- An attempt to provide Data with a challenging Sherlock Holmes holodeck program backfires when its Professor Moriarty character accidentally becomes self-aware.
- When the Enterprise arrives a few days early at its rendezvous point to meet the USS Victory, the crew have a bit of leisure time on their hands. For Data and Geordi Laforge, it means a trip to the holodeck and 221B Baker St. With Data in the role of Holmes and Laforge as Dr. Watson, they take on a challenge from Dr. Pulaski that Data couldn't solve a genuine mystery. Data has a bit of time adjusting to a real mystery - as opposed to one for which he knows the outcome. In giving the holodeck computer its instructions however, Geordi's specifications for an opponent results in a far superior creation than expected putting them and the entire ship in danger.—garykmcd
- During an unexpected leisure period, LaForge treats Data to a holodeck enactment of a Sherlock Holmes story, but abandons his Watson part, finding the Conan Doyle fan simply solves the mystery by heart, without fun search. Now the computer is asked to devise an original Holmes plot, which data may even fail to win. Dr. Moriarty is conjured, but not only takes Dr. Pulaski hostage, he also works out he's now in a 23th century environment and learns frightfully fast how to (ab)use Enterprise technology.—KGF Vissers
- During an adventure on the holodeck, in which Data is portraying Sherlock Holmes, Geordi asks the computer to create a Moriarty adversary capable of defeating Data. Since the request specifies that Moriarty should be greater than *Data* himself (and not the Holmes character), the resulting character proves himself capable of far exceeding their expectations...—EJSawyer
- When the Enterprise arrives a few days early at its rendezvous point to meet the USS Victory, the crew have a bit of leisure time on their hands. For Data and Geordi Laforge, it means a trip to the Holodeck and 221B Baker St. With Data in the role of Holmes and Laforge as Dr. Watson. Inspector Lestrade (Alan Shearman) brings Holmes new mysteries, but they are all from the written novels to which Data already knows the answers. Geordi is bored since the minute somebody presents a problem, Data already knows the solution. There is not thrill as there is no mystery.
Dr Pulaski also advises Data that for the thrill of winning, there has to be a probability of losing. Loss if a great teacher. Humans learn more from a mistake than an easy success. They take on a challenge from Dr. Pulaski that Data couldn't solve a genuine mystery that he hadn't already read. Data accepts the challenge and Geordi has the computer come up with a Holmes like mystery that is not already published anywhere. Pulaski is invited to join them in the Holodeck as a witness.
Data has a bit of time adjusting to a real mystery - as opposed to one for which he knows the outcome. In giving the Holodeck computer its instructions however, Geordi's specifications for an opponent result in a far superior creation than expected. He asks for an opponent capable of defeating Data. Moriarty (Daniel Davis) had seen Geordi give instructions to the computer from inside the Holodeck and knows how to access it. Pulaski is subsequently abducted.
Data follows his deductive reasoning and finds Moriarty's lair. Data and Geordi realize that the computer is running an independent program, and this puzzles them both. Data had deduced that his opponent is Professor Moriarty, who is the only person who could defeat Holmes. Data knew that Moriarty wanted them to find him, and hence left trails for them to follow.
Moriarty reveals to Data and Geordi that he is aware of the computer and knows that he is inside a ship and draws a rough outline of the Enterprise. Geordi is alarmed, since a program can never get self-aware. Data tries to shut the program down, but the computer won't comply. Data knows that Pulaski is in great danger and that Moriarty now has control of the ship via the computer. Data and Geordi escalate the matter to Picard.
Geordi realizes that his mistake was when he asked the computer to provide an opponent worthy to defeat Data (and not Holmes). To do that the computer has given access of all of 24th century data and files to Moriarty, to bring him to the same level of knowledge and understanding as Data. It is possible that the mortality fail-safe on the Holodeck simulations has also been removed. As Moriarty starts to gain consciousness, it starts taking control of the Enterprise. Pulaski is still with Moriarty. Geordi can flush the program with anti-matter, but that would kill Pulaski as well. Data believes that the computer decided to give Moriarty consciousness in order to make it capable enough of defeating Data.
Picard decides to enter the Holodeck with Data, as Moriarty continues to get more power and control over the computer and consequently the ship. Moriarty insists to Picard that it is not a holographic image anymore. It is alive. He wants to ensure his existence outside the Holodeck, in the real world. He says that he is not evil anymore, he has changed, and he has grown.
Picard says that Moriarty can never leave the Holodeck as a holographic image can never be converted into a physical matter. Moriarty says he does not want to die but gives back control of the ship and the Holodeck to Picard. Picard saves the program of Moriarty in the memory banks of the Enterprise and then shuts the program down.
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