Douwd

The true form of a Douwd on the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D

The Douwd were a race made of pure energy, self-described as "immortal beings of disguises and false surroundings". They have the ability to create and destroy on an epic scale; they also maintain the ability to attack through psychic means. The Douwd appear to be nearly omnipotent, but not omniscient.

Only one individual from the Douwd race has been encountered, a being who referred to itself as Kevin Uxbridge while in human form. In 2313, he had been traveling on a ship at sea — taking the form of a thirty-three year old, penniless botany student — when he met a twenty-nine year old composer of Tao-classical music named Rishon. Though her parents disapproved of him, she was smitten with Kevin and proposed marriage to him two hours after they met. He put aside his powers and married Rishon; they would be married for fifty-three years, but Kevin never revealed his true identity to her.

In 2361 — with Rishon now 77 years old — the couple moved from the aquatic city New Martim Vaz on Earth to the Federation colony on Delta Rana IV to live out their final years together and to "fall in love all over again".

Unfortunately, in 2366, a warship belonging to a vicious species known as the Husnock attacked the planet. As Kevin possessed a pacifist conscience, he refused to destroy the Husnock attackers outright, instead trying to scare them away with false images. Instead of fleeing, however, they became "angrier and more cruel", laying waste to the planet. Finally, Rishon left Kevin's side and joined the fight against the Husnock — perishing with the other colonists. When Kevin found her body, he lost control of his emotions; in a fury of blind rage, he summoned his powers and destroyed the Husnock completely — all fifty billion of the species. When Kevin regained his senses and realized what he had done, he was horrified. He used his powers to recreate his house and Rishon, then sentenced himself to exile as the only living being on Rana IV.

Kevin Uxbridge

It was here that Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the Enterprise-D found Kevin and "Rishon", three days after the attack, apparently the sole survivors of the attack on the planet. The ship's counselor, Deanna Troi, began to sense Kevin's true nature through her empathic powers; Kevin sensed this himself and used his own powers to implant an endlessly-repeating piece of music in Deanna's mind, distracting her and nearly destroying her mind. He also attempted to drive the Enterprise away, first by attacking the ship with a replica of the Husnock warship, then by obliterating his home with the warship in hopes that the Enterprise would leave. Eventually, Captain Picard used the ship's transporter to teleport Kevin and "Rishon" directly to the bridge of the Enterprise and then confronted them with their true natures. Consumed by regret and remorse over what he had done, Kevin removed the music from Deanna's mind and confessed his "sin" to Captain Picard. Picard's response: "We are not qualified to be your judges. We have no law to fit your crime. You're free to return to the planet... and to make Rishon live again." Kevin returned to Rana IV and once again recreated Rishon and his house; Picard and the Enterprise left orbit, Picard remarking, "We leave behind a being of extraordinary power... and conscience. I am not certain if he should be praised or condemned - only that he should be left alone." (TNG: "The Survivors")