Devil's Due (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Devil's Due"
Star Trek: The Next Generation episode
Picard discusses things with Jared, the Ventaxian leader, as Ardra attempts to take control of the planet.
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 13
Directed by	Tom Benko
Teleplay by	Philip Lazebnik
Story by	Philip Lazebnik William Douglas Lansford
Featured music	Ron Jones
Production code	187
Original air date	February 4, 1991 (1991-02-04)
Guest stars
Marta DuBois - Ardra Paul Lambert - Howard Clarke Marcelo Tubert - Acost Jared Thad Lamey as Devil Monster Tom Magee as Fek'lhr
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Wounded" Next → "Clues"
List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes

"Devil's Due" is an episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Overview

The crew of the Enterprise confront an individual claiming to be Ardra, a devil-woman on the planet Ventax II. According to the history of Ventax II, one thousand years earlier, the people of the planet had signed a contract with Ardra (played by Marta DuBois) under which she promised to solve all the world's problems. In return, the planet would become hers after a thousand years.

Plot

The USS Enterprise receives a distress call from Dr. Clarke, the leader of a Federation scientific delegation on Ventax II, where the population is in a state of panic because they are convinced that their world will soon end. After the Enterprise arrives, they rescue Dr. Clarke who brings them up to date: a thousand years ago, according to Ventaxian history, the population entered a Faustian deal with Ardra, their mythology's devil. In exchange for ending their ongoing wars and restoring the ecological balance, and in general improving their heavily polluted planet, the population would deliver themselves into the personal slavery of Ardra. As the millennium is about to come to a close, the planet has recently begun experiencing mild earthquakes as well as seeing images of Ardra in the skies. These things were said to precede Ardra's arrival, and therefore fueled the fears of the Ventaxian people.

As Captain Picard and Data discuss the matter with the Ventaxian leader, a sultry brunette appears in the chamber, announcing herself as Ardra. She proves her identity by seemingly starting an earthquake at will, and changing her form into that of both the Christian and then the Klingon devil. Ardra states that the thousand years are over and that she has come to claim the planet. Picard is instantly suspicious and orders Data to closely examine the contract that supposedly was signed by Ardra and the leaders of the planet a thousand years ago. Picard returns to the Enterprise shortly afterwards, and Ardra appears on the bridge sitting in the Captain's chair. Worf tries to remove Ardra without success, and she flirts with the Captain rather openly. Data returns just then and confirms the language of the contract as well as Ardra's claim to the planet, including anything in orbit—that is, including the Enterprise.

Later, in a meeting with the senior staff, Picard expresses his belief that they are dealing with a con artist and points out that all of Ardra's "powers" can be recreated with holographic effects and transporter technology, just delivered with flair. After the meeting, Picard is discussing the issue with Data and then goes to bed for the evening.

As Picard sleeps, Ardra appears dressed in sultry clothing and tries to seduce Picard; he rejects her, saying that she is obvious and vulgar. She makes him vanish and appear on the planet dressed in pajamas, much to his embarassment. Data comes to collect Picard by shuttle after Worf is unable to transport him back the normal way. When Picard and Data attempt to return to the Enterprise to contemplate this development, the Enterprise disappears before their eyes. Not knowing what to do, they return to the science team's lab on the planet.

Citing old legal precedent, Picard calls for a Ventaxian arbitration hearing, which Ardra agrees to as long as Data acts as the arbitrator, due to his ability to be completely impartial despite his Starfleet position. Picard agrees to the choice of Data, knowing that he also cannot feel pressed by Ardra. During the course of the hearing, Geordi and Dr. Clarke discover that Ardra has a cloaked ship hiding nearby, that she is indeed using technology to simulate magic, and that she is a criminal with a long career. To prove a point, Picard has an away team led by Commander Riker take control of Ardra's ship. This gives Picard control of Ardra's powers, which he uses to demonstrate the fraud. Ardra is swiftly taken into custody by local authorities. Picard tells the leader of the planet that the people improved their planet gradually through hard work and dedication.

Clarke's Laws

This episode illustrates Arthur C. Clarke's Third Law: "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."^[1] The leader of the science team on the planet is named "Dr. Clarke".

References

1. ^ Van Hise, James (1995). The Unauthorized Trek: The Complete Next Generation. Pioneer Books. p. 103. ISBN 9781556983771. 

• Star Trek The Next Generation DVD set, volume 4, disk 4, selection 1.

External links

• Devil's Due at the Internet Movie Database
• "Devil's Due" at TV.com
• Devil's Due at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• Devil's Due at StarTrek.com