(This story takes place in the middle of TNG's fourth season. The stardate places it somewhere between the episodes "Clues" and "Galaxy's Child.")
The Despairing Ones
Captain's Log, Stardate 44598.2: The Enterprise has been ordered to the Kenara system in order to reopen relations with the Ke'Nari. The Federation has had no contact with these people since the civil war that overthrew their monarchy a generation ago. However, the new Ke'Nari government has responded warmly to our initial overtures and seems to be interested in renewing diplomatic ties.
"The Ke'Nari utilize a shield to protect their atmosphere from harmful radiation," Lieutenant Commander Data said from the science station at the back of the bridge. "Our transporters are unable to penetrate either the shield or the radiation."
"That means a shuttlecraft ride," Commander William T. Riker said, leaning into the console above the android's head to get a better look at the readings.
"Yes sir. From the main shuttlebay, I estimate a twenty-three minute, five second trip to the provided Ke'Nari coordinates just outside their governmental center."
Captain Jean-Luc Picard nodded. "Well, then, I will advise Prime Minister Succoth you are on your way… Number One…"
Riker acknowledged. "Data… Worf…" Soon, the first officer, science officer and Klingon security chief were on their way to the planet below.
***
"I have to say Prime Minister, your world certainly is one of the most peaceful we've visited," Riker said, looking down at Prime Minister Succoth. Riker was a tall man in any circle, but most of the Ke'Nari males seemed to be under six feet. Their women were even smaller.
"Thank you, Commander. Coming from one of the most-traveled men in the galaxy, that is a compliment indeed."
Succoth was a soft-spoken man. Riker guessed him to be 50-some Earth years old, although that was hard to gage, since the Ke'Nari were among some of the least human-looking humanoids he had ever seen.
Their ears stood upright from the top of their heads and were covered in a substance that appeared to be more like brown fur than hair. The fur covered the back of their heads and ran down to a point somewhere in mid-shoulder.
Their manner of dress accentuated this. All the Ke'Nari, men and women, alike, were wearing some form of tunic that draped cowl-neck in front with a v-cut in back. Their faces, while hair-free, also seemed animal-like, with noses that seemed to run right down into their mouths. In fact, it had taken Riker quite awhile to get the image of the German Shepherd he'd owned as a boy out of his mind when he'd first seen Succoth.
The Ke'Narian governmental center seemed solid and ancient, with elaborate marble carvings everywhere. Riker supposed it had once been a royal palace. But it was stripped bare now. Minimal and utilitarian. He had yet to see one tapestry or framed wall art… any sign of culture, other than the building itself.
The Prime Minister now led the away team down a set of stone steps into the governmental center's courtyard – home of its main gardens. Around twenty younger Ke'Nari males wearing yellow tunics were amidst the colorful flowers, pruning and weeding. Most ignored the small group that walked past them and kept on working, but a few gave cold stares.
"We haven't had many visitors on Kenara Prime in the past thirty years, Commander," Succoth said sadly. "I must apologize for the young ones' behavior… You'll find we are a people that love order. Order brings peace and prosperity. Without discipline there is chaos. And a disruption in routine can be upsetting, especially to young men such as these."
"The purpose of this visit is not to disrupt routine," Data spoke for the first time since introducing himself to the prime minister.
Succoth's mouth turned up slightly. Riker took that for a Ke'Narian smile. "We know. It's just, we've been isolated for so long, we have to get used to visitors again… Come… I'll show you the Ke'Nari national symbol."
The prime minister's lumbering gait took him over to a flowering plant. One of the men in yellow had been pruning back the long-petalled flowers, but when Succoth approached, he stopped and held out the branch he had been working on for inspection.
"Good work, good work," Succoth said absently. He then turned his attention back to the away team, "Unfortunately, the flowering season is almost over, but you can still see how beautiful the Kuntara bud is."
"Indeed, Prime Minister," Riker said.
"You noted our tranquility earlier, Commander," Succoth said, slowly turning from the bush and continuing his walk around the garden's perimeter. "I regret to say, our world may not be as peaceful as any of us would wish to think. Every Ke'Narian carries the horrors of the war in their heart."
The away team followed Succoth as he made his way to an elaborate wrought-iron gate in the back of the garden. He opened the latch and walked through, continuing his thought.
"When we deposed the king, it was because we had come to despise everything he stood for… The king had always claimed to be appointed from the Divine One and therefore set apart. The old government said he was incapable of wrong… but Ke'Narians of my generation saw it differently. We hated his tyranny… And we found out he was mortal enough."
"You executed him?" Worf demanded. But, then, most things that came out of Worf's mouth sounded like demands.
Succoth nodded, sadly. "During the wars we did all we could to destroy the old class system. Great thinkers told us that all Ke'Narians were created by the Divine One and so, therefore, we all had a piece of the Divine Spark in us. Who needed a king or nobility when we all were beings created by the Divine One, capable of rational thought?"
"There was a similar time on my home planet," Riker interjected. "During the Age of Reason, humans began rebelling against old systems of government based on claims of heredity and divinity in order to form new ones. In a country called America they built up a system of self-government that was a model used in the formation of the United Federation of Planets itself."
"I wish our story had such a happy ending," Succoth said. "Unfortunately, we proved less capable at self-government as we had hoped. Without the feudal lords, there was no one to tell us when to plant crops. Thousands starved. Without the king and his nobles, there was no one to enforce laws. Chaos ensued. Thousands more died in riots and uprisings."
"If things were so bad," Riker asked. "How did you solve them?"
