"The Child" from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Quiz

Answer: Both Dr. Katherine Pulaski and Guinan

Dr. Katherine Pulaski, played by Diana Muldaur, replaced Dr. Beverly Crusher just for the second season of this series. You may remember her from the L.A. Law TV series. And as most "Star Trek: TNG" fans know, Guinan is played by the very talented Whoopi Goldberg. She becomes a recurring character from this point on.

We first met the ever so colorful, over-the-top Lwaxana Troi, Deanna's mother, in the first season episode "Haven." She was played by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, the wife of Gene Roddenberry. She did not appear in "The Child."

Answer: Her baby was developing at an unbelievably fast rate.

It is mentioned in the episode that the normal gestation period for Betazoid woman was ten months. Dr. Pulaski predicted due to the the rapid growth of the fetus, that Deanna would have her baby in only 3-4 days after becoming pregnant!

And of course the other extraordinary thing about Deanna's pregnancy is that an unknown alien being or "presence" as Troi put it, was responsible. It had entered her body during the night.

Answer: That no matter what, she was going to have this baby.

During the meeting Captain Picard had with his officers about Deanna's situation, they were talking about her and her pregnancy in a very cold, very tactless, and impersonal manner. They did not ask her what her feelings were on the matter or what she wanted to do. Finally, Deanna spoke up and let them know in no uncertain terms that she understood the captain had to make the safety of his ship and crew a priority but she was having this baby. (Great acting here by Marina Sirtis). And that was the end of the meeting.

Answer: Guinan told him sometimes it is necessary to think of yourself first and do what is right for you and not always do what others expect you to do.

Ultimately, Wesley took Guinan's advice and decided that he wanted to stay and went and told the captain he felt the Enterprise was where he belonged. The captain agreed with this if his mother did not object.

A funny moment in this episode was when Worf volunteered to be the one to tuck Wesley into bed at night when the crew was teasing Wesley. It was so funny because it was so out of character for Worf to say something like this. He normally was so gruff and did not display much of a sense of humor in the first couple seasons of this show.

Answer: technology

The beginning of season 2 of "Star Trek: TNG" saw Dr. Pulaski as being blunt, and harsh especially towards Data. I mentally cringed at some of the things she said to him as if he wasn't deserving of respect because he was an artificial life form. I was glad when the writers stopped making her character so harsh and I actually grew to like her on the show. I was still glad though when Gates McFadden reprised her role as Dr. Beverly Crusher in seasons 3-7.

Answer: Deanna had no pain at all giving birth.

After the birth, Data thanked Deanna for allowing him to be there and that it was "remarkable." Watching Data's face it is hard for this viewer to believe Data, as an android, felt no emotions at all. She named the baby, Ian Andrew, after her father. Riker but not Captain Picard came to the birth. It was Data who held Deanna's hand throughout the delivery.

Answer: Ian looked like he was four years old.

Other than looking like a four year old, Ian did not display any other remarkable abilities such as telepathy or having an advanced IQ. It makes one wonder if he may be an empath like Deanna since he asked Captain Picard not to worry and things are OK.

But he may have said this due to the shocked expressions on the faces of the captain and the doctor. Later in the episode he also mentioned that he could feel that the crew was really worried about something.

Answer: He burned his finger on his hot food.

Dr. Pulaski quickly healed his finger and Ian noticed his face was wet for the first time. He cried because of burning his finger. Dr. Pulaski and Captain Picard saw what Ian did and discussed how he had burned himself on purpose just to experience what pain was like. Ian was not yet able to tell the captain why he had come to the Enterprise to be with them. Deanna explained when his cognitive abilities become more advanced he will be able to tell them more.

Answer: One of the specimens was growing and if this continued would eventually breach containment.

If it escapes the deadly plague could kill everybody on board. They were not able to destroy the specimens nor jettison them into space because they could come in contact with another ship or planet with devastating consequences. Time is running out for the Enterprise They eventually detected on the ship a certain type of radiation that was causing that one plague specimen to grow.

The search is now on to discover the source of this radiation.

Answer: He allows himself to die to protect the other people on the Enterprise

It was a real tear-jerker when Ian died. Deanna was frantic when she realized Ian intended to die in order to protect the people on board. There was nothing Dr. Pulaski could do. After Ian died, he transformed back into a glowing light and went to Deanna, communicating to her in her mind. She explained to the captain that he was a "life force entity," who had become curious about them after passing the Enterprise in space.

This entity wanted to learn more about them by being born, and experiencing life as one of them and meant no harm. Ian was the source of the radiation that caused one of the plague specimens to grow and things went back to normal after he allowed himself to die and left the ship as a glowing small ball of light. Now the Enterprise could continue on its mission to deliver the plague specimens for research into a potential cure.