The gray dust of Omicron Theta stirred as the transporter beam caressed the surface. Eight figures began to coalesce in the clearing. As the energy settled, Riker took a step forward and motioned to Lts. Worf and Yar to take up the perimeter.

Lore looked around casually. "Home sweet home," he muttered under his breath.

"Split up in pairs. Cover all the buildings. Labs first. Remember that it's possible one of their experiments was responsible for what happened here so be careful. If you come across anything suspicious, contact me before you touch it."

The rest of the team nodded and began gathering up their equipment.

Lore crossed his arms over his chest. Experiment. A few of the colonists had referred to him as an experiment gone wrong. He hated this place. It made him feel things that hurt. But it wouldn't be too much longer. He just had to maintain calm. He could do this. "So what exactly is it you want me to do?"

Riker nodded to Data. "Go with Data. See if anything jogs additional memories. Use those heightened senses and see if you can detect anything that we missed the first go around."

The android gave him a jaunty salute. "Aye, aye."

"Lore." Data motioned for him to follow. "I would like to inspect Doctor Soong's laboratory in depth." He walked a few steps ahead. "Perhaps more information survived."

"I doubt it," Lore mumbled. He kicked at the ground as he walked.

"It is obvious that you do not wish to be here but what I do not understand is why?"

Lore shook his head. He wished that Data could understand but he knew he wouldn't. He wished he could tell him how he had been belittled and dismissed by beings that in his estimation barely qualified as self-aware. He didn't know which was worse, those that had thought him a dangerous machine or the ones that treated him like a clever toy. In the end, it didn't really matter, none of them saw him as real, as alive. He was nothing more than Often Wrong's experiment.

"Lore? Did you hear what I said?" Data had stopped and turned to him. He was staring at him curiously.

"I heard you. Let's just get on with this already." He felt a chill up his spine. He tried to identify this latest emotion. It was something like sadness. It made him feel empty. Could it be grief? But why should he care? Father got what he deserved, they all did. He pushed the emotion away. Coming back here was worse than he thought. He never should have agreed to it.

"Perhaps, it would benefit you to talk about your emotions," Data ventured. "This place obviously means something to you and Counselor Troi says that keeping emotions bottled inside can be..."

"Stop, right there," Lore ground out. "Don't you dare try to psychoanalyze me. He was my creator too, Data. You might not be able to mourn him but I can..." his breath hitched, "And I do."

"Then you believe that he is dead? That all the colonists are dead?"

Lore scoffed, "You might believe in happy endings but I'm pretty sure the universe is a cold bitch with a nasty sense of humor." He shook his head, "It's been twenty seven years without a sign. The planet is dead. I think it's pretty obvious that the colonists are long gone."

Data paused, "I... I would mourn for our father if I were able."

Lore stared into matching eyes and nodded. "I know you would."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Lore pretended to study his tricorder as he watched Data try to bring the computer system back on line. It wouldn't do him any good. Even if they restored power, the computers were wiped clean.

Data made a small noise in his throat.

"Frustrated?" Lore grinned. He tossed the tricorder back on the table.

"I have managed to activate the computer's sub-systems but there is nothing there. I have never seen such a complete system's failure... and I am not capable of frustration."

Lore sauntered over and carefully studied the read-outs. He was right. There was nothing there to find. Let Picard search until hell froze over, he would never find out the truth. "Do you really believe that we'll find anything after all this time? I think all of this is futile."

"It is possible that there is a small clue, something that was overlooked in previous surveys. I think it is worth the effort."

The android shrugged, "And then what? Even if you found your answer... how would that change anything? Father is gone and he's not coming back. How will knowing make that any better?"

Data canted his head, "Knowing, might help keep the same thing that happened here from happening anywhere else. Knowing, might help the families of the colonists put their minds at ease." He placed his data pad down on the table. "I have observed that humans, especially, need what they term "closure". This act seems to help their emotional state in processing grief."

Lore rolled his eyes and sighed, "Why should I care about their emotional needs? They mean nothing to me."

Data turned from the terminal and faced his brother, "Do you care about our father?"

"I don't know." Lore shrugged again, "You don't, why should I?"

"That is unfair and not strictly true," Data began.

Lore opened his mouth for a reply but was interrupted. "Commander Data."

Worf's voice rumbled through the lab. "Commander Riker has asked to speak with you." He motioned towards Lore. "I will wait here until you return."

Data looked to his brother and then back to Worf. He nodded once. "I will return shortly. I would like to continue our conversation, Lore."

Worf took up a station right inside the door. He folded his arms over his chest and loomed. Lore smirked at him. What did they think he was going to do? Murder them all? Well... The least they could do is give him more credit than that.

He eyed the Klingon up and down, all brawn and no brains, he mused. At least, their species had a warrior's code. He'd give them that much. "Lieutenant Worf. Hmm. Worf. Worf. Where have I heard that name before? Oh yes, son of Mogh isn't it?"

"That is correct," Worf acknowledged.

Lore nodded, "You hail from Khitomer don't you?" He casually strolled around the lab table. "If I recall, and I do, that planet is an even bigger tomb than this one." He picked up Data's discarded data pad and tapped the screen. "Four thousand colonists died there, didn't they?"

Worf's expression darkened but he didn't reply.

This was too easy. "Of course, there was no mystery to their deaths. They were betrayed... by one of their own." The irony wasn't lost on him. Except he had never been considered one of the Omicron Theta colonists, he had been alone. "Let's see, what was the traitor's name?" Lore tapped his finger against his chin in mock contemplation. "Oh that's right, Mogh."

