Alpha shift arrived and Data handed off command to Worf, then headed back to the quarters he shared with T'Mera. Upon entering, Data immediately walked to the replicator. The orange tabby woke, jumped down from the nearby cat tree and padded over to stand expectantly behind Data.

"Feline supplement thirty-four." Data spoke to the replicator, watched the food materialize, then placed the dish on the floor. He stroked the cat's soft fur, "I hope you enjoy your meal, Spot."

"Hello, Data. How was gamma shift?" T'Mera's voice emanated from the bedroom.

Data finished tending to Spot and walked to the bedroom, "It was uneventful. The terraforming is coming along according to schedule. The underground bunker is slowly becoming more "homey", as humans would say."

"I'm glad it's all working as planned." T'Mera moved to an area in Data's line of sight.

Data's eyebrows shot up a centimeter, and his eyes widened as he received visual input of her appearance. T'Mera wore a sheer full length dress that accentuated the contours of her body, especially her breasts. His romantic subroutines initiated and he swallowed, causing his synthetic Adam's apple to move vertically along the front of his neck.

"I thought you might be feeling down in the dump, so I put this on, hoping it might cheer you up." T'Mera let a seductive smile form on her lips and she sashayed towards Data.

Data's voice wavered as he responded, "I am quite cheered up, now." He moved to meet her, then wrapped his arms around her, pressing their bodies together. "I am also pleased to have this time alone with you, instead of having to see you in Holodeck Four."

T'Mera rubbed her hands over Data's back, "What would you like to do with this time alone?"

"I am uncertain." Data relaxed into the embrace, "While I enjoy our time together, I am suspicious of Lore's motives for wanting the two of us to spend this shift away from the holodeck. It means he is unsupervised."

"Ensign Murphy is there." T'Mera planted a quick kiss on Data's lips, "The photonics are there, and even if Lore managed to get past all of them, I have the holodeck set to turn into a ship in a bottle. I know it might be hard for you to hear, but it could be that Lore cares about you and wants us to have this time."

"He has done many things that do not strike me as caring." Data muttered.

T'Mera placed a hand on each of Data's cheeks, staring directly into his eyes, "I didn't say Lore's not three sandwiches and a basket short of a remote picnic… But somewhere amidst the mess of his neural network, you have a brother."

Data smiled back at T'Mera, "Your idiosyncratic idiom is an endearing addition to my repository. Perhaps the problem is that I feel the need to convince myself that he does not care, so that I do not feel guilt for my part in what has happened to him."

"Mmhm, Bright Eyes. You're going to have to own your actions." T'Mera moved her hands to his shoulders, "You might have to explore if you care about him, too."

"I will need to get to know him." Data leaned his head forward to touch foreheads with T'Mera, "Hopefully, once he is repaired, he will wish for us to get reacquainted without any sort of terrible schemes in the making." He let out a sigh, "It also had never occurred to me that there would be a negative side to incorporating the colonist's scans and memories into us."

T'Mera rubbed her nose against Data's, "That's because you don't know much about artificial intelligence."

"But I happen to be an artificial intelligence." Data replied with a nose rub of his own.

"So?" T'Mera gazed into the amber eyes across from hers, "You spent so much time devoted to studying humans and trying to become more human that you shirked most of your AI side, while also managing to convince yourself that you were further from humanity than was demonstrated. You never defined what it means to be an artificial sentient; Instead, you let others tell you what an android is and then you worked hard at not being one. By everyone's behavioral definitions, Lore's not an android."

Data's eyebrows rose with comprehension, "You are correct. I had not thought about it in those terms. There is an aphorism that androids do not lie. Yet, the first thing Lore did when we activated him was to lie about the order of our creation." His eyes widened in alarm, "There was a boy we rescued who imitated me due to trauma, and I told him androids do not lie. By telling him that, I was lying to him." He blinked back at T'Mera, "And I do lie. I lied to the Borg Queen when I needed her to think she had my cooperation."

T'Mera patted Data's chest, "To be fair, androids don't generally lie. The ones on Galor IV can't lie. Quimby and other holograms can't lie. You, Lore and B-4, since you have sentience and free will, you all have the choice to withhold the truth or outright lie. I've also seen you make attempts to do what's called a "white lie", in order to spare someone's feelings. However, you are normally quite honest and candid."

"Thank you, t'hy'la." Data lifted his right hand, using his index finger to trace a line down T'Mera's jaw to her chin, "Since I have been with you, your insight has caused me to undergo a perceptual paradigm shift."

