Heva trembled in her new yet poorly fashioned quarters. On a bed constructed of cargo crates and blankets, she sat with her knees pressed against her chest with her arms wrapped tightly around them. Looking in on her would be like looking at a frightened child. That was exactly how she felt, too. She stared ahead as the conversation between her and Lore just a few hours before replayed again in her mind.
*
Lore sat across the long table from Heva sipping a glass of wine and dining on traditional Earth cuisine. A plate of the same pasta waited to be devoured in front of her as well. However, Heva's appetite was eradicated as she glared at her captor. This wasn't his first attempt at false kindness. After their meeting on the bridge, Lore allowed Heva to bathe and gave her a change of clothes while instructing her to meet him to dine. The whole time Heva stood in the shower she dug through her mind for an escape plot, but found nothing. Now here she sat, feeling more alone than she ever had. "Eat, my dear. It's going to get cold soon." Lore said, his tone mocking concern. Heva looked away to the window beside her. The streaks of stars that flew past while they traveled at warp speed were hypnotic. Heva wondered if there was a way to hypnotize herself so that all of this would seem like some sort of peaceful getaway rather than a dark prison. "I wish you wouldn't ignore me like this. I know you're still angry about what I did on the bridge. I've apologized a number of times. I just wish you would eat." Heva slammed her hand on the table and turned back to stare daggers at Lore.
"I am sick of your false hospitality. Just drop it. I know you have no good intention while holding me here at all. So just drop the act. I can see right through it." she growled. Lore wiped his face with a napkin and threw it onto his empty plate. "For an android, you eat like the pig you are." Heva said, leaning back in her chair and turning away. Lore rose from his seat and walked over to her. He knelt beside her and looked up at her. Despite his horrid nature, the fact that his appearance was so like Data's made Heva feel at least one degree of comfort; she knew Data and the crew would be coming for her and she would be out of here soon. "There is no ill purpose for your capture, Heva." Lore whispered. "As long as you cooperate with me, that is. As long as you do what I say, no harm will come to you." He stood and walked away slowly. Heva stared after him. She was not at all eager to learn of his intentions. "You see, Commander," Lore went on. "You will cooperate with me because you have no other choice. You are going to cooperate with me…because I have everything you want." "What make you think that?" Heva spat. "This vessel carries the elements of a virus you have been attempting to find a cure for. A plague that has already killed hundreds of innocent people and that will kill more very soon unless I am given what I wish for."
He paused for a deliberately long moment, letting his words sink into Heva like fangs. "You…you created the virus?" Heva gasped. "Oh heavens no, child." Lore chuckled in reply. "I didn't create it. I HAD it created for me. I captured a group of biologists from a science station in the Vorsey system a little over two years ago and ordered them to create a plague so strong and so fast that it would become a lethal threat against the Federation. I wanted a weapon to use for persuasion. I had it created so that I could get some attention." "For what? You got the Federation's attention. And I suppose that you're going to use me as your spokesperson to relay your request to the high counsel?"
"That is one of the reasons I need you. But we will get to that later. The point is, unless my demands are met…people will only continue to die. I will give the Federation the cure for the virus if they give me what I want. All I want is a galaxy class starship, a team of their best engineers, like yourself, and control of the Federation." "Control of the Federation?" Heva shouted. "You want a starship, engineers, and control of the most influential organization in the galaxy? What for?" "So that I can eliminate those that are too primitive, too inferior to a race that will overtake the galaxy within a manner of months. I will conquer anyone that gets in the path of my plan." Heva shook her head. She didn't understand this at all. "A race that will overtake the galaxy…? I don't understand. You're going to build your own race?"
"Exactly. I believe the galaxy should be influenced by beings that will aim to better the universe rather than one who pathetically attempts to better themselves and uses peaceful alliances in order to keep other races at bay. I am going to build an army of beings not unlike myself and my brother to take over the Federation and control all races that have formed an alliance with them. There will be order and if there isn't, there will be death." "So all you want is domination. All you strive for is control and if you don't get it anyone that you see unfit to live will die is that right?" Lore just smiled at her. He didn't answer because he had no need to. His wishes were confirmed. Heva shook her head and stared down at the floor. Then a thought occurred to her that she had to voice. "What do I have to do with any of this? I am an engineer yes but I don't see what I have to do with anything now." Lore slowly rotated and stared deeply into Heva's eyes. He took a few steps until he was in front of her again. She backed away, sneering up at him. He raised his hand and held her chin tenderly. "Your position on the Enterprise is one of importance. You've only been there seven months and already your rank as Commander has extended to bridge crew. Your vast knowledge of engineering, bioengineering, and other fields of that nature is one that I can use to my advantage. Your reputation is one of spirit and drive. I like that in a person, particularly a woman. If you aide me, I promise you I will seat you at my right hand and give you power beyond your wildest dreams." "Are you saying that you want me as a partner or a wife?" Heva asked, repulsed by his words. "I want you to be my link to Federation knowledge. I want you to help me in my quest to improve the poor state of the galaxy caused by Star Fleet's arrogant directive of peace and unity. I want you to leave everything you know behind and join me." Heva stared up at him in disbelief.
"And if I don't?" Lore chuckled and began to howl with laughter. He threw her chin to the side and walked to the window. He then turned to her again, a dark smile on his devilish face. "If you don't, I will unleash the plague onto the Enterprise. I will make sure that everyone you know and hold dear dies so slowly that they beg for the reaper to come. And as for my brother…your precious lover…I have something special in store for him if you do not cooperate." He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small vial. Inside was a blue substance that turned over like the liquid inside of a lava lamp. Heva stared at it, tears fighting to break free as Lore spoke again.
"This, my dear, is a compound composed of lethal chemicals and nanoprobes. If I release this into Data's system it will activate his pain receptors that are programmed into his emotion chip. When this happens, it will give him the sensation that he is being burned alive. The process is irreversible. It will take exactly ten minutes for his systems to be shut down but until then, he will experience a very painful death. All of this is in store for your beloved if you do not do everything that I tell you to do. Is that clear?"
Heva slowly sat back into her chair as tears fell down her cheeks onto the floor. Reluctantly, she looked back at Lore and nodded. "I'll help you, Lore." With a satisfied smirk curling onto his lips, Lore approached Heva and lifted her head. "You've chosen the path of greatness, Heva. You will receive rewards like those you've only dreamt of, I promise." He leaned down and kissed her cheek, but she pulled away and stormed out of the room to her quarters locking the door behind her.