Why does Data think outloud when first captured? Not an android type response.

I had heard that actor David Rappaport was supposed to play Kivas Fajo, but committed suicide before filming began. He was hurriedly replaced by Saul Rubinek (who played the smarmy u no watt to the hilt.) Also, catch Rubinek in "The Bonfire of the Vanities",an unjustly and unfairly ridiculed film.

From the book "Captains Logs", I'll state that the Rappaport story is true. Saul Rubinek was also the pulp journalist in "Unforgiven" and can be seen as Donny Douglas on "Frasier".

At the beginning Data is stunned and apparently frozen into position, but when Data comes to in the collection room he is laying on the red curlicue `chair' with his arms frozen, but his feet are on the floor. If Data's stunned body was flexible enough to move parts of it, then why were his hands left in their original positions? (Or did one of Fajo's crewmembers just move Data's arms around for the fun of it after Data was laid on the `chair?')

Why doesn't Data just throw something at the proximity field device? It only inhibits positron flow, not solid objects.

How come the colony didn't detect the artificial nature of the poisoned water? Don't colonies have doctors or scientists? (Or is the real purpose of these colonies to separate all the dumb people away from the smart people and if the colony dies off... no big deal?)

When Data has the weapon, why doesn't he just shoot the proximity field device?

Fajo threatens to kill members of his crew to keep Data under control and does kill one, but how long do you think Fajo's plan would have worked? After the second or third crewmember gets killed don't you think that the rest of the crew would either mutiny or make a mass exodus to the escape pods? And even if they were too dumb to do anything, wouldn't Fajo eventually just run out of people? ("All right Data, if you don't do as I say, I'm going to run my fingernails over this chalkboard.")

In the NextGen Guide II Phil wondered at the discrepancy of the sensors detecting Data in this episode, but not detecting either Data or Lore in Brothers. Well, here in the 20th Century software and computer companies occasionally produce upgrades to programs and operating systems which eliminates otherwise useful features from the older versions. So presumably, between this episode and Brothers the sensors will be updated and that command to detect artificial life will probably be deleted.

I found it hard to believe that with almost 30 years in Starfleet, Data has never killed. Has he never been ordered to fire on an attacking entity or ship?

Wouldn't you think that trying to transport someone while they are firing an energy weapon would cause serious problems?

How could the weapon be in a state of discharge anyway? If Data triggered the weapon an energy beam should fire and Fajo would be dead. Dematerializing the weapon after the charge is triggered shouldn't stop the energy beam and while dematerialized Data shouldn't be able to finish pulling the trigger. So if the weapon is in a state of discharge it would be because Data had pulled the trigger enough, but hadn't released the trigger yet when he was dematerialized. So if Data had pulled the trigger enough to fire the weapon, then either Fajo is dead, or Data is a lousy shot and since Fajo is alive in the brig at the end of the show Data must be a lousy shot.

I found it hard to believe that with almost 30 years in Starfleet, Data has never killed. Has he never been ordered to fire on an attacking entity or ship?

Well he is a science officer.

KAM: How come the colony didn't detect the artificial nature of the poisoned water? Don't colonies have doctors or scientists? (Or is the real purpose of these colonies to separate all the dumb people away from the smart people and if the colony dies off... no big deal?)

Luigi Novi: Not every colony is a terraforming project or scientific research station. The colony Worf grew up, Gault, was a farm colony. Caldos Colony, where Crusher grew up, also seemd residential. There might be community doctors and communications attendants, but there doesn't necessarily have to be highly technical experts in everything. Think of it this way: Someone or something causes a cyanide or sarin gas or ebola virus scare at a subway station or school. Does the local chemist, who resides in the community, take charge of the situation? No, not necessarily, you call in the fire department's HazMat team, or FEMA, or the EPA, university professors, the CDC, etc. (i.e.: people who don't necessarily live nearby).

KAM: I found it hard to believe that with almost 30 years in Starfleet...

Luigi Novi: 21 at the time of this episode. (pick, pick, pick...)

KAM: Data has never killed. Has he never been ordered to fire on an attacking entity or ship?

Luigi Novi: Not impossible. Most cops go entire careers without discharging their firearms. If Data never took a tactical position, it's possible. Brian's point is also a solid point.

Salvador Dali’s. The 24th century’s Brooklyn Bridge.
Someone pulled a fast one on Fajo. When he shows Data some of his collection in Act 1, he casually points to the "Dali" in between the vase by Mark Off-Zel and the Roger Maris trading card. That painting, the one with the melted clocks, is The Persistence of Memory, by Salvador Dali, 1931. The original Persistence of Memory is 13 inches long by 9 and a half inches high (and that doesn’t include the frame). The one Fajo has is considerably larger than that. Its length, not counting the frame, is easily two feet long. (The creators probably figured a print of the same measurements as the original would not show up on camera as well, but they could’ve simply included a close-up of it.)

Once again the Federation fails to declare an act of war against a species that kidnaps one of their senior officers.

NANJAN: I must admit I felt proud for Wesley at the end by become a full-fledged cadet.

