Riker looked at his Captain incredulously.
"You want me to do what?" he asked.
"It's perfectly simple number one," Picard replied. "All you have to do is pass yourself off as a ballroom dancer for a few days to allow you access to a very important diplomat."
"I still don't think I'm getting this," Riker answered truthfully, pretty certain that either his ears weren't working properly or Picard needed relieving of duty on the grounds that he was insane. That must be it, all the stress had finally got to him. Riker's head began making plans to keep it quiet, the crew mustn't know that such a great man had lost his mind…
Picard sat back down behind his desk.
"What does ballroom dancing have to do with diplomacy?" Riker began again.
"Every year there's a ballroom competition on the planet Soria IV, and every year it is judged by the leader of the planet Infa II. Now, some weeks ago Starfleet received a message stating that the leader of Infa II wanted Federation assistance because something was going on that was out of their control. The trouble was, there was nothing in the message to tell us what the 'something' was and attempts to reply to them have been unsuccessful."
"Just how many attempts did they make?" Riker asked.
"Many," Picard answered simply. "No conventional methods have worked so we're trying unconventional."
"But sir," Riker started again. When was he going to get to the point of what he wanted to say? "Sir… I can't dance. Not that well."
"Nonsense, you know enough for this mission. Besides, we're bringing a specialist in, she'll be your dance partner and teach you everything you need to know."
"And what exactly is the mission?" Riker asked, resigning himself to the fact that he was going to have to do it.
"You need to make contact with the leader of Infa II, find out if there's a way we can talk to them and find out what's going on. You should have contact with the leader, Analise Kernan, when you get to stage two of the competition."
Riker spotted a flaw right there in this terribly-crafted plan.
"I have to get to round two?" he exclaimed. "Captain, can't Data go? He's very good at dancing!"
"Of course not number one, he'd be disqualified for being an android, and everyone would know he's Starfleet."
"I'm not exactly unknown myself."
"With a few adjustments no one will recognise you."
Riker shook his head, and decided not to even think about what these 'adjustments' might involve.
"How long do I have?" he asked.
"Well the Enterprise can't drop you off, for obvious reasons. We don't want to be seen anywhere near the planets, but we will be close, should we be needed. You'll have to take a shuttle to Soria IV, the specialist is bringing one with her, she should be here by tomorrow. Then you will have three days."
"Three days?"
"Plenty of time. I suggest you limber up adequately, we can't afford any accidents."
Riker looked at Picard like he was mad.
"Y…yes sir."
He left the ready-room, completely dumbfounded, and headed straight for the holodeck to replicate himself a partner. He couldn't afford to wait even until tomorrow. It was going to be a long three days.
X
Riker was waiting with Picard In the shuttle bay to welcome the specialist on board. The shuttle docked expertly and its door opened, revealing a petite woman who he put at about twenty-seven years old. They walked towards her.
"Miss Stokesley, welcome aboard the Enterprise," Picard said, extending his hand to her. She shook it firmly.
"Thank you Captain," she replied in a voice that was delicate at the moment, but Riker had a suspicion that she was a lot stronger than she looked.
"This is Commander Riker," he continued. She shook his hand too, trying to also get a measure of this man.
"We'd better get to it Commander, we don't have much time. Hopefully we'll have time for the pleasantries after we're home and dry."
"This way," he nodded, letting her exit before him and showing her down to the holodeck.
"So have you danced before?" she asked him.
"Not really. I tried with a holographic partner yesterday but…"
"They're not as patient, are they," she finished for him. "I hear this from a lot of people, they're just not good enough. Well we'll see what's what, we need a waltz and a Latin dance for the competition, so we'll do our best."
Riker stopped dead.
"Latin?" he exclaimed. The visitor looked at him.
"Yes Commander. I thought you had been briefed by the Captain…"
"Clearly he forgot to mention some aspects of this… performance."
Riker's head was swimming with images of him in fluorescent lycra, thrusting about…
"Look, Miss Stokesley," he began.
"My name is Jenni," she interrupted.
"Jenni… I can't dance, and I certainly can't do all the… energetic… moves."
"Commander, you will be fine. No one will be watching except me, and I've seen all sorts."
"Forgive me but, how exactly have you seen 'all sorts'? Surely you're not old enough to…"
"Commander I have been dancing since the age of three, teaching since I was twelve. Things are different in the dancing world. I have seen a lot. And don't worry, we'll be ok."
They arrived at the holodeck, Jenni gave the computer her requirements for a room (which was substantially more appealing and appropriate than the one Riker had been using) and they entered together. Jenni put her bag on the floor, took out a pair of shoes and put them on, then took Riker's hand and led him to the middle of the room.
"And now, the fun begins," she whispered.
X
Riker was sick of pretty much everything, it was only the fear of failure that kept him in that damn holodeck, repeating the same thing time after time, again and again until he was more confused than ever. But he had to admit that he was impressed with Jenni. She'd managed to take him from a stumbling, uncoordinated lead to an elegant and impressive dance partner, even though he felt very unsure of himself. She was calm under pressure, professional, she didn't get frustrated easily, if at all, and she was ridiculously patient.
"Ok, once more and then we move on," she said to him after he'd attempted lifting her by the arm and leg and whirling her round. They took it from the top; the beginning was really very impressive now after numerous repetitions. His face was a picture of concentration as he remembered the new section, but she knew he had bigger fish to fry right then. She gave him her leg and he gripped that and her arm, lifting her and spinning.
