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The Quality of Life

Commander, is it your intention to continue to grow your beard?

Actually, I... I'm not sure yet.

Why, Worf?

I was just asking.

Seven card stud, one-eyed jacks are wild.

Frankly, Geordi, I like the beard.

Thank you, Commander.

You know, I have always been a little suspicious of men in beards.

And why is that?

I don't know, it's as if they're trying to hide something.

Hide? Don't be ridiculous, Doctor.

The beard is an ancient and proud tradition.

Mmm. Some of the most distinguished men in history have worn beards, Doctor.

I know, but after the razor was invented,

I think beards became mostly a fashion statement.

I'm not concerned with fashion.

To a Klingon, a beard is a symbol of courage.

Mmm. I think it's a sign of strength.

Sure, and, of course, women can't grow beards.

Doctor, it sounds to me like you feel that beards are nothing more than an affectation.

I do.

But there's nothing wrong with that.

I mean, women wear makeup and nail polish.

I just think it's time that you men admit it.

My beard is not an affectation.

Oh. Well, then you wouldn't mind shaving it off.

I could lose it in a minute. I've just gotten used to it.

Okay, then why don't we up the stakes a little, and if I win, all of you shave your beards off.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

What if you lose? What are you gonna give up?

I'm open for suggestions.

Well, I've always wanted to see you as a brunette.

Oh, I did that once when I was 13.

I couldn't change it back fast enough.

Makes me even more curious.

( laughing )

Fine. If one of you wins, I'll become a brunette.

Are we on?

LA FORGE: Yeah.

Yeah, we'll take that bet.

Hm.

Looks like you have the hand to beat, Commander.

LA FORGE: 200.

I'm in 200.

Geordi...

Ah.

PICARD: This is the captain.

We have arrived at the Tyran system.

All senior staff to the Bridge.

Wait.

I'm sorry. You heard the captain-- duty calls.

I guess we'll have to do this some other time.

( chuckling )

( sighing )

Captain's Log, Stardate 46307.2.

We have just come into orbit of Tyrus VII-A

to monitor progress on the Tyran particle fountain,

a radically new mining technology.

So far, the project has been fraught with problems

and is well behind schedule.

Mr. La Forge has been assigned

to evaluate the situation.

Dr. Farallon, the original plans called for the particle fountain to lift

500 kilograms per minute from the planet's surface.

Now, so far, we haven't even come close to that.

Well, that's why I want to increase the stream density.

That should boost the lift capacity by 72%.

Yeah, but you realize, of course, you're gonna be overloading the field generators in the process.

Not if we distribute the overload evenly throughout the system.

Doctor, forgive me, but maybe we should concentrate on completing this phase of the project before we start talking about redesigning it.

Commander, I know you're here to evaluate this project.

Starfleet is considering using a particle fountain on Carema III.

They wanna know how feasible it is.

And will your opinion be the deciding factor?

No, not really.

I'll make my report to Captain Picard.

He'll make the official recommendation to Starfleet.

They'll decide.

Well, what's your feelings so far?

Well, it seems to me the question we need to be asking is, is this technology more efficient than conventional mining techniques?

Commander, I know we've had problems here.

It seems like nothing's gone right.

It's taking a lot longer than I thought to get the particle stream to full strength, but I know it can work.

This is the direction that mining is going to take in the future, and it should be implemented on Carema III.

I know this can be potentially very exciting.

All right...

I wanna show you something I've been working on-- something that might help us complete this project more quickly.

I've used these on a limited basis, but--

( rumbling )

( people shouting )

( alarm beeping )

DATA: Enterprise to Commander La Forge.

I am reading significant power fluctuations from the station core. Please report.

La Forge here.

We have a malfunction in one of the power grids.

We're losing particle stream confinement.

DATA: Do you require assistance?

Stand by.

I'm sorry, Doctor, I think we're gonna have to shut it down.

It took four months to get the particle flux up to this level.

If we shut it down, it'll take another four months just to get it back.

Look, we've got less than five minutes before we lose containment. When that happens, the particle stream is gonna flood this entire station.

We're gonna have to shut it down then anyway.

Then we'll just have to fix the power grid.

Yeah, but how do we do that?

