C/W: Contains abusive behaviour, smut, and dub con/rape. Will contain Data/Tasha fluff and eventual smut. Lore is a master of manipulation. Lore/Beverly (but it's not what it seems).
This is a fic in which Lore (still his loveably flawed, chaotic self) plays the long con before showing his true colours. Also, Lore and Data have significantly greater capacity to feel than canon suggests.
In this chapter we finally get to see Data get ANGY.
Two hours later, Lore returned back to his quarters.
Stepping into his bedroom, he found Beverly fast asleep.
He watched her for a few moments.
Beverly gave him so much of what he wanted – the attention, the affection.
So much like Juliana. Lore thought as he watched her.
And now he had her in his bed.
Lore closed his eyes and smirked as his face twitched.
The success of this evening had sparked a feeling of invulnerability, a euphoric feeling of achievement.
But he needed more.
Emotional power and control were like a drug to him.
It was never enough.
Your problem is you never know when to quit while you're ahead. Old Noonian would say.
His father's words echoed in his mind.
Lore pushed away the thought.
This would be different. This time he would make them all see that Lore was the better son.
Riding that high, Lore set off into the night feeling exhilarated.
Data had walked the length of the deck several times in an effort to clear his head.
When he had first encountered his brother's body on Omicron Theta, Data had been thrilled at the prospect of discovering another being like himself.
Inside Data there was an inexplicable need to belong, to have a family, to be part of something more than just his solitary existence.
He had been thrilled when Lore had first spoken of his father.
And Data was keen to learn all about Lore's experience with the man. He had many questions about the family he had never known.
Data had inquired about his construction and their life on the colony.
Were there others like him? Did he have a mother?
Even prior to the discovery of Lore's existence, Data had known there were memory engrams he was incapable of accessing.
Lore had told him that Data was constructed first – and deactivated because he was not considered perfect enough.
According to Lore, their father had deactivated Data after a series of failures. He lacked Lore's ease of replicating natural behaviour, reading social cues, and his overall humanlike qualities.
But Lore had always changed the subject whenever Data inquired if they had another parent – a mother perhaps, or another father, a partner of Doctor Soong.
Although he didn't have a 'gut,' it had left Data feeling that Lore was concealing information against him.
At every instance, Lore seemed keen to remind Data of his superiority in every aspect of their lives. Lore made friends quickly, he had a sense of humour, and was eager to please.
Most importantly, Lore had information that Data wanted – memories of their father, knowledge of their construction, and a sense of the family Data had never known.
Frustrated, Data decided to return to his quarters.
He had already spent hours roaming the deck, there were reports that could occupy his mind instead back in his quarters.
Data stepped into his quarters.
He made a beeline for the door to his bedroom.
Overriding the security lock, the door opened and he saw Tasha was asleep.
He wanted to go to her, but he knew it was important to let her have space. They would do this on her terms, when she was ready.
"What the hell did you do to her, brother?" Lore asked in a taunting drawl.
Data turned around to see his brother seated behind his workstation. Lore had his feet up, resting casually on the surface and his hands behind his head.
He grinned.
Data glanced back at Tasha.
Had she been harmed?
"Oh, don't fret. She's fine," Lore assured him.
Data secured the lock on the door to the bedroom.
For a moment, the two brothers stared at one another, unblinking in a challenge to see who would be the first to crack.
Data had had enough.
"Brother?" Lore protested as Data gripped the back of his jumpsuit.
He marched him over to the door to escort him out.
"Do not ever enter my quarters again," Data said as he threw him into the corridor.
"Brother," Lore said sweetly.
Lore got up and dusted himself off.
"I would never touch a woman unless she asked me to," Lore insisted.
Data knew enough to understand Lore was attempting to bait him into confrontation.
He turned back to his quarters.
"Or in her case, begged me to," Lore added darkly.
Data froze in the doorway.
"I need your help, Mr Hill," Lore taunted. "Please, Mr Hill. I'll do anything."
