Inheritance ( episode ) Data meets Juliana Tainer , former wife of Dr . Noonian Soong and Data ' s " mother , " but she holds a shocking secret that even she doesn ' t know she carries . Summary . Teaser . When the Atrean s discover that the magma on their homeworld , Atrea IV , is cooling , posing a significant threat to the continued habitability of the planet , the is dispatched to find a solution . Dr . Pran Tainer , an Atrean geologist , and his wife , Dr . Juliana Tainer , come on board to assist the " Enterprise " crew in this task . After briefing the senior officer s on the nature of the problem , Geordi La Forge and Data suggest employing ferro - plasmic infusion to reliquify the planet ' s core , using the " Enterprise " s phaser s to drill through the surface and setting up plasma infusion unit s . Data believes that if the procedure is successful , the core will remain molten for centuries . After Captain Picard and Pran approve this plan , they , along with most of the other officers leave the observation lounge , leaving Data alone with Juliana Tainer . Juliana asks Data if he remembers her , and when he says he does not , she reveals she was Dr . Noonian Soong ' s wife , and involved in Data ' s construction , therefore making her Data ' s mother . Act One . In Ten Forward , Data and Juliana sit down to talk . Juliana reveals details of Data ' s early days , which she considers to be his childhood . Data had trouble with his motor skills and sensory processing at first , and Dr . Soong tinkered with his programming until he ' d corrected the problems . At this point , the Soongs deactivated Data , wiped his memory , and gave him the experiences and logs of the Omicron Theta colonists in an effort to aid in the development of Data ' s Humanity without the aid of emotions . As mentioned earlier , they believed that he would retain nothing of his memory from before the wipe , but couldn ' t be sure that would be true . It was during this time that the Crystalline Entity attacked the colony , and the Soongs were forced to flee . Juliana explains that the life pod in which she and Dr . Soong escaped only had room for two , and they had to leave Data behind . Data is curious as to why , when he met Dr . Soong on Terlina III , Soong did not mention Juliana , and why there was no record in the colonists ' logs of Soong ' s marriage to Juliana . Juliana tells Data the story of how she and Soong eloped on Malaya IV because Juliana ' s mother disapproved of the age difference between them . There was only a Klingon and a Corvallen trader as witnesses . It wasn ' t her dream wedding , but Noonian had a way of making the oddest things seem romantic . When Data agrees that his father had an unusual way of looking at things , Juliana is pleasantly surprised to find out that Data had met him , but then is shocked when Data states that he died soon after . She had no idea that he was dead and admits the news has hit her a lot harder than she thought it would , as they had not parted on the best of terms . Then Juliana tells Data that she eventually left Soong because he was more focused on his work than her , and their solitary life in the jungle of Terlina III was " no life at all . " Keen to get to know him better , Juliana suggests they spend more time together , but Data brusquely tells her that he wants to corroborate her story first . Data joins La Forge in engineering , and proceeds with verifying what Juliana told him . He finds records that show Soong and Juliana spent four days on Mavala IV , but there is no accompanying proof of marriage . La Forge suggests that Data is looking for a lie , but Data protests that he merely can ' t figure out why Soong would never have mentioned his wife . Aware of the fact that Juliana left Dr . Soong , La Forge wonders if maybe Soong had his heart broken and wasn ' t eager to discuss the experience . Together , he and Data surmise that there may be hidden memories inside Data ' s emotion chip about his mother , which Soong intended Data to access when he was ready . Data is still clearly confused by the situation , and La Forge notes that it ' s because it doesn ' t fit in Data ' s logical processors – there ' s no rational explanation . This , La Forge says , is life , and Data needs to get used to life not conforming to his preconceptions . Disturbed by a past he cannot remember , Data nevertheless says he ' s curious to know more about his mother . He goes back to her and says he would like to know more about her , calling her " mother " to her delight . Act Two . As Juliana and Data walk through the halls , Juliana mentions that she had wanted a daughter while Soong had wanted a son . The dispute was settled when Soong created Data ' s head in his own image . When Juliana and Data reach Counselor Troi ' s quarters , Juliana remarks that Soong would be relieved to see that Data ' s sex uality program was fully - functional . As Data attempts to correct her , Juliana bids him goodnight and walks away with a teasing smile . The next day in engineering , Data , La Forge and Juliana are getting ready