Stardate 47869.2: Data's program of The Tempest is suddenly disturbed by the holographic recreation of the Orient Express. Amazingly, Data and Geordi find a network of self-erected nodes cross-connecting several of the ship's functions, much like a lifeform's neural web. The crew gradually loses control of these functions, including engines and navigation. Back in the holodeck, they discover that characters of the train program represent various functions of the ship. The ship's course changes are reflected there too. It becomes evident that the ship prepares for reproduction, creating a new lifeform in a cargo bay. When the new lifeform needs more vertion particles and the natural sources are exhausted, Geordi launches a photon torpedo into a nebula to generate them. The new lifeform leaves the ship with unknown destination.

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