Data Junior Vol 2 Part 1 Section 1

[William M. Carey]

Title: Data Jr. Volume 2 Part 1 Secction 1
Author: William M. Carey (pale...@accessnv.com)
Series: TNG, DS-9
Rating: PG-13

Archive: Please Ask

Disclaimer: The story is original. Most of the characters belong to Viacom

This is Part One of Volume Two of the epic entitled "Data Jr. "

Further Parts will follow.

Previous parts are available from the web site
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Omega/5405/stories.htm

or from the author via e-mail.

The set so far consists, in addition to this piece, of the following:

Data Jr. Part One
Data Jr. Part Two
Data Jr. Part Three
Data Jr. Part Four
Data Jr. Part Five

Two other stories which might help in filling in some gaps are:
Data's Mistake
Data in Love

Approximate Chronology

The Fall of the Federation into Absolutism

Some of the events mentioned below were hushed-up for many years and are
only now being uncovered. All of them are or will be documented.

The upper echelon of the Star Fleet had gradually become more and more
paranoid. Their attempt to sabotage the peace negotiations with the
Klingons was an example of this disease, an open and obvious example. But
beneath the surface lurked another example, one far more vicious and
detestable. The top echelon of the Federation, lead by Suni Khan, and
their appointed representatives in Star Fleet, wanted a race of slave
soldiers, similar to the Dominion's Jem Hadar. And androids, available
from factories, seemed to be an ideal answer to this desire. (Editor's
Note: In their dialogue in the TNG program "Measure of a Man", Picard and
Guinan anticipated this attitude.)

The discovery that two androids, Data and Lore, existed, caused a ripple
among the top level of star fleet. However, it was widely believed that
their abilities were grossly exaggerated and that their very existence was
a fluke. The consensus was that, with Noonian Soong gone, no other
androids would ever exist.

And then Data created Lal.

The creation of Lal 'proved' that the wishes of Star Fleet could be realized.
Suni Khan immediately arranged for Admiral Haftel to seize Lal, dissect
her and learn how to create more androids. Admiral Haftel himself, was
unaware of the ultimate purpose of the confiscation of Lal. He thought
that she would be brought back to Daystrom Institute, which he headed, for
training and evaluation. However both Suni Khan and Admiral Haftel were
thwarted when a defect in Lal's nervous system caused her to die when she
was only a few weeks old.

Admiral Haftel became aware of the aims of Suni Khan, and kept his future
relations with Data a secret.

Lal's nervous system was modified and she was rewakened, She survived a
little longer, but died again. Several more attempts were made before Lal
became completely viable.

Once she was assured of a continuous life, Lal began to make a name for
herself in Star Fleet medicine. But all reports of her accomplishments
were attributed to Wesley Crusher's wife. who happened to be named Lal.
All these events are chronicled in the six documents entitled, as a group,
"The Courtship of Wesley Crusher". (Editor's Note: These documents are
available for the asking. Use e-mail to request them.)

During this time, no attempt by Daystrom to make an android was successful.

And during this time, Admiral Haftel tried several times to get the
Federation Constitution amended to include "A Bill of Rights for Induced
Life forms". All such attempts failed.

Now Lal made contact with the Darema, a race that routinely made and used
androids. Very low level androids, capable of only one or two tasks, but
nevertheless genuine androids. That meeting is chronicled in the document
entitled "Teddy Bear's Picnic". (Editor's Note: Also available)

From studying their techniques, Lal obtained enough clues, so she thought,
that with some study and experimentation, she could discover why the
Federation was unable to produce androids. She also believed that she
could eventually produce a sentient android similar to herself and Data.
She decided to resign from Star Fleet and proceed on her own.

But Suni Khan had set Department 21 to watching Lal, and as soon as they
discovered her intentions, they moved in to arrest her. Warned by a
friendly telepath of their intentions, Lal fled and effectively
disappeared. She contacted her father, through devious channels, a few
times a year, but the contents of the messages were always innocuous. Data
had no idea where she was or what she was doing.

Now Suni Khan, using the Dominion War as an excuse, proceeded to
consolidate his power. First, a decree was issued to the effect that
future elections to the council would be, not from the public at large,
but from a list of candidates supplied by the council. Soon after, it was
announced that election was for life, and future elections would be held
only to replace deceased members. And the next time a member died, the
council ignored its own rules and simply appointed a successor. So the
council became that instrument so beloved by totalitarianism, a
self-perpetuating committee.

It was this committee that took ten years to respond to the plasmoid
threat. And it was this committee that reacted so strongly to the news
that two new androids, DJ and Shaski, were now aboard the Pleiedes.

