1415 – Data’s Mom | Snore Trek TNG S7 E10

Episode 1415 – Data's Mom | Snore Trek TNG S7 E10

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, for people that think that space is its own frontier, the final frontier, or you say, space, yeah, it’s…whether you…you say, well, I was thinking of empty space in writing or in art, or spacing things out. I don't know…I thought I tuned into a sleep podcast. I thought…yeah. Well, welcome. Welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that’s here to put you to sleep, keep you company, and take your mind off of stuff while you fall asleep. I’m here to help you in the deep, dark night and to be your friend, and what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna send my voice across the deep, dark night. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents.

 

So, I’m gonna go off topic, I’m gonna get mixed up, then I’m gonna repeat myself, all to be your friend and keep you company. The show is very different. If you're new here, welcome. I’m really glad you're here, and I hope I can help you out. This may work differently than what you expect. It may not work at all, but I hope it can help. So, alls I can tell you is what most people say; give the show a few tries. See how it goes. I’m gonna give you all the information you could use. But the way the show works is…this is the beginning and the intro, or the…me greeting part.

 

Then we're gonna have some support so that paying for the show is optional just for the people that benefit the most from it, then a long, meandering intro totally separate from the support, a show within a show meant to ease you into bedtime, and then later on we’ll be talking about an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation all based around…we're doing different Star Trek content every episode around a common theme. But I’m really glad you're here. Thank you so much for checking this podcast out. I really hope I can help you out. Let’s just see how it goes, right? So, welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that’s here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. It could be thoughts on your mind, thoughts about the past, the present, the future, you know, thoughts you're thinking about, thinking thoughts, of course…so, it could be thoughts, feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally that you're feeling, thoughts, feelings, any emotions that are there returning, whatever, repetitive. The same goes for thoughts.

 

It could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, you could be going through something, you could be in the middle of something. Whatever it is, I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of it so you could fall asleep, which is a bit different, right? I’ll explain it more. But really, the reason I make the show or why I even talk about what might be keeping you awake is that I’m here to try to help, because I’ve been there and most of the people listening have been there, and everybody’s a little bit different, right? But we do share a lot of stuff. Some of us share thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, or change in work schedule, guests, travel, some people have trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep, trouble waking up early, need a break during the day, can't sleep at all.

 

There’s a lot…there’s a lot of differences, but there’s also similarities in how it feels, how it impacts our life during the day, and there’s something deeper that doesn't quite…it can't get…I can't quite put it into words that connects us all. So, I don't know what specifically brought you to this show, but I’m here to try to help you out any way…well, not any way I can. I just do it this way because I know what it feels like for me in the deep, dark night. Even in a house full of people or when I share…live in the same place as my brother now…or my daughter or my dog or my roommates in the past or whatever it is, for me, that’s one of the feelings, feeling like it’s just me and nobody else quite gets it. We get it around here.

 

You may be saying to yourself, well, Scoots, I don't know if you could quite get what’s going on with me. I don't think you could connect with what’s keeping me awake. That could be the case, but the good news is there’s enough people listening around the world that there is someone listening right now. Now, they may be 3, 4, 5,000 kilometers away from you or less or whatever. They could be close, but they do get it. They're a regular listener. They've been listening a little while, and they get it. They're like, man, I know exactly what it is you're going through, because…or I’ve been through something very similar. Then their next thought is, I really hope this podcast can help you like it’s helped me, because it’s changed my life for the better, and I didn’t even know there would be something like this out there.

 

I wasn’t looking for this type of show in particular, but I’m glad I found it, and I hope it can help you like it helped me. They're rooting for you. They're thinking of you fondly, wishing you well in the deep, dark night because they've been in a similar spot, and this show helps them. Not only are they wishing you well right now, they're like, man, I hope you get to have this experience in the future where you get to wish well, you get to root for new listeners, or listeners that are just having a tough time right now in the deep, dark night. They hope that you get that experience too, 'cause that’s a nice experience. So, yeah, that’s one thing that’s nice about the show; we're kind of a indirect community. The other thing is you deserve a good night's sleep.

 

You deserve a bedtime where you could get the rest you need so your life is more manageable. You deserve a bedtime without rigmarole, a bedtime that you could look forward to or feel neutral about instead of having to dread it like I have in the past and like other listeners. You can say, well, at least I got that pod guy. He’s not that bad. That’s when I’m doing my job is…right. I’m definitely…that’s great that I get to help you out. What else do you need to know? I’m glad you're here. This show is very different. I kinda said it earlier. It does take some getting used to. When most people get here, they may not believe that. They're like, what do you mean it takes some getting used to or whatever? I say, well, it’s very different.

 

You probably got here…whatever brought you here, maybe it was a search, maybe it was a recommendation, maybe you're just trying to find something, and you probably had some reasonable expectation of what a sleep podcast might be. Maybe you came from another sleep podcast. Well, this show is very different, but it’s probably different than what you expected, and maybe that’s a good way, but it does take a little bit of getting used to for that. But also, if you've been sleepless like I have, you've probably tried a ton of different stuff, heard a ton of different advice, and not all of it has worked, and some of it has been frustrating and dismissive or it’s worked once or twice. I can't even promise this show’s gonna help you.

 

Alls I can say is give it a try and see how it goes, 'cause I’ve learned that, yeah, there’s a couple things that work for me and for the people that listen to this show, but it might not work for everybody. In case the show doesn't or it’s just not your cup of tea, I have a website set up, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, that has other sleepy stuff on there and sleep podcasts that you could check out so that you could still find something that might help you out, 'cause you still deserve a good night's sleep. The way the show works — I don't know if I already said this already — is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, go off topic, I get mixed up, I repeat myself…maybe I already said all that. I don't know.

 

But my voice is not traditionally soothing, 'cause…and this is a podcast that you don’t exactly listen to. You kinda just barely listen to it. It’s not quite as meaningless as background noise. Not that background noise is meaningless. It’s background noise you could pay attention to if you need to or you want to. So, kinda like a TV on in the other room or a show streaming under your pillow or a audiobook or a podcast you're just not paying that much attention to, you're not too interest…that interested in, or maybe it’s just too…it’s just something you're not connected to. But you say, well, there’s something about the voices, there’s something about the tone, the tenor…but also, with repetitive shows or stuff like this, you say, well, I could listen to it, and it kinda soothes me. I don't even know what it does.

 

That might not be the right word, but I kinda like it. So, yeah, I’d say give it a few tries and see how that goes, because that takes some getting used to. It’s like a out-of-focus picture or a TV on in the other room or whatever. You say, oh…or a boring roommate or friend. Or, ‘boring’ not…might be the wrong word, but that’s the best way to kinda get the meaning across. Like a friend that…you say, hey, can you tell me all about your day? I don't know how much I’m gonna pay attention to you, but I do want…I kinda want to hear about it. Tell me about your trip to the store. Oh boy, I’ll tell you all about it. Well, the first thing is I had to make sure I had quarters, 'cause it was a place where you have to put a quarter in to get the cart, and then I didn’t have any. But then I got lucky; there was a free cart.

