History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E13DevilsDue

As Data continues to study the Ventaxian legal system, Ardra begins trying to seduce Picard, showing up in his quarters and changing her shape in an attemot to please him, but he rejects her. She teleports him to the starbase in his pajamas in retaliation, surprising Geordi and Clark, and disabling the transporters, forcing Data to pick him up in a shuttle with a spare uniform. En route back to the ship, Data relates that he found a legal precedent involving a contract dispute between a Ventaxian and a Klingon craftsman, where it was decided that due to one of the parties being alien, it was a matter for arbitration and not the courts. Picard notes that this is just what they need and that they will be able to lure Ardra into it by playing a con of their own... Unfortunately, as they're discussing this, the ''Enterprise'' suddenly vanishes.

The trial...er...arbitration of the century then begins. The beginning doesn't go well, since Ardra manages to use a few iffy yet acceptable-under-Ventaxian-law arguments, as well as intimidate Jared (the sole witness) to "prove" that she is indeed Ardra. At one point she demonstrates her powers again (testing Data's patience) and asks Picard if he can explain them. Picard cannot. Meanwhile, Geordi and Clark {{technobabble}} their way through tracking Ardra's power source with little success.

The Ventaxians thank Picard for saving them, Picard responds that they themselves are truly responsible for saving themselves, while he just exposed a fraudster. He and Data exit, roll credits.

** Ardra accuses Picard and company of this, since despite all the incredible and varied things Picard and the crew of the ''Enterprise'' have seen over the course of their careers, ''no-one'' ever considers the possibility that Ardra is what she claims she is. They briefly consider that she may be Q (or ''a'' Q) but dismiss it on the grounds that no Q would be interested in a planet's economics. It may be, however, that it's ''because'' of this experience, where all claims of supernatural beings always turn out to be some variety of SufficientlyAdvancedAliens, that they doubt her.
** Ardra repeatedly demonstrates a lack of any kind of extrasensory abilities. She did not know about the Federation hostages, requires a census of the population as well as economic forecasts, is unaware that Data is an android until told and just generally asks a lot of questions that one would expect a genuinely godlike being to already know the answers to. This is an obvious tipoff that she is neither the "devil" nor an advanced alien. There is also the fact Ardra flubbed Klingon mythology by saying that Fek'lhr was the klingon devil (he's not, klingons have no devil.)

* BlatantLies: When Picard asks Ardra to stop the tremors he caused (having confiscated her ship) she claims, "I like the tremors!"

* ClarkesThirdLaw: {{Played with}}. Ardra's tricks are performed using technology, but it turns out to be technology that the ''Enterprise'' itself possesses (or at least knows of), dressed up to look more impressive than it is. (And the fact the head scientist at the station is actually ''[[MeaningfulName named]]'' Clark is very likely a sly nod to this.)

** Worf isn't fully successful at hiding his nervousness when Ardra takes the form of Fek'lhr--after all, he tortures the dishonored dead in Klingon mythology, and Worf is [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E17SinsOfTheFather still suffering under discommendation]]. By Klingon standards, he's headed straight to Hell if he should die.
** In the TOS episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove Day of the Dove]]", Kang told Kirk that the Klingons don't have a Devil. In this episode, Fek'lhr is ''not'' the Klingon Devil, he is the guardian of Gre'thor, the Klingon Hell, similar to Cerberus from ancient Greek Mythology.

* EvilIsHammy: Ardra ''relishes'' her power over the Ventaxians and putting the moves on Picard. She seems to prefer the ColdHam variety - she comes off soft-spoken and doesn't raise her voice too much, but she definitely carries herself like an EvilOverlord.
* FamousFamousFictional: During the "Christmas Carol" cold open, Data mentions three of his "mentors" in Method acting: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Stanislavski Konstantin Stanislavski]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Adler Stella Adler]] and Garnav.

** In the TOS episode [[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove Day of the Dove]], Kang told Kirk that the Klingons don't have a Devil. In this episode, Fek'lhr is ''not'' the Klingon Devil, he is the guardian of Gre'thor, the Klingon Hell, similar to Cerberus from ancient Greek Mythology.

