What if Data Were a PC?

WORF: Captain, there are three Romulan warships uncloaking dead ahead.


PICARD: On screen.


[The main viewing screen changes to a pattern of horizontal lines, each
only a single pixel wide.]


PICARD: Data, what's wrong here?


DATA: Captain, the main viewscreen does not have sufficient video memory
to display an image of this size. May I suggest that you select a lower
resolution?


PICARD: Make it so.


[The screen blanks, and then an image appears, with big, blocky square
pixels. Three objects appear in the center, which could be Romulan
warbirds, but which actually look more like the aliens in Space Invaders.]


PICARD: Data, open a hailing channel to the Romulans.


DATA: Aye, sir.


[Data picks up an hourglass from the floor beside him, turns it over, and
places it on the console in front of him. He punches some buttons on the
console and sits motionless for several seconds. A flash of light blossoms
from one of the Romulan ships on the viewscreen.]


WORF: Incoming plasma torpedo, Captain!


PICARD: Shields up!


DATA: I'm sorry, Captain, but I am still attempting to complete your last
instruction. I must ask you to wait until I have finished before you issue
your next command.


PICARD: What on earth do you mean? Data, this is *important*! I want those
shields up *right now*.


DATA: I'm sorry, Captain, but I am still attempting to complete your last
instruction. I must ask you to wait until I have finished before you issue
your next command.


LAFORGE: Allow me, captain. [to Data] Control-alt-delete, Data.


[Data removes the hourglass from the console, and returns it to the floor.]


DATA: The Romulans are not responding to my hails. Press my nose to cancel
and return to Windows. Pull my left ear to close this communications
channel which is not responding. You will lose any information sent by the
Romulans.


[LaForge pulls Data's left ear.]


PICARD: Shields...


[There is a tremendous explosion. The bridge shakes violently, and all the
crew members are thrown to the floor. A shower of sparks erupts from
Wesley Crusher's station at the helm, throwing Wesley back away from the
console.]


PICARD: Up, Data!


DATA: Aye, sir.


RIKER: All decks, damage report!


WORF: Captain, Ensign Crusher is injured. He appears to be unconscious.


[Data picks up the hourglass again, places it on his console, and punches
some more buttons. He waits a few seconds, then puts the hourglass back on
the floor.]


DATA: Shields are now up, captain.


PICARD: And not a moment too soon. Worf, lock all phasers on the lead
Romulan ship.


WORF: Aye, sir. [He punches buttons on the weapons console.]


PICARD: Mr. Data, take the helm, and prepare for evasive action.


DATA: I am sorry, sir, but I do not have the proper device driver
installed for that console.


PICARD: Well, damn it, install the right one.


DATA: Please insert Setup Implant #1 in my right nostril.


PICARD: Number One, where do we keep Data's setup implants?


RIKER: I left them with Geordi.


LAFORGE: [in a surprised voice] What!!? I thought you still had them!


PICARD: Data, don't you have device drivers stored in your internal memory?


DATA: Not found, sir. Please insert Setup Implant #1 in my right nostril.


PICARD: Data, I don't *have* Setup Implant #1.


DATA: Not ready reading right nostril. Abort, Retry, Fail?


PICARD: Abort!


DATA: Not ready reading right nostril. Abort, Retry, Fail?


PICARD: Well, fail, then!


DATA: Current nose is no longer valid.


[Data walks over to the helm, and presses several buttons. The ship
lurches, the images of the Romulan warships suddenly shift to one side of
the viewscreen, and a high-pitched whining noise is heard coming from
somewhere else in the ship.]


LAFORGE: [alarmed] Data, what the hell are you doing?


PICARD: Number One, do we have a customer service number for Data?


RIKER: Yes sir, but last time I tried to call them, I got put on hold for
two hours before I was able to talk to anyone. And that person wasn't
knowledgeable about androids of Data's model. She specialized in
industrial control robots.


[Suddenly, the lights all go out, the viewscreen goes blank, and all the
usual noise of fans, motors, and so on whines to a halt. After a few
seconds, the red emergency lights come on. Data is standing by the
console, absolutely motionless.]


PICARD: What's going on?


LAFORGE: [checking the helm console] Lieutenant Data has caused a General
Protection Violation in the warp engine core.


PICARD: These androids look really sharp, but you can't really do anything
with them.


[The shimmer of the transporter effect appears, and six Romulans in full
battle dress materialize on the bridge. A seventh figure, a Ferengi,
appears moments later.]


FERENGI: [with a mercenary grin] Can I interest you in a Macintosh,
Captain?