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Birthright: Part 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 the water contaminant analysis in a few hours.

Then I'm going to check out one of the Holosuites.

They have a relaxation program here, Jean-Luc, from Alture VII.

Listen to this.

First, they bathe you in a protein bath.

Then a cloud of chromal vapor carries you into a meditation chamber.

You should try it.

Well, I'll be too busy discussing the finer points of water management with ten Bajoran bureaucrats.

And they won't be carrying me on a cloud of chromal vapor.

Ops.

What is this?

It's pasta al fiorella. It's one of my favorites.

Don't worry. You're going to love it.

You know, I really want to take a look at those Ktaran antiques.

I understand they've got a 21st-century plasma coil that's in almost perfect condition.

( sighs )

I'll have to talk to Chief O'Brien about these replicators.

Mm-hmm.

Worf, I don't see how you can eat that stuff.

It tastes like liquid polymer.

Delicious.

You know, I think I'm going to try that kiosk on the other side of the promenade.

It looked like they had some real food. Mm-hmm.

DATA: Commander, I am reading a minor power drain in the starboard EPS conduit.

What's causing it?

The problem is originating in Sick Bay.

There has been an unauthorized access into the computer's bio-imaging systems.

Better check it out. Aye, sir.

Excuse me.

Do you have authorization to work in this area?

Come in, come in.

I need a hand with this field generator.

See if you can boost the power output to 65%.

I am sorry, but use of Sick Bay equipment is limited to ship's medical personnel.

Ah! Dr. Julian Bashir,

Chief Medical Officer, Deep Space Nine.

And you are...

Commander...? Data.

Commander Data.

The synthetic life-form? Yes.

It's an honor to meet you, sir.

I've heard so much about you.

Ah, you must have a fascinating perspective into bio-cybernetic research.

I'd be delighted if we could discuss the subject sometime.

I would be happy to do so.

However, I must ask you to stop your experiment. Ah, yes.

I realize I should have asked before using your Sick Bay, but it would have taken me days to analyze this device with the computer I have on Deep Space Nine.

What type of device is this?

It was discovered in the Gamma Quadrant.

I think it must be some sort of medical instrument.

It appears to employ plasma inputs.

Well, I'm hoping it's a medical scanner.

I wanted to use your computer to find out how it works.

I suggest we take it to Engineering and run a complete circuit-pathway diagnostic.

Splendid.

I must admit, Commander,

I didn't think you'd be so... personable.

Klingon.

You are Starfleet Klingon.

I am Lieutenant 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?

PICARD: 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.

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 for...

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 in order of priority.

Prepare it again.

I will expect it no later than 0900 hours.

Dismissed.

Mr. Worf, we'll need to get your rendezvous schedule to Commander Rudman aboard the Merrimack...

I am well aware of your request, Commander.

Lieutenant, are you all right?

Yes, sir, I am... fine.

I will send your schedule, sir.

Excuse me.

( grunting )

( door chimes ) 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 some 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 dishonor his sons and their sons for three generations.

Even Alexander would bear the burden of guilt.

So you're willing to ignore the possibility because you're concerned about dishonor?

My father is dead.

That Yridian is selling lies.

If you're so sure about that, why are you still so upset?

Worf, you can't deny the possibility just because you don't want it to be true.

If you want to talk about this, you know where to find me.

If we transfer 20 megajoules of energy from the dilithium chamber into the plasma inputs it should be sufficient to activate the device.

Hmm, it's worth a try.

You two can begin by connecting the coil to the chamber.

I'll configure the energy transfer.

Right.

Data, can I ask you a personal question?

Certainly.

Does your hair grow?

I can control the rate of my follicle replenishment.

However, I have not yet had a reason to modify the length of my hair.

Why do you ask? Oh, just curious.

Power conduits are ready.

Is something wrong, Doctor?

Well, you're breathing. Yes.

I do have a functional respiratory system.

However, its purpose is to maintain thermal control of my internal systems.

I am, in fact, capable of functioning for extended periods in a vacuum.

And you have a pulse. Mmm.

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 has ever asked me if my hair will grow or noticed that I can breathe.

Well, your creator went to a lot of trouble to make you seem human.