"You do not know of what you speak," the Klingon bit out, his tone a warning.

"No? So your father wasn't disgraced?" Lore stepped closer. "Now, I'm not that well versed in Klingon culture but I do believe it means that, as his son, you now carry that shame. Isn't that right?" he queried conversationally. "Is that why you joined Star Fleet? Because you knew that humans wouldn't judge you for your dishonor?" They do tend to embrace every stray that comes along, don't they? It doesn't speak much for their character in my opinion."

"You would do well not to speak of this anymore." Worf dropped his arms to his sides. His body was a mass of anger and tension.

It was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. "Really?" Lore stepped right up to the angry Klingon. "And why is that?"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"You asked to see me, Sir?" Data trudged lightly over the craggy ground, his lithe form able to compensate for the surface imperfections with ease.

Riker motioned his second over. "Yes, I wanted to talk to you in private. We've been over the labs and are headed to the private residences. Were you able to get the computer system back online?"

"The system is back online but I am afraid that whatever happened has made it impossible to retrieve any information from the computer system."

"Does that seem suspicious to you?"

"Given that we have no idea what happened here, no. It is logical to assume that whatever happened to the colony also affected the computer system."

"The computer system and nothing else?" Riker shook his head. "Everything is completely intact. We even found a table set for dinner. It was eerie. Has Lore said anything that might help?"

"He is mostly disinterested in what we are doing but I believe he is more affected by this return than he allows us to see. He grieves for Doctor Soong."

Riker ran his hand through his hair. The idea that an android had emotions, that was capable of something as profound as grief took some getting used to. He needed to remember that the two brothers might look alike but they were in actuality nothing alike. "Does he need some time?"

Data cocked his head, "Time for what?"

Riker gave Data a small sad smile. One android with too much emotion and one with too little, he mused. "Nothing." Riker looked around, "When you've finished up with the lab, join us."

"Of course." Data nodded once.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Data walked into the lab to find Lt Worf nearly nose to nose with Lore. The security officer looked absolutely livid while his brother looked infinitely amused by the situation. "Is there a problem?" Data looked back and forth.

"There is no problem, Sir," Worf rumbled through a clenched jaw. "If you have no further need of me, I will return to my search grid."

"Of course," Data nodded.

"The Klingon drew his shoulders back and Lore waved at him. "I look forward to learning more about your culture, Mister Worf. Perhaps, one day you can show me your skill as a warrior." It would take a regiment of Klingons to even challenge him. Lore briefly wondered if Data had ever really shown them what their kind was physically capable of, somehow he doubted it. His brother would do only what was necessary. He would never show off his skills nor push his limits. That would make his organic friends "uncomfortable" and they wouldn't want that, now would they?

Worf scowled in his direction and then stomped from the room.

Data turned, "What happened?"

"Happened? What do you mean?" Lore responded in a less than sincere tone.

"Lt. Worf was obviously upset. Since you were the only other person in the room, I will assume that his emotional state had something to do with you. Please answer the question."

Lore sighed, "Nothing happened, Data. Worf and I were just getting better acquainted that's all. Klingons are always ill tempered. It's one of their more endearing qualities. I'm surprised that Starfleet has managed to civilize him so much. He's practically a pet."

"Your comments are again insulting. Has it occurred to you, Lore, that you might better integrate if you were not so antagonistic towards everyone you meet? I know you can be charming when you choose to be."

Lore snorted, "When it suits me, perhaps I will. What makes you think I want to integrate? I want nothing to do with them. You and I have nothing in common with these lesser beings."

"Untrue. We were designed with humanity in mind. Everything from the way we look to the design of our brains..."

"Vanity, Data. That's all. Our Father was never interested in anything other than proving a theory and satisfying his ego. No matter what lies about family he peddled. But we have superseded our creator and become more than the sum of our parts. We are better."

Data paused, "I suppose in some ways that is true. But rather we are physically stronger or more mentally advanced is irrelevant."

"I beg to differ. If you must restrain any part of your abilities whether physical or mental just to appease the lesser beings around you then you limit yourself and the possibilities that are open to you."

"If I limit myself, it is not to appease anyone. It is to allow myself to be part of their culture. It is how I learn and grow."

Lore shook his head, "Because you think that you want to be more human. I wish you could understand how sad I find that sentiment."

"The universe teems with organic life. I do not know how you expect to lead a fulfilling life if you cannot learn to co-exist peacefully."

"If I believed that was a possibility then perhaps I would. But time has proven over and over that you must always be on guard against human treachery."

"But who betrayed you, Lore?"

"Everyone." Lore turned away, "Don't you have clues to find? You wouldn't want your masters to be disappointed with your performance."

Data pursed his lips slightly. "Compromise is part of functioning within a group dynamic. It does not mean that I am enslaved. We must all accept authority to one degree or another to live within a structured civilization. Without civilizations, there would be anarchy."

"Spoken like an organic being," Lore snarked.

"That is the dominant force in the universe, Lore. Like it or not. Who betrayed you? Was it our father that somehow made you feel this way?"

"You don't know what you're talking about." Lore swung around, anguish etching his features.

"Then please enlighten me." Data cocked his head. "I want to help if I can."

"Can you imagine what it would be like to be told that you were a mistake? That the perfection of your creation was in of itself a flaw?"

"No, I cannot. I do not imagine. Who told you that you were a mistake? Who...?" Data's eyes widened. "Lore, are your eyes malfunctioning? There is excess moisture and your left is leaking."

Lore barked out a rough laugh, wiping at his eyes. "They must be. Androids don't cry... do they?"