Susanna coaxes Geordi from alien refuge
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Geordi, after great internal struggle, takes Susanna's hand, signaling his willingness to return; Beverly orders their immediate transport back to Sickbay.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A storm of primal fear and human longing—his alien instincts scream to flee, but Susanna’s voice anchors him to his past, creating a fragile moment of clarity.
Geordi, now partially transformed into a Tarchannen creature, huddles behind rocks with two fully alien beings—former crewmates Mendez and Brevelle. His body is silhouetted by the UV beacon’s blue light, his features barely recognizable. When Susanna approaches, he resists at first, his instincts torn between the alien metamorphosis and his fading humanity. Her voice and outstretched hand break through his panic, and he hesitates before reaching out to take her hand, allowing for their transport to Sickbay.
- • To resist the alien transformation long enough to reconnect with his humanity
- • To trust Susanna’s voice as a lifeline to his former self
- • That he is losing himself irrevocably to the transformation
- • That Susanna’s presence is the last thread tying him to his human identity
Steely resolve masking deep empathy—she knows the cost of failure, but her focus is on saving Geordi, not the horror of what he’s becoming.
Susanna steps into the secluded area behind the rocks, isolating Geordi from the other transformed beings. She speaks to him with a quiet, steady intensity, invoking their shared history and the trust they’ve built over missions. Her body language is open and non-threatening, her hand outstretched as she coaxes him to take it. When he finally does, she signals Beverly for transport, her voice firm with relief and determination.
- • To reach Geordi’s humanity before it’s lost forever
- • To ensure his safe transport to Sickbay for treatment
- • That their shared past is the key to breaking through his alien instincts
- • That Starfleet’s medical team can reverse the transformation if they act quickly
Relieved but tense—she knows this is a temporary reprieve, and the clock is ticking on finding a cure.
Beverly stands near the rocks, monitoring Susanna’s interaction with Geordi. When he takes her hand, she immediately taps her comm badge, ordering the Enterprise to lock onto Susanna’s signal and transport them to Sickbay. Her voice is calm but urgent, reflecting her medical training and the gravity of the situation.
- • To ensure Geordi’s immediate medical stabilization
- • To coordinate with the Enterprise for a swift, safe transport
- • That time is critical in treating the transformation
- • That Susanna’s emotional connection is the only thing that can reach Geordi right now
None—it is driven solely by the need to survive and escape.
Tarchannen Creature 2 (formerly Brevelle) huddles with Geordi and Mendez behind the rocks. Like Mendez, it flees when the UV beacon reveals them, its movements swift and unthinking. It does not acknowledge Geordi’s hesitation or Susanna’s presence, its transformation complete.
- • To avoid capture or exposure to the UV light
- • To flee into the safety of the underbrush
- • That the light is a danger to its existence
- • That it must avoid the away team at all costs
None—it operates on pure survival instinct, with no trace of its former self.
Tarchannen Creature 1 (formerly Mendez) huddles with Geordi and the other transformed being behind the rocks. When the UV beacon reveals them, it flees into the underbrush, its movements erratic and instinct-driven. It does not look back, its humanity completely erased by the transformation.
- • To escape the UV light and the away team
- • To avoid capture or further exposure
- • That the light is a threat to its survival
- • That it must flee to avoid being recaptured or studied
None—it operates as a neutral tool of Starfleet protocol.
The Enterprise Computer is not directly present but is implied through Beverly’s use of her comm badge to coordinate the emergency transport. Its role is functional: it receives Beverly’s signal, locks onto Susanna’s beacon, and executes the transport sequence without hesitation or error.
- • To execute Beverly’s transport command with precision
- • To ensure the safety of the away team members during the emergency
- • That its primary function is to support Starfleet operations without deviation
- • That human life is the highest priority in emergency scenarios
Logically engaged—he processes the situation with detachment but recognizes the importance of Susanna’s method.
Data holds the UV emergency beacon, illuminating the area to reveal the transformed beings. He pursues Geordi at high speed but stops when Susanna takes the lead, deferring to her emotional approach. His movements are precise, his demeanor neutral, but he ensures the beacon remains active to track the creatures.
- • To assist in locating Geordi using the UV beacon
- • To ensure the away team’s safety during the extraction
- • That the UV light is the most effective tool for tracking the transformed beings
- • That human emotion plays a critical role in this scenario
Focused and ready—his Klingon instincts are heightened, but he defers to Susanna’s lead, trusting her judgment.
