All Good Stories Are Mysteries: "The Most Toys"

The process of uncovering information or identities or truth is what brings us back to stories again and again, even when we know the outcome. The actual uncovering delights us at a fundamental level.

I actually read the above years ago in a book whose title I can no longer remember. I wholeheartedly agree!

"The Most Toys" from the 3rd Season of Star Trek: The Next Generation is a great example.

Summary: In order to resolve a water contamination issue on Beta Agni II, the Enterprise obtains hytritium from the Zibalian trader, Kivas Fajo. On the last trip between Fajo's ship and the Enterprise, the shuttle explodes, apparently killing Data. The Enterprise proceeds to Beta Agni with the hytritium, where the crew discovers that the water contamination issue was manufactured, possibly by Fajo. In fact, Fajo created the problem in order to lure the Enterprise to trade with him, so he could abduct Data for his collection. Data manages to free himself, and the Enterprise beams him away. Fajo is taken into custody.

First, there are the mystery elements, which are smartly delivered. Geordi La Forge initially questions the shuttle explosion. Although others and even he put his doubts down to emotional denial, he becomes more and more skeptical. Ultimately, he puts together clues, specifically the fact that precise, protocol-following Data failed to use the proper protocols during his final trip, the one where the shuttle exploded.

Watching Geordi undergo that epiphany is a great "uncovering" moment.

The realization that the water contamination was contrived relies on old-fashioned forensics. The hytritium "cure" acts too quickly. The crew beam down and tests the water table directly. They realize that the contamination was manufactured and begin the process of figuring out why someone would do such a thing. Monetary gain makes no sense. What other motivation could be responsible? (This is a good example of an event which in reality would be carried out by all those lower-deck peons plus the scientists on the planet--but the Enterprise would still be tangentially involved.)

Another uncovering!

In my personal fan-fiction,

I made sure the lapling

is turned over to thrilled

Federation zoologists.

Even the non-mystery elements contain uncoverings or unveilings. Fajo's motivations are uncovered. His collection is unveiled from the Mona Lisa to an extinct creature.

The most important non-mystery element is watching Data, a sentient being, expose his own sentience. He continually resists Fajo's demands that he behave like a collectible. He won't sit in the chair designed for him. He won't wear Fajo's costume. He refuses to speak to Fajo's guest. He only sits when Fajo threatens another person--which reveals Fajo's basic character.

Data also lets loose his abnormal strength in order to fight security guards who try to stop him from leaving (usually Data is far more careful in how he handles people physically). Ultimately, he is willing to kill Fajo to get away. 

The fundamental and impressive unveiling of the episode is the concept that no free creature would ever agree to voluntary imprisonment. More than the trial in Season 2, Data's behavior in "The Most Toys" uncovers his true nature as well as his core beliefs about himself.

A number of Season 3 episodes illustrate the power of uncovering or unveiling. Perhaps next, I'll discuss "Sarek"!