"Glad to be of service." T'Mera waggled her eyebrows, "You like to say "To thine own self be true", but you can't do that until you figure out who thine own self is. Or, if we move to a different philosopher, it becomes "I am what I am, and that's all what I am.""

The sides of Data's mouth quirked upwards by half a centimeter, "Ah, yes, the famous devourer of spinacia oleracea." The amusement in his eyes faded, "Are you happy with me, T'Mera? In a certain sense, you have become something that you were not."

"I'm happy with you, even though I'm in an artificial body now. I feel like I'm still who I was, as far as my personality and mind are concerned. I'm still popular and working in my field. Can't complain." T'Mera reached up to run her fingers through Data's hair, "Are you having second thoughts about it, after all these months?"

"Not for myself." Data closed his eyes for a moment, "I worry that your quality of life suffers, now that you are no longer biological."

T'Mera leveled her gaze into Data's eyes, "You fell off the logic train, again. You're overanalyzing. If you hadn't put my katra in here, I'd be dead, and I don't know what quality of anything I have while dead. I don't regret the decision we made."

"Nor do I, t'hy'la." Data tightened his embrace on T'Mera, "I do not regret any of this. You complete me." He lifted her up, then walked with her towards the bed, "I believe I have decided upon my preference of activity for the next hour."

T'Mera smiled up at Data as he set her on the bed, "Taluhk nash-veh k'dular. I cherish thee." She traced her fingers down his uniform, along the fasteners, pulling them open.

After being divested of all clothing, Data reciprocated, removed the sheer dress from T'Mera, and joined her on the bed to enjoy their time together.

"She tricked me into watching that." Lore stuck his tongue into his cheek briefly, then glanced over at Ensign Murphy. "It's for human children."

"I don't know about that. I enjoyed it and I'm not human or a child." Murphy smiled back at the android. "You didn't like it?"

Lore gritted his teeth at the ensign, "I suppose it could be said that I found it… diverting." His voice took on a hint of satisfaction, "And I understood all of it, unlike my dear brother. I think I even figured out why she chose it. I'm supposed to be the little blue monster."

Ensign Murphy moved back into position by the two holograms, "Are you lost?"

"I don't think so." Lore pushed the floor with his feet, moving the rolling chair while he remained seated, "I remember my creators and I know why I was created. The problem is that I'm unstable, according to Father. Aside from having been created by a scientist, I don't have anything in common with the monster in the holovid." He smirked, "I have more in common with the little girl."

Ensign Murphy tapped their chin as they mulled it over, "I guess I could see that, too."

Lore pushed the rolling chair out from under him, while simultaneously standing. He stalked over to where Murphy stood guard, "I wonder if that spit trick would work on the holograms?"

"You're welcome to try it." Murphy's eyes crinkled with amusement.

Lore pressed his lips together, gathering up some of the fluid lubricant in his mouth, then leaned to the right and spit at the feet of one of the holograms. The photonic guards' eyes followed the trajectory of the spit to the floor, but their bodies remained still. "Oh well. It was worth a try."

Ensign Murphy folded their arms across their chest, "Are you planning on trying to escape?"

"Not so far." Lore averted his eyes from the ensign, "I haven't trusted anyone in a very long time. I don't know why I've put my faith in this T'Mera. Or why I'm even talking to you. You're guarding me. I'm dangerous."

"I'm dangerous, too." Murphy countered, "So, it's natural that two dangerous individuals would talk to each other. As for your trust in T'Mera, she seems to engender that. I haven't known her to betray anyone. Granted, I've only been stationed aboard the Enterprise for a few months, but word does get around on a ship like this."

"What makes you so dangerous?" Lore eyed the ensign, then circled around them, "You said you're not human and you also don't eat or drink. Are you another type of android?"

"I'm a changeling, originally from the Gamma quadrant." Murphy watched Lore circle.

Lore stopped in front of Murphy, "I've never heard of changelings. I take it that some ships made it over there, or some of you made it here?"

Murphy's eyebrows raised in surprise, "Initially, that's what happened. Over the course of a couple of years, it turned into a full-blown war with just about everyone from three quadrants involved in it."

A look of anguish crossed Lore's face. "A full-blown, three quadrant war and I missed it?" He threw his hands up in the air with a shout, "I missed it!" He dropped his hands to his side, "Who won?"

"I suppose the Alpha and Beta quadrants won, although the costs were heavy. The Dominion surrendered." Murphy replied to the android, "It's the first war we ever lost."

"Changelings were on the losing side?" Lore folded his arms across his chest and regarded Murphy. "How is it you're in Starfleet, then?"

