This new story is partly a shout-out to MermaidRaven, who loved my "Part Of Your World" story so much. This is my version of "The Little Mermaid," but "Star Trek: The Next Generation" style. Like I said before, Data reminds me of Ariel, because like Ariel, his dearest wish is to become human. So I thought I'd have a little fun putting Data in Ariel's shoes (or fins, however you want to look at it) and tweaking the songs to make them fit the characters singing them. Enjoy!

I’ll tell you a tale of the great universe
And the outer space heroes we love
Where the Starfleet commanders are ruling the skies
In the limitless starlight above…

The wind blew across the surface of the Mariana Sea on the Federation colony Romana I, caressing Emma Jordan’s skin and playing with her long, shiny auburn hair. Emma closed her eyes and relaxed. The sunlight danced on the water, causing it to sparkle as if it were enjoying the beautiful day.

With a grin, Emma turned to the little knot of young men engaged in their latest experiment – launching fireworks powerful enough to break through the atmosphere and explode in space. “Isn’t this great?” she called to them. “The sunshine everywhere, the wind blowing in your face… it’s a perfect day to be at the beach!”

Suddenly, everyone leapt backward as one of the firecrackers dropped to the ground and exploded. Mark Jordan, Emma’s older brother, kicked off his smoking shoes and grimaced at his sister. “Oh yeah – peachy keen, Emma,” he said sarcastically, returning to work.

The other boys, Damian and Andrew Evans, just chuckled and looked upward at the brilliant blue sky. “I can’t wait until we get these fireworks launched. Just wait until a passing starship sees them!” said Damian, his eyes flashing fire.

“Yeah, imagine if Picard himself is in this part of the galaxy,” Andrew added. “What a show he’ll get!”

“Picard?” Emma asked upon hearing this new name.

“Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the starship Enterprise, my dear Emma!” Andrew gently cuffed Emma on the shoulder. “I thought everybody knew about him and his crew.”

“Amen; they’re the finest crew to grace the Enterprise line, if not Starfleet history!” Damian spoke like a true historian as he gave the fireworks one final check.

Mark, who was listening to the whole thing, shook his head. “Starfleet Command and adventures on starships; that’s all you guys can talk about. Emma, don’t let these guys get your hopes up with all this space talk.”

Mark jumped as Damian held a pocket phaser up near his face. “It ain’t space talk, Mark, it’s the truth! I’m telling you; they have the greatest adventures aboard the Enterprise!”

With that, Damian shot at the fireworks’ wick and they shot off into the sky, disappearing far beyond the clouds where they finally exploded in outer space, in the heart of Federation-Starfleet space.

High in orbit above Romana I, the Enterprise-E was cruising steadily through the stars. Inside the ship, however, a great commotion was made over the primary crew, who were giving a special performance of West Side Story that day.

Once everyone had gathered on the holodeck (currently programmed to show a theater), a young ensign by the name of Davies ambled onstage to make an announcement. “Captain Picard on deck!” Immediately, the entire crew rose in deference to their captain, Jean-Luc Picard.

“And in the role of Tony tonight, Commander William Riker!” A round of applause was made as the first officer entered, following the captain to the place of honor.

“I’m really looking forward to this performance, Will,” Picard said to Riker as he sat down in the special chair provided.

Riker grinned. “Sir, this is gonna be the best production our theater group has done yet. The crew will be spectacular; I promise!”

Picard laughed and leaned over to whisper in Riker’s ear. “Especially Commander Data.”

“You know it! He’ll knock the audience’s socks off as Riff,” Riker said earnestly, then added to himself in an undertone, “If he can make it through the show after missing two rehearsals.”

Riker slipped backstage and within minutes, the curtains flew open and the musical began with the Sharks leaping out onstage, dancing and singing to great effect. Then it was time for the Jets to arrive – but where was their leader? Riker slid to a halt and dropped his head in his hands. Not again! He didn’t even have to look up at Picard to know he was angry, and the captain’s shout echoed throughout the holodeck. “DATA!”

Meanwhile, down on Romana I, Lieutenant Commander Data was exploring the ruins of an ancient civilization – that of the Lunai people. He was gazing at what was left of the old city’s temple when he heard a girl’s voice call out to him. “Data, wait for me!”

“Rachel, do hurry up!” Data exclaimed as his friend Rachel Carter, clutching a stitch in her chest, came running to meet him.