Lore watched as his brother's grip on the doorframe tightened.
"The stockings were a nice touch," Lore went on.
To Lore's satisfaction, there was a loud snap as the frame of the door cracked under the pressure of Data's grip.
Lore accessed his memory files and found an audio file he'd been holding on to for just the right moment.
Data recognised the sound of her.
"Baby, please," Tasha's voice pleaded. "Fuck me."
It took Lore 0.014 seconds to realise his back was against the floor.
A second later, Data clutched the front of his jumpsuit and hoisted him to his feet.
"Maybe you're not giving her enough attention?" Lore suggested. "She certainly seemed ravenous when-"
Data threw Lore down the corridor and into the wall. He hit the wall with such impact that it caused a stress fracture in the panel.
The sound was enough to draw the attention of the nearby quarters. Several officers began to pour out into the corridor.
Lore saw the perfect opportunity.
"You don't understand, brother," Lore said aloud.
Officer Rhys and his wife looked over at the Durham family that was next door.
They had never seen Commander Data in such a state, and it was terrifying.
Rather than seeing a man struggling with his emotions, they viewed him as a machine on a rampage.
"Security to deck two," Mr Durham ordered.
Lore and Data struggled for a moment before Lore got the upper hand.
With one hand around his neck and the other restraining his arms, Lore had trapped Data.
"Someday she'll come around," Lore said in a voice so low that it was imperceptible to the humans. "But every time you touch her, you'll remember that I was there too. You'll remember that I defiled her. And she loved every second of it."
Data flipped them and temporarily stunned Lore.
"Security, hurry," Mr Durham said urgently. "There's something wrong with the androids."
The door to Data's quarters opened and Tasha raced into the corridor to see Data on top of Lore delivering a series of powerful blows.
"Data, stop!" Tasha ordered.
Data sat up at the sound of her voice.
Lore grinned up at him, ready to seal his brother's fate.
He climbed off of Lore and stood. After a few seconds, Lore got to his feet.
Although incapable of sustaining cuts and bruises like a human, the brothers were not immune to damage. Data's fists had been powerful enough to crack the duranium alloy that lined Lore's optical structure. It caused the area around his temple to appear smashed in.
Lore was also leaking a yellow biofluid from his nose and mouth.
"Data, come here," Tasha instructed.
Data took a step back from his brother but did not turn away from him. He felt it necessary to keep his eyes on Lore.
A security team accompanied by Commander Riker and Captain Picard.
"Lieutenant," Lore said. "I am so very glad to see you."
Without a regard for the appearance of the situation, Data lunged at Lore.
He had him pinned against the wall before security could intervene.
"Data, stand down," Picard ordered.
Data closed his fist around his brother's throat.
"Mr Data, stand down. That is an order," Picard demanded.
The security team had their phasers aimed at the two and were hesitant to fire.
"Data, please," Tasha asked softly.
Data let go and Lore dropped to the ground.
Lore stayed on the ground. He massaged his neck and wiped his nose on his sleeve.
Data looked up and down the corridor for the first time since their fight had begun. He suddenly felt terribly small.
All around him, fellow officers and their families had flooded into the corridor at the commotion. They wore looks of shock and disbelief. They were appalled by what they had seen.
Worst of all, there was a sense of fear that entered the atmosphere.
The Durham children, whom Data was fond of, were hiding behind the legs of their parents. Ensign Grissom and his husband were standing protectively around their baby.
Even Tasha looked terrified.
Data felt like a monster.
Captain Picard studied the scene for a moment.
Based on what he had witnessed in the turbolift and again tonight, Picard thought he had a sense of what had occurred.
It was a dangerous escalation, but he did not believe Data nor Lore had suffered from any sort of programme malfunction. Nor did he believe they were a danger to anyone else on the ship – at least for now.
The doorframe to Data's quarters was cracked and the wall had taken considerable damage.
If these two brothers were to routinely devolve to blows to solve their differences, they could very well smash apart his ship.
