“Suddenly Human” is episode four of season four of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The Enterprise has responded to a distress call from a Talarian observation craft that has been found adrift with a life-threatening radiation leak from its propulsion system. On the bridge, Data brings up a habit the Talarians had of abandoning observation craft, rigging up a self-destruct and issuing a general distress call. The captain is familiar with that tactic. There’s no way to detect it either. Worf states that the Talarian warship Q’Maire is responding to the distress call, but will take hours to arrive. Troi says there are lifesigns onboard, but they are fading.
Commander Riker and Worf escort Dr Crusher and two other medical personnel onto the damaged ship. There are a number of injured people, all comparatively young. They are preparing to beam them onboard the Enterprise when the doctor states one of the Talarian boys is actually human.
In sickbay, the human, Jono, is ignoring Dr Crusher. The boys start making a noise and Troi says they’re terrified. Picard and Riker arrive and the captain tries to get their attention. Ordering them to stop works. Jono still doesn’t talk until Troi calls Picard ‘Captain.’ He wants to be taken to his own captain, Endar. Dr Crusher speaks to the captain privately; Jono has no radiation trauma but an extensive number of old breaks that could be indicators of abuse by the Talarians. As to why he might want to return; Stockholm Syndrome.
They head back out as the boys are making a noise. It happened when Troi suggested taking their gloves off. The captain orders them to stop immediately and they do. Data contacts Picard; there’s a communique from Starfleet Command regarding Jono. Dr Crusher leaves with the captain and Worf escorts Jono to quarters. Worf tells Jono that he isn’t captive and that he takes orders from a female because she’s his superior officer. Talarian females never outrank a man. Jono does not agree he is human. He will make the mourning sound until he is back with his brothers.
Data is briefing them on Jono. It turns out he’s the grandson of Admiral Rossa, born 14 years ago on a Federation colony. His parents were killed when the colony was overrun by Talarian forces. The captain wants Trip to do what she can to help Jono. Troi says that won’t work and Dr Crusher agrees. Jono needs a male figure, and that should be the captain. Who looks panicked at the prospect but isn’t going to be able to back out of it.
Picard heads to see Jono, and gets him to stop making the noise. After some awkward small talk, Picard states that a Talarian warship is on its way and the Talarians will be transferred over. Jono doesn’t like his room. He has always lived with his captain. Picard doesn’t think that will work. But ends up taking Jono to his own quarters anyway, where Jono fiddles with the dagger Picard received as Worf’s cha’Dich in “Sins of the Father” and a sextant. He asks Jono about his gloves; they are so he doesn’t have to touch an alien. Regarding the possibility that Endar inflicted pain on Jono, Jono does not agree.
Captain Picard speaks to Troi and says she may not be aware of this but he’s never been particularly comfortable around children. Troi, not only having eyes but being an empath to boot, responds to this astonishing revelation with a comparatively restrained and somewhat sarcastic ‘Really.’ Picard wants out and Troi calls him on his very practiced explanation as to why. She tells him people are generally not born good parents; they just muddle through.
Back in his quarters, Picard has to turn off Jono’s terrible music. He shows Jono pictures of himself as a boy with his parents. According to Jono, Endar rescued him. He may have killed Jono’s parents, but they were at war and death is a part of war. Riker contacts the captain and tells him the Talarian warship has arrived. Picard wants Jono to stay put. When the captain leaves, Jono is hit by some memories of his childhood.
Endar really wants Jono back and, when everything said, does seem to genuinely care for him. Jono’s biological grandmother would also like the last surviving member of her family back. Endar is willing to start a war, despite being appallingly outclassed by the Enterprise, in order to get Jono back. Jono himself is getting confused, dangerously so.