Chapter 8
"First Officer's log, stardate 2382.40. I have asked Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge to attempt to wipe Lore's memory engrams and to reprogram his main directive. Hopefully if it works, Lore will not remember anything that ever happened to him and will be able 'start over' so to speak. I have also asked him to see if he can repair the Tasha android. We are unsure if it will succeed or not."
"Are you sure you want to go through with this Data?" Geordi La Forge asked Data, his blue ocular implants searching him.
Data nodded glancing at Lore strapped on a table. "Yes. I believe that Lore should be allowed a second chance at life."
"Alright," Geordi conceded finishing up in Lore's head panel. "But I can't guarantee that it will work."
"Just follow the guidelines I gave you." Data instructed.
Geordi shut Lore's head panel. "Okay, he's ready. Would you like to turn him on?"
Data slowly pressed his on button on his side. Lore's head popped up and he looked around.
"Hello." Lore said cheerfully. He looked over at Geordi and then over to Data. "Who are you? Are you my father?"
"My name is Geordi," Geordi answered him. "I helped you to get better."
"I am your brother." Data responded in short.
Lore cocked his head to the side. "What is your name?"
"I am Data."
"What is my name?" Lore asked eagerly. "Do I have a name?"
"Yes," Data replied. "You have a name. You are Lore."
Lore looked down and furrowed his eyebrows. "Lore," he repeated back. "I like it." Lore smiled up at Data the same way he always had, but without the hatred. He tried to move but was unsuccessful. He looked at Data innocently. "I appear to be trapped. Why am I trapped? Can I go?"
Data shook his head. "Not yet. You still need some more…help. I will turn you off now."
Lore looked as if he was going to protest but Data reached over and pressed his off button before he could.
Geordi looked back at Data. "It seems to have been a success. I don't think he'll be causing any more trouble for you."
Data nodded quickly. "And…Tasha? Did you have any success with her?"
Geordi sighed heavily. "I'm afraid not Data. I'm sorry she was just damaged too badly. Lore really knew what he was doing. Unfortunately, I do not."
Data nodded. "Why was it that we were unable to pick up on our tricorders that she was an android?"
"It was cleverly hidden." Geordi answered. "I don't know how Lore did it, but he did a good job." Geordi rested his hand comfortingly on Data's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Geordi, I should have listened to you." Data apologized.
"Well Data, you have to make your own decisions." Geordi shrugged.
"Good-bye Geordi," Data added leaving. "I have an appointment with Counselor Deanna Riker."
"Okay Data see you later." Geordi waved before going back to work.
Data pressed the chime on Deanna Riker's office.
"Come in!" Deanna called from inside. Data opened the door and strode over to the chair and sat down. Deanna sat in a chair opposite from his holding young Kestra Riker in her arms.
"How are Kestra and Jean-Luc getting along?" Data asked Deanna.
"They're doing just fine." Deanna grinned looking down at her baby. "Kestra here came to work with mommy today." She shifted the baby to her other arm. "So Data how are you?"
"I am functioning within normal parameters." Data replied.
"No, I meant how are you feeling?" Deanna rephrased the question.
"I am feeling nothing." Data answered her honestly. "I have temporarily de-activated my emotion chip."
"Why?" Deanna asked.
"Because I was unable to fulfill my duties with the emotions I was receiving from it." Data explained.
"Data," Deanna scolded. "You can't just de-activate your chip every time you encounter an unpleasant emotion. You will never heal that way. Now, I want you to re-activate that emotion chip and tell me everything that happened."
Data looked as if he wanted to object but after a stern look from Deanna he complied.
"Oh Data I am so sorry," Deanna soothed after he had finished. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you."
Data looked away.
"What emotions are you feeling now?" Deanna asked.
"I am experiencing grief, anger, betrayal and a few other unpleasant emotions."
"Well talking about them is the first step toward recovery." Deanna said positively. "You may never fully get over it, but the pain will fade and you'll feel like yourself again."
"I feel as if I am going to break in two." Data said his emotions getting the better of him.
Little Kestra made bubble noises and reached for Data. "Would you like to hold her?" Deanna asked Data.
Data nodded and gently lifted the child. He cradled the baby. Kestra kicked and rubbed her blue eyes and tangled her wispy light brown hair.
Data smiled as Kestra took ahold of his finger.
"Is there something else that you're not telling me?" Deanna asked Data sensing that he was holding something back.
Data continued to look at Kestra as he furrowed his eyebrows. "Tasha's last words were, 'I hope that you find your real Tasha someday', I find that even though I am still grieving for this Tasha I cannot help but…hope."
Deanna gave Data a sympathetic pat on his arm. "I hope so too."