I find that fascinating.

Okay, I think we're ready to begin the transfer.

Power connections are complete.

I'll monitor the coil's transfer rate.

Will you keep an eye on the transient power response?

Of course.

We are ready, Geordi.

Okay. Initiating energy transfer.

Power levels are holding steady.

Transient response is normal.

Hold on. I'm picking up a power surge.

Reduce the transfer rate.

Reducing rate by 20%.

LA FORGE: What happened?

BASHIR: The power connections blew.

It sent out some kind of plasma shock.

LA FORGE: His synaptic energy is dropping...

( distant metallic banging )

( banging continues )

Data, are you all right?

I believe so. What has happened?

A plasma shock overloaded your positronic net.

You were down a good 30 seconds.

That cannot be possible.

I have a memory record for that period of time.

I can recall a series of images.

I saw Dr. Soong... my father.

( sighs )

Data, I can't find anything wrong with your positronic subprocessors or your circuit controllers.

No sign of any residual energy fluctuation.

Cascade overload...

My internal diagnostic indicates that my memory systems are functioning within normal parameters.

For the 47 seconds I was inactive, there is no record of cognitive activity.

Well, there's no doubt about it, Data, you were completely shut down.

Maybe you had some kind of... random power fluctuation.

Caused you to access one of your memory files.

That cannot be.

The image I saw was of Dr. Soong as a young man.

I did not encounter him until much later in his life.

There appears to be no rational explanation for my experience.

Well, I'll take another look at the diagnostic log.

In the meantime, we'd better disconnect that device. Hmm.

Data... perhaps we're going about this the wrong way. How so?

Well, maybe you had a dream or a hallucination.

I am not capable of either of those functions.

Yet, you can't account for what happened today, can you?

At present, I cannot.

Well, maybe you should approach this from a more 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 to bother you, 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 lava caves of No'Mat-- that prolonged exposure to the heat induces a hallucinatory effect.

Why are you asking me about this?

I have recently had an unusual experience which might be described as a vision.

Well, what happened?

An accident in Engineering shut down my cognitive functions for a short period of time 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 has anything to do with your father, you must learn all you can about it.

In the Klingon MajQa ritual, there is nothing more important than receiving 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-of course.

Do not stop until you have the answer.

Thank you, Worf.

Ah... Lieutenant 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 that is capable of warp speed.

I... I do not have the time.

I have other business.

What is the real reason you do not wish to take me?

Is it because what you have 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.

Oh. Very well... but I will require full payment in advance.

No, no. I will pay you after.

But... ( grunting )

Yes, yes. Of course, after.

If you are lying, if there is no prison camp...

No. ...I will kill you.

Oh... oh...

( panting )

The Romulan guards have a detection perimeter.

It will be necessary to transport you to the surface,

30 kilometers from the prison camp.

WORF: The foliage is very dense.

It will take me approximately 12 hours to reach the camp.

I may have to travel during the 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.

( laughing )

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 of this place?

I sell information.

I do not give it away.

Ah, 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.

( door chimes ) Come.

Yes, Mr. Data?

I am sorry to disturb you, sir.

Ah, not at all.

I'm here studying the intricacies of Bajoran aqueduct management.

I would welcome a little interruption.

Please sit down.

I require your advice, sir.

I have come to an impasse regarding my recent unexplained experience.

Hmm, your vision of Dr. Soong.

How is your investigation proceeding?

I have analyzed over 4,000 different religious and philosophical systems, as well as over 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 during the time I was shut down.

The hammer, for instance, has several meanings.

The Klingon culture views the hammer as a symbol of power.

However, the Taqua Tribe of Nagor sees it as an icon of hearth and home.

The Ferengis view it as a sign of sexual prowess.

I am curious, Mr. Data.

Why are you looking at all these other cultures?

The interpretation of visions and other metaphysical experiences are almost always culturally derived, and I have no culture of my own.

Yes, 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 meaning.

When we look at Michelangelo's David or Symnay's Tomb, we don't ask, "What does this mean to other people?"

The real question is, "What does it mean 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.

( faint rustling )

The camp is in a southeasterly direction.

After approximately ten kilometers, you will come to the edge of the sulfur 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 be landing in the same location.

