425 The Star Of The Show Part One
When I finally left Beverly's quarters, I didn't acknowledge the security guard. Not surprisingly, it wasn't the same one, since I'd been in Beverly's tender care well past the last shift change. That meant two things and it could be good or bad, depending on how you looked at it.
One, the first guard must have already reported back to Worf about what I was up to and he passed it on up the chain of command. Two, the sheer length of the date was going to give Commander Riker and Captain Picard accurate assumptions about what had gone on during it, especially when my current guard reported when I returned to my own quarters.
I wasn't sure if anything bad would happen from it, though. Oh, I had no doubt that Picard would be jealous that I had successfully bedded the widow of his dead best friend. It was just hard to tell if he would do anything about it. Would he confront me about it? Warn me off? Make sure I was of his ship before I could invite Beverly out for a second date?
I entered my quarters and had a sonic shower, dressed in my pyjamas, and sat on the bed. I wasn't tired, so I was at a loss as to what to do. If things did come to a head over this, I needed to prepare something for that eventuality. In order to do that, I had something else I had to do first. I walked over to my small table and pulled out one of the many copies of Data I had made.
He was already deactivated and I unlocked and popped his head off of his body. I stored the body, just in case anyone showed up, and set the head on the table beside the console. Why didn't I just leave Data as himself and activate him? Because I was afraid he would blow his logic circuits.
Knowing another android that looked like him had worried him when he found out about Lore. Having another him, completely identical right down to the programming? That might lock the both of them up and the universe would lose something unique and special. But, since he counted as an object and I could easily copy him, I wasn't going to miss this opportunity. Data and I had never met in the other universe and I never had the chance to copy her.
I opened the back of Data's head to expose the dataport there and connected it to the modified console. Thanks to my powers of 'Tinker: Yes', I completely understood the positronic brain I examined. With a simple bypass of his command program to disable it and all the safeties it would have engaged to stop me from working on it, I started going through his processes an subroutines.
Huh, he really has a full subroutine for his personality matrix that's surprisingly similar to the Doctor Chappel holomatrix program I have. I thought, then a moment later that thought gave me a very neat idea. I chuckled as I pulled out a copy of the portable computer and holo-emitter bundle and turned it on.
“Please state the nature if the medical emergency.” Doctor Chappel said and then blinked her eyes at where she was. “Oh, hello Kevin.”
I smiled at her recognizing me. “I'm going by Tom these days, Christine.”
She gave me a tilted head look as her diagnostic scan finished checking me. “Your main energy signature is the same; but, your DNA has been altered.”
“I haven't fixed that because I'm trying to stay in disguise.” I told her and she nodded. “I was just wondering if you wanted to try having a physical body for a while.”
Doctor Chappel looked down at the back of Data's open head. “Surely, you jest.”
I chuckled. “I'll change it to look like you, of course. I just wanted your opinion instead of just shoving you in there and hoping your program adapts to the new inputs.”
The doctor nodded. “I suppose it would give me a new experience that I haven't had before.”
“You can assist, if you like.” I said and took out a modified datapad and connected it to the console. “Have a look and see what changes you want to make to the superstructure while I clear out the parts you won't need.”
She took the datapad and flipped through a few things. “Can you leave the working penis? I find the thought of experiencing what that feels like fascinating.”
I laughed and took out some tools for delicate work on electronics. “Are you really going to make me construct a hermaphrodite android body for you?”
“It's my body and I can do what I want with it.” Doctor Chappel said with authority.
I laughed again and held up my hands briefly in surrender. “All right, all right, don't get upset. I was just asking.” I said and picked up my tools again. “I have to fix the subroutines that can't handle emotions and adjust the physical pathways they interfere with and the few that are blocked.” I said and started to work. “Do you want your own internal storage, a wireless connection, or to keep the dataport?”
“The first two. The dataport gives other people easy access to my programming and I don't want that.” She answered.
“That's a good point. As soon as I finish the modifications and successfully transfer you over, I'll double check that everything's working. Once that's done and I see that you're operating efficiently, I'll physically disable the port and then remove it.” I promised and she smiled and nodded.
The two of us went to work making her a working body that was going to surprise a few people when they found out, especially because it was coded into her main programming that there were multiple copies of her and they all shared information. Oh, and what she looked like. That was definitely going to be a shock for some people, especially Deanna and Riker.
That reminded me I needed to update her identification protocols to gender-switch the results when appropriate to match her database of medical records for Starfleet personnel. I couldn't have her talk to people using different names or it would make them think she was defective in some way.
*
Beverly Crusher woke up and felt wonderful. She had expected some lethargy afterwards, and perhaps a lot of soreness in certain parts of her anatomy, mostly because she had not been gentle at all during sex once she got going. It had been an unforgettable experience and it left her feeling empowered and energized.
