A/N: Thank you for the kudos, likes, and reviews. This story's got plenty more to come.
This is AU. It's dark. Eventually there's smut. If that's no' your cuppa tea, then read something else.
This will be multi-chapter. Inspired by the TextsFromTNG Tumblr meme "I accidently slept with my boyfriend's twin last night and he didn't stop me."
I would like to make clear that - in no way – do I attempt to speak for an entire community. Sexual violence impacts everyone differently. This story may not reflect your own experience or the experiences of others you know.
I can only write from my own experience. Some people prefer the term "victim" others prefer "survivor." In my head canon, I envision Tasha as being someone that prefers the term "survivor."
C/W: Contains abusive behaviour, smut, and dub con/rape. Will contain Data/Tasha fluff. Lore is a master of manipulation.
This is a fic in which Lore (still his loveably flawed, chaotic self) plays the long con before showing his true colours. Also, Lore and Data have significantly greater capacity to feel than canon suggests.
"So, I am free to resume my duties?" Lore had asked.
Data caught his arm on the way out. The grip was firm and anything stronger would have begun to crush his endoskeleton.
"I am watching you, brother," Data said in low voice.
Lore felt untouchable.
Sure, it had taken a few days for Data to allow him to walk freely among the crew again, but he was back now.
Lieutenant Yar had refused his brother's attempts to categorise what had occurred as an assault. She had insisted it was a misunderstanding. And the tension it was causing between the pair was painfully obvious.
Given his understanding of human behaviour and his brother's own nature, Lore took great satisfaction in knowing he would always be between them – even if they tried to put it behind them.
"I did not realise she was 'special' to you," Lore said with mock concern. "Would you like me to download my memory engram of the event for you? Perhaps you would find it of interest?"
Lore's suggestion had only further fuelled Data's suspicion that Lore's intentions had not been honourable.
Data had been through the events of the evening several times looking for clues that he could tie back to Lore. Captain Picard had confirmed he had never ordered Data to engineering. The energy blast that had temporarily disabled him had no explanation. Yet, there was no evidence Lore had been the cause.
The entire case was circumstantial. Geordi didn't know what had occurred, but he knew something was bothering Data. Geordi had offered to continue checking the engineering reports for any information that could explain the power surge.
Lore knew Geordi would find nothing.
Yes, he felt untouchable.
And that confidence had shifting into craving. He wanted more. He felt so good that he knew he needed more because he didn't want the feeling to stop.
Lore headed for sick bay. Doctor Crusher had been so kind to him. And he genuinely liked her. For a human, she was certainly much better company than Riker. And she was always willing to teach him something or let him help with tasks.
In some ways, she reminded him of Juliana. Juliana had been like that too – kind but firm, sweet but strong.
Where his father had always made him feel inadequate, Juliana had made him feel special. Where Doctor Soong had considered Lore to be 'imperfect', Juliana had reassured him he was enough.
And not just enough.
No, Juliana had instilled a sense of self into Lore. He was stronger than humans. He was smarter. He was the peak of perfection.
And even when Lore had misunderstood the nature of their relationship, Juliana had shown him compassion and forgiveness. She treated it as a 'lesson' for him to learn in human behaviour.
His father's response had not been so. In fact, it had been the first of what would become many times that Doctor Soong had suggested disassembling Lore.
Lore had never intended to cause any harm. He had observed his father kiss his mother before, but he recognised it was different than the way in which she would kiss Lore. Whenever she would be gone for a while or return from a trip, Juliana would kiss Lore on the cheek and give him a warm hug.
But when Doctor Soong kissed Juliana it was something more. It looked pleasurable and Lore's curiosity demanded understanding.
After watching his parents kiss one evening, Lore decided to ask about it.
Juliana had smiled and told him it was how humans that cared deeply for each other showed that affection.
And she told him that someday he would kiss the one he loved like that.
Lore gently took Juliana's face and kissed her passionately just as he seen his father do. He felt her freeze in his grasp and his audio sensory input could hear Doctor Soong was displeased.
Lore stopped and let go of Juliana.
