"Datalore" is an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is the twelfth episode of the first season and depicts events that occurred on Stardate 41242.4.

The episode begins with the Enterprise paying a visit to the Omicron Theta star system for a couple of hours to stop by Data's home planet and hopefully unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his beginnings. As the ship arrives in the system the bridge crew muses on Data's whereabouts and surmise that he wants to be alone. However, as Wesley Crusher discovers, Data is actually in his room attempting to sneeze, a trait he feels would make him more human.

When the Enterprise reaches Data's planet, Captain Jean-Luc Picard orders a close parking orbit for the Enterprise. Tasha Yar scans the planet and reports that though the planet has a Class M status there are no lifeforms at all on the surface. Picard finds this to be quite strange because the crew of the Tripoli that found Data reported farmlands and life. Commander Riker asks Data whether he remembers any farmlands from his time on the planet. Data does remember there being farmlands, but notes that the colony's principal interests where in the scientific realm. It is revealed at this point that Data has the memories of all the colonists stored inside him, but that it is only their accumulated knowledge, not experience.

Picard wants an explanation about the colony's disappearance so Riker assembles an away team of himself, Data, Yar, Lieutenant Worf, and Geordi La Forge. After they beam down using coordinates from the Tripoli's logs they find that the world is completely dead. Even the soil is devoid of bacteria. Data says that topographically they are in the right spot and Geordi confirms this stating the land would have once been rich farm land. Riker asks Data to lead them to where he was found and they head in that direction. On the way there Tasha asks Data why he has all of the colonists' memories. Data answers that he only knows he was given them quickly. The conversation is interrupted though as they find a staircase of rock leading to what appears to be a natural depression in the ground. It is at the bottom that Data says the Tripoli crew found the signalling device that lead them there as well as Data himself laid out on a slab of rock. Data tells the away team that they found him covered in a layer of dust, and that his first true memories were of opening his eyes and looking into the eyes of a Tripoli away team member. Data believes that the signalling device activated Data when their presence was detected.

While in the depression Geordi makes a discovery and finds that while it appears to be a natural hollow of some kind, it is in fact artificial and hastily constructed. This awakens a memory fragment in Data of the colonists' memories. He remembers that the colonists had hoped to remain hidden, but he does not know from what. After some examination, Geordi finds a secret switch in the wall and opens up a hidden door disguised as rock. The door leads into an underground structure. The away team moves in and after some short examination discovers a sophisticated lab. Once again Data has some vague memories of the place, such as some of his functions being tested there. While exploring the lab Riker stumbles upon some child drawn pictures showing what appears to be a disaster taking place. Data has another memory but only knows that what the pictures depict is familiar and dangerous. Data does remember a workstation in the lab as belonging to a Dr. Noonien Soong though and takes them to it.

The away team members are amazed as Dr. Soong had disappeared long ago. Data assures the members that it was Soong and that he traveled to the colony under an assumed name. After this revelation, Riker has the away team split up with Worf and Yar searching the rest of the compound, while he, Data, and Geordi search the lab. While searching the lab Data finds a mold that was clearly used to create his face. After some more searching Yar calls Riker and tells him that the installation is large enough to hold hundreds of people. While Riker is getting this message, Geordi finds a storage area filled with swirling gases. The team opens it and inside they find a disassembled android. Data appears awestruck and asks for permission to reassemble the android. Riker is reluctant to agree, and unsure if it can even be done, but ultimately gives in to the idea.