded. “Also, Captain Picard informed me he will be attending the game this evening.”

The two lingered in the briefing room talking about the night before for a few minutes before returning to the bridge. Data was looking forward to this evening and having dinner with Gemma.

Once her shift was over, Gemma rushed to her quarters to change. Data would be there in thirty minutes and she knew he would not be late, so she had to hurry. She changed into a brown outfit and pulled her hair up. Her clothing was modest, but she knew Data liked her hair up from what she had been able to sense from him last night, so she did this for him.

She was setting the table for dinner when Data rang at her door. Gemma blushed at her irresistible urge to grin uncontrollably. She just could not help herself when Data came near. She was delighted to see he too was grinning.

“Hi, I thought you could replicate something special from Earth tonight, if you’d like, Data.”

“I would like that and hello. I am curious. You have your hair arranged in the style you used last night again tonight, but before that evening you have always worn your hair loose once your duty shift ended. Is there a reason for this?”

Gemma knew her blush was growing deeper. “I should have known that trying to sneak something like this past you was impossible. I wore it up because I could tell that you liked it that way last night.”

Data looked stunned. “You changed your hair on my behalf?”

“I was right, wasn’t I?” she brought a nervous hand to her neck. “You do like it, don’t you?”

Data shook his head as though trying to dismiss his bewilderment. “I do, I am simply surprised you would change one of your normal routines in an attempt to please me.” He beamed brightly.

“If I get that kind of reaction, I may have to do it again, as soon as I figure out something else that you like.” She shrugged, but grinned and Data laughed.

“I like you as you are now, you have no need to change anything for me.”

Gemma laughed. “Okay, I think we’ve flirted shamelessly with each other enough for now. Order dinner, let’s eat and discuss what we’re going to do for the reception.”

Data nodded and moved to the replicator. He ordered an authentic spaghetti dinner with garlic bread and a salad. Two glasses of Merlot rounded off the meal. Gemma was impressed with his choice. She enjoyed the meal as they discussed the arrangements that would need to be made for the reception. They cleared the dishes from dinner and began to set up for the poker game.

As Data got out the chips he had brought with him, Gemma went to her bedroom to pull out some sheet music that she wanted him to look over. “What do you think the captain’s interpretation of short is, Data? How many pieces?” she asked handing him the music for eight.

Data considered this for only a moment, as he looked them over. “Pick your three favorite of these.” Gemma thought for a moment and pulled out the three she liked the best. “This will be our program,” he told her.

“Do you want to practice some now since we have the time?” Gemma asked.

“I will get my violin,” Data said, eagerly and with her nod he was off.

Gemma had to laugh once he was gone. ~ He is just too precious for words, and to think, at first I thought he was so disagreeable. ~

Data returned a moment later and he and Gemma began practicing the first piece together.  

Captain Picard was the first to arrive. Upon gaining admittance to Gemma’s quarters, he was greeted by his first and second officers, instruments in hand.

“I hope this means you have agreed to perform at the reception?” he asked.

“Yes, sir. We are both looking forward to it,” Data smiled.

“I’m a little early and I hate to interrupt your rehearsal time. Please continue,” Picard insisted. Gemma and Data started the piece they had been playing from the top. It was a very moving piece of music that told the story of Howniya.

“That was absolutely wonderful,” Picard smiled once they finished. “The chemistry between the two of you is remarkable.”

“Thank you, sir,” Gemma beamed.

A moment later the door chimes rang as Worf, Geordi, Faalox and Dr. Selar arrived together. Mark Newcombe had been quite disappointed he had been unable to play that evening, especially since the captain was going to be attending, however he had the late shift in sickbay.

Gemma put away her ooblet and found a safe place for Data’s violin as everyone took their places around the table. Captain Picard was the first dealer for the evening’s game.

The game finally broke up at 2230 with no big winner although all the players had a very enjoyable evening. Soon Data and Gemma were alone as he stayed behind to help clean up.