Why should the Feds declare war against the whole species when it's obvious that only one member (Kivas Fajo) was responsible? Also he was apprehended and was going to spend time in prison for his various crimes.

Yeah...John A., bear in mind that declaring war requires a threat to the much greater good on a much larger scale than presented here.
By your line of reasoning, the US has an obligation to declare hostilities re: every tourist ever killed in a foreign country (and vice-versa. Florida should be a battleground by now!)

What I mean is that I consider the senior officers of the Enterprise to be of "military value"...I believe the US can give an ultimatum to a foreign country if someone in the Pentagon were kidnapped.

Yeah, but my major point is that Data wasn't kidnapped for his military value, he was kidnapped because Fajo thought he'd look good on the mantelpiece. Huge difference on the scale of repercussions.

Yeah, if at some point Picard felt like telling Fajo's home planet 'Help us find him or let us in to search', he likely had the option to do so...but when they reply, "Hey, don't look at us! The guy's no terrorist, he's just a crackpot collector - he could be anywhere in the galaxy!"...again, this is worth declaring war over?

Let's consider a hypothetical...

A Saudi weapons collector has stolen a US nuclear warhead. He has no intention of using it, he simply wants to keep it on the mantle. Should the Saudi Arabian government deny the US's request for assistance in locating the device, how should the US respond? Do you think that you would accept "The guy's no terrorist, he's just crackpot collector" as a response?

While Data is not a weapon of mass destruction, is there any doubt in your mind that Data could be exploited for some equally nefarious purpose?

But I think that part of John's point is that Picard had no idea why Data had been taken. For all he knew, Data was kidnapped for his militaristic value. While I agree that declaring war against a species because of the actions of an individual who has been captured, detained, and ultimately punished is a little extreme... I also agree that Picard's actions before finding Data may have been a little lenient.

While Data is not a weapon of mass destruction, is there any doubt in your mind that Data could be exploited for some equally nefarious purpose?

This is true. I was considering Data from the point of view of 'Starfleet officer' to the detriment of 'incredibly sophisticated android with a head stuffed full of Starfleet inside knowledge.'

So OK, the Enterprise crew definitely should have issued an 'ultimatum' along the lines I mentioned above - and maybe pressed harder for answers than I suggested.
But there's still a long, long distance between that scenario and a flat-out 'declaration of war'.

What I mean is that I consider the senior officers of the Enterprise to be of "military value"...I believe the US can give an ultimatum to a foreign country if someone in the Pentagon were kidnapped.

Yea but Fajo is not an officer of that governemnt. If a Saudi citizen were involved in the kidnapping of a pentagon offical but was hiding somewhere on the open sea the Saudi givernment couldn't do much to help us find him.

Agreed. Just because Fajo originated on Zibalia doesn't mean he still has citizenship there.

John A. Lang: I must admit I felt proud for Wesley at the end by become a full-fledged cadet.
Luigi Novi: If you're referring to the other episode where he helped locate kidnapped Starfleet officers, that was Menage a Troi, not this one, and he became a full ensign, not a cadet. It was Geordi who realized that something was wrong in the Jovis shuttlebay prior to the departure of Data's shuttle, not Wes.

I guess General Order 24 (A Taste of Armegeddon) fell out of vogue in Starfleet. Kirk was willing to destroy the entire surface of the planet, including his life & his senior officers for their immediate release. If Picard (and Riker) would've excercised this Order more often ,the Borg MIGHT NOT have attacked.
Other examples where G.O. 24 MIGHT have worked: "Allegience", "Menage A Troi"..just to name a few.

PS Thanks, Luigi.

Actually we never saw if there were any repercussions to the kidnapping. Remember there are many more pressures that can be applied , especially in an "enlightened" society like the Federation, to member worlds than just military options. The United States does not always send in the military when a country has done something we didn't like or when they have something we want. That is what ambassadors are for.

Prop recycling alert! That 'rare' Veron-T disruptor has already been used this season in "The High Ground". At about the 25 minute mark in "High Ground", Finn and Crusher are having a debate about the morality of terrorism (or something like that) and you see a full-body shot of Finn. Check out the weapon he's got wedged in his belt - it's the Veron-T disruptor.

Just thought it was funny considering the fuss they make about how rare and valuable a Veron-T is in this ep...

I've had this nit-pick on the episode for years.
Data keeps trying to break the code on the safe to get at the weapon. Favo did use it in front of Data, but he covered the number pads so Data could not see. Still, each keypad makes a different pitch noise (much like a touchtone telephone). So all Data had to do was break the code with his auditory sensors rather than number encryptions. Once he knows which button makes what sound, all he has to do is access his memory banks - then presto - the safe is open.

The Varon-T disruptor prop was also used as Sovak's weapon in Captain's Holiday(TNG).

AND the weapon was used in "Journey's End" by the Natives holding the Cardassians hostage. (Just watched it.)

I'd sure like to know how Favo obtained the scent of bubble gum seeing how he's from an alien world.
Even if he got it from Earth somehow, the scent of bubble gum on a genuine Roger Maris baseball card would be long gone! Also, I'm not sure if baseball cards dating back to Roger Maris' era even HAD bubble gum included in the package!

