Anna Daniels
One of the most interesting relationships on Star Trek: The Next Generation is the kinship that develops between Picard and the android Data. By the end of the series and the subsequent films, it’s clear Picard holds the android close to his heart. He sees Data as, at the very least, a close friend. However, at times their connection doesn’t seem all that different than that between a father and a son.
Picard reveals part of his fascination with, and admiration for, Data in the second season episode “The Measure of a Man.” Data attempts to resign his commission so that an insistent Starfleet scientist can’t run experiments on him which will wipe out his memory. The scientist argues Data, as a machine, doesn’t have the right to resign his commission, and Picard assumes the difficult task of proving that Data is a sentient being with the right to make his own choices and not be subjected to anyone else’s ownership. Picard famously tells the presiding judge, “Your Honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life.” Then, pointing to Data, he says, “Well, there it sits.”
Data is tragically forced to sacrifice himself at the end of the final TNG film, 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis, though it’s hinted he could return in a new form.
Written by: Looper
