Symbiosis (TNG episode)
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"Symbiosis" is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, first broadcast April 18, 1988. It is episode #21, production #123, teleplay written by Robert Lewin, Richard Manning, and Hans Beimler, based on a story by Robert Lewin, and directed by Win Phelps.
There is no stardate given for this episode.
Quick Overview: Captain Picard tries to mediate a peculiar drug trade between two cultures.
The story begins with the USS Enterprise entering the Delos system to study a star that is undergoing magnetic field changes. The ship gets as close to the star as possible just out of reach of dangerous solar flares. The operation is tense, since the shields are buffeted by deadly X-rays. Suddenly, there is a distress call from a ship in orbit above the fourth planet of the system. The solar storm makes communication difficult so the Enterprise heads to the planet to investigate. Arriving there, they find an old, battered freighter in a rapidly decaying orbit. They establish contact with T'Jon, the captain of, The Sanction. T'Jon explains they lost power, and are falling out of control into the planet's atmosphere.
T'Jon is pretty vague about their situation, saying they just lost "something". Picard wonders what their computer is telling him, but T'Jon indicates their computer isn't working either. Picard has Data run a remote diagnostic. Meanwhile, Lt. Yar suggests pulling them out of orbit with the tractor beam. Picard makes it so, but the solar flare activity causes the beam to fail. The ship is still falling. Data calls over to T'Jon and explains that an electromagnetic coil that constricts exhaust flow is misaligned. Picard asks if they have a replacement aboard their ship, but T'Jon says no. Data indicates a coil of the proper type is in storage. They could beam it over to them. T'Jon is delighted, but is embarrased to admit none of them know how to install it.
Picard glances to Commander Riker who is shaking his head in disbelief. How can the captain of a ship be so ignorant of its maintenance? If it wasn't so serious, he'd be laughing. Riker suggests sending over a repair team, but Tasha advises against it. The solar flare activity is to unstable to risk transport of personnel. Worf indicates the ship is entering the atmosphere. They only have minutes before break up. Picard tells T'Jon to round up his crew, and prepare for emergency beam out. Yar and Riker head to a transporter room. Yar works the controls but has problems locking on the passengers. She tells T'Jon to go to their transporter room. Perhaps she can link the two systems together for a stronger signal. T'Jon signals they are ready and Yar activates the beam. To her and Riker's shock, a cargo barrel materializes on the pad instead of the crew. Riker is confused. They're lives are in danger, and they send their cargo? Yar beams the container to a hold and tries again. Time is running out, so she just locks on whatever life readings she can find and energizes the beam.
Worf announces that the freighter is breaking up as the Sanction explodes above the planet. Yar informs she only managed to save four of the six crew members. On the pad stand four humanoids; three men and a woman.T'Jon and Romas, are scruffy and unclean, appearing nervous and high-strung, while Sobi and Langor appear well groomed and richly dressed. Riker apologizes for losing the other two, but they appear to have no concern for them. T'Jon asks what happened to the container. Riker explains it was sent to a hold. They demand to see it. Riker doesn't understands their persistence, but takes them to see their precious cargo.
Their container sits in the middle of the hold. Sobi and Langor appear gratified, however T'Jon and Romas are ecstatic, embracing the barrel almost lovingly. T'Jon thanks Riker for saving it. He was afraid it was lost, but Langor casually reminds him the barrel is her and Sobi's property. T'Jon argues they paid a fair price, but Langor says they haven't received it. Romas responds that they offered goods in trade, which Sobi states has gone down with the ship! Therefore, the deal is void. The parties continue to bicker back and fourth, until it gets physical. T'Jon lunges at Sobi, discharging a burst of energy from his hands that stuns Sobi for a moment. Sobi fights it off, and gives T'Jon a shocking grasp of his own. Yar shouts for them to stop, and jolts them both with a stun from her phaser. They regain their composure but keep a hostile glare in their eyes. Security arrives to escort their guests to the observation lounge. Yar ponders about their strange power; "a natural electrical discharge?" Riker can only wonder. It's a difficult "weapon" to confiscate.
