This fan fic story chronicles Lore's life prior to his initial encountered with Data.
Contains mild violence and sexual content
Journey to the Dark Side: A Lore Story, REDUX
Written by: S. Bell
Chapter Four: Mental Chess Match
A few weeks after the so-called malfunction, Lore became intrigued with Jacqueline. He would often watch her interact with the children in the colony and couldn't help but notice how kind and gentle she was. Her personality seemed to amplify her striking beauty. On one particular day, he heard her singing a song to the children in one of the al fresco classes.
'The sons of the Prophet are brave men and bold;
And quite unaccustomed to fear.
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah;
Was Abdul Abulbul Amir…'
After the children dispersed, Lore approached her.
"Hi Jacqueline, you have a lovely voice." he told her.
"Oh, thanks Lore."
"What song was that? I really like it."
"Abdul Abulbul Amir, it was written by —"
"Percy French, in 1877." Lore added.
"Yeah, so you're familiar with it?"
"I have that information in my memory banks, but I can't recall it ever sounding so…wonderful." he said with an affectionate smile.
"Lore, I think you've just mastered flattery." Jacqueline replied, "That should make you really popular."
"I'm afraid it won't. The other colonists still want nothing to do with me. You're my only friend Jacqueline." he said softly.
Jacqueline genuinely felt bad for Lore. During the previous weeks, she desperately tried to get some of the other colonists to befriend him but with no success. Some of the colonists began to shun her as a result of her friendship with Lore.
"Yeah well, some of them have begun to shut me out. Well I guess it's their loss then."
"Yes it is." Lore replied prompting Jacqueline to smile.
During the months that followed, Dr. Soong was able to have Lore enlisted to assist the atmospheric research team, at team which Alex was also a part of. Most days were uneventful and although the team engaged in relaxed conversation with one another, they would often exclude Lore. When off duty, Lore found himself to be increasingly preoccupied with thoughts of Jacqueline. Even when he was on duty, he often noticed that a small part of his cognitive functions seemed to focus on her. He and Jacqueline had become good friends — much to the jealousy of Alex. One night, Lore overheard the two of them having an argument outside of the arboretum. It was evident that Alex had been drinking heavily.
"Alex, what's wrong with you?" Jacqueline snapped.
"Jackie, don't play stupid, you and your little boy toy are spending way too much time together!"
"Calm down Alex," Jacqueline hushed, "Lore and I are just friends, nothing more."
Lore was saddened to hear Jacqueline describe their relationship that way.
"That's not what everyone else thinks! You're making a fool out of me Jackie!" Alex spat.
"Well 'everyone else' is wrong! Who are you going to believe, me or them?"
"Don't try to twist things around!"
"I don't have to! You've done a good job of that on your own! Maybe you're just jealous because my definition of friendship is entirely different from yours."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
"It means, at least my friend isn't a bottle!" she exclaimed, prompting Lore to chuckle to himself.
On that note, Alex smacked her across the face causing her to stumble backward. At that point, Lore stopped giggling and leapt into action. He was so stealthy, no one heard him coming. By the time Jacqueline looked up, she saw Alex hanging by his neck and choking in Lore's grasp.
"It's not so nice to be on the receiving end of another's wrath is it? Now, let's see what a tough guy you really are." Lore said with a smirk as Alex thrashed around and grumbled unintelligible words, "What was that Alex? I can't quite hear you. You appear to be slurring your words; perhaps you've had one too many drinks?" Lore taunted, his face wore a sarcastic smile since it felt good to put the bully in he place.
"Lore! Put him down, you're choking him!" Jacqueline exclaimed. She couldn't help but feel honored that he leapt to her defense.
Lore was confused as to why she was defending Alex after what he had done, but he decided to accede to her wishes.
"Never hit Jacqueline again." Lore hissed quietly at Alex as he released him, letting him fall onto the ground.
