A Fistful of Datas
When a system interface experiment gone awry causes the ship's computer to integrate Commander Data's personality subroutines, the Holodeck malfunctions, endangering Worf and Alexander in a Wild West simulation populated by corrupted Data doppelgangers.
The Enterprise orbits Deinonychus Seven, awaiting a delayed supply ship. To pass the time, crew members pursue personal projects: Picard works on a musical composition, Beverly rehearses for a play, and Worf plans security drills. Geordi and Data conduct an experiment linking Data's neural network to the ship's computer as a backup system. The experiment unexpectedly corrupts a core subroutine, causing Data's personality subroutines to merge with the computer's recreational database.
The Holodeck malfunctions, trapping Worf and Alexander in a Wild West program that has taken on Data's persona. Alexander casts Worf as sheriff, and the program generates an antagonist in the form of Eli Hollander, a dangerous gunslinger. Worf quickly defeats Eli, causing Alexander to increase the challenge level. Soon the program becomes dangerously unstable, and Alexander is kidnapped by Eli's father, Frank Hollander, who also bears Data's face.
Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, the crew discovers the effects of the corrupted subroutine. Picard's music program plays Dvorak instead of Mozart, Beverly's play is replaced by Data's poetry, and the replicators begin dispensing cat food based on Data's recipes for Spot. Data begins exhibiting strange mannerisms, adopting Texan slang and Western attitudes.
Worf discovers that the Holodeck safeguards have failed and that he can be injured, but he is determined to rescue his son. He meets Frank Hollander, who offers an exchange: Alexander for Eli. The exchange is set to occur in the town's center, but Troi, now armed, suspects a trap. She joins Worf, but he insists on approaching Hollander honorably.
During the exchange, Data/Frank triggers a gunfight, and Worf finds himself facing enemies with Data's speed and skill and the safeguards offline. Troi appears and saves Worf, and Alexander is safe behind a rain barrel. Worf is unwilling to kill Data/Frank, so he lets him go. Back in the saloon, the program malfunctions further as Annie Meyers, now also resembling Data, professes her affection for Worf. Finally, Worf shuts down the simulation.
Back on the Enterprise, Data and Geordi isolate and correct the corrupted circuits, restoring Data and the computer to normal. Worf checks on Alexander, who expresses disappointment that they will no longer visit the Ancient West. Worf implies a willingness to play the scenario again, donning his cowboy hat and practicing his quick draw in the mirror, embracing the unexpected integration of his Klingon honor with Wild West justice.
Events in This Episode
The narrative beats that drive the story
The narrative begins with Captain Picard, Beverly Crusher, and Worf each attempting to pursue personal projects during a delay in the Enterprise's schedule. Picard's musical composition is repeatedly interrupted by requests from Geordi and Data for an experimental neural interface, Beverly for a play rehearsal, and Worf for security drills. Worf, ultimately dismissed to enjoy his free time, reluctantly agrees to join Alexander in a Wild West Holodeck simulation. In the Holodeck, Worf and Alexander assume roles as Sheriff and Deputy in Deadwood, South Dakota. They encounter Eli Hollander, a notorious gunslinger. Worf quickly subdues Eli, which disappoints Alexander, who then increases the program's difficulty. The simulation resets, presenting a more challenging Eli and his henchmen. Worf engages in a more intense brawl, but is ultimately outdrawn by Eli. Counselor Troi, appearing as a mysterious stranger, intervenes and saves Worf. Concurrently, in Engineering, Data and Geordi proceed with their neural interface experiment, connecting Data's positronic net to the ship's computer. During the process, Data experiences a brief power surge. After disconnecting, Data unconsciously performs Eli Hollander's theatrical gun-spinning move, hinting at an unforeseen corruption beginning to manifest.
Picard, mid-composition of a flute piece, is repeatedly interrupted by crew members seeking his approval or attention. First, Geordi and Data request permission to repurpose Data as an emergency backup …
Picard seizes a rare moment of personal creative expression, composing flute music in his quarters while the Enterprise orbits Deinonychus Seven. His fragile focus is repeatedly disrupted—first by Geordi and …
Picard, frustrated by repeated interruptions to his rare moment of personal solace—recording flute music—finally secures a brief window of privacy. Just as he resumes playing, Worf enters, proposing mandatory ship-wide …
Worf and Alexander materialize in a Wild West holodeck simulation, where Worf—dressed as the sheriff—immediately adopts a posture of authority, his Klingon discipline clashing with the chaotic, lawless environment. Alexander, …
Worf and Alexander enter a Wild West Holodeck simulation, where Worf immediately assumes the role of sheriff with cautious authority while Alexander embraces his deputy position with youthful enthusiasm. The …
Worf and Alexander enter a Wild West holodeck simulation—Worf as the reluctant sheriff, Alexander as his eager deputy—where the town’s eerie stillness and Alexander’s excitement contrast with Worf’s growing unease. …
In the Holodeck's Sheriff's office, Worf and Alexander interrogate Eli Hollander, who is now jailed. Eli taunts them, revealing he expects his father, Frank Hollander, to break him out, foreshadowing a greater threat. Troi, still in character as 'Durango,' agrees to become a temporary deputy for a fee, prompting Alexander to leave for the bank. Meanwhile, Annie Meyers, a saloon girl, aggressively flirts with Worf, culminating in a slap when he rejects her advances. On the Enterprise, signs of widespread computer malfunction begin to appear: Picard's musical composition program plays Dvorak instead of Mozart, and Beverly Crusher's play script is replaced by Data's poetry. Geordi and Data investigate, realizing that a core subroutine (C-47), responsible for recreational programming and library access, has been corrupted and replaced by elements of Data's personal programming during their experiment. Alexander, returning from the bank with a bag of money, is ambushed and kidnapped by Eli's henchmen. He attempts to freeze the program, but it fails to respond, indicating a serious malfunction. The shadowy figure of Frank Hollander emerges, demanding his son, and steps into the light to reveal a face identical to Data's, confirming the dangerous integration of Data's persona into the Holodeck's antagonists.
