'The Bonding' (Story Code 153) by Ronald D. Moore

The U.S.S. Enterprise arrives at a barren planet that was once inhabited by the Koinonians, a race that destroyed itself in a long and bitter war. Lieutenant Worf takes an away team to investigate the ruins, but while exploring an underground tunnel, an ancient bomb explodes, injuring Worf and killing archeologist Marla Aster; Worf holds himself responsible for the tragedy, despite Captain Picard's assurances that it was an accident. After Picard and Councelor Troi inform twelve-year-old Jeremy of his mother’s death, Troi becomes concerned by the child's stoic reaction to the news. Because he too is an orphan, Worf decides that he should perform a Klingon ceremony called the R'uustai - or Bonding - with the young boy. However, it is not long before Troi detects an alien presence on board the ship - meanwhile, Jeremy is in his quarters when he is visited by what appears to be his late mother…

Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Thomas Riker), LeVar Burton (Chief Engineer Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Security Chief Lieutenant Worf), Gates McFadden (Doctor Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Councelor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data), Wil Wheaton (Ensign Wesley Crusher), Susan Powell (Marla Aster), Gabriel Damon (Jeremy Aster), Colm Meaney (Transporter Chief Miles O’Brien), Raymond D. Turner (Teacher)

Directed by Winrich Kolbe
Co-Produced by Hans Beimler and Richard Manning
Executive Producers Rick Berman and Gene Roddenberry

TX:
23rd October, 1989

Notes:
*Featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William Thomas Riker, Chief Engineer Lieutenant Geordi La Forge, Security Chief Lieutenant Worf, Doctor Beverly Crusher, Councelor Deanna Troi, Lieutenant Commander Data, Transporter Chief Miles O’Brien and Ensign Wesley Crusher