The defective grid is 200 meters down conduit A-2.

We have to disassemble four bulkheads just to get to it.

Well, here's the perfect opportunity to show you what I had in mind.

What is this?

This is an exocomp-- the experiment I was telling you about.

( electronic whirring )

If it doesn't work, we'll still have time to shut down the fountain.

DATA: Enterprise to La Forge.

What is your situation?

Unchanged for the moment, but we're working on it.

Listen, if this thing doesn't work soon, we're gonna have to shut this thing down, all right?

( power coming on line )

( sighs )

The confinement field is at full strength.

Particle flux steady.

All power levels are back to normal.

Commander La Forge, please report.

We're-- we're fine, Data.

The power grid is fully restored.

Malfunction seems to have been repaired, and operations over here at the station are all back to normal.

How were you able to accomplish the repair so quickly?

You know...

I'm not exactly sure.

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 civilizations,

to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Captain's Log, Stardate 46315.2.

Repairs to the particle fountain seem to have succeeded

and it is now functioning smoothly.

Dr. Farallon is coming aboard

to demonstrate the device that carried out the repairs.

Energize. Aye, sir.

DATA: Welcome to the Enterprise, Doctor.

I am Lieutenant Commander Data.

Mr. Data, I was hoping I'd have a chance to meet you.

I've done extensive studies of your positronic network.

And I have studied your design for the particle fountain.

I find the concept to be highly innovative.

Thank you.

I am curious how you were able to repair the power grid so quickly.

This should make it clear, Commander.

Why don't we set it up in Engineering?

Is it true that your computational speed is limited only by the physical separation of your positronic links?

DATA: Actually, that is no longer the case.

I have recently converted my interlink sequencer to asynchronous operation, which removed the performance constraint.

Doctor... this way, please.

I see, but how did you resolve the signal fragmentation?

The interlink sequencer is now bi-directional.

It compensates for the asynchronous mode distortion arising from the resonant field.

Yes. That's fascinating.

Does the sequencer require any buffering system to eliminate interference from the positronic matrix?

FARALLON: We've been using devices like this on Tyrus VII for years.

The basic unit is a common industrial servomechanism.

A few years ago, I started tinkering with one.

This is the result.

Boridium power converter.

Axionic chip network. That's very impressive.

You know, in terms of sheer computational speed, this little guy might be able to compete with you, Data.

Oh, the exocomps don't come close to Data's sophistication.

Exocomps?

That's what I call them.

Let's say you had an anti-matter flow converter that was fluctuating.

How would you repair it?

The correct procedure would be to adjust the converter.

With what? A mode stabilizer.

Okay, let me input the problem into the exocomp.

A fluctuating anti-matter flow converter.

Now, let's see what happens.

LA FORGE: A mode stabilizer.

Very nice.

You have incorporated a micro-replication system into the device in order to fashion tools.

It's more than that.

I designed the exocomps to be problem solvers.

Whenever they perform a task they've never done before, the micro-replicator creates new circuit pathways within the unit's memory.

So, in a sense, they are learning.

FARALLON: Exactly.

The more situations they encounter, the more circuit pathways they build.

They become better tools as they work.

It's very impressive technology, that's for sure.

Once it's out of the experimental stage, there'll be plenty of applications.

Commander, I'm hoping the experimental stage is over.

When are we supposed to brief Captain Picard on the status of the particle fountain?

1600 hours.

Good. I'll have a proposal to make.

Captain, I know you're supposed to give your evaluation to Starfleet today.

I'd like you to postpone that report another 48 hours.

The Enterprise is scheduled to leave the Tyran system tomorrow.

If I'm to change that plan, I'll need a very good reason.

I realize that, sir.

If you're going to make a recommendation to Starfleet about using the particle fountain on Carema, it seems only fair that you should see it operating at full strength.

Agreed.

I think I can complete the project and boost the efficiency of the particle stream if I use exocomps-- the new devices I've constructed.

I understand one of these devices successfully repaired a faulty power grid.

Yes, sir. I've been testing them on a limited basis, but I think they're ready to be used on a larger scale.

Mr. La Forge, what are your thoughts?

Well, I guess the only risk is in falling even further behind.

I'm willing to take that risk.

Mr. Data?

