Betazoid Clearing Pond

A secluded clearing on Betazed, located beneath the orbiting shadow of the USS Enterprise, where Lwaxana Troi, Deanna Troi, and William Riker vanished during their abduction. The clearing contains a small pond cradling wilted Zan Periculi flowers—rare botanical imports from Ferengi-controlled Lappa IV—which serve as a critical clue in the investigation. The site becomes the focal point of tension and frustration for Worf, Reittan Grax, and Data as they uncover evidence linking the abduction to an interstellar Ferengi conspiracy. The clearing's still waters and fading blooms underscore the urgency of the rescue mission.

2 events

2 rich involvements

Detailed Involvements

Events with rich location context

S3E24 · Menage a Troi

The Ferengi Trail: A Clue in the Wilted Flowers

The Betazoid clearing pond is the unsuspecting repository of the Zan Periculi flowers, a seemingly innocuous body of water that becomes the key to unraveling the abduction. Its still surface belies the turmoil beneath—literally, as the flowers sink and wilt, and metaphorically, as the crew’s desperation rises. The pond is a liminal space, neither fully part of the investigation nor ignored, until Foley’s tricorder sweep reveals its hidden secret. It serves as a narrative device, turning a mundane element of the landscape into a pivotal clue.

Atmosphere

Deceptively calm—its surface reflects the Enterprise’s shadow, but beneath, the flowers carry the weight of the abduction. The water’s stillness contrasts with the crew’s growing agitation.

Functional Role

Hidden evidence repository; the pond’s isolation and proximity to the abduction site make it the perfect (if unintentional) hiding place for the Ferengi’s trail.

Symbolic Significance

Represents the fragility of Betazoid sovereignty and the crew’s vulnerability to external threats. The clearing’s shift from a place of leisure (picnic site) to a site of desperation mirrors the larger narrative arc: from diplomacy to confrontation.

Access Restrictions

None explicitly, but the pond is part of the cordoned-off clearing. Access is limited to the investigation team.

The flowers’ wilted petals, barely visible beneath the water’s surface until Foley’s discovery. The pond’s reflection of the *Enterprise*, a visual metaphor for the crew’s looming presence and the abduction’s disruption of the status quo. The absence of wildlife or movement, as if the pond itself is holding its breath.

S3E24 · Menage a Troi

The Ferengi Clue: A Botanical Revelation Shifts the Rescue Mission

The Betazoid clearing pond is a deceptively ordinary feature that becomes the linchpin of the investigation. Its calm surface belies the critical evidence hidden beneath—Lieutenant Foley’s discovery of the wilted Zan Periculi flowers. The pond functions as a metaphor for the investigation itself: what appears to be a dead end (still, unyielding water) conceals the very clue needed to break the case. Its role is passive yet pivotal, transforming from an overlooked detail to the centerpiece of the crew’s reoriented strategy. The pond’s waters reflect the shifting dynamics of the scene, from frustration to revelation.

Atmosphere

Deceptively tranquil, masking the urgency of the search. The water’s stillness contrasts with the crew’s growing desperation.

Functional Role

Hidden repository of critical evidence; the pond’s contents redirect the investigation’s focus.

Symbolic Significance

Represents the fragility of safety—even in a peaceful Betazoid clearing, danger can strike without warning. The pond symbolizes hidden truths waiting to be uncovered.

Access Restrictions

Accessible to the investigation team, but its significance was initially overlooked.

The water is clear but murky at the edges, where the flowers were found. The pond’s surface ripples slightly as Data retrieves the evidence, mirroring the crew’s shifting emotions. Reflections of the *Enterprise* shimmer on the water, a reminder of the stakes.

Events at This Location

Everything that happens here

S3E24 · Menage a Troi

The Ferengi Trail: A Clue in the Wilted Flowers

In the shadow of the Enterprise’s orbit, Worf and Reittan Grax stand in a Betazoid clearing where Lwaxana Troi, Deanna, and Riker vanished without a trace. The investigation stalls as …

S3E24 · Menage a Troi

The Ferengi Clue: A Botanical Revelation Shifts the Rescue Mission

In the wake of Lwaxana Troi’s abduction, the Enterprise crew’s investigation hits a critical turning point as Data returns from the clearing with a pivotal discovery: Zan Periculi flowers, a …