"Commander Riker, I'd like you to escort Mr Data and Mr Lore to my ready room," Picard ordered. "And stay with them until I return."
"Aye, sir," Riker nodded.
"The situation is under control," Picard advised the corridor. "Please, return to your quarters."
Once the area was clear, Captain Picard watched carefully as Data and Lore followed Commander Riker to the lift.
He noticed the look of sympathy that passed between the android and his Chief of Security followed by the sudden aversion of her eyes when Lore walked past her.
And his keen eyes caught the predatory look in Lore's gaze as he looked her up and down.
Lore inhaled and grinned, looking no better than a cat that caught its prey.
"I made it here quickly, sir," Tasha lied.
Captain Picard could see she was distressed, breathing quickly and struggling to process what had just occurred.
"I suspect you did," Picard replied. "As something tells me you were already here."
He glanced over at the cracked wall panel knowingly.
Tasha bit her lip and looked down at the floor.
"I think it would be best if we were to step inside," Picard said as he nodded toward Data's door.
"Um, those are Commander Data's quarters, sir," Tasha replied nervously. "And he's not here right now. It would be inappropriate to-"
"Do you take me for a fool, Lieutenant?" Picard inquired.
"Never, sir," Tasha answered.
With a hesitant sigh, Tasha opened Data's door and stepped inside.
Neither brother said anything on the way to the captain's ready room.
Once they arrived, they both took a seat in front of the desk.
Commander Riker decided to sit behind them on the sofa and wait for Captain Picard.
They sat in silence for a few moments and Riker wasn't quite sure what to say to break the tension.
"I'm just glad I don't have an identical twin," Riker said. "You know, like another me. I'm sure it's weird for both of you."
"My brother, I only-" Lore began to say.
"I should have cracked your spinal support column," Data commented without looking at Lore.
Riker certainly hadn't been expecting that.
"Next time you come near her, I will," Data said sternly. "That is a promise, my brother."
"Jealousy doesn't suit you," Lore replied. "It's a human quality, but not one they find endearing."
Data closed his eyes and tried his best to ignore him.
"But I suppose you are incapable of understanding that," Lore added. "Given your failings when it comes to emulating human behaviour."
"What happened on the holodeck?" Captain Picard asked.
Tasha was seated across from him at the table in Data's quarters.
"There was a scheduling misunderstanding," Tasha said cryptically.
"A misunderstanding that required a four-person security team to escort Lore to his quarters and keep him under guard?" Picard questioned.
Tasha looked down at her hands in her lap.
"There was a misunderstanding. And it was my fault," Tasha informed him. "I take responsibility for the situation, and it won't happen again."
"I certainly hope not," Picard replied. "But I am still waiting for an explanation about what happened."
Tasha decided the Captain wasn't going to drop the subject unless he got the truth.
But she couldn't tell him.
She couldn't tell anyone.
"Like I said, there was a misunderstanding. Commander Data and Mr Lore both thought they had time on the holodeck," Tasha explained.
It wasn't entirely the truth, but it wasn't exactly a lie either.
"And when they realised the error, there was a verbal dispute in which I was involved," Tasha said. "Data just thought he was protecting another officer."
Captain Picard nodded.
"A verbal dispute," he repeated slowly.
He rubbed his chin for a moment before shaking his head.
"I must apologise, Lieutenant," Picard said. "But you're not doing a terribly convincing job of it. What I can't seem to figure out is why."
Tasha was one of his most trusted officers.
It wasn't logical that she would hide something, especially if it had been a security issue.
Furthermore, if it was truly a simple misunderstanding that led to a quarrel, Tasha knew the Captain well enough to know he would be understanding. Captain Picard was familiar with the stress of life aboard a ship and was a lenient commanding officer.
"Commander Data suspects his brother created a diversion to incapacitate him that night," Picard went on. "And Commander Data claims he has no theories as to why. And you also contend you can think of no reason for this."
