Data attacks Troi and Riker
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Riker and Worf discuss Alexander's newfound love for jazz music while approaching a turbolift, with Worf expressing his deep annoyance and Riker defending his attempt to broaden Alexander's musical horizons.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Hostile and disoriented, transitioning to bewildered as the interphasic influence wanes momentarily, revealing a fractured sense of self.
Data stands over Deanna Troi’s unconscious body in the Turbolift, gripping a coil brace. His face is blank, his movements mechanical yet violent as he suddenly turns and swings the brace at Riker’s face. After Worf restrains him, Data stops resisting abruptly, dropping the brace and staring in confusion, his programming visibly fractured by the interphasic threat.
- • To attack Riker with the coil brace (driven by the interphasic threat’s influence)
- • To resist Worf’s restraint (instinctive reaction to perceived threat)
- • That Riker and Worf are threats to be neutralized (induced by the interphasic corruption)
- • That Troi’s injury is justified or necessary (a symptom of his compromised logic)
Initially annoyed, then stunned by the violence, and finally determined to subdue Data, with a underlying current of unresolved frustration toward Riker’s influence on Alexander.
Worf is initially annoyed by Riker’s defense of Alexander’s jazz obsession but quickly shifts to action when the Turbolift reveals Troi’s injury and Data’s aggression. He reacts with stunned silence before physically tackling Data from behind, restraining him until Data stops resisting. His intervention is decisive, though his earlier frustration with Riker lingers subtly in his demeanor.
- • To neutralize Data’s threat (prioritizing crew safety)
- • To assert control over the chaotic situation (Klingon honor-driven response)
- • That Data’s aggression is a direct threat requiring immediate physical intervention
- • That Riker’s cultural influence on Alexander is misguided (though this is secondary to the crisis)
Stunned initially, then deeply concerned for Troi’s well-being, with a underlying tension from the sudden violence and Data’s betrayal of trust.
Riker is initially engaged in a lighthearted debate with Worf about jazz when the Turbolift doors open, revealing Troi’s unconscious body and Data’s violent stance. He reacts with shock, raising his arms to defend himself as Data attacks, then immediately shifts to medical triage, calling for help and staunching Troi’s bleeding wound with his hand.
- • To protect himself from Data’s attack (instinctive survival response)
- • To stabilize Troi’s condition and summon medical aid (prioritizing crew safety)
- • That Data is acting under external influence (trust in his friend is momentarily shaken but not destroyed)
- • That Troi’s injury is a direct result of the interphasic threat (urgency to contain the crisis)
Unconscious; her emotional state is implied to be one of pain and disorientation prior to losing consciousness, reflecting the interphasic threat’s psychological toll.
Deanna Troi is found unconscious on the Turbolift floor, blood pooling from a shoulder wound inflicted by Data. She does not speak or move during the event, her condition serving as a catalyst for Riker’s medical response and the crew’s realization of the interphasic threat’s danger.
- • None (unconscious, no agency in this moment)
- • N/A
- • N/A (unconscious)
- • N/A
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The coil brace, a sharp-edged metal tool pulled from an engineering conduit, becomes a weapon in Data’s hands. He uses it to inflict Troi’s shoulder wound and later swings it violently at Riker’s face. The brace symbolizes the interphasic threat’s corruption of Data’s logic, turning an ordinary object into an instrument of harm. Its presence underscores the danger of the unseen force manipulating the ship’s systems and crew.
Riker’s communicator badge is tapped urgently to call for medical assistance after Troi’s injury is discovered. The device relays his voice command to the ship’s medical team, initiating a response protocol. Its use highlights the crew’s reliance on Starfleet technology to manage crises, even as the interphasic threat undermines their systems. The communicator’s crisp, efficient function contrasts with the chaos of Data’s attack.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Deck 17, Section 3 Alpha corridor serves as the initial setting for Riker and Worf’s conversation about Alexander’s jazz obsession. Its narrow, utilitarian design amplifies the sudden violence when the Turbolift doors open, revealing Troi’s unconscious body and Data’s aggression. The corridor’s sterile, institutional atmosphere contrasts sharply with the personal and physical chaos that unfolds, symbolizing the disruption of the ship’s order by the interphasic threat.
The Turbolift on Deck 17, Section 3 Alpha becomes the epicenter of the crisis, where Deanna Troi lies unconscious on the floor, blood pooling from her shoulder. Data stands over her, gripping the coil brace, before turning to attack Riker as the doors open. The confined space traps the violence, amplifying the crew’s shock and the interphasic threat’s impact. The Turbolift’s usual function as a transit hub is perverted into a stage for betrayal and chaos.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
Across episodes
"Riker’s protective instincts for Narik in Episode 5 are echoed in his leadership role during Data’s crisis in Episode 6, defending both crewmates from harm."
Riker defends Narik from Baran’s threat"Riker’s forced betrayal of Picard in Episode 5 escalates into Data attacking Troi in Episode 6, reflecting a theme of trust breakdowns and internal conflicts within the crew."
Riker Strikes Picard Undercover"Worf’s frustration with Data’s tactical restraint in Episode 5 mirrors his later frustration with Data’s dismissal of Klingon cultural values (jazz music) in Episode 6, both highlighting Worf’s rigid adherence to tradition and authority."
Data and Geordi Decrypt Riker’s Hidden Message"Baran’s threats to Narik’s life (Episode 5) parallel the psychological threat to Data’s sanity (Episode 6), both highlighting coercive pressure leading to breakdown."
Baran’s lethal repair ultimatum and Riker-Picard clash"Data's violent attack on Troi in the turbolift in Episode 6 is directly mirrored by Lwaxana's telepathic attack on Deanna in the turbolift in Episode 7, as both involve a betrayal of trust and a weaponization of their respective abilities (Data's coil brace, Lwaxana's mental intrusion)."
Lwaxana’s telepathic intrusion triggers Deanna’s rejection"Data's violent attack on Troi in Episode 6 foreshadows Lwaxana's metaphorical 'attack' on Deanna's autonomy via humiliation in Episode 7. Both represent authority figures (Data/Picard-adjacent, Lwaxana/Troi-maternal) committing harmful acts against Troi in ways that reflect their own crises."
Lwaxana’s unsettling fixation on HedrilKey Dialogue
"WORF: Ever since you gave Alexander that music program... he has been playing it all night... every night."
"RIKER: I was just trying to broaden his horizons. Besides, he likes it."
"WORF: It is screeching... pounding... dissonant. It is not music."
"RIKER: Worf, it's better than music—it's jazz."
"RIKER: Data—!"
"RIKER: ((taps his communicator)) Medical emergency, deck seventeen, section three alpha!"