Exocomps are highly sophisticated devices, sir.

If they perform up to expectation, their potential to advance this project is considerable.

PICARD: I'm inclined to agree.

I don't think that 48 hours is too much time to risk, particularly when the gains are so substantial.

You may proceed, Doctor.

Thank you, sir. If possible,

I'd like Commander Data to work with me.

Thank you, Doctor. I welcome the opportunity.

Commander, there's a plasma conduit in one of the access tunnels that's ready to be sealed.

It's the perfect job for an exocomp.

I agree, Doctor.

Well, Mr. Data, what is your analysis so far?

I have successfully completed 14 separate tasks with this exocomp in the past hour.

I estimate it would take two people nine hours to complete the same tasks.

I would characterize the unit's performance as excellent.

I hope Commander La Forge and Captain Picard agree with you.

I am confident they will.

Commander La Forge is especially--

Hmm... it didn't finish sealing the plasma conduit.

Let me send it back in.

It is not accepting your commands.

Maybe there's a malfunction in the control processor.

Let me see if I can override it.

Doctor? I'm all right.

The control PADD just overloaded.

( whirring and beeping )

What's the matter with this thing?

DATA: Second Officer's Log, Stardate 46315.5.

The unexplained behavior of the exocomp

has greatly puzzled both Dr. Farallon and myself.

We have brought the defective unit

to the Enterprise for investigation.

FARALLON: The exocomp came out of the plasma conduit.

We tried to override the commands and send it back in, but it just shut down.

It's been completely unresponsive ever since.

Well, let's see what our computer has to say.

Geordi, the interface circuitry which links the exocomp to the control PADD is completely burned out.

That's strange.

Is there any indication of secondary power surges?

No.

But what's going on there?

Data, increase the magnification of section Gamma-Four.

Interesting.

The number of new circuit pathways has increased by 632%.

Oh, no. What is it?

Sometimes an exocomp starts forming large numbers of new pathways totally at random.

Eventually, it reaches a point where it shuts down, just like this one.

Doctor, the new pathways do not appear to be interfering with the original circuitry.

Once the exocomp is this badly corrupted, it's useless.

You have to erase the unit and start all over again, and there's no time for that now.

That leaves you with only two.

It's gonna slow you down.

Yes, Commander, you have the right to point out that you told me so.

I only wanted to say that we'd be happy to add on an extra shift to pick up the slack.

I'm sorry.

I guess I'm touchy these days.

It's okay, you've got a lot on your shoulders.

Well, I'd better get back to it.

Thanks, Commander. Data.

I feel sorry for her.

This project has had nothing but problems.

Why did that plasma conduit explode?

Apparently, there was a micro-fracture in the conduit wall.

The fault did not register on our instruments.

Hmm, I guess it's a good thing the exocomp malfunctioned.

Almost seems like it knew just when to leave.

Geordi, are you implying the exocomp exhibited some form of self-preservation?

Of course not.

PIERSON: Lieutenant Pierson to Commander La Forge.

Sir, could you join us in the systems monitor room?

On my way.

Computer, perform a Level-1 diagnostic of the exocomp's command module.

COMPUTER: The command pathways are functioning normally.

How can that be if the interface circuitry is burned out?

COMPUTER: The interface circuitry has been repaired.

Curious.

Computer, access the exocomp's sensor logs.

Confirm that there was a failure in the interface circuitry within the last 12 hours.

COMPUTER: Confirmed. Interface failure occurred at 1150 hours today when the exocomp produced a power surge which burned out the linkage.

How and when was it repaired?

COMPUTER: The exocomp activated a self-repair program at 1340 hours.

Why would the exocomp burn out its own interface circuitry and repair it two hours later?

COMPUTER: Unknown.

Here you are.

I thought you'd be hard at work by now.

I wanted a quiet cup of tea before I went back.

Gathering strength, I guess.

Well, I've come to tell you that I've assigned two engineering teams to work on the particle fountain.

Thank you, Commander. I'm grateful.

You know, I really want you to know that I do admire the work that you've done, and I'm sorry that the exocomps aren't working out.

You were right.

I'm trying to move too fast.

I guess I lack that conservative streak most scientists have.

I always seem to be out there on the edge, taking chances.

