During a meeting with the staff, Data explains that the exocomp shut itself down just before the explosion in the plasma conduit, indicating that the machines are capable of self-protection. The staff tests Data's hypothesis by putting a device in simulated danger, and Data appears to be proven wrong when the exocomp completes its task. But Data remains unconvinced, and after repeating the experiment several times, discovers that the exocomp knew the test was only a simulation and acted accordingly.

Picard, Geordi and Farallon return to work at the station core, but soon learn they've lost internal confinement and are risking exposure to dangerous radiation. Farallon and several workers are able to transport back to the Enterprise, but Geordi and Picard are left behind. With no other solution, Riker asks Farallon to transport the exocomps to the station to save the men. She agrees, but Data refuses to allow her to do so and locks out the transporter controls.

Claiming he can't justify sacrificing one life to save another, Data holds firm. Riker is able to convince him to compromise by allowing the exocomps to "choose" whether or not to risk their lives. To everyone's surprise, the exocomps come up with their own plan that saves Picard and Geordi and only sacrifices one of the three machines. The crew is left to ponder what they have witnessed, while Data is pleased that he could act as an advocate for these forgotten "living" things.

Lt. Worf is the longest-running character in the history of Star Trek. He appeared in all seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), four seasons (starting with the fourth) of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993), and all four Next Generation films. In addition, Michael Dorn played Colonel Worf, the attorney defending Kirk and McCoy, in the sixth Star Trek film, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).