 

So, then I said, well, pass your quarter on or leave the cart unlatched. It was a pretty nice cart. Something about it…I felt like me and this cart were…so, that’s kinda what the show’s like. It’s different every time. It’s not always like that. There’s a lot of variety around the stuff we make, but it’s that kinda same idea of like, hey, I’m here for you, but you don’t have to pay attention to me. So, that’s one thing. It’s a sleep podcast, and I’ve been making the show since 2013, but it’s not meant to put you to sleep. There’s no pressure to fall asleep with this show. I’m gonna be here over an hour to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep if you need to. But if you can't sleep…there’s people listening who can't sleep at all or who need a break during the day, and I’m here to keep them company, too.

 

So, I’m here whether you're awake or asleep, whether you're listening or not, or if you need to go between those things, right? Or you just woke up and you need…that happened to me last night at 3:00 a.m. So, I’m here 'cause my job is not just to put you to sleep. It’s to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-seb, I guess, your bore-bestie, your best bore-friend f’eva, your bore-bor, your neigh-bore, your boreman, your Boris Borlaf, your chairman of the boreds, just to hang out for your benefit versus just putting you to sleep. So, that’s what I’m here to do, and that takes…that’s another role. You say, oh, a bore-friend, a bore-bae…what is that? I don't know if I need a bore-bae. I say, well, you could see how it goes.

 

Most regular listeners…it takes two or three tries to get used to the show, and then first they're skeptical or doubtful, then they're like, what is this? Should I even try this again? Then on the second or third try, they wake up. Oh, wait a second, I did fall asleep. So, just see how it goes. The other thing I like to run through is the structure of the show. We structure this podcast in a very specific way to benefit the maximum amount of people we can, but there is a couple ways you could adjust how you listen as you develop preferences if you become a regular listener. So, the show and all our shows start off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so you feel seen and welcomed in. You say, okay, I could check that show out. That’s the beginning of the show.

 

So, you say, oh, okay, I get the tone of the show. Then there’s support, sponsor support and requests for listener support, so that paying for the show for new listeners or occasional listeners or listeners that are having a tough time, it’s…they don’t need to pay for the podcast. It’s not behind a paywall. It’s available to anybody that needs it. We're able to do that because of the people that benefit and listen the most who support our sponsors and support the show directly. So, we're so grateful for those people. If you're one of them, you say, how can I support the show? It’d be amazing. You can always do that. Or if you prefer…you say, well, I don't want something with ads.

 

If that’s your preference, you can get all that on Sleep With Me+, whether you're doing it just to get something ad-free or because the podcast…you like the idea the podcast makes your life better or you like the idea that the podcast makes other people’s lives better. But if you're just listening from time to time or you're brand new, don't worry about it. Just listen to this free, ad-supported, listener-supported version. Okay, so then after the support and the requests for support, totally separate, is a show within a show, which we're, I don't know, ten to fifteen minutes into, and that’s the introduction to the…of the podcast, where I’m…away, introduce the podcast.

 

I follow a familiar structure every time so there’s a bit of reassurance there, but every intro is different so that, I don't know, whatever keeps you awake can't quite adjust. It has something new to take its mind off of stuff every single time. So, kinda see…that’s another thing; it just takes some getting used to. Most people…if you fall asleep fast, please consider supporting the show. Or if you fall asleep fast and you don’t like these intros, there’s…on Sleep With Me+ we have tons of bedtime…story-only versions of the show. But we also have another podcast, Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me, that is a story-only show. So, if you don’t like these intros, those are your options. But for most people, the intro is a way to ease you into bedtime.

 

So, people are listening while they're getting comfortable, getting in bed, getting ready for bed, or winding down. So, that gives you a buffer as a part of a wind-down routine, and that’s what works for me personally most of the time, and it gives me something to look forward to instead of dreading bedtime. Having a nice bedtime routine where this show could only…can only be one part of that with a couple nice things in there for you that you like makes something…you say, okay, well, at least I got that stuff. For me it’s reading a nice book. I say, well, at least I got that book to read. I know I’m gonna pet my dog and those kind of things. So, that’s why the intro goes on and on and on. It’s not…that’s what it’s here to do, ease you into bedtime, explain what the podcast is inefficiently.

 

Then after the intro is support, and then after the support we’ll talk about Star Trek, I believe Star Trek: The Next Generation, a specific episode, a Data-centric episode. So…and all told, we’ll be here a bit over an hour. I’m really glad you're here. Myself and a team of people work hard on this show. We really yearn and strive to help you fall asleep. So, I’m glad you're here. If this podcast changes your life for the better on a regular basis…I can't say it enough, 'cause we really do depend on listeners like you to support our sponsors or support the show directly. So, if you would miss the podcast if it was gone because it makes your life better, think about these things that are coming up here and supporting the show back. Thanks.

 

Alright everybody, Scoots here. We're making a journey. Captain’s log, stardate 47410.2. We're back in The Next Generation, Season 7, Episode 10, I believe. Is there a place…? Oh yeah, that is correct. Technically, the episode’s called Inheritance, but you'll see it in the title; I think it’s…has a better…I prefer a different…a simpler, more playful name for the episode. But yeah, they're headed to help, of course, though I did have a couple Prime Directive questions. But my prime directive is to keep you company. Altarian…they're having natural troubles. They need geologies…they're working with geologists, Atrea IV, and one of the geologists…the geologists happen to be married, and they're talking about the molten core of the planet. It’s cooling. Gravitational field’s affected. You got three factor seismic stuff. Cooling continues.

 

This is not good. Thirteen months…we gotta fix this. Geordie? Well, isobaric fissures, I think. Tectonics…I know a bit about this. Data says, simply? We’ll re-liquefy the core. Geordie says, yeah, we’ll get the molten region of the core…okay, how far is that? A few kilometers. How about some ferroplasmic infusion? Data loves it. Yeah, we’ll use the ship’s phasers. We’ll basically drill into the planet, then we’ll infuse some plasma. Modulated energy burst down the shafts…alright, okay. Plasma into the core…certain for Scoots to be a bore, and that’ll re-liquefy the magma. Should be possible. Stabilize the core temperature…93% of normal. That’ll keep it molten for centuries, at least. Okay, let’s do it, they say. Before we proceed, I’d like to update the geological surveys. Okay. Well, you two have a place to stay here if you wish.

 

Everybody heads out, but then one geologist says, Data, could I speak to you? Do you know who I am? He goes, yeah, you're Doctor Juliana Tainer, a geologist. No, your earliest memories. Have we met before? Data, I was there at the beginning of Omicron Theta. I helped create you. Now look at you. I’m sorry, what? Did you work with Dr. Soong? Worked with him? This was all before…I was his wife. Data says, wait a second…in a way, you could say I’m your mother. Dun, dun, dun. Data does this great thing with just his eyebrows and his…slight movement of the head, and the episode opens. Any idea who I am? Early memories…oh yeah, Data…slight twitch, and the episode opens, or the rolling…the credits roll in. Then they're in Ten Forward having tea, I think. I can't believe I’ve seen you…she’s very happy, Juliana.