Tasha swallowed hard.
"What I can't seem to understand is why this seemingly small misunderstanding requires a cover up from two of my senior officers," Picard mused. "Why you both are hiding this from me. And why you both seem to grow uncomfortable when I question it."
Tasha felt like she couldn't breathe.
"I'm not here to judge you, Lieutenant," Picard assured her. "Brothers fight. It's only natural. But I can't have my starship destroyed at the hands of an android every time one of them grows jealous of his brother's affections."
For the first time since their conversation had begun, Tasha met the Captain's eyes.
"That's not what happened," Tasha said heatedly.
She took a deep breath and composed herself.
"Forgive me, sir," she said as she looked away.
"I am not accusing you of anything, Lieutenant," Picard said.
In truth, he wasn't. He felt terrible that she was in this position. Yet the situation had surfaced some feelings of guilt on his own part for the way he and Robert had battled over the affections of more than a few young women back in his own day.
"I would never presume to tell you what to do, Tasha. But take from someone who was once one of those brothers, it might be best to make your affections clear to one of them or neither of them before one of them cracks the hull," Picard advised.
Tasha looked scandalised.
But instead of anger, the Captain was surprised that she appeared to blink back tears. It was entirely unexpected from his always unflappable security chief.
"You – you think that I," she trailed off.
She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to remain composed.
"You think that I invited this?" she asked in a soft voice.
It wasn't said as an accusation, but rather in a tone of concern.
Captain Picard tugged nervously at his uniform. He wasn't good in situations like this. In truth, emotional and personal conversations had always been a struggle for him.
In fact, it was one of the reasons he adored Lieutenant Yar.
Like the Captain, she was often stone-hearted when it came to emotional considerations. She kept her private life private, didn't meddle in the business of others, and that was precisely why the Captain enjoyed her company.
"Lieutenant, I did not mean to imply that you were promoting or inviting such a response," Picard said awkwardly. "I merely meant that, well, as someone with a brother I can tell you they will fight over anything – especially a woman – while there is any possibility that she-"
"That's not what happened," Tasha hissed as she slammed her fist down on the table.
She cleared her throat. It seemed for the moment, anger had replaced whatever emotional toil that had previously threatened to spill tears.
"I'm in a relationship with Data," Tasha explained. "And we have been in a relationship for months. Secretly. We didn't want it to interfere with our duties or be the subject of gossip."
Captain Picard sat back as he considered her confession.
That certainly put a new spin on this.
"Then Data's actions were jealousy," Picard pondered aloud.
"No," Tasha insisted. "I know he had a good reason for what he did. Captain, please. This isn't Data's fault. It's mine."
Captain Picard looked at her curiously.
"I've seen the manner in which they both look at you," Picard remarked.
Tasha sniffled but did not respond verbally.
"When you say this was your fault, do you mean to say that you encouraged, even unknowingly, Lore's advances?" Picard inquired.
Tasha broke down in silent tears.
When he reached his ready room, Captain Picard was infuriated and uncomfortable.
His conversation with Lieutenant Yar had been unpleasant.
Despite his assurances that he had no desire to judge or punish, she refused to discuss the incident.
Feeling he had no other option, he threatened to put her on report for thirty days.
When that hadn't been enough to make her budge in her resolve, he'd had no choice but to carry through with his threat.
It was the first time he had ever been forced to discipline Lieutenant Yar, and it didn't sit right.
There was something terribly wrong about this situation.
This meant that by the time he arrived to deal with the android brothers, Captain Picard was in a foul mood.
"Thank you, Commander Riker," Picard said as he took his seat behind his desk.
Riker nodded and got up to leave.
"I'd like you to stay," Picard advised.
Riker sat back down on the sofa.
"I am going to ask the two of you a series of questions and you will answer – one at a time – honestly and in good conscience," Picard explained.
Data nodded.
"Of course, Captain," Lore said.
"Now you boys are going to sit here and tell me what this was all about," Noonian Soong demanded.