She cleared her throat and gave him a small smile.
"Oh Lore, I'm sorry I should have explained better. That type of kissing is only for people that are in a romantic relationship. It is not appropriate for us to do that again," Juliana said sweetly.
Doctor Soong grumbled something about a programming error and a familiar fear crept into Lore's mind. He didn't like his father calling him an error.
"We are not in a romantic relationship?" Lore asked.
"No, Lore," Juliana said shaking her head.
"We spend time together. I love you. Do you not love me?" Lore said pleadingly, tyring desperately to understand.
"It's not appropriate boy," Doctor Soong snapped.
Juliana cast a dark look to her husband. She took Lore's hand and looked up at her son.
"I love you as my son," Juliana explained. "You are my boy. I love your father as my partner. There are different types of love, child."
She was trying to reassure him, but Lore was struggling to comprehend the difference.
"Lore, access your files on human family structures," Soong instructed.
Lore activated the file and began to process the information.
"Son, we love you as you are our boy. But what when you 'love' someone as a partner it's because you find them attractive and you enjoy their company," Doctor Soong tried to explain.
"It's a friendship with so much more and someday you will experience that too," Juliana said.
"But I find you beautiful. And I am fully functional. I also possess superior strength to that of a human," Lore said as he looked at Juliana.
"I would be the superior partner," Lore said as he looked between Doctor Soong and his mother.
He hadn't meant it as an insult to his father. To Lore, it was simply a statement of fact.
They had sent Lore to his quarters for the evening and he'd gone alone, confused and hurt.
Juliana had stopped in later, as she did each night, to bid him a goodnight.
Although he did not require sleep, they had programmed Lore with a dream program that allowed him to shutdown many of his processes and experience imaginative adventures.
After bidding him a goodnight, she made a move to leave but Lore gripped her hand.
Pulling her in for a hug he apologised for his earlier behaviour.
She assured him everything was fine.
"You are so kind to me, mother," Lore said.
He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. It took her by surprise and for a moment her brain didn't register what was happening.
"I love you," Lore repeated as he broke the kiss.
Juliana backed away. She clutched a hand over her mouth momentarily before looking back at her son.
Something had changed in the way she looked at him. He could register the signs of human discomfort. Lore felt unsure of himself. Juliana had never made him feel unsure of himself before.
She nodded uncomfortably and left his quarters.
Later, Lore could hear his parents arguing down the corridor. He was laying awake, staring up at the ceiling above. Although he was capable of processing multiple things at once, in that moment all of his attention was focused on the sounds coming from his parents' quarters.
"I've heard enough," Soong had said. "He needs to be disassembled. I'll try again."
"You will not do that to him," Juliana had snapped.
"There's something wrong with that boy," Soong said darkly. "He's not right."
For the first time in his life, Lore wept.
"You should be more careful, little man," Lore said.
Wesley had been coming out of sick bay and rounded the corner too fast without looking. Although Lore was smiling, it unnerved Wesley. There was something about this android that made Wesley uncomfortable.
"Sorry, sir," Wesley said as he took a step back.
"That's quite alright," Lore said as he stepped past Wesley and into sick bay.
Doctor Crusher was at her workstation and deep in thought. Lore admired the way she approached her work. She was naturally curious and there was some kind of unbreakable spirit about her. Lore had used the computer to learn the details of her past. He had been pleasantly surprised when he discovered her rank of Commander was not just honorary. No, the unbreakable Doctor Crusher was a commander in her own right and a fully certified bridge officer.
"Hello, Doctor," Lore said as he approached her.
"Hello, Lore," she replied with a smile as she looked up at him.
"I was wondering if there was anything I could assist with?" Lore explained.
As expected, she was more than willing to offer Lore a chance to help around sick bay. She put him to work cleaning up her research notes on the Auroral plaque. Lore was happy to take on the work. It made him feel important when he had a role.
Juliana had always let Lore help with her research.
Doctor Crusher set up Lore at one of the other medical workstations and showed him where to access the research files. She explained how she wanted them laid out and set him to work.
