Alcove Blackout — Finn Falls
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Finn panics and flees toward the alcove, triggering a chaotic rescue operation.
Alexana shoots Finn as he aims his phaser at Picard, decisively ending the confrontation.
Beverly confirms Finn's death, marking the end of his campaign and the immediate threat.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Panicked and frantic—fear-driven aggression that overrides caution or calculated action.
Panicked and desperate, Finn makes a split decision to run for the alcove and raises a phaser at Picard, converting a tense negotiation into direct mortal threat before being struck down by Alexana's shot.
- • Prevent Picard's escape by any means
- • Reassert control of the situation to protect his cell's objectives
- • Violence may be required to protect the movement's aims
- • Immediate, decisive action can salvage a failing operation
Resolute and unflinching—her decision is rapid, pragmatic, and oriented toward immediate containment of violence.
Alexana, having tracked the movement, pursues Finn to the alcove mouth and fires a single, fatal phaser shot that collapses him before he can fire at Picard; her action instantly resolves the immediate threat.
- • Eliminate the immediate threat posed by Finn
- • Prevent terrorists from arming themselves and escalating the attack
- • Decisive use of force is sometimes necessary to protect civilians
- • Responsibility for public safety entitles her to make quick, final decisions
Concerned and measured outwardly; privately exposed and reliant upon others to translate his strategy into immediate survival.
Bound by Ansata restraint cuffs at the alcove mouth, Picard is startled by the blackout and vulnerable when Finn raises a phaser; he is physically freed by Worf within moments of Alexana's shot.
- • Protect Beverly and find a non‑violent exit if possible
- • Survive the immediate assault and escape captivity
- • Violence should be a last resort
- • His personal safety matters, but duty to others remains paramount
Focused, with a controlled intensity—protective instincts override any hesitation despite the confusion of the blackout.
Silent and efficient, Worf moves with Riker through the dark, assists in overpowering terrorists, and physically removes the Ansata restraint cuffs to free Picard's hands.
- • Neutralize immediate threats to Picard and Beverly
- • Restore mobility and safety to the captain
- • Physical protection and direct action are necessary to ensure survival
- • Duty to the captain requires personal risk
Determined and urgent—tactical focus tempered by concern for Picard's safety.
Moving swiftly through darkness with Worf, Riker overpowers terrorists en route to the alcove, helps secure the area and supports the rescue; he arrives as Alexana fires and assists in restoring order.
- • Reach and free Picard and Beverly
- • Neutralize terrorists and prevent additional weapons from being used
- • The safety of the captain and crew is paramount
- • Force is justified when immediate lives are at stake
Worried and urgent, toggling between personal fear and professional detachment as she assesses the casualty.
Present with Picard before the lights fail, Beverly attempts a private confession, then watches as Finn charges; after the shot she moves to his body, performs a rapid medical check and pronounces him dead.
- • Ensure Picard's immediate safety
- • Determine Finn's condition and prevent further casualties
- • Lives must be preserved when possible
- • Medical truth (death or life) must be stated plainly to shape decisions
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Ansata restraint cuffs are the device holding Picard when the blackout occurs; they physically constrain the captain until Worf removes them, making Picard dependent on others and heightening the stakes of Finn's threat.
Finn's sketchbook—shown earlier by Beverly—functions as a tactile clue that motivated Picard's and Beverly's private exchange; though not instrumental in the firefight, its earlier revelation frames motive and underscores the human complexity behind the terrorists' actions.
Rifle‑length phasers are sought by several terrorists who run toward the weapons cache; their attempted access raises tension and forces Rutian police to intervene, but the rifles are not fired in this moment. Their presence escalates stakes and motivates rapid suppression.
A handheld phaser is brought to bear at the alcove mouth: Finn raises a phaser to threaten Picard, and Alexana uses her phaser to deliver the single, fatal shot. The device converts threat into immediate, lethal consequence and reframes the rescue morally.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Alcove functions as the cramped crucible for this event—its narrow mouth channels arrival and confrontation, the nearby weapons cache and the cavern's acoustics force violence into one small, decisive space. Intimacy (a near‑confession) collapses into a battleground under emergency red lighting.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Finn's threat to kill Picard is later confirmed by Beverly to Picard, reinforcing the danger they're in."
"Finn's threat to kill Picard is later confirmed by Beverly to Picard, reinforcing the danger they're in."
"Alexana shooting Finn leads to Riker confronting her about the necessity of the killing, sparking a moral debate."
"Alexana shooting Finn leads to Riker confronting her about the necessity of the killing, sparking a moral debate."
Themes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"BEVERLY: "He's prepared to kill you.""
"PICARD: "Have they found us...?""
"BEVERLY: "He's dead.""