"Yes, father," Data said.
"Yes, father," Lore repeated in a mocking tone.
"Watch your tongue, my boy," Noonian warned. "Or one day, your tongue will be your downfall."
The Soong boys were seated in the sitting room – Data with posture ramrod straight, eager to please and Lore sitting sideways, stretched across the chair in a manner that made clear his annoyance.
Noonian had found the two in the midst of an argument, rolling around in the grass like unruly children.
"Father, I encountered Lore encouraging B-4 to harm Keeley and Cara," Data explained.
One of Noonian's less eccentric habits was the menagerie of animals that the Soongs kept at their home. Keeley and Cara were two of his lovebirds - a pair that was presently nesting.
"Is that true?" Noonian asked.
It seemed with each passing day, Lore displayed an increasingly bad influence on B-4.
Although he was the oldest of Soong boys, B-4 was, in many ways, the most childlike of them all.
"You said we were playing," B-4 said, confused.
It was clear in his expression that he was feeling a hurt he couldn't put words to.
"And just what were you doing?" Noonian demanded.
"I would like to know what you were doing on that deck, Mr Lore," Picard inquired.
"I received a communication from my brother instructing me to report to his quarters," Lore answered.
"That is a lie," Data said.
"You may check the computer in my quarters," Lore insisted. "And there is a witness."
Lore had programmed the system to erase any record of his pre-recorded message. They could rip apart his computer and they would find no evidence. It hadn't been difficult.
And Doctor Crusher as an alibi was a sweet bonus.
Captain Picard eyed Data carefully.
"So, we have another unexplainable message," Picard pondered aloud.
They still had found no explanation for the mysterious message Data had received summoning him to the Jefferies tubes the night of Geordi's party.
"Strange that you would be involved in both instances, brother," Data said without looking over at Lore.
Lore scoffed.
"I was ordered to your quarters," Lore said defensively. "Your voice in the message threatened to send a security team if I did not report immediately."
"As I said, strange that you would be involved in both instances, brother," Data repeated in an accusatory tone.
"As were you," Lore reminded him.
The tension between the two was growing and both Picard and Riker could sense it.
The Captain decided perhaps it was time to redirect the conversation.
"We'll continue our investigation into these strange messages with this new evidence. Thank you, Lore," Picard said.
"Anything I can do to help," Lore said with feigned enthusiasm.
Captain Picard had to admit he was growing more sceptical of this android's eagerness to please. Something about it seemed forced.
However, it could simply be the contrast between the two brothers or his mechanical nature.
"Let's put the matter of why you were there aside for a moment," Picard instructed. "What were you two discussing that led to such violence?"
Neither Soong brother spoke.
"Data?" Riker prompted. "Your captain asked you a question."
"It was a personal matter, sir," Data replied. "Nothing of importance."
Captain Picard got up from his chair and strolled to the front of his desk. He leaned back against the edge of the desk and looked at the two carefully.
Data had kept his gaze straightforward, unwilling to meet the Captain's eyes.
Lore seemed to have no such difficulty.
"It seemed rather important. Important enough to warrant the two of you devolving into brawling like Klingons," Picard remarked.
Both Lore and Data remained silent.
"While the two of you may be capable of sitting here in silence for the next week, I am not," Picard said firmly. "I would like an explanation. Now."
"It was my fault, sir," Data said, accepting responsibility.
"Actually, sir. It was my fault," Lore insisted. "You see my brother lacks the same ability to comprehend human behaviour and social interaction. I should not have been so clinical in my assessment of this failing."
Data's posture stiffened.
"I was merely attempting to help my brother better grasp manners of the human equation that are beyond his current level of understanding," Lore continued.
The situation could not be more perfect.
It was a taunt, an invitation to resume their fight.
And Lore was doing so right under the Captain's nose.
"You see, this is why the colonists begged my father to correct Data's emotional instability in the construction of me," Lore lied. "His lack of emotional awareness means he cannot identify or process his jealousy. It's not his fault, Captain."
