Allegiance (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Allegiance" is the 18th episode of the third season of the American syndicated science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the 66th episode of the series overall. It was originally released on March 26, 1990, in broadcast syndication.

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode, Captain Picard finds himself abducted from the Enterprise and held in a chamber with other prisoners, while a doppelgänger replacing him behaves strangely and gives increasingly disturbing orders.

Plot

Captain Picard, while sleeping in his quarters on the Enterprise after the successful completion of a mission, is abducted by an unknown device. He finds himself in a cell with two other prisoners: Starfleet Academy Cadet Haro from Bolarus IX; and philosopher Kova Tholl from Mizar II. They are later joined by the violent Esoqq from Chalnoth. They have meager beds and facilities, and their only source of nutrition is a dispenser of tasteless rubbery disks, which Esoqq is unable to eat. He moves toward Tholl as though to eat him, but Picard is able to dissuade Esoqq temporarily. Picard attempts to learn why the four of them have been abducted but can find no connection. Picard organizes Haro and Esoqq to attempt to break the lock on the only door to the cell. Initially foiled by a stun beam when they tamper with the controls, they manage to override the beam and then defeat the door's security, only to find a blank wall behind it.