 

He says, I have no memory of you. Oh yeah, there’s a reason for that. We wiped your memory after we finished programming you. Why don’t you tell me what you do remember and I could fill things in? Data says, well, yeah, I was activated by Starfleet officers on Omicron Theta after the Crystalline Entity. On Omicron Theta I was activated, and my memory banks had journals and logs of the residents there. Yeah, we thought that’d be useful after childhood. We figured you could get all the help…you could use all the help you could get. Childhood? Well, that’s what we called it, Data. You were like a baby, a 100-kilogram baby, she says. She’s got nice hand movement. They talk…she talks about motor skills, processing sensory information. Noonien was never satisfied.

 

He kept tinkering, trying to make you as human as possible. He says, so, wait a second, you wiped my memory processors after this childhood? Oh yeah. Then we deactivated you and put the colonist logs in. We were gonna reactivate you, but that was when the Crystalline Entity showed up, and we had to get outta there. We wanted to take you, but there was…here’s the thing; there was room for two in the escape pod, two human beings. He goes, there was only one Juliana on…I just scanned my memory banks. O’Donnell. She goes, yeah, that’s me. But you weren't…I don't see anything about you being married. She said, well, my mother, she didn’t like Noonien 'cause he was an eccentric scientist. So, we eloped. We wanted her to get used to us being in a relationship. Mavala IV is a Corvellian trading ship.

 

It wasn’t the wedding we hoped for, but Noonien had a way…he made the strangest things seem romantic. Data seems to agree with him. He goes, yeah, he did have an unusual way of looking at things. Well, how would you know? Oh, I encountered him at Terlina. She goes, oh, that’s where we went after…she’s very happy. I had no idea how you met him. He goes, yeah, well, he’s passed into another dimension, by the way. Then she’s surprised. So, this is where stuff started to not…and this says more about me, where I was like, I’m not buying this woman is telling the truth. I thought she was kinda up to something with Starfleet or the planet or Data. Of course, I was incorrect. Spoiler. Spoiler; Scoots was wrong again. Never a spoiler.

 

But so, I was very suspicious of her, to tell you the truth, especially…this part was one of the…I said, wait a second, how does she not know Noonien’s no longer…? Noonien…Dr. Noonien Song…that he’s no longer in this system? But she’s very surprised. She has to hold her tea. Oh man, I’m gonna miss him. Even though we weren't…we departed not on the best of terms, I miss him. What do you mean? She’s holding her zipper. Well, he loved his work more than me, I think, so we had to break…it didn’t work out. We were on this planet. I had no one else to talk to, nothing other than his work and helping him. She doesn't mention Data…teaching Data. She goes, it just wasn’t enough for me. I wanted something more, so I moved on. Data’s face is very…she goes, that was a long time ago.

 

She touches Data’s hand, and he pulls back one hand from her. She goes, I really want to get to know you. He said, well, this is a interesting encounter. He pulls his hand back. Unexpected. I love how he draws his boundaries clearly and…such a great example. He says, yeah, I’d like to corroborate your story before we proceed further and getting to know one another, so if you'll excuse me. She’s taken aback a bit, and then she watches him go, hand on her face. Then we see the Enterprise over the planet. Data and Geordie are working, working on the phaser banks. Yeah, almost ready. Then Geordie says, what are you working on? I thought you were working on the phasers. He goes, oh no, Doctor Tainer’s story…don’t you believe her? I neither believe nor doubt, Geordie. I’m just trying to research if she’s telling the truth.

 

Geordie says, what do you got? Well, on Malvala IV, there was a Doctor Soong. I can't confirm he was married there, but…checking some passengers and…2383 or something? Oh, wait a second, O’Donnell, Juliana, Noonien Soong. They were listed in the commercial transport database; Omicron Theta to Malvala and returning four days later. Geordie says, well, that fits the story. He says, yeah, but it doesn't mean they were married. Geordie kinda laughs. He says, you don’t get it. He goes, Data, you're trying to prove that she’s not telling the truth. Geordie says…or Data says, no, no, no, I just can't recognize that I don't know anything about…reconcile that. Geordie says, you know, as a guy who’s had his heart frown many times, I can tell you…huh, he goes, how about that emotion chip?

 

Didn’t Lore say it contained memories that Soong wanted you to have? He goes, yeah, maybe those are memories of my childhood…or Mrs. Soong. Geordie says, what’s her motivation to pretend your mother? Which I really like. He goes, I can't think of any motive that would have that pretense, or something. Geordie’s trying to be his friend. He’s like, yeah, this came out of the blue. It doesn’t fit into the logical processors, but that’s life, Data. Part of being human is dealing with the unexpected, new experiences that don’t fit into your preconceptions. Yeah, I don't know anything about this. You're right. I am curious to learn more. So, let’s look into it. She’s at Ten Forward. It looks like she’s having a little drink with some rice and salad, working on her pad. Data stands over the table, and she goes, yes, Data?

 

He goes, I think I’d like to get to know you better, mother, he even says. She kinda laughs. She’s very overjoyed, bites her bottom lip. We go to commercial, come back, and they're walking. She’s talking. She’s talking about…yeah, how did we decide…we debated about a lot of things, and we went back and forth. But Noonien really made you in his own image, I think. Then he’s going to Deanna Troi’s office, which we don’t see the scene, but she’s very pleased. He goes, why are you so pleased? She goes, well, I know you had a program for sweaty backs and longing looks, and…so, I assume that’s what you're doing. He goes, no, no, she’s a therapist. She goes, yeah, sure she is. But this kinda jumps back to like, did I dream all this with Season 1 and Tasha Yar and Data having a relationship? A physical-based relationship, but still.

 

I still don't know if that was something that I just projected on or actually was true or was in fanfic, but I think it’s true. I think it was true that they did have some sort of relationship that at least was alluded to. But he’s just going to talk to Troi for personal reasons or professional personal reasons, you know. She’s seeing her as professional. Here’s a tip for me in any other timelines; don’t walk to any therapy appointments with your mom. Just probably…even on a starship. I mean, obviously I wouldn't…I would only be a civilian 'cause I wouldn't qualify for Starfleet, but even if I’m somebody else…this is no offense to my mom. I mean, I guess now she probably goes with me to every therapy appointment.

