Journey to the Dark Side: A Lore Story, REDUX
Written by: S. Bell
Chapter Twenty-One: Insubordination
Upon walking onto the bridge, wearing Data's uniform, Lore couldn't help but feel even more important than he already knew he was. Suddenly, the ship's sensors picked up an incoming object.
"Sir! I'm picking up a 'bogey' coming in on a five o'clock tangent." Geordi alerted.
"Confirm! And so fast it makes our warp eight look like we're standing still!" Wesley added.
Once the main viewer was set on the indicated direction, the Crystalline Entity appeared on-screen. Lore couldn't help but smile. The Entity brought back memories of when he was on the verge of having everything he desired; love, power and respect. He noticed that over the years, the Entity had nearly doubled in size and had become even more beautiful. Looking at it reminded him of how perfect Jackie was before the colony corrupted her.
"Shields up; go to Yellow Alert! Transmit friendly greetings, all languages, all frequencies." Capt. Picard instructed.
"I can't believe anything's ever overtaken us this fast." Cmdr. Riker replied with amazement.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Lore asked quietly as he marveled at the sight of his friend.
Wesley pivoted in his chair and looked at Lore when he realized that he used a contraction; a clear sign that he wasn't Data. However, the rest of the crew were too busy to notice. Everyone on the bridge worked hard to analyze the Crystalline Entity in an attempt to figure out exactly what it was. The captain knew they would need Lore's help in order to find out, so he called Data — not knowing that he was really speaking to Lore.
"Data, anything else Lore can tell us about it may be important. Can you control Lore enough to question him?"
"I'll have to examine him to know, sir." Lore replied.
"Sir," Wesley said to Captain Picard upon standing from his console, "recommend you not allow… him move around the ship alone."
"Ensign...!" Captain Picard exclaimed.
'Well, well, well. What do we have here? A meddlesome, troublesome little man-child. I'll teach him a lesson he won't soon forget.' Lore thought angrily.
"Wesley is only trying to show himself to be alert and responsible," Lore calmly replied before he turned to Wesley, "something to be encouraged. Come, you can watch everything I do."
Lore's seemingly calm exterior was a stark contrast to the seething thoughts in his mind. He was thinking of ways to permanently silence this irritating nuisance of a child.
"Not if I have a choice." Wesley quickly replied.
"That is enough, Ensign! When addressing a senior officer..." Picard scolded.
"I've guided his training; I'm the one at fault, sir." Commander Riker interrupted before he turned to Wesley, "You will show proper courtesy, and I'm taking you down there to make certain of it!"
"With your approval, of course, sir." he added as he glanced at Capt. Picard.
Picard gave a wave of approval to Riker and a look of annoyance to Wesley.
During the entire exchange, Lore's anger continued to mount as he contemplated various ways to eliminate the 'man-child' who was obviously determined to get in his way.
As Lore, Riker and Wesley entered the turbolift, Lore nearly smiled in amusement as he noticed that Wesley had his eyes cautiously trained on him. Once they arrived at Data's quarters, the three of them entered cautiously. Lore obscurely flicked Data's switch on and off, causing him to jolt violently. He told Riker and Wesley that 'Lore' sensed them and that they needed to leave. After Riker left the room with Wesley, Lore felt that he had once again proven how dim-witted humans could be.
"And you want to be as stupid as them, dear brother?" Lore asked before he repeatedly kicked Data hard in the head causing a panel to open from his forehead.
When Lore arrived on the bridge once again, the Crystalline Entity was attacking the ship, causing it to quake. Picard ordered Worf to ready torpedoes and phasers. Lore panicked upon hearing this, he didn't want his friend to be hurt.
"No Captain, let me talk to it." he said urgently.
"You didn't say you could talk to it." Capt. Picard replied with puzzlement.
The Entity attacked the Enterprise once more and caused the ship to shake a bit more violently.
"Affirmative!" the captain replied urgently, "Talk to it!"
"Crystal Form, I identify myself as 'Data,' advising you to stop your attack. The humans here are powerful, capable of injuring or even destroying you." Lore said to the Crystal once hailing frequencies were opened.
Lore noticed the amazed glances he received from everyone on the bridge — including the Captain. It filled him with a sense of great power and superiority. He suggested that they beam a large tree over next to the Entity and destroy it to prove that they were capable of destruction. Although his request was approved by the captain, Lore noticed that there was suspicion in the air. He knew that security would likely follow his every move, so rather than go to the transporter room directly; he stood in the turbolift waiting… and preparing. He didn't have to wait very long, the turbolift doors opened and as soon as Worf entered, Lore acted.
"Emergency close!" Lore commanded, at which time the doors locked and sealed him in alone with Worf.
Worf immediately raised his phaser, but Lore was much too quick and slapped it out of his hand as he smirked. In the brief, tense moments that he and Worf glared into each others eyes, Lore savored his pending victory. 'Well, if it isn't the skeptical, doubtful, Klingon warrior.' Lore though as he recalled Worf's doubtful remarks on the bridge a few days back.
"Now show me your warrior fierceness." Lore hissed.
Worf unleashed a brutal hit across Lore's face; such an impact would have proven devastating for a human rival, but Lore simply smirked.
