Devil ' s Due ( episode ) The USS " Enterprise " - D responds to a distress signal from a science station on Ventax II , where the planet is in chaos over the return of a being who claims to be that culture ' s " devil " . Summary . Teaser . On the holodeck , Jean - Luc Picard is watching with interest as Data performs a scene from Charles Dickens ' " A Christmas Carol " , playing Ebeneezer Scrooge to a holographic Jacob Marley . As with a previous critique of Data ' s performance as Henry V , ( ) Picard compliments him on his technique , but encourages him to be more creative and less imitative . The receives a distress call from a Federation science station on Ventax II . They receive a garbled transmission from the team leader , Doctor Howard Clark , who reports that the planet is in chaos , and its entire population in the grip of mass hysteria : all of them believe their world is coming to an end . Suddenly , the transmission ends . Act One . The " Enterprise " arrives as the science station is being besieged by an angry mob , and are only able to beam up Dr . Clark before the mob breaks in and confuses their sensors . In Picard ' s ready room , Clark reports that , a thousand years ago , the Ventaxian s had achieved an extremely advanced technological level , but then voluntarily renounced it and reverted to a simple , agrarian existence . Since then , their culture has been peaceful and prosperous , with virtually no social problems – in fact , Clark says he would have described their society as idyllic , except for a superstitious streak that is now rearing its ugly head . Several years ago , the Ventaxian head of state , Acost Jared , became obsessed with the legend of Ardra , a figure akin to Earth ' s Devil . According to the legend , the Ventaxians made a deal with Ardra a millennium ago : 1 , 000 years of peace and tranquility , the end of war , poverty and famine which at that time plagued Ventax II ; in exchange , she would lay claim to the planet and enslave its inhabitants upon her return . In fact , it is soon learned from Jared that a mob is holding the rest of the science team hostage , claiming that the prophecies surrounding Ardra ' s return have come true : a shaking of the cities caused by minor earthquake s , and many people , including Jared , having visions of her in their sleep . Picard beams down to the planet to try and convince Jared to negotiate for the release of the hostages , but Jared , a very frightened man , says it is no longer in his control . Picard tells him he is being ridiculous , when a small tremor shakes the capital city , and a woman appears with a flash in the main hall . Smiling , she gleefully announces , " Time ' s up . " Act Two . Picard demands to know who the woman is , and she airily claims to have many names , each belonging to some manifestation of evil in several cultures , including ( with a sly glance at Worf ) , the Klingon " Devil " , Fek ' lhr , into which she briefly transforms . Despite her flair , she acts in a very businesslike manner ; she presents Jared with a set of forms ( appearing out of thin air ) covering censuses and economic forecasts of the planet , since it is now hers . When Jared mentions the Federation hostages , she orders them released , much to the relief of Dr . Clark . Picard dispatches Data to thoroughly study the ancient scrolls upon which the pact with Ardra is written . Meanwhile , with the hostages released , he returns to the starship . Aboard the " Enterprise " , in the observation lounge , Picard and his crew discuss possible explanations . Riker and Troi consider whether Ardra may be another renegade Q Continuum member , or even Q himself as Crusher suggests , appearing in female form as a lark . Picard , however , thinks the woman is too interested in the earthly resources of the planet , and has quickly concluded that the woman is simply a con artist : after all , each and every one of her " magic " tricks can be produced with modern technology – transporter s , hologram s , or tractor beam s – and Ardra only adds a little dramatic flair . Emerging onto the bridge , Picard is upset to see Ardra sitting in his chair , continuing to show off , repeatedly using her powers to repel attempts to be removed by Worf and thwart attempts to beam her off the ship . She is present when Data concludes that the contract is quite clear . Intrigued by the speed of his mental powers , Ardra asks Data how he does it , and he replies that he is an android , which she declares an " unexpected bonus ! " – since the pact giving her possession of the planet includes things in orbit , such as the " Enterprise " . Aghast , Picard looks at Data , who confirms that the contract could well be interpreted that way . Only then does Ardra disappear . Act Three . Picard , to arm himself against Ardra ' s tricks , immerses himself in a study of " the con game , " which he declares to be " " quite fascinating . " " He invokes the saying from P . T . Barnum , " " There ' s a sucker born every minute . " " When Data asks why he can be so sure Ardra is a con artist , Picard invites Data to recall what he has learned from playing Dickens ' s Scrooge : that fear is a very powerful motivator . But while fear is used for positive ends by the Spirits in Dickens ' s story , fear is a potent weapon in the hands