Star Trek: The Next Generation s06e16 Episode Script
Birthright (1)
Captain's log, stardate 46578.
4.
The Enterprise has arrived|at Station Deep Space Nine to assist in the reconstruction|of the Bajoran aqueduct systems, damaged during|the Cardassian occupation.
I should be through|with water analysis in a few hours, then I'll check out the holosuites.
They have a relaxation program|from Alture VII.
Listen to this.
First they bathe you|in a protein bath.
Then a cloud of chromal vapour|carries you to a meditation chamber.
You should try it.
I'll be too busy discussing|water management with ten Bajoran bureaucrats.
They won't be carrying me|on a cloud of chromal vapour.
Ops.
- What is this?|- Pasta al fiorella.
One of my favourites.
You'll love it.
I want to look|at those Ktaran antiques.
They've got a 21st-century plasma|coil in almost perfect condition.
I'll have to talk to Chief O'Brien|about these replicators.
Worf, I don't see|how you can eat that stuff.
It tastes like liquid polymer.
Delicious.
I think I'm gonna try that kiosk.
|They had some real food.
Commander, I am reading a power drain|in the starboard EPS conduit.
What's causing it? The problem is originating|in sickbay.
There's been an unauthorised access|into the bio-imaging system.
- Better check it out.
|- Aye, sir.
Excuse me.
Do you have authorisation|for this area? Come in.
I need a hand|with this field generator.
See if you can boost|the power output to 65 percent.
I am sorry.
Use of sickbay equipment is limited|to ship's medical personnel.
Dr Julian Bashir, Chief|Medical Officer, Deep Space Nine.
- And you are Commander?|- Data.
Cmdr Data.
- The synthetic life form.
|- Yes.
An honour to meet you.
|I've heard so much about you.
You must have a fascinating|perspective into cybernetic research.
I'd be delighted to discuss it.
I would be happy to do so, but I must|ask you to stop your experiment.
Yes.
I should have asked|before using your sickbay.
But it would take days to analyse|this device with the computer I have.
What type of device is this? It's from the Gamma quadrant.
|A medical instrument.
It appears to employ plasma inputs.
I'm hoping it's a medical scanner.
I wanted to use your computer|to see how it works.
I suggest we take it to Engineering|and run a circuit-pathway diagnostic.
Splendid.
I must admit, Commander, I didn't|think you'd be so personable.
Klingon.
You are Starfleet Klingon.
I am Lt Worf.
Worf.
Son of Mogh.
What of it? I am Jaglom Shrek,|a man with information to sell.
You have no information I could use.
I would not be so sure.
It is about your father, Mogh.
My father died 25 years ago|at Khitomer.
That is what you believe.
What if I tell you he is still alive? Space, the final frontier.
These are the voyages|of the Starship Enterprise.
Its continuing mission,|to explore strange new worlds, .
.
to seek out new life|and new civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
My father is dead.
No, he's not.
I know where he is.
How is that possible? I expect|to be paid for my information.
Perhaps we could negotiate|an exchange.
The location of your father Tell me what you know.
Not all the Klingons at Khitomer|were killed during the massacre.
Many were captured|by the Romulans and placed in a prison camp on a remote planet.
|Your father was among them.
Where is this planet? Not far from here.
I could give you the location,|for a price.
A Klingon would rather die|than be taken prisoner! I should kill you|for spreading lies about my family.
My father was killed|defending Khitomer.
Ensign Lopez,|this duty roster is unacceptable.
Assignments should be listed|by priority.
Prepare it again.
I'll expect it no later|than 0900 hours.
Dismissed! Mr Worf, we need to get the|rendezvous schedule to the Merrimack.
I am well aware of your request.
Lieutenant, are you alright? Yes, sir, I am fine.
|I will send your schedules, sir.
Excuse me.
Enter.
Did the table do something wrong? No.
I'm glad you weren't that hard|on Ensign Lopez.
He made a mistake.
|The duty roster was inaccurate.
