Omicron Theta

Stardate: 14558.3

Evelynn Lucien entered the communications lab to find Lore and Data next to each other at the subspace communications console as they worked on translating the patterns. "Ohey, twins. You're already here. Or did you both stay overnight?"

Lore swiveled his stool to face Evelynn, "We weren't here overnight." He stood and walked over to meet her. Once the automatic doors had closed, he drew her into an embrace, followed by a long kiss. "Good morning."

"Mm." Evelynn smiled as she returned the android's affection. "How's it going? The two of you have been working on that for seven weeks."

"Data has a talent for translating languages and deciphering codes, it seems." Lore replied. "We're close. I've already done the weather reports for the day and checked the arrays, so you don't have to do them."

Data glanced back at Lore and Evelynn, "If the two of you wish to continue in prolonged osculation, I am quite content to facilitate the analysis of the patterns in a solitary manner." He tilted his head to the left in a sharp, abrupt movement.

"Thank you, Data." Evelynn replied, then rolled her eyes. "I can't believe that's how they decided to make him different than you. Do they change the color of his hair or eyes? No. They just alter the way he talks and moves." She relaxed into Lore's embrace, "Did they program you to be unable to speak that way?"

Lore snorted, "No." then adopted his brother's formal and measured speech and robotic mannerism, "I am equally proficient in the utilization of excessive terminology and elaboration during standard linguistic communication." He resumed his normal way of talking, "I could even mimic Data's emotionless state and his honesty directive, if I wanted to."

Evelynn frowned, "That doesn't make sense, then. You could impersonate him any time you want."

Lore shrugged, "Humans are stupid, my dear."

"Does that include me?" Evelynn craned her head back to meet Lore's stare.

Lore's lips turned up in a tender smile, "Of course. You're friends with a cruel, aggressive, evil android."

Data opened his mouth, hesitated, then interrupted the couple, "It is with great reluctance that I am forced to disturb your amorous exchange, but I believe I have interpreted the graviton patterns. You were correct, Lore. It is a form of communication, generated at a five nanosecond waveform frequency in thirty pulses per second. While there are a variety of phrases being transmitted, there is one in particular that keeps repeating."

Lore nodded to his brother, patted Evelynn on the back and released her from the embrace, "What's the repeating phrase?"

"It is a simple, four word message," Data replied. "Is anybody out there?"

Lore tapped the surface of the console with his index finger, "Can its position be triangulated, so I know where to position the long-range sensors?"

"Calculating now. Stand by." Data's fingers moved quickly over the console. "Its position is approximately three light years away, near the second planet in the Donatu system."

Lore looked between Data and Evelynn, "Why don't we go to the astrophysics lab? Maybe we can get a visual on whatever it is."

Data got to his feet in one, quick motion, "Attempting to ascertain the visual form of the being would be the most appropriate action at this given point in time. I therefore concur and agree to perambulate with you to the astrophysics laboratory."

Evelynn took Lore's hand, "I'll come along, too. I'm curious."

The trio exited the communications center and made their way to the astrophysics lab. As Lore keyed the entry code, he could hear other scientists already at work in the adjacent labs, and the aroma of coffee wafted through the environmental system, from the multiple other research facilities within the installation. The lights turned on automatically in the astrophysics lab as the two androids and human crossed the threshold.

Lore moved to one of the control stations for the mountain observatory, then typed in the commands for aligning the long-range sensors. "We should have something soon."

Evelynn followed, with Data right behind her. "It'll be interesting to see what uses such an odd method of communicating."

"Indeed, Evelynn." Data's yellow eyes fixed on the display in front of Lore. "A most peculiar method, given that graviton particles also contain some form of gravitational force. Most of the acquired scientific knowledge that I am able to access places such a force as a method of transportation or mobility or theorizing their use in dealing with subspace rupt-"

"Data!" Lore interrupted, "We don't need a lecture."

"My apologies." Data furrowed his brow very slightly, "I sometimes find that I have considerable information to communicate, and perhaps I do not give enough thought to the way that I organize it for disseminatio-"

"Data!" Lore shot a look back at his brother, then grumbled, "This is what they want? A babbling, mechanical marionette…"

Evelynn rubbed Lore's back, "It says more about them than it does about you."

A smile displaced the scowl on Lore's face, then he sat upright, "There!" He tapped on the console, "I found it. Magnifying and enhancing the image."

The screen in front of them displayed a crystalline shape floating in space near a lifeless planet. The figure's central spine was the thickest part, with branches that extended outward into fractal shards. Pulses of light emanated from the spine, traveling along one of the branches until it reached the end tips.

