Stardate: 58545.1

Enterprise Holodeck Four

Ensign Murphy showed up to relieve Lieutenant D'Sora and stood at attention near the holographic Vulcan security guards. "Hello, Doctor Chipman. Lore." They glanced around at the holobrig, "The big table's gone."

T'Mera looked up from her position behind Lore's chair, "Hello, Ensign Murphy. Yes, we don't need it at this point. The board of inquiry is over, and now the holodeck is back to being used for confinement and repair."

Lore grumbled as he waited for T'Mera to finish connecting the optical cable to the port in the side of his head, "This is it? I would have thought I'd draw a bigger audience." The joyless, toothy grin spread across his lips, "Come one, come all, come see the android get his comeuppance. Watch him undergo a painful transformation into a good, little android."

"I don't think anyone wants to see you suffer." T'Mera attached the cable, then opened Lore's auxiliary port, "Counselor Veluna will be here to help you, once she's finished with her ship duties. I'm going to start by installing the amygdala code. It's going to be set for the lowest gain." Her fingers flew over the touch console for a minute. "How is that?"

Lore blinked a few times in rapid succession, "Interesting. I almost feel…" He paused, as if searching for the proper term, "Muted. My emotions aren't as sudden and sharp. It's like they're being sent to me from across a distance."

"Good." T'Mera tapped another set of commands. "Why don't you keep it on that setting until we're sure you're stable. Next up is the intrusion detection system. I'll install that, and we'll do a brief test."

Lore canted his head to the side, "My self-diagnostic just alerted me to an access request directed to my memory engrams, unknown source. Is that you?"

T'Mera gave Lore a quick nod, "That's me. It works. It should give you the option to allow or deny?"

"Yes, it does." Lore stuck his tongue in his cheek. "I see where I can choose to mark a source as trusted or something to block." The whooshing sound of the holodeck doors drew his attention. "That might be Veluna." He began to stand as he saw Lynn step through the entrance arch, instead of the anticipated counselor.

"Gah, Lore." T'Mera grabbed the auxiliary cable before it snagged on the back of Lore's chair, "No sudden moves. Do I have to immobilize you?"

Lynn waved to everyone as she passed Ensign Murphy, "Ohey. Is Lore misbehaving?"

"Always." Lore answered with a grin, "I didn't expect to see you here for this. Watching me get reprogrammed might be boring."

Lynn walked over to the chaise near Lore, then sat down. "I'm here to lend emotional support. Like I said, I owe you that much." She clasped her hands together in anticipation before turning her attention to T'Mera. "So. You're the famous Doctor Chipman."

T'Mera raised an eyebrow, "I suppose I could be described that way. It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Ms. Darnell." She threw a stern gaze at Lore, "Very funny. You have to allow me access, so I can do the rest of the repairs."

Lore's broad smirk faded to a slight smile, "Just seeing if you were paying attention. There. You're trusted, now." He started to move as the holodeck doors opened once more, but caught himself in time. "I know, I know… I need to hold still."

"I think I should immobilize you, Lore." T'Mera reached for a small screwdriver, "That way, no accidents will happen. Hello, Counselor."

Veluna joined the others near the chaise and workstation, "Hello, T'Mera, Lore and…" She held out her right hand to Lynn, "Ms. Darnell? It's nice to meet you."

Lynn smiled as she shook the counselor's hand, "Likewise."

Veluna sat in the chair that appeared next to her, "I realize it must be awkward for you, having so many people you've never met act as if they already know you."

"A little." Lynn released Veluna's hand, "Everything you saw was so long ago. It's not as bad as it would be if I were still a teenager and everyone had seen what Lore and I did together."

Lore leaned away from T'Mera, "I don't want to be immobilized."

T'Mera let out a sigh and returned the screwdriver to the desk surface, "Then stay put. I'm going to install the self-correcting mechanism and delete the old, buggy one."

Lynn wrapped her arm around Lore's back and rested a hand on his left shoulder, "I'll hold him." She turned her head to gaze at Lore's face.

