“Birthright, Part I” is episode sixteen of season six of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise has arrived at Deep Space 9 (the episode takes place between “Q-Less” and “Dax”) to assist with the reconstruction of Bajoran aqueduct systems damaged during the occupation. Captain Picard and Dr Crusher are arriving on the station, discussing what they are going to do. Geordi and Worf are dining on Geordi’s favourite pasta. Geordi pushes his plate away; he’ll have to talk to Chief O’Brien about the replicators. Worf is tucking into his dish. Geordi heads off and a Yridian watches Worf from above.
On the bridge, Data reports a minor power drain due to unauthorised access of the sickbay’s bioimaging system. Riker tells him to check it out and he finds Dr Bashir fiddling with something. Julian asks Data for help and Data tells him that the use of sickbay equipment is limited to medical personnel. Julian introduces himself and is enthused when he discovers who Data is. Julian realises he should have asked before using sickbay, but it would take days to analyse this device using his equipment on the station. It was discovered in the Gamma Quadrant and Julian believes it’s some sort of medical instrument. Data suggests they take it to engineering.
The Yridian approaches Worf and addresses him by name. The Yridian is Jaglom Shrek and he has information to sell to Worf about his father. Worf says his father died 25 years ago at Khitomer. Shrek suggests he’s still alive and expects to be paid for the information. Some Klingons were captured by the Romulans and taken to a prison camp. He can give Worf the information. For a price. Worf says a Klingon would die rather than be captured and he should kill Shrek for telling lies.
On the bridge, both Riker and Troi can sense something off with Worf. He snaps at an ensign, then at Riker, before insisting he’s fine. Worf heads to his quarters and is trying to calm himself, eventually smashing a table. Troi arrives at this point and asks if the table did something wrong. Would Worf like to talk about what’s bothering him? Or would he prefer to break some more furniture? Worf explains Shrek and that if Worf’s father was alive, it would be a great dishonour. He’s selling lies. Troi asks why, if Worf is sure of that’ he’s so upset.
Data, Geordi and Julian are in engineering working on the device. Julian is curious about Data, but not in a way that Data is used to. Being curious about his ability to grow hair and his pulse. The device suffers a power surge and a plasma shock his Data, who falls to the floor. Data sees himself walking through Enterprise, following the sound of a hammer on an anvil, which leads him to a young Dr Noonien Soong. Data comes around in engineering and Geordi tells him he was shut down for at least 30 seconds. Data says that’s odd, as he has a memory record for that period, explaining what he saw.
Geordi checks Data out and the two try and work out what happened. Julian suggests they are approaching this the wrong way. Maybe Data had a dream or hallucination. Data says he isn’t capable of either. But can’t explain what happened. Julian suggests approaching this from a more human standpoint. Data is right that machines can’t have hallucinations. But most machines can’t grow hair.
Data finds Worf in Ten Forward. He wants to ask Worf about a vision he had as a child, during a Klingon ritual. Data explains his. Worf tells him this is a powerful vision. Data doesn’t know how to proceed if it was. Worf tells him he must find the meaning because nothing is more important than finding out about his father. This also helps Worf, as he realises he needs to find out what happened to Mogh.
Worf heads to find Shrek but wants Shrek to take him to the planet. Shrek doesn’t want to go, but is convinced. Data, meanwhile, is trying to understand his vision. Worf’s story continues in the next episode, “Birthright, Part II”.