XLIX

"He didn't steal a shuttle"

"Could somebody please explain to me how we let this happen? Again?" Riker grumbled as he moved around the bio bed. His head was tilted more than usual, at it often was when he was frustrated.

Beverly Crusher said nothing. The angry musings about naiveté and stupidity had been coming in spurts and stops for the better part of two hours. She didn't see the point in bemoaning it any more. Lore had incapacitated Data. He had escaped. There was little that complaining could do about it now.

"I'm just about finished." Crusher announced as she leaned close to the open panel at the base of Data's skull. She wished they had had the forethought to position Data in a chair or a standing module. As it was now, he lay on his stomach on a bio-bed, his face pressed into the cushions in a painfully harsh manner that no human would have been able to tolerate. She hated seeing him like this.

Geordie sat on a low stool on the other side of the bed, his eyes just about level with Data's head. He worked meticulously in another open panel on Data's temple. "Son of a bitch," He muttered, "That hyper spanner could have fried half of Data's memory filaments. Selfish, back-stabbing…."

"The difference between incapacitating his motor functions and destroying his net connections was a thin line, Geordie. I don't think it was a lucky break." Crusher said slowly. She needed to keep her hands steady. "Lore clearly knew what he was doing."

Geordie sighed, "I got to admit, Doc, you're the last person I would expect to be giving him the benefit of the doubt."

Crusher finished her last connection and stood back, "It wasn't a defense. Quite the opposite."

The sickbay doors opened, and a very stern looking Worf entered the room. He had a tricorder in his hand, and the poor thing looking like it had taken the brunt of the security chief's bad day. "I have finished my interrogation, Commander. He does not know where they took Lieutenant Hall."

Riker shook his head, though he had already assumed as much, "Have you told the Captain?"

"I am submitted my report now." Worf replied, "I can confidently report that Lt. Larson did not appear to know that Lt. Hall was the target."

Riker frowned, "So not only is he a traitor, he's a stupid one too. I'll speak with the Captain, but I doubt he will see any reason to keep Mr. Larson on board. Get him ready for transport to station security. He can answer for himself in front of the sector JAG."

"I think I have it." Geordie announced. He rose from his stool and gingerly closed the panel on Data's temple. A moment later, Data's body twitched, then his hand moved up and pressed into the bed, and he lifted his face out of the pillow. He blinked several times and looked side to side. In only a few second his blank expressions went from confused to bitterly aware.

"Lore attacked me?" Data asked.

"Yes." Said Crusher.

"And he escaped?"

"Yep." Geordie sighed.

"And we were not able to follow him?"

"Afraid not." Riker grumbled.

"I see." Data quickly moved himself out of the awkward position and stepped onto the deck. He immediately fell forward.

"Whoa!" Geordie called and moved to his side, "That hyper spanner fried the micro-gyros in your inner ear. It should take a few seconds for them to realign."

"Thank you, Geordie." Data said calmly, though everyone could see his embarrassment. He stood again and held the side of the bio-bed. He looked at Riker, "I am sorry, Sir. I should have anticipated that Lore would―."

"He fooled everyone, Data." Geordie interjected, "We were all starting to trust him."

Data frowned and shook his head slightly. He looked troubled, "You must understand, I do not believe that Lore was acting maliciously. He was…too emotional to be rational. He was afraid for Lt. Hall."

No one said anything, for they had already assumed as much. It just wasn't easy attributing noble intentions to Lore.

"Sir," Data continued to Riker, "I believe we should set a course for Ohniaka III. Lore appeared quite convinced that was where Reed would take Lt. Hall."

Riker nodded, "We already did. Geordie finished reassembling the dilithium chamber less than an hour ago. Lore has nearly a two hour head start."

Data frowned, somewhat awkwardly, "Did he cause much damage when he stole one of the shuttles?"

"He didn't steal a shuttle." Riker deadpanned. "He stole the Captain's yacht."