"Yeah whatever! You two deserve each other!" Alex shouted before he staggered off and Lore began to chuckle.
"Alex wait!" Jacqueline called as she started to follow, but Lore held her arm in restriction.
"Following him isn't a good idea. I suggest we give him time to… cool off." Lore calmly suggested.
Jacqueline sighed before sitting under a tree and leaning against its broad trunk. "I guess you're probably right."
Her face bore a sad expression that he wished he could correct and he decided to sit beside her.
"How can I make you feel better?" he asked.
"Lore, I wish I knew." she replied as she forced out a chuckle.
"Why does Alex drink so much?" he asked.
"I wish I knew that too. There was a time when he kicked his addiction, but he fell off the wagon."
"Was he badly hurt?" Lore replied, not being familiar with the expression.
"It's just a phrase Lore, it means that he had a relapse."
"How did he overcome the addiction the first time?"
"His family and I staged an intervention. We demanded that he partake in a rehabilitation program. He didn't like it, but it was for his own good. Unfortunately, sometimes people have to be do things they don't like in order to make their lives better. Even more regrettable is that they sometimes have to go through the process more than once. I just want Alex to be happy, he's been through a lot and not many people understand him."
"What of your happiness? Does it make you happy when he lashes out at you like he did a few moments ago?"
"No Lore! Of course not!"
"Then why do you stay? Why do you put up with that kind of behavior? If he truly loved you, he wouldn't do those things."
"Lore, it's not that simple!" she exclaimed as she looked at him, "He needs me and… When you're in love it makes you do weird and irrational things sometimes. In my case it means I'm irrational enough to stay with Alex because I love him and I think he deserves a chance. He doesn't hurt me intentionally, and we're working things out." Jacqueline struggled to believe her own words but she realized that she was lying to Lore and to herself. She knew that her relationship with Alex was in serious jeopardy.
"That's not what it looked like a few moments ago." Lore replied with a frown.
Jacqueline became frustrated, talking to Lore made her feel as if she were on the losing end of a mental chess match. She fought back tears as she hugged her knees and stared at the ground.
"Oh forget it. How can I expect you to understand?" she sighed, "You've never been in love."
"That's an inaccurate assumption."
"What? You never told me you were in love before? What was her name?" Jacqueline's voice indicated her surprise.
Lore opened his mouth to reply but thought better of it.
"I'd prefer not to say." he said as his facial expression became more somber.
"Oh, I'm sorry for prying. It looks like she hurt you pretty bad." Jacqueline replied, "Well, whoever she was, she was a fool to let you get away. Any girl would be lucky to have you as her admirer."
If Lore had a heart, he was sure that it would have fluttered at that moment. He smiled and gazed deeply into her eyes. Meanwhile, Jacqueline's heart fluttered enough for both of them and she was becoming increasingly uneasy. At that moment, a small leaf fell from the tree and landed in her hair, but only Lore noticed it. He leaned close and reached his hand out towards her hair, his eyes never left her gaze. She leaned back cautiously and wondered what he was up to, but he explained his actions before she could inquire.
"You have a leaf in your hair." he whispered softly as he continued to move closer to remove it.
His face was so close to hers that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek.
"Uh, thanks." she replied when he placed the leaf in her hand and held it for a moment. Her breathing became shallow.
Lore slowly backed away with a smile on his face. It was at that moment when Lore finally realized that they shared a mutual attraction but he still fought the temptation to kiss her, but was surprised when she pulled him close and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. After a brief moment, she leaned in to kiss him again, this time on the lips. As soon as their lips touched she knew she had crossed the line.
"Lore, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have done that. I don't know what I was thinking! I'd better go!" she frantically exclaimed as she got on her feet and turned to walk away.
Lore gently seized her arm.
"No, don't be sorry. It's alright. You don't have to leave."
"Oh yes I do!" she replied with an awkward giggle, "I'll see you later alright?"
"Alright." Lore whispered with a smile as he watched her run around a corner.