Would you like to talk about|what's bothering you, or would you|like to break more furniture? Today on the Promenade,|a Yridian approached me.
He knew who I was and tried to sell|me information about Mogh.
Your father? He claimed that he's alive and is being held captive|in a Romulan prison camp.
Oh, my God.
Could it be true? A Klingon would never allow himself|to be captured.
A warrior fights to the death.
If my father were alive, it would|dishonour his sons and their sons.
Even Alexander would bear the burden.
So, you're willing to ignore|the possibility because of dishonour? My father is dead.
|That Yridian is selling lies.
If you're so sure about that,|why are you so upset? Worf, you can't deny the possibility just because|you don't want it to be true.
If you want to talk,|you know where to find me.
If we transfer 20 megajoules|from the dilithium chamber into the plasma inputs,|it should activate the device.
It's worth a try.
You two connect the coil.
|I'll configure the energy transfer.
Data, can I ask you|a personal question? Certainly.
Does your hair grow? I can control follicle replenishment.
However, I've not had a reason|to modify my hair's length.
Why? Just curious.
Power conduits are ready.
Is something wrong? - You're breathing.
|- Yes.
I have|a functional respiratory system.
However, its purpose is to maintain|thermal control of my systems.
I am, in fact, capable of functioning|in a vacuum.
And you have a pulse.
My circulatory system not only|produces biochemical lubricants, it regulates micro-hydraulic power.
Most people are interested|in my extraordinary abilities.
How fast I can compute.
My memory|capacity.
How long I will live.
No one ever asked me if my hair grows|or noticed that I breathe.
Your creator went to a lot|of trouble to make you seem human.
I find that fascinating.
OK, I think we're ready.
Power connections are complete.
I'll monitor|the coil's transfer rate.
Can you check|the transient power response? Of course.
We are ready, Geordi.
OK.
Initiating energy transfer.
- Power levels are steady.
|- Transient response is normal.
Hold on.
|I'm picking up a power surge.
- Reduce the transfer rating.
|- Reducing by 20 percent.
- What happened?|- The connections blew.
- It sent out a plasma shock.
|- Synaptic energy is dropping.
Data, are you alright? I believe so.
What has happened? A plasma shock overloaded|your positronic net.
You were down 30 seconds.
That cannot be possible.
I have|a memory record for that period.
I can recall images.
I saw Dr Soong.
My father.
I can't find anything wrong|with your positronic subprocessors.
No sign of any residual|energy fluctuation, cascade overload.
My internal diagnostic indicates that my memory systems|are within normal parameters.
For the 47 seconds I was inactive,|there was no cognitive activity.
There's no doubt about it.
|You were shut down.
Maybe you had some kind|of random power fluctuation causing you to access memory files.
That cannot be.
The image I saw|was of Dr Soong as a young man.
I did not encounter him|until later in his life.
There appears to be no rational|explanation for my experience.
I'll take a look|at the diagnostic log.
In the meantime, you'd better|disconnect that device.
Data, perhaps we're|going about this the wrong way.
How so? Maybe you had a dream|or a hallucination.
I am not capable of either.
Yet you can't account|for what happened today, can you? At present, I cannot.
You should approach this|from a human standpoint.
You're right that machines|can't have hallucinations.
But then again,|most machines can't grow hair.
Wait.
What is it, Commander? I am sorry, but I have a question|of a personal nature.
Do you have a moment? A moment.
I have heard you mention|that you once experienced a vision.
Yes.
When I was young,|my adoptive parents arranged for me|to partake in the Rite of MajQa.
I understand it involves deep|meditation in the caves of No'Mat.
That prolonged exposure to the heat|induces a hallucinatory effect.
Why are you asking? I have recently had|an unusual experience which might be a vision.
What happened? An accident shut down my cognitive|functions for a short period, yet I seemed to remain conscious.
|I saw my father.
You are very fortunate.
That is a powerful vision.
If it was a vision,|I do not know how to proceed.
You must find its meaning.
If it is to do with your father,|learn all you can about it.
In the Klingon MajQa ritual, there is nothing more important|than a revelation about your father.
