"Enterprise to Lieutenant Pierce."

Katlin groaned and rolled over. The hotel room was unfamiliar, and she fumbled blindly in the darkness for her comlink.

"Enterprise to Lieutenant Pierce."

Gods above, what time was it? Four in the morning? Her head was still spinning slightly from the ale. Or was it gin? Ugh.

She found her comlink. "Pierce. Go ahead."

"Lieutenant – the Enterprise has arrived ahead of schedule. Your rendezvous at Gebcheck Station has been moved to 0500 hours, local time."

Katlin groaned. "Understood."

"Is Commander Riker with you?"

"No?"

"We have been unable to reach Commander Riker. His comlink may be inoperable. Will you find and inform him of the change?"

"Yes. Pierce out." Katlin swung herself out of bed and turned on the lamp. The sudden brightness made her flinch. It was four in the morning, if they were going to be at Gebcheck station in an hour, she would have to go rouse him now. She pulled on her Starfleet uniform slowly, trying to minimize the pounding in her head. She was never going to drink again. No – amend that – she was never going to drink anything Riker put in her hand, ever again. Blend in with the locals, he said. She packed her few belongings in her flight bag. Blend in with the locals, right. Locals got to sleep.

Katlin exited the hotel room, and the doors locked behind her with a hiss. Riker was just down the hall… unless he was still at the bar. She paused outside number 33 and rang the bell. She could hear it buzzing inside the room.

No answer. Katlin sighed. She waited a few seconds, then buzzed again. "Commander Riker?" she called. She could hear a muffled fumbling behind the door.

The door slid open manually, partially. A very disheveled and half-dressed Riker leaned against the frame. "What?" he said, curtly.

"Enterprise just called. The rendezvous is now 0500 hours."

"Wake me then." He started to shut the door in her face.

"Sir, it's 4:15."

"Will?" A feminine voice came wafting from the room behind Riker. "What's the matter?"

Katlin's mouth formed a silent "Oooooh." She stood on tiptoe to try and see past Riker, who responded by slamming the door shut in her face. "I'll meet you in the lobby in ten," he said, behind the door.

"Aye-aye, Commander," Katlin sniggered.

Riker appeared in the lobby as promised, slightly more presentable in uniform, but with bloodshot eyes. He had two flight bags slung over one shoulder, and the remainder of the diplomatic papers in his briefcase. "Ready?" he muttered.

"Yessir."

They exited the hotel to the bright light of Gebcheck station, both of them squinting through twin hangovers. Drones buzzed overhead, and even though it was the early morning hours local time, the station was abuzz with all manner of sentient beings. They joined the queue for security clearance.

"Identity papers, please."

Katlin handed her information to the guard, who gave it a perfunctory glance. "Thank you," he said. "Yours, sir?"

Riker was fumbling with his flight bags, trying to dig out his identPADD.

"Here," Katlin said, taking the smaller of the two bags from his shoulder and hoisting it over her own.

"Thanks," Riker muttered. He found his PADD and passed it to the guard.

The guard glanced at it. "Proceed."

They walked together towards the departure gate. Somewhere behind them a dog began to bark, and then snarl. "You two, stop where you are!"

Katlin and Riker glanced behind them. A guard was approaching with the snarling dog on a leash. "Stop right there!" Several other guards came at a run, phasers at the ready.

Katlin glanced up at Riker. "They mean us?"

"I think so."

"Drop your bags, hands in the air!"

Katlin unshouldered her bags, letting them drop with a thud. She raised her hands.

"Now kneel! Both of you! Kneel and put your hands behind your head."

Katlin sank to her knees, not daring to glance over at Riker. Everyone in the departure terminal was staring, wide eyed. Katlin thought she heard a Ferengi sniggering behind her.

One of the guards approached their flight bags. The dog began snarling and jerking at his leash, barking and yelping. The guard unsheathed a small knife, and made a cut across the seam of Riker's bag. With a hiss, white powder began spilling out like sand. The guard repeated the action on the bag Katlin had carried. Another hiss, another growing pile of white, crystal sand.

"Holy crap," Katlin said, as the guards jerked her hands behind her. "Commander, what is that?"

"I have no... oh, shit." Riker paled. "I left her alone with the bags while I showered."

Katlin groaned. "Tell me you got her name."

Riker glanced over as they were handcuffed. "She was… blue?" He offered.

"Oh, my God. I'm going to lose my commission." She was hauled to her feet.

They were marched down a white hallway. They were patted down, fingerprinted, photographed, and stripped of their comlinks. The door to the brig opened with a hiss.

At least it was clean, Katlin thought, staring around at the smooth white walls. She sat with a thump. Riker slid down the wall to a sit, then put his head between his knees. "Can we turn the lights down?" Riker called out to the guards.

"Oh, bit of a HANGOVER, commander?"

Riker flinched. "Pierce, be quiet."

"They're going to throw us out of Starfleet."

"Just calm down."

"Calm down? CALM DOWN? In case you haven't noticed we are-"

"Lieutenant Pierce, you are making this worse."

"I'M making things worse?" Katlin's voice raised to a shriek. "I'M the problem? I'm not the one who got their bags filled with space cocaine because they fancied a fuuuuh…" Katlin stumbled in to silence. She had suddenly noticed that Captain Picard was standing outside the brig.

Picard cleared his throat. "Explain yourselves."

Katlin pointed a finger at Riker.