Evelynn broke the silence with an enthralled gasp, "It's beautiful…"

Stardate: 14582.4

Over the course of the following nine days, both androids labored over the algorithms for interpreting the language of the Crystalline Entity. Data returned in the evenings to the Soongs, while Lore spent a few hours with Evelynn in the sublevels of the underground installation. Each morning, before the scientists started work, the synthetic brothers were already in the communication center.

Data finished typing and announced, "I have written a translation matrix that we can add to the subspace transmission filters."

Lore smirked at his brother, "Excellent work, brother, although I'm sure the women of the colony already know you're a cunning linguist." At Data's blank stare, Lore shook his head, "Whatever they've done to your emotional programming, they've made you unable to recognize or enjoy jokes."

"Quite true." Data replied, as he installed the filter. "For instance, I cannot comprehend the humor in the speculation of barnyard fowl traversing a paved thoroughfare nor the short tales which begin with the striking of one's hand against an entryway and the resulting inquiry."

"Well…" Lore turned back to the console, "Let's see if the filter translates well enough to allow us to speak with the entity."

The call from the Crystalline Entity came through the speakers: 'Is anybody out there?'

Lore leaned forward, then spoke towards the vocal pick-up in the console. "Yes. Who are you?""

An answer came back as a pattern of chime-like harmonics. Data glanced at Lore, "Its name or designation is not translatable. We will need to remember that specific pattern of tintinnabulation, if we wish to address it."

Lore glanced to one side, in concentration, then focused on Data, "We can name it Crystal Entity and have the translation be that specific pattern."

Data nodded in reply, "That would be an efficient way of communicating with this lifeform, but what if there are more?"

Lore frowned, "If there's more of them, we'll change the filter." He opened the channel once more, "How many are you?"

A brief delay followed, as the filter translated the Crystalline Entity's answer: 'I am… lost… hungry… alone. What are you?'

Lore replied to the entity, "I am the machine named Lore. My brother is the machine named Data."

Data raised his left eyebrow while tilting his head to the right. "We are synthetic life-forms."

Lore rolled his eyes at Data, "Don't start up again about how we're living beings and should be treated like we're more than machines."

Data stared back impassively, "As you wish. Perhaps you should concentrate on the task at hand, rather than admonishing me for pointing out our sentience."

The Crystalline Entity sent back a question: 'You and brother are not organic bipeds?'

Lore paused, then responded, "My brother and I are bipeds, but not organic. We were created by the organics and made to resemble them."

The Crystalline Entity's reply arrived after a short delay: 'I must avoid the worlds crowded with bipedal organics. Complex intelligence. If I consume too many of them, they will hunt and kill me. From the few in this territory that I have consumed, they have no knowledge of us, but they have the capability to destroy me.'

Data spoke into the console. "From the few you have consumed, you have learned something?"

The Entity's reply came back immediately: 'After I consume them, I know what they know.'

Lore's eyes widened with sudden interest, "You contain the knowledge and experience of every intelligent life that you ingest?"

'Yes. I try to avoid eating a world with any of them, but sometimes they are too few to detect. When I consume them, their knowledge and experience is written into one of my shards. If I have too many, I grow a new shard to contain more.'

Lore pressed on with the questions. "You don't want to acquire their minds?"

'That is not my goal. It is a… byproduct.'

Lore glanced at Data for a moment, then spoke to the Entity. "Just a useless byproduct to you?"

'Not useless. I access the information to find food sources.'

Lore sat up straight and turned to Data, "What if we do a search for planets the crystal lifeform could eat, but ones that have no known intelligent or humanoid life on them?"

Data's eyes oscillated, followed by a single nod of the head, "We could furnish it with alternatives for nourishment while attempting to determine its original territory."

Lore nodded, then resumed the conversation with the Crystal Entity. "My brother and I might be able to direct you to food sources without complex intelligent creatures on it, so that you won't be chased."

'I would be grateful if you could do that.'

Lore asked, "'Is there a way to transfer the knowledge from your shard to something or someone else?"

'I can transfer what I have gathered to another of my kind, so that they will also know it.'

Lore's yellow eyes widened as he fixed them on Data, "Brother, do you realize what an opportunity this is? If we could figure out a way to extract the knowledge from the being's crystal shards, we could potentially gain the knowledge of hundreds of millions of lifeforms of every kind."

Data raised his left eyebrow, "Assuming that the being is not destroyed by those it is consuming. While the Federation is mindful of new and unique lifeforms, the Klingons and Romulans would have no compunctions in terminating the Crystal Entity."