* CourtroomAntic: Several, including a few not in the standard playbook. [[HoistByHisOwnPetard It later comes back to bite Ardra]]; when Picard "steals" Ardra's powers, Data decides that Picard has a certain amount of leeway given Ardra's prior actions. Once Picard has replicated all of Ardra's prior tricks, Data promptly declares that said leeway has run out.
-->'''Data:''' [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight The advocate will refrain from making her opponent disappear.]]

** Ardra repeatedly demonstrates a lack of any kind of extrasensory abilities. She did not know about the Federation hostages, requires a census of the population as well as economic forecasts, is unaware that Data is an android until told and just generally asks a lot of questions that one would expect a genuinely godlike being to already know the answers to. This is an obvious tipoff that she is neither the "devil" nor an advanced alien.

In the ready room, Dr. Clark explains that the Ventaxians were a highly advanced civilization until 1,000 years ago, when they suddenly turned their backs on technology and reverted to an agrarian society. Despite their low tech level, Clark describes their society as idyllic--until a few months ago, when the people became increasingly obsessed with the legend of Ardra, the Ventaxian Devil figure who promised the people 1,000 years of prosperity in return for the planet's enslavement 1,000 years later. That was precisely 1,000 years ago. The crew beams down to the planet in an attempt to release the hostages and talk sense into the mob. The planet's head of state, Acost Jared, says that there's nothing he can do, as all the signs pointing to Adra's return have occurred, including earthquakes and visions of the woman herself. As if on cue, a woman materializes in their midst and states, "Time's up!"

* TheWorfAffect: Worf is summoned to throw Ardra off the bridge. No points in guessing how well that goes.

While Picard is giving a frank critique of Data's performance as Ebenezer Scrooge during his ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' holoplay, the ''Enterprise'' receives a distress signal from a Federation science station on Ventax II. They contact the station's director, Dr. Clark, who explains that the station is being attacked by the planet's populace, which has erupted into chaos over a belief that their world is about to end. Once the ''Enterprise'' arrives at the planet, the Ventaxians break into the station and Dr. Clark is beamed aboard in the nick of time. Unfortunately, the rest of the scientists are taken by the mob and the ''Enterprise'' can't get a lock on them.

In the ready room, Dr. Clark explains that the Ventaxians were a highly advanced civilization until 1000 years ago, when they suddenly turned their backs on technology and reverted to an agrarian society. Despite their low tech level, Clark describes their society as idyllic--until a few months ago, when the Ventaxian head of state, Acost Jared, became increasingly obsessed with the legend of Ardra, the Ventaxian Devil figure. According to the legends, 1000 years ago, during a time of great strife and suffering, Ardra promised the Ventaxians 1000 years of peace and prosperity in return for her eventual return and subsequent enslavement of the population. The ''Enterprise'' is eventually contacted by Jared himself, who reveals the scientists were taken hostage and that the planet has been plagued with the omens of Ardra's return, including earthquakes and several appearances of her in person. The crew beams down to speak with Jared, hoping that they might dissuade fears of a myth among the populace and secure the hostages' release. Jared simply babbles nervously about Ardra... and then suddenly states, "She's here!" On cue, a woman suddenly appears in a flash of blinding light, saying, "Time's up."

The woman starts talking and walking around like she literally owns the place, demanding a full census of the population with emphasis on productivity and economic forecasts. She also inquires about the identity of the ''Enterprise'' crew, prompting them to introduce themselves, and Data to ask if she is indeed the mythological Ardra. She replies it is but one of her names, and that she is the truth behind countless Devil myths, such as the Klingon Fek'lhr. Worf scoffs at this, and Ardra responds by turning into Fek'lhr right before his eyes and then changing back. In response to Picard's skepticism, Ardra points out that he must have seen many fantastic beings in his travels, and Picard replies that indeed he has--including several with a more credible claim of being the devil than her. Picard demands to see the contract Ardra has made with the planet so that Data can examine it. When he offhandedly mentions the hostages, Ardra demands that Jared have them released. Despite Picard thus no longer having a reason to remain on the planet, he remains adamant to examine the contracts, which Ardra teasingly claims is because he's obsessed with her. Picard vows to "not abandon this planet to that woman."