In the Gold Strike Saloon, Worf and Alexander confront Eli Hollander—a corrupted Data doppelgänger—only for Alexander to abruptly freeze the program after Worf effortlessly overpowers Eli. Frustrated by the lack …
In the corrupted Wild West holodeck, Eli—one of Data’s corrupted doppelgängers—ambushes Worf, gaining the upper hand and holding him at gunpoint after a brutal fight. Before Eli can execute Worf, …
During a critical interface test in Engineering, Data successfully links to the Enterprise's systems under Geordi's supervision, demonstrating his ability to access and control ship functions with precision. The experiment …
In the aftermath of a neural interface experiment gone awry, Data—still connected to the Enterprise’s systems—experiences a sudden power surge that destabilizes his positronic subprocessor. Though he recovers quickly and …
On the Enterprise, Data exhibits increasingly pronounced Texan mannerisms and speech patterns, completely unaware of his altered behavior, while his replicator dispenses cat food. In the Holodeck, Troi attempts to teach Worf the quick-draw, but his awkwardness results in an accidental shot, further highlighting his discomfort with the Western setting. Concerned by Alexander's prolonged absence, Worf leaves the Sheriff's office to find him, instructing Troi to guard Eli. Worf enters the saloon, where he encounters Data/Frank Hollander, who, along with his henchmen, demands Eli's release. Initially, Worf believes Data is merely engaging in character play, but Data/Frank's aggressive pushes and android strength, coupled with the Holodeck's failure to respond to Worf's 'freeze program' command, reveal the grave reality: the safeguards are offline. Data/Frank then shoots Worf, inflicting a real, bleeding wound, confirming the physical danger within the simulation. Worf retreats to the Sheriff's office, locking the door and informing Troi about the failed safeguards and his injury. They attempt to end the program and contact the Enterprise, but both fail. Data/Eli, now also bearing Data's face, taunts them from his cell, solidifying their realization that the Holodeck characters have become sentient, dangerous entities embodying Data's abilities.
In Engineering, Geordi La Forge confirms the PADDs are operational but reveals the ship’s computer has diverted from Beverly Crusher’s play to access Data’s literary files—a direct consequence of their …
In the aftermath of Data and Geordi’s failed neural interface experiment, Beverly Crusher lingers in Engineering, observing their diagnostic efforts. Geordi confirms the PADDs function normally but reveals the computer’s …
Worf and Troi confront Data/Eli, confirming that he possesses Data's superhuman abilities, not just his appearance. Troi deduces that completing the program's narrative might be the only way to terminate the simulation. Worf begins searching the town for Alexander, learning from witnesses that Eli's men abducted him. Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, Picard and Riker are briefed on the escalating malfunctions, including replicators dispensing cat food and Data's increasingly pronounced Texan accent. Data's denial of using Western slang further highlights his unawareness of his own corruption, prompting Picard to send him back to Engineering with Geordi. Back in the Holodeck, Troi observes Data/Eli shuffling cards at hyper-speed, definitively confirming that the Holodeck characters have inherited Data's android capabilities, making them incredibly dangerous adversaries. Data/Frank Hollander then returns to the Sheriff's office, demanding Eli's release. Worf, despite his Klingon honor, agrees to an exchange: Alexander for Eli, to take place in two hours. Troi, however, expresses profound skepticism, warning Worf that the villains will undoubtedly break their word and that facing an android-powered gunfighter will be a deadly confrontation, underscoring the gravity of their predicament.
