Plot

With the Romulans in pursuit, Picard and the crew finally reach Soji's home planet - and discover more than they expected about the inhabitants.

Following an unconventional and dangerous transit, Picard and the crew finally arrive at Soji's home world, Coppelius. However, with Romulan warbirds on their tail, their arrival brings only greater danger as the crew discovers more than expected about the planet's inhabitants.

Using a Borg trans-warp conduit, La Sirena arrives at Soji's home-world, Coppelius, several days before the Romulan fleet. La Sirena never went to Deep Space 12 as planned. They traveled 25 light years in 15 minutes. Narek arrives and attacks but is interrupted when the Artifact follows them through the Transwarp conduit as well. A planetary defense system in the form of giant orchids engulf the spaceships and drags the three ships to the planet's surface. Picard requires medical attention following the crash.

Jurati discovers his terminal illness while scanning Picard with a Tricorder, and Picard reveals it to the rest of the crew. Before crashing the La Sirena found a settlement about 5-6 kilometers away from their present location. Soji says that it is Coppelius station and that she was born there.

After finding Elnor and Seven alive in the wreckage of the Artifact, the crew travels to the settlement where Dahj and Soji were created. They also activate the Artifact and its long-range scanners to find a fleet of 218 Romulan war-birds coming towards Coppelius. Elnor and Seven stay back on the Artifact to bring its defensive systems back online for the oncoming battle with the Romulans.

They find Maddox's science partner (and the son of Data's creator Noonien Soong) Altan Inigo Soong (Brent Spiner) with a colony of synthetics, including Jana's twin Sutra (Isa Briones). The planet only had 15 orchids to defend them, but now only has 10 left. Not nearly enough to repel the Romulan attack. Romulans will arrives in 2 days' time.

Sutra always had a passion for Vulcan culture. Sutra uses a mind meld to see the vision Oh showed Jurati and believes that it is a message to synthetic life from higher beings. Sutra believes that the Romulans may have been driving themselves insane for centuries, over something that wasn't meant for consumption by the Organic mind at all.

The message says that Organics yearn for perfection which results in the creation of Synthetic life. But then the Organic perceive the Synthetics as a threat since the Synthetics do not age or die. Organics will seek to destroy the Synthetics and in so doing, destroy themselves. The higher beings are an alliance of Synthetic life, waiting for a signal. The higher beings, when summoned, will offer their protection to the Synthetics. The Synthetics evolution will be the extinction of the Organics. The Romulan suspicions are confirmed.

Altan shows Jurati that he made a Golem body but hasn't figured out how to transfer someone's consciousness into it. Maddox was the substrates man.

Sutra tells Soji that there is no point in running from the Romulans. Soji says that the battle will cost many lives and there has to be an alternative. Picard calls Starfleet and reports first contact with the Synthetics on Ghulion IV. He asks for protection from an incoming Romulan attack.

Narek is held prisoner by the Synthetics. Narek again tries to manipulate Soji by saying that he loves her. But this time Soji takes no pity on him. But later, Sutra stops by and helps Narek escape with a mission of her own. Narek heads to the Artifact.

Soong, Soji, and the other synthetics support Sutra's plan to call these higher beings before the Romulans arrive. The Admonition had the subspace frequencies required to contact them. Soong and Sutra have created a beacon for sending the signal. Soong and Sutra argue that Organics will also treat Synthetics as a threat. Peace is not possible. The higher beings will eliminate all organic life forms and eliminate the threat of extermination for the Synthetics. Picard disagrees and is taken prisoner. Picard says that Soji became the Destroyer after all. Jurati promises to support the Synthetics.