The BLTS Archive- Queen of Cups
Third in The Cups Quartet
by DataToy (DataToy711@aol.com)

---


September 1999

Eternal gratitude to Laur, my Dark Master

---
"Queen of Cups: expect the unexpected; this person is impossible
to pigeonhole. As a result, you enter into unknown terrain."

- Trish MacGregor and Phyllis Vega, Power Tarot
---

I'm going to take my time
I have all the time in the world
to make you mine
it is written in the stars above
the gods decree
you'll be right here by my side
right next to me
you can run, but you cannot hide

Don't say you want me
don't say you need me
don't say you love me
it's understood
don't say you're happy
out there without me
I know you can't be
'cause it's no good

I'll be fine
I'll be waiting patiently
till you see the signs
and come running to my open arms
when will you realise
do we have to wait till our worlds collide
open up your eyes
you can't turn back the tide

- Depeche Mode, It's no good.

---
Testosterone, a voice in his mind informed him, and he jumped.
Evidently, many of the facts that had once been stored in his
positronic brain were still present in his human one...

	-from Knight of Cups
---

"Lie down on the table, Data," the cyberneticist said.

Data obeyed without question. As always, he did what was expected
of him.

"It's time to begin," Maddox said, approaching Data. "Raise
yourself. I need to access your off switch."

Data obeyed.

I do not want this! I do not- Malfunction. Processing.

Maddox reached behind Data, pressing an area lower in his back.
Data fell back on the table, his pupils dilating until his golden
eyes were almost black.

"All right," he said, motioning to an assistant. "Let's begin by
isolating the torso."

Data heard his words.

Running level three diagnostic. There are no malfunctions. I
cannot be conscious. This is not possible.

He heard the slight click sound his legs made as they were
detached. The assistant was in his field of vision for a fraction
of a second -Data saw him carrying his legs away.

Then, with cold efficiency, they took off his arms.

Please stop, please stop. Please give me back my arms... Please
put my hands over my eyes.

No one could hear him. He tried to move his lips, but he could
not.

"Remove his head as well," Maddox said. "I will be dismantling
his positronic brain shortly."

One of Data's fingers began tapping against the surface of
the lab counter.

"What's this? Commander Maddox, take a look at this!" the
assistant exclaimed, noticing the small movement out of the
corner of his eye.

Maddox turned around and walked to the counter, peering at Data's
hand. "This is unusual indeed," he remarked. "There is so much
about his circuitry that we don't understand yet. I imagine that
in some ways, his neural net must be similar to ours. This must
be a reflex induced by the residual presence of electrical
current. We will soon have all the answers we are looking for,
however." He returned to what was left of Data's body.

Geordi, Geordi! You're the only one who can help me... Geordi,
save my soul... Please hear me!

---

Data moaned.

Geordi rose from the chair where he'd been sitting, watching
over him. "Data?" he whispered, leaning over the bed.
"Data, wake up," he said, shaking him slightly. "Data."

Data's complexion was turning a sickly pale green, and his
breathing was rapid. Beneath his eyelids, there were sharp, side
to side movements. "Save my soul," he murmured plaintively.

"Data!" Geordi said, shaking him more strongly. "Wake up!"

Data wasn't responding. His head rolled limply to one side
as Geordi sat down on the bed. He whimpered, tears seeping from
beneath his closed eyelids. "No... no!" he cried softly.

Geordi felt a wave of panic tossing his heart around. He took
Data by the shoulders and raised him from the bed slightly. He
shook him again, with more urgency. "Data, come on! Wake up, I
said! Wake up!"

Data's eyes snapped open. He stared ahead of him, his eyes
glazed with shock. He began to shake violently. "Please,
don't take me apart!" he cried, still trapped in his nightmare.

Oh my God, he said "don't!" Geordi thought, stunned. Quickly, he
gathered Data in his arms. "Data, it was only a dream, can you
hear me? It's Geordi. Come on, come on, talk to me Data," he
said, his chest tight with alarm.

Data blinked, and he seemed to recognize the engineer. He
shuddered, as if chills were running down his spine. "Geordi,"
he faltered. Then he shut his eyes, his lips pulled downwards.
"It feels... it feels like my head is filled with steel...
and it is trying to... to push through my forehead..."

Geordi almost scowled. "Have another glass of champagne,
Data, you're celebrating!" he remembered Riker saying.
I'm gonna kill that idiot for that, he thought darkly.

Data whimpered, and the unhealthy shade of green that colored
his features seemed to deepen. He looked at Geordi, his golden
eyes frightened and surprised. Geordi had seen that look a few
times already. Something unpleasant was happening to Data,
something he didn't recognize.

Oh shit, Geordi thought. "Come on, Data, you've got to move...
Get up, Data, quick!" As he half-guided, half-carried
his friend towards the bathroom, Data began to gag miserably.

