Chapter Text
The Enterprise-E was in deep space, at cruising speed. All systems read normal, and Captain Picard was in the command chair as usual. The crew was feeling unusually nostalgic, as this mission had an old, sentimental feel to it. They were traveling along the old NX-01’s original route into deep space, the route they traveled along their first voyage, stopping at so many new worlds along the way.
At the conn sat Wesley, and at the operations station sat Data.
“Report,” Captain Picard called, in his commanding voice.
“We are traveling at warp 6.3 captain, all systems nominal, sir.” Data replied.
“Anything on sensors?” Picard asked.
“Nothing, sir.”
“Do we have any further communications from Starfleet?”
“No sir, no comms, all readings are quiet.” Data assured.
“Well then, it seems like this mission is shaping up to be a pleasure cruise.” Riker spoke up
“Inquiry- “Pleasure cruise, sir?” Data asked as he turned around in his chair at ops.
“Yes Data, it means a trip on a boat, for recreational purposes.”
“Ah, I think I understand sir, this is a metaphor is it not?” Data replied.
“That’s correct Mr. Data,” Picard said with a good-natured smile. “Now, in order to complete this mission, we must send a member of the crew out in a shuttle craft to close the incursion. The shuttle will be outfitted with special equipment to do this.”
Again, Data spoke up, “Sir, if I may, I would like to volunteer to go on this mission.”
Picard crossed his legs in the command chair, and looked at Data thoughtfully. “And why is that Commander Data?”
“As an android, I pose less of a risk than if you were to send a humanoid member of the crew. It would be less dangerous and risky. I would be able to perform the correct calculations and procedures quickly even under what would normally be a stressful situation.”
“Mr. Data, I respect your decision, however I would like to say that it is the same risk for you as any other member of the crew. Should something happen to you and you become damaged in any way, you would be cared for just the same.” Picard said. Though Data had no emotions, it was very nice to know that he was valued by his commanding officer, and his friends.
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Commander Data waited for the force field in the shuttlebay to be deactivated, and then he quickly set off towards the time incursion. He slowed as he approached, and started to take his initial scans. Looking at the nominal readings, they were satisfactory.
“Commander Data to bridge.”
“Yes, Mister Data.” The captain responded. This mission was of great importance, so he was watching it very closely.
“Readings appear nominal so far. I am about to initiate procedures to close the temporal incursion.”
“Go ahead Mister Data. We will monitor your progress from here.” Picard gave his approval for him to begin. As he did, things looked well, he released the ions into the rift, and they began doing their job.
Suddenly the shuttle began to rock violently, and it’s lights and sensors began to go off.
“Captain, sensors are picking up something.”
“What is it, Mr. Data?” Picard replied.
“The incursion, I do not believe it is fully closed.” The red alert klaxon going off in the background. Inside the shuttle, his hands flew across the control panels, swiftly trying to use the shuttle’s modified tools to close the time rift as quickly as he could. Before he had any real hope of closing it for good, there was a bright flash of light, and Data himself disappeared from inside the shuttle. Abruptly, Captain Picard was met with silence.
“Mr. Data? Mr. Data respond!” Captain Picard demanded. Mr. Worf, scan the shuttle.”
“I am detecting no signs of his positronic net, Captain.” Said Worf.
Well, where the devil has he gone?” The captain asked himself.
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Data closed his eyes when he felt the sensations of being sucked into the temporal incursion. As soon as he felt cold deck plating, he opened them. His surroundings were unfamiliar, but it was obviously a starship of some kind. He looked around, quickly scanning for clues as to where he was and possibly WHEN he was. Then, his eyes landed on a cargo container that said NX-01.
“01…NX-01 the original Enterprise. I’ve gone into the past.”