Author's Note: I know this chapter is kind of short and weird, but it ties the last chapter with the next one. And I promise the next one is longer.

Summary: When Riker reaches his last straw, what will he do? And will he ever get out of there?

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Chapter 5:

Life's Strangest Questions

Riker had been sitting there for hours, just thinking about everything that had happened. He thought of the Weti'c, the Minbari, the ceremony, his capture, Sebastian, Deanna, his family, Starfleet, destiny, and… and what he had to live for. He couldn't think of anything.

Just as he was about to give up and go to sleep, the doors slid open and Riker knew it was Sebastian, with his lectures and stupid questions, coming without looking. He turned around and saw the bright, white light in the hall outside the door. But what really caught his eye was a sign on the wall. Blok Cabora, was written on it and before he could study it any further, the doors closed and Sebastian walked up to him.

"So, Commander, did you think about my question?" He asked with his same sickeningly playful voice. Riker just glared at him. "So, I take that as a yes. What did you come up with?" Again, Riker just glared at him. Sebastian was obviously getting very irritated, going at this for this long and not getting anywhere.

"I'll ask one more time, what do you have to live for?" Sebastian was clearly trying very hard to keep his cool, but losing it by the second. "Not family, not Starfleet, not love, not fear, not anger, not disappointment, not sadness, not joy, not destiny, so what is it? I want to know, Commander!" This time Sebastian got right into his face and was practically yelling at him, while talking a mile a minute.

Riker, on the other hand, was still perfectly calm and skeptically said, "Why should I tell you?"

"Because, Commander, it's the only thing that's between you and there!" He screamed, making a gesture towards the door. "That's way!"

"Why should I trust you?" Riker said, again perfectly calm.

"Why shouldn't you!?! Besides you might as well tell me!" Sebastian's anger and frustration was higher than ever now.

Suddenly, a grin grew across his face and before Riker knew what was happening, Sebastian had punched him square in the face. When Riker felt the blow he instantly remembered how sore his body was, but put that aside for now. Now he was real mad with Sebastian. First capturing him, torturing him, then asking him the stupidest question, and now punching him.

"FINE! You know what, Sebastian, I have nothing to live for! Nothing at all! Is that what you wanted to hear! I messed up my relationship with Deanna because of some stupid decision, my Starfleet career means almost nothing to me now, and my family's nothing to be proud of! Is that good enough for you!?!" Riker exploded at him, but all Sebastian could do was grin ever wider.

Abruptly, his smile vanished and he looked a bit confused. "Then why try so hard to live? What's the point of living if you have none of those?" Sebastian asked with only true curiosity and sincerity in his voice.

Riker was a bit taken aback, but really thought about it before asking it. His tone softened as he said, "Because maybe, one day, my career might mean something more to me or maybe someday Deanna and I will get back together or maybe even someday I'll truly forgive my father and except my mom's death. I don't know, my life might get better, it might get worse. I don't know. And, I think, that's why we humans try so hard, because of the unknown facts and things in our lives. "

Sebastian still looked a little confused, but gave a nod of some understanding. He swiftly stood and walked out the door without another word. This time, it was Sebastian who had the thinking to do.

**A few hours later**

Riker was sitting and waiting. For what he didn't know, Sebastian to return, to be told to leave, to be tortured, to be killed, he didn't know. He heard the familiar hiss of the door and the white light shine into the room. Three men, dressed like Sebastian, all in black and with that same mark on their foreheads. Two men grabbed his arms and pulled him up, while the third man injected him with something. The room around him grew darker, if possible, and the men faded away as he was captured in the darkness.

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Where are the men taking him? What did they inject him with?

Sooooooo, how is it? Ya like so far? R/R I love hearing comments and ideas.