Half a Life ( episode ) Lwaxana Troi causes trouble when she finds out that a scientist she has fallen in love with is due to commit ritual suicide . Summary . Teaser . The fear is real for Jean - Luc Picard as he " slowly " exits the turbolift . . . Deanna Troi ' s mother , Lwaxana Troi is on board the , still lonely and looking for her match . The captain is on his way to a transporter room , to receive " the leading scientist of Kaelon II " , an extremely reclusive people , who have not yet had real contact with the United Federation of Planets . On his way there , Picard encounters Lwaxana in the corridor , who effusively greets him , a little bit to Picard ' s chagrin . He tries to get rid of her , but she cuts off every one of his attempts at escape . He also tries to explain to her that her presence when receiving the guest would not be welcome , but she interrupts him again , and Picard eventually gives in , allowing her to join Picard , Miles O ' Brien , and Geordi La Forge in the transporter room . There she immediately focuses her attention on the puzzled guest , Dr . Timicin , whom she leads away intending to show him the ship , explaining " " you just think of me as your entertainment director . " " Once Lwaxana , Picard and Dr . Timicin have left the room , La Forge jokes to O ' Brien : " " That man ' s in a lot of trouble . " " Act One . Deanna Troi , William Riker , Dr . Timicin , Jean - Luc Picard , Data , Beverly Crusher , and Geordi La Forge are in the observation lounge . Dr . Timicin has made modifications to some of the " Enterprise " s photon torpedo es , which should help to revive the dying sun of the planet . The " Enterprise " is on its way to an empty star system with a sun almost perfectly identical to the Kaelon sun , in order to test the modified photon torpedoes . Meanwhile , on the bridge , Lwaxana bothers an unnerved Worf by playing around with the tactical station , almost pressing a torpedo launch initiator . As Riker , Deanna Troi , and Dr . Timicin return to the bridge , Lwaxana vividly greets the doctor , who explains that he does not have time for her right now , as he is expected in engineering . Riker politely asks her to clear the bridge , and she agrees reluctantly . Dr . Timicin then explains to Deanna , that he is surprised that Lwaxana is Deanna ' s mother : " " She is so . . . vibrant . " " . Then in engineering , Data , and a slightly overworked Dr . Timicin and La Forge prepare the test with the modified photon torpedo es . Lwaxana Troi then walks in with her assistant Mr . Homn , claiming that the men really need a break and sweeps all of their PADD s onto the floor . Dr . Timicin agrees : " " Mrs . Troi , you ' re a wise woman . I ' m sure we could use a respite . " " Mr . Homn then throws a cloth on the engineering table to start . Later that night , Timicin and Lwaxana have spent some time together and they are heading for Lwaxana ' s quarters . He mentions his wife died a long time ago and that he has been dedicated to revitalizing their sun because they cherish their home planet . When they arrive at her quarters , she invites him in for a nightcap , however , despite the fun he is having , his says he must decline . When the door closes , his face turns to an understood regret and he goes . Act Two . The next day , Lwaxana and her daughter are going to meet Timicin . Lwaxana is having a hard time picking an outfit while Deanna becomes increasingly impatient . During , they talk in a mix of telepathy and speaking voice while Homn patiently holds Lwaxana ' s choices . Lwaxana is excited about meeting Timicin , which pleases Deanna but she also brushes off her mother ' s comments about her own personal life . The sun - reviving experiment is launched into the empty star system . Worf confirms the system is clear of ships and lifeforms while La Forge and Timicin run diagnostics . With everything ready , Picard orders the test begun , and Worf deploys the torpedoes . The " Enterprise " monitors the results which initially appear successful as the system ' s star heats up according to plan . However , the heating process fails to stop , and the star explodes . Picard orders Ensign immediately to take the " Enterprise " to warp two . Timicin sadly concludes the experiment in failure , but thanks Picard for his help . Disappointed himself , Picard orders the ship back to Kaelon II . Timicin is especially crushed by the failure of his experiment , and the reasons for this become evident as Lwaxana bonds further with the scientist . He sits alone in Ten Forward and Lwaxana joins him . She tries to cheer him up , but he cannot participate . He asks her to stay , and wishes they had met years ago , since he is going to his planet to die . Act Three . While they talk , she discovers that , approaching the age of 60 , Timicin is , upon returning to his planet , to undergo the " Resolution " , ritual suicide , Lwaxana becomes livid with protest . She immediately goes to Picard in his ready room . There , Picard , Riker and Data are being informed by Science Minister B ' Tardat that , even though the " Enterprise " is willing to stay to help a second attempt , Timicin has " obligations at home " and won ' t be able to continue . Puzzled , they offer to stay longer and make arrangements , but the Minister doesn ' t elaborate , rather thanking them again and ending the call . Lwaxana enters and explains the situation , distraught . She demands Picard intervene to spare Timicin ' s life , but Picard refuses to do so , as he is bound by the Prime Directive not to interfere . Furious , Lwaxana storms