"Hey Data, could you come over here?" Riker called out across Ten Forward.
Data crossed the bar to Riker's table, where he was having drinks with Geordi. "We were just discussing the Mariposan's use of cloning technology," the commander explained.
"What about the topic were you discussing?" Data asked.
"Well, Will here was thinking that you are technically a clone, so he thought you might have some insight on the matter," Geordi said, folding his arms. "But I don't think it's really a comparable situation.
"You are correct, Geordi," Data replied. "I may be an almost exact duplicate of Lore, but I was created with the intent to be an improvement of his functions. The Mariposan colony, on the other hand, was using cloning specifically as a means to continue new generations of humanoids. It is not the same."
Riker threw his hands up in defeat. "You have me there, Data. Though maybe this is all one big lesson on the dangers of splitting up. If the Brigloidi and Mariposans had stayed together in the first place, maybe the Mariposans would never had had their accident."
"And then they never would have had to resort to cloning," Geordi added.
"Perhaps that would have been the case," Data said. "Regardless, I am looking forward to seeing how the new colony develops."
"I think we all are, Data," Riker said with a grin.