After a shower and doing up her makeup, she dressed in her normal outfit of a Starfleet Commander, Medical Grade, and she felt like she looked especially good wearing it. It was almost a shame when she put on her medical smock and mostly covered up the formfitting uniform. She slipped on her flat-soled boots and frowned at them, put them into the replicator to recycle them, and gave them two inch heels instead.
Beverly put them on and smiled at the two extra inches of height. She was a fairly tall person usually and tried to downplay that and kept herself slouched a little to stay around the average height of the other crew members. She did not feel like doing that today and enhanced her height instead. If she had asked her subconscious about it, it would respond that she wanted to draw attention to herself.
She grabbed a quick breakfast from the replicator and felt a little sad that she hadn't asked Tom to stay all night to enjoy a nice breakfast together. She pushed that thought aside and finished eating, then left her quarters and strode down the hallway with the lower part of her smock flowing in the air behind her, despite there not being any air currents inside a spaceship.
Many eyes stared at her as she walked to work and Beverly tried to not preen because of it. She wasn't sure why she felt like she should, though. It wasn't like she had done anything to be proud of... and then she remembered what she had done yesterday evening with Tom and realized she really did feel proud about it.
Beverly entered sickbay and there was a soft gasp off to the side at the nurse's prep station. She turned to look and the three nurses there stared at her. She didn't ask who had reacted, because Nurse Aigawa had a huge smile on her face.
“I don't see any feathers around your mouth, Doctor Crusher.” Nurse Aigawa commented and the other two nodded.
“Excuse me?” Beverly asked, confused.
“You look like the proverbial cat that caught the canary.” Nurse Weber said.
“You're proud and strutting around.” Nurse Gaiman added. “It's very eye-catching.”
Beverly opened her mouth to respond, then decided it wasn't worth responding to. She shook her head and went into her office to prepare for the day and several routine procedures a few of the many crew members needed performed today. She ignored the nurses whispering about her finally relaxing her high standards and getting some personal pleasure in her life.
Their words did make Beverly wonder if Tom would ask her out again. She wasn't usually a woman that would have sex with someone on the first date. However, Tom had impressed her in many ways, especially how he had subverted her expectations. He had also asked her to indulge in her newly discovered minor fetish and that had made her very happy and enthusiastic.
Half an hour later, she was in the small operating theatre and had her first patient prepared on the medical bed for the medical procedure they needed. Both her and Nurse Aigawa were dolled up in the proper safety clothing and gloves for it, just in case of blood or fluid splashes.
“Bridge to medical bay.” Worf's voice said. “Doctor Crusher, report to the captain's ready room on the bridge.”
Beverly held in her frustrated sigh and nodded at Nurse Aigawa. The nurse used the back of her hand and tapped the spot where Beverly's com badge was placed on her uniform underneath the safety clothes. It beeped acceptance.
“Crusher here. I'm about to start a slightly invasive medical procedure.” Beverly said.
“The captain allotted this time for your meeting.” Worf responded.
“That's news to me.” Beverly responded. “He didn't tell me we were meeting.”
Worf was silent for a moment. “You're being informed now. Please report to the bridge immediately. The captain is waiting for you.”
“You tell the captain he can damn well wait until I'm not busy.” Beverly said and nodded at Nurse Aigawa, whom hit the spot her comm badge was under again.
“Do you need a moment, doctor?” Nurse Aigawa asked.
Beverly took a breath and let it out. “No, Alyssa. I'm fine. Let's get to work.” She said and the started the procedure. A short time later, after making a perfect incision to remove the appendix of the patient, she couldn't resist mumbling. “The nerve of that man.”
Alyssa nodded and continued to assist. She knew the meeting to come was going to be a memorable one after the captain ruined the perfectly good mood Beverly had been in.
Half an hour later, the simple procedure was done and Beverly was cleaned up. She left the medical bay in the hands of her nurses, whom would call if any emergencies came in, and she made her way up to the bridge of the ship. She stepped out of the turbolift and a few sets of eyes turned to look at her. Two of them were accusing, Picard and Worf, because she had refused to report when ordered.
Deanna Troi's eyes widened at all the feelings she was being assaulted with and she whipped her head around to stare at Captain Picard to silently warn him to not confront her, only for the man to ignore her as he stood. Beverly opened her mouth to tell him she was reporting as ordered and Picard held up a hand to stop her.
“I'm sorry, Doctor Crusher. I no longer have the spare time for our meeting.” Picard said.
Beverly's mouth closed and she looked like she was chewing on something for a second. “You had Worf interrupt me performing surgery to report to you, which I denied because I was in surgery, and now you no longer have the time for the meeting you never told me about?”
