In Theory ( episode ) In his latest attempt to understand Humanity , Data accepts the affections of Jenna D ' Sora and pursues a romantic relationship with her . In the meantime , a nebula the " Enterprise " is passing through is causing strange things to happen on the ship . Summary . Teaser . Jenna D ' Sora , who had recently broken up with her boyfriend , Jeff Arton , is working with Data on a probe in the ' s torpedo bay . When Data notices that she is subdued , she mentions that she saw Jeff earlier , and that he had asked her to dinner . Responding to a request Jenna had made of him , Data recites a litany of reasons why she had chosen to break up with him . Data tells her that " " As your friend , it is my responsibility to be supportive in times of need . " " – a behavior she finds sweet . Meanwhile , the " Enterprise " - D launches the now - completed probe into the nebula , producing a beautiful display . Act One . D ' Sora and Data play in a chamber concert , along with Keiko O ' Brien . After the performance , D ' Sora criticizes her own playing , but Data argues that there were no major technical errors in her music . She insists , and Data responds by offering to practice with her , but assuring her that the audience didn ' t notice any problems and enjoyed themselves . She appreciates his making the effort , and later , as D ' Sora and Data have a drink with Keiko and her husband Miles O ' Brien , Data successfully entertains the table by making lovers ' small talk with Jenna . On the bridge , Data is analyzing the readings from their probe . The nebula has a greater density of dark matter than other similar formations . He hypothesizes that life in this region may have developed in hitherto unseen ways . It is decided that the " Enterprise " will travel to a planet within the region , to see if Data ' s theory is correct . In sickbay , Dr . Crusher hears a hypospray fall on the floor from a table as she walks by , but thinks nothing of it . In the torpedo tube , Data is working on another probe , while Jenna talks to him . Before she leaves , Jenna kisses Data , first on the cheek , and then on the lips , leaving the android somewhat puzzled . Act Two . Data immediately starts seeking advice from his colleagues on romantic love in general and on what he should do , since Jenna apparently shows serious interest in him . In Ten Forward , Data tells Guinan , " Lieutenant D ' Sora just gave me what could be considered a very passionate kiss in the torpedo bay . " Guinan advises him that this will be an entirely new experience for him . Geordi La Forge warns him about pursuing a woman on the rebound , but then corrects himself , suspecting she might be over the rebound , and finally admits he has no advice to give and advises Data to seek someone out who is more experienced in giving advice . Deanna Troi worries that Jenna may be in a vulnerable position but stops short of discouraging him from romancing Jenna . " " We ' re all more than the sum of our parts , Data . You ' ll have to be more than the sum of your programming " " , she tells him . Will Riker encourages him to go for it , stating that the rewards of a romantic relationship are far greater than that of simple friendship . Worf informs him that Klingon s do not pursue romances the same way Human s do ; they conquer what they desire . He adds in a menacing whisper that , as her superior officer , he would be very displeased if Lt . D ' Sora were mistreated . Captain Picard refuses to comment , stating that he would be happy to pass along any advice about understanding women , as soon as he has any . Data goes to D ' Sora ' s quarters , with a bouquet of flowers that Jenna finds lovely . The flowers are a variety of crystilia from Telemarius IV which Riker had recommended to Data . When Jenna asks how many people he discussed her with , he replies that it was less than 1 % of the ship ' s crew . Data tells Jenna that he has created a special program devoted to romantic relationships . When Data informs her that he has " " devoted a considerable share " " of his internal resources to the development of a subroutine within this program , specifically for her , she tells him that ' s the nicest thing anybody had ever said to her . Data and Jenna then share a kiss . Act Three . On the bridge , the " Enterprise " is approaching a class M planet within the nebula . The captain goes to his ready room , only to discover that the items usually located atop his desk are lying on the floor . Picard summons Worf , asking him to bring a tricorder with him . They discover that there is no evidence that anyone other than the captain had been in contact with the items , but there is no obvious explanation for the displacement . Worf is suspicious , but Picard feels the situation , while perplexing , is not serious . Data is confused by the strange concept of love and how he must continually show this to Jenna D ' Sora . For example , D ' Sora arrives unexpectedly in his quarters with a gift , as he is painting , but tells him to go back to his painting . He does so , and then is perplexed when Jenna reveals that she had " actually " wanted him to stop his painting and give her his full attention . As she leaves , a section of the wall in the corridor seems to disappear briefly . The anomalies have now moved past the point of what Picard initially laughed off as " poltergeist " phenomena , and as the ship arrives at the coordinates of the planet , it is nowhere to be found . Act Four . After ruling out a sensor malfunction , the planet suddenly reappears in front of them . The computer informs the bridge crew that there has been a decompression in the observation lounge . When life support is restored to that room , the crew investigates , and discovers all the furniture in the room piled up near one of the windows . Data scan s the transparent aluminum alloy in the windows , and notices an unexplained anomaly in the readings . Picard orders further investigation . When his shift ends , Data goes to D ' Sora ' s quarters . At first , Jenna enjoys the relationship . Ironically , it is Data ' s nearly perfect performance as an attentive lover that causes Jenna to lose her love for him . He welcomes her with Calaman sherry s and a soothing , Barry White attitude , but this fails to set her at ease ; he begins to straighten up her quarters , but she doesn ' t want him