 

But probably don’t go to any therapy…I mean, here’s the thing; don’t…I don't know if I need to walk to any therapy appointments with anybody. It’s not mom-specific. It’s just, yeah, I don't know if that’s a great plan. ‘Cause then you say, well…so, yeah, just for future and past reference. Okay, now Data and his mother are working together. She’s physically comfortable. She puts her arm around him. They're working on the infusion units. There’s some instability. You gotta check the density of the rock layers. Geordie’s also ready. He says, okay, I got it. So, Geordie’s at a standing workstation. Data and his mom are…and he says thank you or something. She goes, oh, I’m glad the manners program worked. She goes, you used to have no manners. So, this is kind of cute.

 

But, I don't know, it was so cute that I just didn’t…again, I was still…I mean, I was looking in the wrong direction. But it’s like, something’s not right here. Or is she just so happy to be with Data? I guess it makes sense from a certain standpoint. So, she immediately wants to…oh, you're friends with Geordie. You're polite with him. Let me…you used to not say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. She goes, you used to be rude. Geordie’s like, Data rude? She goes, that was the least of the things. Data…she says, I don't want to embarrass you. Data says, I’m incapable of embarrassment. Geordie says…sits down on the console. He says, tell me all about it. She says, well, you didn’t like really wearing clothes, so, you used to run around without clothes, and the colonists did not like that. Geordie doesn't even start cracking up.

 

I don't know how he keeps…she goes, we told you to dress up. You said, why? I’m a android. I don't need to dress up. So, we put a modesty sub-routine in there to help you keep your clothes on. She cracks up. Geordie…Riker calls. We're in synchronous orbit. Okay, so, then we get a shot of Riker. We gotta do a nineteen-second phaser. Okay, this is another part that threw me off. Also it throws off…it doesn't really get…it doesn't become part of the plot, but her partner…I forget his name. Her husband, he doesn't trust androids totally, with…I mean, of all things; I don't trust androids with math and calculations. It’s like, dude…Riker’s like, Data knows what he’s doing. Well, he’s a machine. How would he know exact calculations? Somebody should double check.

 

Riker says, he doesn't need double-checking, and we're not gonna double check. So, they go and they do the first plasma magma thing. She’s watching. Okay, five seconds…her and Data are working side by side again. Okay, we got through. Worf gets a couple lines. Pocket seems stable. Okay, so this is where I started to think something’s up, because this guy doesn't like androids or doesn't trust them with math. Sorry, I find that so funny. But…say, what, are you gonna trust a human? If it was someone that went to school when I went to school…oh, did I tell you I became friends with a math teacher? One of my brother’s close friends, who was already…but he’s a math teacher, a really good one. So, that’s great for the kids he teaches.

 

But…and I had good math…anyway, just…I said, an android’s not gonna be good at math? What world are we living in, man? What, are you from 19…whatever…whenever I was around, 1990s and 1980s? So, that just kinda…I thought that would be part of the plot, and so, I thought something…a miscalculation was gonna happen, and maybe it was gonna be on purpose on accident, but I was wrong again. So, Data and his mom were working side by side. Riker says, really good. Then we…he looks over at…his figures were perfect, Mister Androids Aren't Good With Math. Alright, we're at 300 degrees Celsius. Okay, we gotta let that cool. Then we can go in there. So, they did some tunnelling. His mom is beaming. Then she goes, you got any plans to celebrate our successful drilling?

 

Let’s hang out. This would have been a good montage. Let me see your quarters. He says, my room, mom? Come on. So, she goes to the room. She listens to him play violin, and she’s doing some really deep listening, 'cause her eyes are closed, she’s got one finger on her chin, and she’s kinda swaying, barely swaying with the music as Data really gets to it. Wow, he’s really tickling those…not ivories, but…she’s…oh, she’s also moving her fingers now almost like she’s doing notes. She leans her head back, claps her hands, big smile. He says, I got a recital tomorrow. She goes, that’s beautiful. He goes, well, I’m technically flawless. I’ve been told that before. No one says that my playing’s beautiful; just technically flawless. He goes, are you complimenting me just 'cause you're my mom? She laughs at that.

 

So, it is…I guess in retrospect there’s a lot of cuteness to this one. He goes, I’ve been told humans exaggerate with their kids and with vanity. She goes, well, maybe a little bit, but…and she goes, yeah, the whole creative program was my idea, right, to have you be creative. He goes…expressing yourself. Data says…he goes, oh, I don't know for certain, but I believe it was during my creative endeavors that I come closest to experiencing what it’s like to be human. This ends up being a very important statement for the rest of the episode. She goes, well, I’m glad I insisted. He goes, as am I. Oh, he puts away his thing. She goes, what do you think about me playing in the recital with you? He says…man, Data’s more…he says, sure. She goes, well, we’ll have to practice. Do you have a viola? He goes, I could replicate one right now.

 

He goes, computer, replicate one viola. He doesn't specify any more, but I guess maybe the computer already is familiar. Then she’s looking at paintings he does. He’s trying to master all known styles of painting. There’s actually a painting behind her, too, on the wall. Early French impressionist…we don’t see any of the paintings she’s looking at until she says, who’s this? That’s Lal, my daughter. Her painting’s kinda done in a eighties…he goes, yeah, I created her using myself as a model. You got a daughter? I haven't met her? Where is she? She’s non-functioning. Her positronic matrix was not quite up to…it didn’t function as predicted. In a sense, you were her grandmother. She’s kinda taken aback by that. Then he switches subjects. How about we practice now? Yeah, sure, of course.

 

So, then they go to Ten Forward to practice, and we get a kind of a extended practice session. They're really…they're not jamming, but they really are…it feels like they're jamming even though they're playing a very technical piece, I believe. They finish up. Acoustics in Ten Forward are most favorable. So, she’s very concerned with Data trying to create other androids. Data says, yeah, I wanted to create something in my own likeness, I guess. I still have that wish. She goes, well, what if it’s non-functioning, too? A positronic matrix is tricky. Your father worked on several prototypes before Lore. Data says, that’s news to me. Wait a second, what? She turns away. There was three other prototypes, also. It wasn’t easy. They were like children, too, like it sounds like with Lal.

 

Then Noonien wanted to try again, and I was against it 'cause, yeah, we believe the androids are sentient beings with consciousness. But your father was sure…and that he could figure it out and create a stable matrix, which he did. But Lore wasn’t kind. Eventually we kinda had to turn Lore off. But your father kept at it, yet another android who didn’t…one without emotions. I couldn't believe he’d want to try again. Data said, I am that android. Are you against my…are you against me being created? She goes, no, I was wrong. I know that now. She holds his arms and his hands. I’ve been…I followed your…I’ve been keeping up on you even though I didn’t realize you'd be here, or maybe I did. Why did you never try to contact me? Well, I felt bad about that whole thing.

 

Remember I said there was only two…room for two in the escape pod? Well, maybe I could help with your guilt. What is it? She goes, well, I wasn’t telling the truth exactly. There was room for you, but, yeah, I chose…I said, yeah, let’s not take Data. Let’s leave him behind, and…'cause you weren't active. I thought if we activated…it’s like, I just was…it was 'cause of Lore. I didn’t want another Lore on our hands, especially on another planet or something. So, that’s why we left you behind. She touches his lips and goes away in tears and out of Ten Forward. Data stares after her, and he thinks. Thoughtful…his eyes kinda move. We go to commercial. We're at the halfway point. Now they're back working on the planet. Four kilometers of the magma, but there’s feedback pulses on the particle beam. Magnesite ore or something.

