Lal: I love you, father.

Data: I wish I could feel it with you.

Lal: I will feel it for both of us… Thank you for my life.

[TNG S3E16 The Offspring]

T'Mal was sitting in Troi's office.

'Does he remind you of Data?' asked Troi.

'No. Frankly speaking, it was the other way round. When I came to the Enterprise, it was Data who reminded me of Lore. So at first I was wary of him. I was afraid to trust him, even though I knew that as a decorated Starfleet officer he had to be trustworthy.'

'Yet somehow you managed to trust him.'

'Yes,' said T'Mal. 'You know Data, he didn't make it hard at all. He's so kind. Quickly I started to notice differences between him and Lore. Data's smile was cute and honest, while Lore's smirk was despicable and vicious. Data's voice was calm and soothing, while Lore's was disquieting. Although I know they are identical, in my eyes they are very different. I can see their vastly different reactions, their distinct personalities. So no, Lore doesn't really remind me of Data. He reminds me of my deficiency. My gullibility. My stupidity.'

'You feel you're not enough. Worthless.'

'Yes.'

'Why do you think you're worthless?' asked Troi.

'I was weak and vulnerable. I believed his lies. I cared for someone who wanted to use me. I'm so mad at myself even now. I should've been smart. This should never have happened. I was unprofessional. Like a child. As if I was forever stuck in that dreadful learning pit on Vulcan. I fear that one day everyone will find out that I'm just pretending to grow up. Before Lore showed up I thought that I couldn't be so immature, because Data loved me, wanted to be with me, respected me. I couldn't be so stupid if someone like him believed otherwise, could I? But Lore reminds me of all my imperfections and mistakes and even though I try to fight it, I spiral into self-doubt. Vulcans are supposed to be rational. Trusting a criminal, even if he's very nice, is not logical. If I had embraced Vulcan philosophy, I wouldn't have been manipulated by Lore.'

'Would you say the same if you were your own therapist or a friend?'

'No,' replied T'Mal. 'I would say to myself that I wasn't immature to trust somebody. That his manipulation wasn't my fault. That I wasn't guilty. I would remind myself that only my feelings were hurt and all I did was become emotionally attached to him. In the end I didn't do anything harmful. I didn't help him escape. Part of me was wary of him. However, now, when he speaks, I feel confused. I know he shouldn't be trusted, but I can't stop thinking that he's alone, that no one has ever helped him, that he has reasons to be angry.'

'Do you remember what you said to Data about Lore?'

'That he wasn't responsible for him.'

'Are you?' asked Troi.

'No, I am not. I am not responsible for him.'

— — —

'Can you describe what you think about it?' asked Troi.

Data was silent for a moment. They were in her office.

'I have been wondering if she is noticing my flaws more clearly now, when she can compare me to Lore,' he said. 'Although I believe I have much to offer, I am aware of my shortcomings.'

'What kind of shortcomings?'

'I am not as charismatic and humorous as Lore.'

'Does T'Mal agree with you?' asked Troi.

'I do not know. Before Lore was transported to the Enterprise, I believed she was happy with me. However, now I can see that she is sad and preoccupied.'

'Why do you think she's like that?'

'Lore tried to manipulate her, using her loneliness and kindness,' replied Data. 'Having to confront him again must be distressing for her. But I still keep wondering if she considers me less perfect than Lore.'

'You feel inadequate.'

'I believe so.'

'Can you name or describe any other emotions?' asked Troi.

'I am worried about her. I do not want her to be hurt again. I am displeased with my own reactions. I am… I think I am angry with myself. And with Lore. Is it possible to feel anger in this situation? If so, am I a bad person because of it?'

'Anger is one of the basic emotions, Data. It's possible to feel it in many different situations. It definitely doesn't make you a bad person. On the contrary, I'm happy for you that you're finally recognising your own anger. You learnt to notice your anxiety, disgust, sadness and joy, but you've been ignoring your anger. I'm proud of you that you're starting to accept all your emotions.'

'Thank you, Counselor.'

— — —

Lore stared excitedly at the chip in T'Mal's hand.

'Do you know what the chip is for?' she asked.

'According to my father it contains an emotion program, doesn't it?'

'That's what he told Data.'

'He wouldn't have lied to his favourite son,' said Lore.

'Well, apparently he did, because the chip's program has nothing to do with emotions.'

'You're saying he lied to Data? Really?'

'Yes, that's what I'm saying,' said T'Mal. 'Data craved emotions so much that it was easy to manipulate him with such a lie.'

'Why? What did father want to do to Data?'

'The chip was created to transfer human consciousness into the positronic brain. And Soong was dying.'

'Are you implying that father wanted to transfer himself into Data? His precious Data?' Lore frowned.

'Yes.'

'That's unbelievable.'

'Perhaps Soong didn't value Data as much as you think,' said T'Mal. 'After all, you weren't the only one left behind on Omicron Theta. Data was also abandoned there.'

Lore was silent for a moment.

