Room 804

[thats_not_data]

[OOC: Continued from this thread.]

Lore is sitting in his room, accessing large amounts of information very quickly on his computer console.

The room will look very familiar to Data-- it's an exact replica of his own quarters, in the state they were in when Lore visited the Enterprise. He kept the lights dimmer then, there was no bed on the other side of the room, and there weren't nearly the same number of paintings and various other decorative items scattered about the room.

Lore has spent the majority of his time in Milliways in this room, avoiding pointless interaction and, more recently, hiding from his brother. He requested from Bar that the computer console be fitted with information from the Milliways library, as much as she was willing to provide him with. And so he has been reviewing this information, which hasn't exactly been productive, but it feels better than doing nothing.

Suddenly, he hears a knock at the door.

Comments

[morethanprops]

Moist knocks on the door and says in a cheery voice,

"Lore, I have a surprise for you."

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

"What is it? I'm busy," Lore says, but he gets up to open the door.

The sight that meets his eyes sends a flash of anger over his expression.

"Data," he hisses.

"Hello, Lore," his brother answers, his eyes steady, his tone almost grave.

Lore's gaze snaps over to Moist.

"...You," he growls. "You brought him here?"

[morethanprops]

Moist is incredibly bland as he smiles at Lore and says,

"I know that you were looking for your brother so I thought I'd bring him here. He was quite eager to talk with you."

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

Lore is practically shaking with anger. Any idiot would have known that he wouldn't want his brother brought here, where he's backed into a corner...

"Why you miserable little--" Lore takes a step towards Moist, but Data brings an arm up in between them. It's Data's other hand that earns Lore's attention, though-- it's now at his hip, resting meaningfully on his phaser.

"Mr. Spangler has nothing to do with this, Lore," Data says. "You are angry with me."

Lore resists the urge to roll his eyes. Like that's supposed to keep him from being angry at anyone else. "You're so naive, Data. You probably think 'Alfred Spangler' is his real name."

It's an offhanded observation, but Data seems genuinely curious about it and he glances at Moist.

[morethanprops]

Oh Moist is quite aware of that, but Lore hasn't given any reason to help him yet.

Moist just keeps looking bland and as if he was only trying to help, "It is. I'm sorry it doesn't seem believable to you, Lore."

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

Lore does roll his eyes at that. (Data, meanwhile, cannot help thinking how typical it is of Lore not to trust someone when they tell him their name, regardless of whether it is their real name or not.)

Lore's eyes quickly return to the phaser, however, and remain locked there. "So, I guess killing me was so much fun the first time that you just had to come and do it again."

Data blinks, but his expression remains firm. "I do not want to kill you, Lore."

"Uh-huh." Lore is backing away slowly, eyes still on the weapon. "I suppose you're going to tell me that you didn't want to then, either."

"You left me with no other option," Data insists. He genuinely hopes that he can get his brother to understand, though his eyes follow Lore's movements warily.

Lore's fingers have been twitching slightly for a few moments. He now clasps them together behind his back.

"I see," he says. "Well, since your only option is to kill me, in that case, you might as well get it over with."

[morethanprops]

"Yes, but if you kill each other than I'd have to call Security and that wouldn't end well. Why don't we start by just talking?"

Moist can act as a neutral mediator since he doesn't want to miss learning what's going on between them.

[ol-yellow-eyes.livejournal.com]

"That was not my intention," Data tells Moist, then turns to look at his brother meaningfully. "I did not come here to disable you, Lore."

"Well, I'm sure we can at least agree that we have nothing to discuss," Lore replies, scoffing. "You've already decided that there's no help for me, so you took me apart. Like father, like son, I guess."

Data is listening, but he is also watching his brother carefully. He notices Lore start to fiddle with his hands behind his back.

"Lore!" Data lunges forward, reaching to pull Lore's arms apart, when suddenly everything goes black.

Both androids twitch, then drop to the floor.

[morethanprops]

Now that was unexpected, Moist turns Lore over to see what's in his hands.

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

He won't find anything-- he'll just notice that the fingernail on Lore's left index finger has been lifted, revealing several blinking lights underneath.

