Object
Data's Ten-Forward Fork
A plain, hand-sized metal dining fork with four tines and a cool, utilitarian sheen typical of Ten-Forward serviceware. Data holds the fork in steady, precise motions as he models how to spear and lift food; Lal reaches for the same utensil and imitates his movements, revealing imperfect motor control when liquid spills from her mouth. The utensil reads as functional and unremarkable physically, but its placement on the table and in Data's hands turns it into a pedagogical prop and a quiet locus of scrutiny.
3 appearances
Purpose
Standard dining utensil for spearing and lifting food; in the scene explicitly used as a teaching prop to demonstrate eating motions and to assess Lal's motor coordination.
Significance
The fork anchors a tender yet clinical parenting ritual that humanizes Data and simultaneously generates documentary evidence. As the object through which Data trains and records Lal, it bridges private care and institutional surveillance, raising stakes for Lal's autonomy and Data's paternal claim.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used