With three days left to wait for a rendezvous, 
Geordi invites Data to play Sherlock Holmes to 
his John Watson in the holodeck. Both enjoy the 
trappings of their respective roles, but Geordi is 
quickly nonplussed when Data solves the 
Holmes mystery effortlessly, due to having read 
and memorized it. In Ten-Forward, Geordi tries 
to explain to Data that the fun is in trying to 
solve the mystery, but doesn't seem to be getting 
through. When Pulaski adds her two cents, and 
claims that human understanding of that type is 
beyond Data, Geordi suggests programming the 
computer to create an original Holmes mystery, 
and Data invites Pulaski along.
<P>
Unfortunately, this second attempt is merely a 
combination of elements from two different 
Conan Doyle stories, and fails as miserably as 
the first. Geordi tells the computer to create an 
adversary capable of defeating Data, and on the 
bridge, Worf suddenly detects a power surge. As 
the three continue wandering the streets of 
"London", Professor Moriarty appears, and 
miraculously, calls up the computer arch 
himself. Shortly afterward, Geordi and Data 
hear Pulaski scream, and Data quickly deduces 
Pulaski has been abducted.
<P>
Their first attempt to find her leads them to a 
dead end. When the Inspector gives "Holmes" a 
mystery to solve, Data quickly does so, but says 
it does not connect with their search, leading 
Geordi to conclude that the computer is running 
an independent program. They find Moriarty, 
who worries them with his talk of Data being 
"Holmes-yet not Holmes", and then shocks them 
by calling for the arch. He gives Data a picture of 
the Enterprise, and Data and Geordi leave in a 
panic. They try to shut down the holodeck, but 
cannot. Apparently, Geordi's instruction to 
create an adversary worthy of Data, and not 
Holmes, set up a chain reaction that gives 
Moriarty both power and consciousness. After 
examining alternatives, Picard decides the 
safest approach is for him, with Data, to go back 
into the holodeck and confront Moriarty.
<P>
By the time they reach him, Moriarty has gained 
a reasonable understanding of the ship's 
operations, and proves to them that he can cause 
damage by shaking the ship. Data, attempting to 
make the program run its course, concedes 
defeat, but Moriarty does not vanish. He claims 
to no longer be Moriarty, and says he wants 
merely to continue to exist...outside the 
holodeck. Picard sympathizes, as "Moriarty" is 
no longer evil, but cannot help. Moriarty, 
admitting failure, cancels the override protocol 
he'd placed on the holodeck. Picard suggests to 
Moriarty that they save his program until they 
find a way to recreate him more permanently. 
Moriarty is saved, and the Enterprise 
rendezvouses with the Victory.
<P>