Lore (Star Trek)
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| Lore | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Species: | android |
| Gender: | male |
| Hair color: | dark brown |
| Eye color: | yellow |
| Home planet: | Omicron Theta |
| Portrayed by: | Brent Spiner |
In the fictional Star Trek universe, Lore is the name of a prototype for the android Data, often referred to as his 'evil brother' and was played by the same actor: Brent Spiner. The character was initially designed as a female android, but Mr. Spiner is known to have given the idea of using it as an "evil prototype". This plot device has been used before, for example in Knight Rider, where both the agent Michael Knight and his car KITT had their own evil counterparts.
[edit] Overview
Lore was built on Omicron Theta after B-4, but before Data, by Dr. Noonien Soong. It was initially unclear whether Lore's personality defects arise from errors in his design, or from his having more "human" features than Data. At one point Lore states that he is a more perfect form of Data, which could make Lore feel he was better than humans and could do as he feels but regardless, Dr. Soong felt it necessary to deactivate and disassemble Lore. Before being disassembled, Lore contacted the Crystalline Entity, which destroyed the entire colony. Later in the series, Lore's behavior seems to get an explanation when Data's ethical program is deactivated. This suggests that Lore had no such program, or was capable of keeping it off.
In 2364, Data discovered his "brother" Lore, and Dr. Beverly Crusher led the team that reassembled him. However, Lore's psychopathic tendencies soon became evident: he deactivated Data in an attempt to take over the Enterprise. Lore was transported off into space just before he had a chance to kill anyone ("Datalore").
In 2367, Dr. Soong summoned Data to Terlina III in order to give him an emotion chip that would allow him to experience human feelings, however Lore was summoned by the same signal. Dr. Soong told Data that he and Lore are "virtually identical," "except for some programming". Lore posed as Data and tricked Dr. Soong into giving the chip to him. Lore then attacked Soong, and escaped with the chip. The Enterprise crew found Data and Dr. Soong, who soon died from his injuries. ("Brothers")
In 2370, Lore ran into a group of Borg who had been cut off from the collective. Lore became their leader for a while, and lured Data into helping him fight the Federation by deactivating his ethical program. Eventually, the group of Borg rejected Lore's leadership. Data was forced to shoot Lore in self defense, and then proceeded to deactivate Lore. Lore's last words were "I love you, brother". (But it is not known if he meant it, or was trying to convince Data not to deactivate him) ("Descent").
Afterwards, Data finally dismantled Lore for good, but kept Lore's emotion chip. It is not known what was done with Lore's remains after Data dismantled him. Regretting what he had done to Geordi LaForge while under Lore's control, Data refrained from using the chip until 2371. (Star Trek: Generations).
The special effects that allowed Lore and Data to appear in the same frame were quite sophisticated. In one scene Lore puts down a glass of wine which Data then picks up. This was achieved by the use of a moving split screen.
[edit] Appearances
| # | Episode | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | "Datalore" | Enterprise and Data discover Lore on his home planet in the Omicron Theta system |
| 403 | "Brothers" | Data discovers his maker, Noonien Soong, and brother Lore are still alive. |
| 626 701 |
"Descent" | Led the Borg |
[edit] External links
- Lore article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki.