**

Data opened the door to his quarters and entered cautiously. If Sara were
in an impish mood, anything might happen. But all seemed normal. Sara and
Tasha, uncharacteristically silent and motionless, were seated on opposite
ends of the sofa, while DJ and a stranger were seated in the two
armchairs.

Data shot a quick glance at the stranger. A young woman, or perhaps a
teenager, dressed in gray slacks and a pink sweater. She was staring at
him in a most peculiar fashion.

"Dad", said DJ, rising to his feet, "I want you to meet Shaski."

"How do you do, Shaski", said Data. Her turned to put down his briefcase.
And FROZE.

Data had been surprised before in his life, but never like this.

Slowly he straightened up. "In Bajoran, Shaski means 'beloved'", he said.

"I know", replied Shaski.

He stepped over, took one of her hands in his, and gently massaged the knuckles.

"You are an android!", he said.

"I know", replied Shaski.

"You are not Lal!", said Data.

"I know that too!", answered Shaski.

All through this dialog, Tasha sat motionless and silent.

Now DJ decided that it was time for him to step in. "Dad, this is Lal's
cognate, from the Alternate Universe. Amanda rescued her and brought her
here."

Data's eyes widened. "Is it true that my cognate has been killed?"

"As far as I know. I heard a subspace radio report that you -- he--
whatever, had been thrown into the local sun. What happened to my cognate
in this universe?"

"Someday, that may be a subject worthy of discussion. Currently, I do not
talk about it, even with my wife. If you are worried about usurping her
place, that should not be a concern."

Tasha was still mute and motionless.

DJ was worried. This meeting was not going as he had expected. He had
thought that Data and Shaski would have fallen into each other's arms, but
that had not taken place. Indeed, the atmosphere seemed to have chilled
since Data entered.

DJ decided to go for broke. "I thought", he said, "That since she's
family, she could move in with us."

"That will have to be decided at a family conference", answered Data.

"We don't have enough bedrooms. We'd have to move to larger quarters",
added Sara.

And Tasha exploded.

"NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!", she yelled, pounding on the coffee table with
her small fists. "THIS IS DUMB!"

"Tasha, you are embarrassing our guest", warned Data.

Tasha stood up and scampered to a point where she could face Shaski from a
meter or less.

"I don't want to embarrass her. But family conference and spare bedrooms
is dumb. You're all afraid to say how much you want her. And there's no
reason in the world why I can't share my bedroom with my sister!"

Shaski hesitated for only a moment. Then she leaned down and picked Tasha
up. "You want me to be your sister?"

"Very much. You're so pretty. And I've got a million questions to ask you.
And another million things to tell you about." She put her arms around
Shaski's neck and lay her head on her shoulder. Shaski responded with a
soft kiss.

And the tension snapped. Data strode over to the pair and put his arms
around both of them. "Tasha is right. I wanted you so badly that I was
afraid to say so. I feared you would say 'no'."

Sara joined them. "And I've always wanted a grownup daughter that I could
advise about boys and --- things."

Finally DJ completed the love-in. "And since we're not really related, I
could take you to dances and --- things."

**

Sisco entered the conference room with a scowl on his face, a scowl that
immediately silenced the chatter that had been going on.

Sisco glared at the staff from his chair behind the table. "Yesteday's
staff meeting was cut short", he announced, "By Sam's proclaiming his
coming paternity. As welcome as that news is, I am going to insist on a
more disciplined response to such tidings. We cannot ... Yes, Alyssa."

"I want it understood that I am the mother of Sam's child. Some people
were dubious. However, Bajorans and humans are perfectly compatible
procreation partners. And Kwali Mar's physical and mental shortcomings are
the result of a childhood accident. Genetically he has no problems."

"Good. Now let's get back to yesterday's meeting. Sam announced, without
presenting any evidence, that the cognate Prophets were the commanders of
the Plasmoids. We have several avenues to explore. First of all, Sam, how
do you know?"

"Everybody aboard this ship knows Kwali Mar, the drunken Bajoran monk. But
no one outside this room knows that a Prophet inhabits his body. We've
managed to keep that very hush.

"Well, one night, as I frequently do, I left Kwali Mar's body and went
wandering through the ship, just for exercise. And I bumped into another
Prophet! Now I knew that no more of my people were aboard, but he wasn't
that well informed and assumed I was one of his. We had a most revealing
conversation.

"He described the cognate Prophets relationship with the Plasmoids, and
his reason for being aboard. And how he used a human operative to short
the junction that disrupted the inertial dampers, although it did little
harm.

