Chapter Text
Romulans were always larger than life on the viewscreen, Data knew that even by proxy. Wesley actively shrunk back in his seat whilst behind him, Captain Picard stood rigid in the centre of the bridge, and Riker, an eighteen-hand steed at his side. Data realised he was thinking of horses because Picard so often used the holodeck to ride them, and discarded the useless comparison, the almost distracting line of thought. His attention reluctantly returned to the man he was trying earnestly to ignore. War was the unspoken teetering point between them, and every word mattered. He knew that much, but with this particular Romulan, he knew much more.
Sub-commander Takenak had once masqueraded successfully as Vulcan by heritage, earning himself a position on the science track at Starfleet Academy. An optimistic officer, later discovered relaying detailed schematics and command codes to a cloaked Romulan warbird whilst serving on the U.S.S Phoenix. Although Picard knew this, he addressed the Sub-commander with typical Federation politeness.
“What can we do for you, Sub-commander?”
Takenak smiled, deep, dark Romulan eyes betraying how interesting he found their encounter.
“Nothing at all, Enterprise, we are just here surveying this star system like you are. We’re explorers too, you know”
If the slightly human phrase caught Picard off guard, he didn’t show it.
“I see. Then I’m sure you won’t mind sharing your flight path, as we will ours”
“Not at all”
Takenak’s eyes flickered down and right, lingering. Data felt increasingly aware of the man’s gaze although the transaction must have lasted two seconds at most. The android thought that would be it, and for some reason he almost yearned for it to be but Takenak’s voice was loud, clear and intentional.
“Data”
Data had pointedly looked down, perhaps too much, because now he had to pivot up so many degrees it would be noticeable. Data could see Wesley turned towards him in curiosity as he responded with as much nonchalance as he could muster.
“Sub-commander”
Taki looked the same, really, a few extra lines. Data could practically feel Geordi’s eyes burning into his neck, along with the Captain, Riker and Troi as he stared up, taking in all the ways Takenak had changed and yet hadn’t.
Don’t you wanna try It, Data? You have the hands for it.
The lyre, held steadily in Taki’s long fingers, and Data staring up from his lower bunk.
Sub-commander Takenak terminated the transmission at Data’s polite, indifferent reply and the android waited for the repercussions, he had calculated a 83.78% chance that the bridge crew found their familiarity curious, and a 92.98% chance that Picard found it concerning enough to call a briefing.
“Briefing in my ready room. Mr Data”
As if Data wouldn’t know that the command pertained to him. Data felt like saying something like ‘it is standard protocol that as second officer I be included in the mission briefing’, but he terminated the script. Picard’s eyes were unreadable as Data turned to stand, but Riker’s weren’t. They were bright blue with the accusation of betrayal.
Data avoided looking at Geordi altogether because even when he'd worn the visor, the man had an uncanny ability to portray disappointment, and for some reason unfathomable to Data, he didn’t want to see it at that precise moment. Not so brightly blue and blinding, not so immediately after seeing Taki’s face. They all took their customary chairs, Geordi lingering at Data’s right shoulder, approximately three centimetres deep into his personal space. Picard’s eyes were more invasive, apparently needling, Data thought, for the details of why Sub-commander Takenak had addressed him personally. It took only 2.7 seconds for Picard to directly ask.
“Well, Commander? Do you know Sub-Commander Takenak? He seems to know you”
“Yes, sir”
Normally he’d elaborate, he was oddly aware of that fact, and yet the words didn’t manifest. How could he appropriately convey that the man on the viewscreen was known as Taki, had been Data’s roommate, the man who had first introduced him to an instrument, though he didn't know he could play. Would like very much to play. He liked strawberries, he liked full bodied red wine. He was Romulan, not Vulcan, and even though Data knew better, his first thought when he saw Takenak’s face on the screen was to imitate a smile. Data didn’t want to relay these facts, he just wanted to move past these nebulous details. Picard wouldn't allow it, Data was certain, and after a stretching silence, the Captain was forced to ask.
“And how does he know you?”
Data hesitated so much that the rest of the bridge staff stared. Deanna’s eyes were particularly wide, like she could read something in him other than emotions. Data briefly wondered what that might be whilst he answered.
“We were…friends at the academy Sir, in the same class taking probability mechanics. We shared a room”
We shared a lot of things.
“You were roommates?!”
