Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Descent" refers to a two-part episode of the sixth season of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. It aired as the season finale and season premiere (episodes 26 and 1) between June and September 1993.

The storyline centers around Data, the android officer, experiencing emotions due to a positronic signal originating from a lost Borg vessel. This signal connects him to Lore, his evil prototype brother, who has become the leader of a splinter group of Borg who have been freed from the Collective.

Lore is attempting to control these liberated Borg through the use of emotion, specifically anger and hatred, rather than the logical efficiency of the Collective. The two-part episode explores the themes of free will, the nature of humanity, and the dangers of unchecked emotion. Data's struggle to understand and control his newly awakened emotions, and his relationship with Lore, form the core of the narrative. The Enterprise crew attempts to sever the link between Data and Lore, ultimately culminating in a confrontation that tests Data's morality and allegiance. The episode also introduces Dr. Julianna Tainer, the believed-dead wife of Data's creator, Dr. Noonien Soong, adding a layer of complexity to Data's origins.