"When he needs an operative, he inhabits the body of a young girl named
Carli Samon." He was interrupted by a hiss from Sisco.

"That's my granddaughter!", he exclaimed.

"I'm sorry to hear that", responded Sam. "However, she hasn't yet been
damaged by the experience."

"This intruding Prophet", said Boudicca. "Can we capture him or exorcise
him, or whatever you do to unwanted Prophets?"

"Is it possible that he's in this room, listening to everything we're
saying?", asked Uhura.

"How can I tell when my granddaughter is 'possessed'?", demanded Sisco.

"How long has he been aboard?", asked Data.

Sam raised his hands. "Please, I'll answer all your questions, but only
one at a time. And you won't like the answers. But let me say first, that
the cognate prophets are not the top of the chain of command of the enemy
forces in this war. My informant had no idea who was giving orders to the
cognate prophets, but he was certain that someone was. Now to answer your
questions.

"First of all, he's not in this room and he has never crashed a conference
where I was present. I can sense another Prophet, just as he can sense me.

"Next, I can tell when your granddaughter is possessed, but I can't do
anything about it that won't harm or even kill her. I don't know any safe
way to get rid of him.

"And finally, based on probabilities, I'd say that he has been aboard
several months. He probably came aboard when Q brought Lore's body back."

"You spoke with him. Did he tell you what his mission is?", asked Sisco.

"Yes. His mission is to slow down the Pleiedes, destroy it if possible.
But he's not enthusiastic about martyrdom, so he probably won't try to
destroy this ship."

"And there's absolutely nothing we can do?"

"We'll see about that!", said Q, rising to his feet. "Where is he now?"

"Uncle Q, sit down!", demanded Amanda. "You'll destroy half the ship with
your pile driver approach!"

"But Amanda", pleaded Boudicca, "We have to do something. We can't just
sit and let this cancer eat at our vitals."

"Something must be done, I agree", said Amanda. "But I'm not sure we're
the ones to do it. I suggest that we call in some local talent."

"Local talent?"

"According to your theories of tha Alternate Universe, everything there is
a cognate of something in our universe. Well, I haven't run into any
cognate Q's yet, but I'm willing to hunt for them. And maybe they'll have
a way of controlling the cognate Prophets."

"That's an excellent idea. Begin your search at once. Do you want Q or
Sam to come with you?"

"Nope. I'd rather do this alone."

"If you find a cognate Q, bring him right here. This meeting is far from
over. We have much more to discuss."

Amanda snapped her fingers and vanished.

"Admiral", said Data, "I have a suggestion. We have two people aboard from
the Alternate Universe who are not present at this meeting. Just on the
off chance that they may have something to contribute, I believe we should
invite them."

Q added, "And Tomi has shown some extraordinary abilities in the past. But
we haven't cataloged those abilities in several years. He too may be in a
position to contribute."

Sisco pondered for a moment. "Very well, invite them. And we have better
reasons than you cited for having them here. But if they start any teen
age shenanigans, out they go!"

So, fifteen minutes later, Sisco reconvened the meeting with DJ, Shaski,
and Tomi now added to the group around the large conference table.

Sisco took a deep breath. "We have been under way for about six years.
Every week, during those six years, I have sent a summary report of our
activities and accomplishments to Star Fleet Command. And significant
events were reported at once, without waiting for the weekly report.

"Every one of those reports was acknowledged. Period. I have never
received a request for clarification, a suggestion, an order, not even a
'well done'. I began to suspect that we were receiving automated
acknowledgements, and that no one was reading our reports. But I was
wrong.

"The last report I sent was the first one that mentioned Data's successful
effort to save DJ, and the first to mention Shaski. I received a reply of
exactly nine words. 'Mission canceled. Return home. Incarcerate and
isolate all androids.' It is signed by Suni Khan himself."

"'It is not easy, being green'", muttered Data.

"I beg your pardon", said Sisco.

"Just a quotation from a twentieth century song. It has no relevance, I
assure you", answered Data with a wave of his hand.

"This message, on the face of it, is direct and straightforward. However,
I believe that it contains implications which should be explored.
Comments?"

"We are witnessing", said Data, "The next step in an evolutionary
progression that began several decades ago, when I created Lal." He turned
his gaze on Shaski. "In an ancient Earth language, Sanskrit, 'Lal' means
'beloved'. Which is why I was so surprised when I heard your name."

"Within days after I had created Lal, Admiral Haftel, head of the Daystrom
Institute, was aboard the Enterprise, trying to seize Lal and take her
back to Daystrom. His intent was to train and study her, but the Grand
Council, which had sent him, intended to seize and dissect her as soon as
she was off the Enterprise.

