Man of the People ( episode ) As an ambassador mediates peace talks to end a fierce civil war , Deanna Troi begins to act erratically after spending some time with him . Summary . Teaser . As the approaches the transport ship , two Rekag battle cruisers turn tail , unwilling to face the superior firepower of the " Enterprise " . The captain of the " Dorian " contacts the " Enterprise " with relief , explaining that he is carrying a mediator to Seronia . He asks Captain Picard ' s permission to transfer him and his companion to the " Enterprise " . In the transporter room , Counselor Deanna Troi meets Ambassador Ves Alkar and an elderly woman , Sev Maylor – his mother . The old woman immediately reacts to Troi with hostility and jealousy , accusing her of being attracted to Alkar . He explains that she hasn ' t been feeling well and asks that she be taken to their quarters . Troi stands there , looking shocked . Act One . In the captain ' s ready room , Alkar is discussing the situation with Picard and Admiral Simons over a subspace link . Alkar is worried that his arrival at Seronia aboard the " Enterprise " would cause bad feelings , and asks to be transferred to an unarmed Federation transport instead . Picard is concerned that this would invite another attack , and the admiral agrees with Picard , turning down Alkar ' s request , noting that safety is an issue . Next morning , Alkar joins Troi at Worf ' s " mok ' bara " exercise class . Troi chats pleasantly with him after the class . Alkar explains that Lumerian s like him are only empathic with other members of their species , so he cannot tell what Troi is feeling . Troi says that she is curious about him , and explains that the calmness , serenity , and tranquility she is reading from him seems to embody the qualities he hopes to draw out from others in negotiations . Alkar explains how useful it could be to have an insight into other ' s feelings , and invites Troi to come with him to Seronia , to which she gladly agrees . Back at his quarters , they have another disturbing encounter with Alkar ' s mother – she is annoyed that he is late , and asks Troi if she has mated with Alkar yet . Alkar guides the woman back into his room , and Troi leaves , looking concerned . She is still thinking about the woman later , when Riker visits her office to discuss the staff evaluation reports . She talks it over with Riker , explaining that she sensed evil and malevolent feelings from the old woman . Riker puts her mind at rest , suggesting that this might just be due to old age and senility . They are interrupted by a message from Lieutenant Worf – there is an emergency in Alkar ' s quarters . Dr . Crusher administers 40cc ' s of inaprovaline , but the old lady dies anyway . Alkar is upset , and when Troi offers to help , he asks her to help him to perform a Lumerian funeral rite for his mother . The meditation involves two crystal encrusted rocks which Alkar keeps in a special box in his room . After reciting ritual words , Alkar taps on Troi ' s rock with his . A blue glow is transferred from Alkar ' s rock to Troi ' s , and she looks shocked as this happens . Alkar smiles and simply says " " Thank you . " " Act Two . In her quarters , Troi appears to be uncomfortable in her clothes , shifting them about as if she were too hot . She asks the computer to run through her appointments for the morning , then gets annoyed and tells it to cancel them . Dr . Crusher has been unable to determine the cause of death of the old woman , but Alkar has refused permission for her to perform an autopsy . Crusher asks Picard to speak to him , but he decides that since her death poses no threat to the ship , the customs of Alkar ' s people must be respected . Troi has changed her clothes , and is running through Worf ' s calming exercises , but then she begins touching herself in a sensual manner , and goes to Alkar ' s quarters . There , she attempts to seduce him , but he refuses her advances , saying that their relationship can ' t be like that . She storms out angrily . In the turbolift , an attractive young man enters . Troi looks at him suggestively . Later , Riker calls on Troi in her quarters . She is wearing a suggestive evening gown , and as Riker comes in the young man from the turbolift jumps to attention nervously as he sees Riker . He leaves , and Troi asks Riker if he ' s bothered by the young man ' s presence . Troi keeps insisting that Riker must be upset , as she knows him so well , while Riker tries to concentrate on the evaluation reports . Realizing that she ' s not in the mood to work , Riker leaves , concerned at Troi ' s unusual behavior . Act Three . There have been several violent incidents , despite the fact that a ceasefire had been negotiated . Now , neither side is willing even to sit down with the other unless it ' s on neutral territory . While sitting in the observation lounge with Alkar and his two delegates , Jarth and Liva , Picard suggests a meeting at the city of Darthen , which has been neutral throughout the conflict , and contains both Rekag and Seronian people in its population . Alkar accepts this suggestion and asks