Plot
The USS Enterprise receives a distress call from Dr. Howard Clarke (Paul Lambert), 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 wars and restoring the ecological balance, and improving their heavily polluted planet, the population would become the personal slavery of Ardra a thousand years later. 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 were said to be signs of her arrival.
Captain Picard and Commander Data (Brent Spiner) discuss the matter with the Ventaxian leader (Marcelo Tubert), a woman appears in the chamber, announcing herself as Ardra. She proves her identity by starting an earthquake at will, and transforming into both the Christian and then the Klingon devil. Ardra states that she has come to claim the planet. Picard is instantly suspicious and orders Data to examine the contract that supposedly was signed by Ardra and the leaders of the planet a thousand years ago. Picard returns to the Enterprise afterwards, and Ardra appears on the bridge sitting in the Captain's chair. Security Chief Worf (Michael Dorn) tries to remove her without success, Data returns just then and confirms the language of the contract as well as Ardra's claim to the planet, including anything in orbit, including the Enterprise.
Later, in a meeting with the senior staff, Picard expresses his belief that she is a con-artist and points out that all of her "powers" can be recreated with technology, whilst delivered theatrically. After the meeting, Picard goes to bed for the evening. As Picard sleeps, Ardra appears and tries to seduce him but he rejects her. She transports him to the planet dressed in his pyjamas. 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, the ship disappears. Not knowing what to do, they return to 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, as he will act with impartiality, to which Picard agrees. During the course of the hearing, Chief Engineer La Forge (LeVar Burton) and Clarke discover that Ardra has a cloaked ship nearby, that she is indeed using technology to simulate magic, and that she is a known criminal. Picard has an away team led by Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) take control of Ardra's ship, giving Picard control of Ardra's "powers". He demonstrates the fraud and she is taken into custody by local authorities. Picard explains to the leader of the planet that the people improved their planet gradually through hard work and dedication.
Read more about this topic: Devil's Due (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
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