An archaeologist loses her life on what appeared to be a safe mission. A leftover explosive device from a centuries old war explode causes her death. Unfortunately, she has a ten year old son, Jeremy, who is now orphaned, his father succumbing to disease earlier. As Troi tries to work with the boy, a manifestation arises from the planet. Suddenly, the dead woman appears in the boy's room, whole again and promising never to leave him. Picard assumes the activity on the planet is causing this, but in his delicate condition, the boy latches on to hope that this is, indeed, his mother. The "woman" wants Jeremy to go to the planet's surface and it is necessary to use the transporter. They do everything to withhold the transporter from the pair, but the thing is persistent. It even recreates the childhood home including a cat that the boy loved. It is sad that the finality of death is such a part of our being, but the sterility of the this entity would prove harmful to the boy's psyche. It is up to the real living to end this. Also, the explanation of the entity itself is quite unique.
Review of The Bonding