Scant seconds later, Data grabbed for the edge of the bathroom
counter as his stomach lurched. He closed his lips tightly and
swallowed, breathing through his nose, his knees trembling.

"Don't fight it," Geordi advised. "It's best to get it over with,
trust me... I'm right here, don't worry."

When the second wave of nausea surged up Data's throat, he
started throwing up in the sink violently.

While Geordi pictured himself throttling Riker, he patted Data
on the back, reassuring him. "It's okay, it's okay, it's
almost over..."

Then Data stopped, panting, his eyes watery. "That is
disgusting," he said, coughing a few times.

Geordi would have laughed if he hadn't been so worried. "It
happens to the best of us," he said, reaching for the glass
beside the sink and filling it with water.

"Thank you," Data said weakly as he took it, and rinsed his
mouth. Though he was still quite pale, he had lost that greenish
undertone.

"C'mon... I'll help you get back to bed. You need to lie down
now," Geordi said, placing an arm around his shoulders.

"Yes, I would like that..." Data put his hand over his eyes.
"I still feel dizzy."

They returned to Data's bedroom. Data slowly sat upon the bed,
and Geordi supported him as he gingerly lowered his head onto
the pillow once more.

"Do you feel better?" Geordi asked.

Data nodded, eyes closed. "Yes... thank you, Geordi," he said and
sighed. "I am sorry."

Geordi shook his head. "It's not your fault, Data. Don't worry
about it. Try to get some sleep, okay? I'll stay here with you."

Data nodded again, drifting away already. Soon his breathing
slowed and he fell into a quiet slumber.

Geordi sat down on the chair, watching him carefully. Please
don't take me apart. Geordi had no doubts that Data was having
nightmares about what would have happened, had Q not intervened.

He rubbed his eyes. He was glad that he had decided to keep an
eye on Data after bringing him back to his quarters following
the party celebrating his requalification for active duty.

Goddamn that stupid bastard Riker, he thought furiously.

Data shifted and turned on his side, bringing one loosely closed
fist near his cheek. When Geordi looked at him, there was a
feeling inside of him that he couldn't quite identify. It was
almost painful.

---

"GEORDI!"

Geordi almost fell off the chair when Data's scream brutally
tore him from his slumber. He was disoriented for a few instants;
then he saw how Data had kicked his sheets off the bed, and was
thrashing on the mattress.

"Help Geordi help me help me help me-" he begged, convulsing, his
hair plastered against his forehead, his features streaked with
sweat.

"Data!" Geordi cried, bolting from the chair. He took Data in his
arms, trying to calm him.

Data struggled, striking out in blind panic. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" he
screamed. Then abruptly Data clutched at Geordi's shoulders,
fiercely clinging to him. "HELP ME GEORDI, HELP ME!"

Geordi began to shake him in desperation. "Data! Data!" he
yelled, "I'm here Data, I'm here, please wake up, wake up!"

"Geordi-" Data said, his eyelids fluttering open. He stared at
Geordi, his eyes glassy and wide with anguish, sweat dripping
from his face. He tried to speak, but no sound left his lips.

"Data," Geordi said softly, holding his face and looking straight
into his eyes, "I'm here... See? It's okay...Talk to me, Data..."

Data's lips moved silently, and then he whispered, "Geordi?"

Geordi nodded. "It's me, Data... You're okay. I promise
everything will be all right."

Data gazed at him. Tears welled in his unblinking golden eyes
and flowed down his cheeks, mixing with his sweat. "Geordi...
You are here," Data rasped. He touched Geordi's face as if
to make certain.

Then his features contorted and his chest hitched, forcing
painful, ragged breaths out of him. Data's head fell against
Geordi's shoulder, his arms clasped around his back and he
started weeping tumultuously, quaking in Geordi's embrace.

"Shhh... I'm right here, Data... I'll always be here for
you, you know that... Shhh... It's all right," Geordi murmured,
comforting him, stroking his back.

Data was clawing at Geordi's uniform, clenching it in tight
fistfuls. "Geordi... Geordi..." he sobbed. "They -they were
taking me... taking me apart... I could hear them... I could
-could see what they were... what they were doing to me...
I wanted to beg... to beg them to stop... I could not... I could
not do anything..."

Geordi strengthened his embrace.

"I could only -only watch them... as they carried parts of me...
of me away!" Data sobbed even more loudly, his body shaking with
terror as the images assailed him with renewed force.

"Oh, Data... No one can take you apart now,"Geordi said, trying
to soothe his distraught friend.

Data buried his face against Geordi's neck. "Geordi..." he
whimpered, the small pitiful sounds lodged in his throat,
"stay... stay with me... do not leave me..."

"I won't leave you," Geordi said, cradling him in his arms, his
neck damp with Data's tears. "I'm not going anywhere... I won't
let anyone hurt you."