Before she stepped away, he caught her wrist gently.
"Thank you, Doctor," Lore said sweetly.
Doctor Crusher gave him a shy smile but didn't remove his hand.
"You remind me of someone I was very close with once," Lore told her.
Beverly's intuition kicked in.
"If I may ask, how are you doing?" Beverly asked.
Lore let go of her wrist and leaned back as he considered the question.
"I am functioning within normal parameters," Lore replied. "But it has been hard to make new friends. I find that there is a sense of loss from those that I had known on the colony."
"You miss them," Beverly said finishing his thought.
Lore nodded in agreement.
"And I find that there is an undeniable tension with my brother. I am more human, and I theorise there is a certain jealousy that he feels in regard to my superior abilities," Lore said scientifically.
"Well, that's normal between brothers," Beverly said with a small smile.
What Lore couldn't admit to himself was that Lore was, in fact, incredibly jealous of Data. Parents weren't supposed to have favourites. But anyone that had known the Soongs on Omicron Theta knew that his father's favourite son was Data.
He was the golden boy. The perfect child.
But it didn't matter, because Juliana always had always retained a soft spot for Lore. He was her boy through and through.
And in a way, Lore felt that when he came aboard the Enterprise those feelings were once again back. Data was the perfect officer. He had friends and an important role. He was highly regarded within Starfleet.
Lore needed to find his Juliana- someone that would give him the attention and adoration that he craved.
"Lore, would you like to join me later for dinner?" Doctor Crusher asked.
Lore cocked his head to the side.
"That would be most enjoyable, Doctor," Lore replied.
Beverly returned to her workstation and Lore continued to sort through the information. He grinned to himself as a small thrill rushed through him.
"Tasha?" Deanna asked again.
Tasha snapped out of her thoughts. She was in Deanna's office at her weekly counselling session. She was seated in a chair across from the counsellor and had let her thoughts wander back to Geordi's birthday.
It had been three days and Tasha had barely eaten anything.
"I'm sorry, what was the question?" Tasha asked.
"I am sensing great confusion in you," Deanna said. "You are feeling conflicted."
"I'm sorry, my head isn't really here today," Tasha tried to explain.
"Then perhaps you would like to talk about what's bothering you?" Deanna prompted.
"I didn't say I was bothered by anything," Tasha replied defensively.
"You didn't have to," Deanna responded seriously.
Tasha knew it was foolish to try and hide her feelings from Deanna.
"I sense that you feel deeply conflicted between feelings of hurt and pain and guilt," Deanna said as analysed the emotions Tasha was emitting.
Tasha wasn't sure how to respond.
Deanna's eyes grew wide and she began to tear up.
"Tasha, there is great pain in your heart," Deanna said as she became overwhelmed. "What happened?"
The downside to her empath abilities meant that she could feel all the negative emotions during these counselling sessions. At the moment, Tasha's feelings were too much for Deanna to bear. A sense of nausea overtook Deanna and she tried to steady her breathing.
Tasha couldn't make eye contact with Deanna.
"Something happened the night of Geordi's birthday and I – ugh – it's complicated," Tasha said awkwardly as she tried to put words to it.
There was a moment of silence. Deanna could feel Tasha's unease growing.
"Deanna you know that I've been seeing someone discreetly for a while now," Tasha explained.
Deanna nodded. Tasha had informed her several months ago that she was seeing someone. Tasha had kept her partner's identity a secret, but Deanna knew that whoever they were had made Tasha quite happy.
"We had plans to meet after the party and I made a terrible mistake," Tasha said. Her voice was starting to shake.
"What do you mean, Tasha?" Deanna prompted.
Whatever had happened, it was deeply affecting Tasha. Deanna felt her chest tighten with fear.
"I, I didn't mean for it happen. It just did and now I feel so horrible about what I've done. But I didn't know and I never – I mean I absolutely never – I just, I-" Tasha was having trouble explaining.
Deanna was struggling to follow along. Tasha's train of thought was all over the place. There were feelings of shame mixed with confusion and desire.