You know, I'll bet you were the kind of little girl who was always climbing one branch higher than the other kids.

Anything to get to the top of the tree.

And I bet you never fell.

Oh, no, I fell all the time.

Usually breaking a bone in the process.

I just never let it stop me.

Well, if it comes down to sheer determination,

I know you'll get this particle fountain built.

You're right about that, Commander.

I've spent the last six years of my life on this project.

It's the first thought I have when I wake up and the last before I go to bed.

Whatever it takes to prove this technology, I'll do.

Doctor, if you wish to master the bat'leth sword, you must learn to strike and avoid in the same motion.

I almost got in under your guard, Worf.

Almost.

Well, I'll keep that in mind next lesson.

Doctor...

Are you injured?

Only my pride, Data.

Thanks.

Doctor, what is the definition of life?

That is a big question.

Why do you ask?

I am searching for a definition that will allow me to test an hypothesis.

Well, the broadest scientific definition might be that life is what enables plants and animals to consume food, derive energy from it, grow, adapt themselves to their surroundings, and reproduce. Hmm.

And you suggest that anything that exhibits these characteristics is considered alive?

In general, yes.

What about fire?

Fire? Yes.

It consumes fuel to produce energy.

It grows. It creates offspring.

By your definition, is it alive?

Fire is a chemical reaction.

You could use the same argument for growing crystals, but obviously, we don't consider them alive.

And what about me?

I do not grow. I do not reproduce.

Yet, I am considered to be alive.

That's true, but you are unique.

Hmm. I wonder if that is so.

Data, if I may ask... have a seat.

What exactly are you getting at?

I am curious as to what transpired between the moment when I was nothing more than an assemblage of parts in Dr. Soong's laboratory, and the next moment, when I became alive.

What is it that endowed me with life?

I remember Wesley asking me a similar question when he was little, and I tried desperately to give him an answer, but everything I said sounded inadequate.

But then, I realized that scientists and philosophers have been grappling with that question for centuries, without coming to any conclusion.

Are you saying the question cannot be answered?

No.

I think I'm saying that we struggle all our lives to answer it-- that it's the struggle that is important.

That's what helps us to define our place in the universe.

I believe I understand, Doctor.

I don't think I've been very much help to you.

On the contrary.

You have been a great deal of help.

Thank you.

LA FORGE: Murphy's team will cover gamma shift from 2300 to 0700 hours.

Okay, Doctor, I've split the engineering teams among all the shifts, and if nothing else goes wrong, that should be enough to help you finish on time.

With the help of the exocomps, I think we will.

Yeah, you think they'll toe the line?

( whoosh of active transport ) Don't worry.

They know who's in charge.

Doctor.

I must ask you to stop using the exocomps.

Why, is there something wrong with them?

No, it is not that.

I have reason to believe the exocomps are alive.

Captain's Log, Stardate 46316.6.

I have summoned the senior staff

in order to discuss Commander Data's theory

that the exocomps are a life-form.

Dr. Farallon has attended only reluctantly.

Captain, I object to being called here.

I'm wasting time that could be better spent elsewhere.

Doctor, I appreciate your time constraints, but recognizing new life-- whatever its form-- is the principal mission of this vessel.

Please.

Now, Mr. Data, will you tell us what makes you think that the exocomps are alive.

Sir, when the exocomp left the access tunnel prior to the explosion, it may have been attempting to save itself from destruction.

Do you have any basis for that conclusion?

Yes. When you attempted to override the exocomp and send it back into the tunnel, it responded by deliberately burning out its control interface.

Deliberately?

The computer diagnostics showed that the exocomp disabled its own interface.

That could have been nothing more than a malfunction.

However, two hours later, when it was back aboard the Enterprise and no longer in danger, it repaired itself.

I believe the exocomp was protecting itself-- and if that is true, it has demonstrated an awareness of its environment, and an ability to adapt to that environment.

You're anthropomorphizing these units.

Like any mechanical devices, they occasionally malfunction.

One time, I saw an exocomp enter a reaction chamber for no apparent reason and vaporize itself.

Is that supposed to make me think it was depressed and suicidal?

TROI: Doctor, why is it so difficult for you to accept the fact that the exocomp could be alive?

