That is the difficult question. But Data is prepared to answer it; it is not as though he did not have a reason for not reporting the existence of this place to his own captain.

"I had several reasons for not telling you," he replies. "First and most simply, I was not certain that anyone would believe me if I claimed that I had found a interdimensional distortion in my own quarters. And I have been told that it is not always stable for everyone who comes to Milliways. I was not sure that I would be able to prove its existence.

"Second, I decided that perhaps it was not wise to make an official report to Starfleet. The temptation to study a place such as this would be too great to ignore. I saw it as my duty to the Prime Directive to prevent this place from being overrun by Starfleet officers.

"Lastly, I kept it secret as a favor to someone."