Chapter One

Year: 2379

Stardate: 56844.9

Geordi held the synaptic scanner up to the cable attached to B-4, making certain that the transfer was working, "I still can't believe the Captain went along with a memory download."

Data could hear the worry in his friend's voice, "Captain Picard agrees that the B-4 was probably designed with the same self-actualisation parameters as myself. If my memory engrams are successfully integrated into his positronic matrix, he should have all my abilities." He sat in a chair, facing away from B-4, who was seated in the chair behind him. Between them was a transfer console which displayed the files being transferred through the cables from himself to the prototype.

Geordi walked away, to check the monitor display on the nearby wall, "Yes, but he would have all your memories as well. Do you feel comfortable with that?"

Data replied, with a nearly indiscernible hesitation, "I feel nothing, Geordi. It is my belief that with my memory engrams he will be able to function as a more complete individual."

Geordi frowned at that. Data never spoke of what happened when he had been taken by the Borg, back when they tried to stop Zefram Cochrane's launch of the Phoenix, but Geordi knew something terrible had occurred. When they worked on repairing the damage and replacing his bioplast, Data had Geordi remove the emotion chip. Geordi kept his voice calm, although it saddened him that his friend had given up on his dream of feeling emotions. "An individual more like you, you mean." He gestured with the PADD in his hand as he walked back towards the two androids.

Data raised both eyebrows, pressed his lips together and nodded, "Yes."

Geordi let out a loud sigh and set the PADD down, "Maybe he's not supposed to be like you, Data. Maybe he's supposed to be exactly the way he is." He picked up the hand scanner and checked the transfer port on the back of Data's head.

Data raised his eyebrows again, and moved his head slightly, "That might be so, but I believe he should have the opportunity to explore his potential."

Geordi shook his head, "Okay …" he announced, then unplugged the cable from Data's head. "We're done."

Data's hair automatically closed over the port as he stood and walked around the table to speak to his brother, "B-4, do you know where you are?"

Geordi matched Data's movements, walking around to face the prototype.

B-4's eyes were wide, and his expression was more like a toddler's than an adult's, "I am in a room ...with lights." How is this possible? Data's transferred engrams were active within B-4. He had his full memories and consciousness, and was receiving all input from B-4's senses. He tried to exert some control, to move or to speak. No effect. This was not how it was supposed to happen...

Geordi raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Data.

Data frowned for a moment, then asked, "Can you remember ...our father?"

B-4's head swayed slightly as he looked up at Data, "Our father?" It is quite odd to be looking up at myself...

Data nodded hopefully, "Yes... Doctor Soong."

B-4 smiled, and for a moment, it seemed as if he would answer in the affirmative, "No." I seem to have no access to the upper level cognitive functions or active memory. Most intriguing.

Data frowned again, "Do you know the name of the Captain of this vessel?"

B-4 replied, "Captain? ...No." Hmm. I also never realized how annoying I can be.

Geordi looked between the two, then spoke as sympathetically as he could, "Data, he's assimilating a lot of programming." As he spoke, Data moved behind B-4 to remove the cable from his port. Geordi continued, "Remember, he's a prototype, a lot less sophisticated than you are. We just don't know if his matrix will be able to adapt. We really need to give him some time."

Data frowned and bent to inspect a strange port on the back of B-4's neck, "Geordi, what purpose does this serve?"

Geordi circled around to look, "What?"

Data pointed out the small port with blue LEDs, "This."

Geordi bent to take a closer look, "That's a redundant memory port. Maybe the provisional memory storage is in case his neural pathways overload?" He straightened up, "Do you mind if I keep him here for a while. ...Run a few diagnostics?"

Data also straightened up, then shook his head, "No, I do not mind." He turned to leave engineering. B-4 turned to see Data leaving, and stood up to follow him.

Geordi called out to his friend, "Data…"

Data turned and spoke to B-4, "No! You must remain with Commander La Forge. He is going to try to and help you."

B-4 looked back at him with bewilderment, but returned to his chair. Geordi will not be able to help in this matter, but at least I know what the problem is. Unfortunately, I have no way to tell Geordi or myself, so I suppose the original me will have to figure it out, later.

Geordi waited until he was certain Data was far out of earshot, then regarded B-4, "I'm fairly certain that your positronic pathways aren't advanced enough to run any of Data's programs. I can't even tell if all of his memory engrams are loaded into you or not." He sighed again, and began running diagnostics.

B-4 answered Geordi with, "I do not understand." I cannot even seem to communicate with B-4, much less with Geordi.

As he checked each of the pathways, Geordi told the prototype, "I know you don't. Don't worry about it. After this, we'll get you settled into Data's quarters."

B-4 remained quiet while Geordi worked on the diagnostics. I suppose I should take this time to do my own diagnostics from within. It could become important for me to attempt to communicate, if only to let them know to erase me from B-4's memory pathways.

The diagnostics were finished after a couple of hours, and Geordi led B-4 up to Data's quarters. "All right, B-4. I want you to stay here, in this chair, until Data gets back."

B-4 complied, sitting in the chair, and watched Geordi leave.

"Meow."

B-4's yellow eyes widened with surprise and pleasure, as the orange tabby cat jumped up onto his lap. Hello, Spot. The prototype reached over with his right hand to serenely pet the animal, and proceeded to do so for the next thirty minutes. A slight bleep emitted from the port in B-4's neck, causing him to stiffly freeze, and halting inner-Data from his attempts to get access to B-4's higher functions. What was that?

Spot leaped off of B-4, who then got up from the chair and walked over to Data's desk. His fingers flew over the console's touchpad, as he gained entry to the main computer and began to transfer the information.