Lore met Lynn's eyes and his petulant scowl vanished. "At this close range, I can see your apertures."

Lynn chuckled softly, "I didn't think you'd noticed my optical implants."

Both of Lore's eyebrows rose as his mouth formed his usual toothy grin, "I don't want to offend you, but they're very noticeable. I think even a human would have spotted them. Why that color and not dark brown?"

Lynn leaned to whisper in Lore's right ear, "I wanted them to match the axinite in my bracelet. The stone that you said was a combination of our eyes."

"Human memories are supposed to fade with the passage of time." Lore responded in an equally soft voice, "I'm surprised you didn't forget me."

"I named my firstborn child Laura, after you." Lynn pressed her lips to Lore's cheek.

Lore's eyes widened and for a moment, his face seemed to glow with contentment.

"Lore…" T'Mera broke the silence, "I hate to dampen your mood, but can you access your base operating programs and search through the sexuality subroutines for instruction six-nine-five-seven-two-one-zero. That should contain a seven part conditional check and an event trigger override. I want you to delete that. I don't know what Soong called it, but I call it "Momentary Lapse of Reason." You don't need it."

Lore nodded to T'Mera, "Done. You didn't want to delete it yourself?"

T'Mera tapped on her console, "No. I wanted test the self-correcting mechanism I just installed. One of the few differences in physical construction between you and Data is that your phase discriminator is Type L. I want to make sure it works as it should, since it's part of your positronic decompiler."

"It seems to work fine." Lore began to lean towards the workstation, but Lynn's hand pressed against him and he halted his movement.

"Excellent. One less thing to worry about during the hardware segment." T'Mera bit her lower lip as she tapped on the console again, "Now for the big one. I'm installing the ethical and moral subroutines that Data created for himself, and which I later added to B-4."

Lore snorted, then smirked at Lynn and Veluna, "Well, I guess in a minute, I'll be a puppet like Data."

Veluna reached for Lore's left hand, "Just remember to take it one thought at a time, like we talked about during our sessions."

The smirk on Lore's face faded as his lips pressed into a pale line. As T'Mera removed the optical cable from his auxiliary port and closed the panel, Lore's lips began a gradual separation until his mouth hung agape. His eyebrows lifted as his yellow eyes widened in horror, while his body began to shake almost imperceptibly.

"Lore." Veluna rubbed his hand as she spoke, "One at a time. Don't remember all of it at once."

"We're here for you, Lore." Lynn squeezed his shoulder.

Lore flinched at the touch and pulled away from both women. "No, no…" He scrambled to his feet and ran towards the exit, "I can't stay…" In an instant, both photonic guards grabbed Lore, and he struggled against them. "Let me go!"

Ensign Murphy joined the fray, wrapping their body around the android, "Lore, stop fighting. You have to stay here."

"You don't understand." Lore clenched his jaw as he strained against the changeling and holograms. "What I've done…"

T'Mera grabbed the screwdriver and scrambled to her feet. "I guess we do need to immobilize him."

Veluna clutched at the sides of her head, "So much sorrow… regret…"

Murphy became a sheath around Lore's body, leaving just the android's neck and head exposed. "Don't fight me. You'll be all right."

Lore let out an anguished cry as he ceased fighting. "I don't see how! Everything about me… my whole existence… is a failure!" He felt his body go limp as T'Mera turned the screwdriver in the small port at the base of his neck. "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?"

"Here we go again with that routine." T'Mera finished immobilizing Lore, "Why? Because we like you." She turned to Murphy, "Let's get him over to the chaise, for now." She gave a nod of her head to the holographic Vulcan guards, who returned to their posts.

Murphy kept their hold on Lore, then pushed against the floor to glide across the holobrig. "Here we are. A nice comfortable place to lie down."

"It was brutal! All those people on the outposts. The way they died… I didn't even know them… and what I did to Omicron Theta," Lore protested as Murphy laid him on his back. Unable to move, Lore let out a wail, "I don't deserve help!"