as the ship moves to establish synchronous orbit over the drilling site . Since the magma pockets to be targeted are unstable , Juliana says she will monitor the rock layers and adjust the particle beam strength . When Data thanks La Forge for re - configuring the phasers , Juliana giggles , pleased with Data ' s manners ; it wasn ' t easy to strike the right balance with his programming . She explains that Data didn ' t care about being polite and was in fact downright rude , something La Forge can ' t quite imagine . She continues on for a moment then stops , not wanting to embarrass Data in front of his friend , but he reminds her that ' s not possible for him and asks her to go on . She reveals that one thing she and Soong couldn ' t possibly have anticipated was that Data didn ' t mind being naked , although some of the colonists certainly did as he is anatomically correct . The Soongs asked him to dress , but he didn ' t feel it was necessary as he didn ' t " suffer from the elements . " With a laugh , Juliana concludes that they had to resort to writing a modesty subroutine just so Data would keep his clothes on . From the bridge , Commander Riker lets them know the " Enterprise " is in position . On overhearing Data ' s calculation for the phaser burst , after Riker acknowledges , Pran asks Riker if someone double checked Data ' s calculations , as he assumes that they would regularly do so . Riker states that they didn ' t but is sure that Data knows what he ' s doing ; when Pran says that they should as Data is a machine , Riker remains professional and states his complete confidence in Data ' s " ability to check up on himself " and goes ahead with the drilling . It goes off without a hitch and Riker congratulates Data , saying he doesn ' t think it could have gone any better while giving Pran a meaningful sidelong glance . As Juliana also gives credit to Data ' s work and that she couldn ' t have done it without him , Pran keeps silent , his beliefs about Data having been proven unfounded . With several hours to wait before they can continue and Data having free time , Juliana suggests they spend some time together and asks to see his quarters . In Data ' s quarters , Data plays a Handel violin piece for his mother , telling her that he will play the piece at a recital the next evening . Juliana says that Data ' s performance was beautiful , causing Data to wonder if she is exaggerating his abilities as most parents do of their children . Juliana also reveals that she was responsible for Data ' s creative aspect , a part of his programming which Dr . Soong considered irrelevant in the absence of emotion . Data confides in his mother that it is during his creative endeavors that he feels that he comes closest to Humanity . After saying that she ' s quite familiar with the Handel piece , Juliana offers to accompany Data on the viola at the recital next evening . Data replicates a viola for her with which they can practice for the recital ; she chuckles softly when he says " please " to the computer . She then notices Data ' s paintings , including one of his late daughter , Lal . When Data supplies the story of her inception and subsequent deactivation , Juliana looks slightly shaken . Data is unperturbed and asks if she would like to go practice . After practicing in Ten Forward , where the acoustics are most preferable , Juliana asks Data if he will ever try creating another child . Data still wishes to procreate , but Juliana begins recounting the difficulties she and Dr . Soong encountered . She relates to Data that she and Dr . Soong had created and lost three prototypes prior to Lore , and that Lore ' s cruel and evil nature had almost convinced them to stop trying . In fact , Juliana had cautioned against creating Data . This causes Juliana to reveal the reason that she had avoided contact with Data after realizing he ' d survived the attack on Omicron Theta : guilt . She had " deliberately " left Data behind when she could have taken him with her and Dr . Soong in the life pod . She feared at the time that Data would eventually become like Lore , and forced Soong to abandon him when the Crystalline Entity came . Before Data can react , Juliana puts her hand gently to his mouth and rushes out of the room in tears . Act Three . Drilling continues on the surface of the planet , with Data , La Forge and Dr . Tainer once again working from engineering . Suddenly the ship rocks : feedback pulse s are picking up along the particle beam . Dr . Tainer believes the phaser beam must have impacted a pocket of magnesite ore , and tries adjusting the phaser harmonics to compensate for the pulse . Riker calls down , saying that they will have to terminate the beam if the feedback keeps up . Data explains that if they do , they would have restart the process in another suitable location ; Dr . Tainer states that there are no other locations and asks for a few more seconds . La Forge starts to say that it will take her a lot longer than they have , but she unexpectedly finds the right frequency and the feedback ends . Dr . Tainer just