out of the ready room . Picard then asks the computer for the location of Counselor Troi . After an incident in a transporter room , where O ' Brien refuses to beam her down to Kaelon II , Deanna enters and she and a very upset Lwaxana discuss Timicin ' s impending ritual suicide . Deanna calmly explains O ' Brien has his orders and , when she starts to cry , O ' Brien leaves to give them privacy . Deanna tries to comfort her mother , noting it ' s all right that she ' s crying , like the time her father died . Lwaxana doesn ' t think it ' s the same , but isn ' t sure . She knows for sure she can ' t accept that fate would bring Timicin into her life only to be taken away for " no good reason . " Deanna can only say that she will never be one of those people that " die before they die " and they embrace on the transporter pad . Later , Lwaxana goes to Timicin , admitting she is hateful about the custom , hateful of him for going through with it and will never accept it . They embrace . Act Four . Lwaxana and Timicin spend a lot of time together , discussing the concept of his species custom of ritual suicide back and forth . Timicin attempts to explain that in his culture it is an accepted practice for all to undergo the ritual on their 60th birthday to avoid old age , infirmity , indignity , dependence on others , and the cruel uncertainty about when the end would come . Each ends up finding the other ' s point of view cruel : Lwaxana because she sees it as arbitrary murder in an uncertain universe when death can come both well before and well after the designated age , Timicin because she is denying people control of their fate and the opportunity to end life with dignity . Initially , Timicin is reluctant to break with tradition , and intends to return to his planet and go through with his ritual suicide , until realizing that he has some ideas about the failure of his experiment , and if he only had some more time , he could perhaps come up with a functional sun - reviving system . However , because his birthday and ritual are rapidly approaching , he will not have the time to develop the system if he follows tradition . Thus , he ends up seeking asylum from Captain Picard . Act Five . A diplomatic incident is created by Timicin ' s seeking asylum , and warships from his planet are dispatched by Minister B ' Tardat and have been sent to retrieve him . Complications further arise when it ' s learned that because of his defiance against the ritual , the Kaelon government has barred his submitting of any other transmissions about the project ; even if he does find a solution to the problem with their sun , Timicin ' s people will not listen due to his rebellion , rendering it moot . This results in a standoff , and after some time , Timicin ' s daughter boards the " Enterprise " to attempt to convince her father to return to the planet . Timicin finds his daughter ' s arguments very convincing , and ultimately decides to return to his planet and carry out the tradition , thus concluding the diplomatic incident . Lwaxana , though she still disagrees with the tradition , packs her bags and sets out to accompany Timicin to the planet to be with him at his ritual . She promises Picard not to cause trouble on the planet . Picard gives her permission to go , and Timicin and Lwaxana beam down hand in hand to the planet . Memorable quotes . " " Counselor Deanna Troi , personal log , stardate 44805 . 3 . My mother is on board . " " " " Jean - Luc ! You delicious man , you were just thinking of me , weren ' t you ? " " " " As a matter of fact , Lwaxana . . . " " " " Well , think no further dear heart , she ' s . . . here ! " " " " Yes , indeed . " " " " Oh , Kaelon II ! I ' ve never heard of that . " " " " Diplomacy ! Oh , I adore diplomacy ! Everyone dresses so well ! " " " " That man ' s in a lot of trouble . " " " " The Prime Directive forbids us to interfere with the social order of any planet . " " " " Well , it ' s your Prime Directive , not " mine ! " " " " Computer , locate Counselor Troi . " " " " Mrs . Troi , I must protest your unauthorized presence on the Bridge . " " " " What does that little one do , Mister Woof ? " " " " Please , Madam ! That is a torpedo launch initiator , and it ' s . . . And it is " Worf " Madam , not " woof " . " " " " You see Lwaxana , I ' m on my way home now . . . to die . " " " " Oh , Mr . Homn is my valet . He doesn ' t say much . " " " " How can he ? " " " " Oh , that ' s alright . I can make enough conversation for the both of us . " " " " Alive , I am a greater threat to my world than a dying sun . " " Links and references . References . ambassador ; animal ; astronomer ; asylum ; Beta Praxillus ; Betazed ; Betazoid ; cage ; death ; deathwatch facility ; deep convection pattern ; diplomacy ; entertainment director ; euthanasia ; fashion ; Federation ; Fifth House of Betazed ; gamma radiation ; ; guidance system ; helium ; helium fusion ; Holy Rings of Betazed ; hydrogen ; hydrogen - alpha emission ; Kaelon ; Kaelon II ; Kaelon II Science Ministry ; Kaelon sun ; Kaelon warship ; Kelvin ; Lwaxana ' s namesake star ; Mantickian paté ; neutrino ; neutron migration ; ; Number one ; offensive potential ; oskoid ; pattern buffer ; photon torpedo ; Praxillus system ; pressure wave ; Prime Directive ; proton reaction ; Resolution ; Rigel IV ; Rigel IV astronomer ; ritual ; Sacred Chalice of Rixx ; secondary reaction ; security lockout ; stellar core ; suicide ; sun ; tea ; tertiary reaction ; Timicin ' s grandson ; Timicin ' s parents ; Timicin ' s widow ; torpedo sustainer engine ; ; turbolift ; wig ; xenophobia