“Gemma, will you have dinner with me tomorrow evening?” Data asked.

“I’d like that,” Gemma responded. “Did you want to continue planning the reception then?”

“No, I wish to spend the evening with you,” Data admitted as he took her hand.

“I like that even better,” she grinned.

After they finished cleaning up, it was time for Data to return to his quarters. They stood by the door to Gemma’s quarters trying to say good night. Data was staring at Gemma, causing her to blush.

“You are so beautiful.” Data gently cupped Gemma’s face with his hands and kissed her tenderly. “Good night.” As he walked down the corridor, Gemma again watched from her doorway as he left.

“Data, wait,” she called out. She disappeared into her quarters before re-emerging with Data’s violin in hand. He took the violin from her and, taking advantage of the situation, gave her another gentle kiss before continuing to his quarters.

Gemma walked back in her quarters, almost dizzy. He had kissed her twice, for a total of three kisses on the lips. She laughed at herself. Counting kisses like a schoolgirl at the age to twenty-seven was pitiful but she knew she was not going to stop.

Deciding it was safe, Data put together a message for Deanna Troi and sent it off. He told her he had followed her advice and kept his mouth shut. Now, things had turned around and while Gemma and Geordi were still friends, Data was now dating her and they were to have their second date the next day. He sent the communication off and leaned back in his chair.

Thinking of the lips that had pressed to his, he touched them, absently. ~ I have kissed her three times. I want to kiss her so many more. ~ 

A good deal of his shift the following day was spent planning the reception and seeing to the details. Gemma worked on room assignments and helped add spice to some of Data’s more grounded plans.

They were only an hour away from their shift ending when Gemma looked up at him and asked, “So, what are we going to do on our date tonight, Data?”

Data met her eyes and grinned. “A hike - in the holodeck, of course. I understand we will have a layover when we get to DS7. Perhaps we could visit the station together.”

“I’d like that. Now tell me about this hike?” she sounded quite unsure about this idea.

Three hours later when Data was placing a backpack on her and making sure her shoes were suitable for the terrain, Gemma was even less sure.

“The safety protocols are in place, right?” she asked, looking at the jungle Data had called up.

“Of course. I would never endanger your life and it takes two officers to override the protocols.” Data cinched her pack another notch and declared her ready. His pack was bigger, but he still had to make sure he did not lose it, so his was tightly secured too.

The area was a steep mountainside and the temperature was warm. Gemma was hard pressed to keep up with Data, but when she lagged behind after tripping, but not falling, on a vine, Data took her hand.

~ Okay, so maybe this program isn’t so bad, ~ she decided.

He let her rest after an hour of climbing, but only for five minutes. They crossed over even more rugged terrain in the next hour and Gemma told him she had to stop and catch her breath. She was drowning in sweat, her feet hurt, she was thirsty and she had no idea why Data had thought of this for their second date.

He found them a flatter area for her to rest and helped her off with her pack. Bringing out her water bottle, he handed it to her. Gemma plopped down on the ground and sighed, wondering about Data and his choice.

Data knelt down behind her, bringing a hand to each of her shoulders. Slowly he began to massage the kinks out of her muscles. Gemma sighed and allowed herself to slowly relax into his touch. She closed her eyes as he worked his way down her back.

She was so relaxed, she did not even notice that Data had stopped and was moving. She opened her eyes to see him kneeling in front of her. He reached out and pushed some of her damp hair back. She felt bad that he now had her sweat on his fingers.

“I’m a mess,” she said, looking embarrassed.

“You are beautiful,” he corrected her. Leaning in, Data put his arms around her and pulled her against him. His kiss was still soft, but there was more to it this time. Looking into her eyes, he asked, “May I kiss you again?”

“Yes,” she mouthed, with no breath left.

He kissed her again, a little more forcefully. Again he pulled back. “May I kiss you once more?”

“As many times as you like,” Gemma told him.