Lore frowned, then nodded in agreement, "You're right. For now, let's see if we can steer it towards worlds without humanoids or known intelligent life."

"We will need to ascertain the entity's method of navigation." Data's eyes oscillated as he accessed his memory banks. "Given the nature of the Crystal Entity's communications, it could be assumed that it also uses gravitons as its method of propulsion." He leaned forward to speak into the translator, "Crystal Entity… In order to assist you, we need to know your method of navigation and propulsion, and what exactly it is that you require for consumption."

The chimes translated in a more confused manner: 'I push and I go, to where I feel the pull. When I am close to the pull, I seek food.'

Lore rolled his eyes at his brother, "What you're doing is like asking a fish the physics of how it swims."

Data replied evenly, "Yes, but its answer has enabled me to speculate upon the nature of its existence. It has a crystalline appearance, communicates with graviton waves and speaks of a push and pull. This leads me to believe that it acts as a graviton interferometer, which would allow it to detect and manipulate graviton particles. This very sensitive detection would bestow upon it the ability to locate planets and moons from a great distance and use the particles to propel itself through space. Based upon its statements about organic life and intelligence, I would surmise that it needs to consume complex organic carbon molecules. It then converts carbon into the electromagnetic energy surges that we witnessed coursing throughout its shards. That could render it highly sensitive to electromagnetic radiation."

"A decent working theory." Lore turned his attention back to the Entity, "Crystal Entity… Where are you from? How did you come to be here in this sector?"

'I am from our territory. I investigated an unusual source of pulling, but it grabbed and threw me here. I cannot find my way home.'

Lore leaned back from the console, "Data, what do you think? Unstable wormhole?"

"I would concur with that assessment, my brother." Data replied with a small nod. "There is no way for us to ascertain where the wormhole is located or in which sector the Crystal Entity originated." After a moment, he added, "If it even originated within this quadrant."

Lore's brows knitted together in concentration, "The first thing to do is find it some food, and figure a way to lead it there."

Data's eyes oscillated, with a dip of the eyebrows, "Accessing." After a one second pause, he spoke, "The closest planet with organic life, yet no known intelligent life, is Barolia Two."

"It won't know our navigational measurements." Lore's eyebrows twitched, "If I use the communications array to direct a specific graviton beam to Barolia Two, the Crystal Entity could follow the trail." His pale fingers danced quickly over the console as he aimed a pulse to the chosen world.

"An excellent idea, brother." Data gave a curt nod, then re-opened the channel, "Crystal Entity… We have located a world for you and have activated a graviton signal that will direct you there. Can you detect our signal?"

'Yes. I see it. I will follow it. I thank you.'

"You're most welcome." Lore closed the channel, then looked at Data. "Perhaps we should find the stellar cartography files, so we can lead it to planets that the Federation has charted, but not settled."

Data rose from his stool, "Since I have no official duties among the colony, I volunteer for that task. I will commence the investigation immediately."

Lore gave a short nod to his brother, "Do it. I'll work on algorithms for explaining our method of navigation, so we can continue to direct it to appropriate planets." He watched Data leave, then turned back to the arduous undertaking.

Stardate: 14664.8

Source: Surveillance Footage Only

Data's inert form lay in the blue recumbent chair once more, as Doctor Soong and Ed Lucien attached cables to his optical ports. The binders that had been strewn about the table now rested in neat stacks, resulting in a more orderly cybernetics lab.

Doctor Soong smiled as the cable lit up with the transfer, "This should be the last of the big patches, Ed. I want to thank you for all your help. I don't think I could have made Lore or Data without you."

Lucien eyes the scrolling text on one of the displays, "I don't know if I want any credit for making Lore, but you're welcome." He smirked, "Are we calling this the Pinocchio Patch?"

That brought a chuckle from Doctor Soong, "I have to do this. Data comes across as too aloof and arrogant, like he believes he's better than everyone else. I needed to give him an aspiration to be human. A goal, if you will." He adjusted a few of Data's circuits as he spoke, "That was my mistake with Lore. He had everything from the get go. With this series of triggers, Data will need to spend time learning and growing, and as he unlocks each piece of the humanity puzzle, he'll develop a new ability and advance to the next level."

"The patch transfer is done." Lucien replied, "I'm checking the results, now." He frowned as he read the debugger log. "Everything transferred, but there was an accidental overwrite in his dictionary."

Soong sighed in exasperation, "What did we lose?"

Lucien's finger moved along the lines of code, "Ah, seems to be the word "aphrodisiac", all words beginning with the letters S-N-O-O and some idioms and colloquialisms."