Your father is a part of you.
Always.
Learning about him|teaches you about yourself.
That is why, no matter|where he is or what he has done, .
.
you must find him.
But I am not looking for my father.
Yes, of course.
Do not stop|until you have the answer.
Thank you, Worf.
Ah, Lt Worf.
You have reconsidered? Yes.
I wish to go|to the Romulan prison camp.
Excellent.
I can provide you|with the coordinates.
No, you will take me there.
No, it's not possible.
|I have no means of transportation.
I checked the station records.
You have a vessel|capable of warp speed.
I do not have the time.
|I have other business What is the real reason|you will not take me? Because what you told me|is not true? No.
The camp is located|on the edge of Romulan space.
- It is a dangerous journey.
|- Dangerous? It would be more dangerous|for you to refuse.
Very well.
But I will require|full payment in advance.
- No, I will pay after.
|- But Yes.
Yes, of course.
After.
If you are lying,|if there is no camp, I will kill you.
The Romulan guards|have a detection perimeter.
It will be necessary|to transport you to the surface The foliage is very dense.
It will take me|12 hours to reach the camp.
- I may have to travel at night.
|- That would be unwise.
This is not an empty jungle.
|There are many predators.
- I am prepared.
|- Very well.
But I recommend that you look up|from time to time.
The arboreal needle snake|likes to attack from above.
I will provide you|with a map of the camp.
How did you learn of this camp? It is not important for you to know.
Why have you not informed|the Klingon government? I sell information.
|I do not give it away.
You do this for profit.
I have my reasons, Mr Worf.
What reasons could you have|for letting these people suffer? We will arrive in the Carraya Sector|in approximately three hours.
I suggest you get some rest.
Come.
- Yes, Mr Data?|- Sorry to disturb you, sir.
Not at all.
I'm studying the intricacies|of Bajoran aqueduct management.
I would welcome an interruption.
|Please sit down.
I require your advice.
I have come to an impasse regarding|my recent unexplained experience.
Your vision of Dr Soong.
|How is your investigation proceeding? I have analysed over 4,000|religious and philosophical systems as well as|200 psychological schools of thought in an effort|to understand what happened.
And what have you found? I have been unable to find a single|interpretation of the images I saw.
The hammer, for instance,|has several meanings.
The Klingon culture views it|as a symbol of power, the Taque tribe of Nagor sees it|as an icon of hearth and home.
The Ferengis view it|as a sign of sexual prowess.
I'm curious.
Why are you looking|at all these other cultures? The interpretation of visions|and metaphysical experiences are almost always culturally derived.
I have no culture of my own.
You do.
You're a culture of one, which is no less valid|than a culture of one billion.
Perhaps the key to understanding|your experience is to stop looking|into other sources for a meaning.
When we look at Michelangelo's David|or Symnay's Tomb, we don't ask what it means to others|but what it means to us.
Explore this image, Data.
Let it excite your imagination.
|Focus on it.
See where it leads you.
Let it inspire you.
I believe I understand, sir.
|Thank you.
Good luck, Mr Data.
The camp|is in a southeasterly direction.
After ten kilometres, you will come|to the edge of the sulphur canyon.
Look for a riverbank and follow it|until you come to the camp.
This is a homing device.
It will allow you to find my ship|when I return.
I will not land in the same location.
- When will you return?|- 50 hours.
Do not be late.
Who's there? Toq, is that you? I can see you.
I hope you're enjoying yourself.
Toq,|I swear I will hang you by your Stop.
- Please.
|- Who are you? - I've come to help you.
|- Help me? Yes.
How did you get out of the camp?|Does anyone know you are gone? - Yes.
I come here often.
|- You must lead me to the camp.
You are Klingon.
|Where did you come from? That does not matter.
|I have come to take you home.
Home? This is my home.
Ba'el! It is important|you tell no one you saw me.
- Is it time for the ceremony?|- We're about to begin.
Come in.
Data, we were supposed to meet at - What are you doing?|- I am painting.
