Data’s Body Discovered on Devidia
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
As Riker prepares to transport the team back, Geordi discovers Data's body. Riker somberly updates Worf to include Data among those to be transported, emphasizing the loss.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Absent but profoundly mourned; his death evokes grief, guilt, and a sense of failure in the team, particularly Riker and Beverly, who were closest to him.
Data’s body lies motionless on the surface of Devidia II, his hand still gripping the time-snake cane, now reverted to its cane form. His lifeless state is discovered by Geordi, and the revelation silences the away team. Data’s death is a pivotal moment that shifts the mission’s focus from temporal crisis to personal loss, forcing the crew to confront the irreversible consequences of their actions. His body is later included in the transport back to the Enterprise, marking the end of his physical presence in the narrative but leaving a profound emotional impact on the team.
- • None (Data is deceased, but his presence—even in death—serves as a catalyst for the team’s emotional and strategic realignment.)
- • To underscore the cost of the mission’s failures through his irreversible loss.
- • The team’s belief in Data’s invulnerability is shattered, revealing their underestimation of the temporal threat.
- • His death reinforces the idea that even androids, who are often perceived as indestructible, are not immune to the fragility of existence.
Shocked and sorrowful, Geordi’s emotional state is a mix of grief and disbelief. He is deeply affected by Data’s death, both as a friend and as someone who relied on Data’s technical expertise.
Geordi La Forge is the one who discovers Data’s body, his voice drawing the team’s attention to the grim sight. His discovery shifts the team’s focus from their immediate disorientation to the irreversible loss of their friend and crewmate. Geordi’s role as the team’s engineer and technical expert is momentarily suspended by the emotional weight of the moment, as he stands alongside the others in silent mourning. His presence underscores the personal impact of Data’s death on the entire crew.
- • To ensure the team is aware of Data’s body and the gravity of the situation.
- • To process his own grief alongside the rest of the crew.
- • He believes in the importance of facing loss head-on, even in the midst of a mission.
- • He recognizes that Data’s death is a failure of the team to protect one of their own, reinforcing the need for vigilance.
Shocked, authoritative, and grieving. Riker’s usual boldness is tempered by the weight of Data’s death, and his emotional state is a mix of professional responsibility and personal sorrow.
William Riker takes charge of the away team immediately after the violent transport, first ensuring everyone’s well-being before confronting Clemens about his unauthorized presence. His tone is authoritative yet emotionally weighted, particularly when he discovers Data’s body. Riker’s order to include Data in the transport—spoken with quiet weight—underscores the irreversible loss and forces the team to confront the cost of their failure. His leadership in this moment is both tactical and deeply personal, reflecting his role as both first officer and a close friend to Data.
- • To maintain mission integrity despite the emotional shock of Data’s death.
- • To ensure the team’s safety and prepare for the transport back to the *Enterprise*, including Data’s body.
- • He believes in the importance of leadership under pressure, even in the face of personal loss.
- • He recognizes that Data’s death is a failure of the team to anticipate the temporal threat, reinforcing the need for vigilance.
Grieving and somber, her usual professional composure is replaced by a quiet, internalized sorrow. She is deeply affected by Data’s death, reflecting the crew’s collective loss.
Beverly Crusher, initially checking the team’s condition with her tricorder, falls silent upon the discovery of Data’s body. Her medical instincts are momentarily overshadowed by the emotional weight of the moment, as she processes the irreversible loss of a crewmate she deeply cared for. Though she does not speak during this event, her presence is a quiet but profound acknowledgment of the team’s shared grief. Her role as the crew’s medical officer is temporarily suspended by the personal impact of Data’s death.
- • To process the emotional impact of Data’s death alongside the rest of the team.
- • To remain present and supportive, even in silence, as the team grapples with their loss.
- • She believes in the importance of acknowledging loss, even in the midst of a mission.
- • She recognizes that Data’s death is not just a personal loss but a failure of the team to protect one of their own.
Somber and engaged, Troi’s emotional state is a mix of personal grief and professional empathy. She is deeply affected by Data’s death, both as a crewmate and as someone who understood his unique place in the team.
Deanna Troi engages briefly with Clemens, questioning his mention of 'future affairs' before falling silent as the team discovers Data’s body. Her empathic senses likely pick up on the crew’s grief, though she does not vocalize her observations. Troi’s presence is a quiet but supportive force, her role as counselor momentarily overshadowed by the raw emotion of the moment. She stands as a witness to the team’s shared loss, her own feelings of sorrow reflected in her subdued demeanor.
- • To provide silent support to the team as they process Data’s death.