"I slept with someone else," Tasha said bluntly. "And he walked in on it. And the worst part is I enjoyed it."
Deanna processed what Tasha said. But something didn't feel right about it. There was something she was holding back.
Tasha bit her lip. She wasn't sure what else she could say. It didn't feel right, but it she couldn't get the image of Data's face out of her head.
She had broken him.
"So, you got caught up in the moment? The feelings or thrill of an affair can be as exciting as a drug," Deanna tried to explain. "Have you spoken with him about it? Perhaps you can find a way forward. Or an arrangement where you aren't mutually exclusive in your sexual partners."
Tasha shook her head sharply.
"You don't understand. I never would have done it had I known it wasn't him," Tasha said as her eyes began to well up with tears. "I didn't know. I - I didn't know."
Tasha wiped her eyes and kept her head low. She couldn't make eye contact with Deanna.
She didn't know how she could have been so foolish. She felt like she had failed both in her duty as Chief Security Officer and in her relationship.
Deanna was confused.
"Tasha, what do you mean?" Deanna asked as a sense of fear began to grow in her stomach.
"I didn't know it wasn't him," Tasha said as she inhaled sharply. "I'm so stupid."
"I'm sensing that deep down you are very troubled by this and I want to help you work through it," Deanna explained. "I am not here to judge you, Tasha. Tell me what happened."
Tasha sniffed and cleared her throat.
She knew Deanna wouldn't judge her. And she had wanted, so desperately, to tell Data how she felt but she couldn't bring herself to do it. No, Deanna was the only person she could talk to about it that would keep it confidential and understand. Taking a deep breath, she decided to spill it.
"We had arranged to head out of the party a little early. He got delayed. I didn't know it at the time, but I had spoken to another guy and there was a miscommunication. He said he wanted to get to know me better and I agreed. I didn't know what he meant by that," Tasha stopped and sighed.
She had been over the events of that night time and again. Each time she replayed it in her mind, she felt that she should have known. She also felt like she'd been taken advantage of. But at the same time, Lore had been so sincere in his apology.
He was, after all, from a different world and a different time.
Tasha thought back to her own first few weeks after leaving Turkana IV. It had been a struggle to adapt to the Federation – learning that it wasn't expected she trade material goods, information, or herself for a meal or safe place to sleep had taken some getting used to.
She closed her eyes and went on.
"Somehow he found out about our plans and he was waiting for me. I didn't know it was him, I thought it was my partner," Tasha tried to explain. "We had sex. And gods, Deanna, it was so good. And when I realised what was happening, I felt sick to my stomach."
Tasha couldn't reconcile these feelings within herself. She felt used. It was as if she had been tricked. But she also felt like she should have known it wasn't Data. If there were supposed to be close, she should have realised Lore wasn't her lover.
At the same time, she felt guilty because it had been so pleasurable. The way his hands had touched her left her in pieces. His demeanour had sent a chill up her spine. And the way he'd taken her had hit all the right notes.
"When did you first realise he wasn't your partner?" Deanna questioned.
"When he walked in," Tasha said as she met Deanna's eyes. "I can't get the look he had on his face out of my mind. He was so hurt."
Deanna nodded.
"I'm not judging your behaviour, but I would like to understand how you didn't know," Deanna asked.
Deanna could sense there was something Tasha wasn't telling her. She could also sense it was deeply troubling her.
"It's complicated," Tasha replied. "Um, it was dark, and I suppose they're similar in a way. He never meant to hurt me."
"If someone took advantage of you it doesn't matter that it was pleasurable. If they did so knowing that you were unaware-" Deanna tried to explain but was cut off by Tasha.
"You don't understand. He's doesn't know any better. He misunderstood," Tasha said.
Deanna decided to try a different approach.
"Have you spoken to him? Told him this?" Deanna questioned.
"He knows. He – God Deanna he thinks that-" Tasha could say it. "He wanted to arrest him. He tried to send me Doctor Crusher, but he doesn't understand that I can't-I can't-"
Deanna wiped her eyes.