Lynn scooted over to the edge of the chaise and remained at Lore's side. "This isn't about what you deserve. It's about what you need." Her voice dropped to a whisper, "It's about what we owe you; A chance to function properly and live."

Veluna reached over to touch Lore's temple with her fingertips, "You're experiencing so much pain. Let me help."

Lore's stared intently at Veluna for a moment. His left eye twitched briefly and his vision seemed to lose focus. His entire face fell slack and devoid of expression.

"What just happened?" Lynn waved her hands in front of Lore's unresponsive eyes. "What did you do to him?"

Veluna removed her hand from Lore's temple, "It's a Deltan technique to ease the suffering of another."

T'Mera sat down and spun her chair to face the workstation displays. "The synaptic energy in his posterior cortical region just dropped to an extremely low frequency. Cognitive pathway functions are down."

Lynn frowned at Veluna, "He's an android. You can't just go around trying to… well, whatever it was you were trying to do to him with your empathic mind waves."

"I wasn't thinking." Veluna peered at Lore's face with concern, "His emotions are so much like a human's that I -"

"Forgot he wasn't human." A sad smile formed on Lynn's lips, "I guess you're right. Sometimes, it was easy to think of him as just some crazy, yellow-eyed man. I hope he'll be all right."

T'Mera tapped her console, "The diagnostic is complete. He's still got quite a bit of pathway activity in the frontal region," She pulled one of the smaller displays closer, "And what we would call his subconscious is active. He's dreaming." With a smirk, she turned to look at Veluna, "Counselor, I believe you put him to sleep."

Veluna let out a soft sigh, "I'm glad I didn't damage his mind."

T'Mera shook her head, "I don't think you broke anything, but when he wakes up, I'm going to have to ask him whether he set you as a trusted contact or if I need to work on the security software."

Lynn moved her fingertips over Lore's face, closing his eyelids. "That's better. Now he looks like he's asleep, instead of dead."

Murphy shifted back to their usual humanoid appearance, "Since he's immobilized and sleeping, I think I can safely return to my security post."

"Thank you, Murphy." T'Mera gave the ensign a quick smile and nod of her head as the changeling rejoined the two photonic guards.

"This might be best for him, anyway." Veluna studied Lore's placid face. "Dreams might help him deal with his emotions and his newfound morality in a more fluid way. His unconscious mind can guide him through the unfamiliar feelings of sympathy and empathy."

T'Mera raised her eyebrow and deadpanned, "You just don't want to admit that you broke the android."

Lynn stroked Lore's cheek wistfully, "He was broken long before this."

Stardate: 58547.7

Omicron Theta Terraforming Station

Data finished calibrating the main hydraulic monitor station and glanced over to where Doctor Tainer worked on marking the various geological areas on the globe. The air temperature in the crowded and busy lab had risen to nearly thirty-three degrees, and a light sheen of sweat glistened on Juliana's skin. Data paused for a moment, studying the tiny droplets, and marveling at the fine detail that Doctor Soong had put into creating the android body of his deceased wife. Juliana lifted her head as if sensing the attention and turned to look back at him with an inquisitive gaze.

Data crossed the room to stand next to the geologist, "I apologize for staring. I noticed that you have begun to sweat. If the temperature in the room is becoming uncomfortable, I could alter the thermostat to a more favorable setting."

"It's fine, Data." Juliana replied, then reached up with a hand to wipe her face. She rubbed her thumb across the wetness of the other four fingers and frowned.

Data spoke softly, "There has been a fair amount of time passage. Perhaps we should discuss the pachyderm in our current accommodations."

A reluctant smile formed on Juliana's lips, "Oh, Data." She shook her head, then relented, "I suppose we can talk about it, now that I'm a bit calmer. Let's go to the commissary." A chuckle escaped her lips, "Android or not, I feel the need to rest and eat."

Data moved to follow Juliana out of the lab to the hall, "I envy you for that. While I can enjoy eating and drinking, I will never know the compulsion to do so."

