Data is mysteriously compelled to hijack the ship to see his creator.
A young boy on the Enterprise falls ill, and Data suddenly takes control of the ship, setting a course for an unknown destination. It emerges that Data has been summoned by a signal from his creator, Dr. Noonien Soong, who is dying and wants to give his son a final gift. Data's brother Lore also appears.
The story gives Data a chance to meet his creator and to confront his brother. It is a drama about family, creation and the question of what a being might receive from a parent. The emotion chip that Soong offers is a key element in later developments. The episode features a triple role for the same actor, and it is a major chapter in the android's story.