"If you stay... I will be safe," Data murmured. "I will be safe."

Geordi could feel Data slowly relaxing against him now. "I'm
sorry I fell asleep, Data," Geordi said. "I'll never abandon
you... I swear."

Data raised his head from Geordi's shoulder, gazing at him with
swollen eyes. "Geordi... Even... even when I was a machine...
you treated me differently than everyone else did. I always
knew... I always knew that you were my friend... and that I was
yours."

Geordi's heart sank. He hadn't realized how very isolated Data
had felt back then. "You were always my friend, Data,"he said.
"And you always will be."

Two more teardrops ran down Data's cheeks. Then his face inched
closer to Geordi's, and he kissed him on the cheek, his lips
pressed against Geordi's skin, lingering there for a moment. He
lowered his head, his breath warming Geordi's chest. "Thank
you... thank you," he said with a broken voice, overcome by
feelings of love and acceptance.

Geordi swallowed, fighting not to cry as well. "Here, Data...
You have to rest. Come here," he said, moving up the bed until
he could lean against the headboard, pulling Data along with him.
"Put your head in my lap... I'll be right here, watching over
you, okay?"

"O... kay," Data said tiredly, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. He
draped one arm over Geordi's legs, his hand closing around a
section of Geordi's pants, and snuggled in his lap. "Thank you,
Geordi," he said drowsily.

"It's all right, you just get some sleep," Geordi said. "I'm
watching over you... don't worry."

Data sighed with relief, all his tension draining away from
him, his cheek pushed against Geordi's thigh, and he eased into
a peaceful sleep.

For a long time, Geordi sat, caressing Data's dark hair, pushing
a few moist strands from his eyes. After a while he started
feeling a bit stiff, but he didn't move, unwilling to disturb
Data after what he had gone through. However, he noticed that
Data had begun to shiver; when he awoke from his nightmare, Data
had kicked all his blankets off the bed.

Very carefully, he moved from under Data's head, replacing
his lap with a pillow as he inched away. Data barely stirred,
though he trembled slightly. Geordi walked to the foot of the
bed and collected the blankets. He bent down and groaned, putting
his hand to the small of his aching back. Now what was he going
to do about Data? For sure he couldn't leave him alone.

He surveyed the bed, deciding that there was enough space for
the both of them, though it would be a tight fit. "Okay, Data,"
he said softly, removing his boots, "I'm just gonna lie next to
you now, if that's all right."

Data shifted a little, a very soft moan escaping his lips.
Instantly Geordi joined him, placing the blankets over the both
of them. "Shhh," he whispered. "Don't you start having nightmares
again... I'm right here," he said, spooning Data and putting an
arm over his chest, drawing him closer. "I'm right here for you."

Data calmed immediately and sighed. "Geordi..." he breathed
almost inaudibly.

Geordi smiled, reassured. "That's it," he said, listening to
Data's even breath. "That's it," he said, patting his chest
lightly.

As they lay together in the darkness, Geordi grew more and more
aware of Data's body pressed against his. He remembered that
before Q's gesture, Data's synthetic skin had felt warm and
smooth to the touch, but there had been a hardness underneath
that was unlike human muscles and bones.

Unable to prevent himself, he reached down and took Data's
hand in his. Its size was unchanged, his fingers as long and
graceful as they were before, but somehow Data's hand felt more
fragile now. Geordi's heart was suddenly pierced by sadness. He
grieved for Data, for his years of loneliness and having to be
different from everyone else.

Geordi let Data's hand go, gently placing it upon the mattress,
and moved his hand over Data's chest, increasingly fascinated
by the sensation of his yielding flesh; Geordi could feel it even
though Data was wearing a pyjama shirt.

Then before he realized what his hand was doing, it had slipped
underneath Data's shirt and was feeling his stomach. When he had
helped Data button his pyjama shirt a few hours earlier, he had
been astonished to see the hair covering Data's chest -every time
he thought he'd gotten used to Data's transformation, it seemed
something else was waiting to surprise him. And now, as his
fingers pressed against Data's soft stomach, the texture of his
hair was... it felt... so good.

Data groaned ever so slightly. "Geordi..." he murmured. "I knew
you'd come..."

Geordi froze.

"Geordi..." Data whispered again. He moved against Geordi,
turning over to face him. His eyes were closed. He snuggled
against him and buried his face at the base of Geordi's neck.
"Knew... you'd save me," he mumbled, putting his hands upon
Geordi's chest.

He's dreaming, Geordi thought, dazed. But I don't think he's
having a nightmare this time.

He gasped as he felt Data's erection pushing into his thigh.
He was growing hard as well -this can't be happening, he thought
with increasing alarm and desire.