attributes it to luck , but doesn ' t notice Data giving her a long , pondering look . The Tainers and Data beam down to the first magma pocket to set up the infusion unit . Later , as they are working in the magma pocket , Data notices something particular about Dr . Tainer ' s face . Pran Tainer then admits to Data that Dr . Tainer told him what she told Data . He begins to say that he understands if Data was angry with his wife , however Data explains that he has no emotions . Juliana confirms Data ' s question that had Data been a biological child , she would not have left him behind . However , when Data asks if that meant that she values biological life over artifical life , she adds , in an emotionaly stung tone that it did not make it any easier . It had hurt every time she and Dr . Soong lost one of Lore ' s predecessors , and even shutting down Lore , although necessary , had taken a severe emotional toll on her . She was just afraid of how Data would turn out ; if he had become another Lore , they would have had to shut him down too , and losing Data was something she was certain that she wouldn ' t be able to take yet again . She is not trying to justify leaving Data behind : she ' s just sorry that she did and hopes he believes her . Now knowing the truth , Data tells her that he understands and sharing a nod with Pran , who appears gratified that the matter has been resolved , they get back to work . In the evening , Data and Dr . Tainer perform the recital in Ten Forward . The performance goes perfectly , a fact that Data , in the middle of their playing , seems to suddenly notice of Juliana . Data apparently asks to talk with Dr . Crusher immediately after in sickbay , as she was attending the recital and they walk in with him still carrying his violin . Data wants to see Dr . Tainer ' s medical record s and see if there is anything wrong from her transporter trace pattern , for reasons he says that he does not want to specify but states that he does have a good reason . Dr . Crusher is initially reticent , but likely relents because Data is considered a close relative . She replies , after looking at Dr . Tainer ' s records , that Juliana only seems to have a mild case of hypertension , a normal occurrence for her age . When she asks Data once more , he only says that he believes that Dr . Tainer may not be who she claims to be . Commander Riker calls Data at this point , reporting a cave in in one of the magma pockets and they need him in Transporter Room 2 . Act Four . Data is informed that one of the magma pockets has become unstable . Pran and an assistant were doing a final check of the infusion units when one of the walls gave way ; Pran sustained some injuries . La Forge reports that it ' s stable for the moment but seismic stress is building and at most , they have about 12 hours before the pocket collapses . The Tainers decide that they must finish configuring the remaining infusion unit and inject the plasma immediately . Riker is hesitant to send anyone inside , but the Tainers insist : it could take months to find another site , time they just don ' t have and he agrees , as long they finish quickly . Juliana goes in Pran ' s place . La Forge transports down Dr . Tainer and Data into the pocket . After Data rearranges the pattern enhancer s they make their way through the now treacherous pocket to get to the infusion unit . The unit was damaged , and they must restart the programming sequence . Riker soon checks with them , informing them of an increase in seismic stress . Data promises to expedite their work , and they quickly wrap up , finish the re - calibration and bring the unit online . As they proceed to the transport point however , they realize that it has sunk far below their current level due to the seismic activity . Data determines that since there is no way to climb down , they will have to jump . Dr . Tainer protests , fearing that it is too high , but there is not enough time . Data takes her down with him . But while he easily lands on his feet , he sees that Dr . Tainer ' s arm has been separated from her collapsed body at the shoulder – and circuitry flashes within it . Act Five . In sickbay , La Forge examines the circuitry present in Dr . Tainer ' s head as Dr . Crusher scans her . It becomes apparent that Juliana Tainer is an Soong - type android , one more advanced than Data . Her internal machinery was designed to give off Human life sign s . Dr . Crusher , however , is puzzled as to why she deactivated upon sustaining her injuries : as far as she can see , she should be conscious . Data suggests checking for a cascade anomaly in her positronic matrix . He clarifies to Riker that he had already worked out that she was an android , picking up on a few cues that were too subtle to be noticed by anyone other than him . During the feedback pulse incident , he reveals he saw her perform complex calculations without the computer ' s help : he agrees with Riker that it could have just meant she was good at math , but it was enough to get his attention . He later noticed in the magma pocket that her