Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek: The Next Generation or any of the characters therein, although there may perhaps be some alternate universe...

Author's Note: I shouldn't do this. I really should not do this. I have too many unfinished stories to finish as it is, not to mention the supremely important matter of my degree, the completion of which is currently my life's highest priority. However, being an obsessive nut, when an idea lodges itself in my head it refuses to let go until I take action. And so, against all reason, I am now compelled to post this: the Seventieth story I have shared on this site. Yeah, I can't believe it either. 70. This is my 70th story here. Wow...

I should explain a bit about this story before it begins. I wrote the initial draft in the back of my math notebook at the start of seventh grade. It was simple and a little silly: I just wanted to see what would happen if Data met a human version of himself from an alternate reality and how they would get along. It was going OK until I realized the story was basically a long conversation and it didn't really have a plot so it had nowhere to go. With nowhere to go, it had no way to end and so it just sat there, frustratingly unfinished. I left it alone for a long time, intending to come back to it once I'd found it a plot, but after several attempts spread out over several years, it still lacked any real direction.

But now, after going back through and fixing up some of my old files, I think I've finally found it a direction.

This story will be a little strange. It's something of a hodgepodge of several different unfinished story ideas tied together by a question inspired by the episode "Masks," and if you've seen that episode you'll know it inspires a lot of questions. While the main idea is to get Data to meet and interact with an alternate version of himself, the plot is driven by quite a different topic. With this story, I intend to investigate the intriguing character Ihat. What if the Ihat persona that took over Data in "Masks" didn't entirely disappear? What if, when Masaka found him, he hid himself so completely he avoided not only capture but also erasure?

I always finish my stories, no matter how long it takes, but I'll be honest: there will likely be some long waits between updates. This is a weird old story and its threads need to be handled gently so they don't break or end up in an incomprehensible tangle. That sort of stuff takes time and attention and, right now, I can't promise this story either. Still, I think it's finally ready to share. Your reviews really mean a lot to me - in fact, the fantastic reviews I got on my other ST:TNG stories prompted me to finally find this poor story a plot! - so, if you review, I will be forever grateful! :)

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy my story!

Alternative Data

By Rowena Zahnrei

Chapter One

Lieutenant Commander Data strode purposefully into the transporter room of the small Starfleet base. The young Atrean ensign in charge of the transporter controls looked up, then smiled.

"Did you enjoy your leave, Commander?"

It took Data a moment to respond. Ensign Igmar noticed the commander's expression seemed forced, as though he were making a conscious effort to appear calm and composed. When he finally spoke, his voice had the same forced calmness as his face.

Igmar's smile quickly dropped to an expression of concern.

"Yes. Yes, Ensign," he said. "It was very good to have a chance to see my mother again. Particularly after such a harrowing experience."

"But something's wrong," Igmar blurted. "It's not just your experience with the Borg."

Data stared at her. She felt herself blushing at her forwardness, but she had to go on.

"I don't mean to pry, Commander, but you seem so, well, reserved this morning. Not at all like your usual self. Even when you first arrived on Atrea, you were not so...withdrawn."

"Is it that obvious?"

Data shook his head, then offered her a very slight smile.

"I should have known better than to try to conceal my emotions. Commander Riker is always telling me I need to work on my poker face."

He took a deep, shaky breath. As he did, his eyes started to brim with tears. He blinked hard, then turned to Ensign Igmar.

"My father," he explained. "He had been unwell for so long. I should have expected..."

He stopped, took another shaky breath, then began again.

"My father is dead," he explained in a flat, matter-of-fact tone. "I can only comfort myself with the gratitude I feel that I was able to say good-bye, and to be there to comfort my mother. His funeral was yesterday."

He sniffed sharply, then rubbed his nose.

"I apologize, Ensign. I did not mean to trouble you with my personal concerns. If you would be so good as to operate the controls, I am ready to beam back to the Enterprise."

Yvette Igmar looked at him standing there, and her heart went out to him.

"Oh, Commander, I am so sorry. First the Borg and now this. And poor Dr. O'Donnell. Your parents and mine have been neighbors for so long. I should go see her."

"I believe my mother would appreciate that, Ensign. Thank you for your concern."

