"All that I'm asking, Picard," Admiral Nakamura said from the comlink on Picard's desk, "is that you look at this as a diplomatic opportunity. After the... unfortunate circumstances of our first contact with the Q, we're very lucky to have this chance. We don't know what they can actually do, or what regions they consider their territory, and to flatly refuse their offer seems... short-sighted."

From an objective standpoint, Picard had to admit, Nakamura would seem to have a point; with any other alien race, the proposition they'd offered to Riker would be welcomed, a chance to begin an open relationship and move past their tense first encounter. But this wasn't just any alien race. This was Q they were dealing with, and although his dealings with the entity so far had been limited, Picard knew that he was a different matter. It was not exactly a rational belief, though, nor was it one he could readily communicate to the Admiral.

Instead, he tried something that could be put into words more easily. "What worries me is the power involved," he said. "Even from the little we do know, it's clear that the power Q is offering is... immense. I'm concerned about Riker's ability to handle that level of responsibility."

"He is a Starfleet commander," Nakamura reminded Picard. "He would not have reached that position had he not displayed an excellent ability to handle high levels of power and responsibility."

"Yes, but...!" Picard was frustrated at his inability to explain, or even fully understand, his apprehension regarding the situation between Q and Riker. "Admiral, we would be asking him to give up his humanity!"

"I'm aware that the decision is a serious one," Nakamura said. "And it is beyond our rights to make it for him." The admiral paused, letting the full meaning of his last statement sink in. "I believe Mr. Riker should join in this conversation."

Picard nodded, knowing that Nakamura was entirely right. Gut feelings were all well and good, but this situation called for diplomacy; something that had been entirely too lacking, on both sides, during their first encounter with Q. And indeed, it should be Riker's decision to make.

He tapped his combadge. "Picard to Riker. Report to my ready room immediately."

The response did nothing to calm Picard's nerves. Rather than responding through the combadge, Riker simply materialized next to the captain, in the same flash of light that was the hallmark of Q's manifestations. "Yes, Captain?"

Picard restrained himself from berating Riker for the manner of his arrival; he had, after all, just followed Picard's order and come to the ready room in the fastest way he could, and there was nothing actually mocking or insubordinate about it. Looked at objectively.

Trying to be as calm as if Riker had entered through the door, Picard motioned to the screen. "I believe you are familiar with Admiral Nakamura?" At Riker's nod of confirmation, he continued. "He has called to... advise you regarding Q's offer."

Riker bristled at this; it was a sore topic between him and Picard. "Sir, with all due respect, I'm a grown man. And I believe I'm responsible enough to have this power without--"

"This is different, Will," Picard interjected. He pushed back his feelings of unease. "The Admiral thinks you should accept."

Riker blinked in surprise. He turned to the comlink screen. "Admiral?"

"Commander Riker," Nakamura said, "it seems that you may be our best chance of opening friendly relations with the Q. I know that this decision will affect you personally in ways that we can't even imagine, and I can't order you to accept. However, if you do, we would like to offer you the position of Federation Special Liason with the Q Continuum."

Riker looked stunned at this; whatever he'd been expecting, this wasn't it. "I... I would be honored, sir. If it's all right, I need some time to think about this, and to find out more about the conditions of this membership. I'll get back to you with my decision as soon as I've made it."

"Of course," Nakamura said, nodding. "I will await your reply. Nakamura out." The subspace communication closed.

-----------------------

The melancholy notes of "Night Bird" drifted across the room, although they were halting and uncertain. Riker had hoped to clear his thoughts by playing the trombone in his quarters, but he couldn't keep his mind on the music.

Would it still be the same for him when-- if he became fully Q? Or would the ability to simply create any desired sound make playing an instrument an unnecessary inconvenience? For that matter, would he still even care about human interests and hobbies? Would he still recognize himself?

It was a frightening prospect, becoming a god. Riker knew about the encounters some Starfleet crews had had with similar entities, from relatively minor energy beings to forces capable of making entire quadrants bend to their will-- even Worf, the Klingon tactical officer, was a reminder of how the Organians had ordered the Federation and the Klingons to make peace a hundred years ago. Federation science, for all its triumphs and miracles, still had no idea of where to start explaining powers like those. Even Riker, while he now had some of those powers at his disposal, had no idea of how they really worked-- yet. The Q apparently planned to change that.

The idea of being one of those mysterious forces, of understanding the mysteries that transcended science, was fascinating. It would be alien, certainly-- alien in a way the Klingons and Vulcans and Betazoids didn't even come close to-- but it would be a grand adventure. And wasn't adventure what Riker had joined Starfleet for?

...Starfleet. That was the other thing.

Diplomatic titles and honors were all well and good, but Riker didn't want to give up his Starfleet rank and career. They meant too much to him; he'd spent the better part of his life working to get where he was. He'd finally made it to the legendary Enterprise, and throwing that away after only a few months-- even to trade it for cosmic power-- seemed like a disappointing waste. He hoped to be the captain of the Enterprise one day, and even though as a Q he could probably create his own ship that was just as good if not better, it just wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't mean the same.

Still, he couldn't just refuse and walk away. Q was right; the offer was too tempting. He'd probably spend the rest of his life wondering about the road not taken. And what if refusal would offend the Q? Wasn't it hypocritical to turn down a chance to make contact with a new alien species and discover secrets of the universe just so he could stay in Starfleet? After all, they were supposed to be the same thing...

...That was it!

Riker put down his trombone, grinning. He knew exactly how he would resolve this.