Based on "Descent" Parts 1 and 2. I own nothing except for Melina and the other OC's.
Melina couldn't believe what she was hearing. Data siding with Lore? Emotions?
"Data, what are you doing?" She gasped.
Data glared at her.
'He's getting revenge. For all the times he was brushed off, for all the times no one had time for him. For all that time he spent alone at the Academy, all the time he was rejected.
Face it chickee-dee, he's doing everything you've wanted to do, and for the exact same reasons.
You can't let him. If he ever gets back to normal, he'll die if you allow this to go on.
He'll die.'
She half-heard Lore's story.
"The reign of biological lifeforms is at an end." He took the weapons from the other crew. Then he turned to his sister-in-law.
"No weapon? You really think I would be that eager to grant you mercy? Or were you relying on that petty marriage to my brother?" Lore sneered.
"Oh, I have a weapon alright." Melina sneered back. "Didn't your brother tell you?"
"Lieutenant Soong..." Picard warned.
"SOONG? You take our name?" Lore laughed.
"It was given to me freely. Once upon a time." Melina grinned back. "Just like he gave me this!"
With one swift movement she flung Lore aside. Electric currents shot out at the Borg that tried to restrain her.
"Run."
She heard it just as she was sent flying towards the exit.
"Get her!" Lore roared angrily.
"She won't get far." Data laughed.
Melina ran out of the building and hid herself. Once she was certain she was safe, tears flowed freely from her eyes down her cheeks.
She had to save him. She had to save the crew for him.
She waited until nightfall and crept back into the fortress again.
–
"I am not your puppet anymore."
Data knew she was still around. He had let her escape, and here she was, back again.
He wandered alone down a corridor, and smirked.
"I know you're there, my dear." He sneered.
"Then you know that I agree fully and one-hundred percent with what you're doing."
Melina dropped down from the ceiling, where her positronic arm had allowed her to attach magnetically.
"Oh really." Data turned to face her.
"I faced the same abdonment you did. I only saw my parents at mealtimes, if I was lucky enough that they didn't have someone over. I had a whole corridor to myself at the Academy, because no one would come near me, unless it was to cheat off my notes. I was invisible on the Enterprise, until you saw me. I was as much a 'puppet' as you say, as you were." Melina said. "I heard them laughing at us in Ten Forward, felt as they brushed our experiments off. That's why I'm going to stop you."
"Hmph. Good luck, you're going to need it." Data walked off, smirking.
"Data..." Melina sighed.
"I'm going to give you five seconds to hide before I summon the Borg." Data told her. "One."
Melina disappeared faster than anything he'd seen in his life.
And yet she STILL hadn't left.
–
"Nope, I can't break the code. Data sensed me, and must have put a bloody good lock on it." Melina sighed as she tried to break Picard, Troi and Geordi out. "How's Geordi doing?"
"Not good." Picard looked at his fallen Engineer, who was in great pain.
Melina sighed again, and flopped down to the floor.
"Lieutenant, are you okay?" Troi sat down beside her, as close as the Force Field would allow.
"I'm just like them." Melina tried to keep the emotion out of her voice.
"No you're not!" Troi gasped. "You're nothing like Lore!"
Melina chucked.
"You said nothing about Data." She said softly.
Troi looked at her Captain. He turned away.
"Finished the transceiver yet?" Troi asked.
"No!" Melina gasped. "Please, don't! You'll only hurt him!"
"I'm sorry Lieutenant, but it's the only way."
"Someone's coming!" Troi sensed. Melina quickly hid in a vent shaft. Data and a Borg had returned for Geordi.
Melina crawled through the vents, following them. Data was beginning to get annoyed.
"I know you're there Lieutenant! I will not be so merciful a third time!" He yelled.
'Yes, I will.'
"Yeah, you will." Melina said quietly to herself.
She continued to follow them. She felt her arm tingle, and knew they had sent out the pulse.
'Data.'
'Doctor.' The thought entered Data's head quite suddenly. He tried to shake it off.
–
"Damn him." Melina struggled with the lock of the Force Field.
