Eftersom det är förflutet, ska svaret vara ganska enkelt ...
Picard: "Data, who invented the phaser?"
Data: "A Mr. Berlinghoff Rasmussen. A scientist of some dubious renowned in the 22nd century. After a string of failing inventions, he was able to create the first working phaser. When asked how he went from patenting a series of flavored eating utensils to designing a phaser he was always quoted as saying, 'It just came to him.'"
Picard: "You're free to go."
eller
Picard: "Data, who invented the phaser?"
Data: "The phaser was invented in the 23rd century by a team of scientists as a replacement to laser weapons to allow greater control in both precision and force and ..."
Picard: "Take him to the brig."