"Riker to Lieutenant Jade."

Lieutenant Charles Jade grunted and squeezed his eyelids together tiredly. Who is that? He asked himself.

"Riker to Lieutenant Jade," said the same voice, its tone sharpening a level. Jade began to stir, re-playing the voice in his head. He eyes snapped open in an instant. The room around him was dark and quiet.

Jade looked around nervously. "Captain Riker's voice and my room is dark. I had better be hearing things." He waited.

"Captain Riker to Lieutenant Jade!" the voice shouted.

"Damn it!" Jade whispered sharply. He rolled over in bed and slapped his bedside com panel. "Jade here, sir!" he grunted desperately. "I'm sorry, sir. I...um," he stammered for an excuse. He couldn't say he hadn't set the duty alarm. That was impossible, it was automatically set the moment the officer went to sleep. Jade had secretly bypassed the alarm systems automatic settings and had disabled his alarm unit, confident he could wake himself up and be at his post on time without need for the alarm. For the last week, he had been successful at it. Up until today.

"I..." Jade continued to stammer.

Riker's deep voice spoke sternly but benign. "I don't know how they do things on the Archer, Mr. Jade. But on my ship, you are to be at your post on time. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," Jade responded. "It'll never happen again. I'm on my way. Jade out." No, he thought. It won't. The alarm would have to be returned to normal. Riker was a seasoned officer with years of experience learning from DeSoto and then Picard, the latter being Jade's idol, and probably the best officer in StarFleet. He was a capable commander with a stern will and an almost stubborn command style. But he was an unyielding man of duty, like Picard.

Jade threw back his covers and opened his uniform compartment, heaving the black and gray garment out fo its neat fold. As Jade undressed and slipped into it, his mind also slipped into a garment of thought. Only one.

I hate StarFleet.

Jade speedily walked out of the turbolift, keeping his head down as he walked, all the way until he got to his post. He didn't acknowledge anyone. Not the helmsmen, not science officer Lieutenant Commander Carrie Sanders, who he had a crush on, not Commander Durhop, and not the Captain. A mistake that got him noticed, though he would have been noticed either way, considering he was the last of the bridge crew to show up at his Chief of Security post. Fifteen minutes after he was supposed to.

"Good morning, Mr. Jade," Riker said from his chair. Jade looked up to see Riker staring back at him, a twinkle in his eye, and a tight smile on his face. He almost looks like Picard doing that. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Good morning, Captain," Jade responded. He looked towards the ops console to see if Carrie was listening. She was. He looked back at Captain Riker, very nervous. Why does he have to do this? "Yes, I slept very well last night. Thank you for asking, sir." He stole a glance back at Carrie. She was smiling at him and rolling her eyes. Then she turned back to her console.

"You dream at all last night?" Riker asked in a teasing manner.

"Yes, sir. A lot. It was an eventful night." Jade's mind raced as he concentrated on making sure Carrie wasn't watching, and, at the same time, thinking up of an excuse, or, for lack of a better term, a lie to save his butt from being roasting by Captain Riker. Because sooner or later, he was bound to ask about the–

"Ah," he continued. "So did those dreams prevent your duty alarm from waking you? They shouldn't, but did they?"

Alarm. That stupid alarm Jade had disabled. However, just as he was about to panic at answering the question, the excuse–lie, rather–he had been trying to think of finally came to him.

The Security Chief straightened and talked directly to his Captain. ""No, sir, they did not." He faked concealment. "The alarm didn't go off, sir."

Riker suddenly got serious. "Didn't go off? Lieutenant, they all go off. Their programmed to."

Jade continued his act. So far, he hadn't noticed Counselor Troi the Betazoid, sitting on the bridge staring at him like Riker. "I know sir. But the one where I was...um...the one where I was staying last night...a-and woke this morning, rings on Delta shift," Jade said, looking down to help further the act. "Sir," he finished.

Riker looked confused for a moment, but then his expression changed to one of realization and understanding. "I see." He nodded, looking away for a moment before refocusing on Jade. "You did say the night was...eventful."

Jade smiled wryly and nodded. "Aye, sir."

Riker inhaled and slowly turned his glance from Jade, his gaze falling on his wife, Counselor Troi, who Jade now finally noticed. His alarm escalated upon seeing her, the telepath. Troi returned his gaze with a professional one for only a second before nodding to Captain Riker. Jade and Troi then exchanged glances again. This time, Troi had a much more motherly expression–the kind a mother used when she suspected that her kids were lying.

She knows, Jade thought. He stole another glance at Carrie. She was still looking at her panel, but Jade could see a small crease where the edge of her lips were. She was grinning. She probably knew too.

He exhaled. Maybe she thinks I'm acting cute. Jade stared down at his dull and boring Security panel as his saw her gorgeous, freckled face in his mind. He found himself staring at the back of her head again.

From the helm console came a shrill but innocent pulse. "We're approaching Raldon Prime, Captain," said the helmsman. "Sensors show two Romulan warbirds in stationary orbit, the Val'dur and the Rom'luk. We're five thousand kilometers away from them."