When will you return?

50 hours.

Do not be late.

( distant animal cries )

( distant animal cries )

( splashing )

( splashing continues )

( twig cracking )

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...

( gasps )

Stop!

Please.

Who are you?

I have come to help you.

Help me? Yes.

How did you get out of 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.

( footsteps )

MALE: Ba'el?

It is very important you tell no one you saw me.

Have they begun the ceremony?

Yes. They're about to begin.

( door chimes ) Come in.

Data, what are you doing? We were supposed to meet at...

Data, what are you doing?

I am painting.

I can see that.

How long have you been at this?

I have created 23 individual illustrations in the past six hours, 27 minutes.

I believe you could say...

I have been inspired.

I'll say.

I have done as Captain 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.

Hmm.

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.

LA FORGE: Smoke? Why smoke?

DATA: I cannot explain it.

It is not an image I saw during my vision.

Well, you have the smoke coming out of a bucket of water.

Blacksmiths used to use water to cool the metal.

Maybe that's why you painted it.

Perhaps.

After I 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 image of the bird is related to my vision,

I do not understand how.

I am left with more of a mystery than ever.

Geordi, I would like to re-create the experiment which caused my initial shutdown.

What for?

I do not know how much longer my vision would have continued had I not been reactivated.

Data, that plasma shock almost fused your neural net.

I don't think it's such a good idea to try that again.

I am aware of the risks involved, but I can think of no other way to investigate my experience.

Will you help?

( sighs ) Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

I'll go find Dr. Bashir.

I will prepare the power transfer.

Okay, Data, we're going to monitor every subsystem in your positronic net.

If I see any neural pathways overload beyond 65%,

I'm shutting down the experiment.

Agreed.

We're ready.

Initiating energy transfer.

Get ready, Data.

( humming )

Power levels are rising.

( humming intensifies )

Should be any second now.

( metallic banging )

( banging grows louder )

( hissing )

( cawing )

The bird did not appear in my original experience.

This vision is different.

DR. SOONG: Of course it's different.

It's never the same.

Always changing... unpredictable.

( laughs )

It doesn't make sense.

( wings flapping )

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.

( hammering )

DATA: The images I saw during the time I was shut down were generated by a series of previously dormant circuits in my neural net.

I believe Dr. Soong incorporated those circuits into my base programming, intending to activate them once I had reached a certain level of development.

But the plasma shock activated them prematurely.

That is correct.

I'm curious.

Now that those circuits are active, what are you going to do with them?

I plan to shut down my cognitive functions for a brief period each day.

I hope to generate new internal visions.

It sounds to me like you're talking about dreaming.

An accurate analogy.

Remarkable.

You know, this is just the kind of thing that might get me published in the Starfleet Cybernetics Journal.

Would you mind if I authored a paper on all this?

Of course not.

Thank you, Data.

And... sweet dreams.

Hmm.

( indistinct conversation )

( male singing in Klingon )

♪ ...teblaw'nghu ♪

♪ Mughato'Du ♪

♪ Ylja'Qo' ♪

♪ Ylja'Qo'... ♪

( indistinct voices )

♪ ...van'aj javDich ♪

♪ Qong Dir sa'vich ♪

♪ Ghih yot ♪

♪ Queli'pa Qevas ♪

♪ Hoh Qa ♪

♪ Ylja'Qo' ♪

♪ Ylja'Qo' ♪

♪ Ylja'Qo'. ♪

( murmuring voices )

( muffled cry )

Quiet!

I'm a friend.

Who... who are you?

Worf. Son of Mogh.

Why have you come here?

I've 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.

The Romulans-- they robbed you of your right to die in battle.

There is very little time.

How many Klingons are being held here?

Seventy-three.

How many Romulans guard the camp?

Worf, there are things you do not understand.

What do you mean?

I must... I must speak with the elders.

( grunts )

Ghos!

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, Worf.

I do not understand.

You should not have come.

Who is this?

I'm Worf, son of Mogh.

I have come to help you escape.

He does not know.

He must leave at once.

No, it is too late for that now.

He would bring others.

Vang ghaH!

( grunting and groaning )

We are not leaving here and neither are you.