Journey to the Dark Side: A Lore Story, REDUX
Written by: S. Bell
Chapter Twenty-Four: A Return to Love
As Jacqueline finished her explanation, Lore stared at her with utter disbelief and disgust.
"You expect me to believe that?" he scowled, "Well then, how do you explain the letter you wrote my dear parents?"
"Wh — what letter?" Jacqueline asked as she hiccupped through tears.
"What letter?" he replied as he mocked her sobs. He then read the letter from memory and watched as her face dropped in utter shock.
"Lore, I never wrote that! I swear!" she replied as she shook her head.
"Oh really? Then why don't you prove it Jackie!" Lore hissed before storming off to replicate a pen and paper for her to write on. Upon his return, he slammed the items onto the table causing her to flinch.
"Write the alphabet!" he demanded angrily.
"What?" she asked, the word barely escaping from her mouth.
"You heard me! Write the alphabet, now!"
Jacqueline continued to sob as she took the pen and paper and began to write. When she was done, Lore snatched the paper out of her shaking hands and his angry expression quickly faded away and was replaced by a look of shock, sorrow and remorse.
"Your handwriting is… entirely different from the letter. You were… set up."
"Lore, we were both set up! They even dragged your parents into it! I'm so stupid! I should've told you what the Magistrate was asking of me."
"That wouldn't have changed anything. There wasn't much you could've done." Lore replied with quiet disbelief of his recent discovery as he embraced her. All these years, he had coached himself to hate the woman that betrayed him only to realize that it wasn't her fault. It was an event that solidified his hatred for humans even further.
"You see Lore, even though I was forced away from you, I was never able to completely move on. Do the letters in my last name seem familiar to you?" Jacqueline asked.
Lore suddenly realized that her last name was in fact his own name spelled backwards. It was a fact that he'd noticed, but had been buried in his anger.
"When I knew that you faced deactivation I had to keep part of you alive with me, even if it was just your name. Lore, there's something else I have to tell you." Jacqueline said almost unintelligibly as she continued sobbing uncontrollably as he took her into his arms.
"Shh. It's alright now. There's no need to rush. I'm not going anywhere."
"Lore, I love you. I've never stopped loving you. So much time has been wasted, time we could have spent together. I would've eventually gotten past what you did to me, I know you didn't mean to hurt me." she cried.
Lore was in a position he never thought he would be in again. His emotions were completely open to Jacqueline. They were once again at her mercy, whether he wanted it or not. The love he thought had died long ago was still very much alive. This realization manifested itself when he felt Jacqueline's lips touch his. He pulled away at first wanting to distance himself; wanting to protect himself from the risk of getting hurt again. However, his desire for her ran very deep, overruling his need to spare his own feelings. Welcoming her kiss, Lore gently pulled her close. His every move was meticulously executed and reflected his desire not to injure her again. Pulling away reluctantly, he attempted to curb his desire to completely experience her.
Cradling Lore's face in her hands, she gazed into his wondrous golden eyes while whispering pleadingly: "It's okay. Please… I'm ready now."
Lore stared at Jacqueline for a moment before pulling her in for another gentle, yet hungry kiss. Their kisses became increasingly passionate as their past began fading away, leaving only them, their love and the moment. Lore constantly reminded himself to be gentle with her. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her again. As they continued kissing and caressing one another, Lore realized how special it was when love was mutually reciprocated between two people; emotionally, physically and completely.
After making love, Lore was watching over Jacqueline, who was snuggled against his chest, asleep. It was the first time he felt truly content. He thought about the amazing experience he had just mutually shared with the woman he loved. As he savored the moment, he wondered how it was possible for Jacqueline to have remained so beautiful after all the years that had passed. He also began to wonder what else it was she wanted to tell him. However, he put his curiosity on the backburner since he did not want to spoil the experience with such questions. Lore didn't want to interrupt such a wonderfully tender moment. He admired how peaceful she looked while sleeping in his arms and how happy she seemed to be after releasing the guilt she had wrongfully carried for so long. As he watched her sleep through night, he listened to the soothing sound of her breathing and the rhythmic sound of her steady heartbeat. Grateful to have restored what had been stolen from him so long ago.