Riker and Troi exchanged glances of recognition. "Take us out of warp, Ensign," Riker ordered. "Put us in stationary orbit next the Romulans, half impulse." He turned to Troi. "At least we know one of them. Put the warbirds on screen, Commander."

"Aye, sir," Carrie Sanders responded. Jade briefly eyed her. She had such a pretty voice, Her fingers danced gracefully on her console. The main viewscreen switched on. The dense red planet Raldon Prime appeared in the background, lit up by flashes of lightning from numerous gas storms. The two warbirds the helmsman–Ensign Ber'tat, a Benzite–had mentioned earlier were shadowing the red planet, unmoving in space.

Ber'tat dropped the Titan out of warp and proceeded on towards the warbirds.

Jade's console beeped, drawing his attention back to it instead of Sanders. "We're being hailed, sir," he reported. "By the Val'dur."

Riker stood up and straightened his uniform. "On screen, Lieutenant."

Jade pressed an orange button on his console. The main viewscreen switched from Raldon Prime to the bridge of the warbird Val'dur. It was a small, round chamber that resembled the bridge of a Sovereign-class Federation starship, like Picard's ship, the Enterprise-ESitting in the center chair on the Romulan bridge was the most beautiful Romulan woman Jade had ever seen. Her face was covered with amazingly pretty features, from the blushes in her smooth cheeks to the fullness of her lips. Like other Romulans, the way she sat demanded order, with her thin body fully upright in the chair. Her jet-black hair was close-cropped on her head militarily, with her side burns ending in V-shaped tips at her earlobes.

The Romulan Commander smiled warmly, her jungle-green eyes bright. "This is–" She suddenly stopped speaking as she laid eyes on Captain Riker, her expression one of delightful surprise. "Commander Riker–Captain Riker." She paused momentarily. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon." She smiled apologetically. "Forgive me, I forgot that StarFleet had given you a command."

Riker grinned. "Believe me, you're not the first to say that, Commander Donatra, even though I did tell you at our dinner aboard the Enterprise."

The Romulan smiled humorously. From outside Jade's eyesight came the noise of someone clearing their throat in a manner that said "get on with it!" Commander Donatra acknowledged the alleged person and then focused back on Captain Riker, her expression completely neutral. "Captain Riker, may I introduce you to Thanor Talpoldar, Praetor of the Romulan Imperial Senate."

At the same time that she was speaking, Praetor Talpoldar stepped forward onto the viewscreen. He was a tall, intimidating man with a muscular physique. His face was round and undeniably thin; his cheek bones were somewhat visible through his skin. The icy-blue eyes were cold and held an unbreakable stare that Jade had a harm time looking at. His nose was V-shaped like his and Donatra's sideburn tips. The graying man's stature was one that demanded respect and worship. Gray and green Praetor robes were draped in levels around his body, touching the metal bridge deck beneath his feet.

Riker bowed his head in respect. "Greetings Praetor. On behalf of StarFleet, I greet you as a friend and ally."

Talpoldar bowed his head in return. "Thank you, Captain Riker. On behalf of the Romulan Empire, I greet you as a friend and ally. I also graciously thank you and Captain Picard for your assistance in the defeat of Schinzon. You fought valiantly, and for a Empire that, at the time, resented you. You and Captain Picard have earned the respect the gratitude of the Romulan Empire."

Jade almost snickered. Boy, That sounded sincere.

But if Riker noticed the same thing Jade had, he didn't let on to it. "Thank you Praetor Talpoldar. But Lieutenant Commander Data deserves a majority of that thanks. He gave his life to protect both the Federation and the Romulan Empire. I served with him. He was one of the finest officer's in the Federation."

"Yes," Talpoldar responded blandly. "The Empire will never forget Commander Data's sacrifice. He was a noble man. Our hearts go out to all of StarFleet for your loss."

Riker bowed his head again in thanks.

Talpoldar took a step forward and clasped his hands behind his back. "Pardon my asking, Captain, but where are President Bacco and Ambassador Spock?"

Riker's entire face tightened to a professional look as he answered. "Yes, I know. My apologies, Praetor. I called them to the bridge nearly ten minutes ago. I don't know why they're not up here yet."

As if on cue, the aft turbolift doors swished open. One Vulcan man and a human woman rushed onto the bridge, their ceremonial robes whipping behind them. Riker twisted, somewhat surprised and relieved. He immediately turned back to Talpoldar. "Speak of the devils," he joked. He then cleared his throat as the two alien flanked him. "Praetor Talpoldar, may I introduce you to Nanietta Bacco, recently elected President of the United Federation of Planets, and her aide in these negotiations, Ambassador Spock of Vulcan."

The two Federation delegates bowed their heads.

Talpoldar returned the gesture. "Greetings Madam President. On behalf of the Romulan Empire, I welcome you to these negotiations. I hope to put an end to our years of aggression of resentment."