"However, a defect in Lal's nervous system caused her to cease functioning
shortly after the Admiral arrived, so his trip proved fruitless.

"But a few months later, he was back with a proposal to modify Lal's
nervous system, and then reenergize her, in hopes that she would be
viable. The proposal included a guarantee that never again would he try to
seize Lal and take her away from me. Admiral Haftel had discovered Suni
Khan's intentions, and kept all negotiations with me secret.

"After several attempts, we found the nervous system parameters which
allowed Lal to lead a normal android life. She immediately began a study
of the philosophical side of android creation.

"After a few years, she felt she was on the verge of making a
breakthrough. So did Section 21 who moved in to arrest her. But a
telepathic, non-human friend warned her and she fled. I have only heard
from her sporadically since then. I have no idea where she is or what she
is doing."

"Data's story", said Sisco, "Illustrates a point I want to bring up. We
are all aware that the Federation government today bears little
resemblance to the government described in the Federation constitution. It
has become autocratic in the extreme.

"During the Dominion War, and more recently, the Plasmoid War, we have
tolerated this autocracy in the name of efficiency during war time. But I
am beginning to wonder if we are buying efficiency at too high a price."

"We have in this room", said Boudicca, "Representatives of the Dominion,
the Q, and the Prophets. None of them are subject to the Federation but
all of them are nominally allied to it. One or more of them might consider
your statements treasonous and report them to the Federation. However,
speaking for the Dominion, I agree with what you said and no report of it
will go to the Federation from me."

"Agreed", said Q.

"Agreed", said Uhura.

"Agreed", said Sam.

"Excellent", said Sisco with a deep sigh. "Now we come to the prime
question. 'Should we obey this order from Star Fleet and return home?'"

A deafening silence descended onto the room.

Finally, Data spoke up. "I see three broad options. You can return with
the androids, you can return without the androids, or you can continue
your original mission."

"My people would welcome the androids", offered Slan.

"I am not advocating disobedience to orders", said Sisco grimly. "I am
advocating out and out treason. I want to start a rebellion!"

"You've thought about this longer than we have", said Boudicca. "Let's
hear some details."

"In broad outline, I am suggesting that we cease all communications with
Star Fleet; that we continue on our original mission and attempt to make
allies in the war against the Plasmoids and their masters, whoever they
may be. And then use that alliance to attack the ruling party of the
Federation in an attempt to reestablish the Federation Constitution."

"Before you do any of those things", said Data quietly, "You will have to
come to terms with a mutiny."

"Mutiny? What mutiny?"

"You are advocating a rebellion. Not all of the twenty thousand people on
this ship will see the need for a rebellion and many will actively oppose
it. You are advocating that we continue our mission when we have been
ordered home. Many people on this ship desperately want to return home.
For them the romance has long since faded from this mission. If those two
groups together comprise as little as ten percent of the ship's company,
then mutiny will take place. It may be a 'by the book' mutiny, it may be a
passive resistance mutiny, or it may include sabotage and physical
violence. But a mutiny there will be!"

"No one outside this room knows that I'm advocating rebellion."

"Correct. But I have no doubt that the fact that we have been ordered home
is well known. And if we fail to obey, then the fact of open rebellion
becomes obvious."

"How would the contents of that order become known?"

"Admiral!", snapped Boudicca, "Don't be naive! You can't keep secrets like
that on this ship!"

Data rose to his feet and glanced around the room. "If anyone present has
made any mental reservations about supporting this revolution, they had
better speak up now. Otherwise, they will be considered traitors to our
cause, with suitable punishment ensuing."

No one made a move.

Sisco squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. "How many security officers
currently serve under you", he asked finally, addressing the question to
Boudicca.

"About two hundred. Most of them are Bajoran, but we have a few humans and
Klingons."

"Bajor is not a member of the federation, so the Bajorans would have no
loyalty to the Grand Council. They would probably follow your orders if a
mutiny erupted. Are the humans and Klingons in a position to do much
harm?"

"They won't be, in a few hours", answered Boudicca. "I'll see to that."

"Good. Draw up a plan for protecting the vital parts of the ship. That
includes engineering, small arms lockers, ship's armament, food and water
supplies and suppliers, and the infirmary. And add anything else you feel
is important and that you can handle. I'd like to see the first draft of
the plan by tomorrow."

"Next --- "

"Admiral", interrupted Data. "I hope the next step is to set up an
intelligence operation to determine who the mutineers might be and what
they intend to do."

