Journey to the Dark Side: A Lore Story, REDUX
Written by: S. Bell

Chapter Twenty: Switching up the Game

When Lore finished learning about the ship and organizing his report, he made an attempt to contact the Entity. He was delighted to learn that the Entity was still alive and that it was just a few light years away. However, it was in dire need of nourishment and he felt compelled to assist it; something he felt he failed to do so many years ago. He was determined to succeed in assisting it this time around. Therefore, he informed the Entity of the ship's current course and heading. Lore was excited that his friend was still alive and that it still remembered him and was even concerned about his long absence. It was a compassion that the people aboard the ship failed to give him… including his own brother. Then his thoughts dwelled on Jackie for a moment. He recalled that she was the first to show him unbiased compassion and respect. A smile began to emerge on his face but he quickly extinguished it with the thought of what she had done; faked her own death in order to get away from him. Although so many years had passed, the anger and pain were still very fresh.

Lore realized that since he arrived on the ship, his every move was being tracked and scrutinized — much to his annoyance. He felt that once again, he was being treated like a criminal when he'd done nothing wrong. If they would have simply contacted him directly to inquire about his actions he would've gladly explained. However, everyone took the underhanded route of watching and following him as if he were some kind of predator. It was for that reason, he did not ask the Enterprise crew to help his friend, the Crystalline Entity. He knew they would find some twisted way to disregard him. So he decided to skip that step and introduce them to the Entity first hand. Although the lives of the crew would be sacrificed, the Entity would live on and exchange yet even more memories and experiences with him. The Crystal never lied to him, in fact, it actually listened to him and obeyed him when others wouldn't. It shared with him while others were being guarded and stingy. It never contradicted itself; it always did what it said it would. Therefore, when weighing the lives of the crew versus that of the Entity, the choice was clear to Lore.

Lore knew that Data was the only one who could stop him from making his offering to the Crystalline Entity. He knew he had to do something to get Data out the way, so he came up with a plan to disable his brother and take his place so he could gain enough access to the ship's functions in order to help his friend. He replicated champagne which he poured in two glasses, one of which he laced with a powdery substance from a small vial. He nearly got caught as Data walked into the room and Lore quickly concealed the empty vial before Data could notice and greeted him with a smile.

"Lesson one in becoming more human, my brother. You must observe all human customs." Lore said as he handed the tainted champagne glass to his brother.

"Champagne?" Data asked with a note of surprise in his voice.

"An ancient ritual, still practiced when they celebrate events of importance." Lore replied as he raised his untainted glass, "My brother... I toast our discovery of each other. May it fill our lives with new meaning."

Lore noticed that Data hesitated for a moment before drinking from the glass. He sincerely hoped Data wouldn't suspect anything and his wish was answered when Data finally took a sip before setting the glass down.

"I have some doubts about the value of human... customs in this...my... brother..." Data's voice trailed off as his face wore an expression that clearly indicated his confusion. Finally, he reeled and slumped down towards the floor.

"Brother... help me..." Data said faintly.

"And let us toast also also Doctor Soong who gave me the full richness of human needs and ambitions... a perfect match for my mind, my body."

Data fell to the floor at which time Lore crouched down beside him.

'Hmph! It looks like it's my turn to look down on you… dear brother.' Lore thought to himself before saying, "And let us toast also the great Crystal Entity... with which I learned to communicate. Before Doctor Soong disassembled me, I earned its gratitude by revealing the way to the colonists. Can you image its gratitude when I give it the life on this vessel?"

When Lore was confident enough that Data was completely disabled, he quickly turned him off by way of flicking the switch in his back. After switching clothes with Data, Lore briefly admired himself in the mirror. Although he and his brother were identical, Lore somehow felt the uniform looked better on him. Lore contacted the entity once again to verify its current position — which turned out to be not very far at all. The Crystalline Entity was making exceptional progress in terms of speed and time. Lore's transmission was cut short when the door chimed. He ended the transmission before answering and was amused to see Wesley. As Wesley entered, he stopped in surprise at the sight of an android in utility uniform lying unconscious on the floor.

"Glad you are here, Wesley. Lore suddenly attacked me and I had to turn him off." Lore replied.

"Why did he do that, Data?"

"He discovered we have been using sensors to follow what he does." Lore answered, at which time his facial tic occured — much to Wesley's surprise. 'Damn it!' Lore thought before he instantly came up with a cover. "I practiced his facial tic. Do I have it right?"

"I'd suggest you forget imitating him... because if you had said 'We've been using the sensors,' instead if 'we have,' I might have suspected you were Lore." Wesley replied, but Lore didn't appreciate his tone.

'You incompetent, stupid little man-child.' Lore though menacingly, all the while maintaining a neutral expression, 'You'd better hope this will be the last time you get in my way.' Instead Lore responded, "Yes. I do use language more formally than Lore. Please inform the captain I will come up to the bridge and report on this."

"Aye, sir."

As Wesley exited, a threatening sneer came over Lore's face. He promptly retrieved a hand-held device from a cabinet. After crouching next to Data, he activated the device which caused a bright light to bathe Data's cheek. Moments later, Data's cheek began to twitch. Lore then walked to the mirror and held the device to his own face and after only a few moments, his own facial tic was gone.