"Come for me... Knew... it'd be you," Data was murmuring now,
his breath hot on Geordi's neck, his supple lips brushing
against the sensitive skin. Geordi shut his eyes. A distant part
of his mind told him he should wake Data; the rest of him ignored
it.

"Anything you... want," Data said and there was something like
pleading in his voice. "Yesss... Anything..." He moaned again and
nudged his hips very gently against Geordi.

Geordi's head was spinning and his jaw clenched. Then he felt
Data's lips part against his throat, only to close again in
tender, reverent kiss. "Geordi..." Data said with accelerating
breath, "ohhh..."

Geordi was wracked with torment as he felt Data's sweet lips
kissing him a little higher up on his neck. This is wrong,
he thought despairingly, I have to stop this... He doesn't
know what he's doing.

Or does he? nagged the small voice at the back of Geordi's mind.
And you... do you really want to stop him?

Shut up! Geordi thought. He gritted his teeth -Data was gradually
shifting upwards along his body, kissing his jawline, his chin,
climbing higher still until the hardness in their crotches met...
As did their lips.

Data's mouth was shy and inexperienced. Despite the lingering
alcohol aftertaste, it was the most enticing kiss Geordi had ever
received... Helplessly, he responded to it, sampling Data's thin,
finely drawn and delicious lips.

Then Data gasped in his sleep, his head falling back, and his
hips jerked slightly. "Oh! Oh!" he breathed, moistening his lips
with the tip of his tongue.

Geordi groaned miserably, his cock throbbing painfully at the
sound of Data coming for the first time. Somehow he knew that
Data had never had a wet dream before now. He sighed, the sound
wrenched from deep within.

Data laughed softly and soon he was slumbering once more, a
faint smile etched upon his lips.

Geordi wanted to bang his head against the wall in frustration
-the ache settling in his crotch was a problem he couldn't
concern himself with at the moment. He knew he couldn't leave
Data. He had promised he would stay. What would Data do the next
day when he awoke, and saw... He would be embarassed, or worse,
apologize, or... Geordi shook his head, defeated. It was
difficult to predict how Data would react, especially these days.

There was only one thing to do: Geordi would have to clean him
up, and pray he wouldn't wake him in the process. He carefully
rose from the bed, taking a few agonized steps to Data's
wardrobe, retrieving a pair of pyjama pants and tossing the shirt
into the cleaning unit.

Then he approached Data's still form, and with trembling hands,
he began to remove Data's pants. Thankfully, Data was sleeping
so soundly that he even snored a little. The champagne was still
doing its number on him, Geordi thought. Taking a deep breath,
Geordi slid the grey cotton pants over Data's perfectly smooth
bottom, he noted somewhat deliriously, biting his lip to prevent
himself from laughing, or crying, or both.

As he pulled Data's pants down, Geordi frantically tried to
avert his eyes, tried not to look at... at...

But he looked anyway and his lips parted at the sight of Data's
beautiful sex, his imagination abruptly taking over, transporting
him to places he'd never acknowledged.

Will you hurry before he wakes up?

Quickly, but carefully, he finished his task, gingerly pulling
the fresh pair of pyjama pants up to Data's slim waist. Geordi
's mouth was growing dry.

He threw the soiled pants into the cleaning unit and lay down
next to Data again, groaning with discomfort. At least now Data
wouldn't have the shock of his life when he opened his eyes in
the morning, Geordi thought, consoling himself.

He sighed, knowing he wouldn't be getting any sleep.

---

Data's eyelids fluttered, slowly revealing his brilliantly
golden irises. That's what a sunrise must be like, Geordi thought
wistfully.

"Geordi..." Data said, smiling a little wanly. "Thank you...
for staying with me." He swallowed. "I am still feeling slightly
unwell, I believe. I do not know how to repay you for all your
kindness."

I can think of a few ways, Geordi's mind answered in a snap.

"Don't worry about it, okay?" Geordi told Data, scowling inwardly
at himself. "I think you've got a bit of a hangover here, buddy.
We should have Beverly take a look at you."

Data nodded. "That is a good idea." He rubbed his forehead. "I am
never having champagne again," he said. "The hot fudge sundae was
a much more enjoyable experience."

"Well... Maybe later today, we can go to Ten Forward and have
some," Geordi said. "Whaddaya say, Data?"

Data thought of the rich fudge melting in his mouth and a
fleeting image went through his mind, too swiftly for him to see
it. He frowned. "Strange..." he said. "Since I have become
human, there are thoughts in my head that I cannot picture, yet
I know they are there."

Geordi forced a smile. "Yeah," he said. "I know what you mean.
Sometimes... they're things you don't really want to know. Or
things you're not ready for yet. Sooner or later, they come to
you, when the time is right."

Data brightened. "Ah," he said. "I understand. When it comes to
me, I will tell you, Geordi."

Geordi's chest tightened. "I'll be glad to hear it, Data,"
he said.

---

The End