"Precisely. And I believe that the three young people here, plus Amanda,
would make an excellent set of operatives. They need do nothing but listen
when in the company of their own age group. No need for leading questions
or exploratory conversations. Young adults that age will reveal all they
know just to show off. My wife, Cassidy, did some espionage work for the
Maquis when they were a threat. She can give them enough training so that
they can cover their own tracks. I'll have her contact the quartet. I
believe that concludes this staff meeting."

"Not quite!"

Amanda suddenly appeared in the room, along with an elderly, gray-bearded
man whose clothing and appearance spelled "farmer".

"You said you wanted me to bring you a cognate Q. Well here he is."

The real Q stared at the farmer with a dumbfounded expression on his face.
"This is a Q ?", he demanded. He advanced on the farmer and held his hand
on the farmer's head, while staring into his eyes.

Finally he backed off, baffled. "He is Q", he announced. "But he has some
depths I can't plumb. This is going to be interesting."

The cognate Q had endured the indignity with patience and not turned to
Sisco. "This young lady indicated that I could perhaps be of some
assistance to you. The Q live only to serve. How may I help you."

Q cast his eyes heavenward, but kept his peace.

Sisco addressed Amanda. "How did you locate this gentleman?"

"I just proceeded to the Alternate Universe and broadcast a Q-Call. That's
a subspace signal Q's use to attract the attention of other Q's. This man
answered."

Sisco turned to the farmer. "How may I address you so that we don't
confuse you with the other Q in this room?"

"'Mr. Farmer' would be acceptable.

"Excellent! Now, Mr. Farmer, we have an unwanted entity aboard. He is a
member of the group we refer to as 'Prophets'. Do you recognize the term?"

"Certainly. And you have a Prophet inhabiting a humanoid body right
there!" He pointed to Sam.

"Quite correct, but he's not the intruder. The intruder comes from your
universe. Could you locate him and render him incapable of harming this
ship?"

"The Prophets from my universe are a despicable lot, always trying to
exterminate other life forms. We Q have had to develop a whole series of
defensive measures, just to survive. If you can give me a general idea as
to where this intruder might be, I will conduct a search for him."

"I doubt that a search will be necessary", said Sam. "He's probably
inhabiting the body of Carli Samon right now."

"Wouldn't her parents be aware of that?", asked Sisco.

"No. He's not exercising any control. He's just sitting in her thymus
watching and waiting."

"Then let's send for Carli."

"No. That might alert the intruder", said Farmer. "We shall go to her. But
first I need two other items. I require a small animal to imprison the
culprit, and a length of iron wire, sufficient to wrap around the animal's
neck several times. Not tight enough to strangle it, mind you."

"Then I would suggest insulated iron wire, to avoid any galling or
infections. Is that satisfactory?", asked Sisco.

"Eminently."

**

Five year old Carli sat at the dining room table doing her homework. Her
mother, Lena, was reading a book in the living room. When the door to
their quarters burst open, both leaped to their feet.

Sisco and Farmer charged in and headed directly for Carli. She would have
screamed if her grandfather had not been one of the two men descending
upon her.

The older man carried under one arm a cat that Carli recognized. It was
Caesar, a cat that no one aboard would acknowledge. Everyone, however, fed
it, because it inflicted fearful vengeance on those that did not.

Farmer cupped his hand under Carli's chin and somehow created a soft
whining sound that seemed to fill the room. Immediately, the cat, which
until now had lain passive, began to squirm and tried to claw its way
free.

Farmer nodded to Sisco who stepped forward and proceeded to wrap a half
dozen turns of wire loosely around the cat's neck, and then twist the ends
together so that the wire would not unwind.

Now the cat managed to squirm free. It dashed to the door and fled down
the passageway.

"Your intruder is now imprisoned in that animal's body", reported Farmer,
"And will remain so until that wire is removed. Don't try substituting any
other wire. It won't work. I have given that wire some special properties.
I believe that concludes my work here." He snapped his fingers and
vanished.

Sisco remained behind just long enough to explain the situation to Lena
and Carli, and to soothe their fears. Then he left for his office. He had
work to do.

**

At the staff meeting the following morning, Amanda was the last to arrive.
And she arrived carrying a very dead Caesar.

"I found him in the hall", she announced. "He shows no sign of being
strangled by the wire. I can't imagine what killed him."

"Sam", said Sisco, "Is the cognate prophet still in the cat's body?"

"If he is, he's also dead. I would suggest an autopsy."

"Doctor, would you do the honors?", asked Sisco, gesturing for Amanda to
present her burden to Alyssa.

"What do I look for?", asked the puzzled doctor.