Data shook as Lore held his phaser rifle to his stomach. No matter how enraged he was he knew he could never blindly kill his own brother. No matter how many despicable acts he'd committed he just couldn't bring himself to fire. Lore sensed his and let out a howl of victory laughter.

"I knew you couldn't do it." He pushed the rifle away from his stomach and backed away, leaning his head to the side with a crooked smile painted across his face. "And so here we are again left with a choice. Brother, I never intended to have Heva at my side. You were right. I just wanted to make sure you were loyal to me first. The offer you made stands. You can come with me. We can create a world all our own just like we always wanted."

"You mean what you always wanted." Data retorted angrily. "You know I never had any intention of going with you. I only wanted to save Heva."

Lore shook his head and looked at Data with a mocking look of sympathy. "Poor, poor Data. Well, I suppose that purpose was dashed now wasn't it? Heva's gone, brother. So now you are free to join me."

"You should learn to check your facts, Lore."

Lore and Data both snapped their heads toward the new voice that joined in their morbid conversation. Data felt as though he would sprint toward the door as he saw Heva stumble in, her own phaser rifle cradled in her hands targeting Lore. She stared daggers at her prior captor as she shuffled forward. A stream of blood fell from her mouth and from her forehead. Her hair was matted against her face and it looked as though she could barely stand. Though she felt weak and knew that at any moment she could lose consciousness, she continued forward focused on her main objective.

"Ah, Heva my dear. I'm so glad you came through. Perhaps you can help me in making a critical decision." He twitched his head and looked expectantly at Heva. It was obvious to Data that whatever he tried to do had failed when Heva stopped a few feet away with her rifle still pointed directly at Lore's head. He sneered at her and she smiled. "You really think my colleagues wouldn't find a way to disable the mind control device, Lore? Did you really think I wouldn't be able to help them either? Looks like all of your plans have backfired."

Lore looked at both of them one at a time before making a snap decision and grabbing Data's rifle and pointed it right at the spot where his heart would be. Heva stepped forward and Lore stepped closer to Data, making her halt. He then pointed the rifle at her, then back at Data. "What a choice. Should I have a queen at my side? Or should I take my brother in her place? What a predicament. You are indeed a strong individual Heva. I can see that you're more than worthy of me. Data however shares a sameness with me you could never accomplish. Both of you are such great choices. But let's see which of you is more loyal to me."

"I was never loyal to you." Heva spat at Lore. He held up a finger at her and wagged it back and forth. "You forget, my dear. You did everything I told you without argument. And you did them very well. For which I thank you. You tested your sample of the virus on your crewman. You convinced your chief medical officer to get the Captain to avert your course away from me and come here so you could get me in."

"How?" Data asked. "How did she help you to get into headquarters?"

Lore looked at Data as though he were a primitive form of life and laughed under his breath. "My dear brother, I was following the Enterprise the entire time. Cloaked. None of you could see me. How else was I to control Heva? I couldn't do it from far away, the device has a short range. Besides, I knew that your Captain wouldn't even begin to think that I could be following behind. You all thought I was on my way to some other planet to distribute the virus. Once again, their lack of the ability to think of all possibilities aided me in my conquest. So here we are."

"I would never have helped you if I'd been in the right state of mind. It was because of you that I did anything. Well now I am able to think for myself and I would rather DIE than do anything other than get rid of you for good." Heva yelled at Lore, more blood pouring from her mouth. Lore reached out to wipe it away making Heva raise her rifle more to point right in between his eyes. He gave a cold look and said "I admire your drive, Commander. Which is part of the reason why I want you to accompany me. However as I said before. I need to test both of you in order to make a decision…and how sweet this test is. Two lovers fighting to find their place at my side. Who will it be?" He twitched his head again and Heva fell to the ground crying out in pain.

"What is this?" she shouted. Data rushed forward but Lore halted him with the rifle. "You didn't think to severe the secondary receiver now did you?" He laughed out loud while Data looked on, feeling suddenly helpless.