Ruffian

A holographic Ruffian emerges from the deteriorating London streets of the holodeck simulation, embodying the escalating danger as Moriarty's tampering disables safety protocols. With aggressive determination, he targets Picard, demanding the captain's copper coin with violent insistence. Brandishing a knife with lethal intent, he represents the first tangible proof that holographic threats now carry real physical consequences. Data's effortless intervention—lifting him bodily and disarming him—highlights both the android's protective role and the newfound vulnerability of flesh-and-blood crew members in this compromised environment. The Ruffian's quick retreat after confrontation underscores his function as a disposable threat in Moriarty's psychological warfare, designed to test Picard's resolve and demonstrate the breakdown of holographic rules.