- After returning from a cybernetics conference to the Enterprise, Data creates his own "child," much to the chagrin of his captain, and without regards to the ramifications with Starfleet.
- After a visit to a cybernetics conference on an asteroid belt, Data returns and presents the human crew to the android Lal, which he considers his child. Captain Jean-Luc Picard is appalled, to Data's utter surprise, that life was created without prior permission of any kind. Meanwhile Lal is allowed to choose, advised by Data and Troi, its own gender and racial appearance - human female. Data and others find educating and refining her software fascinating, but she makes progress no-one anticipated. Admiral Anthony Haftel comes to investigate, is impressed but wants this unique specimen removed from her 'parent', which proves no lesser drama than in a human family.—KGF Vissers
- Lt. Cmdr. Data has been quite secretive of late and finally invites Geordi, Troi and Wesley Crusher to show them what he has been up to. Using the same technology used to create himself, he has created a new cybernetic being which he calls Lal. He also considers Lal to be his child and it refers to Data as father. Captain Picard is not pleased with Data's project and is forced to report it to Admiral Anthony Haftel who comes aboard the Enterprise to review the situation himself. After some study, Lal takes on the persona of a human female but everyone is surprised when her capabilities soon exceed those of Data. She begins to malfunction however forcing Data to make a fateful decision.—garykmcd
- After a visit to a cybernetics conference, Data returns and presents the human crew to the android Lal (Hallie Todd), which he considers his child. Data used the techniques learned at the conference to transfer his neural pathways to Lal and duplicate them in Lal's Positronic brain. This was not possible earlier and is entirely new technology and untested. Captain Jean-Luc Picard is appalled, to Data's utter surprise, that life was created without prior permission of any kind. Data argues that he didn't see anyone else taking permission from Picard before "creating life" or having sex. Picard is worried that Data's work and creation of the new "life" will have serious ramifications with Starfleet. Data argues that like all living beings, he also felt the need to perpetuate himself. Till now he was the last of his kind, but no more.
Meanwhile Lal is allowed to choose, advised by Data and Troi, its own gender and racial appearance - human female. Data and Deanna take Lal to the Holodeck to help her try out various personas and chose the one she likes best. Data refers to Lal & himself as a family. Data and others find educating and refining her software fascinating, but she makes progress no-one anticipated. Data had replicated his brain and his own neural pathways inside Lal. She becomes sentient like Data and starts to ask about her purpose in life. She starts to ask a lot of questions about everything, and Data decides its best that she attends school. Data puts her in school to learn social interactions. The older kids make fun of her, while the younger kids are afraid of her. Data seeks Advise from Beverly who tells Data to share his own experiences with Lal. Data realizes that he is incapable of love.
Data engages Guinan's help to teach Lal more about social interactions. Lal learns to use verbal contractions such as I've, instead of I Have, which Data never managed to master. From Guinan, she learns about kissing and ends up kissing Riker. Riker runs away when he learns that Lal is Data's "daughter". Lal realizes that she can never feel human emotions and questions Data about his attempts to emulate humans. Since it will only serve to remind them that they are inadequate.
Admiral Anthony Haftel (Nicolas Coster) comes to investigate, is impressed but wants this unique specimen removed from her 'parent'. Picard argues hard that Lal is not a research project, but a child of Data. He offers both Data & Lal, to kept together. But Starfleet policy on the matter of Android research is very clear. Picard tells Data that Haftel will relocate Lal to a more appropriate setting if he does not find Lal's training adequate. Data is offended that his parenting skills are being questioned. He argues that there are many things that Lal can only learn from Data, such as his unique experiences and the mistakes he made. Haftel is not pleased that Picard is talking about Lal and Data as if they are a family of some sort. Haftel argues that Lal represents a significant step forward in development of Artificial Intelligence. Such a technological leap forward should be studied in controlled procedures and effective isolation.
Haftel finds Lal serving as a cocktail waitress in Ten-Forward. But Data argues that this is an excellent opportunity for Lal to observe human behavior. Haftel interviews Lal directly and suggests that Starfleet facilities on Galor IV will provide a better environment for her upbringing. Lal contests that and says Data is her father. Picard suggests that Haftel ask what she wants, as she is a free and sentient being. She says she wants to remain with Data.
Lal tells Deanna that she is scared. Haftel asks Data to release Lal to him. He refuses. Haftel orders Data, and Picard steps in and tells Haftel to back off. Meanwhile, due to the fear, Lal'a neural pathways overload and eventually collapse. Her brain is dying as the pathways cannot be revived. Data says his goodbye to Lal as she "dies".
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content