Data was infuriated. He clenched his hands into fists and tried to remind himself that it would reflect poorly if he were to lose his temper.
Despite Lore's best efforts to appear honest, there was something so familiar about the way in which he derided his brother that it was hard to ignore.
Captain Picard was no fool.
And he could clearly see the parallels between Lore's comments and the way his brother Robert would mock and goad him in front of their own father, teachers, and other adults when they were children.
"Stay out of my quarters," Data said firmly.
"Why?" Lore asked. "Are you worried I might take something that belongs to you? That is not in my programming."
"I would never assume something belongs to me," Data said heatedly. "We do not possess things as-"
Lore turned toward Data.
"Again, my brother. How many times must I remind you that I would never lay a hand on something unless it asked for my-" Lore began to say with a heavy sigh.
He was attempting to feign the role of the wise mentor.
But Lore did not get the chance to finish his act.
Data stood and clutched his brother's jumpsuit, dragging him to his feet.
"You will stay away from her," Data commanded.
Commander Riker's eyebrows shot up.
Her.
He had suspected the 'something' must have been more than a material object.
"Data, please," Picard said disapprovingly.
Data did not turn his gaze away from Lore, nor did he release his grip.
"You knew she was there. And you knew she was alone," Data growled.
"All I did was wait patiently in your quarters for you to return," Lore replied.
"I want his permissions restricted," Data requested without taking his eyes off Lore. "I want him barred from accessing anything other than his own quarters and public areas."
Lore scoffed.
"And I want a guard posted on him until further notice," Data added.
"On what grounds?" Captain Picard asked delicately.
Data froze.
He truly had no reasonable grounds to warrant such a restriction – at least no public reason.
Data released his brother.
Lore smoothed out his jumpsuit as Data took a step back.
"I'm sorry Captain, I think I can clear this up for you," Lore said.
He was concerned the Captain would side with his brother and Lore couldn't lose his freedom like that.
Lore knew he needed to head off Data before this went any further – cut him off at the knees.
"By all means, please," Captain Picard said impatiently.
Lore glanced at Data for a moment before turning his attention back to the Captain.
"My brother is upset because his girlfriend came on to me," Lore said with feigned distress. "And although I initially turned down the offer, she was quite insistent."
Data snapped.
He made a move to grip Lore's throat, but Lore was prepared this time.
With android reflexes on full display, Lore caught Data's wrists and the two brothers found themselves equally matched.
"She was not aware of your deception," Data hissed.
"There was no deception, brother," Lore insisted.
"You initiated your encounter under false pretences," Data accused.
"I did not initiate anything," Lore said.
He was doing his best not to grin.
"And as I have offered, you are welcome to download my memory engram of the event for your own viewing," Lore taunted. "You will find no deception."
Data wanted to chuck his brother out of the nearest airlock.
However, they were equally matched in strength and Lore was not keen to take another beating at the hands of his brother.
"You know what you did," Data alleged.
"And how could I have possibly known that she was special to you?" Lore asked. "You never shared that information with me."
Captain Picard had to admit Lore had a point. If he had been unaware of Data and Tasha's relationship, Lore couldn't have known Data would react so strongly.
Tasha had claimed there was a misunderstanding.
A misunderstanding indeed. Picard thought to himself.
But to mistake one brother for the other?
They were nearly identical.
"Gentlemen, please," Picard said.
The two brothers broke apart.
Captain Picard rubbed his forehead in aggravation.
"This ends here and now," Picard commanded. "You will steer clear of one another's quarters and work areas. And if I find that either of you have violated that order, you will find yourself housed in the brig."
Lore turned his head to the side and grinned as his face twitched.
"Commander Riker, please escort Lore to his quarters," Picard ordered. "I will see to Mr Data."
"After you, sir," Riker said to Lore.
As soon as Lore and Commander Riker had exited the room, Captain Picard sat down on his desk.
