A/N: Thank you so much!
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.
Tasha whimpered as his fingers stroked her hair.
She looked up and he shuddered.
He loved the sight of her eyes staring up at him while her lips were around his cock.
"Good girl," Lore cooed. "My dear baby brother neglected to tell me what a sweet little mouth you have."
Tasha blinked and licked the underside of his cock as Lore grinned down at her.
"But I'm guessing he didn't know, did he? He had no idea what to do with you," Lore went on. "You just needed someone to guide you."
Tasha closed her eyes and keened, working the length of his shaft with her mouth.
Lore's fingers twisted into the back of her hair.
"See brother? She's such a hungry little slut," Lore cackled. "It's no wonder you could never satisfy her."
A few metres away, Data lay helpless on the floor – partially disassembled as he was forced to watch.
Lore's hips stuttered. He held the back of Tasha's head firmly, relishing in the sound of her gagging as he spilled himself in her mouth.
"Stop!" Data pleaded.
"Shut up," Lore ordered.
He turned his attention back to Tasha.
"Besides, she likes it," Lore said as he brushed Tasha's bangs back.
She closed her eyes, savouring the affection as he continued to pet her hair.
"That's it," Lore said.
Tasha kitten licked at the head of his cock until he was clean.
Then she sat back on her knees in supplication, awaiting his instructions.
"Should daddy ruin your marvellous little pussy? Would you like that?" Lore asked.
Tasha sat up on her knees and nodded enthusiastically.
"See brother?" Lore chuckled.
"Sickbay to Mr Lore," Beverly's voice rang out from the computer.
Lore closed his eyes and groaned.
"Computer, freeze programme," Lore sighed.
He was needed in sickbay.
Again.
There had been a minor incident during a routine maintenance cycle in the aft torpedo bay. Three members of the Operations crew had been seriously injured. Eight more crew members had suffered minor plasma burns.
Things had been hectic in sickbay ever since.
And it was seriously beginning to cut into Lore's recreational time.
Recreational time that he wouldn't require were it not for Beverly's recent cold shoulder. It wasn't just the workload in sickbay keeping them apart.
For the last few days, Beverly had had little time for Lore. He felt like he was being brushed aside. She ate dinner one night with Deanna. She had rehearsal for a play another night. And on the third evening, she had feigned a headache.
Lore was growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of contact. He was itching for a fix.
"Acknowledged, I'll be there shortly," Lore responded.
He turned his attention back to the holographic blonde Lieutenant on her knees before him.
As of late, the holodeck had become his only escape. With Data off the ship, Lore had no one to blame his antics on.
Losing Beverly, he was desperate for any sort of artificial serotonin. He'd been craving something to do. So beating up a holographic Wes, blasting holographic Geordi to bits, and degrading this holographic representation of his brother's precious Lieutenant had been his only reprieve.
"Computer resume programme," Lore ordered.
"I am afraid you will have to wait," Lore said as he cupped her face.
Tasha pouted.
"I know, but duty calls," Lore said. "I'll have plenty of time to break you later."
He smirked at the thought.
"And then reset this programme and do it all again," Lore laughed.
Thousands of lightyears away, Tasha was just getting out of bed.
She strolled into the kitchen where Data had a fresh pot of homemade peppermint coffee waiting.
"Mmmm," she keened as the first sweet sip hit her lips.
"Good morning," Data said as he brushed the top of her hair with a soft kiss.
Tasha reached across the counter and tapped the tablet.
"Are you planning another trip to the slope?" Data inquired.
Tasha shook her head.
"Too sore," she responded.
With the warmer weather, Tasha had sought to take advantage of the daylight hours. She'd spent most of the last three days on the ski slopes and snowshoeing. But the storm system that had been predicted was due to hit overnight.
This would likely be their last day of good outdoor weather for a while.
"I was thinking of heading over to the other side of the lodge. Get it a short climb this afternoon and then some skating," Tasha shared.
"That sounds lovely," Data replied.
Tasha paused.
She turned and leaned back against the counter. She bit her lip as she looked up at Data. Her face was full of pity.
