S3E22 · The Most Toys

The Enterprise -D is called to assist the colony on planet Beta Agni II with their contaminated water supply. They meet with trader Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek) who happens to have the extremely rare compound needed to neutralize the contamination. The volatile substance cannot be beamed aboard, so Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) is assigned to make several shuttle trips to collect it. Just before the final trip, Data is kidnapped and his shuttle is rigged to explode. The Enterprise crew believe he is dead and continue their mission to the colony.

Data is reactivated and met by Fajo, who explains he collects rare and valuable objects—like Data himself. The "gallery" where Data is to be displayed has a reinforced door preventing escape and Fajo himself is protected by a personal force field preventing Data from physically attacking him. Fajo asks Data whether he is capable of killing, and Data states he is programmed with "a fundamental respect for life in all its forms". Data remains defiant against Fajo's attempts to make him an object of display. Fajo shows Data a Varon-T disruptor, a weapon banned for causing an extremely painful death, and summons his assistant Varria. Only seconds away from Fajo using the disruptor on Varria does Data agree to follow Fajo's orders.

The crew mourns the loss of their friend. Picard and Riker select Worf as Data's replacement. Geordi and Wesley note that Data did not follow standard procedures prior to the explosion, suggesting something is amiss. At the contaminated colony, the Enterprise crew discover the contamination had been caused deliberately. They deduce Fajo caused the outbreak and used the cure to lure the Enterprise and Data to him.

Varria helps Data escape, but Fajo is alerted and kills Varria with the disruptor. After Data picks up Varria's disruptor, Fajo threatens to kill more of his assistants if Data doesn't comply with his demands. Fajo goads Data into shooting him, believing that his programming won't allow him to and his lack of emotions won't drive him to kill in revenge. Data coldly concludes he cannot allow Fajo to kill others and points the disruptor at Fajo. The Enterprise arrives and suddenly beams Data back aboard just as he begins to fire, preventing him from killing Fajo. Commander Riker asks why his disruptor was discharging, and Data enigmatically suggests that something may have happened during transport. Fajo is taken into custody, and all his possessions are returned to their rightful owners.