Chapter Five Continued

Gemma woke up the next morning with high expectations for the day. Data arrived for breakfast just as she was about to put her hair up for him. She ran her fingers through it, twisting it together and reached for a clip as she greeted him. Data came up behind her and gently pulled the clip from her hand. He held her hair back so he could kiss the back of her neck with tenderness, but encouraged her to let her hair fall once he had.

“I am very flattered that you so wish to please me, but your hair is attractive down as well. I want you to be comfortable and relaxed today. We are both on leave together and nothing could make me happier.” He kissed her on the cheek before Gemma turned to face him and kiss him on the lips.

Once he released her, Gemma took a step back to look at him. It was not often that Data was out of uniform, so she took a moment to admire his choice of clothing today. He wore a simple pair of black denim pants and a black collared shirt. As Gemma looked him up and down, he took advantage of the opportunity to do likewise. Gemma had chosen a turquoise dress with matching tights and shoes. It made her look even younger, but she still looked very beautiful. Data pulled her close for one more sweet kiss before guiding her to the dining table.  

During breakfast, Gemma told Data about her friend from the Academy and how Kaylith had the day off too. “I was hoping we could invite her to lunch so I could introduce her to you and Geordi. Would that be okay, Data?”

“I am sure it will be. I will call Geordi and ask him and then you can call your friend to make the arrangements,” Data agreed.

Both Geordi and Kaylith could make lunch, so Data and Gemma beamed down to the station once Data had checked in with the captain to make sure all was well on the bridge.

“We’re fine up here, Number One. Enjoy your day off, I intend to while you mind the ship tomorrow!” the captain assured him.

Gemma tugged Data away from the monitor once the screen went black. “Let’s go!” she urged him. Realizing he was wasting time, Data went. 

Deep Space Seven was unlike anything Gemma had ever seen before. It was even bigger than she had expected, filled with shops, restaurants and lounges as well as numerous entertainment facilities. The holosuites at the station were said to be almost as good as the ones on Deep Space Nine. Data and Gemma strolled through the shopping area, hand in hand, exploring several of the shops until it was time to meet Geordi and Kaylith.

The couple was at the entrance of the restaurant they had agreed to meet at when a voice came from behind them.

“Excuse me ma’am but are you authorized to be here?”

Gemma laughed, to Data’s surprise, as she turned. “Kaylith! It’s so good to see you.”

“Is it okay to hug a superior officer or are you going to write me up for insubordination” Kaylith teased.

“If you don’t shut up and hug me I will write you up” Gemma shot back. The two friends embraced while sharing a laugh. “Lieutenant Kaylith Scott, I’d like you to meet Commander Data.”

“I’m pleased to me you, Commander” Kaylith smiled.

“I am pleased to meet you too however, as we are off duty and you are a friend of Gemma’s, please call me Data. May I call you Kaylith?”

“Yes, please do.”

Just then Geordi rushed up to the group.

“Sorry I’m late.” He looked from Data and Gemma to Kaylith, “I…I took a wrong turn and got turned around.”

“Geordi, I’d like you to meet my roommate from the Academy. This is Lieutenant Kaylith Scott. Kaylith, may I present Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge.”

“I’m pleased to meet you. Please call me Geordi” he said as he reached out to shake her hand.

“And I’m Kaylith.”

You didn’t need to be an empath to see the instant attraction felt by both Geordi and Kaylith. The foursome entered the restaurant and was seated at a table with a spectacular view of Deep Space Seven’s central plaza. As they talked, it was discovered how much Geordi and Kaylith had in common. Both had spent their childhood as Fleetbrats as their parents were career StarFleet officers. They were surprised to discover that Kaylith’s mother, Captain Tryla Scott had served briefly with Geordi’s mother aboard the USS Independence. They both shared an interest in swimming and skin-diving as well. However it was when Data had asked if they had decided what to order and both said fungilli at the same time they couldn’t help but laugh. Data and Gemma were both so happy to see the connection being made between their friends. ~ Geordi deserves to meet someone special, ~ Data thought.

There were many things to see around the station, and Kaylith was eager to show them to her friends, new and old. Data and Gemma were amused at how often Kaylith and Geordi would become involved in a discussion of some characteristic of the station, forgetting they were not alone.

After this had happened for the fifth time. Gemma kissed both Geordi and Kaylith on the cheek and told them to have a nice afternoon. Stunned and pulled out of their latest discussion of the shield upgrades, Geordi and Kaylith turned to give Gemma a confused expression.

Data laughed at the pair. “Do not let us interrupt your discussion. You were saying the field output was at ninety-eight percent due to...” Data said, reminding Kaylith where she had left off. He and Gemma walked away leaving the other pair to figure it out for themselves.