After all, you're talking to a living machine right now.

And I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for Dr. Soong's accomplishment.

But his intention was to create an artificial life-form.

I created the exocomps to be tools.

And there is a big difference between Data and a tool.

Doctor, there is a big difference between you and a virus, but both are alive.

If the possibility exists, no matter how slight, that these exocomps are life-forms, then we must examine that possibility.

Thank you, sir.

And until we have a definitive answer,

I believe it would be inappropriate to exploit the exocomps as laborers.

Captain, that's absurd.

If they are intelligent life-forms, we have no right to force them to work for us.

That's like me telling you not to use your tricorder.

Tricorders aren't alive.

Neither are exocomps.

Clearly, these are difficult issues to resolve.

We have to proceed very carefully.

So, the first task is to test Mr. Data's hypothesis.

Data, you're claiming that this exocomp may be alive because it demonstrated survival instincts.

Right? Yes.

Then why don't we just threaten its survival again and see what happens?

Make it so.

Doctor, we're pretty much ready here.

You can begin programming it.

What we've done, Captain, is to re-create a situation similar to the one the exocomp encountered in the plasma conduit.

We have created a small conduit breach in this tube.

The exocomp would normally take several minutes to complete a repair of this type.

But once it enters the tube, it will find that a plasma-cascade failure is in progress.

I assume this is a simulation.

LA FORGE: Oh, yes, sir. We're running a transient overload signal that will simulate a failure in exactly one minute.

If it does possess a survival instinct-- as Mr. Data claims-- it will exit the tube before the minute is up in order to save itself.

Very well. Proceed.

Okay.

Beginning test program now.

One minute.

50 seconds.

30 seconds.

Ten seconds.

Five, four, three two, one.

That's it. If this had been for real, that conduit would have exploded with the exocomp inside.

Go ahead, Doctor, bring it back in.

Well, Captain, I think we've spent more than enough time answering this question.

I hope the outcome wasn't too much of a disappointment for you, Mr. Data.

It certainly came as no surprise to me.

Thank you for your help, Doctor.

You're welcome.

Well, I consider this time well spent.

As do I, sir. Thank you.

COMPUTER: 30 seconds.

( door opens, closes )

COMPUTER: 20 seconds.

Commander Riker said you'd still be down here.

He also said the exocomp failed the test.

That is true.

COMPUTER: Time expired. Test complete.

I have completed 34 additional tests and the results have been the same in each of them.

Perhaps I was wrong in suspecting the exocomp was alive.

This was really important to you, wasn't it?

You said earlier that I am unique.

If so, then I am alone in the universe.

When I began investigating the exocomps, I realized

I might be encountering a progenitor of myself.

Suddenly, the possibility exists that I am no longer alone.

For that reason, I...

( whirring )

The exocomp has returned.

Wasn't it supposed to do that?

In the previous 34 trials, I brought it back once the simulated failure occurred.

This time, we were talking and I neglected to do that.

I distracted you. I'm sorry.

Do not apologize, Doctor.

I believe we have made a significant discovery.

What?

The exocomp has replicated a different tool.

That is not the molecular fuser it had when it entered the Jefferies tube.

Doctor, the exocomp not only completed the repairs, it also deactivated the overload signal.

I thought this was just a simulation.

It was, and the exocomp must have realized that.

It saw that there was no real danger, and completed the repairs.

And replicated the correct tool to eliminate the false overload signal.

I see no other possible explanation.

The exocomp didn't fail the test.

It saw right through it.

Captain's Log, Stardate 46317.8.

At Dr. Farallon's request, I have agreed

to tour the station and assess the situation personally.

I must decide soon whether it is in Starfleet's best interest

to recommend the particle fountain

as a reliable technology.

FARALLON: We're definitely making progress, Captain.

I'm not sure we'll be at full capacity within the 48 hour deadline, but we'll be close.

It looks like there's still some difficulty with the phase selectors.

That's true, but I'm sure it's the last real problem.

I hope for the sake of the project that you're right, Doctor.

I understand, sir.

We're going to do our best.

( powering down )

This is strange.

Primary power is still on line.

Maybe it's another power grid malfunction.

No, I don't think so.