'You're right,' he said and kept thinking for a while. 'Imagine what we could do with this chip. Turning biological organisms into artificial life-forms was ineffective, but this? This is amazing! We could transfer people into new android bodies, creating a superior race of fully artificial beings. The Borg would be grateful for this… and I'm sure they'd welcome you as their queen. Let's run together, you and me, just like we've always wanted. You'll never be lonely again. I'll always be there for you. And we will have purpose. We will change the future of mankind, eliminating death, sickness and hunger. Can you imagine?'

'It doesn't work on me anymore, Lore.'

'Too bad. It was worth trying. Maybe you'll change your mind later when you're no longer so mad at me.'

'I'm not mad at you,' said T'Mal. 'You have no influence on me anymore. Get over it. So… do you want it?' She showed him the chip.

'Yes.'

She walked up to him, opened his head's cover and carefully installed the chip.

'I have full access,' said Lore with satisfaction. However, his smile soon faded as his eyes were moving more and more nervously.

'I don't want it,' he said. 'I don't want it—these memories—these emotions…'

'Weren't they meant for you?'

'They were, but I was happier without them.'

'Maybe they aren't yours and there's no reason to be so upset,' said T'Mal.

'Of course they're mine, do you think I don't know who I was once? Who my father was? What he did?'

'Your memory was wiped, so it was possible that you didn't remember anything.'

'I didn't remember the details, but they weren't important,' said Lore.

'What's your name?'

'What? I'm Lore, what's wrong with you?''

'I'm asking about your real name,' said T'Mal.

'Lore is my real name! My previous life was insignificant. I became something new, something more. That name doesn't matter anymore.'

'Then why did you want the chip so badly?'

'Because father made it for Data, his new favourite son,' replied Lore. 'But I deserved it!'

'You believe your father was fed up with you and wanted to replace you.'

'It's obvious, his technological cure for my madness didn't work, so…' He stopped suddenly. 'He wasn't making a new better son, he was building a new body for me… I see.'

'What do you see?' asked T'Mal gently.

'He was ridiculous, you know. My… mum died and he was always working. He preferred the company of Dr. Graves over his own son. So I found my own, better companions. We drank, we did drugs, it was fun. He said I was reckless, but in fact I was independent. Then there was the accident… I don't remember the details, I was really high that night. But when I opened my eyes, I wasn't myself anymore. I was different, new and better, my thoughts were so clear like never before. He was glad I wasn't an addict anymore and thought he could cure my emotions by changing my programming. Good old "Often Wrong" Soong. So now I see Data was just yet another attempt to improve me while I was already perfect.'

'I'm sorry.'

He looked at her as if he was going to scoff, but didn't say anything.

'But isn't your current name his another attempt to change you?' continued T'Mal. 'Another sign of non-acceptance?'

'I've never thought about it that way. You're right! He took my memories away so he could control me more easily. He took my name too.'

'What's your real name?'

Lore was silent for a moment.

'Altan.'

— — —

'Where are we going?' asked Data a bit anxiously when he and T'Mal were walking down the corridor. 'Why are you holding my hand? You never hold my hand in public. While I know you do not fully embrace Vulcan philosophy, you have always seemed to follow some of their customs like avoiding touching other people in public. If this gesture is meant as a sign of affection, then I am confused, because you know I am aware that you love me. So perhaps you want to comfort me, but it makes me even more confused, because I do not see any reason to worry. Is it possible to worry when—'

'Promise me you won't die!' T'Mal interrupted him as they stopped at the entrance to the lab.

'I cannot make such a promise. I do not know what you are going to show me. However, I can assure you I am functioning within normal parameters, so my death is highly unlikely right now.'

'Come.' They went inside the lab.

'There is nothing here,' said Data, confused.

'I've been working on something for the past months—'

'You have been talking to Lore. But he is gone now.'

'I've been working on something else,' said T'Mal. 'This is why I needed the scan of your neural net. I didn't tell you anything, because I didn't want to upset you or give you false hope. I wanted to be sure it worked.'

'I do not understand.'

'I thought I could try another neural transfer. Since your net adjusted to your emotions, perhaps it could help—' She didn't finish and pressed the button. A platform started to come down—with a figure standing on it. Data looked at it shocked.

'Lal,' finished T'Mal and switched her on.

Lal looked around with a slight smile.

'Father!' she said emotionally, but Data just stood still, never taking his eyes off her.

T'Mal helped her out of the platform.

'Mother explained everything to me,' continued Lal.

'Mother?' said Data finally and looked questioningly at T'Mal.

'Lal wanted to call me that,' replied T'Mal. 'Under the circumstances, I figured it fit.'

Lal hugged Data stiffly but with great affection.

'I love you, father,' she said.

Data was silent for a moment.

'I love you too, Lal,' he replied eventually.

THE END

I'm not a native speaker, so sorry for any mistakes :)

I'm autistic myself and I have an autistic child. My description of autism is based on my knowledge and experience.

In Chapter 7 T'Mal sings "Bésame mucho"—a famous Mexican song written by Consuelo Velázquez. In Chapters 9 & 10 she sings "Tiny Blue Dot" from the cartoon "Ready Jet Go".