I can see that.
|How long have you been at this? I have created 23 illustrations|in the past six hours, 27 minutes.
I believe you could say|I have been inspired.
I'll say.
I have done as Capt Picard suggested.
I have tried to explore the images.
Has it helped? I am not certain.
I began by painting|the image of the blacksmith.
Then I painted the corridor.
After that, .
.
the anvil, the hammer .
.
and Dr Soong's face.
The thought then occurred to me .
.
that I should paint smoke.
- Smoke? Why smoke?|- I cannot explain it.
It is not an image|I saw in my vision.
You got the smoke|coming out of a bucket of water.
Blacksmiths used water|to cool the metal.
Maybe that's why you painted it.
Perhaps.
After I'd painted the smoke,|it then occurred to me .
.
to paint a bird's wing.
I then drew an entire bird.
A flock of birds|flying in formation.
An individual feather.
If the bird is related to my vision,|I do not understand how.
I am left|with more of a mystery than ever.
Geordi, I want to recreate|the experiment which caused my shutdown.
What for? My vision may have continued|had I not been reactivated.
That plasma shock|almost fused your neural net.
I don't think it's a good idea.
I am aware of the risks.
But I know no other way to|investigate my experience.
Will you help? Yeah, sure.
- I'll go find Dr Bashir.
|- I will prepare the power transfer.
OK, Data.
We're gonna monitor every|subsystem in your positronic net.
If I see any neural pathways|overload beyond 65 percent, I'm shutting down the experiment.
- Agreed.
|- We're ready.
Initiating energy transfer.
Get ready, Data.
Power levels are rising.
It should be any second now.
The bird did not appear|in my original experience.
- This vision is different.
|- Of course it's different.
It's never the same.
Always changing.
Unpredictable.
It doesn't make sense.
What is happening, Father? I don't know, Data.
What is happening? We are on the deck of the Enterprise.
My cat is present.
My potted plant.
And my paintings.
A beginning.
Still a little grounded|in the mundane, but .
.
showing promise.
I do not understand.
You're not supposed to.
No man should know|where his dreams come from.
It spoils the mystery.
The fun.
I'm proud of you, son.
I wasn't sure you'd ever develop|the cognitive abilities to make it this far.
But if you're here,|if you can see me, .
.
you've crossed over the threshold from being a collection|of circuits and subprocessors, .
.
and have started|a wonderful journey.
What type of journey? Think of it Think of it as an empty sky.
I do not understand.
Shh.
Just dream, Data.
Dream Data.
You are the bird.
The images I saw while shut down were generated by a series|of previously dormant circuits.
I believe Dr Soong incorporated them|into my program, intending to activate them|once I reached a certain level.
The plasma shock|activated them prematurely.
That is correct.
I'm curious.
Now they are active,|what will you do? I plan to shut down|my cognitive functions each day.
I hope to generate new visions.
- It sounds like dreaming.
|- An accurate analogy.
Remarkable.
This might get me published|in the Starfleet Cybernetics Journal.
Would you mind|if I authored a paper on this? - Of course not.
|- Thank you, Data.
And sweet dreams.
Quiet! I'm a friend.
Who? Who are you? - Worf, son of Mogh.
|- Why have you come here? I have come to find my father.
|Is he alive? - Is he here?|- Your father fell at Khitomer.
Did he die in battle? He was fortunate.
- You were captured.
|- Yes.
Romulans.
They robbed you|of your right to die in battle.
There's little time.
How many Klingons|are being held here? How many Romulans? There are things|you do not understand.
- What do you mean?|- I must speak with the elders.
I knew your father well, Worf.
|And I remember you.
A boy,|barely able to lift a bat'leth.
Once, your father insisted|we take you on the ritual hunt.
You were so eager, you tried to take|the beast with your bare hands.
It mauled your arm.
I still have the scar.
I do remember you now.
You should not have come here.
I do not understand.
You should not have come.
Who is this? I am Worf.
I can help you escape.
- He does not know.
|- He must leave at once.
It's too late.
He would bring others.