She slipped, her arm sliding out of his grasp and slamming the floor with a thud, her head following. Riker's momentum was such that he couldn't stop right away, but he didn't think quickly enough to let go of her leg, and he felt something in her break…
"Computer turn music off!" he yelled as he knelt by her. She was screaming in agony, but obviously trying to compose herself so that he didn't panic. "Come on, sickbay," he said, scooping her up off the floor trying to ignore her cries.
They got into sickbay and Dr Crusher came straight over with her tricorder.
"What happened?" she asked immediately.
"She… she slipped, I dropped her," Riker answered, putting her down on a bio-bed as carefully as he could. Dr Crusher put a hypo in her neck and Jenni felt some of the pain soften.
"What's your name?" she asked her.
"Jenni Stokesley," she replied.
"Jenni, I'm Dr Crusher. Where's the pain?"
"My left hamstring, my right shoulder and arm… my head…"
She caught sight of Will looking gutted that he'd caused her such pain.
"But I've certainly had worse," she added quickly, grimacing as the Doctor prodded her shoulder.
"Well you've torn a couple of muscles in your back and arm along with your hamstring, and you have a slight concussion," Dr Crusher declared eventually. Jenni groaned.
"Is this the part where you tell me it would have been better if I'd broken my bones rather than my muscles?"
"It would certainly have been easier to solve."
"How long until I'm back on my feet?"
The Doctor shook her head.
"These injuries need rest. I can repair the muscles but they'll still be tender and stiff for a few days… you'll need to sleep off the concussion…"
"Doctor we only have two days!" Riker said, going deathly pale.
"Well it looks like you're going to have to find someone else to dance with Will, I'm sorry. I can't let her continue in this condition."
"Where am I going to find someone?"
Jenni looked at him.
"Well my sister is still on the USS Melbourne. Doctor, if I rest up for the next few days, get some physio, will I be fit enough to dance on Wednesday?"
"I wouldn't want to bet on it Jenni," she said wearily.
"Besides, how would you know the routines?" Riker asked.
"My sister and I would work in concert. I'd direct her, she'd teach you, and I'd be watching the whole time."
"Watching isn't resting."
"But this is the only way to solve this."
Riker looked at her and nodded.
"I'll go and talk to the Captain," he sighed. What was it Picard had said? We can't afford any accidents. The concern shouldn't have been for what Riker did to himself, but for what he did to his partner.
X
Talya Stokesley was amazing, Riker thought. He could tell she was Jenni's sister, but they were very different too. Talya was slightly shorter than Jenni, and she was fuller in the body. Certainly not fat, but she looked like a woman should. He didn't have time to get to know her properly, but she smiled a lot, so he felt more at ease as Jenni directed them from her chair and they attempted to do what she told them to.
"Ok, let me have a go," Jenni said eventually.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Riker asked her, watching her stagger to her feet and wince.
"We haven't a lot of choice, the competition is tomorrow," she replied, moving into the centre of the room painfully slowly. Riker took her hands and Talya ordered the music to start.
Within three movements, Jenni was practically in tears.
"Jenni, with respect, you can't do this," Riker said gently, guiding her back to her chair in the corner of the room.
"But what are we going to do? I've ruined this mission."
"It looks like it's up to me," Talya put in. The other two both stared at her.
"Don't be silly Tally, you can't do the competition!" Jenni exclaimed.
"Of course I can, and I will."
"I don't know," Riker said, clearly unconvinced.
"Look, this is the only way. We can do this, we will be fine! I thought you Starfleet guys liked a challenge?"
"I like a challenge fine, but I don't want to put you in danger."
Talya sighed.
"If it helps, the Captain's already agreed."
Jenni started.
"Pardon?" she almost screamed.
"Well I went to see him Jen, he asked if you'd be fit for tomorrow. I said I didn't think you would be."
Jenni shook her delicate chestnut hair out of her face. Talya had a feeling that if she could have got up and given her a shake she would have done. There was silence for a few moments. In the end, Riker sighed.
"Ok," he said, simply. "It looks like we have no choice. Talya, If you're sure, you'll be helping us out."
Talya nodded, smiling.
"Let's get to it."
X
The day of the competition. Riker had been surgically altered so he didn't quite look like himself anymore – his eyes were a different colour, he'd shaved off his beard, the Doctor had slightly altered the position of his cheek bones which made a startling difference. Jenni had helped Talya to get dressed in her floor-length ball gown and theatrical make-up , but there was nothing else she could do.
Talya met Riker in Sickbay as the Doctor was finishing him off and Jenni sat on a bed, waiting for further treatment to her leg and shoulder. Talya's long, red hair was swept upwards and held in place with hundreds of diamante pins. The cut of the purple dress made her look older, which, as she was only eighteen, could only be an advantage.
"Are you ready?" she asked him. He nodded.
"Good luck, both of you," Jenni said as Dr Crusher indicated at her to lie down. "And take care!"
"We'll be fine Jen," Talya replied, hearing groans from her sister as she was made to manipulate her legs. "We'll be back in a few days."
She and Riker walked out of sickbay and into their waiting shuttle craft.
"Course set, all checks ready… and we're ready to go."