Starting from Nothingness

 At least, nothing that still exists. I checked.

“Sasha, why has it taken you this long to bring this up?” Was King Arthur's only reaction to his younger friend's suggestion, which she made promptly at breakfast the next day.

“I've never had this much of a reason to give Merlin a break from his duties and, honestly, I don't think you have either.” It was a not so veiled reference to Arthur's joke about Merlin's place at his side. But Arthur didn't seem to appreciate the reference.

“You mean this might help me out as much as it'll help explain things to Jayden?” He replied stiffly.

“I mean Riker will want to learn things from you just as Merlin wants to learn things from Jayden And the exchanges of information will be true exchanges.”

Jayden and Riker were seated at one of the longer tables with Percival and Sir Leon at the time. So they didn't hear any of this. When they saw Arthur bend his head in deep thought, then wave his hand to dismiss Merlin, they assumed the answer was in the affirmative. A few minutes later all five of them gathered in the great hall. Sasha suggested she, Riker and Arthur should ride out to a fork in the road to have their conversation, while Merlin and Jayden could go wherever they felt would suit their comfort and need. It was a n idea warmly supported by the others. Not two hours later the three riders departed, at an easy pace.

“I'm really not sure where to go from here.” Sasha mentioned once they were completely out of town.

“Really, you're the one who suggested it.” Arthur prodded.

“I know where I want to end up. I never...How did you actually GET to that split in the road when you and Merlin were following a horse?” Arthur's ears turned pink and he tried his best to hide it from his guest.

“I'm going to assume that's a private joke between the two of you.” Riker stated, as though in passing.

“I'll let that go for now.” Arthur eventually replied. “We have other business.”

Not thirty minutes later Arthur pulled his horse to a complete stop and invited his friends to do the same. “This is where the ambush happened. I'll assume that's what you referred to.”

“If I understand you at all correctly and am not missing anything, yes.” Sasha replied, almost testily. She walked up to the fire pit, propped the sticks she'd brought with her into a tall triangle and lit them with what Arthur took to be magic, but was really just a spark jug.

“Okay maybe you're not who I thought you were.” Riker intoned gently.

“I have three older sisters you know.” Sasha replied with a grin.

“Now I don't understand.” Arthur stated impatiently.

Without instruction all of them sat down for the long and messy conversation they all knew would follow. But let's see what Jayden and Merlin were up to. We can return to this place again later.

“Merlin I am confused by you.” Jayden admitted softly as they made their way to the north-most room in the entire castle, in other words, to Sasha's room.

“I can assure you the feeling is mutual.” Merlin answered in what was meant to be a casual voice.

“Where are we going?” The stranger continued, unabated.

“The only place in this whole city I know we won't be overheard.” Came the instant reply.

Once they were seated across the short table from each-other, so that the impromptu bed was on Merlin's left and Jayden's right, Merlin lost absolutely no time in posing the question that was on his mind.

“What are you sir?”

“Why do you believe I am anything but what you are?”

“I uh...I meant to ask your condition...your situation.” Merlin openly lied.

“I am Will Riker's equal and his friend. We are not equal in all things but...” Right about there the true meaning of Merlin's question dawned in his mind. “...I repeat my question.” Was all he said in response.

“I scanned the surface of your and Riker's minds. I couldn't see anything in yours except a desire to be understood and to understand. Commander Riker held these same concerns, but his admiration for our 'little world' nearly drowned them, as it were. Also you both must follow a very strict set of rules.”

“Little wonder Arthur seems to rely on you concerning visitors.” Data, as was his true name, interpreted, not bothering to remark on the proper use of Will Riker's rank.

“HE doesn't know I do it. For that matter, I don't usually use my gifts that way. You and Will behaved so oddly, not the least around Sasha herself, I wanted to learn for myself what could be the issue.”

“Why would you not tell your liege about your gifts?” The other man stated, bluntly curious. “For that matter, why is it such a secret?”

“I uh, I seriously don't understand your confusion.” Merlin admitted softly.

“We are not from this island. I had assumed this place...Camelot in particular...was blessed by magic.”

“Your assumption was very much incorrect.” Merlin near-laughed. “Magic is punishable by death in Camelot and under Arthur's father, that was usually the result. Because he learned what I am, Arthur has tried to be more tolerant of 'the old ways', but he still hasn't made it any less of a crime...not for good and all.”

“So, if I may ask, who already knows the truth? I would assume Sasha learned it somehow.”

“Sasha has always known, since the first time we actually met.” Merlin answered, now clearly laughing. “Sir Leon just found out a day or so ago and Arthur was told over six weeks ago.”

Jayden decided to take a moment to consider everything that had happened in his visit. After a long pause of thought, he stated in a defeated voice.“You have trusted me. I would be most unfair not to 'open up' to you.”

“I don't want you to say anything you are not comfortable sharing with me.” Merlin insisted.

“That is a part of it unto itself. I have no concept of comfort, or emotion or even taste. I may refer to Dr Soong as my father but it is a figure of speech...I am a constructed being. I do not know if I have a soul, so please do not ask. I have free will and I am not indebted to anyone except my captain. So much is...accepted.”

To Data's surprise and lasting confusion he found Merlin laughing again. For a moment, he was convinced he was being laughed at. And when Merlin had regained control he explained. “My friend as long as you can say with a straight face that you have a conscience and can understand loyalty I don't care what you are.”

“Both of which I can assure you, I do.” Data replied almost at once.

“I have to tell you though. According to Sasha I'm the most open, fair minded person in this kingdom. It's one of the reasons we are such great friends. I wouldn't risk letting anyone else know about this. You might get beheaded as a product of magic, or a souless monster.”

Data stared. “Forgive me but I have never been so easily accepted by someone who lived as you do.”