to set up such a meeting . Counselor Troi is at work . A female crew member , Ensign , is having problems with her superior officer , Lieutenant Pinder , being overcritical . Rather than being sympathetic , Troi takes the lieutenant ' s side and tells her client that she ' s being pathetic and if she doesn ' t shape up she should consider leaving the " Enterprise " altogether for an easier assignment . She is taken aback by this and leaves , looking upset , while Troi appears to be unaware of the effect her outburst has had . Dr . Crusher enlists Geordi La Forge ' s help to look up Sev Maylor ' s biofilter record from the transporter , since she cannot do an autopsy . Crusher is surprised to find that the comparison between this and her medical readings shows massive physiological deterioration of Maylor ' s body in just the three days since she transported aboard . In Ten Forward , Riker comes to tell Alkar that the warring sides have agreed to a meeting . Deanna Troi shows up in a very suggestive dress , before confronting Alkar ' s female aide Liva in a jealous fashion , similar to the way Maylor had attacked her earlier . Riker steps in to smooth over the situation by pretending Troi is needed elsewhere and escorting her out of Ten Forward . He takes her back to her quarters , but when he too refuses her attempts at seduction , he gets four deep scratches across the back of his neck with Troi ' s nails for his trouble . Shocked and horrified , Riker leaves . Act Four . Troi stands in the darkness in her quarters . Alkar comes to talk with her , explaining that he cannot take her to the surface now , but rather needs her on the ship . When Troi turns , her appearance has altered – she now looks noticeably middle - aged . Troi is jealous and emotional about the fact that Alkar is going to the surface with Liva now . As he leaves , she is literally screaming up the corridor after him . While the doctor is fixing up the scratches on his neck , Riker is expressing his concerns about Troi ' s wild behavior . Crusher asks the computer to locate Troi and takes Riker with her to see Troi immediately , but Troi is at the transporter room where Picard is taking leave of the ambassador . Once again , she begs to be allowed to go with him . She now looks much older than the last time during her encounter with Alkar , and has a knife . She wrestles with the captain , stabbing him during the scuffle and inflicting a minor wound ; until the transporter operator Chief drags her off him . At this point , Crusher and Riker rush in , with some security guards , and Troi is taken to sickbay . Nurse Ogawa notices that Troi is showing elevated neurotransmitter levels similar to those seen in Maylor ' s body . Now that there appears to be a threat to the " Enterprise " crew , Crusher requests Picard ' s permission to perform an autopsy . Picard attempts to contact Alkar on the planet , but he is unavailable , so Picard grants Crusher permission to proceed . Crusher is confused to find that , despite Maylor ' s appearance of great age , the organ s in her body were those of a 30 - year - old . Also , a DNA comparison between Maylor and Alkar shows that they were not , in fact , related . Crusher reports these strange findings to Picard saying that she needs answers from Alkar urgently if she is to save Troi ' s life . Picard beams down to the surface with Lieutenant Worf . Alkar readily admits that the lady he was with was not his mother , but when Picard further notes that she was not 93 either , Alkar accuses him of performing an autopsy against his wishes . Picard says he had good reason , and presses Alkar for answers to help Troi ' s condition . Alkar ' s aide interrupts them to explain that the talks are at crisis point . Alkar seems unconcerned , and explains to Picard that now , the point at which expectations are lowest , is the point at which his influence can do the most good . Alkar explains the situation to Picard , saying that he found a way to channel his darker thoughts into others , leaving him better able to perform mediations . He explains that Maylor , his current receptacle , had died earlier than he expected , leaving him in a predicament that Counselor Troi could solve for him by taking her place . However , as a non - Lumerian , Troi ' s aging process was faster than he expected . Alkar attempts to justify his use of other people in this way by reminding Picard that he does not profit in any way from his success as a negotiator , he only helps other people . But Picard is disgusted with his attitude , calling him a coward for exploiting the innocent because he is unwilling to face his own unpleasant emotions . He is determined to hold Alkar accountable for his actions . Alkar explains that he has no intention of releasing Troi , now or ever , and gets his security guards to disarm Worf , forcing Picard and Worf to beam back aboard the " Enterprise " while he returns to the negotiations . Act Five . Picard asks Worf to work with La Forge on breaking through their shields to beam Alkar back to the " Enterprise " and goes to see Dr . Crusher and Troi in sickbay . Crusher suggests a way