Picard glanced at Deanna briefly and saw her face, then realized he should have taken her silent advice. “I'll have some time during lunch...”
“No, Jean-Luc. We're having your very important meeting right now.” Beverly told him.
Picard sighed and motioned to the side of the bridge where the doorway to his private retreat was. “Very well. If you will join me in my ready room...”
“I think right here is just fine.” Beverly spat at him, her voice full of spite.
“Oh, no.” Deanna whispered.
What followed was something everyone on the bridge would remember for the rest of their lives. Two very strong and opinionated people unleashed everything they had at each other and nothing was left off of the table. The crux of the matter? Morals.
Of course, Thomas Riker was the motivation for the both of them to tear each apart, with the shouting match being recorded by the bridge recorders. It had somehow make its way all the way back to Starfleet Command after Picard accused Beverly of abusing her position of authority to take advantage of a patient and what was technically a child.
None of them knew the main computer was set to automatically send accusations like that directly to Starfleet. Abuse of command was a grave offence and it would be investigated thoroughly, then persecuted if the evidence proved to be true. The suspension of the officer in question during the investigation was immediate and the notification was sent right back to the Enterprise.
The look of utter hurt and devastation on Beverly's face would be remembered by everyone that saw it, especially Deanna's, because she felt all of Beverly's emotions. It crushed her heart a little at how hard that emotional blow had hit her best friend, then she realized said best friend had sex with Will Riker's transporter clone.
It was very good and very satisfying sex and Deanna squashed her feeling of jealousy. How did she know it was like that? Beverly told everyone on the bridge about it after the accusation and her suspension. She also said there was no way a pathetic and petty man like Picard could ever measure up to the mere child he claimed that Tom Riker was.
That had the both of the dig up many personal and private things and everyone on the bridge could only stand there and watch the systematic destruction of a decades long friendship built on trust and respect. By the time the both of them ran out of things to complain about, they both had calmed down enough to know that everything they shared together was now gone.
“If Jack were alive, he would have been ashamed of you for your behavior, Captain Picard.” Beverly said, not giving the man any respect by calling him by his job title and not his name.
“If Jack were alive, you wouldn't have spread your legs for the cheap copy of your best friend's betrothed, Doctor Crusher.” Picard responded in the same manner.
The fact that Beverly didn't flinch when he said that, meant she was truly done with him. However, Deanna did flinch and Picard knew he had hurt more than just his relationship with the widow of his best friend. He had dragged both Councillor Troi and Commander Riker into it and brought their own mistakes to light.
That drove an even bigger wedge between the potential couple that would be more difficult to overcome than what they already had. Deanna and Will exchanged looks and both had similar feelings, which matched the rest of the bridge crew. All of them would have preferred to not be witnesses or be involved in such a private matter.
“You're wrong, Captain.” Beverly said and smiled. “If my husband hadn't been so noble, you would be dead and he would be where you're standing now.”
A few gasps came from the people around the bridge.
“My Jack wouldn't have been so shortsighted or petty. He would have seen Tom for the gift that he is and would have embraced everything his existence offered.” Beverly said. “You see, I've come to know Tom after we talked... yes, we actually talked... and he would never make a play for someone already involved with someone.”
Deanna caught her breath and looked at her.
“Yes, even that. He promised to never bother you or Will, didn't he?” Beverly asked her and didn't wait for an answer before she looked at Picard. “That means Tom only came on to me because he knew I was unattached and didn't have ANY prospects of romance in my life. NONE. Do you understand that, Captain? He wants to make ME happy and not himself. He's only happy as a consequence of that.”
Picard didn't respond or say anything.
Beverly reached up and pulled the commander bars from her collar, weighed them in her palm, then chucked them at Picard. They hit his chest and fell to the floor. “I hope you're happy with the decisions you've made and enjoy how things are going to turn out for you.”
Picard didn't speak until well after Beverly had turned around, entered the turbolift, and the doors closed. “Everyone, resume your duties.” He ordered in his command voice. He glanced down at Beverly's commander bars and left them there as he turned around and resumed his seat in the captain's chair.
Deanna and Will exchanged worried looks and didn't say anything. What could they say? It was a mess and would take a while before the full impact of it would hit them both. When Captain Picard was distracted by one of the science stations reporting traces of a spacial anomaly, Deanna bent down to scoop up Beverly's command bars and tucked them away.
By the end of the shift, Doctor Crusher had cleared out her office in sickbay and gathered her personal effects from her quarters. She moved into Tom' Riker's tiny room and cried in his arms at her whole life being ruined over something that was a private matter and shouldn't have been anyone's business but their own.