Stardate: 41601.3 Troi, and her shuttle pilot, develop system problems on their shuttle on their return to Enterprise. They then crash on a planet where a malevolent creature lives. The creature, which seems to feed on the suffering of others, is able to prevent their rescue due to its strange powers.

The Enterprise crew's attempt to rescue Troi leads to the death of a valued crew member. The crew must then find a way around the creature's powers and rescue Troi, the sole survivor of the shuttle crash, without losing any more of the crews' lives.