 

We're gonna have to recalculate and we're gonna have to do a new shaft if it doesn't work. There’s no other place we could do a shaft. I’m the geologist. Give me a few seconds. Let me do a quick program here. She manages to reprogram it very quickly. I got lucky, hit the right frequency. Alright, Data’s suddenly like, wait a second, what’s happening? Cut off the beam. So, again, I said, she’s up to something. Data says, okay, there’s no signs of instability. They say, okay, let’s get in there, man. Let’s get to work. Riker says, Data, Dr. Trainer, let’s head down there. Okay. Then we get a shot of the Enterprise doing some scanning. They're working down at the plasma, working on these plasma units and stuff like that. She’s sweating a lot, which they do a close up. Data’s observing it. Interesting, she’s sweating a lot.

 

Well, we are working by magma, so, gonna be warm for sure, more that likely. Also, it’s a lot of work. Then the husband says, Data, good job. Also, Juliana told me she left you behind. Please don’t be upset with her. Data goes, I’m incapable of being upset. Pran is his name. She’s like, Pran, why are you getting in between me and Data’s business? She goes, I think Data can understand my reasons. He says, I’m not certain I do. Can you clarify them for me? She goes…he goes, if I…you really left me behind? Would you do that to anybody else? She goes, oh, Data, how can I answer that? He goes, well, I get the impression you're trying to spare my feelings. Could you just be honest? I assure you that you don’t have to spare my feelings. She goes, well, you're just gonna misunderstand me.

 

She goes, yeah, if you were organic, it probably would have been different. He goes, what, are you…you prefer biology over artificiality? She goes, no, no, I love every android we worked with, even Lore. I loved Lore. It was hard turning Lore off, but…and I didn’t want you to be Lore and have to turn you off, too. So…shakes her head. Yeah, I couldn't deal with it, and I guess it’s simple. I’m not trying to justify my behavior. So, again, great example-setting. I’m sorry I behaved the way I did. I hope you believe me. He goes, okay, I do. Thank you for making it clear to me. Pran’s just staring. He nods at Data. Data nods back at him. Then we go to their recital, and everybody’s sitting there enjoying it. It looks like there’s some dude in a suit next to Troi. I don't know who that is.

 

Maybe he’s a guest from the planet or a visiting businessperson? But they're really nailing it. A lot of fast playing. I can't even remember if it’s Haydn or what it is. We get a shot of Picard and Geordie listening in their own ways, Dr. Crusher, even, Troi. I don't know if we…do we get Riker paying attention? Some people have got table seats, too, so they have a little dinner-and-drink show. They bow after the performance. There’s something not right with Data. He’s still carrying his violin, and he wants to meet with Dr. Crusher to see his mother’s trace pattern…so I could see kinda everything about her. She goes, that’s not really within my bounds to allow you that kind of information. He goes, well, I can't give you a reason.

 

But she says, okay, Data, I’ll allow you to look at her trace pattern and see everything about her biological makeup. She’s F67, Dr. Trainer. She goes, she looks great. Her makeup…her trace pattern looks great. Nothing strange. Data says, okay, interesting. Not what I expected. Data says, I have reason to believe she’s not who she claims to be. Bridge to Data. Go ahead. So, the mystery’s still been going now. Then Riker says, by the way, Data, we gotta get down to the planet. We got something. Data goes off. We go to commercial. Him and his mother are there. Pran had a issue with the infusion unit. He stubbed his toe. But things are not going well down there; a little shaky. We gotta fix up one of the pockets. We got twelve hours to do it. Okay, we gotta get down there and configure some units, then, and inject plasma.

 

Riker says, I don't know about sending anybody down there. Juliana says, it has to be now. The core’s gonna…we gotta do it. Riker says, alright, you and Data go, but quickly, please. So, they go down there. They energize. They're carrying some sort of scanning boxes or something with them, and there’s…the transporter poles or markers, one of them’s already falling over. Data, he does pick it back up. So, maybe you only need one to find your way, but…and also I’m noticing…so, they go up a little bit of a…they have to do a little walking around. Oh yeah, they're using the tricorders to try to find the equipment, I guess. There’s a little bit of rock-and-roll going on. So, they say, we gotta hurry up here. So, they go looking. They're trying to find the equipment, and they…oh, those are flashlights they're holding. Oh, a tricorder.

 

Maybe…I guess a tricorder has a flashlight built in? Maybe. That would make sense. They find the equipment. I think it even has a seat. There’s two different units, a plasma injector and a plasma focuser or something. Okay, the infuser…we have to restart the infuser and…infuser and run the programming sequence and prime it. Alright, let’s re-install the stream buffer. Riker to Data. Things are not…they're shaky down here, but we're trying to get it done. We're expediating our work. Okay, now we gotta realign the diverter. A little more shaking. Data, everything okay, Riker calls? Yeah, kind of. We're almost done. We're gonna go to the beam-out point shortly. They get it done, so then they get ready to head out to the beam-out point. They find their way is no longer passable and that it’s a jump.

 

This is where I said…and all the beam-out things, the pattern enhancers are…they're too far below…they have to be by the pattern enhancers. Data says, don't worry, we’ll just jump down there, which is not possible. So, I don't quite understand…I guess if Data jumped and caught me, I’d do it. But they go down, and then we find out…wait a second, she’s a robot or an android or something, 'cause she…so, we go to commercial and we see her blinking. Then we go back to Med Bay. Geordie says, she’s a Soong android, except everything about her is designed to make you think she’s human. She’s got tear ducts, sweat glands — Dr. Crusher is very impressed — capillaries, the whole nine yards. Scanner reads her as human. It’s got a feedback processor. It sends out a false bio signal.

 

She’s got a aging program, so she ages like Data. Vital signs change. What I can't figure out is why she’s sleeping. They say, everything should be functioning. She should be awake. Let’s take a look at her positronic matrix for a cascade. Riker says, you knew she was an android, huh? Data says, yeah. At first we were digging…I saw her performing complex calculations without the assistance of a computer. Could have been good at math, maybe. Got my attention, though. Then later I noticed the way she blinked her eyes. The intervals between blinks was governed by the four-three system or whatever, the same mathematical pattern that makes it seem like I’m blinking randomly. Only you could have noticed that, Data. Yeah, and then in Ten Forward, we practiced the piece.