In the observation lounge, the cool and collective Brekkans, Sobi and Langor, sit opposite of their overtly stressed out counterparts, T'Jon and Romas, from Ornara. Guards are posted just in case their hostilities flare up again. On the bridge, Picard prepares to deal with them. He asks Data for information on the two races, but there is little about them. The only recorded contact was over 200 years ago. A scout ship reported two inhabited planets with cultures on the verge of space travel. What is strange is neither culture seems to have advanced any further in the past two centuries. Counselor Troi feels strong concern over the cargo barrel. It is a source of great anxiety for them.
Picard enters the lounge, and offers his regrets for not saving their ship. T'Jon is curious, explaining they have two more freighters in need of repair. Their survival depends on their operation. Data indicates he was able to download the schematics of their ship's drive system. He sees no problem in fabricating replacement components if needed. The four aliens breathe a sigh of relief. The topic of the cargo comes up. There seems to be some dispute over ownership. T'Jon claims the problem is a matter of life and death. It's "Felicium", a medicine for a lethal plague on their world. It's critical to the survival of millions. Picard shifts a concerned glance to Sobi and Langor who know they are being viewed as heartless brutes.
Langor explains that the plant that yields Felicium grows only in remote areas of Brekka. Sobi adds that it must be painstakingly cultivated and refined. A complex and expensive process. A single barrel of Felicium represents and enormous investment. It just can't give it away. T'Jon indicates it has already been paid for, and they simply ask for what is rightfully theirs. Romas says they will soon see what the plague is doing to them when the symptoms take hold of he and T'Jon. Picard becomes alarmed; T'Jon and Romas are carrying this plague? Romas indicates that every Ornaran does. This means they may have brought it aboard the ship. Not taking a chance that the transporter biofilters screened it, Picard initiates a medical emergency and calls for Dr. Crusher.
The four aliens are taken to sickbay where Beverly runs tests. She is unfamiliar with their physiology, but from what she can tell, Sobi and Langor are in perfect health. She isn't so sure of T'Jon and Romas, who appear to be getting worse. Both are antsy and sweating profusely. The Ornarans have all the symptoms of an illness, but she can't find the cause. She needs to run more tests. Picard begins to head out, but T'Jon stops him and pleads for the medicine. Picard says the Brekkans claim it belongs to them. Romas hisses "they lie!" Picard states it's not for him to decide. T'Jon pressures Picard, explaining what is happening to them is happening to millions on their world. If they don't give them the medicine, they will be party to murder of an entire civilization. Picard reacts to the insult, and T'Jon sees he has crossed the line and apologizes.
Picard talks to the Brekkans, explaining the Ornarans are quite ill. He asks if they'd be generous enough to permit them to have some Felicium for their immediate needs. Langor and Sobi give it some thought, and finally decide to offer two doses; "free of charge". Picard takes them to the hold where they are joined by Data and Dr. Crusher. Langor opens part of the barrel, and withdraws a circular device, which exposes thousands of tiny white pills. She delicately extracts a single pill, and places it inside the device for processing. Beverly asks about the dosage, to which Langor states is .01 milliliters. Beverly is impressed; “A very potent substance! Sobi explains their refinement process has dramatically improved over the years. In his grandfather's day, this single shipment of Felicium would have filled five rooms this size. Data wonders if technology from their other industries was used to improve the refinement process, but Sobi indicates they have no other industry. The Ornarans provide them with everything they need in exchange for the Felicium. Data is astonished. A society dedicated exclusively to the production of a single product. A product for which the Brekkans have no use for, but the Ornarans cannot live without. Langor calls it one of life's little ironies.
The serum is ready, and Beverly takes it to the sick Ornarans. The two men practically rip the device from her hands stating they can do the rest. T'Jon prepares a hypo as Romas persuades him to hurry up. He injects it into Romas' hand and then injects some into his. Almost immediately, the two aliens begin to relax, as if a euphoric bliss has washed over them. Beverly is suspicious. She reports to Picard, and states she might not fully understand Ornaran physiology, but she recognizes physical reactions. Felicium is a narcotic! Every Ornaran is a drug addict. Elsewhere, Data and Riker have uncovered some more information about the two cultures. Data explains that a thousand years ago, the two cultures took different paths. Ornara became technologically advanced and Brekka did not. However, 200 years ago, a devastating plague ravaged Ornara. Somehow, a cure was discovered in a plant indigenous only to Brekka, and resisted attempts to cultivate on Ornara. A trading system was established which still exists. The Brekkans provide the medicine, and Ornara provide Brekka with goods and technology.