In the conference room, the crew discusses the possibility that Ardra is a member of the Q continuum--or even Q himself, disguised as a woman for kicks. Picard points out that Q wouldn't care about contracts or economic forecasts; he is convinced that the woman is a simple ConArtist, with tricks that can be easily accomplished via technology, seeking to take advantage of the legend of Ardra to take over the planet. Returning to the bridge, Picard orders a search for a possible base of operations, but stops short when he sees Ardra herself, sitting in Picard's chair. Worf tries to remove her, but ([[TheWorfEffect predictably]]) ends up bouncing off a force field. Ardra claims the contract also gives her claim over everything in the planet's airspace and orbit--including the ''Enterprise''.

While Ardra makes herself at home on the bridge, Picard orders Data to study the contract and the Ventaxian legal system for some sort of loophole. At one point Ardra even tries to seduce Picard, changing into various forms, including Troi, but Picard rejects her advances. She retaliates by transporting him to the science station on the planet in his bedclothes (surprising Geordi and Clark) and disabling the transporters, forcing Data to pick him up in a shuttle with a spare uniform. En route back to the ship, Data relates that he found a legal precedent involving a contract dispute between a Ventaxian and a Klingon craftsman, where it was decided that due to one of the parties being alien, it was a matter for arbitration and not the courts. Picard notes that this is just what they need and that they will be able to lure Ardra into it by playing a con of their own... Unfortunately, as they're discussing this, the ''Enterprise'' suddenly vanishes.

Geordi tries to locate the ship but can't find it anywhere within one light-year. However, he did notice a jump of {{Technobabble}} Particles and claims that if they can get Ardra to do some more of her tricks, they might pinpoint her power source. Picard then goes to Ardra and explains the arbitration precedent. Ardra doesn't see why she should agree to this, prompting Picard to promise her a legendary priceless jewel if she wins. Ardra isn't interested and proposes a different offer: Picard himself, "heart, mind and soul." Picard reluctantly agrees, leaving only the matter of who should be the arbiter: Ardra chooses Data, under the rationale that as an android he is incapable of bias. Data takes Picard aside and asks that he refuse since he will not guarantee Picard's victory, but Picard abides by the choice since Data is the only person on the planet whom Ardra cannot intimidate.

Picard decides on a different approach. Unable to prove that she is not Ardra, he disputes her involvement in the bettering of Ventaxian society in the 1000 years that followed the dark days that prompted the deal. By questioning Jared, Picard proves that all of the improvements were made by the Ventaxians themselves without any help from Ardra. However, Ardra responds by asking Jared if the terrible conditions would have continued had she ''not'' intervened. Jared replies yes. And this is taken as evidence that the contract was fulfilled.

** In the TOS episode "Day of the Dove", Kang told Kirk that the Klingons don't have a Devil. In this episode, Fek'lhr is ''not'' the Klingon Devil, he is the guardian of Gre'thor, the Klingon Hell, similar to Cerberus from ancient Greek Mythology.

** In the TOS episode "Day of the Dove", Kang told Kirk that the Klingons don't have a Devil. In this episode, Fek'lhr is ''not'' the Klingon Devil, he is the guardian of Gre'thor, the Klingon Hell, similar to Cerebus from Greek Mythology.

The arbitration resumes. Picard claims that Ardra has no powers whatsoever and decides to prove it by "stealing" them. Picard then causes some earthquakes of his own, makes Ardra disappear, and assumes the guise of Fek'lhr, all of which Ardra is powerless to stop. Picard explains that the ''Enterprise'' has seized control of her ship, where all the technology she used to perform her tricks was held. He also reveals that "Ardra" was telling the truth when she claimed to have many names: her crew revealed she's used 23 aliases in that sector alone. Data declares the contract dissolved and "Ardra" is arrested. She claims Picard would have "more fun" if he had lost and gives an "until we meet again." Picard and Data exit, roll credits.

* SecondComing: Of Ardra, which the criminal posing as her takes advantage of.
** Intrestingly, this Second Coming is a ''bad'' one; the one coming back is a SatanicArchetype here to collect on a society-wide DealWithTheDevil.