"I'm sorry. I didn't even think. What do you want to do today?" Tasha asked.
Data couldn't go ice skating.
Despite the thickness of the ice, he was far too heavy. He would break through and sink straight to the bottom of the lake.
Although Data would be able to eventually walk out and break free – it would wreck the ice-skating area. Most importantly, it was uncomfortable for Data to think about being 'trapped' under the ice.
"I want you to go climbing and skating," Data responded simply.
Tasha's brow furrowed.
Data took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips.
"Please," Data requested.
He leaned in close, pulling Tasha flush against him.
"Besides, I will have you all to myself for the duration of the storm," Data growled.
Back aboard the Enterprise, Lore strolled into sickbay nearly ten minutes late.
"We need to get Atwol prepped for another round of treatment," Beverly said.
Lore nodded.
"Now," Beverly ordered before rushing off.
Lore sauntered over to the cupboard and began to pull out the necessary equipment. He was in no mood to be rushed – particularly after the way Beverly had treated him the last few days.
So he took his sweet time as he grabbed the thoron generator and reset the hypospray to the appropriate dosage of muscle relaxant.
From across the room, Beverly frowned as she observed this change in behaviour. Lore had always been so helpful and speedy.
Now it was like he was dragging his feet on purpose.
"Doctor?" Doctor Selar prompted, pulling Beverly back from her thoughts.
"Another dose of undrivan in an hour," Beverly responded.
That afternoon, Beverly was fortunate enough to have an hour to catch up on her paperwork.
Usually this was an activity Lore would have helped with.
However, he'd scurried off making an excuse about a prior commitment to help in Engineering as soon as they were finished with the injured crew members.
Beverly was typing away at her desk when there was a soft knock at the door.
She smiled to herself, expecting to look up and find Lore with a fresh cuppa tea or an invitation to lunch.
"Jean-Luc?" she said in surprise.
"Am I disturbing you?" Jean-Luc asked.
"No, no. Not at all," Beverly replied.
"I came to see how things were going since the incident," Jean-Luc asked.
In spite of his crusty exterior, Jean-Luc cared deeply for the welfare of his crew. Whenever there were injuries, Captain Picard made a point of keeping tabs on their status.
"We're coming along well. Atwol, Dean, and Loring took the brunt of it. They'll all be out of commission for a few days," Beverly explained. "But I predict a full recovery."
"Good," Picard nodded.
Silence fell between the two.
"And you?" Jean-Luc asked after a moment.
Beverly shrugged.
"Just trying to get caught up," Beverly answered.
Jean-Luc could tell by her response that she was feeling overwhelmed. He had also observed Lore was absent from sickbay.
"Is there anything I can get you?" Jean-Luc offered.
Beverly paused.
A part of her desperately wanted to say yes. She wanted coffee, a friendly ear, and a hot meal.
Most of all, she wanted someone to care about her.
She surmised that, in a way, Lore had been that person. Now that she had pulled away, it only made sense for Lore to make other plans.
After all, she had put him off for the last three days. No one liked to be left dangling. It just hurt that he had rushed out of sickbay without so much as a smile.
Beverly longed for a casual chinwag with her old friend Jean-Luc.
But things were so strained now between them because of her relationship with Lore. Beverly felt it would be too awkward.
Worst of all, she dreaded Jean-Luc asking about Lore. Were to inquire how things were going, Beverly wouldn't know how to answer.
"I'm fine," Beverly lied with a smile.
"I'm fine," Tasha said with a pleasant groan.
She was stretched out on the rug in front of their fireplace doing yoga after a long day on the ice. Earlier in the afternoon, she'd taken a bit of a tumble while ice-skating. She'd come home with a black and blue bum and Data had been concerned.
"Nothing a hot bath won't fix," Tasha assured him.
It was around 16:00 hours and the sun was beginning to set. There were brilliant streaks of colour lighting up the valley below as the last few rays of sun burned bright.
In the distance, they could see the clouds of the approaching storm. They were a dark, cool shade of grey. And they were bringing more than enough fresh snow to pummel the valley.
Data was reading in the armchair.
