AN: Hey there everybody! I've been a TNG fan for a bit, and I really wanted to write a story where Data and Lore were not constantly at each other's throats. So, that lead to the idea of Lore coming onto the Enterprise and basically acting like a cat: being annoying and making messes and generally unhappy to be there, yknow, so yeah. Anywho! Happy reading! xxx
"Hello my beloved Starfleet companions! Dare I say, friends!"
Data glanced up from his station to see a figure swathed in red sweep into the bridge, as if appearing from thin air. One second, the android was alone on the bridge, covering the night shift while everyone else slept. The next, he was not. Simple as that.
"Q," Data said in greeting, already calculating the risk the being caused to the sleeping crew. Given that said being appeared jovial and calm, Data believed there was a very low risk of his crewmates being in danger and relaxed somewhat, still keeping a small part of his positronic brain running calculations in the back of his skull.
"Come now, dear Data, is that any way to treat an old friend," Q admonished with glee, clapping his gloved hands together.
"Why are you here?" Data asked in a neutral voice. He was debating whether or not to call Captain Picard to the bridge.
Q seemed to sense his thoughts.
"Where is my dearest Jean Luc?" he asked, scanning the empty bridge.
"I am afraid Captain Picard is asleep at the moment," the android replied.
"Why don't you just call him up here?" Q suggested, striding to lounge in the captain's chair directly below Data. He paused.
"Or I suppose I could just go wake him up," he intoned slyly, sitting down and making himself comfortable.
"That will not be necessary," Data replied, holding a button down on the command board in front of him. "I am requesting Captain Picard to the bridge. Immediately."
Q grinned and clasped his hands together.
"Splendid."
Data and Q sat in a tense silence as they waited for Picard to enter. Well, Data was silent, Q hummed a little song Data was certain he was improvising as he idly pressed buttons on the arms of the captain's chair.
Thankfully, the lift doors opened and the man of the hour stepped out.
"Data, what ever could be so important that you had to wake me up in the middle of the-" Picard stopped short as he caught sight of a beaming Q.
"Jean Luc!" he exclaimed, surging up from his newly claimed chair and throwing up his arms.
"Q," Picard answered tersely, and with considerably less enthusiasm.
"Oh, don't act so disappointed to see me, mon capitaine!" Q said, and held up his hands, "I come in peace."
"I sincerely doubt that," Picard shot back, walking to stand beside Data so that he was higher than Q, which gave him a naïve sense of security. Q may be eccentric and antagonizing, but he was certainly no one to be taken lightly.
"I'm being truthful, Jean Luc, I come bearing gifts!"
Picard raised his eyebrows at this, wary of any "gift" to come from a trickster such as the entity before him.
"Is that so?"
Q smirked and said nothing, an expectant look on his face. Picard sighed and crossed his arms.
"What is this… gift, Q?" he asked patronizingly.
"I am so glad you asked!" the being answered.
"I have generously brought you someone I know to have caused problems for the Enterprise in the past, and has not been truly held responsible for his crimes!" he said and snapped his fingers.
In the blink of an eye, a writhing figure appeared, glaring at the others with murder in his eyes. His face split into a sadistic grin as his eyes fell on Data.
"Hello, brother," he said. Data blinked, surprised, and Picard reached for his phaser.
"Lore."