 

She played it the exact same way during the performance. Every intonation, every pitch the same. Only a artificial lifeform could do that. Does her husband know she’s artificial? No, I don't think they do. He’s working on the surface of the planet. Okay, well…then Geordie says, Data, check this out. You got something hidden in here, a positronics matrix. It’s some sort of information module. Well, that’s got a holographic interface, so hold on a second. So, Data puts it in some sort of slide. Then he actually is allowed to do this privately. He fires it up, and who does appear…who doth appear but a lookalike, Dr. Noonien Soong, who says, yeah, did you figure out Juliana? Yeah. Okay, this hologram will answer your questions, then. I’m Noonien Soong. I created Juliana. I’m Data. Then he’s like, Data?

 

Oh wow, I have a whole program for you. Great, my son. I hoped you’d find out and that it would be you. He looks Data over and he goes, yeah, I got a response program. Yes, I’m wearing something like a quilt, by the way, like a quilt-like shirt. He walks around Data, holds his hands. How are you doing? I am fine, Data says. I’m glad you got the chance to meet your mom. Doctor, you refer to her as my mom, yet the complexity of her design indicates she was created after me. He goes, you got that right. After she broke up with me, I created an artificial version of her. Yeah, there was a real version of her. Well, technically she didn’t break up with me, right? She worked with me, and then I uploaded her…I said, okay…she said, well, I think I’m gonna make…the Crystalline Entity, you know?

 

Made it to Terlina III, but…yeah, it was…she had been crystallized. So, I built an android, put her memory in there, snapped…I perfected my synaptic scanning techniques, so I transferred Juliana into the android, positronic matrix. Wasn’t sure if it would work, but I tried. I couldn't lose her. She was the only woman I ever loved. Data moves at that. Then a few days…I activated her, and lo and behold, she breaks up with me. Could you believe that, Data? At first she looked at me and smiled when first…and she recognized me when I activated her. It had worked, but…yeah, not the way I planned. So, I mean, it was great but not so great. So, you never told her she was an android? No. Why would I? No reason for her to know. I want her to be happy. Data says, well, what about me, man?

 

He goes, well, I wanted me and her to be happy. He goes, briefly we were, but then…yeah, no. He goes, what happened anyway? He said, I guess it was my work. I made a terrible mistake. I never told her that I loved her. That’s all…and every…this happens every time in these shows. So, that was it. She moved on to somebody that could spend more time with her, but the real Juliana would have done the same thing, so it proves how great my work was. Does she need to know she’s a android? He says, no. If she finds out the truth, she’ll turn off. So, if you put that chip back in, she won't even remember anything. She’ll just think she was sleep…just tell her she was taking a nap and she stubbed her toe. So, she shouldn’t know the truth, then? Noonien says, the truth, man? What’s the truth?

 

The truth is in every way that matters, she is Juliana Soong. So…or MacDonald or whatever. Yeah, at some point…yeah, she has a aging program. So, let her live out her days believing she was human. Come on, Data. It’s up to you. Please make a great choice. Data seems…in his brilliance, he doesn't try to figure it out on his own. He tries to get help. So, he says, what should I do? So, he talks to Troi, Crusher, and Picard. They kinda weigh out what Soong said. Okay, well, does that preclude her being happy? Data, what do you think? Picard says, I’m not sure. I understand why father did what he did, but I’m more concerned what’s best for her. Wouldn't she be better off knowing the truth, Crusher says, coming to terms with that? Troi says, no. She’s…no. She’s been…thinks she’s human the whole time, her whole life.

 

This is not good. Then Picard says, but she might find out in the future, so maybe it’s easier for her to find out from you. Data thinks about it. Crusher says, I’d rather find out from my son than somebody on another starship somewhere else. Data says, okay, well, I’m having difficulty separating what would be best for her and what would be best for me, 'cause I’d love to have another android to hang with and relate to. Then I’d have something to share with somebody and wouldn't be the only positronic android. Troi says, hm, okay, Data. I know this means a lot to you, but at the same time, you wanted to be human, and she gets to be human. So, she’s kinda already Pinnochio’d, and you've never been Pinnochio’d. Picard says, that’s a difficult one. Do what you think is best, Data. We’ll support you.

 

Data thinks, moves his eyes, nods a little bit, puts the chip back in, places it very gently, puts her dome back on, and she wakes up. She’s like, Data? Hey. What happened, and where have I been? He says, right here. She goes, we had to jump or something, right? You caught me? Oh yeah, I caught you, but you stubbed your toe, so you needed to nap for a while, and…but it’s all fine now. Dr. Crusher took good care of you while you were napping. He says, everything is fine. She looks at him and smiles. Captain’s log, supplemental. Plasma-infused…Atrea IV accomplished. A molten core…hundreds of years. Data says goodbye to his mom. When am I gonna see you again? Maybe I could visit you the next time I have a vacation. I’d love that. She goes, well, I gotta go. Then Data says, wait, one thing.

 

There’s something I think you should know. My father told me — and then he pauses — that he only had one great love in his life, and that he regretted never telling her how much he loved her. He goes, I’m certain he was talking about you. She kinda seems a little taken aback, and she goes, that’s good to know. A little bit confusing, you know, 'cause I gotta go back to this husband Pram or whatever, named after Pram. On Atrea they say a child from parents who love each other will have nothing but goodness in their heart, and I guess that makes sense, 'cause you're so great, Data. I love you. I love you, mom. How about you kiss me on my cheek goodbye, until we see each other again? So, she kisses him very slowly. So, they're both kind of filled with some sort of strange emotion, and then she beams out.

 

Take care of yourself, son. Goodbye, mother. We go back and forth. She energizes, and she heads off to another planet, and Data kinda watched her go. A long pause on that last shot, too. Then we see the Enterprise. So, a pretty great episode as far as when you think about Data and positronic matrixes. I don't know, a couple good life lessons in there. I hope this carries you off into dreamland. Goodnight.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)

Snore Trek

 

Shopping Carts

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/29/nx-s1-5340722/the-history-of-the-shopping-cart

https://historyfacts.com/science-industry/fact/people-hated-shopping-carts-when-invented/

https://www.history.com/articles/shopping-cart-inventor-sylvan-goldman-supermarkets

 

TNG Season 7 Episode 10

https://www.avclub.com/star-trek-the-next-generation-force-of-nature-inhe-1798169993

https://www.jammersreviews.com/st-tng/s7/inheritance.php

https://latetothegame.blog/2020/09/05/retro-tv-review-star-trek-tng-ssn-7-episode-ten-inheritance-2/

 

Determining Sentience

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-purpose/202501/how-sentience-emerged-from-the-ancient-mists-of-evolution

https://theconversation.com/ai-isnt-close-to-becoming-sentient-the-real-danger-lies-in-how-easily-were-prone-to-anthropomorphize-it-200525

https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/sentient-ai

 

Earth’s molten core

https://earthsciences.anu.edu.au/research/research-projects/earths-inner-core

https://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/Phys-earth-core.html

https://science.nasa.gov/earth/facts/

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Empty space is its own final frontier

This might work differently than you expect

This is the Me Greeting Part

Talking about an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation

Different Star Trek episodes around a common theme

 

PLUGS

Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline

 

SPONSORS

Helix Sleep; Zocdoc

 

INTRO

Thinking thoughts, of course

Changes in work, guests, or travel

A lot of differences but also similarities

There’s something deeper that I can’t quite put into words

The community of listeners

Thinking of you fondly, wishing you well

You deserve a bedtime without rigamarole

Perhaps you have a reasonable expectation of what a sleep podcast is

sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou

The way the show works

Maybe I already said all this, I don’t know

Just barely listen to it

Not quite as meaningless as background noise

It’s okay if you’re just not that interested

A boring friend you don’t have to pay attention to

I’m here whether you sleep or not

Your Bore Seb

Borebae, what’s that?