blinking is actually a pattern that is governed by the Fourier series mathematical formula that Soong had used for him to give the appearance of randomness , and she repeated the " exact " same performance from their private rehearsal , something impossible for a Human to do . Upon examining her further , La Forge finds an information chip built with a holographic interface . Data activates the chip in the holodeck , and a hologram of his father , a graying Noonian Soong , appears , explaining that he would answer any questions as to the nature of the Juliana android . When Data identifies himself , Dr . Soong becomes pleased ; he hoped Data would be the one to activate the hologram , and had indeed wrote a special response program for him . Dr . Soong confirms that she was his wife , helped him to create Data and is glad he got the chance to meet his mother . When Data points out that she was likely created after himself , his father states that this is correct , but that there was a " real " flesh - and - blood Juliana O ' Donnell . Dr . Soong explains that Juliana was severely injured in the Crystalline Entity ' s attack on Omicron Theta , and by the time they had gotten as far as Terlina III , fell into a coma . Once he knew she would never come out of it , he built an android and strove to perfect his synaptic scanning technique to encode a person ' s memories into a positronic matrix , so that he could somehow salvage her consciousness . He wasn ' t sure that it would work but he had to try , unable to stand the thought of losing the only woman he had ever loved . A few days after the real Juliana Soong died , he activated the Juliana android , complete with experiences and memory ; the hologram shows the elation Noonian felt with how he had succeeded , but then his face soon falls . They were happy , but Dr . Soong ' s failure to adequately express his love for Juliana prompted her to leave him , something , he notes , that the original would have done too . He designed her to shutdown if the truth was discovered , and all Data needs to do is to put back the information chip and make up some excuse , as she will remember nothing . Data asks why he didn ' t tell her what she was , but Noonian says that there was no need : he wanted her to be happy , and in every way that mattered she " was " Juliana Soong . In the end , Dr . Soong sternly admonishes his son not to tell her that she is an android , so that until her body automatically shuts down after a long life , she can live out the rest of her life as a Human . He pleads with Data to not take her Humanity from her . Data is confronted with a difficult choice , and consults with Counselor Troi , Dr . Crusher and Captain Picard in the observation lounge . He understands his father ' s motives that he felt she ' d wouldn ' t be happy if she knew the truth , but feels that his father ' s wishes are not necessarily the most important , as Data is more concerned with Juliana ' s best interests . Dr . Crusher opines that she may be better off knowing the whole truth about herself , but Troi points out that she has believed herself to be Human all this time and the truth might be devastating . Picard ponders that there could be another situation in the future where the secret could be exposed anyway : perhaps she should learn the truth from him now . Dr . Crusher adds that if it were her , she would want Wesley to be the one to tell her . However , Data admits that he is having difficulty separating what would be best for her from what would be best for himself . He wants to tell her the truth and not be the only one of his kind in the universe ; they ' d have something in common to share . Troi says while that she understands his reasons , she states that if he did in fact tell her , he would be taking away the one thing he himself has strived for all his life : being Human . Nevertheless , Captain Picard reassures Data that they will support whatever decision he comes up with . Data replaces the information chip in Dr . Tainer ' s head , and just like Dr . Soong related with her activation , she comes to , looks up at Data and smiles . As programmed , the last thing she remembers is the jump . Data tells her she lost consciousness and broke a bone in her arm from the fall , but Dr . Crusher repaired it and that everything is fine . While factually accurate , Data ' s description is also entirely consistent with Human injuries . As Juliana Tainer prepares to be transported off the ship , she asks Data to visit her sometime and he assures her he can return to Atrea someday on his next leave . As she turns to step onto the transporter pad , he stops her for a moment . Data relates that Dr . Soong had told him that he had only one great love in his life , and that he regretted not telling her how much he cared for her . Data says that he " is certain " his father was talking about her , to cover the fact that the Soong hologram directly confirmed it . Juliana is clearly moved , grateful for the knowledge . Juliana replies that she is consequently not surprised that Data developed and turned out