Gazing upward into his eyes the next morning, Jacqueline smiled lovingly.
"Lore, you didn't stare at me the whole night did you?" she asked.
"It was difficult to avoid. You're still so… beautiful." he whispered, to which she blushed.
"Well, I wasn't snoring was I?" she asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
"No, you weren't." Lore replied with a brief chuckle.
Jacqueline placed her head on his chest once again to avoid his gaze. Lore felt her tremble slightly. At first, he thought she was laughing until he felt the teardrops on his chest. Gently raising her face to meet his gaze, he realized she was crying.
"Jackie, what's wrong? Have I hurt you?" he asked with grave concern.
"No Lore, it's not that. I'm just… so happy. I didn't imagine that we would ever get a second chance at happiness and… I just wish it had come sooner." she replied, her voice cracking in the process.
"Jackie, what do you mean?" Lore had the feeling she was fighting to hold something back, something very important.
"Oh never mind about that. It's nothing I can't tell you later. Anyway, I'd love to take a shower right now."
Jacqueline kissed him passionately before getting out of bed. Entering the lavatory, she left Lore to ponder her sudden, minor emotional collapse; but not for long.
"Would you like to join me, my love?" she asked seductively as she briefly peeked at Lore, who eagerly followed her.
Jacqueline spent the day showing Lore her favorite places in the city and he was amazed that the things he found boring just days earlier, seemed interesting because of the fact she was a part of them. They shared a lot of laughs as they traveled together and enjoyed the sights. At the end of the day, Jacqueline led Lore to a secluded spot on a hill where they had a picnic while watching the sunset. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the sky was painted with remarkable hues of yellows, pinks oranges and purples. Lore missed the event, he was too busy admiring the way the reflection of the sun's intense, but fading light was enhancing the sweet golden tone of Jacqueline's face. He was staring into her glistening eyes and at the delicate curve her mouth made when she smiled. Jacqueline started to get cold, but didn't want to leave, so Lore moved closer before wrapping a blanket around both of them. He did this to insulate the heat he was providing her once he'd raised his body temperature. They kissed passionately as thousands of stars began to emerge in the velvety black sky.
The next day, Jacqueline awoke in the same way she did the previous morning; looking up into Lore's eyes. He greatly enjoyed watching her sleep; it filled him with a sense of peace. As Jacqueline showered, Lore prepared breakfast and spread it out on the coffee table. At first she declined to eat, but Lore refused to take no for an answer. He said that if she refused to eat, he would no allow her to leave her quarters; he wanted her to avoid another fainting spell. After they finished breakfast, it appeared his efforts were in vain. As soon as she stood up, she collapsed onto the sofa, prompting him to rush to her side.
"Jackie, what happened?"
"Lore, there's something I need to tell you… well, show you." she replied.
She instructed Lore to open a compartment next to her console and retrieve a tricorder. Lore was puzzled as to why a school teacher would require such a device.
"Why do you have this? It's not a requirement of your profession." he inquired.
"I… borrowed it." Jacqueline said with a slight smirk as she laid face-up on the sofa."
"Go ahead, scan me."
As Lore proceeded to wave the device over her body, he was very shocked at the readings he saw.
"You're only… partially human." he replied with a puzzled look on his face.
"Yes. I don't know what the other half of my lineage is, but I suspect it's the reason why I haven't aged much over the years."
"Did anyone at the colony know about this?"
"Yes, a few people. Mostly the medical staff and Magistrate Simms. Apparently, before I was brought to the colony, I was discovered floating in a small escape pod of sorts in the Delta Quadrant. I was only a baby then and no one could track were the pod had come from. But the particulars of my lineage isn't the only thing that showed up on your scan is it?" Jacqueline said somberly.
At first, Lore had no words as he simply shook his head solemnly.
"You're dying." he whispered.
"It appears so my love. At first I was fine with it since I thought you were dead. I figured I would join you. But in true fashion you show up and complicate things." she replied with a loving smile as she sat up and gestured for him to sit beside her.
