Masks ( episode ) While investigating a rogue comet , the cultural archive concealed inside begins taking over the " Enterprise " . Summary . Teaser . Counselor Deanna Troi is attending Mrs . Narsu ' s class in classroom 7 and helping the students convey their feelings in their sculptures . Data is also attending this class to work on using his imagination , and creates a nearly exact sculpture of a PADD ( the dimensions accurate to within 1 . 3 % ) . Deanna tells him that he needs to work on his imagination , and as an exercise , suggests he sculpt music . Data is at first confused and points out that music is a collection of acoustic vibrations , but Troi encourages him to sculpt an image that reminds him of music . Data proceeds to form the clay into a treble clef , and Troi says they ' ll work on it further . First Officer Commander Riker contacts him and tells him to report to the bridge . The is traveling through sector 1156 when they encounter a rogue comet which is not on any of the Federation starcharts . It appears to have originated from the D ' Arsay system , over two sectors away , and it seems to have been traveling for more than 87 million years . Captain Picard orders Data to begin a full sensor analysis and to send along his findings to the Federation Astrophysical survey . While scanning the comet the bridge is illuminated with a strange , bright , ambient light which gradually fades away . Data says it appeared to be a sensor echo caused by a distortion in the comet ' s inner core . In Troi ' s quarters , Beverly Crusher sees a strange object . When she asks what it is , Troi tells her she ' s never seen this object before , and its style makes it unlikely to be a gift from Riker . When Crusher and Troi leave the room to attend Lieutenant Worf ' s " mok ' bara " class , a strange symbol appears on the object . Act One . At the next sculpture class , Data creates a mask . He tells Counselor Troi he used his imagination and for some reason the image of the mask appeared prominently in his mind . Troi then asks if he was in her room , since the symbol on his mask resembles the image on the object that appeared in her room . Their conversation is interrupted by Eric , who asks them if they can do something about his terminal because it is not functioning properly . Strange symbols are moving around on the screen . In engineering , Data , Commander Riker and Geordi La Forge begin to investigate the strange symbols which are not listed anywhere in the Federation linguistics database . La Forge has found that the symbols were downloaded into the " Enterprise " computer core via the sensor array and replicator systems , and are reconfiguring their systems . Riker wonders if it had something to do with the intense sensor echo earlier ; La Forge tells him that they still don ' t know what caused the echo . Riker thinks of using the phaser s to melt the comet ' s outer layers . La Forge wants to consult Data about this , but finds him examining the symbols . Unaccountably , Data has found himself able to read them , and does so aloud as they float around the screen ; boundary , border , road , companion , message , messenger , and death ( which is the prominent sun symbol ) . Using a widespread phaser beam , Lieutenant Worf evaporates the comet ' s outer layers , revealing a mysterious structure , obviously not a comet . Act Two . A scan reveals that it ' s over 87 million years old and composed of fortanium and several unknown materials . This object is definitely responsible for the symbols , having used their sensor beam as a carrier wave to transmit information into the " Enterprise " s replicators and computer systems . Data thinks it is an informational archive . La Forge has noticed a repetitive node configuration , confirming that it could indeed be a database but cannot make an absolute determination . Data thinks he might be in contact with the object and requests a level 1 diagnostic be conducted of his positronic net . In his ready room , Picard is investigating several artifacts when Riker tells him that they have confined the system corruption but the alien symbols are still in their computer systems . Riker dismisses the artifacts as primitive , serving no useful purpose . Picard thinks they are ceremonial in nature , and are " deceptively " primitive since the structure on the comet was obviously made by an advanced technological society , and seems to be much more than a simple library . Riker recognizes the sunburst symbol on the object Picard has ; he ' s seen it on several other alien objects . Picard tells him he ' s seen another small , U - shaped symbol all over the ship ; less prominently displayed , it tends to show up in the background or off to the side . With La Forge ' s help , Data is performing a level 1 diagnostic of his positronic net when he experiences a mysterious impulse . He asks La Forge what it feels like when a person is losing their mind . When Data cannot explain what is going on but only says " " I am different " , " La Forge disconnects him from the main computer and checks his positronic net , discovering strange connections . When Data turns his head to La Forge , he has acquired a sunburst symbol on his forehead . In a light , mocking voice , he says " " Masaka is waking ! " " Act Three . When