We are not leaving here|and neither are you.
4.
The Enterprise has arrived|at Station Deep Space Nine to assist in the reconstruction|of the Bajoran aqueduct systems, damaged during|the Cardassian occupation.
I should be through|with water analysis in a few hours, then I'll check out the holosuites.
They have a relaxation program|from Alture VII.
Listen to this.
First they bathe you|in a protein bath.
Then a cloud of chromal vapour|carries you to a meditation chamber.
You should try it.
I'll be too busy discussing|water management with ten Bajoran bureaucrats.
They won't be carrying me|on a cloud of chromal vapour.
Ops.
- What is this?|- Pasta al fiorella.
One of my favourites.
You'll love it.
I want to look|at those Ktaran antiques.
They've got a 21st-century plasma|coil in almost perfect condition.
I'll have to talk to Chief O'Brien|about these replicators.
Worf, I don't see|how you can eat that stuff.
It tastes like liquid polymer.
Delicious.
I think I'm gonna try that kiosk.
|They had some real food.
Commander, I am reading a power drain|in the starboard EPS conduit.
What's causing it? The problem is originating|in sickbay.
There's been an unauthorised access|into the bio-imaging system.
- Better check it out.
|- Aye, sir.
Excuse me.
Do you have authorisation|for this area? Come in.
I need a hand|with this field generator.
See if you can boost|the power output to 65 percent.
I am sorry.
Use of sickbay equipment is limited|to ship's medical personnel.
Dr Julian Bashir, Chief|Medical Officer, Deep Space Nine.
- And you are Commander?|- Data.
Cmdr Data.
- The synthetic life form.
|- Yes.
An honour to meet you.
|I've heard so much about you.
You must have a fascinating|perspective into cybernetic research.
I'd be delighted to discuss it.
I would be happy to do so, but I must|ask you to stop your experiment.
Yes.
I should have asked|before using your sickbay.
But it would take days to analyse|this device with the computer I have.
What type of device is this? It's from the Gamma quadrant.
|A medical instrument.
It appears to employ plasma inputs.
I'm hoping it's a medical scanner.
I wanted to use your computer|to see how it works.
I suggest we take it to Engineering|and run a circuit-pathway diagnostic.
Splendid.
I must admit, Commander, I didn't|think you'd be so personable.
Klingon.
You are Starfleet Klingon.
I am Lt Worf.
Worf.
Son of Mogh.
What of it? I am Jaglom Shrek,|a man with information to sell.
You have no information I could use.
I would not be so sure.
It is about your father, Mogh.
My father died 25 years ago|at Khitomer.
That is what you believe.
What if I tell you he is still alive? Space, the final frontier.
These are the voyages|of the Starship Enterprise.
Its continuing mission,|to explore strange new worlds, .
.
to seek out new life|and new civilisations, .
.
to boldly go|where no one has gone before.
My father is dead.
No, he's not.
I know where he is.
How is that possible? I expect|to be paid for my information.
Perhaps we could negotiate|an exchange.
The location of your father Tell me what you know.
Not all the Klingons at Khitomer|were killed during the massacre.
Many were captured|by the Romulans and placed in a prison camp on a remote planet.
|Your father was among them.
Where is this planet? Not far from here.
I could give you the location,|for a price.
A Klingon would rather die|than be taken prisoner! I should kill you|for spreading lies about my family.
My father was killed|defending Khitomer.
Ensign Lopez,|this duty roster is unacceptable.
Assignments should be listed|by priority.
Prepare it again.
I'll expect it no later|than 0900 hours.
Dismissed! Mr Worf, we need to get the|rendezvous schedule to the Merrimack.
I am well aware of your request.
Lieutenant, are you alright? Yes, sir, I am fine.
|I will send your schedules, sir.
Excuse me.
Enter.
Did the table do something wrong? No.
I'm glad you weren't that hard|on Ensign Lopez.
He made a mistake.
|The duty roster was inaccurate.
Would you like to talk about|what's bothering you, or would you|like to break more furniture? Today on the Promenade,|a Yridian approached me.
