The Quality of Life
Director Farallon of the orbital mining station Tyrus VII-A has developed Exocomps, smart robots that take over tasks in hazardous environments. When one of the Exocomps refuses to carry out an order, Data examines the case. He finds that there was no malfunction, but the robot acted to preserve itself. Data thinks Exocomps are alive and strives to prove this with the same determination Picard helped Data to be accepted. An experiment with a simulated danger fails - until Data discovers that the Exocomps were aware that the danger was not real. When Picard and Geordi are trapped aboard the station, only the Exocomps can help by forming a transport window, but one of them has to stay behind, sacrificing itself for the two other Exocomps. summary by Ex-Astris-Scientia
Cute, cute, cute!!!!!!! Another artificial lifeform exhibiting more intelligence than human beings! And their relation with Data! Marvellous! I guess I’m partial to such stories because I hate nothing more than discrimination. This kind of stories read as metaphores to me: we should never underestimate another human being (lifeform) and base our assumptions on the skin color, religion, place of birth, etc. Let’s change this world and make Star Trek come true.