Beverly comes forward with new findings. According to her analysis, Felicium had completely wiped out the plague. The Ornarans have become so addicted to it, that they still believe it's needed to survive. All traces of the plague are gone, and it shouldn't ever recur. Based on what they know so far, there is nothing Picard can do about it, but Beverly sees drug addiction and exploitation is sufficient cause to do something. Picard explains the situation has gone on for a long time. The two civilizations are intertwined in a symbiotic relationship. She agrees, but sees it as one race profiting off the expense of another. Picard knows it's against moral sensibilities, but their mission is not to enforce Federation values on others worlds. Beverly indicates she can synthesize a non-addictive serum that will ease their withdraw pains, but Picard refuses to get involved.
A transmission from Ornara comes in. A man named Margan appears on the screen and speaks with T'Jon and Romas. Margan appears weak and disheveled. He begs T'Jon to get the drug to their world immediately. People are dying, and it's the worst he's ever seen. The others see the enormous pressure on T'Jon. The transmission ends and T'Jon grabs hold of Riker, stunning him with his electrical power. T'Jon demands they be given the Felicium and a shuttle craft. He doesn't care if they're entitled to it or not. They must have it! If they refuse, he will kill Riker. Picard tells him he won't be coerced, but T'Jon is very desperate. Picard tries to calm him; telling the man he is no killer. T'Jon finally relents, and lets Riker go. He is near breakdown, and tearfully begs Picard to help him. Picard isn't sure that he can.
Sobi and Langor have overheard the situation in the next room. They tell Picard they have decided to hand over their shipment to the Ornarans. They can pay them back some other time. They do not wish to cause further suffering. Picard expected as much. It seems the shoe was once on the other foot. He asks if the Ornarans ever knew that the plague also occurred on Brekka? The two feign ignorance, but Beverly states their ancestors realized their addiction for the drug remained after the plague was eradicated. They made the connection and ended it, but these same wonderful people realized their neighbors never found out. Picard suspects the refinement process has only made the drug more potent, so they could tighten their grip on the Ornarans even further. Langor and Sobi become nervous. The secret is out. However, Picard says the secret is safe. He isn't permitted to tell the Ornarans anything. Doing so would violate the Prime Directive and interfere with the dealings of other worlds. The Brekkans are somewhat relieved. As they understand it, Picard has no choice but allow the devious trade to go on. Beverly is furious, accusing the Brekkans of enslaving another race, just so their pitiful lives are made easier. It's not fair. Picard is sorry, but he tells her they have no say in it.
The Enterprise takes a quick intersystem trip over to Ornara. Down in the hold, the four aliens prepare to beam down along with their container, and the gifts of newly fabricated parts for the Ornaran freighters. T'Jon and Romas are gracious that Picard has made a humanitarian decision on their behalf. With the new coils they can have their ships up and running again. Picard gives a firm “negative to that comment. T'Jon, along with just about everyone else, are confused. Picard says he will not be giving them the parts. If their ships are broken, they will have to repair them on their own. T'Jon doesn't understand. Without the parts their trade cannot continue. Sobi is angered, telling Picard he will disrupt the stability of both their worlds and interfere with a trade agreement that has lasted for centuries. Langor asks what the Prime Directive says about that? Picard states nothing in the Directive compels him to offer aid. T'Jon is disgusted, claiming Picard has condemned them to death, but Beverly urges them to figure out other options. T'Jon hopes Picard knows what he has done to them. Picard replies, of that, he can be sure. He wishes them luck, and gives the order to transport them away. Beverly is proud of her Captain, but has sympathy for the Ornarans who will feel intense withdraw pains. Picard says, painful as it will be, the people of Ornara and Brekka must shape their own destinies.
Trivia
- Some fans have noted that despite Sobi and Langor's smug departure at the end of the episode, they will be in terrible danger of retaliation once the Ornarans conclude their withdrawal phases and realize that they have been exploited by Brekka for generations.
- This was the last episode of the series filmed with Denise Crosby as a member of the regular cast. Even though Tasha Yar died in Skin of Evil, Symbiosis was filmed afterwards. The last scene with Tasha in this episode features her waving at Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher.
| Preceded by: The Arsenal of Freedom | Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes | Followed by: Skin of Evil |
