#mister data

There were moments like these – where the vast space outside a view port seemed endless in a terrifying way, where the omnipresent hum of a ship was a dull noise in your cranium, where people moved too fast, the lines on screen didn’t make any sense and frankly, all you wanted was to find a quiet corner (even a trip to Ten-Forward wouldn’t be enough to fix your mood), curl and forget that you are actually on duty.

Thing is, lately, it’s been happening a lot more. You thought how you should seek for counselor Troi. Or report to medbay. Do anything to fix it, to keep the anxiety at bay… but you couldn’t. Because saying your troubles out loud would make them true, that you failed to keep your head cool – something anyone in Starfleet should be able to do without any trouble.

You’ve been brewing in your own sadness when you found yourself in the small recreation room. Usually at this hour, it would be full of people, so you were surprised to find empty. Your attention was brought to the large viewport and you looked out. So many stars… so many planets… how the hell were you supposed to keep your head straight when there was so much… so much…

The door hissed at the far side of the room, nearly making you jump. Lieutenant Data and Geordi entered the room, passionately chatting about something. In fact, they didn’t even notice you, not at first. The android was holding a small wooden box, tilting it’s head when Geordi took it from his arms, still talking and that’s when his bright golden eyes found you in a shadows.

“Ah, Ensign!” he greeted you. “Apologizes. Are we interrupting your rest? Would you like us to leave?”

The offer to have them leave was a door held open for you. You could say no. You could shield yourself in self pity. But Data… Geordi… You could never say no to them. Before you could change your mind, you found yourself shaking your head, your voice a little rough from disuse.

"No, it's... it's alright, Data. You're not interrupting."

You straighten up slightly, trying to shed the cloak of melancholy you’d been wearing.

"I was just... thinking."

Data stepped fully into your space, as he always did, and for once today, you found a presence of another being, even if it was an android, welcome. There was something about him… something soothing, anchoring. He could listen for hours, he would offer an advice if you needed or just store away your rambles in his vast memory.

"The room is designated for recreation and social interaction. Therefore, your presence is not an intrusion but an addition to its intended purpose."

Geordi, meanwhile, has placed the ornate wooden box on a nearby table and was now grinning at you. He was the other anchor you needed – with his constant pain he managed to be the ray of sunshine without being patronizing. A warmth bloomed in your chest; how did you not realize, that you needed this – needed them?

"Perfect! More test subjects!"

"T-test subjects?" you ask, a flicker of curiosity cutting through the static in your mind.

"Assistant participants," Data corrected him gently, though the distinction seems lost on Geordi.

"We are attempting to quantify the human emotional response to a specific tactile and strategic experience. Commander Riker discovered this artifact on our last planetary survey. It is a game, native to the planet Xana II, called 'Korrat.'”

Geordi came closer to you, flipping the clasp on the box and opening the lid, revealing an array of smooth, polished stones in various earthy hues - deep blues, rich reds, warm ochres, and glossy blacks. They were nestled in a bed of velvet, each one looking worn and comfortable from use.

"The rules are complex, but the core concept is simple," Data explained, picking up a single, perfectly spherical blue stone and rolling it between his fingers. You did the same, the stone being heavy enough in your palm to bring a bit of pleasure. Like holding into something alive.

"It is a game of territory and capture, but it is played not on a grid, but on a slate of resonant sand. The act of placing a stone creates a unique sonic pattern. The strategy is as much auditory and tactile as it is visual."

"Data's trying to see if he can master it by sound alone," Geordi added, scooping up a handful of the stones and letting them clack together softly. He smiled brightly at you, his visor fixed on your face.

"I'm just in it for the pretty noises. Care for a game? Data's a brutal teacher, but I'm a fantastic loser."

The offer was so simple, so mundane. A game. A distraction. It isn't a counseling session where you have to dissect your feelings. It isn't a medical exam where you have to admit weakness. It’s just… a game. The endless, terrifying space outside the viewport is still there, but for the first time in hours, you aren't staring into it. You're looking at a box of colorful stones. A slow, hesitant smile touched your lips.

You wanted a salvation and instead got an ancient game with two men you cared about the most.

Perfect.

"I... I’m not sure I am cut for artifacts of tabletop games,” you chuckled softly, looking through stone at Data’s face.

"A state that is easily remedied through instruction and practice," Data stated back, as if it were the most logical and wonderful fact in the universe, his systems noticing the way your eyes were shining just a bit more brighter the more you looked at stones.

"The fundamental principles are quite elegant. We would like you to join us.”

We.

The smiled on your face broadened, warmth from your chest creeping up your neck and settling on your cheeks.

“Do we blindfold you, Data, or we can trust you to just close your eyes with no peaking?” you joked. You actually joked and it came out easy and it made Geordi tap his visor and laugh.