He'd spent the afternoon down in the bookstore, perusing the shelves and chatting with the locals.
It would be another hour or so before dinner was ready. Upon his return, Data had thrown together a lovely stew. He figured it was the perfect meal for a quiet night.
So he'd made a vegetable stew, homemade rolls, and a maple and fig crostata for them to dive into after dinner.
Data glanced down over the edge of his book as he watched Tasha stretch out on the floor.
She smiled back up at him.
A moment later, she popped up and crawled over to him.
"I'm going to take a bath," she said.
"Enjoy, dinner will be ready in an hour," Data advised.
"Thank you," Tasha replied.
She gave him a quick peck before dashing off to sink into a hot soak.
Beverly had asked Lore if he wanted to join her for dinner, but he had been unreachable.
To her dismay, she ate dinner alone in her quarters.
With no Wes and no Lore, Beverly didn't feel much like cooking for anyone – including herself.
She sighed as she stared at her empty table.
Beverly kicked off her boots and slipped her medical jacket around the chair.
"Computer, tomato soup," Beverly ordered before quickly adding. "For one."
Her replicator was programmed to prepare meals for two unless otherwise instructed.
The words 'for one' stung.
Since she was alone, Beverly surmised there was no use even eating at the table.
She carried her meal over to her sofa and plopped down in the corner. Curling up, she ate alone while flipping through the latest Federation news.
The Anticans and the Selay had agreed to and broken their latest ceasefire in a matter of forty-eight hours. Devloran IX was expecting unusually high solar activity. And the London Kings were expected to win the pennant.
Beverly set her tablet down on the coffee table. She stirred her soup and watched as it swirled in the bowl. Loneliness was an awful feeling – especially when she felt it was all her fault.
When Tasha emerged from the bath, Data was just plating their dinner.
He smiled and paused as he took in her appearance.
"What?" Tasha asked defensively.
Data eyed her up and down before carefully choosing his words.
"You are adorable," he said.
Tasha frowned and put her hands on her hips.
"Your attempt to project disapproval only heightens my amusement," Data commented.
She was wearing a ridiculously oversized jumper, leggings, and thick woolly socks.
They had been a gift from Commander Riker on her birthday and featured goofy red pom poms. While Tasha had initially sworn them off as a gag, she had discovered they were actually quite comfortable.
"It's cosy!" Tasha protested.
"I am not complaining," Data assured her as he gave a quick peck on the cheek.
In fact, Data found it rather endearing.
With their dinner in hand, they ate out on the deck.
The sun was about to dip down below the horizon and the impending storm was growing closer.
Soft, thick flakes were already beginning to fall.
Data couldn't help but notice Tasha eagerly watching the sky.
"You are excited," he observed.
"I've never seen a snowstorm," Tasha confessed.
There was an unmistakable twinkle in her eyes as she watched the approaching dark sky with anticipation.
"I hope you share this excitement when we are stuck here," Data teased. "We may be trapped up here for a few days."
He had ensured their cabin was well supplied with provisions. They had plenty of food, games, and heating supplies. But Data was concerned she may begin to feel trapped.
"You might have to eat this for the next three days," Data said.
He trailed off as he turned his attention back to Tasha who was presently slurping her stew straight from the bowl.
Tasha froze and peeked over the rim.
Embarrassed, she swallowed hard and set the bowl down.
"Sorry," she said quickly.
"Do not be," Data smiled.
"It's really good," Tasha said.
"I can tell," Data replied.
They didn't stay outside for long.
Data had suggested they return and warm up by the fire with his dessert and some homemade hot buttered rum.
Tasha rarely touched alcohol. She would occasionally partake in the Captain's wine. But it was rare for her to ever drink anymore.
After her experience at Starfleet Academy and struggle to get sober, Tasha had recognised she was using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
With the ready availability of synthehol, Tasha found it was easy to forgo liquor altogether.
However, this was a special occasion and Data had asked in advance of preparing the beverage. They had nowhere to be and no duties to fulfill.
Most importantly, in this setting Tasha wasn't using alcohol as a coping mechanism. They were simply a couple on holiday enjoying a nightcap.
