Plot summary
The Enterprise investigates the disappearance of the research vessel Vico. They encounter the wrecked ship adrift just outside a black cluster. Data, La Forge, and Riker beam aboard and find everyone on the Vico is dead except for a young boy named Timothy, trapped beneath debris. Data rescues Timothy and brings him back to the Enterprise. As Dr. Crusher examines Timothy in sickbay, he claims that unknown aliens killed the crew.
Timothy struggles to adapt to his new surroundings and trusts only his rescuer, Data. Counselor Troi asks Data to spend time with Timothy, believing that he might open up about Vico' s destruction. Timothy is intrigued by the fact that androids do not experience emotions and begins to imitate Data’s movements and speech patterns.
Observing Timothy's new android persona, Troi reasons that he is attempting to suppress his trauma and suggests that Data can help him heal by sharing his fascination with humanity. While sipping on soft drinks with Timothy in Ten Forward, Data reflects on his limitations as an android, such as the inability to feel delight over a confection or take pride in his achievements. Timothy argues that androids do not feel negative emotions either, but Data counters that he would gladly risk feeling bad at times for the opportunity to taste his dessert.
When Enterprise enters the cluster, Worf reports sensor distortions caused by the area's strong gravitational forces, which would limit a ship’s ability to fire weapons or use a cloaking device. Picard concludes that aliens could not have attacked the Vico. Confronted with the evidence, Timothy breaks down and tearfully shares his belief that he destroyed the Vico when he lost his balance and fell against a computer panel. Data assures him that starship computers have safeguards against such occurrences and that he was not responsible.
A shock wave rocks the Enterprise. Worf raises the shields, but the next shock wave is stronger. As additional power is diverted to the shields, the waves intensify. Timothy recalls the Vico' s crew following similar procedures, including La Forge's suggestion of redirecting power from the warp engines. Sparked by Timothy's words, Data runs a quick analysis and realizes that the shields themselves are creating the shock waves, and strengthening them further would result in the ship being torn apart. Picard orders the shields lowered, and the next wave is harmless.
Later, Data observes Timothy playing with the other children at school, behaving as a human again, and the two agree to remain friends.
Credits
Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Hero Worship (Star Trek: The Next Generation). Paragraphs and formatting adjusted; illustrations, reference markers, block quotations and non-story material omitted.