Explaining the show structure

We’re grateful for people who support the show directly

Easing you into bedtime

A Data-centric episode

I’m glad you’re here

 

STORY

Captain’s Log Stardate 47410.2

TNG Season 7 Episode 10

It’s technically called “Inheritance” but I have a simpler name for it

Headed to help some geologists

The geologists happen to be married

The molten core of this planet is cooling

13 months to fix it

Isobaric Fissures

Data thinks it’s simple: reliquify the core

Theroplasmic Infusion to reheat the core

That’ll keep things molten for centuries

Do some geological surveys before commencing

One geologist wants to speak with Data

Dr. Juliana Tainer

She helped create Data!

In a way, she’s his mother

Data reacts with a slight twitch

Having tea in Ten Forward

They wiped his memories of her

What are his earliest memories?

Activated on Omicron Theta

Data’s “Childhood”

100 kg baby

Constant tinkering to make Data as human as possible

They wiped his memory after his childhood

They wanted to  take him, but there wasn’t room on the escape pod

Juliana and Noonian, Data’s parents

Nonnian has passed into another dimension

It might just be me, but I don’t buy mom’s story?

Spoiler, Scoots is wrong again, never a spoiler

Noonian Sung

How come she doesn’t know NS is gone?

She says she misses him

NS loved his work more than Juliana

Data draws his boundaries very clearly

He wants to corroborate his story before getting to know her better

Data and Geordi are working and chatting

Data is skeptical, so he’s researching

JT is in some records, but Data is still skeptical

Data doesn’t know how to reconcile this

What about Data’s emotion chip?

Being alive is to deal with new experiences that don’t fit into preconceptions

Data meets JT at Ten Forward

He agrees to get to know his mother better

They’re walking and talking

Noonian made Data in his own image

Didn’t Data have a physical relationship with Tasha Yar? 

That might’ve been my own fan fic

He’s talking to Troy for professional reasons

Here’s a tip. Don’t walk to any therapy appointments with your mom.

Or anybody, to be honest

Data and his mother are working on the infusion units together

It’s so cute, that it just doesn’t seem right

Data used to be rude, apparently

The manners chip works

A modesty subroutine was installed so Data kept his clothes on

Cut to Riker

JT’s husband doesn’t trust androids with math and calculations

That’s a weird thing to be skeptical of

One of my brother’s close friends became a math teacher

I can’t believe that someone wouldn’t think that an android is good at math

I had a hunch about how this would play out, but again I was wrong

Beginning some tunneling

Mom is proud of Data

She deeply listens to him play violin

Wow, he’s really tickling those…strings?

He has a recital tomorrow

HIs playing is technically flawless, not beautiful

In retrospect, there’s a lot of cuteness

The whole creative program was her idea

She offers to play with him tomorrow

He replicates a viola for her

Looking at some of his paintings

She learns about Data’s no-longer-functioning daughter

In a sense, she’s a grandmother

An extended practice session at Ten Forward

It feels like they’re jamming even though they’re not

She’s very concerned with him creating other androids

Noonian made three other prototypes before Lore!

Data didn’t know this

Making a positronic matrix is really hard

They believed that androids were sentient beings

They were going to stop after Lore, but they made one more emotionless one (Data)

She’s been secretly keeping tabs on him

There was room for Data on that escape pod, but she didn’t want to take him

They didn’t want another Lore on their hands

She goes away in tears

Back to working on the planet

4 kilometers into the magma, but they’re getting feedback pulses on the particle beam

There’s no backup plan

JT manages to reprogram it quickly and it works

Data is confused

She’s up to something…but what?

No signs of instability now

Let’s head down and get to work

JT is sweating a lot

The husband compliments Data

JT doesn’t want her husband to get in between her and Data’s business

Data wants to know why she left him behind

Do you prefer biology over artificiality?

She didn’t want to have to turn him off

She apologizes for how she behaved

Cut to their performance at Ten Forward

He’s still carrying his violin

He wants Dr. Crusher to trace JT’s pattern so he can no more

Nothing strange about JT’s trace pattern

Data thinks she’s not who she claims to be

They have to go back to the planet

Pran stubbed his toe on the diffusion unit

Time to inject some plasma

JT says it has to be now, which is risky

JT and Data will go quickly to energize the plasma

A little bit of rock and roll going on

They’ve gotta move quickly

Restart the infuser

Reinstall the stream buffer

They’re expediating their work

Head to the Beam Out Point!

They have to jump down

Wait a second, JT is an android!!!

She’s a Sung android!

She’s designed to appear human

Sweat glands, tear ducts, a feedback processor that sends out a false biosignal

Everything functions, but why is she asleep

Data had suspected she was an android

She blinks in the same random pattern as Data

She played her violin in the exact same way twice

Her husband doesn’t know she’s an android

An info module is hidden in her positronic matrix

Data views this slide privately

A Noonian Sung lookalike appears

He talks to an AI hologram of Sung

A quilt-like shirt

She was actually created after 

She got crystallized, so he made an android copy of her

He activated her, but then she broke up with him

It worked, just not as expected

He never told her she was an android

Data feels conflicted about this

He never told JT that he loved her

The real JT would’ve done the same thing, so NS knows his work was great

If Data tells JT the truth, then she’ll automatically turn off

Just let her live out her days, believing she’s human

She has a built-in aging chip

Data asks for advice from the Enterprise crew

Data is more concerned with what’s best for JT

What’s best for Data vs what’s best for JT

He’d love to have someone to hang out with

She’s already been Pinocchio-ed

Data turns JT back on and she comes to

Data says that everything is fine

Data doesn’t tell JT the truth

Maybe they’ll visit each other soon

Data tells her…that NS loved her

JT and Data say that they love each other

They’re both filled with a strange kind of emotion

A long pause as Data contemplates her going away

A couple good life lessons in this one

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1415

Title: Data's Mom | Snore Trek TNG S7 E10

Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline

Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc

Notable Language:

• Your Bore Seb
• Data-centric
• Isobaric Fissures
• Theroplasmic Infusion
• Expediating
• Beam Out Point
• Quilt-Like Shirt (QLS)
• Pinocchio-ed

 

Notable Culture:

