Masks

Masks
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Masks_(episode)

The Enterprise is traveling through sector 1156 when they encounter a rogue comet ...

In Troi's quarters, Beverly Crusher sees a strange object. When she asks what it is, Troi tells her that she has no idea, she's never seen this object before. Crusher thinks Riker put it there, but Troi tells her that the object is not Riker's style. When Crusher and Troi leave the room, a strange symbol appears on the object.

When Data attends the next sculpture class, Troi notices that he made a mask and asks how he made it. Data tells her he used his imagination and for some reason the image of the mask appeared in his mind. Troi then asks if he was in her room because the symbol on his mask resembles the image on the object that appeared in her room.

In engineering, Data, Commander Riker and Geordi La Forge begin to investigate the strange symbols which are not listed in the Federation linguistics database. La Forge has found that the strange symbols were downloaded into the Enterprise computer core and are reconfiguring their systems ...

When La Forge asks Data about their idea, he's standing bemused before the screen, and tells them that he recognizes the symbols. He reads a few of them off as they float around the screen; boundary, border, road, companion, message, messenger, death.

Using a widespread phaser beam, Lieutenant Worf evaporates the comet's outer layers. Picard asks Data what they are looking at when a scan reveals that the object is over 87 million years old. The object appears to be nearly solid and composed of fortanium and several unknown materials. La Forge tells them that the object is definitely responsible for the strange symbols, it used their sensor beam as a carrier wave to transmit information into the Enterprise's replicators and computer systems. When Picard asks why it is doing this, Data responds that he thinks it is an informational archive ... it could be a database of some kind-Data thinks he might be in contact with the object. To determine if this is the case, he recommends a level 1 diagnostic 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 believes that the artifacts are primitive and serve no purpose. Picard thinks that they are for ceremonial purposes and are deceptively primitive because only an advanced technological society could have build the object they've encountered. Riker asks if Data's theory that the object is some sort of library could be correct. Picard states this might be possible but it seems to do more than simply store information. Riker notices that he has seen the compass like symbol on the artifact Picard is holding more than once. Picard tells him that he seen another small, U-shaped symbol all over the ship. It seems to always be in the background, but he has no idea what it represents.

With La Forge's help, Data is performing a level 1 diagnostic of his positronic net when he experiences a curious sensation – some kind of impulse. He asks La Forge how 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 decides to disconnect him from the main computer. Checking Data's positronic net, he discovers strange connections. When Data turns his head to La Forge, he has acquired a strange symbol on his forehead. In a light, mocking voice, he says "Masaka is waking!" ...

-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. Picard thinks that the archive's culture is based on symbolism so he wants to wear the mask and pose as Korgano. Deanna has some reservations about his plan, but they only have two hours left before the ship is totally transformed.

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, posing as Korgano, 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.