Worf stands with Riker and Data, watching as Susanna isolates Geordi. He is alert, his hand resting near his phaser, ready to intervene if the creatures pose a threat. When Geordi takes Susanna’s hand, Worf’s posture relaxes slightly, but he remains vigilant, ensuring the area is secure for the transport.
- • To ensure the safety of the away team during the extraction
- • To be prepared to neutralize any threats from the transformed beings
- • That Susanna’s approach is the most effective way to reach Geordi
- • That his role is to provide security, not to interfere with her method
Hopeful yet cautious—he knows this is a fragile victory, and the real battle is yet to come.
Riker stands with Worf and Data, observing Susanna’s interaction with Geordi. He turns off his palm beacon at her request, ensuring the creatures aren’t provoked. When Geordi takes Susanna’s hand, Riker nods to Beverly, signaling his approval for the transport. His presence is supportive but not intrusive, trusting Susanna’s leadership in this moment.
- • To support Susanna’s efforts to reach Geordi
- • To ensure the away team’s safety during the extraction
- • That Susanna’s emotional connection is the key to saving Geordi
- • That Starfleet’s resources will be needed to find a cure
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The UV emergency beacon, modified by Data to emit ultraviolet light, is crucial in revealing the transformed beings hiding behind the rocks. Its blue radiance pierces the darkness, exposing Geordi and the two fully alien creatures. While the creatures flee from the light, it allows Susanna to isolate Geordi and appeal to his humanity. The beacon’s glow symbolizes both the threat of the transformation and the tool that enables his rescue.
The scattered rocks behind which Geordi and the transformed beings hide serve as a natural barrier, shielding them from the away team’s initial view. Susanna steps past these rocks, isolating Geordi from the others, and uses the cover to create a private moment where she can appeal to his humanity. The rocks symbolize the physical and emotional obstacles Geordi must overcome to return to his human self, as well as the fragile separation between his past and his present state.
The ultraviolet light emitted by the beacon is the key to exposing the transformed beings. It repels the creatures, driving them to flee, while allowing Susanna to approach Geordi without triggering his primal instincts. The light’s contrast with the natural darkness of Tarchannen III creates a visual and symbolic divide between humanity and the alien transformation, highlighting the fragility of Geordi’s remaining connection to his past.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The secluded area behind the rocks is a pocket of darkness and isolation on Tarchannen III, where Geordi and the two fully transformed beings huddle. The dense underbrush and jagged rocks create a natural refuge, shielding them from the away team’s initial view. Susanna steps into this space alone, her voice cutting through the tension to reach Geordi. The location’s claustrophobic atmosphere amplifies the primal struggle between his humanity and the alien metamorphosis, making it a crucible for his final choice.
The broader Tarchannen III outpost landscape serves as the backdrop for the away team’s search and the final confrontation. Its desolate, twilight-shrouded terrain heightens the sense of urgency and danger, as the team navigates the unknown to find Geordi. The abandoned shuttle and the eerie stillness of the outpost reinforce the stakes: this is a place where humanity has been erased, and the away team is racing against time to prevent another loss. The location’s mood is one of creeping dread, underscored by the knowledge that the planet’s contagion is always lurking.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet’s protocols and resources are fully engaged in this moment, as the away team operates under its authority to rescue Geordi. The organization’s influence is seen in the use of the UV beacon, the comm badges for coordination, and the Enterprise’s transport capabilities. Starfleet’s medical and technical expertise are also implied, as Beverly prepares to treat Geordi upon his arrival in Sickbay. The organization’s presence is both a lifeline and a reminder of the stakes: failure would not only mean losing Geordi but also admitting that Starfleet’s technology and knowledge have limits in the face of this alien threat.
The USS Enterprise serves as the operational hub for the rescue mission, providing the away team with critical support. Its sensors, transporter, and Sickbay are all essential to the extraction and stabilization of Geordi. The ship’s computer executes Beverly’s transport command without hesitation, demonstrating the seamless integration of technology and human decision-making. The Enterprise’s presence is a constant reminder of the resources at the team’s disposal, as well as the urgency of their mission: every second counts in the race to save Geordi and study the transformation.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Key Dialogue
"SUSANNA: No... you must turn them off... the light frightens them..."
"SUSANNA: Geordi, my voice is familiar... listen to it... you can feel that we share this... you know I am not a threat... The others... Mendez, Brevelle, they no longer exist as humans... but a part of you still does. You are not one of them... not yet. I can help you... if you'll just trust me..."
"SUSANNA: Look at me... I've come back... Let me take you back, too."
"SUSANNA: We're going home, Geordi."