He knew who I was and tried to sell|me information about Mogh.
Your father? He claimed that he's alive and is being held captive|in a Romulan prison camp.
Oh, my God.
Could it be true? A Klingon would never allow himself|to be captured.
A warrior fights to the death.
If my father were alive, it would|dishonour his sons and their sons.
Even Alexander would bear the burden.
So, you're willing to ignore|the possibility because of dishonour? My father is dead.
|That Yridian is selling lies.
If you're so sure about that,|why are you so upset? Worf, you can't deny the possibility just because|you don't want it to be true.
If you want to talk,|you know where to find me.
If we transfer 20 megajoules|from the dilithium chamber into the plasma inputs,|it should activate the device.
It's worth a try.
You two connect the coil.
|I'll configure the energy transfer.
Data, can I ask you|a personal question? Certainly.
Does your hair grow? I can control follicle replenishment.
However, I've not had a reason|to modify my hair's length.
Why? Just curious.
Power conduits are ready.
Is something wrong? - You're breathing.
|- Yes.
I have|a functional respiratory system.
However, its purpose is to maintain|thermal control of my systems.
I am, in fact, capable of functioning|in a vacuum.
And you have a pulse.
My circulatory system not only|produces biochemical lubricants, it regulates micro-hydraulic power.
Most people are interested|in my extraordinary abilities.
How fast I can compute.
My memory|capacity.
How long I will live.
No one ever asked me if my hair grows|or noticed that I breathe.
Your creator went to a lot|of trouble to make you seem human.
I find that fascinating.
OK, I think we're ready.
Power connections are complete.
I'll monitor|the coil's transfer rate.
Can you check|the transient power response? Of course.
We are ready, Geordi.
OK.
Initiating energy transfer.
- Power levels are steady.
|- Transient response is normal.
Hold on.
|I'm picking up a power surge.
- Reduce the transfer rating.
|- Reducing by 20 percent.
- What happened?|- The connections blew.
- It sent out a plasma shock.
|- Synaptic energy is dropping.
Data, are you alright? I believe so.
What has happened? A plasma shock overloaded|your positronic net.
You were down 30 seconds.
That cannot be possible.
I have|a memory record for that period.
I can recall images.
I saw Dr Soong.
My father.
I can't find anything wrong|with your positronic subprocessors.
No sign of any residual|energy fluctuation, cascade overload.
My internal diagnostic indicates that my memory systems|are within normal parameters.
For the 47 seconds I was inactive,|there was no cognitive activity.
There's no doubt about it.
|You were shut down.
Maybe you had some kind|of random power fluctuation causing you to access memory files.
That cannot be.
The image I saw|was of Dr Soong as a young man.
I did not encounter him|until later in his life.
There appears to be no rational|explanation for my experience.
I'll take a look|at the diagnostic log.
In the meantime, you'd better|disconnect that device.
Data, perhaps we're|going about this the wrong way.
How so? Maybe you had a dream|or a hallucination.
I am not capable of either.
Yet you can't account|for what happened today, can you? At present, I cannot.
You should approach this|from a human standpoint.
You're right that machines|can't have hallucinations.
But then again,|most machines can't grow hair.
Wait.
What is it, Commander? I am sorry, but I have a question|of a personal nature.
Do you have a moment? A moment.
I have heard you mention|that you once experienced a vision.
Yes.
When I was young,|my adoptive parents arranged for me|to partake in the Rite of MajQa.
I understand it involves deep|meditation in the caves of No'Mat.
That prolonged exposure to the heat|induces a hallucinatory effect.
Why are you asking? I have recently had|an unusual experience which might be a vision.
What happened? An accident shut down my cognitive|functions for a short period, yet I seemed to remain conscious.
|I saw my father.
You are very fortunate.
That is a powerful vision.
If it was a vision,|I do not know how to proceed.
You must find its meaning.
If it is to do with your father,|learn all you can about it.
In the Klingon MajQa ritual, there is nothing more important|than a revelation about your father.