of a con artist . He tells Data to check Ventaxian legal precedents as well as the ancient scrolls . Until they can discover exactly how Ardra ' s cons are being worked , they need to find some way of challenging her claim on the planet . That night , Ardra attempts to seduce Picard by appearing in his quarters while he sleeps , and changing into several " forms " with her bag of magic tricks ( including Deanna ' s ) . Since he does not respond at all , his belief in her as a flim - flam artist far more powerful than whatever else he might think of her , she beams him down to the planet in his pajamas and apparently disables the transporter s . Data has to come down in a shuttle with a uniform to pick him up . On the return trip , he informs the Captain that he has found a useful legal precedent : a contract dispute that would have been routine , except one of the claimants was an alien ( a Klingon handyman ) ; because of this , the Ventaxian government decided to have the matter settled through arbitration , rather than the courts . Because it remains the only case involving an alien claimant , the same precedent could theoretically be used to challenge Ardra in an arbitration . Unfortunately , as the shuttle is about to dock , the " Enterprise " itself vanishes . Act Four . On the planet , in the Federation science station , La Forge reports that the " Enterprise " cannot be detected anywhere within a light year . However , the station did detect a jump in Z - particle s in the area , indicating a power source that could possibly be tracked down . Once again , Ardra appears , and Picard challenges her to an arbitration : if she loses , she will give up her claim on the planet . He reminds her that she has nothing to lose , if her claim is as unassailable as she maintains . She retorts that she has nothing to gain , since the planet is already hers ; why should she waste her time ? Picard offers , if she wins , to take her to the Zaterl emerald , a semi - mythical gemstone on the planet Ligillium . Ardra has a counter - proposal : if she wins , she wants Picard himself : mind , body , and soul , without reservation . He agrees , and invites her to choose an arbitrator . She chooses Data : as an android , he is unable to lie or show favoritism . Aside , Data confides that Ardra is right , and if Ardra presents a convincing case under the rules of Ventaxian law , he will have to rule in her favor . Picard assures him that he supports her choice as well , since Data is probably the sole person on the planet Ardra cannot intimidate . During the arbitration , Jared is a prime witness for both sides . He explains the desperate state of Ventax II a thousand years earlier , that drove them to make their pact with Ardra , which gradually transformed the planet into its peaceful , agrarian state . Picard disputes that Ardra did anything to help Ventax II , and Ardra demonstrates her various " powers " , including appearing as Earth ' s Devil . Ardra challenges Picard to explain these things , if he is so sure she is not really Ardra . Picard admits that he cannot . Act Five . In the science station , the activity in the courtroom has generated more spikes in Z - particles that is allowing La Forge and Dr . Clark to close in on the power source that seems to be the source of Ardra ' s magic . In the courtroom , Picard comes at Ardra from a different direction : he asks Jared about the actual process by which Ventax II changed from a warlike , polluted planet to the " paradise " it is now . Jared describes a gradual course of events by which a new government was formed , a new economic model was adopted , all the weapon s on the planet were rounded up and destroyed , and the people worked , and succeeded , in cleansing the polluted portions of the planet . As he describes each of these processes , Picard asks what Ardra ' s role in them was , and Jared , discomfited , admits that , as far as Ventaxian history records , she had none . Allowing himself some sarcasm , Picard asks , " " did she not even pick up one piece of trash ? " " Jared , deadpan , replies that Ardra was long gone by the time the Ventaxians started cleansing their environment . Picard argues that the ancient Ventaxians saved themselves , and Ardra did nothing that now entitles her to the planet . In rebuttal , Ardra asks Jared a single question : whether he has any doubts that the Ventaxians owe their salvation to her . Despite what he just told Picard , Jared is too cowed to say anything other than that he has no doubts at all . Ardra concludes that both sides of the contract have been fulfilled , since the head of state agrees that she fulfilled her side of the bargain , and there is nothing to dispute . Things are not looking well for Picard ' s reputation as a litigator , not to mention his immortal soul . Then La Forge enters the courtroom and Picard requests a recess . Aside , Geordi tells him that Ardra ' s " magical " activity has allowed him to pinpoint the power source they were looking for : a ship in orbit above the planet ' s magnetic pole , concealed by a " " bad copy " " of a Romulan cloaking device . The " Enterprise " never left its position ; Ardra ' s ship simply extended its cloaking shields over it . La Forge has already made contact . With a predatory glint in his eye , Picard instructs