Data Lore Desire

The Melding Of The Minds

****This chapter has a "honorable mention" of  Season 3 Episode 23 Sarek and is based on Season 3 Episode 26, Season 4 Episode 1 The Best of Both Worlds ****

Before he left Sarek made sure he said goodbye to Dezirae on his own meditating with her one last time within the peace only she can bring and getting his very first hug from her.... which he allowed which is why she did it.... a little over five months later Riker asks Dezirae to join him, Geordi, Data and Worf on another mission O'Brien looks at her oddly as she walks over and up to the Transporter Pad with the four men "I'll be alright Miles.... as long as you're capable of taking one more person.... I'll just lean up against Data.... it'll be like we're dancing cheek to cheek!"  Dezirae coos as she lays her back up against Data's chest pressing it up as close as it would go while cupping her hand along the back of his neck with her arm raised up along his Data raises an eyebrow as the other three men chuckle O'Brien smirks shaking his head then energizes as soon as they reach the surface Dezirae lets go of Data and walks away from the group over to a colossal crater in the ground that may have once been the town Riker and the rest of the Away Team was sent to check up on Riker, Geordi, Worf and Data watch her with curious expressions on their faces and follow her as Riker says into his com "Mr O'Brien verify these are accurate coordinates for New Providence colony"  and they hear O'Brien reply "coordinates verified, sir you're at the centre of town"  sensing Data's presence behind her Dezirae turns and hides her head in his chest Data cups the back of her head with his hand as he stares at the crater with a surprised expression on his face he could only imagine what she must be feeling or quite possibly seeing at that moment Riker has O'Brien beam them back and Data keeps Dezirae with him as they get transported back onto the Enterprise Geordi and Data were ordered to take Dezirae and keep her mind off things by taking her on a trip within the holodeck and since Dezirae mentioned dancing that is what they did once they got there with each man taking turns being her partner when Riker was asked were Data and Geordi were.... since they were supposed to be on duty.... by Picard he told him the truth that he was worried about their friend after what she had witnessed quite possibly in more ways than one and Picard let their duties slide just this once for their friends sake.... Riker became exceedingly worried when he took a guess at what Dezirae may have seen once he found out that it was the Borg who created the crater but he knew how strong she was and that with the right amount and type of distractions she could push it all into the farthest reaches of the back of her mind and she had quite a few distractions.... the holodeck, visiting the ships school, helping out in Ten Forward she once again stayed off the Bridge and Engineering thanks to the visiting Commander named Shelby though that all changed when she sensed the Borgs arrival.... "I'm sorry Captain"  Picard hears Dezirae say from the now open Turbolift he turns and looks at her with a confused expression on his face and not because she is wearing one of Data's outfits but more her size but because it has been a long time since she has called him Captian "it's alright Ensign.... is something wrong!?"  he asks before she could answer Worf says "sir, reading unidentified vessel just entering sensor range bearing 2 1 0 mark 1 5 1"  and Picard gets his answer on the "something wrong" he nods at Dezirae who walks in and walks over to Worf to help him at his station Worf's eyebrow raises at the sight of her in a Starfleet uniform "hail them, Mister Worf"  Picard orders "no response, sir"  Worf replies "move to intercept"  Picard orders "aye, sir"  Wesley replies "sir, the vessel has already changed course to intercept us approaching at warp 9 point 3 entering visual range"  Worf says "on screen magnify"  Picard replies they all see a cube shaped Borg ship on the Viewscreen before them "Mister Worf, dispatch a Subspace Message to Admiral Hanson we have engaged the Borg"  Picard orders as he turns to face Dezirae and Worf who were working together in harmony "Captain, you are being hailed"  Worf says "I am?"  Picard asks confused "yes, Captain-- by name"  Worf replies "Data, is it the same ship we faced at J-25?"  Riker asks "uncertain, Commander, but the dimensions are precisely the same"  Data replies "I doubt it matters anyway after all they are of a Collective mind what one knows the rest of them know"  Dezirae adds Riker looks up at her with a smirk on his face "sorry Commander!"  Dezirae says with a falsely sheepish tone while lowering her eyes Riker does his best to hide his chuckle as Data tilts his head in confusion curious as to why she was using their titles.... which she hasn't done since she first arrived on the ship merely 2 years ago.... and why Picard called her "Ensign" he also found her tone quite confusing for she has never been known to be sheepish (sheepish defined by google as: showing embarrassment from shame or a lack of self-confidence) "on screen"  Picard orders the view of the outside of the cubed ship becomes a view of the inside....