Something seems to be drawing power into the main particle impeller.

That's not a good sign. It could mean...

We've lost internal confinement.

The particle stream is beginning to surge.

Captain, a radiation field is gonna flood this entire chamber.

We've gotta get everybody out of here immediately.

Understood. Doctor, the station must be evacuated.

Captain, I-- That is an order, Doctor!

Now, assemble all your personnel on the transporter pad, now!

Picard to Enterprise.

( heavy static ) Do you read me?

Riker here, sir.

( heavy static )

The radiation field is increasing.

We're losing communications.

PICARD: ...prepare for emergency trans...

Red alert.

Riker to Transporter Room Two.

Prepare for emergency transport.

The radiation is setting up a field ionization effect, Captain.

We've got less than a minute to beam out of here.

Is that everybody?

FARALLON: Where's Takenta?

He was over there near the impeller control.

I'll get him.

Takenta!

( muffled explosion )

Mr. La Forge!

Stand by to transport.

Captain, you'll be trapped here.

Mr. La Forge!

Mr. La Forge, are you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine, Captain. I only caught the edge of it.

He's dead.

RIKER: Chief, do you have them?

They're here, sir.

RIKER: Is everyone all right?

We're fine, sir, but Captain Picard,

Commander La Forge and one of my men are still on the station.

Kelso, can you get them off?

I'm trying, sir-- I can't establish a pattern lock.

Commander, we barely managed to transport off ourselves.

The field ionization is too intense.

Commander, the particle fountain is continuing to surge.

At the present rate, the radiation in the station core will reach fatal levels in 23 minutes.

Captain, if I can access the field emitters, we should be able to establish a force field.

See if you can link your console to my command system sub-routine.

All right.

Link established.

Okay, here we go.

I'm reading power fluctuations.

The force field is not stable.

Yeah, I know, the radiation levels are too high.

The emitters are beginning to deteriorate.

How long can we expect it to last?

Not very long. We have to keep it up long enough for Commander Riker to get to us.

You know, maybe we can help him out.

See if you can access the emergency shutdown routine.

I'll try to activate the ionic dampers.

A force field was activated on the station a few moments ago.

It is possible that Commander La Forge has established a low-intensity deflector field.

It won't last long in that radiation.

No, sir. My readings indicate that it will fail in approximately 22 minutes.

Okay, we've got 22 minutes. I want some options.

Can we send a shuttlecraft to evacuate them?

We'd never get there in time.

Then we need to shut down the particle fountain.

What if we detonate a low-yield photon torpedo within the particle stream?

Wouldn't that shut it down? Mm-hmm.

We'd have to configure the torpedo very carefully-- the shape of the shock wave would be critical-- but it could work.

How long would it take to set that up?

I estimate that it would take a minimum of 65 minutes to properly configure the torpedo.

We don't have that kind of time.

Commander, maybe the exocomps can help us.

I can program their boridium power cells to explode on command.

They can be configured just like a photon torpedo, but it would only take a couple of minutes.

Commander, I must object to that plan.

Data, we've been through this.

We tested the exocomp, and it failed.

Dr. Crusher and I discovered that the exocomp did not fail the test. It is still my belief we are dealing with a new life-form.

RIKER: Mr. Data, you know how much

I respect your judgment.

But I can't risk the Captain and Geordi on the basis of your belief.

Prepare the exocomp, Doctor.

Commander, if I am correct, the exocomps will not allow themselves to be destroyed.

They have a sense of survival, and they will shut down before they will comply with the order.

I could disconnect their command pathways before I program them.

Do it.

Commander Riker, we're ready.

Mr. Worf, target 200 meters below the apex of the particle stream.

Feed the coordinates to Transporter Room Two.

Aye, sir.

Coordinates received.

Mr. Kelso... energize.

( power shutting down )

Mr. Kelso?

I'm sorry, sir.

The transporter system just went dead.

There's some kind of malfunction.

Run a diagnostic immediately.

Try bypassing-- Commander.

That will not be necessary.

The transporter is not malfunctioning.

I have locked out the controls.

I gave you a direct order, Mr. Data.

You release that transporter lockout now.

I cannot do that, sir.

If you don't do it, I will relieve you of duty.

