Hero Worship

TNG Season 5 Episode 11
Air Date: January 27th, 1992

When the Enterprise investigates a black cluster, a group of stars that creates an effect similar to a black hole, for a missing research ship Vico. They find the ship severely damaged with only one survivor on board, a boy named Timothy.

Lt. Cmdr. Data was the one that rescued Timothy by lifting a beam off of him. Since he is grieving for his parents who were killed on the Vico, he deals with it by pretending to be an android himself. Counselor Troi believes that playing out this fantasy might be the best way for Timothy to handle his grief so Data teaches him how to be an android.

Meanwhile the Enterprise while investigating what caused the Vico to be destroyed start to experience turbulence that is increasing in power each wave. Timothy mentions that the Vico kept calling for more shield power before it got destroyed which makes Data realize that the strength of the wave is based on the strength of the shield and tells Picard to have the shields lowered.

Quotes

"How're you feeling?" - Counselor Troi
"I am functioning within established parameters." - Timothy

"Timothy, your head movements are counterproductive. Can you be still?" - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"But you do it." - Timothy
"The servo-mechanisms in my neck are designed to approximate human movements. I did not realize the effect was so distracting." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"So, what would you like?" - Counselor Troi
"Androids do not need to eat or drink. However, we sometimes like to taste things. A Tamarin frost, please." - Timothy
"I have been told that imitation is the highest form of flattery." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"I have often wished to be human. I study people carefully, in order to more closely approximate human behavior." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"Why? We're stronger and smarter than humans. We can do more than they can." - Timothy
"But I cannot take pride in my abilities. I cannot take pleasure in my accomplishments." - Lt. Cmdr. Data
"But we never have to feel bad either." - Timothy
"I would gladly risk feeling bad at times, if it also meant that I could taste my dessert." - Lt. Cmdr. Data