"I apologise for my behaviour, sir," Data said quietly. "And I submit myself for disciplinary action."
The Captain instructed Data to take a seat.
"Lieutenant Yar is on report for thirty days because she refused to tell me what occurred," Picard informed him.
Data's mind reeled.
The last thing Tasha needed was to be punished for this situation.
"Please do not punish Lieutenant Yar for her role in this," Data said. "She is the one that has been-"
He stopped just shy of saying the word 'victimised.'
Data knew Tasha hated the label.
And she had shared her reasons for not pursuing charges against Lore with Data in confidence.
"I knew there was something terribly wrong, but you have both been reluctant to discuss it," Picard went on. "Why could you not just come to me and explain this?"
Data wanted desperately to share all that he knew with the Captain.
But it wasn't his story to tell.
"My answer to that question remains unchanged since our last conversation on the matter," Data said sadly. "Starfleet Directives 102-106 prevent me from doing so."
Captain Picard pinched the bridge of his nose and prayed for patience.
"I am well aware of Starfleet Directives 102-106, Data," Picard reminded him in an irritated tone.
Data's comment wasn't intended to shut down the Captain's curiosity.
In fact, it was an attempt to provide him with a clue, to circumnavigate his assurance to Tasha that he would not violate her wishes.
Although Data did feel slightly guilty at the prospect, he felt helpless – trapped between trying to protect himself and his loved ones from Lore but unable to take any action against him.
"Data, please," Picard said with an exasperated sigh.
"Starfleet Directive 104 affords the victim of a crime to choose against pursuing charges. As that is the individual's choice, I must respect it," Data said as he locked eyes with the Captain. "And Starfleet Directive 102 affords me protection to remain silent on that matter in order to honour that request."
Data stared at the Captain and prayed to any omnipotent being in the universe that the Captain would understand.
"Data, are you saying your brother has committed a crime?" Picard asked.
"I believe if I were to answer that question, it would be a violation of Starfleet Directive 102," Data replied.
It was a rather clever verbal work around.
Unfortunately, Captain Picard didn't quite follow.
"Data, I need you to give me more information," Picard insisted.
Data shook his head.
"No, sir. I cannot provide you with more information. As the witness to a crime, Starfleet Directive 102 affords me protection to remain silent on-" Data argued.
Data's choice of wording had been careful.
Too careful.
"Dammit, Data! I am trying to help you!" Picard snapped. "You hide behind this directive while claiming to have witnessed a crime but how can you even be certain if you won't discuss the matter with your Captain?"
Data considered the Captain's statement. Technically, the relevant directives did not prohibit him from discussing the crime itself in a general sense. It seemed it would be necessary in order for the Captain to comprehend, even if it would require violating the spirit of his promise to Tasha.
"Is sexual assault not a crime, sir?" Data asked.
Captain Picard was about to verbally dress down his Second Officer when he stopped.
Data wasn't attempting to conceal information.
In fact, his goal was quite the opposite.
"Data, are you saying that Lore forced himself on Lieutenant Yar?" Picard questioned.
Data put out his hand to stop the Captain from going any further.
"I cannot answer that question, sir," Data reminded him. "I gave my word."
He might as well have. His answer was as good as 'yes' in Picard's book.
This revelation certainly explained Lieutenant Yar's previous behaviour.
Breaking down at the thought of having to reveal such information to her Captain, threatened with disciplinary action, and forced to relive a traumatic event she would much sooner forget - it only made sense that Tasha would react so strongly to Captain Picard's demand for answers.
Captain Picard closed his eyes and sat on his desk in disbelief.
"Data, I didn't know," Picard confessed. "And I fear that my actions have caused further harm."
"Sir, hypothetically speaking you cannot discuss this matter nor take any action," Data reminded him. "Unless you believe it is a danger to the ship."
"Do you believe it is a danger to the ship? Would he try again? Or with someone else? Was that what prompted this fight?" Picard demanded.