Your father is a part of you.
Always.
Learning about him|teaches you about yourself.
That is why, no matter|where he is or what he has done, .
.
you must find him.
But I am not looking for my father.
Yes, of course.
Do not stop|until you have the answer.
Thank you, Worf.
Ah, Lt Worf.
You have reconsidered? Yes.
I wish to go|to the Romulan prison camp.
Excellent.
I can provide you|with the coordinates.
No, you will take me there.
No, it's not possible.
|I have no means of transportation.
I checked the station records.
You have a vessel|capable of warp speed.
I do not have the time.
|I have other business What is the real reason|you will not take me? Because what you told me|is not true? No.
The camp is located|on the edge of Romulan space.
- It is a dangerous journey.
|- Dangerous? It would be more dangerous|for you to refuse.
Very well.
But I will require|full payment in advance.
- No, I will pay after.
|- But Yes.
Yes, of course.
After.
If you are lying,|if there is no camp, I will kill you.
The Romulan guards|have a detection perimeter.
It will be necessary|to transport you to the surface The foliage is very dense.
It will take me|12 hours to reach the camp.
- I may have to travel at night.
|- That would be unwise.
This is not an empty jungle.
|There are many predators.
- I am prepared.
|- Very well.
But I recommend that you look up|from time to time.
The arboreal needle snake|likes to attack from above.
I will provide you|with a map of the camp.
How did you learn of this camp? It is not important for you to know.
Why have you not informed|the Klingon government? I sell information.
|I do not give it away.
You do this for profit.
I have my reasons, Mr Worf.
What reasons could you have|for letting these people suffer? We will arrive in the Carraya Sector|in approximately three hours.
I suggest you get some rest.
Come.
- Yes, Mr Data?|- Sorry to disturb you, sir.
Not at all.
I'm studying the intricacies|of Bajoran aqueduct management.
I would welcome an interruption.
|Please sit down.
I require your advice.
I have come to an impasse regarding|my recent unexplained experience.
Your vision of Dr Soong.
|How is your investigation proceeding? I have analysed over 4,000|religious and philosophical systems as well as|200 psychological schools of thought in an effort|to understand what happened.
And what have you found? I have been unable to find a single|interpretation of the images I saw.
The hammer, for instance,|has several meanings.
The Klingon culture views it|as a symbol of power, the Taque tribe of Nagor sees it|as an icon of hearth and home.
The Ferengis view it|as a sign of sexual prowess.
I'm curious.
Why are you looking|at all these other cultures? The interpretation of visions|and metaphysical experiences are almost always culturally derived.
I have no culture of my own.
You do.
You're a culture of one, which is no less valid|than a culture of one billion.
Perhaps the key to understanding|your experience is to stop looking|into other sources for a meaning.
When we look at Michelangelo's David|or Symnay's Tomb, we don't ask what it means to others|but what it means to us.
Explore this image, Data.
Let it excite your imagination.
|Focus on it.
See where it leads you.
Let it inspire you.
I believe I understand, sir.
|Thank you.
Good luck, Mr Data.
The camp|is in a southeasterly direction.
After ten kilometres, you will come|to the edge of the sulphur canyon.
Look for a riverbank and follow it|until you come to the camp.
This is a homing device.
It will allow you to find my ship|when I return.
I will not land in the same location.
- When will you return?|- 50 hours.
Do not be late.
Who's there? Toq, is that you? I can see you.
I hope you're enjoying yourself.
Toq,|I swear I will hang you by your Stop.
- Please.
|- Who are you? - I've come to help you.
|- Help me? Yes.
How did you get out of the camp?|Does anyone know you are gone? - Yes.
I come here often.
|- You must lead me to the camp.
You are Klingon.
|Where did you come from? That does not matter.
|I have come to take you home.
Home? This is my home.
Ba'el! It is important|you tell no one you saw me.
- Is it time for the ceremony?|- We're about to begin.
Come in.
Data, we were supposed to meet at - What are you doing?|- I am painting.