"Some would call you the fortunate one." Juliana made her way into the commissary, stopping at the replicator, "Red tea, hot, and one cinnamon roll." She picked up the cup and plate, then led Data to a table and sat in one of the chairs. "Being hungry or thirsty can be inconvenient."

Data took the seat across the table, "I understand that. I apologize again for my part in deceiving you about your true nature."

Juliana took a sip of her tea, then let out a soft exhale, "Noonian always had a way of convincing me that what he wanted made more sense than any of my ideas. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised he could do that to you, too."

"You are handling this remarkably well, Mother." Data rested his forearms on the table and interlaced his fingers. "I was told that the truth might be devastating to you."

Juliana pressed her lips together with an accompanying snort, "I'm not thrilled, but I'm not devastated, Data. If Pran were still alive, it might be different, but what I am affects nothing, right now. There's no reason for me to change my career, no need to alter what I'm doing. When it comes down to it, I'm still me." She picked up the cinnamon roll and took a small bite of it, "And I still love sweets."

"I am… relieved to hear you say that." Data's shoulders relaxed from their taut position. "Will you be returning to your home on Atrea IV, after the decision on Lore is reached?"

Juliana shook her head, "No. I've decided to remain on Omicron Theta, to help the terraformers. It seems only right, since I'm partially responsible for the condition of the planet." She took another bite, then placed the bun back on the plate. "How is Lore doing?"

Data frowned and separated his hands. "He has not yet woken. According to T'Mera, he is forming newer pathways while he dreams, although we are not certain why Counselor Veluna's touch rendered him unconscious. Once he is awake and stable, we can proceed with the repairs to his damaged positronic links. When the repairs are completed, Lore will resume behavioral therapy at whatever location the Rehab Commission chooses."

As Juliana took a sip of her tea, she studied Data's face. "I'm surprised you aren't overseeing the entire repair."

Data's dropped his chin forward in an attempt to avoid looking into Juliana's eyes, "I felt it would be best for Lore if I were not in attendance during the replacement of his subroutines. There is still some animosity between us that could hinder his recovery."

"What's bothering you, Data?" Juliana canted her head to get a view of his face, "I can tell that something's eating at you."

Data stared at the table, "I am experiencing remorse and regret concerning my past actions where Lore is concerned. As I search through through the chain of events, I am realizing that there were a few opportunities for fixing Lore and, at the time, it did not occur to me take advantage of them. I even tried to ignore Lore's existence. I never corrected anyone who called me unique, and I had even referred to myself as being alone in the universe as the sole, sentient android.

"At the same time that I was fighting for my rights as a sentient being, I chose not to consider the fact that I left my brother floating alone in space. When I saw him alive on Terlina III, I not only did not ask Doctor Soong to repair Lore, but I begged him not to reactivate my brother. When Doctor Soong showed me the emotion chip, I became enticed by it and neglected Lore and everything I had heard in their conversation about Omicron Theta. That was very selfish of me. If I look back, in hindsight, my actions were not that of an emotionless, logical android.

"Even after I had him disassembled and sent to Galor IV, I left specific instructions that he was never to be reassembled. I did not search for anyone who might have been able to analyze his programs and repair him, nor did I try to attempt it myself." He leaned forward, elbows on the table, and placed his face in his hands, "No one questioned my actions, and I never gave it a second thought until recently. This makes me feel guilt in a way that I did not anticipate. Not only am I feeling guilty for the way that I discarded Lore and never sought to help him, I am also feeling guilt for not having felt guilty all these years over my behavior."

"He probably wouldn't have let you touch his programming." Juliana offered cautiously.

Data lifted his head and met Juliana's eyes, "That may be so, but I never gave him the chance."

Juliana reached across the table to take Data's right hand, "You're giving him the chance now, and that's what counts. You're not alone in your feelings, either. I've carried so much guilt over how Lore turned out and all the terrible things that happened because I turned a blind eye. Maybe I should go sit with him. I'd hate to think he's all alone there."

"No." Data's yellow eyes widened in realization, "He has his friend, Lynn, with him. He has two brothers and even his mother is present. A family. Lore is no longer alone."