I'd sure like to know how Favo obtained the scent of bubble gum seeing how he's from an alien world.

What, they don't have e-Bay in the 24th century?

John, yes they did have bubble gum back then. In fact that was the most common way for them to come. I don't think the packs of cards only became popular until the 80s.

I'd sure like to know who this Favo person is. Did he cultivate those tasty beans that go well with liver and a nice Chianti?

I believe that the original actor who was chosen to play Fajo committed suicide after filming had begun, not before. I think they had filmed ror two days or so. I think I read this in the TNG companion but I can't remember.

Fajo seems to have a disproportionate amount of Earth artifacts in his collection. I guess maybe other planets histories aren't that interesting.

dotter31, you have the story right acording to what the next gen companion says.

I'm confused as to why Data lied at the end- by his own admission there would be no reason for it. He said that he is programmed to use deadly force to protect others. Since Fajo had threatened to kill his crew one by one, shooting him would be an act of defense of those crewmembers. Why not just tell Riker that at the end?

Regarding Fajo's forcefield or whatever, shouldn't something which blocks the positron flow in Data freeze his mind somehow, not bounce him off it?

KAM: Why doesn't Data just throw something at the proximity field device? It only inhibits positron flow, not solid objects.

d31: What would he throw? The centuries-old baseball card or the lapling? Even assuming an appropriate object was available, I don't think Data would destroy old or rare objects to gain his freedom. Besides, even if he did dispose of Fajo, he would not be able to open the door.

Seeing the Fajo prized his collection so much why didn't Data just counter threaten that if Fajo killed anyone he would start destroying things, Data was being kept in the same room with all those prized breakables. (naturally he would not use the little animal that was the last of its kind as leverage.)

I thought of that too, but Data would not do this, IMO, because many, if not most of those collectibles, did not belong to Fajo, or to Data, and in doing this, Data would've been destroying someone else's property, including priceless historic artifacts and seminal artworks.

Saul Rubinek also played hotel owner Colin Fleischer in two episodes of the last season of my beloved Once And Again.
Baseball cards used to come as premiums with tobacco, at least in the game's early days. One of the reasons given as to why the Honus Wagner card is so rare is that Wagner himself requested that the card be withdrawn from circulation; he didn't want kids taking up using tobacco. More on Wagner here.

When Picard watches Data's shuttle explode, no one is manning Worf's security post. However, when Worf is shown saying "Data," he's standing at his post.

Not that it matters, but something I once read somewhere suggested that Fajo was a "vicious queen" because of his mannerisms and general eccentric behavior, as well as that he said that he would not mind if Data were to "go around naked."

This was from the online "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Portrayal in Star Trek" article I read years ago, just to let you know.

Like I said, it would not matter to me, but is it really possible that the creators meant to have Fajo be a homosexual? And if he was, would it detract from the fact that he was a cold-blooded murderer who felt that he could go on committing crimes and Data would not harm him, because of his "fundamental respect for living things?"

My guess would be no, it would not matter one bit. Because the subject of Homosexuality in Star Trek has ALWAYS been extremely controversial to say the least, and in 1990, they were not ready for a portrayal of that nature on any of the Trek shows.

Shame, isn't it?

KAM: Why doesn't Data just throw something at the proximity field device? It only inhibits positron flow, not solid objects.

Favo never said that it ONLY inhibits positron flow. If that were the case, Data would just pass out or have a seizure when he got too close, not get hurled across the room after a noisy flash of light explodes in front of him. My impression was that the "impeding positron flow" was a side effect of the force field, which served from a writing standpoint to disuade Data from trying too many times, since it would damage his brain.

There's still a nit, though, because if it is a forcefield that stops all solid objects, how can Favo go near enough to the safe to actually punch the keys on the keypad? Or do any of the other things he does with the collection?

Maybe if the forcefield were only activated when it detects positron flow... but that's not what Favo said.

I wonder if the forcefield was created by an artifact from Warehouse 13? ;-)

The confrontation between Data and Fajo doesn't make sense, when you consider Fajo's assertion that Data cannot harm him, because it violates Data's programming. Therefore, Data can't shoot him and harm him or kill him.
The problem is that just a couple minutes earlier, Data literally tossed around Fajo's crewmen, to try and escape with Varria. Throwing them several yards into bulkheads injured them enough to eliminate them as threats, which means they were harmed, which should be contrary to Data's programming.
Fajo didn't have a weapon trained on Data, so all he had to do was grab Fajo and put him in a head-lock, or bend his arm behind his back, or some other wrestling-type move that common police officers could use to subdue a suspect, with a minimum amount of 'harm'.
That's what Data should have done, but I guess the writers wanted a scene of Data forced to choose to shoot Fajo or not, even though it makes no sense.

Fajo didn't have a weapon trained on Data, so all he had to do was grab Fajo and put him in a head-lock, or bend his arm behind his back, or some other wrestling-type move that common police officers could use to subdue a suspect

Except that Fajo probably still had the device that forcefully repelled Data if he tried to grab him, so putting him in a head-lock was not really an option.