Chapter One
"Entering the Gamma System, Captain."
Data's report hardly caused Picard to glance up from the controls on his armrest. He sighed inwardly. The crew rotations were apparently the same as last week, or might as well have been. The engine efficiency reports from engineering showed the ship's propulsion systems were operating at 98 percent efficiency; an all-time high, Chief Engineer LaForge assured him. Still, and this was unusual for him, he was nearly bored out of his mind. What he wouldn't give for some fresh air, perhaps a sunny day on a warm class M planet. "Very well, Mr. Data. Proceed."
"Deploy the first survey probe," Riker said, leaning his palm on the back of Data's chair. If the android minded the ship's first officer looming over him, he didn't indicate it. But then, Data wasn't programmed to convey annoyance or even the slightest bit of irritation.
"Probe is away," said Data calmly.
Riker nodded to no one in particular, and gave the Captain a glance over his shoulder. The Captain's eyebrows were knitted together in an intense look of concentration, and his gaze was fixed on the carpeted deck in front of him. It seemed Picard was less than interested in their latest assignment to survey a cluster of uninhabited planetoids now visible on the forward view screen. Riker's gaze fell on Counselor Troi, who seemed at least interested in the view outside.
Riker crossed his arms, returning his attention to the screen in front of them. He had to admit the scene was very beautiful. Harmless, bluish swirls of dust glittered and twisted in front of the ship, no doubt residual light from the system's nearest star, which shone brightly in the distance. "Anything yet, Data?"
"Negative sir."
"Send a class three probe, and increase the sensor radius."
"Aye sir."
Riker felt Ensign Crusher staring sideways up at him. "Something on your mind, Ensign?"
The teenager hesitated, and then asked a question, but not the one he had wanted to ask, Riker could tell. "If you don't mind my asking, sir, what exactly are we looking for?"
Riker shrugged. "Just a routine survey mission, Ensign. They can't all be exciting..."
"Yes sir," Wesley said distractedly, turning back to his console.
Riker leaned his elbow on the back of Wesley's chair. "What were you going to ask me, Wes?"
Wesley reddened and lowered his voice. "I have this friend who I communicate with at the Academy."
Riker smiled. It was obvious the kid was still flying high after finding out last month that he had been accepted to Starfleet Academy. In just a matter of months, he would off the Enterprise and on his way. Riker's smile faded, as the concept caused him mixed feelings, and he straightened more professionally. "Oh? And?"
"And...well, she's telling me all of these horror stories about the Kobayashi Maru test."
"Wes...you're not going to have to worry about that until your third year. Don't overthink it before you even get there."
"Yeah, but, is it really un-beatable? I mean it's never been defeated right?"
Riker chuckled. "I heard it was beaten, a long time ago...maybe it's just a legend, I don't know. Anyway, don't look at me, I didn't even come close, Ensign."
"So, it really is a no-win scenario?"
"I didn't say that," said Riker. "I'm not sure I believe in no-win scenarios, to be honest with-"
Perimeter alert, perimeter alert...
Interrupted by the yellow alert, Riker whirled around, just as Picard was getting up from his seat.
"Sir, we are being probed," Data reported over the drone of the alarm.
William Riker blinked a few times, but the darkness didn't break, nor did his eyes grow accustomed to the area around him. Was he in the vacuum of space? No, because he was still alive. That much was he was sure of. And he was lying on some kind of hard floor. He sat up in the darkness. The last thing he remembered, he was talking to Wesley about...
You were talking about a no-win scenario, a voice drifted at him, filling the room. Or was the voice inside his mind?
No, not in your mind. We exist outside of your mind, but can travel freely within those finite confines, if we wish to.
"We? Who's we? Let me guess...a game. Not very original, Q."
Q? No we are not Q. The Q take themselves much too seriously...as do your kind.
Riker stood up. "Who are you then? Where am I? And where is the rest of the crew?"
The concept of a no-win scenario intrigues us, as it does you, William. You told the boy that you did not believe in no-win scenarios. Was that a true statement?
"Why does that matter?
It matters because we desire to know.
"Will answering your question get me the hell out of here?"
No. Nothing will get you the hell out of here. But in time you will appreciate being here.
"Right...where is Captain Picard?"
With the others...the ones you care most deeply for are all together now. They are being prepared for the test.
"What test?"
Why of course, the no win scenario, William. We find this concept most fascinating. We enjoy games of all kinds, especially when the players are worthy.
Light suddenly flooded his eyes and he found he was in a small circular room. A chair on a pedestal was set in the middle of the room. His eyes searched quickly for an escape. The room appeared seamless, with no doors or hatches visible. Don't panic, he told himself silently.
No you must not panic, William. Because it all depends on you.
"What depends on me?"
The game, of course, or test...whatever you prefer.
"What's the point of this game?" Suddenly a small black box appeared on the floor next to the chair. Riker walked cautiously over to it, stopping a few feet away. "What is this?"
An alternative world created specifically for this game. If you close your eyes and concentrate, you will see what they see.
"Who?"
Your friends. Your friends are in that box. But to them it is not a box, but a beautiful planet full of sun and warm breezes. Just as the Captain desired.
"Okay...so what's the point of this game?"
To keep your friends alive, William. That is all.
"What?"
You sound alarmed. You see, the game is designed for your friends to die. But if there is no such thing as an unbeatable scenario, as you say...then we await your mastery of the test we have created for you.