"Tasha, I can feel that you are angry and anxious," Deanna said as tried to slow her breathing. "I think this would be easier if you would talk openly about it. I will never judge you for what happened. And I think these feelings of guilt are misplaced. And I think deep down you also know that."
Tasha just shook her head. She wasn't read to talk.
Deanna was hurt, knowing that their session had ended in such a way that Tasha felt more distressed. But Deanna also knew that Tasha would have to be ready to talk before they could sort out what was happening.
Tasha returned to her quarters. She felt like she needed a shower. And she needed a distraction. Work was always a good distraction for her, but she was off duty for another 18 hours. When he reached her quarters, she found Data waiting outside.
She stopped several feet away in the corridor.
Was it Data? She asked herself suddenly feeling unsure.
"It is me," he replied as if he could sense her uncertainty.
"How do I know?" Tasha replied as she eyed him carefully.
"You were abandoned at the chronological age of 5. That information is not part of your Starfleet personnel record," Data said.
A wave of relief swept over Tasha.
"I am sorry if my presence has caused you frustration," he said softly. "I have come to apologise and to suggest we form a 'security question' or 'password' to ensure you are speaking with me and not my brother."
Tasha opened her quarters and directed him inside.
"I am sorry if my actions the other evening caused you any pain," Data said.
"It never happened," Tasha replied coldly.
"I think Lore's intention in deceiving you was to hurt me," Data said. "I have noticed certain characteristics in the behaviour that he displays are not uncommon to confidence tricks used by-"
"It never happened," Tasha repeated a little louder.
"He came after you to get to me," Data said.
He was hurt. She could hear it in his voice.
Internally, Tasha's mind was at war with itself. The part of her that was the girl from Turkana was screaming that she couldn't label what happened with Lore as rape. It was sex. She had to call it sex. Because anything else would break her spirit.
But the other part of her mind that was a Starfleet officer was telling her she wanted Data to know she never meant to hurt him. She wanted him to know she felt used. She felt like she had been taken advantage of. She felt betrayed and hurt and so incredibly angry all at once.
The girl from Turkana won out.
"God Data, you just don't get it do you?" she snapped. "It was sex. And I liked it. I wanted it. It was, it-"
She stopped as she felt the familiar sensation of tears starting to well up in her eyes.
"But you were unaware of the deception," Data said stoically.
God, why does he have to push this? Tasha thought to herself.
She was angry with Data, even if it didn't feel right.
"Commander, please just go," Tasha said as she started to cry.
"If you do not wish for my company than I will cease contacting you outside of our professional roles," Data said in a voice that was so un-Data like.
He cast his gaze down to the floor momentarily before raising his head again, golden eyes full of sorrow.
"Before I go, I would like you know that in the 26 years since my activation I have never enjoyed anything more than being with you," Data said softly.
Tasha scoffed.
"As if you'd ever want me again," Tasha said under her breath.
She hadn't meant for him to hear that comment, but he did.
"Why would you say that?" Data asked.
Damn his android hearing. Tasha cursed to herself.
"You don't want me," she said as she turned to look at him. "I'm damaged goods."
Data cocked his head to the side.
"Did Lore injure you physically?" he asked, his voice full of concern.
Tasha closed her eyes in frustration. He didn't understand.
"No, Data! Damaged goods. Chipped china. A warp core with too many lightyears on it," Tasha said scornfully.
"Ah, I see," he said as he accessed his internal memory files. "You are not 'damaged' Tasha."
She looked away and laughed.
"When we first began our relationship, I recall that we spent a considerable amount of time discussing your life on Turkana and-"
"Don't," Tasha said in a warning voice as she put her hand up.
"You are a survivor of sexual violence. I have never found that to be unappealing," Data stated. "In fact, I have always found your openness, strength of character, and indominable spirit to be alluring."
"Yeah, well you knew the milage the first time around," Tasha said harshly. "This isn't the same thing."
"I fail to see the difference," he replied.
She didn't want to look at him. She didn't want to be near him.
"Please," she said.
He was not sure if she was asking him to stay or leave.
