The Outcast ( episode ) Riker falls in love with Soren , a member of an androgynous race known as the J ' naii , who dares to be female . Summary . Teaser . When the J ' naii mysteriously lose track of one of their shuttlecraft within their own star system , they request the crew to assist in the investigation to locate it . Three of them are on the bridge observing the effort . Data detects neutrino emissions , but no source . They launch a probe , but after a few seconds it stops transmitting for no reason . Act One . A pocket of null space is discovered in the system , which until now had been considered theoretical . Believing the missing shuttle to be trapped inside the pocket , Commander Riker and Soren of the J ' naii devise a rescue plan . Soren insists on being involved in the rescue mission , as Soren is a good pilot . Riker suggests they team up and they go to the shuttlebay to review the " Magellan " s systems . Working closely with the " Enterprise " crew , and Commander Riker in particular , Soren reveals herself to be curious about the differences between males and females . In Ten Forward , they have a long conversation about it . At the end , Krite arrives and Soren decides to leave , suddenly more formal as she bids Riker goodnight . Act Two . Riker and Soren begin the charting mission of the null pocket . During this , Soren bluntly asks about Human sexual organs and acts . Riker , somewhat uncomfortable , explains the process and Soren describes the process for them , describing it as less risky while Riker comments that it is " less enjoyable . " Soren disagrees , as the mating process is a long process . Soren then recounts the J ' naii history of evolving from the male / female divide . Suddenly , the shuttle ' s engine is damaged and they retreat to the " Enterprise " . Soren is taken to sickbay to recover . Soren strikes up a conversation with Beverly Crusher about the sexes . She tells Soren that men and women are considered equal . Riker arrives and asks if Soren can continue , and Crusher agrees . Meanwhile , during a poker game , Worf reveals he is bothered by the gender less J ' naii , because he still has stereotypical views on men and women and does not know how to relate to the J ' naii . On the shuttle , Soren reveals to Riker that the J ' naii consider it a criminal perversion for a J ' naii to identify as either male or female , but Soren admits to having secretly identified as a female since childhood and having had relationships in secret with those who identify as males . Soren finds Riker attractive and is interested in starting a relationship with him . Act Three . Geordi La Forge approves the shuttle ' s launch and they head out , noting they have a short timeframe . Fortunately , they find the " Taris Murn " and life sign s , but the crew is unconscious . After a brief fight with power drains , they successfully beam the two to the shuttle , then to sickbay . Crusher says they should be all right and orders dexalin . Krite immediately thanks Riker and invites them all to the planet that evening to celebrate . At the celebration , Riker takes a moment outside to breathe , and Soren meets him . Under some slight observation , they decide to see the plant life . Soren notes some of the plants , but the romantic mood strikes Riker to kiss her . Act Four . Riker goes to discuss the forming relationship with Deanna Troi and how it would affect their relationship if he pursues it with Soren . Troi puts aside Riker ' s fears of losing their friendship , telling him that that will never change . He ' s pleased and leaves to see her . Instead , he finds Krite , who informs him she ' s been arrested , and Riker immediately goes to the planet . Riker intrudes on the proceedings , already in progress , and pleads to Noor for Soren ' s release , saying he forced himself on Soren . Soren , however , is tired of living a lie and owns up to the act . She makes a plea for acceptance of all those with gender identities , saying no one has been hurt or affected . Noor allows her to speak , but with a blank expression , not giving away an opinion . Act Five . The tribunal , incapable of open - mindedness , sentences Soren to receive treatment on the following day . Riker asks the tribunal for permission to give Soren asylum aboard the " Enterprise " in lieu of the treatment , but the request is denied , as the J ' naii see Soren ' s condition as a simple sickness they have an obligation to cure . Picard offers to negotiate with Noor , the leader of the J ' naii , for Soren ' s release . He urges Riker not to take matters into his own hands as he would be violating the Prime Directive if he does , thus putting himself at risk of losing his career in Starfleet . Riker , however , is convinced the J ' naii ' s minds are set and any negotiations would be futile . Worf overcomes his prejudices after hearing of the events that had transpired on the planet . The same evening , Riker and Worf lead a rescue mission together to save Soren . They are able to get Soren away from the security guards , however , they are too late . Soren has already undergone the psychotectic treatment and has no more interest in Riker . After warning buoy s have been deployed around the null space pocket , the " Enterprise " is prepared to leave the system . Picard asks Riker if all their business with the J ' naii is finished , and he answers without emotion , " finished , sir " . Picard orders Ensign Gates to take the " Enterprise " to warp six , while Riker stares ahead , distraught . Memorable quotes . " " We prefer to stay warm by sleeping with a friend . " " " " . . . I see . " " " " Not to mate . " " " " It ' s hard to grasp the idea of no gender . " " " " Tell me . . . about males . What is it that makes you different from females ? " " " " Snips and snails and puppy dogs ' tails . . . " " " " You have a dog ' s tail ? " " " " Commander , tell me about your sexual organs . " " " " Uhhh . . . " " " " For Humans , the sexual act brings a closeness and intimacy . It can be a very pleasurable experience . " " " " The J ' naii . . . they bother me . " " " " Why , Worf ? " " " " They just do ! " " " " On my planet , we have been taught that gender is primitive . " " " " Primitive ? " " " " Less evolved . " " " " Maybe so , but sometimes , there is a lot to be said for an experience that ' s . . . primitive . " " " " Then it is up to women to attract the men ? " " " " Oh no , men want to be attractive , too . Believe me . They just go about it differently . They like to pretend they ' re not doing " anything " to attract a woman , even when it ' s the most important thing on their minds . " " " " That is a woman ' s game . . . a man ' s game has no wild cards . " " " " I am female . I was born that way . I have had those feelings , those longings , all of my life . It is not unnatural . I am not sick because I feel this way . I do not need to be helped . I do not need to be cured . What I need , and what all of those who are like me need , is your understanding . And your compassion . We have not injured you in any way . And yet we are scorned and attacked . And all because we are different . What we do is no different from what you do . We talk and laugh . We complain about work . And we wonder about growing old . We talk about our families and we worry about the future . And we cry with each other when things seem hopeless . All of the loving things that you do with each other – that is what we do . And for that we are called misfits , and deviants and criminals . What right do you have to punish us ? What right do you have to change us ? What makes you think you can dictate how people love each other ? " " " " You see commander , on this world , everyone " wants " to be normal . " " " " She " is ! " Links and references . References . 2161 ; Alaska ; androgyny ; annular confinement beam ; anti - inflammatory ; buffer field generator ; cheek ; civic chamber ; cloak ; ; concussion ; debris ; dexalin ; dizziness ; doll ; Earth ; electromagnetic energy ; exobotany ; eyelid s ; falla bush ; Federation ; Federation Day ; fingernail s ; gender ; genitals ; gravitational field ; graviton polarity source generator ; head of government ; inertial damper ; inflammation ; J ' naii ; ( planet ) ; " Magellan " ; magnetic field ; make - up ; maneuvering thruster ; mating ; megajoule ; menellen tree ; microfusion thruster ; " " ; mouth ; navigational deflector ; neutrino emission ; null space ; " Onizuka " ; Phelan system ; plestorene ; poker ; political asylum ; Prime Directive ; pronoun ; psychotectic therapy ; recipe ; ; ; sexuality ; sexual reproduction ; snail ; snips ; Soren ' s parents ; spice ; split pea soup ; sugar ; " Taris Murn " ; ; ; Troi ancestors ; type 4 phaser emitter ; Type 6 shuttlecraft ; Type 15 shuttlepod ; warning buoy ; " What Are Little Boys Made Of ? 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