Chapter 4 – Discovery

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Weeks Before–

Captain Picard was reading through the latest Federation news headlines, when the door of his ready room chirped. "Come," he glanced up and saw Riker grinning as he crept over the threshold. Picard vaguely wondered how the first officer aboard the Titan was handling ship's management. "Ahh, I didn't think I would be seeing you again so soon, Captain." He used Will Riker's new title.

"Interesting assignment, eh?" Riker sat down in front of his previous captain.

"It is proving to bring up a lot of old questions, Number One." Picard looked thoughtfully at the padd. He had been perusing all relevant information on the current mission as well as Daystrom Institute's security logs over the past three months.

"Tell me," Riker sighed, stretching out his long legs before him. "How long has it been since you've thought about Lore?"

Picard rubbed his chin in thought. "I admit I had not thought of him since his deactivation. He seemed to have some very serious issues… It was ultimately Data's decision. But he was Data's only remaining family... I guess I had not considered what kind of ramifications it may have on him–or B-4." He added as an after-thought.

"Frankly, with his body missing, I am worried about the safety of the Federation. Last time he went rouge…" Riker's tone implied concern.

"Well, he is only missing… his body sustained heavy damage and we have no way of knowing whether he has been reactivated or not. According to the investigators he was taken very recently and someone attempted to erase the files containing Soong journals and specifications. The suspect may return to complete the task."

Riker raised his eyebrows skeptically, opening his mouth to speak, but the comm on Captain Picard's desk interrupted his next words. "Captain. I just received new intelligence from Daystrom Annex detectives. Request permission to beam down an away team?" Worf's tone was that of a caged lion.

"Granted. Bring back some answers, Mr. Worf."

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Jamaal impatiently ran her hands over the dusty computer screen. She did not have a lot of time and any obstacle that stole seconds away from her only added to her irritation. She had already been confronted by elderly, bespectacled man and was forced to lock him into lab. The place would be crawling with security teams soon and she needed to work quickly and without obstruction.

She attempted to download the files that contained information on Lore. Her access was denied, over and over again. Obviously she was not as good with computers as she initially thought. Giving up on trying, she focused on the more prevalent task at hand.

Lore's body was scattered in several pod containers locked inside stasis units. She set transporter nodes on each one of the pods and began beaming the containers one at a time into a cargo unit on her ship. She had no idea how dire his condition would be but she had read through the reports of the cybernetics unit of the Daystrom Institute, and knew that she would have her work cut out for her.

Again she tried working at the computer.

SECURITY BREACHED. ENGAGING SHUT DOWN PROCEDURES…

Jamaal's hands froze over the portable keypad. Black letters blazed across unyielding blue. This portion of the computer's main frame was shutting down as a security measure to prevent theft or destruction. It was her cue. She yanked out the data chip, rolled up her keypad and slammed her small folder shut, shoving them all inside of her sling-pack.

Jamaal slipped out the door and ran through the tiled corridors, her boots screeching against the waxed tile floors and echoing down the open halls. The moon light flashed across her face as she dashed past tall windows that allowed the night's sunlight to stream through.

As she reached the upper levels she became distinctly aware of the security teams that were hovering around nearly all the exits on the ground floor. There was no way this was simply coincidence. Rethinking her strategy, she started towards a different exit near the east wing of the complex. She fired off a couple of shots from her weapon at the black-suited men charging towards her as she practically dove into a turbolift. The doors lazily slid closed behind her, as though mocking her.

Breathing heavily, she tried to regain her composure while stealing a glance at her tricorder. She cursed. There was a group of about fifteen guards waiting for her on the base floor. Her hand flashed out and she punched the second floor button.

She raised her phaser as the turbo lift doors slid open but no one was there to greet her. Turning around a corner, she made her way to an emergency exit. She shoved against the door but it would not open. Locked.

"Hands up, where we can see them." A deep, animal-like voice spoke from behind her. She froze, her back still turned to them. She pivoted slowly with her palms facing outward, a daring grin spread across her face.

Without another word, the klingon who had spoken, stepped around her and took her left arm. All at once she brought her elbow to his face with her right arm and spun to try and escape his grasp on her left. One of the other security team members fired his phaser and then, for Jamaal, consciousness was an abstraction.

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Weeks Later–

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B-4 was escorted back to the Enterprise, where they had confined him to his own quarters so that he would not be able to use any of Data's belongings to his advantage. His brother had simply vanished, leaving behind him no intimation of where he may have been taken. B-4 sighed, letting boredom get the best of him as he stared at the white light pouring down into his eyes. He waited nearly an hour before the door gave off a chime, slicing into his boredom.

"Enter." he said. To his surprise, Beverly Crusher hesitantly stepped around the security officers, into his quarters.

"Hello, B. How are you?" She used the nickname Geordi had given him. She felt as though 'B-4' could be rather impersonal. He shrugged.

"I'm functioning within acceptable parameters." His tone was teetering on the edge of sarcasm. She pretended not to notice.

"So… I heard about your little trek across the quadrant." She smiled, he said nothing. "You do realize you are going to have to accept the consequences for your actions, don't you?"

He nodded.

"Captain Picard expects you in the staff's lounge in a half an hour. Would you like someone to talk to until then?" To be honest he had not had a real conversation with anyone for a while.

Giving in to his loneliness he responded, "I would not mind, no." She gave him a smile that reached her eyes and he gestured for her to sit down, taking a seat himself.

"You've given your friends on the Enterprise quite a scare."

"I… had a few personal ends to tie up." He was still disappointed that he had exhausted so much energy on this one task, only to meet a dead-end.

"Personal ends, B?" She raised her eyebrows in a silent plea.

"It's my brother... Lore. I have to find him." He looked up at her from under his lashes, doubtful that she would understand. How could he explain to her why he was chasing shadows?

"The brother you've never met." She replied flatly.

"Exactly."

"You know… I would consider myself lucky if I had never met Lore." She paused. "I'm not sure what you think you'll find in him but I highly doubt he is what you're hoping for." She sat back as B-4 stood up and began pacing.

"Yes, yes... right. You believe you know exactly what I want. You believe I would search out my brother because I'm convinced that he is better than he really is. But all I really want… is to know him. I have no pretenses for what he may be like and I feel like I... deserve the opportunity to know him, to try and understand his actions..." Anger was growing in his chest, an anger that was like a fire, consuming everything in its path. At times it seemed his emotions would engulf him, threatening to push him past self-control. He unclenched his fists, unaware that he had flexed them in the first place.

She stood as well. "What if there isn't anything to get to know? What if Lore is exactly as he's been described to you? The cold man who manipulated Data to the breaking point and who would probably do the same to you, purely out of his need for revenge. What then, B?

"I have lost one of my dearest friends. I will not lose you as well. You are free to come and go as you like, but we will not allow you to place yourself in danger." Emotion colored her voice. He had never heard her speak with so much conviction. Data, a man whom had changed her life –and even changed her definition of life– was gone now and B-4 was all that was left in his place. The seconds passed by as he settled into an eerie calm, staring into nothingness while absorbing her words.

"Captain Picard still expects you in the staff's lounge, don't be late." She attempted a small smile and backed out of the room.

He watched her leave, rue permeating through his thoughts. He wished he had something to say that could ease her worry. He wanted to thank her for her company. But he did not find the courage to voice his thoughts.