Murphy replied evenly, "I was one of four Founder changelings sent to Earth in 2372 to observe and possibly infiltrate the Federation government. I'd been a dissenter among the Great Link, and thought the war was a bad idea, but I agreed to go and gather information. While the other three remained near Starfleet Headquarters, I decided to travel around Earth and see what it was like. When the call came to return to the Gamma quadrant, I didn't want to leave. I liked Earth and the Federation, and wanted to see even more. I took human form, wandered around the planet, and became a renegade changeling. After enough time had passed, I found someone willing to sponsor me in Starfleet."

"They let you in, just like that?" Lore returned to pacing back and forth near Murphy.

Murphy followed Lore with their eyes as they spoke, "Not quite. I spent a couple of years proving myself to be genuine and after they were sure I wasn't a threat, I was allowed to enter the academy. I graduated with honors, and this is my first posting. I'm sure they keep me under surveillance, though."

"You were an enemy of the Federation and now you're a junior commissioned Starfleet officer." Lore snorted, then shook his head, "Humans are so sentimental and trusting. It's a weakness."

"Actually…" Murphy shook their head in response, "It's one of many human peculiarities that I've decided to call a double-edged trait. It's both a strength and a weakness. Yes, it can leave them open to betrayal and vulnerability, but it also allows them to create such diverse communities. Every species will generally protect its own. Many will come to the aid of a friend or an ally, and some species will help someone they do not yet know but are willing to gamble on whether they're friendly or not. Humans are the only ones I have seen who will come to the aid of those they call enemy or put themselves in harm's way to save an enemy. Or to befriend someone who was once an enemy."

Lore dropped his chin and stared at the floor, "I don't know if that will count for me."

"If they could manage to trust me, then there's hope for you." Murphy offered.

"You weren't responsible for the deaths of hundreds." Lore shot back with a scowl.

"No." Murphy canted their head to the right, "The Dominion was responsible for a two year war that cost over a billion lives, destroyed countless cities, poisoned planets, decimated and destabilized governments and, in the process, nearly wiped my own people out."

Lore's yellow eyes widened as far as they could, "I can't believe I missed all of that."

Murphy studied the android for a moment, "At the risk of sounding indelicate, where were you all through the war? I wasn't at the briefing about you. All I know is that I'm supposed to watch you and be careful around you."

Lore frowned and folded his arms across his chest again, "Data shot me with a phaser, deactivated me, disassembled me, then had me locked in a secure vault on a remote planet in some sort of institute. I was there for the past eleven years."

"Remind me never to make Commander Data angry…" Murphy mused.

"Don't worry." Lore reassured the changeling in a sardonic tone, "Data doesn't do that to everyone. It's a family dynamic." He turned his attention to the direction of the opening door. "Speak of the devil. Hello, dear brother. I thought you were going to be with your lover."

Data entered the detention area to join Lore, "I was, and we had an enjoyable time, thank you. T'Mera is currently attending to some communications and will be here once she is finished." He addressed Murphy directly, "I trust all has been well here?"

Murphy nodded, "Quite peaceful, sir." The ensign returned to their post near the two holograms to continue guard duty.

Data gave a single nod of his head to Ensign Murphy, then turned his attention back to his brother, "Is there anything we should discuss? I am not due back on duty until the next shift."

"We could talk about whatever it is you're not telling me." Lore wandered over to the punching bag.

Data followed after his brother, "I am uncertain as to whether it would be better to inform you of the situation, or whether it would be worse."

Lore poked at the bag as he began to circle it, "What's the worst thing that'll happen if I find out about whatever it is?"

Data hesitated, then replied, "You will become enraged and attempt to escape and enact revenge, thus losing your chance to be repaired by someone with the skill to do so."

"You're here… Picard is here…" Lore listed off as he paced the circle, "Just about everyone who was on Omicron Theta is dead… While Juliana didn't help me much, she didn't betray me, either… Who else could I possibly seek revenge -." He halted, then stared at Data. "Father?" He gritted his teeth when Data opened his mouth slightly, but didn't speak. "When he told me he was dying, he lied, didn't he? Otherwise, why didn't he mention it to you before I arrived, right? Why didn't he tell you he was dying, instead of that whole exchange about immortality? He did it to get a reaction out of me and to keep me from leaving."

"Not quite." Data pressed his lips together with trepidation, "When we were speaking with him on Terlina III, his body was undergoing a rapid cellular deterioration, so it was not a full lie. Just one of omission."

"The synaptic scan technique you mentioned." Lore stomped over to stand face to face with Data, "He made Juliana an android when she was dying, and you made T'Mera into one. I didn't even notice T'Mera was artificial until it was pointed out to me. He did it, didn't he? For himself. That's why his lab had android parts lying around."