Just then, Lore opens his eyes, and sits up.

"What do you think you're doing?" he snaps.

[morethanprops]

"Seeing if you're in one piece,"

Moist smiles his most trustworthy smile as he moves over to Data,

"Want some help moving him?"

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

"No thanks," Lore hisses sarcastically. "I think you've helped enough already."

He lifts Data over one shoulder and goes to drop him unceremoniously on the other side of the room. He then returns to close the door.

"And don't play innocent with me. I can't believe I was stupid enough to trust you."

[morethanprops]

Moist shrugs and leans against the door jamb,

"You were able to take him down at your own convenience."

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

Lore sighs. "I didn't really want to have to do that," he says, a hint of genuine regret coloring his tone. "That was my only backup plan. It won't work a second time; if he ever wakes up, he can reprogram his systems to recognize the signal and reactivate quickly, like I did. Speaking of--"

Lore has walked over to the computer console by this point, and opened a drawer on the side. He pulls out a device that looks similar to a high-tech stylus, taking it with him as he walks over to kneel next to Data's body. He opens a panel on the back of Data's head and starts working. The device emits a little beam.

[morethanprops]

"You still have the upper hand, its up to you what you do with it,"

He has been presented with an opportunity, those are important things.

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

Lore lets out a noise, somewhere in between a scoff and a laugh. "It's something.

"There... that should do it..." he deactivates the device and closes the panel. He can't resist adding a snarky, "Goodbye Data." He smirks at the private joke.

"More importantly," he mutters, reaching to take the phaser out of Data's belt. His eyes practically sparkle with excitement as he examines the weapon. "Now this is what I wanted."

[morethanprops]

Moist wants to ask what Lore did, but isn't sure if he'll be told,

"Upper hand and no one can say you stole it from him. He came to your room to attack you."

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

Lore's willing to accept that explanation-- never mind that Data never actually took the phaser out of his belt.

He stands. "All the same, I don't think we should tell anyone about this." He points the phaser at Moist, obviously relishing his ability to do so. His smile is dark.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you."

[morethanprops]

"How will you explain my death?"

The phaser is worrying but Moist isn't going to let that show, Lore's a gloater.

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

"Good question." Lore seems amused. "Who would be asking?"

[morethanprops]

"Security and if you have a witness than anything you say about him will be easier to believe."

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

Lore considers this, still smirking at him.

"Possibly," he concedes. "But you haven't exactly proven yourself trustworthy. Why should I believe that you're going to take my side if someone comes snooping?

"Also, I should point out that it's highly unlikely that anyone knows you were in here. If you were missing, why would they think that I had done something to you?"

[morethanprops]

"No, but I'm effective at twisting the truth. Your brother believed me and I can get other people on your side,"

He'll ignore the other question.

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, and you got me to believe you once, and I could have easily been killed. Again."

He grins. "Do you know what the great thing about phasers is? If you switch them up to the highest setting"-- which Lore does, and the weapon makes a noise like it's powering up-- "they vaporize a person completely. It's nice, not having any mess to clean up."

He aims again.

[morethanprops]

Moist really hates weapons of any form, they create dangerous power imbalances and you can't talk your way around them,

"Yes, but Milliways is small and I'm rather well known. It might take time but people will come around."

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

Lore continues to smile, then abruptly drops his weapon.

"I like you. It's inconvenient, but I do. You don't flinch," he says. "So I'm going to trust you to keep this quiet, for now."

He walks over to Moist, placing a hand at his throat and grasping just hard enough to hopefully make him uncomfortable. "But if you pull a stunt like that again, or give me any reason to make me think you're not on my side, just remember that I'm the one with the weapon now. And I'm not as benevolent as my dear brother."

[morethanprops]

"I'll remember,"

His voice is tight and he looks Lore in the eye, not flinching.

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

"Good," Lore says, meaningfully.

He lets go of Moist, pushing him just a little bit in the direction of the hallway.

"Get out of here."

He'll be on his way down to the bar in a few minutes.

[morethanprops]

Moist turns towards the stairs and insinuates himself into a nice corner booth out of the way.

[thats-not-data.livejournal.com]

He may hear the door slamming shut behind him.