All language subtitles for Star.Trek.TNG.S06E09.BDRip.x264-FGT

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

Actually, 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.

- 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.

- Mm.
- Some of the most distinguished men

in history wore 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.

I think it's a sign of strength.

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

It sounds 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.

Hey, 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.

Fine.

If one of you wins,
I'll become a brunette. Are we on?

Yeah.

- Yeah, we'll take that bet.
- Hmm.

Looks like you have the hand to beat,
commander.

Two hundred.

I'm in 200.

- Geordi...
- Ah.

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.

Captain's log, stardate 46307.2.

We have just come into orbit
of Tyrus VIIA

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 wanna
increase the stream density.

That should boost the lift capacity
by 72 percent.

But you realize, of course,

you're overloading
the field generators in the process.

Not if we distribute the overload
evenly throughout the system.

Doctor, forgive me.

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 Ill.

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 feeling 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 Ill.

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 I--

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.

- Do you require assistance?
- Stand by.

I'm sorry, 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.

The particle stream
is gonna flood this entire station.

We 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.

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

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?

The confinement field
is at full strength.

Particle flux steady.
All power levels are back to normal.

Commander La Forge, please report.

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.

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.

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?

Actually, that is no longer the case.

I have recently converted my interlink
sequencer to asynchronous operation,

which removed
the performance constraint.

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?

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

The basic unit is a common
industrial servo-mechanism.

A few years ago,
I started tinkering with one.

This is the result.

Boridium power converter.

Axionic chip network.
That's very impressive.

In terms of sheer
computational speed,

this little guy might be able
to compete with you, Data.

Oh. Heh.

The exocomps don't come close
to Data's sophistication.

- Exocomps?
- That's what I call them.

Let's say you had an antimatter
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
antimatter flow converter.

Now, let's see what happens.

Mode stabilizer, very nice.

You have incorporated
a microreplication 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 microreplicator
creates new circuit pathways

within the unit's memory.

- So in a sense, they are learning.
- Exactly.

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

They become better tools
as they work.

That'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?

- Sixteen hundred 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.

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 pad just overloaded.

What's the matter with this thing?

Second Officer's log,
stardate 46315.5.

The unexplained behavior
of the exocomp

has greatly puzzled
both Dr. Farallon and myself.

We've brought the defective unit
to the Enterprise for investigation.

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 pad

is completely burned out.

That's strange.

Is there any indication
of secondary power surges?

No.

What's going on there?

Data, increase the magnification
of section Gamma-4.

Interesting.

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

- 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.
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 microfracture in the conduit wall.

The fault did not register
on our instruments.

Hmm. 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.

Lieutenant
Pierson to Commander La Forge.

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

On my WaY-

Computer,
perform a level-one diagnostic

of the exocomp's command module.

The command
pathways are functioning normally.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

But it's the struggle that is important.

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

Hmm.

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.

Murphy's team will cover
Gamma shift from 2300 to 0700 hours.

Yes, commander.

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. Do you think
they'll toe the line?

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 diagnostic 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?

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.

Uh, 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've created a small
conduit breach in this tube.

The exocomp would normally
take several minutes

to complete a repair of this type.

Once it enters the tube,

it will find that a plasma
cascade failure is in progress.

- I assume this is a simulation.
- 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.

Fifty seconds.

Thirty seconds.

Ten seconds.

Five, four, three,

two, one.

That's it.

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.

Thirty seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Commander Riker said
you'd still be down here.

He also said
the exocomp failed the test.

That is true.

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...

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 Starfleefs best interest

to recommend the particle fountain
as a reliable technology.

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.

This is strange.
Primary power is still online.

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.

A radiation field
is gonna flood this entire chamber.

We've gotta get everybody
out of here.

Understood.
Doctor, the station must be evacuated.

- I might still be able--
- That's an order.

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

Pica rd to Enterprise.

Do you read me?

Riker here, sir.

Radiation field is increasing.
We're losing communications.

Prepare for emergency transport.

Red alert.

Riker to Transporter Room Two.
Prepare for emergency transport.

Radiation is setting up
a field ionization effect, captain.

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

- Is that everybody?
- Where's Takenta?

He was over there,
near the impeller control.

I'll get him.

Takenta!

Mr. La Forge!

Stand by to transport.

Captain, you'll be trapped here.

Mr. La Forge!

La Forge, are you all right?

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

He's dead.

Chief, do you have them?

They're here, sir.

- 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 subroutine.

All right.

- Link established.
- Okay, here we go.

I'm reading power fluctuations.
Force field is not stable.

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.

Well, 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-hm.

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.

Mr. Data, you know how much
I respect yourjudgment.

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

and feed the coordinates
to Transporter Room Two.

Aye, sir.

Coordinates received.

Mr. Kelso, energize.

Mr. Kelso?

I'm sorry, sir.

The Transporter system
just went dead.

There's some kind of malfunction.

Run a diagnostic immediately.

- Try bypassing the--
- 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 theirjudgments

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 to 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.

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 ask 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're willing to go.

What does that mean?
Are they willing to go or not?

Well, they haven't shut down.

They seem to be reprogramming
the commands I have entered.

Reprogramming?

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.

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.

They'll have to get the subharmonic
frequencies to resonance.

Particle stream frequency
is beginning to fluctuate.

They're having difficulty
controlling the feedback.

- 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.

It's 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.