Tasha wasn't sure either.
After a moment, Data took her silence as a cue to leave.
"Please let me know how I can help. I will be here," he said as he stepped back toward her door.
Tasha swallowed hard.
Data turned around and tried once again to reassure her.
"I will always be here," he said before adding, "when you are ready."
He nodded to her and left.
Tasha's back found the wall of her quarters. She slid down to the floor and cried.
"Come in," Deanna called as she heard her door chime ping.
Data stepped into her quarters and she got up to greet him.
"Hello, Data. What can do for you?" She said with a smile.
To Deanna's surprise, he looked distressed.
"Is everything alright?" Deanna asked as she noted his worried expression.
"May I ask a favour of you, Counsellor?" Data said apprehensively.
"Of course, Data," Deanna said before adding, "Would you like to sit down. It seems like you are bothered by something."
Data shook his head and remained by the doorway.
"I do not wish to intrude," he replied.
Deanna shrugged.
"Then what can I do for you?" she asked.
Deanna had to admit her curiosity was peaked. She had never seen Data look this way. His mouth was thin. He was having trouble making eye contact.
"Would you please check in on Lieutenant Yar later, discreetly?" His voice seemed so different.
Deanna's brow furrowed and it was not lost on Data.
"Counsellor, I am worried that Lieutenant Yar is, well, upset. I do not wish to say more on the subject," Data said as he struggled to explain. "Please, it would mean a great deal to me if you would check in her this evening."
"Of course, Data," Deanna nodded.
"And Counsellor," Data said before leaving. "Please do not tell Lieutenant Yar that I asked you to do so."
Deanna didn't need her empath abilities to detect Data's concern.
As soon as he left, Deanna slumped back into her sofa as she contemplated his request.
I had spoken to another guy and there was a miscommunication. He said he wanted to get to know me better and I agreed. I didn't know what he meant by that," Tasha stopped and sighed.
Tasha's words from earlier hit her suddenly.
"You don't understand. He's doesn't know any better. He misunderstood," Tasha said.
As Deanna mulled over Tasha's statement a sinking feeling crept into the pit of her stomach.
She tried to shake the train of thought from her mind. Data was programmed with ethical subroutines that prevented him from hurting people.
Just like their last game of Parrises Squares? She thought to herself.
Several weeks earlier, the team had been playing a friendly match on the holodeck. Data had been extremely cautious in playing. His android strength meant that if he were not careful, he could easily hurt his crew mates. But Worf had insisted Data stop 'going easy' on him. And after some significant teasing by Commander Riker, Data had agreed to increase his strength output by 20% as a compromise.
Although harmless in his intention, it had left Worf with a broken clavicle and Commander Riker with a few cracked ribs.
Data had felt horrible and had struggled to understand their insistence that their injuries were not his fault.
Deanna recalled Commander Riker's insistence that the incident had been his own fault.
"It was all in good fun. He didn't mean to hurt us, Doc," Riker had said to Doctor Crusher.
It was eerily similar to what Tasha had said earlier.
"He didn't mean to hurt me," Tasha had said.
Deanna clasped her hand to her mouth. She thought she understood now – Tasha's conflicted feelings, her reluctance to discuss the topic.
It all made sense.
Across the ship, Lore entered Doctor Crusher's quarters. He stepped inside to find Wesley seated at the table. Doctor Crusher was grabbing a dish from the replicator and waved him in with a smile.
"Come on in," she said as she set the dish down.
Lore took a seat next to Wesley.
"Hello, young Wesley," Lore said with a smile.
Wesley gave a weak smile. Something about Lore left an unsettling aftertaste in his mouth.
"Now this isn't quite as good as my Grandmother Howard's, but for replicated food it's not half bad," she said as she served Lore and Wesley.
"What's the special occasion, Mom?" Wesley asked.
Much to Wesley's dislike, his mother was serving rumbledethumps. It had always been their special dish. She had never served it for anyone else before.
"No occasion, Wes," Beverly replied as she took a sip of her synthesised wine.