- • To remain attuned to the emotional dynamics of the group, even in the absence of dialogue.
- • She believes in the importance of emotional acknowledgment, particularly in moments of loss.
- • She recognizes that Data’s death is a catalyst for the team to confront their own vulnerabilities.
Confused yet defiant, with a underlying curiosity that briefly overshadows the team’s grief. His emotional state is secondary to the primary characters’ reactions, but his presence adds a layer of external tension.
Samuel Clemens, disoriented by the violent transport to Devidia II, rises to his feet and brushes himself off, immediately questioning his surroundings and the time period. His defiant curiosity about the future of mankind is met with Riker’s sharp rebuke, particularly regarding the unauthorized nature of his presence. Clemens’ demeanor shifts from confusion to intrigue as he engages in a verbal spar with Riker, defending his actions as those of a 'good writer' taking advantage of an 'irresistible occasion.' His presence, though secondary to the discovery of Data’s body, adds a layer of tension and distraction to the team’s already dire situation.
- • To understand the future of mankind and justify his unauthorized presence in the 24th century.
- • To challenge Riker’s authority and assert his right to be part of this temporal anomaly.
- • He believes his literary and intellectual curiosity gives him the right to intrude on the crew’s mission.
- • He underestimates the severity of the temporal crisis, focusing instead on his own agenda.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Beverly Crusher’s tricorder is used briefly at the beginning of the event to check the team’s condition after the violent transport. While it does not play a direct role in the discovery of Data’s body, its presence symbolizes the team’s reliance on technology to assess their physical and temporal state. The tricorder’s readings, though not explicitly detailed, serve as a reminder of the crew’s scientific and medical protocols, even in moments of emotional upheaval. Its involvement is secondary to the emotional core of the event but reinforces the team’s professionalism amid chaos.
Worf’s com-link is used to communicate with the away team from the Enterprise bridge, providing critical updates about their temporal displacement. His voice, transmitted through the com-link, informs the team that they have been off sensors for nine days, adding a layer of urgency and disorientation to their already dire situation. The com-link serves as a lifeline between the away team and the ship, ensuring logistical coordination despite the temporal anomalies. Its involvement is functional but underscores the broader mission’s stakes and the crew’s reliance on Starfleet technology.
The time-snake cane, now reverted to its inert cane form, is clutched in Data’s lifeless hand when Geordi discovers his body. The cane’s presence is a haunting symbol of the temporal anomaly that led to Data’s death, serving as a tangible reminder of the mission’s stakes and the irreversible consequences of their failure. Its transformation from a living, time-manipulating entity to a static object underscores the finality of Data’s death and the fragility of their temporal predicament. The cane is not just a clue but a narrative and emotional anchor, forcing the team to confront the cost of their actions.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The surface of Devidia II serves as the stark and alien backdrop for the away team’s violent transport and the discovery of Data’s body. The planet’s non-phase-shifted stability contrasts with the temporal chaos that brought the team here, creating a disorienting yet grounded setting for their emotional reckoning. The barren landscape amplifies the isolation and finality of Data’s death, as his body lies motionless amid the unfamiliar terrain. The location’s role is both practical—a site for the team’s transport and discovery—and symbolic, representing the fragility of life and the consequences of temporal interference. Its atmosphere is one of quiet despair, underscored by the team’s silence and the weight of their loss.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet’s influence is palpable in this event, particularly through the away team’s adherence to protocol, their reliance on technology (tricorders, com-links), and their commitment to restoring the timeline. The organization’s presence is manifested in Riker’s leadership, Worf’s tactical coordination from the bridge, and the team’s collective responsibility to protect the temporal integrity of the universe. Starfleet’s protocols and values—such as the importance of crew unity, the ethical use of technology, and the preservation of history—are tested and reinforced in this moment of loss. The discovery of Data’s body forces the team to confront the failure of their mission objectives, which are inherently tied to Starfleet’s broader goals of exploration and protection.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Chase through time, which results in Clements transported to the future."
"Chase through time, which results in Clements transported to the future."
"Chase through time, which results in Clements transported to the future."
"Chase through time, which results in Clements transported to the future."
"Clements transported to future, resulting in conflict with Riker."
"Clements transported to future, resulting in conflict with Riker."
"Clements transported to future is escorted and leads to Geordi directing Data's body for reattachment."
Key Dialogue
"RIKER: Is everybody all right?"
"RIKER: You--!"
"CLEMENS: Where are we -- and when is this?"
"RIKER: It's the twenty-fourth century... this is Devidia Two -- and you shouldn't be here."
"RIKER: Mister Worf... six to transport."