Devil's Due

TNG Season 4 Episode 13

Air Date: February 4th, 1991

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from the planet Ventax II. They are experiencing extreme tremors and believe their world will end. The away team learns that the people of Ventax II made a deal with what would be considered their Devil, Ardra a thousand years ago that they would have peace, but after the thousand years their entire planet and all who live on it will be owned by Ardra. The away team tries to convince the leaders of Ventax II that it will be ok, when Ardra appears.

Captain Picard challenges Ardra's to a trial which she agrees to with Lt. Cmdr. Data as arbiter. She uses her powers to create tremors, change her form and even make Picard disappear. But Lt. Cmdr. La Forge was able to find her ship at the pole and take it over giving Picard the same powers proving she was a fraud.

Picard made sure that Ventax II knows that their thousand years of peace came from their people wanting peace and working hard, not because of some contract. The contract may have been the catalyst but it was always the people.

Quotes

"A wise man once said, there is a sucker born every minute." - Captain Picard

"P.T. Barnum." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"Please do not take any offense to these questions, Captain. You know how fond I am of you." - Ardra

"Objection." - Captain Picard

"Sustained. The advocate will refrain from expressing personal affections for her opponent." - Lt. Cmdr. Data

"The advocate will refrain from making her opponent disappear." - Lt. Cmdr. Data