"But you never make this for guests," Wesley said pushing the subject.
"I thought it might be nice to introduce our guest to a little bit of our culture," Beverly said.
"He can't even taste," Wesley said. "Mr Data told me that androids can't actually taste food."
Wesley's comment hit Lore in a way he hadn't expected.
Lore felt a brief flash of anger before shaking the feeling. No, Lore knew he needed to stay calm.
Lore smiled to Wesley and brought a forkful of the food to his mouth. His taste receptors analysed the components of the dish with precision.
"Brassica Rapa. A root vegetable native to earth and a rich source of vitamin K," Lore said with a smile.
"Grandma Howard always called them 'swedes'," Doctor Crusher explained.
"Fascinating!" Lore replied with mock interest.
He could care less about the components of the dish. He had no need for food-based sustenance.
Wesley did not reply. Instead, he ate quickly in silence.
"You seem to be very fond of your grandmother, Doctor. Were you close?" Lore asked.
He'd picked up that Doctor Crusher was close to her grandmother and he intended to use that to build her trust. He knew humans felt a thrill whenever someone showed interest in their petty lives.
"Yes, I spent a lot of time with her when I was a girl," Doctor Crusher told him. "Nana raised me."
Lore nodded as he took another bite of the dish.
"Would you tell me about her?" Lore asked curiously.
"May I be excused," Wesley interjected.
Beverly cast him a look. His disdain for their guest was obvious and it panged Beverly's heart to see him acting in such a manner.
"Yes, Wesley," she replied in a tone that warned him to watch his manners.
"Goodnight mom," he said before turning to Lore. "And goodnight, Lore."
Wesley left and headed off to his room in their quarters.
"I'm sorry about my son," Doctor Crusher said.
"It is quite alright, Doctor," Lore replied kindly. "He is young, and I am used to people feeling uncomfortable in my presence."
"Is that what happened on the colony?" Beverly asked.
Lore dropped his head and sighed.
"My father did not intend it to be so but look at me," he said as he looked back up at her and shrugged. "I am different. And humans tend to fear what is different."
Doctor Crusher nodded in agreement.
"Yet you don't seem to fear me," Lore said.
"Why?" Doctor Crusher laughed before adding a teasing, "should I?"
So much like Juliana. Lore thought as he watched her.
Lore placed his elbows on the table. He folded his hands and rested his chin atop them.
"Tell me about your grandmother, Doctor," Lore asked sincerely.
Beverly couldn't put her finger on it but there was something so bewitching about the curious android and his golden eyes. It felt good to have someone take interest in her life.
Deanna had composed herself. Making a quick check at the mirror, she ensured that she didn't look upset or worried. She needed to be in control if she was going to check in on Tasha. At times like this she was grateful for her Betazoid eyes because no one could tell when her pupils were constricted from crying.
Squaring her shoulders, she was ready to head down to Tasha's quarters.
Deanna opened the door to find Tasha was standing right outside.
Deanna gasped.
"I'm sorry," Tasha said. "I didn't mean to scare you. I was just about to-"
"It's quite alright. Come in," Deanna said as she stepped back to allow Tasha to pass into her quarters.
Deanna noted Tasha's eyes were red. Her cheeks were puffy. It was evident she'd had a recent good cry.
"I think I just blew my chance at the best relationship of my life," Tasha said suddenly.
"Why don't we sit down?" Deanna suggested as she guided Tasha to her sofa.
Tasha shook her off and began furiously pacing back and forth. She ran her hand through her hair and sighed.
"He stopped by earlier to talk. And I said horrible things, Deanna," Tasha said.
She was rambling.
"Tasha, slow down," Deanna said as she grabbed Tasha's hand.
Tasha stopped pacing and started to cry again.
"It's alright," Deanna said as she pulled Tasha in and guided her over to the sofa.
Deanna handed her a tissue and Tasha blew her nose. She took a few breaths to steady herself before deciding on a course of action.
Tasha hated dancing around subjects. She was a decorated Starfleet officer. She didn't run from a problem.
"It was Lore," Tasha said bluntly.