Chapter Text
They walked through the halls, and Lore thought.
He thought about the comm badge, its weight in his pocket.
He thought about keeping Barclay distracted, so he wouldn’t notice the absent pressure of the badge on his chest.
He thought about keeping his hand out of his pocket so the security officer behind them wouldn’t suspect anything.
He thought about innocently requesting to accompany Data to a shift on the bridge.
He thought about learning how Captain Picard spoke, and imitating his voice.
He thought about using the comm badge and the captain’s voice to get crewmen to let him into the shuttle bay, as easy as taking candy from a baby.
But before they got to his room, where Lore had planned to drop off the badge, the security officer with him got a chime from his own comm badge.
”Picard to Lieutenant Dixon.”
”Yes, Captain?”
”Please report with Lore to observation lounge 3.”
The security officer, or Lieutenant Dixon— he hadn’t bothered to learn his name this entire time— patted Lore’s shoulder and began to guide him to the turbolift. Barclay waved him goodbye.
And so Lieutenant Dixon and a confused Lore made their way to Observation Lounge 3, and Lore was dropped off inside the room. Some of the senior staff were gathered around a long table. Picard at the head, and Riker, Troi, Worf, and Data gathered in the seats around him. And.. a man he didn’t recognize. He was in a blue uniform, which Lore hadn’t seen except for the medical and science personnel on the ship.
He stood up, pulling his uniform shirt down. He walked over to Lore and held out his hand.
”Hello, Lore. I’m Commander Bruce Maddox. I’m a cyberneticist.”