La Forge what he wants him to do . . . When the Court reconvenes an hour later , Picard holds the floor , and announces that Ardra has no powers whatsoever . Jared , confused , says that everyone in the courtroom has seen Ardra ' s power . Dripping sarcasm , Picard rejoins , " " Oh , yes . . . Ardra ' s " magic ! " then , with snaps of his fingers , Picard causes the capital city to tremor , Ardra to disappear and reappear inside the courtroom , and Picard himself to appear as Fek ' lhr , all of which Ardra seems powerless to stop . Picard explains that a team from the " Enterprise " has seized control of Ardra ' s ship , and arranged the " demonstration " they just witnessed , from her ship ' s rather ingenious suite of transporter , holography , and tractor beam effects , using two way communication between himself and Riker on the other side of his Combadge . Ardra was controlling these effects with a simple remote control implant , activated by imperceptible movements of her eye . Picard remarks wryly that Ardra was being truthful when she said she was " " known by many names " " : her ship ' s records identify her as a notorious con artist , known by at least twenty - three different aliases in this sector alone . With the legend of Ardra committed to memory , she was about to win the largest prize of her career : an entire planet . Rising from her chair , Ardra formally renounces her claim on Ventax II , and attempts to escape , but Jared , no longer cowed , summons security guards , who place her under arrest . Jared thanks Picard for saving their lives , but Picard reminds him that Ventax II saved its own life , a long time ago . Ardra , however , has the last word , teasing Picard that he would have had much more fun if he had lost , and is led out of the room with a breezy " " until we meet again . " " Data and Picard depart back to the " Enterprise " . Memorable quotes . " " Method acting ? I ' m " vaguely " familiar with it . " " " " And who is this Ardra ? " " " " For all intents and purposes . . . the Devil . " " " " Who would you be ? " " " " I ' m Captain Jean - Luc Picard of the Federation starship " Enterprise " . " " " " Keep up the good work . " " " Enterprise " , advise Dr . Clark that the hostages are being released . " " " " This is Clark . You did it , captain ! Thank goodness ! . " " " " Goodness had nothing to do with it ! " " " " Could she be another refugee from the Q Continuum ? " " " " For that matter , could she " be " Q ? " " " Q would never bother with contracts . " " " " Or economic forecasts . " " " " The Klingons call me Fek ' lhr . " " " " You are not Fek ' lhr ! " " " " Ah , my pale friend has returned . " " " " I ' ve encountered many who are more credibly to be called the Devil than you . " " " " She has an incredibly focused mind . It was virtually impossible to sense any deception . . . or anything else , for that matter . " " < br > " " The best magicians will never let you see what ' s up their sleeve , counselor . " " " " Ensign , put up the shields until further notice . " " " " Yes , sir , captain . Whatever you say . " " " " We are not impressed with your magic tricks ! " " " " I pity you . We live in a universe of magic , which evidently you cannot see . " " " " Oh , come now , Picard ! You know you find me tantalizing . Give in to your desires . " " " " You know , there ' s nothing about you I find tantalizing . On the contrary , I find you obvious and vulgar . " " " " I want your heart , your mind , your soul and I want you to give them to me without resistance , of your own free will . So , do you still wish to pursue this most dangerous game ? " " " " I agree to your terms . " " " " Oh Picard , I will enjoy you morning , noon and night . " " " " Just have Mr . Data fetch me in a shuttle and have him bring along a uniform . " " " " Did you say uniform ? " " " " Yes , I did ! " " " " The advocate will refrain from expressing personal affections for her opponent . " " " " The advocate will refrain from making her opponent disappear . " " " " I will draw my own conclusions if you do not mind . . . sir . " " " " Mr . La Forge , my reputation as a litigator , not to mention my immortal soul , is in serious jeopardy . " " Links and references . References . 14th century ; 2297 ; " A Christmas Carol " ; ; advocate ; agrarian ; arbiter ; arbitration ; Ardra ; Ardra ' s starship ; Atheneum ; anthropology ; ; beef ; Berussian Cluster ; cheese ; cloaking device ; con artist ; con game ; Contract of Ardra ; Dante ; director ; Drellian ; earthquake ; ecology ; economic forecast ; economics ; emotion ; Federation ; Fek ' lhr ; Garnav ; grave ; gravy ; " Gre ' thor " ; high - resolution scan ; holography ; hostage ; jewel ; judge ; Klingon ; law ; Ligillium ; litigator ; loophole ; magic ; magician ; magnetic pole ; mass hysteria ; Mendora ; method acting ; " " ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mustard ; mythology ; Number one ; ; population ; potato ; productivity ; ; Q ; Q Continuum ; refugee ; Romulan ; ; sculpture ; Shuttlepod 01 ; snow ; soul ; ; stomach ; subspace damping field ; sucker ; suicide ; tectonic plate ; theology ; ; tractor beam ; transporter ; Ventax II ; Ventax II Constitution ; Ventaxian ; z - particle ; Zaterl emerald Unused producation references . AA ; Akul K ' Ton ; Garv Etes ; Tau Velor