Data smiled. “Never give an android that option,” he warned her with a smile, but pulled back to kiss her anyway. This time, Gemma let her arms wrap around him and squeeze him tightly. He did not stop this kiss, instead he deepened it. His tongue explored her mouth as Gemma marveled in the experience of it. She had only been kissed like this once before and it had not been like this. Nothing in her life had ever felt like this.

“Do you feel rested?” he asked as he gently swept his fingers over her cheek. Gemma sighed and nodded. “Good. We have almost arrived at our destination.”

Data stood, offered his hand to Gemma as she rose and then helped her put on her pack. The last portion of the hike was much more pleasant. A change in the terrain made it much easier to hike on but, more importantly, it allowed Data to hold Gemma’s hand as they walked. As they came over a slight ridge, Gemma’s breath caught as the beauty of the area became apparent. It was like an oasis on the side of a mountain, except instead of sand there was grass. The grassy area was small, approximately five square meters. It started gradually but ended abruptly at the edge of a massive cliff. In the distance, snowcapped mountains rose majestically out of a crystal clear ocean.

“I did invite you for dinner this evening,” Data grinned. “Now it is time.” He removed Gemma’s pack before his own, opened it and pulled a large blanket from inside which he spread over a portion of the grass. He then began to set up a picnic dinner consisting of a number of breads, meats, cheeses, fruits and desserts from various planets. Finally he brought out a bottle of champagne and two fluted glasses. Gemma watched in awe as Data laid out all the wonderful looking food. There were some items she recognized but most were unfamiliar to her. He took her hand and led her to the blanket. Once they were seated, Data told Gemma what each item was and what planet it came from. He opened the champagne, pouring a glass for each of them.

“Data, this is amazing,” Gemma beamed.

“And the show has yet to start,” Data hinted. “You must try this.” Data leaned forward to feed Gemma a piece of one of the many cheeses he had brought. “It is Betazoid. Counselor Troi once told me that on Betazed it is customary to share this cheese with someone you hold dear.”

Gemma smiled innocently, picked up a piece of the cheese and brought it to Data’s lips. “I like that custom.”

As they ate the wonderful dinner Data had packed, they talked and laughed as they shared special, and some funny, stories from their lives. They also shared a number of sweet kisses throughout the special dinner. When they finished eating, Data cleared away the dishes before pouring them each another glass of champagne. He moved next to Gemma, slipped his arm around her and whispered in her ear, “It is about to start.”

“You mean the sunset wasn't the show?” Gemma gasped. Watching the sun setting against the backdrop of the mountains and ocean had been stunning. She had no idea what could be more beautiful than that but then it started. A light show, similar to Earth’s aurora borealis, danced across the sky, reflecting off the water producing a breathtaking duet of light. Gemma was awestruck by the display. She had never seen anything like it before. When words finally returned to her all she could manage to articulate was a breathy “Oh Data!” As stunning as the light show was, Data found himself watching an even more beautiful display – Gemma’s reactions.

The light show lasted for one hour thirty-two minutes. When it was over, Data repacked everything, took Gemma by the hand and led her towards the edge of the cliff. He grinned at her as they got to the very edge when suddenly the doors to the holodeck opened. As they exited, Data ordered the computer to end and save holodeck program Gemma2. The fact Data had created the program specifically for her made her smile even brighter.

They passed by Data’s quarters first so he placed the packs inside before escorting Gemma to hers. As they stood outside her quarters, they stared into each other’s eyes as they held hands. After what seemed to be an eternity, Data leaned in to kiss her. As the kiss grew more passionate Data wrapped his arms around Gemma while her hands rested on Data’s waist. The sensations caused by the joining of their lips, the dancing of their tongues was intoxicating. The sound of the turbolift door opening shattered the magic of the moment, bringing to an end their kiss and their date.

“Good night, Gemma,” Data whispered as he released her from his arms.

“Good night.” She sighed as she softly caressed his cheek before stepping in to her quarters.