“The Bonding” is episode five of season three of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Worf reports in from an away team he’s leading. He says the archaeologists have identified the markings as belonging to a race known as the Koinonians; Data says they were an intelligent culture who fought a war lasting several generations. Their best evidence is that they were destroyed. Troi seems worried and then tells them to beam the away team up quickly, just prior to Worf requesting an emergency beam up. They are beamed directly to sickbay but Dr Crusher says that one is dead on arrival.
They are remaining in orbit whilst they investigate the tragedy. Lt. Marla Aster was killed during what should have been a routine mission. In sickbay, Captain Picard speaks to a scorched and injured Worf. Worf explains that scans revealed no weapons or traps. Aster was 3m behind him when an explosive device went off with no warning; she bore the brunt of the blast.
Troi arrives and says Aster was survived by her 12-year-old son Jeremy, who’s aboard the Enterprise. His father is dead too, and his only living relatives are an aunt and uncle on Earth. Jeremy is in class and the teacher has been alerted. Worf wants to accompany them, as he commanded the away team. Picard tells Worf that it’s the captain’s responsibility.
Picard tells Riker what he’s going to do and that Geordi should lead another away team to find out what happened. Wesley is listening; Captain Picard had to do the same thing to him. He doesn’t know Jeremy, but he knows what it’s going to be like. It’s part of life in Starfleet, and they try to prep you for anything. Wesley asks Riker how you get used to it. The commander tells him you hope you never do.
Troi and Picard are in a turbolift. The captain has never felt that starships are a good place for children. Troi replies that leaving Jeremy on Earth wouldn’t have protected him. No, but Earth will never be ordered into the Neutral Zone or to deal with a Romulan attack. The captain’s command sent Aster into danger. She understood the mission and her duty, but will Jeremy? Troi says he will, in time, just as Wesley Crusher does. They both tell Jeremy; he says he’s alone now. Picard tells him that, on the Enterprise, no-one is alone.
Riker is drinking in Ten Forward when Data joins him. Data has been confused by people asking how well he knew Aster after she died. Riker reminds him how they felt when Tasha died in “Skin of Evil”. Data doesn’t feel the same as then. Riker tells him it’s human nature to feel loss more intensely when it’s a friend. Data asks if they shouldn’t feel loss as deeply regardless. Riker replies that maybe they should; if they did, human history would be a lot less bloody. Geordi contacts them; he has a souvenir.
Geordi shows them an explosive device in the captain’s ready room. They were designed so that a tricorder couldn’t detect them and have been there since the war. However, with these it’s pretty obvious they’ve been taken out of the ground and defused recently.
Troi is with Worf; she senses great anger in him. Worf is angry because he cannot seek revenge on a long dead enemy. Lt. Aster’s death was senseless, the last victim of a forgotten war. Troi tells him that he needs to release his anger and guilt. Worf replies that a leader stands alone, just as the captain does. Troi tells Worf that the captain talks to her. Worf wants to do a Klingon ritual with Jeremy, known as the Bonding. Like Worf, Jeremy is an orphan. Troi thinks it’s too early to do that yet; Jeremy is bottling up his emotions too much. Worf does head to see Jeremy and mentions bringing meaning to his mother’s death, perhaps together.
Troi tells the captain that Jeremy is holding up too well currently. She’s spoken to Dr Crusher to ask Wesley to speak to Jeremy about his own father’s death. The unusual element is Worf, who is perhaps suffering just as badly. Picard is familiar with the Klingon ceremony and feels it may be helpful to both Word and Jeremy. Troi still thinks Jeremy is not ready.
An energy source shows up on the planet and a column rises up from it. Wesley has problems with his own feelings regarding the death of his own father. Then Lt. Aster appears, alive and well. Something has taken her shape and form and is trying to help Jeremy. Whether this will truly help or not is open to question.