Picard enters engineering , Data tells him that he has been waiting for him . " " You should feel honored – I don ' t usually wait for anyone . " " Picard asks what he wants and Data answers in the same teasing voice , " " Masaka is waking " . " Picard then asks if he is Masaka ; Data replies that he is Ihat and that Commander Data is gone . " " Who can say where ? " " Picard calls for Counselor Troi to report to main engineering immediately and asks Ihat where he came from . Ihat tells him that he comes from Masaka City and that there are no others like him . Sashaying around the room , he displays somewhat effeminate mannerisms ( or Ihat is a woman ) . Picard asks Ihat if he can get to know Masaka and speak with her . Ihat advises him to leave this place before Masaka finds them . When Troi enters engineering , Ihat thinks that she is Masaka . His body language and manner change completely , and he is now seen to be wearing a second , rectangular symbol on the front of his uniform ; kneeling , he tells her with hushed reverence " " I am yours " . " Picard decides to confine Data to his quarters . During a briefing , La Forge tells of at least fourteen behaviorial nodes that he found in Data ' s positronic net and that he believes the archive is using Data to create different people and the transformation is still ongoing . Troi tells him that Data ' s " real personality " is completely buried and that he has " the android equivalent of multiple personalities " . La Forge adds that because the transformation is still in process there is no way of telling how many people will emerge . Picard asks La Forge to find a way to access the archive , while he tries to learn more from the people who are using Data ' s body . Picard visits Data in his quarters ; the devotee who loves Masaka is still present . Picard asks if he can speak to Ihat . Ihat comes forward and explains that Masaka is a queen who spends most of her time sleeping and it is better not to wake her . Picard suggests keeping her asleep , but Ihat says only Korgano can do that . When Picard asks where he can find Korgano , Ihat steps back and another person comes forward ; a terrified child who pleads for help . The archive activates a tractor beam which sends an energy pulse that overrides the " Enterprise " s control systems . At the same time , Ten Forward reports an emergency which Worf investigates . In Data ' s quarters Ihat comes back , and tells Picard that Masaka is awake . When Worf and his security team arrive in Ten Forward , they are surprised to discover multiple and large artifacts taking up most of the space . Act Four . La Forge , Troi and Picard are investigating the artifacts ' inscriptions . Troi sees the sun symbol they found earlier . Picard now recognizes this as representing Masaka ; then he sees the small U - shaped symbol on the back of the artifact , like he found earlier , but no reasonable explanation , yet . La Forge has finished his scan and tells Picard that the artifacts were not beamed to the " Enterprise " , rather , the matter in Ten Forward was transformed to form the artifacts . Bit by bit , the " Enterprise " itself is being transformed . Worf informs them that part of deck 12 is now an aqueduct . Picard believes there is no alternative other then to destroy the archive , but the weapons control system is not functioning . Worf tells him they can re - configure a photon torpedo for a manual launch . La Forge and Worf are busy reconfiguring the torpedo in a darkened engineering when the power system stops working . When La Forge opens the torpedo he sees multiple snake s . At the same time , part of main engineering is transformed and fire blocks their way out . Worf and La Forge are forced to leave by beam ing out . On the bridge , the operations station has been transformed into a stone slab . Riker exits the observation lounge and recommends holding briefings on the bridge as the lounge has been transformed into a swamp . La Forge establishes that the archive has transformed 20 % of the ship . Doctor Beverly Crusher tells them that the archive can reorder and transform molecular structures into anything it wants – that ' s how the alien plant life and artifacts are made . If this goes on , the entire " Enterprise " will be transformed into an alien city . La Forge tells him that he has managed to access the archive via the same energy beam . All he needs to do now is locate and access the transformation program . Picard thinks that the answer to doing that lies with Masaka . Picard visits Data again ; now an elderly man is at front , saying that Masaka is his daughter . Picard inquires about Masaka , asking how he can speak with her . The old man tells Picard that only Korgano can talk to Masaka . Ihat returns , and tells Picard that he must build Masaka ' s temple to talk to her , and to do that he must use a specific sign . He says that Masaka will be able to track him down if he discloses the sign , and asks that Picard take his place when Masaka seeks to destroy him . Picard gives his word ; Ihat begins to show the sign for Masaka , but says " " She has found me ! " " Picard says he will go in Ihat ' s place , but Ihat is pulled away and replaced by the elderly man . Picard convinces the old man to tell him the sign ; " " A line as the unending