"The storm will not begin for some time," Data advised.
Tasha was standing by the window watching the sky just like a child.
"Oh, thank you," she said as he handed her a cup.
"But I will wait here with you if that is your wish," Data said.
Tasha grinned sheepishly as she glanced down at the floor.
She shook her head.
"C'mon. I've got a better idea," Tasha said.
She took Data's hand and guided him over to the fireplace. Using the coffee table, they played a round of cards as they sipped on their nightcap.
There was a chill in the air as the wind picked up outside, but inside they were nice and toasty.
"Here," Data said as he scooped up another bite of dessert and offered it to Tasha.
She leaned forward and took it off the spoon.
"Mmm," she said, nodding in approval.
Data was relieved. He enjoyed experimenting with anything and everything he could. Food was one his favourite subjects because he got to actually see the response it generated.
He also couldn't deny that he enjoyed the way Tasha tasted after he fed her the likes of something sweet.
Across the coffee table, they shared a long kiss.
When they broke apart, Tasha pushed the coffee table and cards aside.
Data grabbed a thick knitted blanket from the chair.
Tasha was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol. She felt floaty.
Data and Tasha snuggled up together in front of the fireplace as they watched the snow fall.
"Hi," Beverly said awkwardly.
"Is everything alright?" Lore asked.
It was 22:00 hours and Beverly had paged Lore to her quarters.
Lore glanced around the room, half expecting to see Wesley in some new, desperate attempt to get the two of them to reconcile their differences.
But the room was empty.
Before Lore could ask a follow up question, Beverly threw her arms around him.
"I'm sorry I've been so busy lately," she said.
While Beverly had been determined to give herself some space, the reality of loneliness had been too much. She had caved and reached out to Lore.
"Please stay," she requested.
Lore grinned.
Checkmate. He thought.
He had her exactly where he wanted her.
"Of course, darling," Lore assured her.
He returned her embrace, rocking her back and forth in a soothing manner.
To Lore's disappointment, Beverly's request to stay had been just that.
As they climbed into bed, Beverly had rebuffed his advances.
"Not tonight," she said.
"My dear doctor," Lore teased as he nibbled at her neck. "I can't resist you. And it's been so long."
Holodeck women were one thing – but he relished in finally having his lips on the real thing.
"And you are so lovely," Lore went on.
"I'm really quite tired," Beverly said.
"I've missed you," Lore purred as he crawled on top of her.
He wasn't taking no for an answer.
"I missed you too, but mmrph-" Beverly paused as he captured her lips in a heated kiss.
Beverly pushed back on his torso firmly.
"I just want to cuddle," she said.
"Why don't I cuddle you on my cock?" Lore offered.
Beverly scooted up the bed, pulling herself a few inches back from Lore.
"I'm really not in the mood," Beverly pleaded. "Please, I just want to get some sleep. With you."
She reached out and caressed his cheek tenderly.
For an agonising two and half seconds, Lore held her gaze as he contemplated his options. A part of him was ready to grab her and take her whether she wanted it or not.
But such a plan had no exit strategy – at least not one that would allow him to complete his plan.
"Of course," Lore replied with feigned compassion.
He was miffed, but he couldn't let it show.
Lore hated to be the one left dangling. He didn't like to be denied.
Beverly snuggled back against him. While she welcomed the feeling of being in his arms once again, she couldn't shake the notion that something felt off.
Up in his Ready Room, Captain Picard was having a late-night conference with Commander Riker.
"I'd like to divert our course to Tendria III. They're a nearby M-class world. Pre-warp. It is possible there may be survivors there," Picard advised.
Given that it was pre-warp planet, they would have to be discreet. However, their sensors should be capable of picking up any emergency beacons once in orbit.
"How does anyone have that much power?" Riker asked.
He was baffled by the level of destruction they had found.
"Anyone or anything," Picard responded.
"Sir, if this was the Romulans or the Cardassians," Riker trailed off and shook his head in dismay.
"All I know is, I hope this is one mystery we can decipher without encountering the culprit," Picard advised.
