Sickbay

"How is the insomnia and morning sickness?" Beverly asked, looking at the results of the scans she had taken.

"It's getting better."

"And your strange dreams?"

"I have them once in while."

Crusher nodded and took a quick scan of Deanna's head. Her brow creased and she muttered something along the lines of, "This can't be right."

"What? What's wrong?" Deanna asked, worried about what Beverly had found.

"Nothing, it's just… these readings are something I want to take a closer look."

"Okay, can I go then?"

"Yeah." Deanna stood up, glancing at Beverly before turning toward the door. She gasped, stopped by a sudden pain in her abdomen. "What is it?"

Deanna put a hand to her stomach. "I think the baby's kicking," She replied with a smile.

Beverly smiled too, walking up to her. "May I?" Deanna nodded and Beverly put her hand up to her stomach, smiling wider as she felt the baby kicking.

Ketrel

Sometime later the first of the delegates arrived: the Cadda. Both males were eerily pale, the darkness of their black hair only serving to deepen it. Only the sharp, bright blue stood out on their dull faces.

Both males walked in slowly, their movements agile and suspicious. Their bodies were trim and muscular- made for speed and agility- as seen under their tight cat suits, the material thick as if to protect them from energy based weapons.

They made their way to the table, casting furtive looks about them, as they sank into their seats.

Only a few minutes later, the Fruma delegates arrived. They, unlike the Cadda, were both female. Their heads were shaven, displaying their light blue skin fully, enhanced by the blue eyes they possessed as well. The clothing they wore seemed more ritualistic robes, close to that of the Vulcan's, than the uniforms worn by the others.

Riker watched them as they approached the table, seeing their graceful movements and poise. Very much like many Betazoids he had meet- the one in his company included.

No words were spoken as this took place, a ritual agreed on and used by the three races. No words or greetings were to be used until all showed. And so they said nothing and did nothing but wait patiently for the last two to arrive.

And they did, five minutes later. A male and female walked in from the dark corridor. Riker looked up to see the Nilaains, startling him with their familiarity. And yet, no one but the Federation diplomats had ever seen them before.

He looked them over, taking in their golden, bronze skin and dark black hair. Their eyes were crystal blue, seemingly glowing in the darkness of the chamber. They too wore more protective clothing, thick and yet comfortable to wear.

He noticed as well that the female was pregnant, the male hovering over her as if protecting her and the child. Riker assumed he was the father, or at least a close friend.

Finally, once they were seated, Lwaxana rose, bowing to them all. "I am Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House, holder of the sacred Chalice of Rixx, heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed, and Federation Ambassador from Betazed."

T'Pic stood once Lwaxana sat back down, briefly introducing himself, Ken following suit.

Next, the two Cadda stood and introduced themselves as Derik and Fakhr. After them, the female Fruma introduced each other as Teah and Riegla. Last was the Nilaains, who introduced each other as Scartin and Trinia.

With that down, they all sat back down, beginning their debate.

Crusher's Office

Beverly stood, pacing her office, as she waited for the computer to finish a search. She could remember vaguely seeing the same scan somewhere, identical to the readings she had took of Deanna. She just couldn't remember when… or who.

The computer beamed at her, informing her that it had found one match. She spun the screen around so that she could see it from where she stood. According to her records, she had found a similar reading from Geordie a month ago. He presented with symptoms similar to Deanna's: insomnia and strange dreams. But his main reason for being there had been his persistence headaches, which Deanna had never mentioned.

Only a moment ago she had thought she was making something of nothing, but now she wasn't so sure. The readings were very strange, showing anomalous brain activity which could have caused their symptoms but she had no idea what would be causing the bizarre activity.

She just starred at the readings a moment, thinking about what she saw. Finally, her names came to rest on the two patient names: Troi, Deanna and LaForge, Geordie. 'Just add Riker, William to that list and it would be complete,' she thought.

For the past two months, those three had all experienced similar symptoms- even Riker had the strange dreams and insomnia at one point. But he too had never experience the headaches Geordie complained of.

Whatever was going on with the three of them, she would bet her life that it had something to do with the Hytor Settlement and whatever happened down there. But, whatever had happened, she was more concerned with how to fix it than what it was.

Ketrel

Riker sighed, dropping down in one of the representative's chairs. For the past few hours, the entire table had been filled with arguments and shouting- the echoing of the chamber had made for some interesting moments of confusion. Lwaxana had finally gotten tired of their incessant bantering and called a recess.

He looked up as the others grabbed some food and drink, but he wasn't hungry. All he could think of was Deanna and how far she seemed, even if she was just in orbit around the planet. It still felt like an eternity to get back to her.

He looked to his side, watching as one of the Nilaains- Scartin he wanted to say- sat next to him. Riker had to admit that the man was a talented diplomat, able to argue some good points. What little Riker had listened to, he had always been able to hear the man's voice talking over that of the others.

"So, how are you doing?" Riker asked, looking over at the tired man.

"All right. You?"

"A little bored, no offensive." The Nilaain raised eyebrow teasingly, Riker just shrugging and looking away a moment. "Oh, Commander Riker, by the way."

"Scartin of the Nilaain."

He nodded, resting reaching a hand out to the man in greeting. Instead, he changed the subject, hoping to rest on something neutral. "So, is she your wife?" Scartin followed his hand to see Trinia speaking quietly with T'Pic. But, when he looked back, his expression was blank. "Oh, married? You know, together? Bonded? Mates?"

Scartin nodded with the last word. "Yes, yes we are. You? Do you have a mate?"

Riker grinned, chuckling at the oddity of his words. "Yeah, as pregnant and cranky as yours."

Scartin laughed along with Riker, nodding his agreement. "You are right about that. They say it's so terrible for them with all the hormones but it's the males who have to deal with it."

"Oh, yeah. I mean, I don't mind taking care of her and dealing with it all, but…" Riker just shook his head, leaving Scartin to piece the rest together.

"What's your mate's name?"

"Deanna, Deanna Troi."

"Like Ambassador Troi?"

Riker's smirk spread. "Like Ambassador Troi's daughter."

Holodeck

After some time of tinkering with the data storage device, the holodeck flickered, once again changing from the black and yellow grid to the lush, tropical setting on Hytor Settlement.

In front of them was a large field just outside the village, covered well by the canopy of leaves. The two looked around themselves, at first not able to see anyone around. Then, after a moment, a large gaggle of boys and girls- all in their teenage years- walked out into the field, talking and laughing amongst themselves.

Between them, they cared a variety of things, eight of the children carrying rectangular mats that each placed in their specific spots. Another held a long cylinder, taking it with him as he stepped up to one of the mats. A second boy walked to the center of the square the mats created, his hands gripping a ball made from the fallen leaves off the trees.

As the rest of the children began to pair themselves off- nine of them running out next to the mats and farther behind the square as the other nine sat off to the side- the boy with the stick walked up to a mat just opposite where the other boy stood.

Suddenly, the boy in the middle threw the ball he was holding, the other boy hitting it with the cylinder, sending it flying over the square. He dropped the cylinder, running to the next mat as the others ran after the ball.

The image flickered, dissipating as the room returned to its normal black and yellow grid.

"They appeared to be playing a game. One similar to a game played on Earth until the late twenty-second century called baseball," Data rambled on.

"Yeah." Geordie sighed, not really listening. Just as the scene before, the game had seemed so familiar and yet he couldn't remember ever even seeing a baseball game in his life. It was like remembering a dream- not quite able to grasp what happened but knowing enough to say you had one.

"Hey, Data… maybe we should call it quits for the day. It's getting late."

"That is a wise suggestion, Geordie."