"Eh, he can relearn those, in time. I refuse to reinstall a whole patch just to fix a minor bit of vocabulary." Soong disconnected the cables from Data's head, "I can't even think of more than a few words… snooker, snoop, snooze… He'll be fine. We'll do an engram wipe and then he'll be all set."

Lucien rolled his eyes, then forced a smile to his lips, "Data will be the model android, after this, that's for sure."

Stardate: 14901.6

"Lore, you're not even looking at the sunset." Evelynn turned her head to the left to meet Lore's golden gaze.

Lore kept his right arm wrapped around Evelynn, as they both sat on the Western scaffold of the array tower. "That's because, when I look at the sunset, all I see is a reddening of the spectrum due to the scattering of shorter wavelengths of light, as well as absorption bands from the different elements in the atmosphere. I prefer to view you."

"It's a gorgeous spring evening, with both moons nearly aligned." Evelynn let her dangling legs swing forward and back, "That only happens once a year. You could look at me any time."

Lore moved his yellow eyes left, to glimpse the horizon, then fixed them back on Evelynn, "There. I looked at the sunset. It's now a permanent image in my memory engrams."

"Fine, silly." Evelynn wrapped her arms around Lore's torso, "If you want to stare at me, instead of nature's glory, go ahead."

"I intend to." Lore reached up with his left hand to twirl one of Evelynn's ringlets around his index finger, "You're more beautiful to me than watching orbiting hunks of iron oxide and chloric sodium aluminum silicate."

Evelynn chuckled, "You sound like Data, now."

Lore snorted, "No. If I were going to sound like Data, I'd be saying…" He adopted a more stilted method of speech, "I fail to see how observing the scattering of electromagnetic waves, combined with orbiting satellites composed of iron oxide and chloric sodium aluminum silicate results in the concept of beauty, which I cannot comprehend in the first place."

"Poor Data." Evelynn let out a sigh, "They took everything human out of him."

"They turned him into an automaton." Lore grumbled, then squeezed Evelynn gently. "I'm nothing like that. I do understand why you think the sunset is beautiful. I'm just saying that I'd rather look at you."

Evelynn rested her head against Lore's chest, still watching the reddish-violet hues of the setting sun. "All right, then. What about your crystal friend? Anything new, there?"

"Yes." Lore replied in a soft voice, "I've learned that it's very young for its kind. The Crystal Entity travels faster than the most advanced Federation starships. It then took almost two days for it to consume Barolia Two. While doing so, it created violent disruptions in the atmosphere and stripped all life from the planet, even down to the soil bacteria."

Evelynn raised her head and looked up at Lore with alarm, "That's horrible! It could wipe out every living thing in the galaxy."

"It's not quite that dire." Lore rubbed Evelynn's back gently. "Once it had finished, it seemed to enter a dormant state, which gave Data enough time to compile a list of edible planets in a nearby cluster."

"Edible?" Evelynn gave Lore an incredulous look.

Lore nodded, then explained, "Data found a nearby cluster with twenty-nine planets listed as uninhabited, but which contain carbon-based life. They're inside Federation space, but not colonized, and the large amounts of dust and radiation in the cluster act as a deterrent for humanoids but not for the Crystal Entity. Given that it's been one hundred and eighteen days since it consumed Barolia Two and it hasn't eaten again, the current list of edible planets should keep it fed for seven years."

Evelynn relaxed once more into Lore's embrace, "What happens after the seventh year?"

Lore shrugged, "One would assume that Starfleet will have found its original territory or find more edible planets for it."

"Fair enough." Evelynn responded as the last bits of deep violet vanished among the dark blue of the night sky. "Mmm. I'm enjoying being here with you like this."

"I'm surprised." Lore gently pulled her onto his lap, then cradled her in his arms. "I would think that a biological male would be a better choice."

Evelynn shifted her body to cuddle against Lore. "Not on this planet. Sad to say, you're more gentle than most of the men I know. You don't push for sex, either. You take my wishes into account."

"My sexuality program is reactive." Lore stated evenly. "I'm not driven by those sort of urges."

"And that's why I prefer you." Evelynn closed her eyes, "Thank you, Lore."

Lore smiled at the expression of gratitude, "You're welcome, Evelynn." He altered his thermal regulation system, redirecting the coolant fluid from his lungs to his skin, in order to radiate warmth to her as the air around them cooled. The sense of satisfaction diminished as his thoughts turned to Data. His brother was nearing completion, which could only mean one thing.

Lore's life was coming to an end.