Troi loses her empathic powers as the ship is caught in a two-dimensional creature's path.
The Enterprise is caught in the grip of a swarm of two-dimensional life forms, which begin to draw the ship toward a cosmic string. At the same time, Counselor Troi suddenly loses her empathic abilities, and she feels she has lost a vital part of herself. She struggles to cope, and her colleagues are unsure how to help.
The story pairs a science fiction crisis with a deeply personal story, and the two come together in the ending. The episode is a thoughtful look at loss and identity, and at what people do when they lose something that defined them. It is also a rare showcase for Troi, with the character forced to rely on her own strengths rather than her special gift.