Captain's Ready Room, The Next Day

"Captain?"

"Come in, Data," Picard called from behind his desk.

Data took a few steps in. "Captain, I have been going over the data that the hacker-"

Picard looked up at his third in command. "Data, I thought I told you to leave that to the Lexington and not pursue it!?"

Data was taken aback by the Captain's outburst. That was the first time Captain Picard had ever yelled at him, and actually meant it. "On the contrary, Captain. You merely told me to brief the Captain of the Lexington. You mentioned nothing of my own investigation."

Picard sighed; Data was right as usual. "I'm sorry. What did you find?"

"I found that the data was 'set up' to be accessed easily with the right codes. In essence, someone engineered the data so that the hacker could access and downloaded the data without ever having to search for it. But, it seems, that for this to occur, someone must have given those codes to who ever accessed our computers. Meaning we may have a spy aboard the ship," Data concluded, looking to Picard for approval.

"That's a little extreme, Data," he warned. And yet he stopped, nervously scratching his neck. "Data, I… I have to tell you something. It may not be something that you want to hear nor agree with, I don't, but I have orders… and I'll need your help."

Riker and Deanna's Quarters

Riker walked slowly into his new quarters, tired from the long day he had had. For a moment, he just looked around, trying again to get his bearings.

His new quarters he shared with Deanna were much larger than his old one and more suitable to raise a child in. The bedroom alone was significantly bigger and connected to the living/dining room. A second room was on the other side, for their daughter when she got bigger.

He turned to his left, walking into the bedroom. There was a queen-sized bed, for both Riker and Deanna to fit comfortably on. There was also a nightstand, dresser, a closet, and all the usual. But there was also an old-fashion, Earth cradle that he had insisted on getting only a week prior.

He walked over to the dresser to where a small, wooden box sat. It wasn't very large, but important enough to him. On the top was a carved picture of a grizzly bear and underneath it was BR carved in. They stood for Betty Riker, his mother.

Slowly, Riker lifted the lid and took out a small, velvet blue box. Bringing it to eye level, he starred at it for a long moment. And, just as he went to open it, he heard the doors open and quickly he put it back in his mother's box.

"Sorry, did I startle you?" Deanna asked as she walked into the room.

"No." He put on a weak smile, but the unsettled look in his eyes betrayed his lie.

She smiled back and walked over to him. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine. Stop worrying about me."

"Pay back," Deanna stated and made him smile; a real smile. Something she had not seen on him for some time.

Bridge, Two Days Later

Data sat rigidly at the science terminal, appearing quite engrossed in whatever it was that he was doing. His fingers were flying over the buttons. And at the same time his eyes scanned the data, his positronic brain able to process it with ease.

Captain Picard stood up from his chair, walking slowly over to him. He placed his hand on the chair while he looked at the words flying over the screen with tremendous speed.

"How's your… research coming, Data?" asked Picard.

Data stopped for a moment and looked at his Captain, "Slowly, Captain. It will take me more time than anticipated to complete."

Picard nodded, disappointment written over his face. "At least have it done before we leave Earth."

"Aye, sir." With that, Data turned back to the screen and began to process the information at an inhuman speed. Picard just shook his head and walked away.

Riker and Deanna's Quarters

Riker sat on the long ledge of the window in his living room. Not surprisingly, though, he was thinking…

He was walking, or rather limping, down a long corridor. The entire place was dark and he could barely see.

He was strapped down to a straight table about to have the chip removed. His head was strapped down to the table. He couldn't move. Couldn't see though he could hear the doctors as they prepared for the surgery.

He had thought long and hard about everything that had happened. He did not fear Curz or Imrah nor was he traumatized but what happened to him. But he felt almost as if he was trapped in his memories of it. It was like he was forgetting something important. Something he knew was still locked up in his mind.

Riker respected Imrah and Curz's positions, just as he somewhat respected what they were trying to do. He also understood that the promise he had made to them to keep their 'cause' and their identities a secret would have to be honored.

But it's not like he would lose any sleep over the decision. So why was he? Maybe it was the way he was going about it? The fact that he had to outright lie to his commanding officer and Captain, his friends…his Imzadi.

Riker ran a hand through his unkempt hair and found his fingers wandering back to the temple in which the EGM had implanted their chip. The chip that caused all this. He could feel the slight scar that had formed over it.

There had been rare moments when Riker had thought to the extreme of returning and killing them all for making his life such a living hell. But then he remembered, without them, he probably would still be dancing around his relationship with Deanna. He wouldn't be expecting a daughter in a matter of months. And, in a way, he guessed that he owed them.

But that didn't make everything else he had been put through fair…

Geordie's Quarters, The Next Mourning

Sleep was not something that came easy to Geordie any more. It used to be from the throbbing headaches. But now it was a combination of the old headaches and the strange dream he had been having every night. And, even though he couldn't remember it, it left him feeling unsettled when he woke.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the nameless face that continued to fill his dreams. And, when he woke, he could barely remember what he looked like at all. Nor what he was saying to Geordie, and, for some reason, he thought…no felt, that it was something important.

But as hard as he tried, nothing came of it.

He sighed, rubbing his face as he laid there, waiting for sleep to finally take him.

Captain's Ready Room, The Next Day

"Captain, here is the report you wanted covering the past week," Data informed Picard as he handed over a PADD.

Picard looked down at it and said, "Riots?"

"A small riot started yesterday but has not been followed by any others as of yet. Captain, if I may speak freely?"

"Of course."

"Their behavior is irrational and does not seem plausible in this situation," Data told the Captain, his tone without emotion and yet with a childish naiveté about it.

Picard looked out at the stars, thinking and collecting his thoughts a moment. "It does if Starfleet's theory is correct." He looked back at his subordinate. "Data, we have to consider the possibility that they know… or, at least, some do and have relayed it to who ever will listen."

"And why would they still care?"

"Sometimes, Data… hate, anger, and fear are not something that anyone can easily forget or ignore."

Data considered this for a moment. "Hmm, interesting."

"Is that all, Commander?" With Data's nod, he dismissed the android.

Bridge

"Standard orbit, Commander," Picard ordered as they approached Earth.

"Aye, sir."

"Well, Commander. I would assume you and Deanna are taking time off," Picard said, leaning toward Riker.

"Yes, sir. We're going to stay at my father's cabin in Alaska."

"Sounds like fun. You're dismissed then." Riker nodded and stood up, walking away towards the turbolift.