That is your prerogative, sir.

Under Starfleet regulations, direct insubordination is a court-martial offense.

But I will not release the transporter.

Data, those are two of your friends out there.

They have saved your life more times than I can remember. I can't believe you'd be willing to sacrifice them like this.

Commander, please do not think this is an arbitrary decision.

I have considered the ramifications of my actions carefully, and I do not believe it is justified to sacrifice one life-form for another.

You don't know that the exocomps are life-forms.

It is true I am acting on my personal beliefs, but I do not see how I can do otherwise.

You're risking a lot on the basis of a belief.

I have observed that humans often base their judgments on what is referred to as "instinct" or "intuition."

Because I am a machine,

I lack that particular ability.

However, it may be possible that I have insight into other machines that humans lack.

If there were a way to save the Captain and Geordi without destroying the exocomps,

I would jump on it, but we have run out of time and this is the only solution I've got.

Then let me offer an alternative.

Transport me to the station.

I will attempt a complete manual shutdown of the particle stream.

The radiation levels are too high, even for you.

Your positronic net would ionize in no time.

I can't let you sacrifice yourself.

Commander, if I give my life for my fellow officers, that is my choice.

The exocomps no longer have a choice.

( sighs )

Then, what if we reconnect their command pathways and we give them a choice?

You've assumed the exocomps would shut down before accepting this mission.

What if we asked them if they are willing to proceed?

That sounds reasonable, sir.

If they choose to go,

I would be willing to release the transporter lockout.

Fair enough.

All right, I've enabled their command pathways.

If the exocomps do not shut down after I have programmed them, we may assume they are willing to go.

( beeping )

Well, does that mean they're willing to go or not?

Well, they haven't shut down.

They seem to be reprogramming the commands I have entered.

Reprogramming them?

Clearly, they are unwilling to be transported into the stream for detonation.

Although they may have an alternative solution.

Something we haven't considered?

Are you suggesting they have superior intelligence?

No, Doctor.

But they do have superior experience.

During their service, the exocomps have interfaced with every part of the station core-- something none of us has done, including yourself.

They may have another way to control the particle surge.

Those appear to be power taps.

Sir, new coordinates are being fed to the transporter by the exocomps.

The coordinates are inside the station core.

Kelso, energize.

Aye, sir.

Mr. La Forge.

LA FORGE: What are they up to?

The exocomps are siphoning power from the core.

They're trying to distort the particle stream frequency.

That might open up a window that the Enterprise can use to beam us out.

If they can modulate the radiation field, it'll work.

But they'll have to get the subharmonic frequencies to resonance.

The particle stream frequency is beginning to fluctuate.

They're having a little difficulty controlling the feedback, it may be more power than they can handle.

Can we help them? Is there any way that we can modulate the power transfer?

No, sir, we've done all that we can do.

It's up to them now.

They're beginning to balance the power absorption rates.

It's working.

The particle stream is beginning to distort.

Almost at resonance.

They've got it. Drop the force field.

Commander, I've got a pattern lock.

Energize.

Can you lock on to the exocomps?

I'm trying, sir.

I'm sorry, sir, I was only able to lock on to two of them.

For some reason, I couldn't fix a signal on the other one.

One of them had to continue disrupting the particle stream.

Absorbing that much power could prevent a signal lock.

It was the only way to save the other two.

I must admit, you've given me a lot to think about, Commander Data.

I don't exactly know what the exocomps are.

But you can be assured that until I do,

I won't be treating them as simple tools.

Thank you, Doctor.

I wish your work on the particle fountain had been more successful.

Perhaps the exocomps will help you to reconstruct it.

I hope they will.

And I predict that in a year or two, you will be able to recommend the technology to Starfleet.

I look forward to it.

Doctor.

Something more, Mr. Data?

Yes, sir.

I thought you might want to know why I was willing to risk your life for several small machines.

I think I understand the predicament you were in.

It could not have been an easy choice.

No, sir, it was not.

When my own status as a living being was in question, you fought to protect my rights, and for that I will always be grateful.

The exocomps had no such advocate.

If I had not acted on their behalf, they would have been destroyed.

I could not allow that to happen, sir.

Of course you couldn't.

It was the most human decision you've ever made.