Geordi’s voice was incredulous, likely, Data surmised, because he hadn’t mentioned this before. Having shared a room with a known Romulan spy for four years was probably worth mentioning, and yet, Data couldn’t quite pinpoint the reason why he hadn’t. Geordi likely felt betrayed, Worf was visibly annoyed, Troi was unreadable, as was Riker. Picard was conflicted, Data could see that much in the twitch of his right lip.
The Captain spoke lowly, the measured voice he used when he thought Data was being particularly childish or dim.
“I think you better tell us everything you know about this…friend, Mr Data”
Data could see a way out of this strange mire, by way of relaying facts, so he started relaying them.
“Sub-commander Takenak was known simply as Taki at the academy, Vulcan by heritage, he was a competent scientist, he liked music and socialising with humans. He played sports, I did not. He had a particular penchant for old movies, he would watch them most evenings, I imagine now the purpose of this was to study humanity. He found my presence to be inoffensive-“
Data paused and Deanna tensed, though Data couldn’t fathom why.
Don’t you ever want to fill that void, Data?
“-he and I were…friends, we spent a great deal of time together until we were assigned our first commission. I was interviewed at the time of his deception Sir, and was exonerated of any involvement”
The Captain paused, obviously he wasn’t aware, and Data knew it wasn’t on his record because a particularly well connected Commander thought it would affect Data's petition for sentience. Picard banked the information for another time and continued.
“I am not accusing you, Mr Data, of collaboration, however-“
He made an effort to remain impassive and simply asked.
“knowing the Sub-commander then, why do you think he is here now?”
Data didn’t find this question difficult, he had already made an assumption based on the best available evidence. The Enterprise was surveying the local star system for habitable planets for the currently displaced populace of Jurai V, a reclusive, xenophobic colony who became a Federation member, most likely for protection, thirty years prior and avoided all contact since. Data's limited information would match what was in the Enterprise's records, and his conclusion would not be dissimilar to anyone who had even cursorily reviewed the facts. They were headed to Jurai V as soon as their astrometric survey was complete, and the Romulans were no doubt there to recruit the turbulent colony to their cause.
“I believe he is here to track the eventual home of the Jurian colony, since their beliefs and politics align with that of the Romulan Empire”
Riker nodded, adding.
“That’s my belief too”
The Captain didn’t exactly agree, he simply nodded.
“In that case, let’s keep an eye on our neighbours. Dismissed…Data, a word”
The rest of the bridge staff left the observation lounge, Geordi lingered the longest, casting a potent look towards Data as he left. The android could see the man was restless, possibly even annoyed. The Captain adopted a different tone, one that might ingratiate himself if Data hadn’t been an android.
“Data, who is this Takenak, in your opinion”
The word opinion held considerable weight in Data’s mind, it meant that he could speak freely or not at all, it meant he could talk endlessly or be careful. He chose to be honest.
“He is a very persuasive man, Sir. I believe at one time, our peers considered him to be a good man. He is smart, conniving yet amicable. He was my first friend, and we kept correspondence up until his conviction”
This surprised Picard, not because he didn’t think Data capable of maintaining a friendship, but because it seemed more than that, somehow. Like the Romulan spy somehow knew Data better than he did, that they shared something Data had kept secret and it irked him.
“Alright Commander, if you think of anything else, do let me know”
“I will, Sir”
Data left promptly, returning to his position on the bridge as elegantly as he normally would. He glanced at Riker and Troi as he sat down but their faces were perplexed, at best. He set to work analysing the emissions of the Romulan warbird Takenak now commanded, but in his mind, he could still see a clear image of the man leaning over from the top bunk, laughing over something Data didn’t understand. He could see Taki lying next to him after Data’s first and only attempt to smoke.
Do you ever feel like you’re doing something because of fate? Like you have no control, you’re just along for the ride? As humans say.
Data had hesitated for a long time, by humans standards, wishing he could offer something substantial as a response.
I do not feel, Taki.
He’d failed to identify the odd statement, as humans say, but it hadn’t mattered at the time because the conversation ended with Taki’s lips on his own, and they’d had sexual intercourse. Data considered if he should have mentioned such a close relationship in the briefing, or directly to the Captain afterwards. He was certain that it was important, but the fact seemed forbidden even to him. Clumsy. Unnecessary because it was private, and it was wonderful; Taki had occupied a great deal of his operational capacity right up until he'd been detained. He couldn’t help but identify the parallels with his relationship with Lieutenant Yar. Data tapped away at his console and wondered what Geordi would think of that and surmised that it would be ‘nothing good’.
CC.