• Star Trek

• Star Trek: The Next Generation

• sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
• Pinocchio

 

Notable Talking Points:

• Thinking thoughts, of course
• Changes in work, guests, or travel
• A lot of differences but also similarities
• There’s something deeper that I can’t quite put into words
• The community of listeners
• Thinking of you fondly, wishing you well
• You deserve a bedtime without rigamarole
• Perhaps you have a reasonable expectation of what a sleep podcast is
• sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
• The way the show works
• Maybe I already said all this, I don’t know
• Just barely listen to it
• Not quite as meaningless as background noise
• It’s okay if you’re just not that interested
• A boring friend you don’t have to pay attention to
• I’m here whether you sleep or not
• Your Bore Seb
• Borebae, what’s that?
• Explaining the show structure
• We’re grateful for people who support the show directly
• Easing you into bedtime
• A Data-centric episode
• I’m glad you’re here
• Captain’s Log Stardate 47410.2
• TNG Season 7 Episode 10
• It’s technically called “Inheritance” but I have a simpler name for it
• Headed to help some geologists
• The geologists happen to be married
• The molten core of this planet is cooling
• 13 months to fix it
• Isobaric Fissures
• Data thinks it’s simple: reliquify the core
• Theroplasmic Infusion to reheat the core
• That’ll keep things molten for centuries
• Do some geological surveys before commencing
• One geologist wants to speak with Data
• Dr. Juliana Tainer
• She helped create Data!
• In a way, she’s his mother
• Data reacts with a slight twitch
• Having tea in Ten Forward
• They wiped his memories of her
• What are his earliest memories?
• Activated on Omicron Theta
• Data’s “Childhood”
• 100 kg baby
• Constant tinkering to make Data as human as possible
• They wiped his memory after his childhood
• They wanted to  take him, but there wasn’t room on the escape pod
• Juliana and Noonian, Data’s parents
• Nonnian has passed into another dimension
• It might just be me, but I don’t buy mom’s story?
• Spoiler, Scoots is wrong again, never a spoiler
• Noonian Sung
• How come she doesn’t know NS is gone?
• She says she misses him
• NS loved his work more than Juliana
• Data draws his boundaries very clearly
• He wants to corroborate his story before getting to know her better
• Data and Geordi are working and chatting
• Data is skeptical, so he’s researching
• JT is in some records, but Data is still skeptical
• Data doesn’t know how to reconcile this
• What about Data’s emotion chip?
• Being alive is to deal with new experiences that don’t fit into preconceptions
• Data meets JT at Ten Forward
• He agrees to get to know his mother better
• They’re walking and talking
• Noonian made Data in his own image
• Didn’t Data have a physical relationship with Tasha Yar? 
• That might’ve been my own fan fic
• He’s talking to Troy for professional reasons
• Here’s a tip. Don’t walk to any therapy appointments with your mom.
• Or anybody, to be honest
• Data and his mother are working on the infusion units together
• It’s so cute, that it just doesn’t seem right
• Data used to be rude, apparently
• The manners chip works
• A modesty subroutine was installed so Data kept his clothes on
• Cut to Riker
• JT’s husband doesn’t trust androids with math and calculations
• That’s a weird thing to be skeptical of
• One of my brother’s close friends became a math teacher
• I can’t believe that someone wouldn’t think that an android is good at math
• I had a hunch about how this would play out, but again I was wrong
• Beginning some tunneling
• Mom is proud of Data
• She deeply listens to him play violin
• Wow, he’s really tickling those…strings?
• He has a recital tomorrow
• HIs playing is technically flawless, not beautiful
• In retrospect, there’s a lot of cuteness
• The whole creative program was her idea
• She offers to play with him tomorrow
• He replicates a viola for her
• Looking at some of his paintings
• She learns about Data’s no-longer-functioning daughter
• In a sense, she’s a grandmother
• An extended practice session at Ten Forward
• It feels like they’re jamming even though they’re not
• She’s very concerned with him creating other androids
• Noonian made three other prototypes before Lore!
• Data didn’t know this
• Making a positronic matrix is really hard
• They believed that androids were sentient beings
• They were going to stop after Lore, but they made one more emotionless one (Data)
• She’s been secretly keeping tabs on him
• There was room for Data on that escape pod, but she didn’t want to take him
• They didn’t want another Lore on their hands
• She goes away in tears
• Back to working on the planet
• 4 kilometers into the magma, but they’re getting feedback pulses on the particle beam
• There’s no backup plan
• JT manages to reprogram it quickly and it works
• Data is confused
• She’s up to something…but what?
• No signs of instability now
• Let’s head down and get to work
• JT is sweating a lot
• The husband compliments Data
• JT doesn’t want her husband to get in between her and Data’s business
• Data wants to know why she left him behind
• Do you prefer biology over artificiality?
• She didn’t want to have to turn him off
• She apologizes for how she behaved
• Cut to their performance at Ten Forward
• He’s still carrying his violin
• He wants Dr. Crusher to trace JT’s pattern so he can no more
• Nothing strange about JT’s trace pattern
• Data thinks she’s not who she claims to be
• They have to go back to the planet
• Pran stubbed his toe on the diffusion unit
• Time to inject some plasma
• JT says it has to be now, which is risky
• JT and Data will go quickly to energize the plasma
• A little bit of rock and roll going on
• They’ve gotta move quickly
• Restart the infuser
• Reinstall the stream buffer
• They’re expediating their work
• Head to the Beam Out Point!
• They have to jump down
• Wait a second, JT is an android!!!
• She’s a Sung android!
• She’s designed to appear human
• Sweat glands, tear ducts, a feedback processor that sends out a false biosignal
• Everything functions, but why is she asleep
• Data had suspected she was an android
• She blinks in the same random pattern as Data
• She played her violin in the exact same way twice
• Her husband doesn’t know she’s an android
• An info module is hidden in her positronic matrix
• Data views this slide privately
• A Noonian Sung lookalike appears
• He talks to an AI hologram of Sung
• A quilt-like shirt
• She was actually created after 
• She got crystallized, so he made an android copy of her
• He activated her, but then she broke up with him
• It worked, just not as expected
• He never told her she was an android
• Data feels conflicted about this
• He never told JT that he loved her
• The real JT would’ve done the same thing, so NS knows his work was great
• If Data tells JT the truth, then she’ll automatically turn off
• Just let her live out her days, believing she’s human
• She has a built-in aging chip
• Data asks for advice from the Enterprise crew
• Data is more concerned with what’s best for JT
• What’s best for Data vs what’s best for JT
• He’d love to have someone to hang out with
• She’s already been Pinocchio-ed
• Data turns JT back on and she comes to
• Data says that everything is fine
• Data doesn’t tell JT the truth
• Maybe they’ll visit each other soon
• Data tells her…that NS loved her
• JT and Data say that they love each other
• They’re both filled with a strange kind of emotion
• A long pause as Data contemplates her going away
• A couple good life lessons in this one