“What, in fear for their lives if anyone figured out the truth of their existence? Do you simply mean 'as primitive as this'.” A single look from Data answered his question quite completely. “In a twisted, round about sort of way, I've had a 'head's up' about your existence, and the reality of your construction. Just not about your coming here, or even that you could or would.”

“Please elaborate.” The android intoned.

“Do you really live on a ship in a sea of stars?” Merlin replied. Data did not verbally respond. “I'll take that as a yes. Captain Picard must rely on your fair judgment the way Arthur relies on mine.”

At that exact moment Will Riker was having a very similar conversation with his new friends. One that very nearly ended the same way.

“Grace, Sophia, and Elizabeth are my older sisters, but we all look so much alike to most people, we get confused with each other all the time. It has been my belief since Riker and Jayden showed up here that they know one of these sisters, and mistook me for her.”

“Grace visits us all the time.” Riker said plainly. “If you're not her, how did you know about Jayden?”

“Because I've learned to tell pretty fast if I can trust a person or what motivates them.” The young woman answered easily. “Most of what I've said about him falls under that category. And while I am not Grace, we share stories of our adventures with each other...in a very personal way. Also hearing you call him by his proper name, made everything else fall into place.”

“What 'proper name'?” Arthur insisted.

“Jayden is a name a group of villagers once gave my friend.” Riker answered at once. “His name as he himself chose it is 'Data'. It is simply another word for information or knowledge.”

“Who would choose that as their own identifier?” Arthur pondered aloud.

“At the time there was nothing about him he felt was more important for him.” Will answered in a harsh tone. “And his thirst for information and knowledge is very much one of his more defining qualities.” He turned from Arthur to Sasha. “You were right at that.”

“I said he's human in every way that matters. I never said he was actually flesh and blood.”

Riker seemed ready to faint at those words. “Why would you do that?” He inquired of Sasha. Who it seemed, did not understand the objection.

“Well he wasn't there at that statement I'll grant you, but it's perfectly true and relevant is it not?”

“I mean why would you destroy...Well I'm not even sure how to go about this.”

Right there Sasha saw the assumption. And decided to let her friend know she did not take the accusation well. Drawing herself to her full ramrod height, or as much as she could sitting down she stated. “William T. Riker, how in the name of sanity do you think you got here?” She checked herself a moment later. “I would think that knowledge unto itself would tell you I'M the one taking responsibility for this mess?”

“And she is not your friend Grace.” Arthur added as though his mouth were on automatic. “Although I must admit I don't entirely understand the issue at hand.”

Sasha took a deep breath to calm herself and turned to the king. “His people's curiosity got the better of them on so many occasions, they created this cardinal rule of not getting involved in other cultures. At least, unless external forces are responsible for the problem or some one in said culture made a direct request for help. He was certain it applied here and failed to consider his people had very little to do with what I've been telling you these past few days. And I have no such directive.”

Arthur looked uncertain. “Okay I'll accept that for now, but what does it mean 'how you got here'?”

Sasha almost hung her head. “That was actually my own missed perception. I don't know how they got here and had assumed something about it. I had also assumed that if I was right it somehow negated his directive. And no, I did not bring them here. Neither, I assume, did Grace. But I am grateful to see for myself the truth of a story I once told my young friend. I wonder if he's noticed that by now.”

“I hope we are at peace.” Riker stated calmly. “Jayden and I with you, Sasha as well as with the people of this kingdom. I would prefer to stay for a while and learn more of the truth surrounding your place hand your friends hereabout. I almost wish it wasn't already time to go home.”

“Sir, I hope you're not rushing out because of me?” Sasha offered.

“Or my own lack of manners.” Arthur added.

“It's nothing like that. We're on a tighter schedule than I let on before. It's time to head back to the ship, if not really head home.” Riker stated, somewhat sardonically.

Sasha looked surprisingly grim.“I sincerely wish you would be empowered and direct your own path. And do I assume correctly you would prefer to slip away practically unnoticed?” Riker nodded. “I think that's more than fine. As far as no pomp, circumstance or otherwise fanfare-y farewell. But do not vanish or disappear. Those you have met here would like, if not need the chance to say goodbye...yes? She insisted to Arthur, who nodded his assent. “Then on that part there is no issue.”

“Where IS there an issue?” Arthur and Riker stated simultaneously.

“I still feel like I'm scaring you off.” Sasha admitted glumly.

“And you haven't answered my original question.” Riker intoned.

“I assumed the question was nullified when you realized I wasn't Grace.” Sasha offered.

“Well the apparent contradiction was answered. I'd still like to know from you who you are to them?”

Sasha stood up and answered in a firm and quiet tone. “Until recently I was a constant visitor with a mask of happiness or dignity. Except to Merlin. He and I became close not so much because of that, as the fact that we both believed in equality, justice and the evidence of our own eyes. That friendship was only strengthened when I finally came to stay here for good and all.” Sasha's words seemed rehearsed and blank to Riker's ears. A fact which he quickly made public. Arthur nodded in agreement. The statement simply made Sasha grin.

“I've had time to come up with an answer for whenever this finally came to light. That is I was anticipating being able to stay here for good and all since I had two of four years of visiting under my belt. And I wasn't sure if these admissions would precipitate finding a place to call home, or if finding a place to call home would finally take down my guard enough to admit them. Arthur likes me because he knows I understand what I'm talking about...when I bother to speak up at all. To answer what I now know is a bigger part of your question: I've only for certain lived here for about eight weeks, maybe ten. I came here so often before, they could tell it was as much home to me as anywhere I've been. I'm their friend and defender against ignorance and true stupidity. I'm no more capable of physical combat than Grace was...and no less their friend than she was to you.”