By midnight, the storm front had begun to move in. The wind had really picked up, howling as it whipped through the trees and past the cabin. The snow was falling and beginning to accumulate.
Data had considered waking Tasha, but the latest weather report advised the storm was likely to continue for the next thirty hours.
There would be time to view it later.
With great care, Data scooped Tasha up and ordered the computer in the home to put out the fire.
He carried her into the other room and tucked her into bed. Data contemplated removing her socks but thought better of it after Tasha murmured in her sleep.
Data slipped into bed next to her and Tasha immediately snuggled up next to him, clutching the front of his jumper.
"You are not really sleeping, are you?" Data asked.
"Yes I am," Tasha responded, grinning against his torso.
Data wrapped his arms around Tasha and rolled them so that she was lying on top of him.
"The storm has begun if you would like to see it," Data advised.
Tasha glanced over at the frosted window and then back to Data.
"Right now, I just want to be here with you," Tasha replied as she laid her head on his chest.
Beverly rolled over in bed and yawned. She reached for Lore and found his side of the bed was abandoned.
According to the timepiece on her nightstand, it was nearly 03:00.
Beverly sat up and glanced around before throwing the blankets off. To her shock, he wasn't in the main room of her quarters nor was he in the lavvy.
It wasn't like Lore to slip away in the middle of the night with no explanation.
Because he did not have a combadge, there was no way for her to subtly track his location.
Frustrated, Beverly climbed back into bed alone and stared at the ceiling.
Something felt icky.
Lore adjusted his jumpsuit as he left the holodeck.
He had needed that fix.
And it was getting harder and harder to get.
You don't have all night! Lore had teased himself.
He didn't want Beverly to grow suspicious. But Lore had been desperate for a release. In Lore's opinion, it was completely unfair for Beverly to invite him back and then leave him hanging.
Lore felt that she owed him – especially after leaving him on the hook for three days.
No, he knew he needed to do something to get her back into his arms.
While bouncing his brother's Lieutenant on his cock from the command chair on the bridge of the Enterprise had been a decent release, Lore found it didn't quite hit the same as the real thing.
He needed Data to pay.
It wasn't enough for a holographic Data to suffer through such an act – Lore wanted his brother to feel the same kind of betrayal and abandonment that Lore had experienced.
Beverly's ears perked up as she heard the door to her quarters slide open. She glanced over at the nightstand and realised it was almost 04:00.
She had completely lost track of time.
Deciding she had an advantage in pretending to be asleep, Beverly closed her eyes and rolled to the side.
Lore said nothing as he stepped into the bedroom and slipped out of his jumpsuit.
So wherever he went, he got dressed. Beverly thought.
As he slid into bed, Lore said nothing. However, he could tell that she was awake. Her breathing pattern was all wrong.
"Did I wake you?" he asked softly.
"Everything alright?" Beverly asked in a lazy voice.
She was doing her best to pretend to have just awoken.
"Everything is fine. Just checking my messages to see if Data's communicated at all," Lore lied.
"Oh," Beverly replied.
Maybe he is telling the truth. Beverly considered.
Yet as Lore spooned up next to her, Beverly couldn't help but get the impression his answer had been less than honest.
Beverly wasn't the only person suspicious of Lore's late-night stroll.
Wesley had been up early working on a school project in the stellar cartography lab. It was the eighth time he had seen Lore come off the holodeck in the last three days.
Even more alarming, there was no record of Lore being on the holodeck or using any programmes.
Wes theorised Lore was doing something to manipulate the holodeck records – he just didn't know how.
As soon as Wes reached his temporary home in Tasha's quarters, Wes recorded the latest entry on his tablet. He was tracking Lore's movements now and attempting to decipher a pattern.
Thus far, all of his computer analysis had come up empty handed.
Wes was hoping to catch him on the holodeck while it was running in order to suss out what programme or files Lore had accessed.
Ship schematics? Engineering plans?
There were so many training programmes that it would be easy for an android like Lore to obtain critical information from the holodeck in a short amount of time.
Determined to put a stop to such machinations, Wesley made a mental note to recruit Geordi's help in the morning.