"Give it up Melina." Geordi groaned.
"No!" She hissed.
"Melina, you have to accept the possibility that Data is gone for good." Picard said, his heart heavy.
"Then why has he shown me mercy TWICE? Why has he let me go, why does he continue to tell me to leave?" Melina continued.
"Because he knows you're the only one who can stop them, and that he can't restrain you." Troi said. "I didn't sense anything to suggest otherwise."
Melina fell to the floor again. This time she really was defeated.
"Oh Melina I-," Troi realised what she had said. Melina walked off, devastated.
He really was an emotionless sack of positronic muck. He would never, could never love her.
'You're the dolt who got her hopes up. You knew this was the case from the very beginning. And yet you STILL believed there was a chance.' She scolded herself.
She looked up. There he was.
"Why will you not run?" He asked.
"Because I'm a fool." Melina looked away. She still loved him.
Data felt something again. He looked towards the cell. What else were they trying?
Melina resolved to save her crewmates. If she couldn't save Data now, she would save him the pain later of having killed his comrades.
It was the least she could do for him.
–
"No, you're not confused Data, you're sensing the truth." Picard said. "Your ethical program is fighting the negative emotions within you."
Melina watched from above. She smiled wistfully. He'd be okay.
"Captain! How lovely of you to join us! But first." Lore walked in gayly. He nodded for one of the Borg to approach his brother. "Disable that blasted program."
"NO!" Picard cried, as the Borg pushed something on his arm. The program deactivated, and Data resumed his smirk.
"Smart Captain, very smart. Shame you forgot about our exquisite hearing. Now, to prove your loyalty to me, brother. Kill him." Lore smiled.
"Not a problem." Data levelled the Phaser at his Captain.
"NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!"
Just as the Phaser fired, an electrical surge knocked Picard back. Melina jumped down and was about to fight the Borg off when Lore grabbed her. He punched her so hard she fell, and then to make sure, he kicked her in the guts.
Riker, Worf, Troi and Geordi ran in. The Borg focused their aim on them.
"Well, we now have an even better sacrifice, my dear brother." Lore laughed. He pulled the weakened Melina to her feet.
"Data no!" Geordi cried.
"Do it." A weak voice said. Data pointed his Phaser at the voice.
"Look at her! So destroyed by her emotions she's BEGGING for death! Give your wife what she desires, brother." Lore shook his prey.
"No." Troi whispered. "I've never sensed such...she's completely given up. I can't sense any hope in her at all."
"Lieutenant Soong!" Picard cried.
"Just shut up! All I want is for Data to be happy." Tears leaked from her eyes again.
"Brother, why have you not destroyed this pathetic creature yet?" Lore asked.
"I-I don't know." Data froze.
"Maybe a little more emotion will help convince you." Lore smirked.
Hatred, boiling like a molten sun burnt at Data. He hated her. He HATED her! He wanted her destroyed it all of the worst ways possible, and he wanted to be the one to do it.
But he couldn't.
"BROTHER!" Lore growled.
"I-I can not..." Data struggled. Every ounce of his body roared for him to finish her off. Begged him. His mind wanted her blood splatted all over his clothes.
And then his ethics program kicked back in.
"Killing is WRONG!" He screamed, throwing the Phaser away.
Melina couldn't believe it, she couldn't dare to. Even with his ethics program deactivated, and her begging to be disposed of, he hadn't.
"I'd rather live a thousand eternities without ever feeling an emotion again!" Data roared.
"Data." Melina allowed a small smile to spread across her lips.
"My dear..." Data whispered.
"Fine, then I will make the sacrifice instead. Good bye, dear brother." Lore pointed his Phaser at Data's head.
"Like hell you will!" Melina swung around and her powerful left fist sent Lore flying.
"Attack her!" Lore cried.
"Don't listen to him!" Cried a familiar voice.
"Hugh?" Melina asked. The Borg started fighting amoungst themselves, with Riker and Worf firing in as well.
Lore ran off, and Data followed him, with Melina close behind. Data entered the small room, and Melina hung back. This was something the brothers needed to sort out themselves.