oo.com Received: from [66.218.66.160] by n28.grp.scd.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 01 Apr 2004 05:06:24 -0000 X-Sender: stephen@trekiverse.org X-Apparently-To: ascl@yahoogroups.com Received: (qmail 9748 invoked from network); 1 Apr 2004 05:06:20 -0000 Received: from unknown (66.218.66.166) by m20.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 1 Apr 2004 05:06:20 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO avocet.mail.pas.earthlink.net) (207.217.120.50) by mta5.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 1 Apr 2004 05:06:19 -0000 Received: from sdn-ap-022dcwashp0060.dialsprint.net ([63.191.160.60]) by avocet.mail.pas.earthlink.net with smtp (Exim 3.33 #1) id 1B8uPC-00040i-00 for ascl@yahoogroups.com; Wed, 31 Mar 2004 21:06:19 -0800 To: ascl@yahoogroups.com Organization: Alt.StarTrek.Creative Virtual Staff Office Message-ID: X-Mailer: Forte Agent 1.92/32.572 X-eGroups-Remote-IP: 207.217.120.50 X-eGroups-From: Stephen From: Stephen X-Yahoo-Profile: oldmanasc MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCL@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCL-owner@yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list ASCL@yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:05:54 -0500 Subject: [ASC] Story: Robot Love [1/1] Reply-To: ASCL-owner@yahoogroups.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark & Cana Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US da. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/5x3olB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:25:59 GMT In: alt.startrek.creative From: "Jasjit Singh" ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: "Star Trek" is the copyrighted by Paramount, and Paramount owns Star Trek and the Star Trek Universe. The following story is not-for-profit. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Robot Love ---------- Seven of Nine was bewildered. After the initial breifing, which had lasted over eight hours, the crew of Voyager separated and rejoined with their loved ones; family, lovers, and friends. One by one, she saw them pair off and leave. It seemed that everyone had someone. Even young Naomi Wildman had found a friend, a young human boy who was intensely curious about her ridged forehead, and hung around her all the time. Finally, in an act of exasperation and rebuttal, Seven of Nine had sought out the mess hall and now sat there, hunched over a strange Earth cocktail that she had not sampled yet. It was irrelevant. This was a good place to hide. During her time on Voyager, Seven always had someone close at hand to explain things to her, to show her "how it was done", and to guide her. Most of the time it had been the Captain. Other times, it was other members of the senior bridge crew. But now, here, she was all alone. There was no one to show her how to cope with this situation; no one to show her how to adapt. She studied her drink. A complex mixture of alochols and other synthetic chemicals. She glanced dubiously at the barkeep, who smiled a toothy Ferengi smile at her. She shuddered and pushed the drink a few inches away. "Am I interrupting something?" The voice was clear and articulate, but one she had not heard before. She turned around, and her eyes grew wide. She had not seen this person before. He now wore a command uniform, with Commanders rank. His pale, bloodless skin indicated to her that he was something other than human. That, and the way his hair grew -- jet back, sleek, and not a strand of it was out of place. His motions though, were fluid. Obviously he was meant to speak and act like a human. Her Borg memory filled in the gap where her human memory failed. She spoke his name. "Data, Commander," she said, "of the Starship Enterprise." "I am no longer stationed on the Enterprise," replied Data, "I am currently serving as first officer aboard the U.S.S. Victory." She nodded. "I am Seven of Nine." -- And then, remembering all those lessons the EMH doctor had given her on social etiquette -- "I am pleased to meet you." Data nodded and took the seat next to her. "I have been studying your logs. It appears that you have had a long journey, more so than the rest of the crew of Voyager." Seven of Nine returned to her drink, not wanting old wounds to be opened again. "I will adapt," she replied absently. "I have no doubt that you will," said Data, "But I was not referring to your ability to adapt." Seven of Nine turned to look at him. He continued: "It was a remarkable journey. And a very unique one. As the only one of my kind left functioning in the Universe, I am unique. And alone. I was hoping to learn from your experiences, and perhaps share that which is common between us." "I am an individual," said Seven of Nine, echoing Data's own words, "I am unique." Data nodded encouragingly. "When the Borg invaded our solar system, I had the opportunity to link in to the central operating system on their cube. I was able to experience the hive mind." "I am no longer Borg," said Seven of Nine heatedly. She had encountered several humans who had gasped upon seeing her and had declared her Borg, pointing at her Borg implants in horror. She was tired of it. "That is what makes your different," said Data evenly, "unique. The only one in the Universe. Like me." She sensed the lack of any malice in his voice. In fact, it was neutral, as before. Looking at his face, she saw that he was waiting for a response from her, his eyebrows raised slightly, listening intently. She relaxed. He looked eager and non-threatening. She realized that he did not balk from her Borg heritage. He simply wanted to learn. And perhaps, not be alone any longer. Like her. She let her guard down, and smiled at him. The Borg implant above her left eye seemed to draw attention to itself. She felt self-conscious and half raised a hand to it. But she stopped, and didn't cover it. Data noticed the movement. He raised his own hand, indicating the implant. "May I?" he asked. She gasped. Then nodded mutely. Data raised his fingers and touched the outline of the Borg technology. He traced it with his fingers, to where it met and molded into her skin. Seven of Nine stood up. "Data, " she said softly, "I want-- I would like to mate with you." T h e E n d -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Awards Tech Support http://www.trekiverse.us/ASCAwards/commenting/ No Tribbles were harmed in the running of these Awards ASCL is a stories-only list, no discussion. Comments and feedback should be directed to alt.startrek .creative or directly to the author. Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From ???@??? 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