[Fic] "Transition State" -- Star Trek: TNG

[edenfalling]

akatsuki210 said: For the "science and magic" prompt: Star Trek: The Next Generation/Sandman. When Data begins to use his dream program, he encounters Morpheus, who welcomes him as the first non-biological life-form to enter the Dreaming.

Note: I seem to have wound up with Daniel rather than Morpheus, whoops. Also, TNG is not really my Trek, so I cribbed everything about Data's dreams from Memory Alpha. *wry* Also also, I'm pretty sure there have been other non-biological species in the Dreaming before -- it's huge, it's old, it touches multiple universes -- but Data can still be the first of his species to get there. (400 words exactly)

[ETA: The AO3 crosspost is now up!]

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Transition State
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"I initially hypothesized that the corridors which frequently appear in my dreams were the byproduct of an efficiency algorithm, using familiar locations in order to conserve processing power for more important symbolic elements," Data says to the white-robed, white-skinned humanoid walking soundlessly beside him. "However, there are flaws in this hypothesis. I have numerous locations stored in my memory banks, yet they rarely appear until later in a dream. Additionally, I rarely begin a dream standing still. My revised hypothesis is that a journey through corridors is itself symbolic, in this case of a transition between cognitive states."

They arrive where Ten Forward should be, except it has -- in the inexplicable, shifting way of dreams -- been replaced by the gate of a massive castle wall, surmounted by statues of fantastical beasts from Earth's pre-starflight history.

"That is not inaccurate," the stranger says. "From another perspective, of course, you are journeying between worlds."

Data considers this statement, attempting to reconcile it with his own research into the nature of sleep and consciousness. He is certain it cannot be literally true, yet the stranger doesn't sound like a liar or a fanatic... "Ah! A metaphor."

"That is not inaccurate," the stranger repeats, as the raven on his shoulder cackles to itself. "But again, there are other perspectives to consider. It's rare for non-biological lives to brush more than the ragged borders of my realm, but I have been watching you with great interest since my librarian alerted me to the scope of Dr. Soong's ambitions. You have traveled further every time you test your new neural circuit, and tonight you've finally come far enough to take the final step, should you so choose. Welcome to the Dreaming, Lt. Commander Data."

He gestures, and the portcullis raises as smoothly as the Enterprise's doors slide open, revealing a stained-glass hallway, the sound of running water, and a small group of people whose shapes seem to alter the more closely Data observes them but whose organization is clearly that of a diplomatic welcoming party.

Data knows he is nobody's ideal choice for a first contact mission. Still, he wouldn't be in Starfleet unless he shared the urge to learn and explore. Whatever the objective reality of this Dreaming and its inhabitants may be, whatever the consequences of this journey, he cannot wait to discover them.

"Thank you," he says, and steps over the threshold.

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End

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Two down, more to go... :)

Comments

[radiantfracture]

Lovely! Would like to read more of this, though the end-point is perfect.

[edenfalling]

Thank you! :)

[snickersd]

I know I've probably only commented on your work once or twice, but I really enjoyed this short. Despite stating you did not know TNG that well this piece perfectly captured Data's voice. As I read, I could hear Brent Spiner saying those lines, particularly the last one. Wonderful job!

[edenfalling]

Thank you! (My experience with TNG was watching pieces of random episodes while it was airing, reading some tie-in novels when I was in high school, and watching Generations and First Contact in theaters, so I am not completely without context -- and Data's voice is pretty memorable! -- but I wouldn't want to try writing anything longer than this without a much firmer grasp of canon.)

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for this! You did a great job with Data's voice.

[(Anonymous)]

--This is Akatsuki210, btw.

[edenfalling]

Thanks! Data has a pretty memorable voice, which helps a lot. :)

[minutia_r]

Oh, that's really nice. I love how Data decides to look at it as a first contact mission.

[edenfalling]

Thank you! :)