Ensign Igmar could feel herself blushing again and looked down at her control board. As she did, a red light began to flash.

"Commander, the Enterprise is hailing you."

"Oh, yes. I must have forgotten to reactivate my communicator after the service. Thank you, Ensign."

Data slapped the combadge on his chest.

"Data to Enterprise."

"Commander," came Captain Picard's cultured voice, "we have been trying to reach you. Are you ready to beam aboard?"

"I am, sir."

"Good. Then please meet me in my ready room once you have settled in. Our new orders have just arrived from Starfleet and I wish to discuss them with you."

"I am on my way, sir."

"Oh, and Commander..."

"Yes, sir?"

"I am very sorry to hear about your father. I do hope your mother-"

Ensign Igmar watched, her heart aching with sympathy, as Data squeezed his eyes shut, then slowly opened them again.

"She is fine, Captain. My father had been ill for a very long time. He was in a great deal of pain. She has chosen to try to see his death as a blessing, rather than as a tragedy."

"She is a very brave woman, your mother."

"Yes, Captain. I know. And I am pleased to hear you sounding so well."

"Yes. Thank you, Data. I spent my leave with my brother and his family. It was quite a...healing experience. Well, I will await your arrival at your convenience. Picard out."

Data stepped up onto the transporter platform and turned to face Ensign Igmar.

"Perhaps I will see you on my next leave, Ensign."

"I'll be here, sir."

"Good-bye, then, Yvette."

Yvette had to hold her breath to still her reaction. He knew her first name. She breathed deeply to slow her racing heart. She'd had a crush on Data Soong since she had first seen him five years ago, that perfect summer day the year before she'd entered Starfleet Academy. He'd been spending his leave visiting his parents, as he usually did, and had helped her repair her bicycle's back tire. Bicycles were admittedly primitive vehicles, but they remained enormously popular among Atrean youth.

She sighed. Such a shame he was already married.

"Good-bye, sir," she said, forcing herself to sound businesslike and professional. "Preparing for transport."

She activated the transporter beam and watched as the slender man dematerialized into innumerable sparkles of light and energy. She had just glanced at her control monitor to confirm his safe arrival on the Enterprise when her own combadge sounded.

"Enterprise to Atrean Starfleet Base. We are still waiting to receive Commander Soong."

A wave of panic rushed over her. They hadn't received him? That was impossible. There was no way the transporter could have malfunctioned. She had plotted the coordinates correctly; the Enterprise should have received him without a problem.

"This is Ensign Igmar. Lt. Commander Soong beamed over to Transporter Room Three barely fifteen seconds ago. He must be there."

"Commander Soong has not rematerialized on board the Enterprise. Please check your pattern buffer to ensure the transport cycle was completed."

Ensign Igmar bristled at the man's tone, but her fingers fairly flew across her board as she checked and rechecked her transporter records. They all read that the cycle had been successfully completed. Lt. Commander Daniel 'Data' Soong had rematerialized aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise 1701-D at 1043 hours, Atrean time. She told the Enterprise so, then demanded that a full inquiry be made into Data's disappearance.

Twelve hours later, after an extensive and grueling examination of all systems, Data's best friend – and possibly the best engineering mind in Starfleet – Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge, was forced to make the pronouncement. His voice was husky with emotion as he reported to the stunned Enterprise command crew, "I'm afraid he's gone, sirs. Lt. Commander Data Soong has been lost."

Yvette couldn't believe her ears. She looked down at her hands, the hands responsible for operating the controls that had killed him, and sank to her knees. La Forge came over to her and placed a kindly hand on her shoulder.

"It wasn't your fault, Ensign. You did everything right. I can't for the life of me figure out what went wrong, or why!"

"Oh, Commander La Forge," Yvette sobbed. "What am I going to tell his mother now? She just lost her husband, and now I have to tell her that her only son is dead! And what of his wife and daughter?"

"I don't know, Ensign," La Forge said. "But I will promise you this. We'll get to the bottom of this tragedy if I have to devote the rest of my career to doing it!"

To Be Continued...

References include TNG episodes "Brothers," "Family," "Inheritance," and "Best of Both Worlds."