With a growing sense of alarm, Inner-Data attempted to stop him, but without success. This explains what the provisional memory port is for! Why would he have been programmed to do this? He is rerouting the queries through multiple substations and gaining information about basic stellar cartography, star charts, communications protocols, and uplinks from colony tracking stations… for what purpose? All I can do is hope that Geordi notices… or that I do. But how long will that take?

His answer came an hour later, when Data entered his quarters, walked over to B-4 and deactivated him.

Inner-Data's consciousness sprung back into motion as B-4 was reactivated. B-4's internal chronometer has malfunctioned and is no longer working. I wonder how much time has passed? This must be how it is for humans. Intriguing.

B-4 looked to the left, at Data, then down at the restraining device around him, then back to Data, watching the younger android move to stand in front of him. "Brother, ...I ...cannot move."

Data shook his head once, "No, I have only activated your cognitive and communication subroutines."

B-4 simply asked, "Why?"

Data's voice was soft and apologetic, "Because you are dangerous."

B-4 asked again, "Why?"

Data explained, "You have been programmed to gather information that can be used against this ship."

B-4's eyes moved back and forth, as he attempted to access his files, "I ...do not ...understand."

Data nodded, replying in a near whisper, "I know." He paused for a moment, then spoke in a firmer tone of voice, "Do you know anything about Shinzon's plans against the Federation?"

B-4 replied, "No."

Data walked around to B-4's left side, again, "Do you have any knowledge of the tactical abilities of his ship?"

B-4 answered, "No. ...Can I move now?

Data shook his head, "No." He brought up both hands to the left side of B-4's neck. In his left hand was a small screwdriver.

B-4 sounded almost frightened, and his voice wavered. "What are you doing?" I suppose this is where we are deactivated for good.

Data's expression showed a slight bit of sadness, as he told the other android, "I must deactivate you."

B-4 stared blankly ahead, now. "For how long?"

Data paused in reply, then said, "Indefinitely."

B-4 began to ask, "How long is that-" but was cut off as the screwdriver found its mark and shut down all functions in the prototype.

Sensory inputs all came on line, as both B-4 and the Data inside him were reactivated. Data wasn't sure at how much time had passed, and again mused about being more like a human. He was able to see and hear, now, through B-4's senses, and he noted with slight distress that his quarters were emptied of all his possessions.

Geordi La Forge was next to him, putting the small screwdriver back into his pocket. "Follow me, B-4." His blue ocular implants had a wet sheen to them, and his eyes were rimmed with red.

B-4 began to follow, "Where are we going?"

Geordi's voice broke slightly, as he replied, "You're going to see the captain."

B-4 continued to follow Geordi obediently. Why does Geordi look as if he has been crying? What has happened to my quarters? Where is Spot?

Geordi brought B-4 into Captain Picard's quarters, then sat him down in the chair across the desk from the captain. "I still have some things to do, sir. Let me know when you want me to retrieve B-4."

Captain Picard nodded to Geordi, "Thank you, Mister La Forge." He gazed across the table, looking at B-4. His expression was even, although his eyes seemed to be filled with a haunted glaze.

B-4 looked back at the captain, although his eyes also scanned across the desk and the items on top of it. Something is very wrong.

Captain Picard took a deep breath, then let out a slow exhale, "One of the saddest duties a captain has to perform is to notify the next of kin when a crew member dies." He paused again, then continued, "As you were Data's brother, you would be considered next of kin."

B-4 answered, "Data is my brother." I have been killed in the line of duty? The emptiness in my quarters now makes sense, as does Geordi's sadness. I must try to communicate.

Captain Picard placed his forearms on the desk, bringing his hands together and interlacing the fingers, "Your brother, Data, sacrificed his own life to save my life, as well as this ship and the Federation. He was an extraordinary man, an outstanding Starfleet officer, and a loyal friend. Those of us who knew him will miss him and grieve for him in ways we cannot even imagine, right now."

B-4 listened quietly, as the captain spoke about Data, although his attention was often distracted by the various items on the captain's desk. I did not realize my death would have so great an effect on the captain… Wait… I have an idea for communication...

Captain Picard finished his eulogy about Data, "I don't know if all this has made any sense. I wanted you to know what kind of man he was. In his quest to be more like us ...he helped us to see what it means to be human."

B-4 attempted to comprehend what had been said, "My... my brother was not human." At least you were aware of that, my brother.

Captain Picard smiled very slightly, "No, he wasn't. But his wonder, his curiosity about every facet of human nature ...allowed all of us to see the best parts of ourselves. He evolved. He embraced change because he always wanted to be better than he was."

B-4 attempted to process that, "I...I do not understand."

Captain Picard leaned back in the chair, then placed both hands, palms down, on the desk surface, "Well, I hope someday you will."

A beep sounded from the intercom, and Worf's deep voice announced, "Captain, the warp engines are ready to go on line."

Captain Picard responded, as B-4 reached for one of the items on his desk, "I'm on my way. Please inform Commander La Forge." He watched B-4, as the android studied the isolinear board he had taken. There was no sign of understanding or sentience, so he told the prototype, "We'll talk later." and got up from the chair to head to the door.

B-4 began to absently sing, "'Never saw the sun...' 'Never saw the sun...' 'Never saw the sun…" then stopped. His attention still seemed to be on the object in his hands.

Captain Picard came to a halt and turned to regard B-4. When the android stopped, he sang the next line to him, "'...shining so bright."

B-4, while still focused on the isolinear board, sang back, "...shining so bright. Never saw things…" Captain, it is me. My music subroutines seem to bypass all my other pathways.

Picard sang back, softly, "...going so right."

B-4 sang back, "'...going so right." I cannot see the captain.

The "whoosh" of the doors opening and closing was heard, and Data felt consternation. How long would it take before someone figured out that he was trapped inside B-4?