'Is that the best you can do, Klingon?' Lore thought before punching Worf hard in the stomach.
Worf hunched over as he screamed in pain. Lore continued to smirk as he took the moment to enjoy the sight of Worf's agony.
'Ooh, that's gotta hurt!' Lore thought before striking Worf hard across the face with the back of his hand. The impact caused Worf to crash violently into the turbolift wall before losing consciousness. Lore smiled to himself as he thought 'Some warrior you are, you couldn't even last ten seconds! I see imperfection isn't limited to humans.'
Upon entering the transporter room, Lore instantly contacted the Entity to inform it of the optimal time to begin feeding. However, he was interrupted when he sensed someone else in the room. When he turned around, he was only partially surprised to see his brother Data standing there.
"How sad, dear brother. You have made me wish I were an only child." Data said.
'So the truth finally comes out brother.' Lore thought, 'You're just jealous because you're no longer special or unique.'
Lore knew that Data didn't reactivate himself and had a suspicion that someone else was in the room with them. He craned his neck and saw Wesley standing there with his mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher.
'Oh yes, this is the end of the line for you, little man.' Lore viciously thought of Wesley.
"Then why this marvelous gift? The troublesome little man-child!" Lore exclaimed as he raised his phaser and proceeded to walk toward Wesley and addressed him, "Are you prepared for the kind of death you've earned, little man?"
Beverly had apparently heard enough and immediately stepped between her son and Lore while pointing a phaser at him.
"If you take one more step toward my son..." she said threateningly as she glowered.
'Lady, you shouldn't step between a person and their revenge.' Lore thought before he exclaimed, "Ah, motherhood!"
Lore quickly shoved Data into Beverly and disarmed her in the process. He was amused at how easy it was to accomplish. The looks on the faces of the three people before him caused a brief flashback of how he was rejected mistreated by the colony. He shook away the thought so he could focus on the task at hand; eliminating his adversaries so he could help his friend. Lore quickly aimed his phaser at Wesley — whose eyes grew wide with immense fear.
"Back off or I'll turn your little man into a torch!" Lore threatened Beverly, who immediately backed away slowly.
Lore took great pleasure in seeing Wesley so frightened. 'See, little man. If you would've stayed out of adult affairs you wouldn't have to suffer such a painful death.' He thought to himself before he noticed Data taking a step forward.
"I promise him exquisite pain unless you obey me too, dear brother." Lore said firmly while pointing at Data, who reluctantly stepped back upon Beverly's desperate request for him to do so.
Supreme power is what Lore felt as he witnessed his own brother submitting to his whim. Lore still couldn't help but feel a bit sad for Data. In Lore's eyes, Data had been used and brainwashed by the humans just as Jackie had been. He felt it was deplorable that his brother felt obligated to change himself for the sole purpose of pleasing others. Lore no longer felt jealous of Data, but instead felt pity for him. Regardless of those feelings, Lore would do anything to ensure the survival of his friend, the Crystalline Entity and in return, it would give him the knowledge and memory of every living thing on the ship. However, before he did that, he wanted to revel in his moment of power and dominance--not to mention, eliminate his most irritating adversary.
"Do you see now the advantages of being completely human?" he asked Beverly, "It includes kindness. I give you your life, Doctor. Go, quickly... and I may not injure your son at all."
Lore knew that his last statement was a lie, but he didn't wish for her to watch the death of her son. Beverly was one of the few people on the ship that showed him the most respect — which was by treating him with mild indifference. When he noticed that she wasn't leaving and he began to grow impatient.
"Go! Or he'll be shrieking on the count of five. One... two..." he said while waving the phaser at which point Beverly reluctantly ran toward the exit, "Thank you for my human qualities, Doctor Soong." Lore chuckled before he called to Beverly, "Wait! A small payment for your son's misdeeds."
Lore shot Beverly's arm with a phaser blast, causing her lab coat sleeve to catch fire as she ran out of the large transporter room. Data suddenly leap into action and began to attack Lore. The phaser flew out of Lore's hand during the struggle and a violent battle ensued between two android brothers. They threw large heavy containers at one another before resuming their hand to hand combat. It was a battle that could last days due to their remarkable strength and stamina. However, Data managed to hurl Lore to the transporter pad. Knowing what was about to happen, Lore attempted to disable Data with a phaser blast before he could give Wesley the order, but it was too late.
Lore heard, "Wesley now!" just prior to the scene of his brother and the transporter room fading, after which time, he floated in space amongst the stars.
Lore felt utterly disappointed that once again he had failed to help his friend. Once again, humans got in the way; this time using his own brother to help them. The Crystalline Entity floated alongside Lore and asked if he was alright. Lore was puzzled; never before was he able to communicate with the Entity without a communications system. He was also surprised that the Entity was not angry with him for his failure. Although the Crystal was growing weaker, it offered to stay with Lore, to float with him and keep him company as they both awaited their next destination. However, Lore declined the generous gesture and conveyed that it wouldn't be fair for it to deny itself nourishment for the sake of keeping him company. He ensured the Crystal that he would be alright and that someday, he hoped they would meet again. On that note, the Entity sped away in search of its next meal as Lore continued to float alone in space with nothing but the stars and his thoughts to keep him company.