Bacco smiled warmly at him. "Greetings Praetor. On behalf of the United Federation of Planet's, I humbly accept your welcome. I too hope to end all those years of aggression and resentment. And my most humble apologies for our being late to this greeting." She spoke to Riker. "Captain, I believe the alarm system on board this ship is malfunctioning. Mine did not wake me when I programmed it to. Nor did Ambassador Spocks."

Jade's eyes widened and he looked down momentarily. He thought he had only turned his off.

"I'm sorry, Madam President," Riker apologized. "I'll have my Chief Engineer look into it as soon as we're finished here."

"Please do, Captain," Bacco responded.

Jade looked around the bridge, nervously. His eyes locked with Counselor Troi's, who gave him an icy and all-knowing look. Jade acknowledged her with a slight smile, then forced his eyes away from her. The Captain was looking at the viewscreen.

Talpoldar took another step forward on the Romulan bridge. "Madam President, we would be honored if you and Ambassador Spock will dine with us here this evening on the Val'dur. I understand from Commander Donatra that the chefs here are preparing a delightful meal for us tonight."

"We would be honored, Praetor," Bacco responded.

Talpoldar nodded. His eyes darted over to the human. "Captain Riker, you are also invited to attend. You may bring a companion for the evening if you choose."

Riker smiled. "I'd be delighted, Praetor."

Talpoldar nodded again. "Good." He gestured to the woman directly behind him. "Commander Donatra will inform you of the dinner time." He re-clasped his hands in front of him now. "Until dinner, Madam President, Ambassador, Captain. Talpoldar out." The screen went blank.

Jade now decided whether he should speak and risk attracting attention to himself about that alarm system, or just keep quiet and see if he wouldn't be noticed. The President and Ambassador Spock looked like they would keep him busy. But what about Counselor Troi? He decided to take a chance.

"Permission to speak freely, Captain?" he called to Riker.

All eyes, including both Troi's and Sanders, turned to him.

"Permission granted, Lieutenant," Riker said cautiously.

Jade jabbed his index finger at the viewscreen. "Did anyone else notice that he didn't smile throughout that entire conversation?"

Captain Riker stuck out his chin, and Jade thought he was about to get lectured. But then one corner of his mouth twisted into a smirk. "You're very observant Mr. Jade." He paused momentarily. "And out of place to say something like that about the leader of an Empire. It's an attitude like that that might land you on another ship."

Jade swallowed and nodded curtly. "Aye, sir. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Okay, that didn't work so well.

"Good." Riker turned to his wife. "So what did you get from him?"

Troi sat up straight and sighed thoughtfully. "Well, he's very by-the-book, needless to say. But I also sensed some form of uneasiness, almost to the point of resentment."

President Bacco nodded. "He definently sees us as untrustworthy."

Ambassador Spock clasped his hands in front of him, similar to the gesture Talpoldar had done several times during the conversation. "A logical assumption, Madam President. But I believe that it my presence here as a Vulcan is the primary cause to Praetor Talpoldar's uneasiness. Would you not agree, Counselor Troi?" He gazed over at her.

Bacco frowned at him. "Nonsense, Ambassador Spock," she said before Troi could respond. "You and your people are one of the founding members of the Federation. If the Romulans and the Federation are to sign a peace treaty, then they must learn to respect the Vulcans as an ally. It is the only way we can achieve a strong and steady peace."

True, true, Jade thought. Unlikely to happen, but true.

Spock frowned. "Wise words Madam President, but a false hope, I am afraid. Vulcans and Romulans have been natural enemies for nearly five centuries. Forcing us and them to suddenly become allies would be highly illogical and ill-advised. The issue could dismantle these entire negotiations. I request that I not be included."

Bacco stood confidently, reminding Jade of Captain Picard. "Did racial issues stop the Klingon's and the Federation from achieving peace?" She paused. "Did they stop the Vulcans and the Andorians from becoming allies? Ambassador, every species in this galaxy has its problems with each other. That is inevitable. What matters is that at one point we are able to go past our differences. And stand alongside each other as friends. That is the goal of everything the Federation stands for and defends. The Klingons and the Federation have achieved that goal. Now it's the Romulan's time."

Spock considered this for a moment.

Jade stared at the President with skepticism. He, too, wanted to see peace with the Romulans, but he knew it would never happen. They were too unpredictable, too untrustworthy. No! Jade scolded himself. That's not what Captain Picard would believe if he were here. He would have hope. Even the Romulans deserve hope. Jade scolded himself again. That was a racist statement.

"A inspirational message, Madam President," Spock finally said. "But I am still skeptical." He paused. "Nevertheless, peace cannot be ignored when it presents itself."

Bacco smiled very warmly.

As did Captain Riker. "A logical statement, Your Excellency." His smile widened. "Excuse me, Madam President, Ambassador." He twisted slightly to the opposite of them, and tapped his combadge. "Riker to Bewwing."

As the Captain gave the Chief Engineer an order to run a diagnostic on the alarm system, Jade stole a quick glance at both Counselor Troi and Carrie Sanders. The Counselor gave him the icy, all-knowing look again, and Carrie just smiled innocently at him. He grinned playfully at his crush. Boy, did I screw this up, he thought at the same time.