A/N: Threw this together real quick because I really wanted to update this, I apologise if there are more typos and such due to the lack of beta-reading. Enjoy, comments are love. (And Happy New Year to all!)

Chapter Four – Dawn Of A New Race

-"What do you mean you were there?"

"On Omicron Theta, Lore and I were both active at the same time for eleven months, twenty-one days, thirteen hours, four minutes and forty-seven seconds."-

[Deanna]

Several moments of shocked silence followed B-4's statement. Then Will put his glass on the table with a quiet click.

"You never told us that."

B-4 shrugged.

"None of you seemed particularly inclined to talk about Lore. And for a long time, it was...painful. To mention him. Data's memories were very close to the surface. It was difficult to witness his interactions with Lore second-hand, so to speak. There is a great deal I have not told you. For most of the time I spent on the Enterprise, and later on the Titan, you were Data's friends, not mine. And while that changed over time, my reluctance to bring up Lore did not necessarily lessen. And considering Mister Maddox attempts to–"

"We get it." Will broke in. "You didn't trust us with that knowledge. And I guess with everything that happened, I can't blame you."

B-4 nodded.

"Yes. However, I feel that you deserve to know this, given the favour I am about ask of you."

Deanna leaned forward in her seat, concerned by the amount of apprehension she was sensing from the android.

"Favour?"

B-4's face took on a very grave expression as the android folded his pale hands in his lap.

"Yes. Deanna, I want you to counsel Lore after his ethical programming has been repaired."

It was a good thing that Will had set his glass down, or he might just have dropped it. Deanna felt equally stunned.

"You want me to...what?"

B-4 didn't look phased by their incredulity.

"I want you to counsel Lore, Deanna. To be his therapist. After all, you are, one might say, uniquely qualified."

"There's no way that is happening!"

Will looked just about to jump out of his seat. Deanna laid a calming hand on her husband's shoulder.

"B-4, I don't understand...what do you mean by 'uniquely qualified'?"

The android's calm expression didn't falter in the slightest, despite the jumble of feelings her emphatic senses were picking up.

"During your time on the Enterprise and later on the Titan, you counselled both Data and myself. You are one of the only therapists – that I know of – who has experience with android patients. My only other options were Commander Sakamura and Admiral Ashi'n, who counselled Data during his Starfleet Academy days and during his assignment on the USS Tripoli respectively. However, I felt that because they both met Data at very early points in his personal development, you would be the better choice." He paused for a short moment, considering, then added: "Also, I trust you."

Well, Deanna thought, what does one say to that?

Another moment of silence followed, so quiet you could have heard a needle drop. Will swallowed the rest of his Whiskey. Deanna mimicked him, downing her hot chocolate and taking the moment to gather herself. B-4 waited, looking as imperturbable as a Sphinx, despite the tension he was radiating.

"B-4, I'm...honoured that you consider me such a trusted friend but...I have obligations. A whole life here on the Titan, my family, friends. I can't just...abandon that. And you know that there is no way that the Federation Council or whoever has authority will allow a re-activated Lore access to a Federation starship."

"Exactly!" Will jumped back into the conversation with renewed enthusiasm. "She's an ambassador, too."

To both their surprise, that seemed to amuse B-4.

"Indeed. And that is precisely why she is the ideal choice." B-4 leaned back in his seat, with the air of someone perhaps getting ready to recite poetry. "Section 252, paragraphs eight, sub-paragraph B7, section five of the Alliance and Assistance Regulation of the United Federation of Planets states that, and I quote; 'any ambassador of a species with has proclaimed itself friendly to – and/or and ally of – the United Federation of Planets but has not entered into the Revised Collaboration and Trade Contract (as specified under paragraph three, sections one to five) may, at any time, seek the assistance and sustained cooperation of up to three Federation Ambassadors in any peaceful diplomatic matter such as trade negotiations, save passage trough Federation space' etcetera, etcetera. Section 253, paragraph ten, sub-paragraph two further states that 'Criminals or fugitives facing unjust prosecution (as specified under section 503, paragraphs three to eight) may seek refugee on any Federation or allied starbase, starship or ground settlement (see addendum three 'Legal Definitions of Bases and Settlements') for an unspecified amount of time and are to be granted legal and personal protection, as well as any medical care they may require during this time.' Within reason, of course, but that is very much a matter of definition."

Deanna blinked. Next to her Will was staring at B-4 like a deer in headlights, wide-eyed and thrown completely off-track.

"Err...what?"

B-4 smiled, a thin sliver of an expression.

"Once I retrieve him from Rigel III, Lore will be seeking political asylum on the Titan. Deanna will be able to assist him in her function as a counsellor by assisting me in her capacity as a Federation ambassador."

Will looked rather close to spluttering incredulously, clearly not on-board with this idea at all. Under different circumstances, Deanna might have found it funny. Instead, she frowned.

"Assist you? But B-4, you are not an ambassador."

B-4's smile widened.

"Ah, but I am. Since three months, seven hours and two minutes ago, Soong-type androids are recognised as an independent species by the United Federation of Planets."

Something mischievous lit his yellow eyes when B-4 caught sight of hers and Will's expressions and his smile turned into something that all too closely resembled a smug smirk on somebody else.

"Cheer up, Will. Deanna. This is cause for celebration. The dawn of a new race! Isn't that exciting?"

A/N: As far as I know, none of the legal documents B-4 quotes here have any basis in canon. And I'm not a space lawyer, so if anything is strange about those...that's why. Reviews keep me warm. 3