I can see that.
|How long have you been at this? I have created 23 illustrations|in the past six hours, 27 minutes.
I believe you could say|I have been inspired.
I'll say.
I have done as Capt Picard suggested.
I have tried to explore the images.
Has it helped? I am not certain.
I began by painting|the image of the blacksmith.
Then I painted the corridor.
After that, .
.
the anvil, the hammer .
.
and Dr Soong's face.
The thought then occurred to me .
.
that I should paint smoke.
- Smoke? Why smoke?|- I cannot explain it.
It is not an image|I saw in my vision.
You got the smoke|coming out of a bucket of water.
Blacksmiths used water|to cool the metal.
Maybe that's why you painted it.
Perhaps.
After I'd painted the smoke,|it then occurred to me .
.
to paint a bird's wing.
I then drew an entire bird.
A flock of birds|flying in formation.
An individual feather.
If the bird is related to my vision,|I do not understand how.
I am left|with more of a mystery than ever.
Geordi, I want to recreate|the experiment which caused my shutdown.
What for? My vision may have continued|had I not been reactivated.
That plasma shock|almost fused your neural net.
I don't think it's a good idea.
I am aware of the risks.
But I know no other way to|investigate my experience.
Will you help? Yeah, sure.
- I'll go find Dr Bashir.
|- I will prepare the power transfer.
OK, Data.
We're gonna monitor every|subsystem in your positronic net.
If I see any neural pathways|overload beyond 65 percent, I'm shutting down the experiment.
- Agreed.
|- We're ready.
Initiating energy transfer.
Get ready, Data.
Power levels are rising.
It should be any second now.
The bird did not appear|in my original experience.
- This vision is different.
|- Of course it's different.
It's never the same.
Always changing.
Unpredictable.
It doesn't make sense.
What is happening, Father? I don't know, Data.
What is happening? We are on the deck of the Enterprise.
My cat is present.
My potted plant.
And my paintings.
A beginning.
Still a little grounded|in the mundane, but .
.
showing promise.
I do not understand.
You're not supposed to.
No man should know|where his dreams come from.
It spoils the mystery.
The fun.
I'm proud of you, son.
I wasn't sure you'd ever develop|the cognitive abilities to make it this far.
But if you're here,|if you can see me, .
.
you've crossed over the threshold from being a collection|of circuits and subprocessors, .
.
and have started|a wonderful journey.
What type of journey? Think of it Think of it as an empty sky.
I do not understand.
Shh.
Just dream, Data.
Dream Data.
You are the bird.
The images I saw while shut down were generated by a series|of previously dormant circuits.
I believe Dr Soong incorporated them|into my program, intending to activate them|once I reached a certain level.
The plasma shock|activated them prematurely.
That is correct.
I'm curious.
Now they are active,|what will you do? I plan to shut down|my cognitive functions each day.
I hope to generate new visions.
- It sounds like dreaming.
|- An accurate analogy.
Remarkable.
This might get me published|in the Starfleet Cybernetics Journal.
Would you mind|if I authored a paper on this? - Of course not.
|- Thank you, Data.
And sweet dreams.
Quiet! I'm a friend.
Who? Who are you? - Worf, son of Mogh.
|- Why have you come here? I have come to find my father.
|Is he alive? - Is he here?|- Your father fell at Khitomer.
Did he die in battle? He was fortunate.
- You were captured.
|- Yes.
Romulans.
They robbed you|of your right to die in battle.
There's little time.
How many Klingons|are being held here? How many Romulans? There are things|you do not understand.
- What do you mean?|- I must speak with the elders.
I knew your father well, Worf.
|And I remember you.
A boy,|barely able to lift a bat'leth.
Once, your father insisted|we take you on the ritual hunt.
You were so eager, you tried to take|the beast with your bare hands.
It mauled your arm.
I still have the scar.
I do remember you now.
You should not have come here.
I do not understand.
You should not have come.
Who is this? I am Worf.
I can help you escape.
- He does not know.
|- He must leave at once.
It's too late.
He would bring others.
We are not leaving here|and neither are you.