horizon , a curve as the rolling hillside , a point as a distant bird , a ray as the rising sun " . " The child then reappears and says that he is alone , that Masaka sent the others away ; " " it will take them days to die " . " Act Five . Back on the bridge ( where all the free - standing stations and chairs have been transformed into stone and vines ) , La Forge locates the transformation program , but is concerned that with the way things have been proceeding , the " Enterprise " will turn into " a big chunk of rock " when they enter in and use the symbol . La Forge , Troi and Worf are together with Picard in a corridor when he asks Riker to enter the symbol Ihat gave him into the transformation program . Once entered , the entire deck transforms into Masaka ' s temple , where Troi finds the sun and U - shaped symbols together , unlike the other artifacts where those symbols are separated from each other . Picard speculates that those symbols are counterparts and asks Troi and Worf to look for more of the U - shaped symbols . Meanwhile , Data is seen sitting against a wall in his quarters with his eyes closed . When the temple appears , his eyes open , and he slowly gets up and walks over to a shelf . He takes the mask that he made earlier off of the shelf and puts it on . After this , he exits his quarters , effortlessly incapacitating the two guards outside his door . In the temple , Troi has found the most prominent U - shaped symbol ; here , it is bigger than the sun symbol . Picard thinks that their relationship is like the sun and the moon , Masaka and Korgano switching positions being similar to the sun setting and the moon rising . Because Ihat and the others seemed not to be frightened by Korgano , Picard wants to find Korgano and see if he can force Masaka to leave . Suddenly the temple shakes and when they look up , they see Data , embodying Masaka and wearing the sun - mask . When Picard introduces himself , Masaka tells him to go away . La Forge has found Korgano ' s moon symbol in the archive and Picard tells him to enter the symbol into the transformation program ; it causes a mask to appear . Despite the warnings from the others that they know very little about Korgano or the mythology , Picard thinks that the alien culture is based on symbolism so he wants to wear the mask and pose as Korgano . When Picard enters the temple wearing the mask , Masaka recognizes him as Korgano . Masaka thought she was alone and did not have to share the sky with anyone . Picard , in Korgano ' s guise , tells her that without him she is not complete , that she lives for the chase like himself and that she is beginning to get tired because it is difficult to brighten the sky forever . Masaka says that she is getting sleepy and tells Korgano to begin the hunt again . At that moment Masaka falls asleep and the entire ship is transformed back to its original state . When Picard asks Data if he is all right , Data answers that he is not entirely certain what has exactly happened and wonders if he has been dreaming again . La Forge is able to disable the transformation program and Starfleet is dispatching an archaeological team to study the archive further . In the Captain ' s ready room , Picard holds Masaka ' s mask and asks Data why it is the only artifact that hasn ' t returned to its original state on the ship . Data replies that it was the original clay mask he made in class and not part of the collection of artifacts that were showing up . Picard tells Data that he may have been hosting up to a dozen different life forms , but Data says that he was actually hosting thousands of people and that without them , he feels empty , but relieved . Picard notes that while Data can not experience what it is like to be Human , he has experienced something which has transcended the Human experience by having been an entire civilization . Memorable quotes . " " Ooh – that ' s an interesting thought . " " " " How can I reproduce a sound with clay ? " " " " Geordi . What . . . does it feel like . . . when a person is losing his mind ? " " " " Do you understand pain ? Death ? That is all you need to know of Masaka . It is " what " she is . " " " " In a sense , Data has the android equivalent of multiple personalities . " " " " Maybe we ' d better talk in here . The observation lounge has turned into a swamp . " " " " Let the hunt begin again . I am eager for that . " " " " As am I . " " " " Masaka is waking . " " " " It was a remarkable experience . " " " " Well , Data , you never may become fully Human but you ' ve had an experience that transcends the Human condition . You ' ve been an " entire " civilization . " " Links and references . References . ancient history ; animal ; antler ; aqueduct ; behavioral node ; belief system ; clay ; compass ; computer core ; core ; D ' Arsay ; D ' Arsay archive ; D ' Arsay system ; Federation Astrophysical survey ; Federation ; Federation charts ; Federation linguistics bank ; fortanium ; God ; helium ; horn ; hydrogen ; ice ; Ihat ; imagination ; Korgano ; mantle ; Masaka ; Masaka ' s city ; Masaka ' s temple ; mask ; messenger ; micrograph ; " mok ' bara " ; music ; Number one ; phaser ; queen ; realism ; road ; rogue comet ; Sector 1156 ; sensor array ; sensor echo ; Starfleet ; swamp ; terminal ; treble clef ; wing ; " "