“Data, you know I can’t run that fast! My legs aren’t as long as yours,” Rachel panted, but Data held up a hand to silence her. “Look at it, Rachel,” he said in awe, pointing to the ruins of the temple. “It is magnificent, is it not?”

“It’s great, Data, but no offense; I’d rather get out of here. Places like this give me the creeps, interesting though they may be.”

Data took hold of the back of her uniform. “You are not getting cold hands now, are you?” he asked.

“Uh, first of all, Data, the expression is ‘cold feet,’ and no, I’m not getting cold feet. Like I said, even though it’s interesting to explore ruins like these, there’s something about it that gives me the willies,” Rachel said, following Data to the temple’s entrance nonetheless.

Data gave her a reassuring grin. “All right, I am going inside. You can stay out here and watch for Romana gurthalobeasts, if you wish.” And with that, the android slipped through the narrow entrance, leaving Rachel outside. “Okay, good; you go, and I’ll stay here and – what? Gurthalobeasts? Jeez, Data!” Rachel took off and tried to jump through the temple threshold, but wound up getting stuck in the doorway instead. She struggled to free herself, muttering under her breath the whole time, but to no avail. Finally, she called to her friend for help. “Data, I need a hand here! I’m stuck!”

Data emerged from the shadowy hallway, a smile on his pale face. “Oh, Rachel,” he said, taking her hands to pull her free.

“Data,” Rachel whispered as Data tugged on her arms, “Do you really think there could be gurthalobeasts around here?”

“Rachel, I was simply trying to scare you. Do not be such a – what is the expression – scaredy-cat.”

“I’m no scaredy-cat,” Rachel muttered as Data pulled her free – but neither one of them noticed the huge hulk of hair that passed by.

Once they were both inside, Data darted off down the musty hallway, pausing here and there to examine certain relics. Rachel followed behind him, still uneasy about her surroundings. “Yeah, great adventure. It’s just like those old books I used to read about explorers who’d be halfway through a room when something would grab them from behind and yank ‘em around a corner.”

All of a sudden, Rachel let out a bloodcurdling scream as a skeleton fell out from behind a pillar. “Data!” Rachel bolted hell-for-leather down the hall and crashed right into Data, knocking him to the floor.

The android raised his head to get a better look at his friend, who was lying on the floor next to him, her arms wrapped around his waist for security. “Are you all right?” he asked, trying his best to sit up with Rachel latched on to him.

“Yeah… yeah, I think so. I just got a scare back there,” Rachel sighed, finally letting Data go. Data rose from the floor, assisting Rachel, and the two of them continued into the next room. Upon entering, Data’s eyes snapped upon a brilliant sparkle from a back corner. “How extraordinary!” he cried, rushing to his find. Displacing a pile of bricks, Data uncovered a beautiful, pale blue gemstone carved in the shape of a teardrop. “Have you ever seen something this lovely before?”

“It sure is beautiful,” Rachel breathed. “I wonder what it meant to the ancient Lunai.”

“I am not certain, but perhaps Lieutenant Barclay will know,” said Data, carefully storing the gem in his shoulder pouch.

A sharp crack from behind her caused Rachel to whirl around. “What was that? Did you hear something?” Data was too engrossed in the find of another gem to notice. Rachel, definitely feeling scared by this time, tried getting his attention again. “Data!” she cried, stomping her foot in impatience.

“Rachel, calm down. Nothing is going to happen.”

These words were barely out of Data’s mouth when a huge mountain of hair and teeth came crashing through the temple wall. “A gurthalobeast! Run for your life!” Rachel shouted, taking off for the door and dragging Data behind her. The beast pursued them all the way to the narrow entrance, through which Data shoved Rachel and squeezed his way out. The tiny doorway was no match for the beast, who crashed through and chased them to the river. Rachel and Data jumped in for safety, while the beast roared and raged on the shore. After the twosome made it to the other side, Rachel shook her head at Data. “Why didn’t you tell me that thing can’t stand water in the first place? I would’ve carried a bucket of the stuff with me!”

Data just laughed. “Rachel, you truly are a scaredy-cat,” he told her, signaling Ensign Kotagawa for a beam-up.

“I am not!” Rachel retorted before the transporter’s white light energized, beaming them back aboard the Enterprise.

Hope y'all enjoyed the first chapter; do you remember Rachel from "Torn Between Two Datas"? Anyway, please review and let me know what you think; I love feedback!