"Data, what do you think of Lore?"

Deanna and Data walked, side by side, down the corridor.

Data frowned slightly at her question. "That is a... difficult question to answer, Counselor." He responded. "I do not understand his behavior, nor do I understand his actions toward B4. He is... unpredictable. I do not understand why he would lead us to believe B4 was violent, even if he did not harbor positive feelings toward him. I wonder, do you have more insight into the subject?"

Deanna frowned slightly. "His actions point toward extensive emotional trauma. Perhaps there was something traumatic for him when he was young that involved B4."

Data frowned slightly. "Would that warrant such a response?"

"Perhaps. Emotional trauma manifests in many different ways. Some people act out violently. Some people withdraw and become reclusive. Some people continue as if nothing happened, but in reality they have deep emotional scars that may manifest at a later time."

Data's head turned to the side slightly. "I do not understand, Counselor."

Deanna smiled slightly. "Data, I think it's probably difficult for you to understand his actions because you don't understand his feelings and how they manifest."

Data nodded, understanding. "You are correct, Counselor. Since I have had so little experience with emotions, I have little information to base an understanding on. It is reasonable therefore, that I would not understand his actions."

The two of them arrived at the door to Lore's quarters. Data stepped forward and pressed the button by the door, and a moment later, they heard Lore call "Come in!"

The door opened, and the two of them entered.

Lore was sitting on the chair by the table, his legs crossed and resting on the table and a pad in his hands. He smiled when he saw Data. "Hello, Brother."

Data looked at him emotionlessly. "Hello, Lore. This is Counselor Troi."

"Hello, Lore." Deanna smiled warmly, holding out a hand.

Lore took it. "It's a pleasure, Counselor."

"We have come to ask you some questions regarding your fight with B4." Data said.

Lore's smile froze. "Of course," he said. "What do you want to know?"

"We have discovered some inconsistencies in the story you told us." Data explained. "Would you please explain to us again how B4 overpowered you?"

Lore's face turned cold, and he stood. "You don't trust me, do you, brother?" He said, smiling mirthlessly at Data. He looked away. "I've spent my entire existence trying to be trusted and understood, and not even my brother..." He looked at Counselor Troi. "And you, counselor. Have you come to psychoanalyze me? Are you so surprised to see that a mere machine can develop emotion and a sense of self? Is it so hard for you to grasp that I'm a being, just like you, with a mind and will, like you?" His face turned hard.

"You misunderstood our presence, Lore." Data tried to explain. "We did not mean any offence."

"Of course you didn't. No one ever did. The colonists, the scientists, no one. No one ever meant to offend when they said I wasn't good enough, or that I was only a machine without feeling or consciousness and that I couldn't be hurt or feel. They were wrong. But you wouldn't understand that, would you, brother? You've always had everything handed to you on a silver platter, with starfleet engineers to guide you all the way, not just an old man and a half failed prototype."

Data's face became thoughtful. "I... have had some experience in these matters, brother." He responded, after a moment. "I have, infact, encountered a great deal of prejudice and even once had my very existence threatened. However, my friends and fellow officers defended me and protected my right to choose. I am certain this would also include you, brother."

Lore's face turned surprised, genuinely. "You mean you're... you're recognized as a sentient being? You're not just..." He trailed off, shaking the surprise from his face, a sad smile coming over his face. "It may have worked for you, Brother, but I'm different. You have friends. I'm alone." He looked away.

"You are not alone, Lore." Data responded, his lips pursing and his brow furrowing slightly. His face turned to a slight smile, though his eyes still showed no emotion. "I am here."

Lore looked at him, an odd look on his face. After a moment, it turned to surprise. "You... really mean that?"

Data nodded. "Yes."

Lore's face turned to a frown again and he glanced at Deanna. "But what about the others?"

Deanna smiled. "Any brother of Data's is a friend of mine." She said.

Lore's face lit up in a grin. "Really?"

"Of course." Deanna assured him. She couldn't place it, but something about his smile was unsettling, though she couldn't sense anything to support it.

Her com badge buzzed, and she tapped it. "Troi here."

"Counselor," came the captain's voice. "Please report to the bridge immediately."

"Aye, sir. On my way." She turned to Data.

He nodded, and began moving toward the door with her.

"No, don't go, brother." Lore said, drawing their attention back to him. His eyes were pleading.

Data looked at Deanna and then back at Lore. "I will stay, Lore."

Deanna nodded, and moved to the door, glancing back at the two of them, standing together, before it swished closed. She began walking down the corridor, but she couldn't shake the strange feeling that something was wrong.


Data turned back toward Lore.