to reduce and reverse the stress on Troi ' s system , but it will only work if the link to Alkar is broken . When Picard explains Alkar ' s intention to use Troi as his receptacle until she dies , Crusher realizes the best way to make Alkar sever the link is to convince him that she really is dead . Crusher explains to a shocked Riker that she will be able to revive Troi with dylamadon as long as her body is dead for no longer than thirty minutes . Picard is also worried about the safety of Alkar ' s next likely victim , Liva , his female aide . Back on the surface , the peace negotiations have been successfully concluded . Alkar suddenly stumbles , feeling a moment of weakness . Picard communicates , telling Alkar that Troi is dying and he must transport to the " Enterprise " , whether he wants to or not . La Forge has managed to breach the Seronian ' s security force fields . Alkar grudgingly agrees . Alkar and Liva enter sickbay to hear Crusher pronouncing Troi dead . Alkar sends Liva to his quarters while attempting to justify his actions to the " Enterprise " crew , saying that Troi ' s death served a purpose in bringing peace to Rekag - Seronia . Picard promises that Alkar will answer for what he did , but Alkar reminds the captain that the Federation Council has granted safe passage , and expects him to honor it . After he leaves , Picard asks the transporter room to be ready to beam Alkar ' s aide out of his quarters at his signal . Worf is to be stationed outside his quarters to prevent Alkar getting close to her again . In his quarters , Alkar seems nervous . He is telling Liva how much Troi helped him , and how affected he has been by her loss . Then he asks Liva to share the funeral meditation with him . In sickbay , Crusher is preparing her attempt to revive Troi . She gets Troi ' s heart beating again , and begins the treatment to neutralize the excess neurotransmitters . Eventually , Ogawa reads levels going toward normal , and Troi ' s eyes flutter open just as Alkar is completing the ceremony – he clutches his head in pain and collapses on the floor . As Liva starts to bend over him , he clutches desperately at her . She breaks away , and Picard beams her out as Alkar – who is noticeably aging now – lurches after her . Alkar opens his door to find Worf , Kellogg and Garvey blocking his way . Finally , he collapses on the floor and dies . In sickbay , Troi looks young again , and is relieved to see Riker standing over her , grasping her hand . Later , Riker explains to Troi that Alkar was at a susceptible point in his ceremony , so that rather than just sever the link , Troi ' s revival at that point caused all the negative energy to flow back from Troi into Alkar , causing his death . Liva has not been affected by him . Troi thanks Riker for looking after her , and they share a friendly kiss . Riker says he will always look after her – even when she is old and grey . Memorable quotes . " " Sir , the Rekag ships are turning and heading out of sensor range . " " " " They don ' t want to take on the " Enterprise " . " " " " Counselor Troi has altered her appearance . " " " " I will go with you ! Take me with you ! Please , Alkar ! Don ' t leave me ! Don ' t do this ! NOOOO ! " " " " It ' s a tragic loss , but her death had a purpose . " " " " I intend to make certain that you answer for what you have done . " " " " Your own Federation Council has granted me safe and timely passage back to my planet . I expect you to honor that , captain . " " " " You cannot explain away a wantonly immoral act because you think that it is connected to some higher purpose ! " " " " Captain , I get no payment . I have no power base , no agenda . I ' m willing to risk my life simply to help others . " " " " Do you think that makes you appear courageous ? Because you ' re mistaken ! You ' re a coward , Alkar . You exploit the innocent because you ' re unwilling to shoulder the burdens of . . . " unpleasant emotions " . Well , this time you will be held accountable . " " " " Worf to Captain Picard . Ambassador Alkar is dead . " " " " Thanks for sticking by me . " " " " I always will . . . even when you ' re old and gray . " " Links and references . References . 2276 ; 2349 ; autopsy ; biofilter ; blood pressure ; canvas ; capital city ; cc ; ceasefire ; cerebral cortex ; cordrazine ; cortical stimulator ; counselor ' s office ; crew evaluation report ; Darthen ; district ; DNA ; " Dorian " ; dylamadon ; emotion ; empathy ; Federation ; Federation Council ; flagship ; ; funeral meditation ; ice cream sundae ; immune system ; " imzadi " ; inaprovaline ; " King John " ; lightheaded ; Lumerian ; Lumerian homeworld ; mediator ; melorazine ; molecular biology ; " mok ' bara " ; neural energy ; neurotransmitter ; painting ; Pinder ; receptacle ; red alert ; Rekag s ; Rekag battle cruiser ; Rekag - Seronia ; Rekag shuttle ; senility ; security field ; sensor pallet ; Seronian s ; Seronian fighter craft ; specifications ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Academy ; stasis field ; subspace emitter ; transport ship ; tricorder ; turbolift Unused production materials . Bironi ; Bironi warship