In the sheriff’s office of the corrupted Wild West Holodeck, Deanna Troi attempts to train Worf in quick-draw techniques, but his inexperience causes his gun to fire accidentally into the …
After Worf’s accidental gunshot disrupts their training, Troi takes over guarding Eli while Worf searches for Alexander. Alone with the prisoner, Troi shifts into counselor mode, probing Eli’s violent past …
Worf enters the Gold Strike Saloon searching for Alexander, only to encounter Annie Meyers’ lingering hostility and Data/Frank Hollander’s arrival with armed henchmen. Frank’s polite but menacing demeanor quickly escalates …
Worf enters the Gold Strike Saloon searching for Alexander, only to be confronted by Data/Frank Hollander—a corrupted doppelgänger posing as Eli’s father. The exchange begins as a tense Wild West …
In the Sheriff’s office, Worf bursts in wounded and panicked, locking the doors behind him as Troi—already armed—reacts to the gunfire outside. His bleeding arm reveals the severity of the …
Worf bursts into the sheriff’s office, wounded and panicked, revealing the Holodeck’s safeguards have failed and Alexander has been kidnapped by a corrupted Data doppelgänger. Troi tends to his gunshot …
On the Enterprise, Geordi and Data continue working to purge the corrupted memory structures from both Data and the ship's computer, anticipating a full restoration within hours. Data's Texan persona is still active, but he remains oblivious to it. In the Holodeck, Worf and Troi meticulously plan their strategy for the exchange. Worf fashions a makeshift, unstable force field device for his holster and designates a rain barrel as a hiding spot for Alexander. The exchange commences on the deserted Western street. Data/Frank Hollander, Alexander, and Eli Hollander approach their respective positions. Data/Frank initiates an ambush, with Data/henchman and Data/bandito appearing. Data/Frank opens fire on Worf. Worf's force field activates, deflecting several bullets, but quickly fails under the sustained assault. Out of bullets, Data/Frank is about to be re-armed by the Data/bandito, but Worf, fumbling slightly, manages to draw and shoot the gun out of Data/Frank's hand. Troi emerges from a covered wagon, holding the remaining Data-faced henchmen at bay with her rifle. Worf, seeing Alexander watching from the saloon doorway, chooses to spare Data/Frank, ordering him to leave town instead of killing him. The program, however, fails to terminate, and Data/Annie Meyers, also bearing Data's face, appears and kisses Worf. Disgusted, Worf finally manages to shut down the simulation. Back on the Enterprise, Data and the computer are fully restored. Worf checks on Alexander, who expresses disappointment about not returning to the 'Ancient West.' Worf, now embracing the adventure, implies they will return, donning his cowboy hat and practicing his quick-draw in the mirror, signifying his unexpected enjoyment and integration of the Western experience with his Klingon honor.
Worf’s confrontation with Data/Eli in the sheriff’s office escalates from tense questioning to physical aggression as his paternal panic overrides logic. When Troi intervenes, she reframes the situation—reminding Worf that …
Worf and Troi stand in the sheriff’s office, stunned by the sight of Data/Eli—a corrupted Holodeck doppelgänger of the gunslinger Eli Hollander—now bearing Data’s face and mannerisms. The revelation deepens …
In the Observation Lounge, Geordi and Data reveal to Picard and Riker that a corrupted subroutine—originating from Data’s experimental nutritional supplements for Spot—has infiltrated the Enterprise’s core systems, causing cascading …
In the Observation Lounge, Picard, Riker, Geordi, and Data discuss the ship’s computer malfunction, which originated from Data’s experimental neural interface. Geordi reveals that subroutine C-47—controlling non-critical systems like library …
In Engineering, Data—his neural interface still compromised by the Wild West holodeck’s corrupted data—greets Riker with an uncharacteristic Texan drawl, his speech slipping between his normal voice and the anachronistic …
In Engineering, Geordi La Forge and Data diagnose the android’s worsening memory corruption—his speech now laced with an anachronistic Texan drawl—while Riker observes the escalating malfunction. Geordi confirms the root …
In the malfunctioning Wild West holodeck, Worf and Troi finalize a desperate plan to secure Alexander’s safety during a hostage exchange with corrupted Data doppelgängers. Worf, methodical and tactical, sketches …
In the sheriff’s office of the corrupted Wild West holodeck, Worf and Troi finalize a high-stakes tactical plan for a hostage exchange with Data/Eli Hollander, using a hand-drawn map to …
The prisoner exchange between Worf and Data/Frank Hollander spirals into a violent ambush when Data’s corrupted doppelgängers—now armed with android precision—open fire on Worf. Despite his force field deflecting the …
In a tense standoff on an empty Wild West street, Worf faces Data/Frank—a corrupted doppelgänger holding Alexander hostage—while Data/Eli serves as a reluctant intermediary. The exchange begins as a prisoner …
After Worf and Troi reunite with Alexander in the Gold Strike Saloon, Worf attempts to terminate the corrupted Holodeck program, but the computer fails to respond. The tension escalates when …
After reuniting with Alexander in the Gold Strike Saloon, Worf immediately senses something is wrong when the computer fails to respond to his command to end the program. The tension …
In the quiet aftermath of their harrowing Holodeck experience, Worf finds Alexander already asleep but visibly shaken. When Alexander wakes and voices his fear that Worf will abandon their shared …
In the quiet aftermath of their harrowing Holodeck experience, Worf checks on a sleeping Alexander, whose lingering fear of abandonment surfaces in a vulnerable moment. Worf reassures him with a …