Authors Note:
Here's a short one for now, basically providing no closure whatsoever, and probably just more questions. I really don't think TNG did enough to exploit the world they created when they thought up technologically advanced telepaths, so this just a little glimpse at my interpretation of a cool place they could have taken that.
As usual, if you've got any issues, or really anything to say at all, your comments are much appreciated - a massive thanks to those who've taken the time to do so already, I'm thinking imzadi happy ending... or maybe not?
There are security officers mobilising to point phasers at him, and then as the dust settles, he can see that the Captain is turning to face him with incredulity.
"Commander Riker?"
The officers stand down, the Enterprise bridge quiets as they move back to their stations, and Worf looks away and down to his security panel again.
Will is crying, he hadn't even realised his eyes were stinging - he wants to go back.
"My ready room, now!"
Picard says sternly, agitated clearly by something he cannot himself perceive. But he follows anyway, because something terrible happened the last time he didn't do what he was told.
The Captain does not offer him a seat, but his head is splitting open at the sides, the pain incredibly present still.
"What the HELL did you do?"
Immediately, once he has moved to stand behind his desk, Picard is pointing these questions at him, a kind of anger within the man that Will cannot discern the source of.
"I don't understand?"
He responds, helpless, his hands falling away from his temples.
"You were just beamed directly onto the bridge of my ship, bypassing the shields, the security measures and the entire structure of the starbase in front of us, and the only warning was a generated message alerting of an intruder in the fifth house - I want an explanation!"
"I think I want one too Sir,"
Picard picks up a data pad, tries so hard not to throw one of his fists against the surface of his desk in his outrage.
"Your transport was facilitated by a Betazoid bio-technology that the Federation has no understanding of, it is a form of telepathically triggered transport beam, utilising a kind of neural net, like a shield."
He reads, then pauses, gives in and throws the pad instead against the desk, rounds it to loom closer to Riker, who has moved to stand straighter, his hands clasped behind his back.
"This shield, this neural net, is the same reason you cannot beam directly into the Fifth House, it's sophisticated, personable technology designed to be triggered by the distress of the occupants, it's supposed to be almost impossible to trigger and only works on a short range, so what I want to know, Commander, is just what the hell you did to get yourself shot through space by my ship's Counselor!"
Will tries not to shrink away in fear at the Captain's thinly veiled rage, and he is so confused at all these shifts in emotion around him; a half hour ago he had thought he was a man in love, a quarter and he had thought he was an ocean, 5 minutes and he had thought he would be welcomed with sympathy. He thinks over these events for longer than he can manage, wonders how it was he had never heard of this telepathic technology until now. It makes sense, he supposes, but for Deanna to use it against him with such strength - maybe it is time he stops underestimating what he has done to her.
"I think-"
He cannot organise his words into a sentence, and Picard's eyes turn upon him with expectancy.
"She called me the ocean…"
He looks down at his feet.
"I don't… understand though,"
Will lifts his chin up in one moment of defiance, the denial of his own confusion, the denial of his own blame for whatever pain he has caused her.
"Commander Riker?"
"All due respect Sir, this is a personal matter between Deanna and I, and so it really isn't -"
He is cut off with shocking immediacy by the Captain, whose face has grown in shades of red, the usually calm man becoming closer to the end of a burning tether.
"Commander Riker, when I have concerns regarding the well-being of my senior staff, it is my every right to discuss them with you, especially when I believe it feasible that your actions have brought harm upon one I care for deeply!"
He barks, his voice bordering just beneath an enraged yell, and he comes so close to Will, that it is possible to smell the fear he has inspired in him.
"I don't know what happened between you two before you came aboard my ship, but on my ship it is my responsibility to maintain the equilibrium, which is why I am warning you now, number 1, if you have done anything to harm Counselor Troi, given her current state of fragility, then I will draw you up on reprimand, and you can be damn sure you won't be seeing your own command for a very long time!"
Picards threat is punctuated by a finger he has held up and shaking towards Will, and there is something more to the Captain than simple concern for an officer - he cares for Deanna in a way that is difficult for him to vocalise.
Will swallows down his pride, steps backwards a few feet hastily, finds his back almost at the doors, just before the sensor is triggered for his exit.
"Of course, I'm sorry Sir, if I may be allowed to beam back down to the planet to smooth things over then -"
"No,"
He is decisive, his voice now calmer than before, resolved to something more than his anger.
"The Counselor demonstrated a lot of effort in having you sent away, I think it's time you start respecting her decisions, I will visit her in the morning along with Mr Data,"
Will opens his mouth to object, but Picard is not even looking at him anymore, can't for the sense of distaste that rises in his throat at the sight of him, without even really knowing what he has done. The act, the simple act of Deanna having forced him away - such a gentle woman - is enough to tell him that something dreadful has happened between them.
"You are to remain aboard the Enterprise Commander, you are dismissed,"
He orders, and Will is not quick to leave, but the moment that his body is capable of movement, he is gone, the doors so close behind him that they practically leap to open and spit him back out onto the bridge.
The Captain watches him go, concern creasing his brow over the thought of Deanna, her mind in enough pain that she was able to complete a task they maybe had thought impossible for any telepath, and how she must be burning up on the inside. He has no earthly idea what Will has done to her, but he has never been able to deny the way her eyes change when he is near, as though she is in love, that because of him, she is about 100 years older than she looks.