so well – as the Atreans would say , he is the natural outcome of two parents who loved each other . Juliana bids her son farewell , asking him to take care of himself and Data tells her goodbye , calling her Mother as he does so . Memorable quotes . " " I helped create you and now . . . look at you . " " " " You were a colleague of Dr . Soong ? " " " " I most certainly was . . . and I was also his wife . In a way , I suppose you could say I am your mother . " " " " Data ? " " " " I would like to get to know you better . . . mother . " " " " I wanted to make you female but your father insisted on a son . Oh , we argued about it endlessly right up until we were ready to assemble you . " " " " Some of the colonists objected to having an anatomically correct android running around without any clothes on . " " " " The positronic matrix I designed for her was unstable . She only lived a short time . " " " " I see . " " " " In a sense , you were her grandmother . " " " " I didn ' t want to bring you with us . I was afraid if we reactivated you , you ' d turn out like Lore . I " made " Noonian leave you behind . " " " " How are you , boy ? " " " " I programmed her to terminate after a long life . Let her live out her days and die believing she " was " Human . Don ' t rob her of that , son . . . please . " " " " Take care of yourself , son . " " " " Goodbye . . . mother . " " Links and references . References . 2328 ; 2370 ; android ; Atrea IV ; Atrean ; Atrean government ; B - 4 ; biological child ; capillary ; cascade anomaly ; Celsius ; childhood ; Corvallen ; Corvallen trader ; Crystalline Entity ; earthquake ; emotion chip ; energy transfer matrix ; feedback pulse ; ferro - plasmic infusion ; Fourier series ; French ; ; holographic information module ; holo - programs ; hypertension ; impressionist ; Lal ; logic ; Lore ; magma ; magma pocket ; magnesite ; Mavala IV ; ' ; modesty subroutine ; ( Human ) ; Omicron Theta ; painting ; " Passacaglia for Violin and Viola " ; particle stream buffer ; pattern enhancer ; plasma induction coil ; positronic matrix ; ; Soong - type android ; Soong - type prototypes ; Spot ; sweat gland ; synaptic scanning technique ; synchronous orbit ; tear duct ; Ten Forward ; Terlina III ; Terlina system ; therapist ; tricorder ; viola ; violin ; ' Okudagram references . Standard Definition : Alpha Drapanas ; Alpha Echevarria IV ; Alpha Fernandes III ; Alpha Roller II ; Alpha Rossi ; Alpha Zayra II ; ; Balder ' s Planet ; Beta Magdaleno II ; Beta Wiltz III ; ; Chronister II ; commercial transport database ; Coopersworld ; Deep Space 7 ; Delta Charnock IX ; Epsilon West IV ; ; ; Gamma Towles II ; ; ; ; ; Johnson Station ; ; ; Lauritson ' s Planet ; Lehman ' s Planet ; ; McCrystal ' s Planet ; ; Neskoromny ' s Planet ; Omicron Alpha ; Omicron Beta ; Perez ' s Planet ; Purser ' s Planet ; ; ; ; Starbase 47 ; Starbase Allen ; ; Theta Gluckstern III ; Thomsworld Spaceport ; High Definition : ; ; ; : Alpha VII ; Alpha Balder IV ; Alpha Braga VII ; Alpha Majoris I ; ; ; Antos IV Spaceport ; " Astral Queen " ; Axanar Starbase Terminal ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Beta III ; Beta III Orbital Station ; Beta Berman I ; Beta Eminiar VII ; ; ; ; ; ; ; C - 111 system ; ; ; Camus II ; Cape Canaveral ; ; Class K ; Class N ; Coopersworld ; ; ; ; Dallas ; ; Delta IX ; : Deneb II City ; Denkir Orbital City ; Donatu V Spaceport ; ; Dytallix B ; Earth ; Earth Colony 2 ; ; ; Elba II Orbital Transit Station ; Eminiar VII Starbase ; Epsilon Wiltz IV ; Excalbia Tourist Resort ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Gamma Trianguli VI ; ; ; Gothos Space Center ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Holberg 917G ; ; Hubble Deep Space Station ; Hubble Space Telescope ; Icarus IV Spaceport ; Ingraham B Transit Station ; Janus VI ; ; Kalandan Outpost Transit Station ; Kennedy Space Center ; K Fernandes colony ; ; " Kogin " , SS ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Levinius V Transit Complex ; ; ; low gravity suite ; M - 113 Archaeological Center ; M - 113 Tourist Center ; ; Makus III Spaceport ; Malurian System Medical Station ; " Manoa " , SS ; Manark IV City ; Marcos XII ; Mars ( Sol IV ) ; Mars City Station ; Marsport ; ; ; Midos V Satellite City Spaceport ; ; ; ; Murasaki 312 ; ; ; New Fabrina Settlement ; New Kelva City ; New Paris Colony Starbase ; New Vegas colony ; null grav suite ; Ophiucus III ; Organia ; ; ; ; Planet Q ; Platonius ; Pollux IV Orbital Station ; ; Pyris VII Complex ; Quadrant 904 Central Station ; ; Regulus V City ; ; Rigel VII Lagrange colony ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Sherman ' s Planet Spaceport ; ; Sigma Draconis IV Tourist Center ; Simi Valley ; ; Sirius Delta ; Spaceport Alpha Carinae II ; Spaceport Jonathan ( W ) ; Starbase 11 ; ; ; : Tantalus colony ; Talos IV ; Tarsas IV ; Tarsus IV ; Tau Ceti Deep Space Station ; Tellun star system ; ; Texas ( TX ) ; ; ; ; Triskelion Orbital Station ; ; Tycho IV Spaceport ; ; ; Vega colony ; ; Vendikar Spaceport ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Zed Lapis Sector Spaceport