"There must be a way to treat your illness." while settling beside her.
"I've been treating it since I was on Omicron Theta; at least I thought I was. You see, The Magistrate arranged for the doctors to create a series of treatments for me to take. Initially, things were going well until they packed me up and sent me here."
"They didn't provide you with enough medicine?" Lore asked angrily.
"No, that's not it. They provided me with enough medicine to last me many years. It wasn't until I visited one of the doctors here did I realize that the medicine was nothing more than a placebo; a false promise. What can I say; that Magistrate is a real bastard!" she said with a halfhearted chuckle.
The next logical question would have been 'How long do you have to live?' but being as Lore already had the readings in his hands, he already knew the answer. Jacqueline's life only had eight months to a year remaining. He felt a wave of emotions come over him; naturally anger seemed to be the most prominent. 'Why is she doing this to me again?!' Lore thought to himself, but he knew it wasn't her fault. Holding her close, he nuzzled his face in her hair.
"When it happens, I want to be at home, not in some medical facility with a bunch of strangers."
Lore's anger was beginning to get the best of him.
"Jackie, you've got time. Can we not talk about this now?"
"No Lore, I have to do it now while I have the strength. I won't want to talk about it again. Just promise me, when it happens, you won't take me to the doctors, they can't do anything but you can. Your love will make me stronger. It will make everything easier, alright?"
"Alright." Lore answered thickly.
"And Lore, please don't treat me like I'm dying. I didn't want to tell you because I feared that you might. I don't want it to overshadow the fact that we love each other. I don't want my illness to win that as well as my life. I want to keep that for myself and share it with you." she said, the sound of her voice slightly muffled against his chest.
"I promise, I won't treat you like you're dying." Lore said as he looked into her eyes just prior to giving her the most passionate kiss he'd ever given her.
"I love you Lore… I love you. Always, remember that; it will never change… never." she proclaimed.
"I love you too, Jackie." he replied while continuing to kiss and caress her.
He carried her into the bedroom where they demonstrated their love for one another, anew.
As the months flew by, they lived in an almost deliriously happy existence. Jacqueline's happiness seemed to rub off on Lore. After a while, he'd nearly forgotten that anything was wrong with her. She proceeded with her teaching schedule as usual until classes were finished for the season, after which time, she spent nearly every waking moment with Lore. He would often voice his hatred for humans and mentioned that if it weren't for their actions, things would have turned out differently.
"Lore, that may be true for the humans we've come in contact with, but I doubt they're all bad. Have you forgotten; I'm half human too?"
In fact, Lore did forget. She seemed beyond human to him, she was consistent; always caring, kind, attentive and loving. She was one to think things through and stick to her decisions. To him it was a stark contrast to humans who based their lives on lies, greed, cruelty and hostility.
"Yes, you're half human, but have you ever considered that it's the other half of your lineage that separates you from the rest of them? You're different Jackie! You're better than them, we both are! You're not like all the others and it's marvelous!"
Jacqueline shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Lore, sure we've had to deal with some really rotten people, but I honestly believe that everyone has the potential to improve. Sometimes they just need a little help. Anyway, your parents were human, surely you must hold them in higher regard than you hold others."
Lore stifled a bitter chuckle.
"Right, my dear parents." he sneered, "Jackie, my own dear father replaced me with not so much as a word. He just shut me down like an obsolete workstation to make room for the newer model... Data!"
"What? You mean, he didn't say anything to you? He didn't explain why he…" Jacqueline couldn't bring herself to utter the words.
"Nope. Not a word! Apparently he didn't think I was worth it."
"What about your mother?"
Lore sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes with disgust.
"Oh, mother gave up on me long before my dear father did! I bet she did back flips around my deactivated frame!" he answered bitterly before kneeling before Jacqueline and regarding her with a warm smile as he caressed her face, "You see Jacqueline? You're the only one who has given me a chance from day one and has stuck by me up until know. Even after the terrible thing I did to you years ago. We are the last of our kind and the world can't handle us, they're too afraid. That's why they disregard us and mistreat us like we're insignificant, but they have it the wrong way around. They can learn so much from us. If I could just find some way to guide them, I could show them how life should be. It appears the only way to do this is to speak to them in the only language they seem to understand." Lore whispered the last comment to himself as Jacqueline glanced at him with mild concern.
