Plot

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from Rana IV, a Federation colony that is under attack from an unknown alien ship. When they arrive, they find the entire surface of the planet destroyed, save for a single house and two occupants.

Responding to a distress call from Rana IV, a Federation colony under attack from an unknown alien ship, the Enterprise finds the surface of the planet destroyed, except the house and lot of one couple, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge, who refuse to be evacuated, but why were they spared by the mysterious alien enemy? Their music box's melody haunts telepath Deanna Troi pathologically. After Lieutenant Worf stakes his reputation of thoroughness on his search as to the enemy ship being gone, it suddenly appears; Captain Picard decides not to follow it but return to Rana IV, where Rishon overcomes Kevin's reluctance to welcome them, even bearing a most useful matter replicator, he is an extreme pacifist. After an even stronger starship knocks their shields out, Picard takes surprising action...—KGF Vissers

The Enterprise responds to a distress signal only to find a planet where all but one small patch a few acres big has been destroyed in an attack. Riker leads an away team who find the only two survivors are an elderly couple, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge. The away team can find nothing wrong but Counselor Troi senses that something is amiss and is unable to get a tune she's heard out of her mind. After being attacked by a ship of unknown origin, Picard returns to the planet and he believes he knows what has happened. The Uxbridges refuse to leave the planet and they are forced to reveal their true existence.—garykmcd

Responding to a distress call from Rana IV, a Federation colony (of 11000 people) under attack from an unknown alien ship, the Enterprise finds the surface of the planet destroyed, except the house and one couple, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge, who refuse to be evacuated. It is not clear why they were spared in the mysterious alien attack. An away team is led by Riker, and has Geordi, Beverly, Worf and Data. The surviving old couple is Kevin (John Anderson) & Rishon Uxbridge (Anne Haney). They have been on the colony for 5 years and have been married for 53. Kevin talks about a large ship that appeared a few weeks ago and took their world apart. They refuse to leave with the away team to the Enterprise.

Their music box's melody haunts Telepath Deanna Troi pathologically. Deanna admits to Picard that she finds Kevin and Rishon elusive, and their music is haunting her. After Lieutenant Worf stakes his reputation of thoroughness on his search as to the enemy ship being gone, it suddenly appears (it was hiding behind one of Rana's moons). The ship is 5 times the size of the Enterprise. The ship fires a beam at the Enterprise of 40 MW, but it has little damage. To warn it off, Picard fires phasers at it, and the ship takes off. Enterprise pursues. But the ship continues to be faster than the Enterprise and stays one step ahead. Picard senses they are trying to lure Enterprise away from the planet.

Captain Picard decides not to follow it but return to Rana IV, where Rishon overcomes Kevin's reluctance to welcome them. Picard comes bearing a most useful matter replicator, but Kevin is still not warm towards them. Kevin says that he chose not to fight when the planet was attacked. This was the only thing he and Rishon did differently from the rest. Meanwhile the music in Deanna's head is getting louder and louder. She is in extreme pain. Nothing Beverly can do blocks out the music from her head.

The star ship returns & knocks their shields out, with a beam of 400 GW. Phasers and torpedoes have no effect. Picard retreats from the planet and the star ship doesn't pursue them. An hour later the Enterprise turns back and returns to Rana IV. Picard thinks that the star ship is responding to Kevin & Rishon's wishes. Picard returns to them and tells how the Enterprise was attacked and men died. He also tells them about Deanna. He asks Rishon again if she doesn't want to board the Enterprise. Picard tells Kevin that Enterprise will stay in orbit till the 2 of them are alive. Picard beams back and finds the Star ship return and attack the only remaining house on the planet. Enterprise fires a single photon torpedo at the star ship, and it is destroyed. Picard moves the Enterprise into a higher orbit but keeps scanning the planet.

In 3 hours, the house reappears. Picard beams Kevin and Rishon to the Enterprise. Picard guesses correctly that Rishon is not real. She is a recreation, just like the house. Kevin is the only living creature on the planet and he is not human. Kevin changes into his energy form and cures Deanna. He admits that he has been living as a human for 50 years. Kevin is a Douwd, an immortal being. He has been in this Galaxy for thousands of years and 50 years ago fell in love with Rishon. They settled on the colony for their retirement. it was attacked by the Husnock, a hideous intelligence. He did not kill them, as it is his way of life, not to kill. But Rishon died. In that instant of grief, his hatred exploded, and he destroyed the Husnock. Not just the ships, but the entire civilization. All 50 billion of them. Kevin goes back to the planet.