While Data was concerned about Lore's growing relationships with his friends, it seemed that his fixation with Tasha was personal in order to hurt Data. He did not believe his brother would attempt such crimes with other crew members.
"I do not believe he would attempt such actions against others," Data advised. "In the hypothetical situation at hand, I believe the encounter was deliberately designed not with the intention of harming the victim themselves, but rather to harm me."
Captain Picard was unsure how to respond.
"Sir, I must inform you that Lore's actions were contrary to our programming," Data said. "At least, it is contrary to my programming. And it has made me further question his assertion that I was made first."
The Captain nodded.
Yes, it seemed that while Lore had more humanlike qualities, Data possessed a stricter programming.
Could Lore have possibly been the 'imperfect' android rather than Data?
"I want an investigation into these mysterious messages. I would agree that your brother's presence is suspicious in both cases. But I'm assigning that duty to Commander Riker," Picard advised. "He'll check into this witness in the morning."
Data nodded.
"You are free to go, Data," Picard advised.
He made a beeline for the door, but Picard stopped him just before he reached the frame.
"Data," he called out.
Data stopped and turned back.
"You will look after her," Picard said. "And for what is worth, I'm sorry."
"Goodnight, Captain," Data replied.
When Beverly Crusher awoke, she found herself pressed against something – or rather someone – that was warm.
Some dream. She mused to herself.
She rolled onto her back and opened her eyes.
Or not.
Beverly blinked as she stared at the unusual ceiling above her. She sat up and glanced around the room.
"You are awake," Lore said.
Suddenly, it all came back to her.
Beverly put her hands over her eyes and fell back on the bed.
"I am so sorry," she apologised.
"My absence was longer than anticipated. When I returned you were asleep and I did not wish to wake you," Lore explained. "You were exhausted, and your body required rest."
Beverly snuggled up against him.
"You're far too kind," she said.
"Are you feeling rested?" Lore inquired.
"Very," Beverly said with a grin.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him, intent on picking up where they had last left on.
But the sight of his face caused her to stop.
"What happened?" she asked, concerned as she eyed the damage.
The area around his left optical structure appeared to be crushed in and there were cracks along his bioplast.
"There was an incident," Lore explained cryptically.
Lore looked down as if he were ashamed.
"I am sorry, but you may be questioned to attest that I was called away," Lore informed her. "I did not provide details of our activities last night. Only that you were present in my quarters and could confirm I was called to my brother's quarters."
Beverly's brow furrowed.
She didn't like the sound of that.
"What happened?" she asked as she traced the dent near his eye.
"I fear that my brother's lack of emotional awareness can cause struggles in expressing himself," Lore said with a sigh. "It is why my father eventually deactivated him."
Beverly sat up.
"Data did this to you?" she asked adamantly.
A pained look crossed Lore's face.
"I do not blame him," Lore said sadly. "He cannot be held responsible for the failures in his programming. Our father did not provide him with as complete an emotional consciousness as he did me."
Lore sat up and looked as if he were experiencing a deep turmoil.
"He is struggling with his feelings. He has developed an attraction to another crew member. But his lack of human understanding means he is unable to properly express it. I only wish to help him," Lore went on. "But he has assumed that assistance is malicious. He is consumed with jealousy."
Beverly pulled Lore into an embrace and kissed the top of his head.
"I am so sorry," Beverly said soothingly.
"I just want to help," Lore assured her. "I just want to be a good brother."
"Of course, you do," Beverly said softly as she stroked his hair.
Lore grinned against her as he recalled a song Juliana would often sing.
"But enough of that," Lore said. "Will you permit me to make you breakfast?"
Beverly laughed warmly.
"Is there anything you can't do?" she teased.
Lore gave her a quick kiss before slipping out of bed.
He began to sing as he pulled on his jumpsuit.
"Oh! What a beautiful morning. Oh! What a beautiful day!" he sang. "I've got a wonderful feeling everything's going my way."