"Lore, please don't try to take revenge for what has happened. I would be devastated if you risked being deactivated for something as trivial as revenge."
"Jackie," Lore exclaimed with surprised, "after all that's happened…"
"Lore please," she implored, "Do not seek revenge for things we can not change, it will only make things worse for you. Promise me you won't do it."
Lore sighed and reluctantly agreed. Jacqueline went into the lavatory and Lore heard the sound of the sonic shower. A mischievous smile spread across his face as he went over to the door.
"Jackie, ready or not here I come." he sang and attempted to enter but the door wouldn't slide open; a clear indication it was locked, "Did someone forget to leave the door unlocked?" he chuckled but his amusement faded when he heard the sound of Jacqueline coughing violently.
Wasting no time, Lore pried the door open with his bare hands. Seeing her curled up on the floor coughing, he rushed to her side before taking her into his arms.
"Jackie!"
"I'm fine Lore, really. This happens to me sometimes. I didn't want to worry you so I came in here. The shower usually helps to muffle the sound." she said with a giggle.
"Jackie, that's not funny!" Lore scolded, "Don't do that again, if something were seriously wrong…"
"Something is seriously wrong, I'm dying remember?"
"You don't need to remind me Jackie."
She stood up, with his assistance even though she didn't really need it and they looked into each others eyes.
"Lore, I'm so lucky." she whispered.
"Lucky?! How can you possibly think that?" Lore asked in an almost irritated tone.
"Because Lore, I get to spend the rest of my life with the man I love. Not many people are afforded such a luxury."
One late summer day, Lore and Jacqueline went to their special place on the hill where they watched the sunset everyday. As usual, Jacqueline looked absolutely radiant to Lore, but he could see that she was growing tired as she snuggled against him.
"Lore, hold me. I'm getting cold."
Lore was puzzled; the temperature was the same as it had been the past few days they had visited the hill, perhaps even warmer. Nonetheless, holding her close, he wrapped a blanket around them to insulate his increasing body heat. Continuing to grow colder, she prompted him to hold her even closer while elevating his body temperature further. Eventually, he realized that he could no longer raise his body heat without posing the risk of scorching her flesh, so he desisted. She looked deeply into his eyes and smiled faintly.
"I think it's happening Lore… I feel… so weird."
"Are you in pain?" Lore asked with grave concern.
"No. It just feels like… I'm floating or something."
"Jackie, let me take you home."
Nuzzling her face against his warm, firm chest, she whispered: "No Lore. Please. I just want to stay here… with you. You're as close to home as I'll ever be."
"I can't believe you're doing this to me again Jackie." Lore replied heavily.
"Please, don't be angry with me, Lore." she whispered while touching his face gently, "I don't want you to have to go through this. But it seems that I don't have a choice. I love you, Lore. I think you're the reason why I've lasted this long. We have fulfilled our second chance at love, I think that was the last thing I needed to do before I left this life… I needed to show you love."
Replying, Lore's voice cracked and tears shone in his eyes: "But you're taking it away Jackie!"
"No Lore, nobody can take love away. It's always there, but sometimes it gets buried under our other feelings." Jacqueline said before she shuddered briefly, "Please… kiss me."
Lore kissed Jacqueline passionately as she buried her fingers in his lustrous dark hair. Her other hand clutched his shoulder firmly. Eventually relaxing into the kiss, she slowly loosened her grip. It wasn't until her hand fell from Lore's shoulder that he realized that she had faded away; her mouth fixed in a peaceful smile and her eyes closed. Lore softly sang 'Abdul Abulbul Amir' as he continued to cradle her in his arms. He knew it was her favorite song; it was a reminder of the time in their relationship when everything was so simple. It was a part of her he wanted to keep alive and carry with him forever.