“Can you sense them?” Data asked Gemma, as they headed towards the local bar for a drink.

“Yes, they’re both embarrassed, but...thankful. I can’t believe how well they got along from the first moment. They both were almost glowing all through lunch.”

“Agreed, I have rarely seen Geordi this comfortable with a woman. He tends to get nervous and become unable to speak,” Data noted.

Gemma winked at him. “I never noticed that. He never had trouble talking to me.”

Data pulled her closer and kissed her cheek tenderly. “You are not just any woman,” he assured her, and kissed her nose.

Gemma giggled at him until something caught her attention. With her shields lowered to sense not only Geordi and Kaylith, but Data too, Gemma was also able to feel the emotional tone of most of the beings as they walked by her. Her mind was flooded with this being’s anger and jealousy.

Gemma gasped at the strength of the emotional attack, or so it felt. She raised her shields, but the memory lingered and had already caused her to stop, shocked by what she had felt. While she didn’t want to know the source of these feelings, she found herself looking around despite herself.

“Gemma, what is wrong?” Data was asking, almost in a panic. She realized he had asked her this question three times now.

She pulled her attention to him and met his concerned eyes. “I...I’m not sure, but I think I just sensed someone thinking...about me. The anger was so intense and the jealousy…”

At her words, Data’s eyes went wide with shock and alarm. He pulled Gemma protectively closer as he scanned the area for anyone staring at Gemma with evil intent in their demeanor. “We should report this to the station security.” Data said, his voice suddenly commanding.

“And tell them what? Someone had hateful thoughts about me? You can’t hold people for their feelings or thoughts,” she reminded him.

“Hateful?” Data repeated. Somehow her saying it that way made him angrier than how she described it the last time. “We will go back to the ship in that case.” He began to pull her to the transporter area, but Gemma stopped him.

“Let’s just go to the bar and I’ll keep my shields up. It was just a passing thought someone had and it just happened to reach me. Let’s forget about it.” Gemma pulled him back towards the bar. Data acquiesced, but watched every face they passed.

Data found a table that not only had a nice view but, was also strategically placed so he could keep an eye on the patrons. They ordered drinks and talked. Gemma did her best to steer the conversation back to Geordi and Kaylith but, even with her shields up, she could still sense how concerned Data was. Data reached for Gemma’s hand while they were at the table but it was for more protective reasons than romantic.

“Data, please relax. We’re supposed to be having fun,” Gemma pleaded.

“I am sorry, Gemma. I care so much for you. The idea that someone is having those thoughts about you disturbs me greatly.” He squeezed Gemma’s hand affectionately. “I will do everything in my power to ensure no harm ever befalls you.”

“You are so wonderful, Data. Now, let’s go for a walk and explore the Promenade further,” she suggested. Data nodded his head and with Gemma’s hand still in his, they left the bar to enjoy the rest of their time on the station.

The rest of the afternoon was uneventful. Data was thankful that Jenna had not attempted to join them. He noticed her staring down at them from the second level of the Promenade. He wondered whether the emotions Gemma had felt earlier had been Jenna’s. Gemma did occasionally lower her empathic shields but the powerful feelings she had sensed earlier did not return. She did however sense some powerful feelings of a different type when she and Data met up with Geordi and Kaylith.

The four had dinner together in Kaylith’s quarters that evening. She served a wonderful dinner featuring foods from East Africa – Sambusa, Foon Sangaa Akhawii, Mixed Vegetables, Red Lentils, Saffron Rice, Biddeena and Chai. Data and Gemma gave Geordi a few moments to speak to Kaylith before they left to return to the Enterprise.

“What are you two grinning at?” Geordi asked upon noticing the wide grins that Data and Gemma kept giving him.

“Geordi, I’m so glad you and Kaylith had so much fun today. She’s a wonderful woman and you’re such a great guy,” Gemma smiled. “Are you going to see each other again?”

“Now what could’ve given you the idea that Kaylith and I would want to see each other again?” Geordi kidded.

“Geordi, you are not answering the question,” Data pointed out.

“Was it that obvious?” Geordi asked.

“Geordi, it was,” Data informed his friend.

“Yes, we are going to see each tomorrow. Are you happy?”

“Yes, Geordi, and even I know you are too,” Data teased.

Gemma and Data were both pleased that Geordi found a way to see Kaylith for the next two days of the Enterprise’s layover. Once they had to leave, the two promised to keep in touch and, over the next month, Geordi talked often about his communications with Kaylith and was constantly asking Gemma questions about her. Gemma happily told him all that she could.