Lore smiled at him. "Do you have difficulty understanding humans, Brother?" He asked, standing.

Data frowned slightly. "Yes. As I stated before, I often find the complexities of human behavior beyond me."

Lore moved over to the replicator. "Champagne." He said, before turning back to Data. "I can help you with that. Our father created me to be as human as possible. I have no difficulty understanding human behavior." He picked up the bottle that had materialized and walked to the other side of the room to a table with two glasses set out. He carefully poured the alcohol into the glasses. In a quick motion, out of Data's view, he slipped a small vial from his sleeve and emptied it into one of the glasses. "Or their customs. This is one of my favorites." He picked up the glasses and handed the tainted one to Data. "I propose a toast, to our brotherhood."

Data frowned. "You and I do not have the capacity to taste in the manner required to derive pleasure from such a liquid. It is not necessary for us."

Lore chuckled, shaking his head. "You're missing the point, Data." He said. "You don't question human customs. You just do them." He lifted his glass ceremoniously.

Data followed his example, and the two of them took a sip.

Lore watched Data closely. "Tell me, Brother, where is B4 now? I would like to apologise for my earlier outburst, and ask him to join us."

Data set his glass down. "Counselor Troi was scheduled to take him to the education center approximately four minutes ago, however-..." His speech stopped suddenly, and his face turned surprised. "...-she... has... Brother, I... am malfunctioning..." Data could feel his motor processors loosing response. He looked at Lore for help, but his brother only smiled, coldly.

"Good night, dear brother. You've told me exactly what I needed to know." He said, his voice laced with disgust. "Sweet dreams. Oh wait, you can't dream, can you?"

Data stared at him, confusion on his face before he suddenly lurched forward, collapsing on the floor.

Lore watched, grinning. He lifted his glass again. "To Doctor Soong, for my human qualities and ambitions." He smiled at the limp form of his brother. "Without which, none of this would be possible." in a quick motion, he swallowed it all, and then set the glass down.


Deanna Troi exited the turbolift onto the bridge, pausing in surprise when she saw a klingon bird of prey on the view screen. It didn't do anything, just sit there.

"Counselor, good." The captain seemed tense. "Tell me, what do you sense right now?"

Deanna stared, focusing, but she couldn't sense anything. "Nothing Captain. It's like they're not there."

The captain frowned. "What do you mean?" He asked.

Deanna frowned. "I can't feel anything from them at all."

Riker stepped forward. "Could there be shielding of any kind that might block your abilities?"

Deanna shook her head. "I would still be able to sense a presence."

"Then they're not real." Worf said, surprised.

"I don't see how they could be." Deanna responded.

Picard frowned. "Then where is that image coming from? Mr LaForge, check all sensor systems. This may be a fault in the sensors."

"Aye, sir." Geordi checked his console. His face turned to a frown. "Captain, I'm seeing some sort of foreign program in our systems. It's affecting our sensors and several of our computers, including the terminals in engineering that have been having problems."

"A foreign program?" Picard clarified, surprised.

"Yes, sir. It's rewriting some of our systems, mainly sensors and communications. If this keeps up, we'll be unable even to communicate throughout the ship in only a matter of hours."

Picard frowned. "Where did it come from?"

"All I can tell is it entered out system from somewhere inside the ship, not outside. It's got some sort of encryption keeping me from figuring out exactly where it came from, but it's definitely inside the ship."

Riker frowned. "So someone onboard has to have introduced it."

"Yes." Picard responded, his brow furrowed. "The question is, who?"


B4 sits. He waits.

His brother told him he is going somewhere to learn. Counselor is taking him. She will be here soon.

He hears the door open, and he stands, preparing to leave. But... he hears something.

"Scram, stupid cat." A voice he recognizes.

Spot yowls as though kicked and runs into the bedroom where B4 sits.

B4 is afraid. He knows who it is. He must hide.

He moves into the bathroom, keeping out of sight.

The intruder is using the computer. B4 can hear it.

"Begin subspace message." The voice says. "Crystalline Entity, upon your arrival, I will identify myself as the Android known as Data. End message."

The computer responds, but B4 does not hear. He... remembers.

Crystalline Entity.

Engrams with mages of destruction and chaos slowly activate. Screaming, pain, terror.

B4 does not want his friends to die.

"Commander Data, please report to the bridge."

"On my way," The impostor says. B4 can hear the door open and then close.

Carefully, he leaves is hiding spot and looks out into the rest of the room. There is no one.

He must warn his friends.

He moves to the door. It opens. There is no one outside. He steps out. He walks. He must warn them. He must warn them.


A/N: Well, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed it! Please tell me what you think in the reviews! I look forward to your feedback!