"A small group of us began to see the wrongs we'd caused. We sought to correct them by establishing a squadron to establish and keep the peace."
The security officer knew immediately what the leader was talking about, "A police force."
"Yes, Mr. Worf, you could call it that. We started with thirty Ke'Narians. Soon we had fifty and then, a hundred. Soon, we'd established a penal colony on one of our moons. In a few short years, we had restored the peace we had destroyed, minus the trappings of the monarchy of course."
"Impressive," Riker agreed.
The small group was approaching an impressive edifice. It soared higher than any other building in the governmental center and was inlaid with gold and silver, so it glistened under the Kenaran sun. "The temple to the Divine One," Succoth explained. Then he veered off to the side of the building, into an alley, where a small stone hut sat in the shadow of the gleaming building next door.
"I would not want you to return to your ship without meeting one of the most respected citizens in our governmental center," Succoth said to the away team. "Doyen Benar," he called out.
There was no answer from the small building. Succoth called again. And finally, a kindly voice came up from the path behind them. "I am here, prime minister."
The away team turned around to see the oldest Ke'Narian they had laid eyes on yet. His fur was a silvery gray, which was accented all the more by the black tunic he wore. It seemed longer than the kind most of the men wore, and plainer too. The doyen bowed slightly to the prime minister and then his deep blue eyes settled on the away team.
Succoth made a similar bow. "Doyen, may I present officers from the Federation Starship Enterprise."
The old one's eyes twinkled and he smiled the Ke'Narian smile. "Visitors from the Federation. In the unknowable name of the Divine One, I greet you to Kenara Prime."
Data began accessing his files. "The last known report on the Ke'Narians from thirty-one years ago stated a Ke'Narian named Benar was the head of worship of a deity known only as the Divine One, I assume you are the same Benar."
The doyen made a slight bow again.
Succoth stepped in. "Many things have changed in the past thirty years, but Doyen Benar has been our counselor and advisor for as long as I can remember."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Doyen," Riker said, imitating the bow he'd seen Succoth make.
"Thank you," the old religious leader said. "I always enjoyed receiving visitors and it's been so long. Please do come in and enjoy some tea with me."
"We'd be honored," Riker said. And the away team and Succoth followed Benar inside. The entry was so low, even Succoth had to duck to get in. Riker was worried for a moment whether Worf would even make it, but the Klingon was used to adapting to environments designed for creatures smaller than he was. He was able to duck low enough to enter the small sitting room.
"Rochella, we have guests," Benar called and a female Ke'Narian, almost as old and gray as he was entered the room from one of the cubbyholes that jutted off the main room. "May I present my sister, Rochella," Benar said.
"I'll prepare some tea," she said and ducked back off into the cubbyhole that Riker took to be the kitchen. The men sat on some awkwardly uncomfortable small chairs around a small table and waited for the refreshments.
The only light coming into the room was from a large window. It illuminated a dull room. Like the main building of the governmental center, it was devoid of artwork and furnishings. But unlike that building, this one seemed to have been designed to be that way.
When Rochella brought out the tea in a golden service set, it lit up the whole sitting area. "As a leader of the followers of the Divine One, I took vows to never mate and to give up my worldly possessions to the service of the Divine One," Benar explained. "But this tea set was passed down to us from our grandmother. It is as much Rochella's as mine. And it does feel better to serve visitors from something beautiful. I'm afraid even after a lifetime of service to the Divine One, I still find myself with the fault of pride.
"So, tell me…" the doyen continued, "What has happened in the rest of the galaxy while the Ke'Nari have sat here trying to solve our own problems."
Data spent the next several hours explaining the Federation/Klingon alliance, the resurgence of Romulan aggression and the new threat of the Borg, among other things. At least it felt like it took hours to Riker and Worf, who felt, the android was going into more detail than was really necessary. But Benar ate it up. Upon hearing about the alliance, he sat back in his seat and was pleased. But his face grew concerned when hearing about the Romulans and the Borg. "I will have to pray about that," he said softly.
Finally, the Kenaran sun dipped below the skyline and the room grew very dark. Rochella retreated once again into a cubbyhole and came forth with a lit golden lamp.
"Another gift from our grandmother," Benar explained, "Another sign of my pride." But he raised his mouth when his sister set the lamp on the small table.
"I'm afraid we really must return to our ship," Riker said rising from his seat stiffly. Data and Worf rose as well. "Thank you for your hospitality, Doyen Benar, Rochella."
The doyen rose and bowed.
Turning to Succoth, Riker said, "Prime Minister, our captain will be in contact again with you in the morning."
"I look forward to it, Commander."
Succoth followed the away team to the entryway, until Benar said, "Succoth, wait, I have something to discuss with you. Marquess came to see me today."
Succoth's tone was suddenly sharp, "I wish you would not call him that, Doyen. His name now is 9430."
The doyen's expression did not change. "Marquess came to see me today," he repeated. "He is despairing and desperate. I'm afraid for him."
"Doyen, I do not wish to discuss this with you, especially in front of our guests," Succoth said. "9430 chose the life he has. No one chose it for him. I am sorry for him, but there is nothing I can do but tell Major Duqaunt to be on the lookout that 9430 may try something desperate."
Benar's eyes grew sad and he shook his head. "I am sorry too."
Succoth turned and went straight out the door, without a farewell to Benar or an offer to escort Riker, Data and Worf back to their shuttle.
The away team bowed again to the leader, stepped outside and looked at each other, puzzled. "What was that about?" Riker wondered out loud.