After a slight hesitation, Data nodded to his brother, "He had made himself an android body, but one that can pass for human, and he transferred his synaptic scans into it. I still believe it would be in your best interest to forswear any need for his approval and to avoid seeking him."

"How, Data?" Lore threw his arms up in the air on each side, "To paraphrase T'Mera, I don't have on and off toggles, except for the one in my back. How do I dismiss what my purpose should be? If I give up on Father's dreams, then what's the meaning of my existence?"

"That is a philosophical question that organic lifeforms have never been able to answer." Data replied evenly, "Out of the three of us, you are the closest to being completely human, a point that you have often bragged about. It could be beneficial for you to think of yourself as similar to them in the sense that you might exist simply because you exist, and that any purpose you wish to have in life should be of your own making."

Lore regarded Data for a moment, "What's your purpose, then?"

"To learn, to grow, and to be happy." Data responded with a slight smile, "I aspire to be better than I am, and to contribute to society in a positive manner."

Lore snorted derisively, "That's vague and there's no concrete goal to it. How will you know when you've reached perfection?"

"Reaching perfection is not my goal." Data moved closer to Lore and placed his left hand on Lore's right shoulder, "When I first achieved sentience, I struggled with my attempts to emulate humans. There were times when it seemed as if I would never reach my goal, and I considered wiping my engrams and starting over. I finally reached an epiphany, when I realized that it does not matter if I ever reach that goal; It is the struggle which defines my life and allows me to grow. We must strive to be better than we are, even though we will never reach our ultimate goal. The effort yields its own rewards."

"In other words…" Lore grumbled and turned away from his brother, "I have to change my way of thinking."

"That is precisely why T'Mera suggested counseling." Data moved around to place himself in Lore's view. "Since she is attempting to preserve your personality and memories, alterations to your behavior will be done with psychology, rather than programming."

Lore frowned and stared at the floor, then folded his arms across his chest, "I might still be an asshole, even after all that."

"Yes, Lore, you might." The left side of Data's mouth lifted in amusement, "However, there are no laws in the Federation against being unpleasant. I would be eminently satisfied to have a brother who is an asshole, but not a homicidal sociopath."

Silence ensued for a few minutes, until Lore broke it by speaking, "You do realize that this means Often Wrong was lying about meaning to fix me. If he's still living, that means there's been another eleven years he could have done it. How long have you known about him being alive?" He walked back over to the punching bag, striking it.

Data answered immediately, "Five months, one week, three days, nineteen hours, twelve minutes and thirty-two seconds." He hung his head with a chastened expression, "I should have asked him to repair you, when we discovered he was still living. I was preoccupied with saving T'Mera at the time, and Father helped save her. I realize that I was negligent, but she means more to me than anything."

"Saving T'Mera… Data, I do understand. I know it means nothing coming from me, but you made the right choice." Lore turned to lean his back against the punching bag, "I'm not sure Father would have fixed me anyway, if you'd asked him, but like you said, it's all aqueous matter under the suspended river crossing. Water under the bridge… water over the bridge…" He grimaced, "I think that bridge got washed out a long time ago."

"Perhaps, in time, you and I will build a new bridge." Data pressed his lips together.

Lore smirked at his brother, "Who knows? Stranger things have happened."

The holodeck doors opened again, letting T'Mera into the detention area. She lifted her right hand in the typical Vulcan salute, "Hello, Ensign Murphy." then headed towards the android brothers.

Data turned to face T'Mera, "Is there any new information on the legal aspect of Lore's situation?"

"Yes." T'Mera held up her hand in the Vulcan greeting to Lore, then answered Data's question, "They're sending someone to come here and take Lore's measure before we start any repair work on Lore, and it's more than just that… They want to begin with B-4. He's going to have to be tested for sentience, and he'll be interviewed by a board of inquiry at Galor IV."

Data furrowed his brow in confusion, "B-4 has nothing to do with any of this. Why do they wish to interview him?"

T'Mera looked between the brothers, "You're a known quantity, Data, and everything you've done is a matter of public record. Then there's Lore and the things he's done. You're both diametrical. They want to interview B-4 as a possible way of determining what the baseline behavior for all three of you should be."

"Poor B-4. Paying for what I've done. He probably hates me for this." Lore folded his arms across his chest and lifted his right leg so that the sole of his right foot pressed against the punching bag. "That's even more aqueous matter." He fixed his intense gaze at Data, "We're gonna need a bigger bridge."