to do this . Confused , he bolts from his place beside her and begins shouting at her . Jenna is shocked by this , and tells Data to leave . He asks , " " You do not wish to continue our ' lovers ' quarrel ' ? " " , thus revealing that he is still running through his database to find an appropriate response for her . Jenna is both touched and saddened to hear this . It is now clear that the " Enterprise " must maneuver away from the Mar Oscura Nebula . Picard orders Ensign McKnight to move the ship out of the nebula at warp speed , which immediately leads to a sudden rush of deformations , nearly killing Thorne , one of La Forge ' s engineer s . Picard orders the helm to stop the ship , and La Forge , along with two of his engineers , goes to check things out . While investigating , Lieutenant Van Mayter is killed when the matter / space anomaly melts her into the deck of the ship . Act Five . Data informs the assembled staff in the observation lounge that the dark matter in the region is causing deformations in space . La Forge explains how the spatial deformations are affecting the ship : " " . . . when we hit one of them , part of the ship momentarily phases out of normal space . " " . Data reveals that the ship ' s sensors cannot detect the deformations in time to avoid them ; the detection range is too short . Worf proposes using a much more maneuverable shuttle to lead the " Enterprise " out of danger . Picard agrees to the plan , and insists that he pilot the shuttle . Using the shuttle ' s small computer screen , Picard steers through a crowded minefield of deformations , but eventually loses control as deformations impact and damage the shuttle and its Krellide power cell s . Fortunately , O ' Brien manages to beam the captain out of the shuttle just before it explodes . By this time the " Enterprise " is close enough to risk a rush to the edge of the nebula . The " Enterprise " soon escapes into the safety of normal space and heads to Starbase 260 . Jenna has finally realized that the android does not really feel any emotions for her , nor does he really care for her . What is most hurtful is the realization that nothing she says or does can have any effect on him , that she has broken up with an unemotional man only to fall for a man who is completely incapable of emotions . She reveals this to Data before a dinner date in his quarters . Data realizes he is being dumped but shows no emotion and simply notes that he will delete the appropriate program ( the one he ' d written for their relationship ) , just as D ' Sora expected he would do . Sitting alone in his quarters , Data gives his cat , Spot , a chipper greeting . He scratches the cat ' s chin and then leans over to blow out the dinner candle s . Memorable quotes . " " Honey , I ' m home . " " " " I require advice . " " ( laughs ) " " Don ' t look at me . " " " " Lt . DeSora just gave me what could be considered . . . a very passionate kiss in the torpedo bay . " " " " Well , what do you think of her , Data ? " " " " I find her to be a competent officer . Highly motivated , though somewhat lacking in her understanding of the theory underlying the dilithium matrix application . " " " " I meant personally . " " " " The cat ' s out of the bag . " " ( looks around ) " " Spot ? " " " " This can be a . . . a little complicated . Listen , my advice is . . . ask somebody else for advice . At least , someone who ' s got more experience at giving advice . " " " " My programming may be inadequate to the task . " " " " We ' re all more than the sum of our parts , Data . You ' ll have to be more than the sum of your programming . " " " " Klingons do not pursue relationships . They conquer that which they desire . " " " " Data , when it really works between two people , it ' s not like anything you ' ve ever experienced . The rewards are far greater than simple friendship . " " " " How far , Sir ? " " " " That ' s what I ' m hoping you ' re going to find out ! " " " " Captain . I am seeking advice in how to . . . " " " " Yes , I ' ve heard Data . And I would be delighted to offer any advice I can on understanding women . When I have some I ' ll let you know . " " " " Darling , you remain as aesthetically pleasing as the first day we met . I believe I am the most fortunate sentient in this sector of the galaxy ! " " " " Let ' s get him out of there ! " " " " Now would be a good time , Mr . O ' Brien . " " " " Data , sometimes people blindly make the same mistake again and again . " " " " Are you currently experiencing this phenomenon ? " " " " I didn ' t see it until today . I got out of a relationship with an unemotional man , and I got right back into another one with . . . with a man who ' s absolutely incapable of emotion . " " " " Hmm . There does appear to be a recurring motif . " " " " Nothing I can say or do will ever make you happy or . . . or sad . Or touch you in any way . " " " " That is a valid projection . It is apparent that my reach has exceeded my grasp in this particular area . " " " " Are we no longer . . . a couple ? " " " " No , we ' re not . " " " " Then I will delete the appropriate program . " " " " Hello , Spot . " " Links and references . References . adolescence ; ; ; " Book of Love " ; Calaman sherry ; " Che gelida manina " ; children ; cleaning processor ; closet ; coda ; cookout ; cryogenic control conduit ; crystilia ; dark matter ; dark matter nebula ; Denevian mead ; deuterium ; ; dilithium matrix ; dizziness ; D ' Sora ' s family ; EM scanner ; fireworks ; flute ; fructose ; glucose ; Henry VIII ; Henry VIII ' s huntsmen ; inertial dampening ; interpersonal dynamics ; intimacy ; kiss ; Klingon ; krellide power cell ; " Love ' s Labour ' s Lost " ; light hour ; love ; lovers ' quarrel ; M class ; Mar Oscura Nebula ; matter / antimatter containment pod ; microfusion thruster ; monosaccharide ; motif ; Number one ; painting ; palate ; photon torpedo ; poltergeist ; Prakal II ; Prakal II mixed drink ; red alert ; rehearsal ; replicator ; sarium krellide ; Saurian brandy ; socks ; soup ; Starbase 260 ; subspace distortion ; subspace field ; spatial deformation ; survey probe ; Targ milk ; Telemarius IV ; torpedo bay ; transparent aluminum ; tricorder ; turbolift ; Tyrinean ; Tyrinean blade carving ; " " ; warp field ; " Wind Quintet in E - flat major " Unused production references . 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