Object
Slade Bender's Photograph of Alva
A small, palm-sized printed photograph that Slade Bender withdraws from his pocket and presses into Picard's hand during the holodeck confrontation. The glossy paper bears handling wear at the corners and a faint thumb-smudge; the image presents a woman's face identified as Alva. Characters react to it as tangible, immediate evidence—Picard (as Dixon Hill) studies the image closely, and the photograph functions as a physical clue that shifts the tone of the encounter.
1 appearances
Purpose
To provide a visual identification of Alva — a small, portable piece of documentary evidence handed over to prompt investigation and to establish the missing woman's existence.
Significance
Operates as the narrative catalyst that converts the holonovel's escapist fiction into a real-world case: the photograph anchors Slade Bender's demand, gives Picard a concrete lead to follow, and raises the stakes by turning a playful noir diversion into an investigative plot thread.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used