'The Outcast' (Story Code 217) by Jeri Taylor

The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise are working with an androgynous race called the J'naii, in an attempt to locate the crew of a missing J'naii shuttlecraft; the vessel is believed to have become lost in a pocket of null space, a region that drains electromagnetic energy and prevents signals escaping. Commander Riker teams up with one of the J'naii, Soren, to chart the pocket, and the two of them quickly strike up a friendship. Soren soon reveals to Riker that she finds him attractive, but tells him that gender-specific relations are strictly forbidden in her society; those who demonstrate tendencies toward one gender or another are declared to be deviants, and are ‘cured’ through brainwashing. The next day, Riker and Soren locate the J'naii shuttlecraft and are able to evacuate the injured crew to the Enterprise. Soren's former teacher, Krite, invites them both to a celebration to be held in their honour that evening, but also notes the chemistry that Riker and Soren seem to have between them. Later, Soren and Riker sneak away from the dinner and go far a walk in the woods, and they soon share a passionate kiss. However, when Riker later arrives at Soren's quarters, he finds only Krite, who informs the commander that Soren has been taken into custody as a result of their relationship. Riker beams down to the planet and finds Soren in a civic chamber before a panel of judges. She declares herself to be female and in love with Riker - but the judges immediately declare her guilty of deviancy and she is taken away for brainwashing...

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), Melinda Culea (Soren), Callan White (Krite), Megan Cole (Noor)

Directed by Robert Scheerer
Co-Produced by Joe Menosky, Ronald D. Moore and Peter Lauritson
Produced by David Livingston
Executive Producer Michael Piller, Rick Berman and Gene Roddenberry

TX:
16th March, 1992

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 and Lieutenant Commander Data