Chapter 5: "No Two Ways"

"Come."

Riker's quarter doors slide open; Inara steps in slowly. She looks around. The lights are dim, some soft jazz plays in the background, and candles are lit about. Scented candles she noted.

"I see you have something in mind," she says.

"Well," says Kaylee, "it's just…" she looks at Geordi whom sits across from her in ten-forward.

"What's on your mind?" he asks.

"My mind? What would make you think I have anything on my mind? Says Riker coyly.

"Um hum…" she looks around and sees some carefully prepared food.

"You know, I thought we might be doing something different, is all," replies Kaylee.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Geordi asks in a tone not quite understanding.

"Well, you've made quite a special effort and set a mood; I'm not sure you know what you're doing," replies Inara.

"I thought maybe we'd go back to my quarters," Kaylee plays with her hair, "and do some … special wiring."

"Hold on…" says Geordi.

"Now hold on – I don't intend to just use you for my convenience, I thought there was a legitimate spark between us. My intentions are honorable," says Riker.

"Look, you're a pretty girl, and I like you, but-"

"But what?" asks Kaylee.

"Some men have a good time just going from one woman to the next, but I look for something a little deeper."

"Commander-" Inara is interrupted.

"Please, call me Will."

"Commander, perhaps you've gotten lost in my beauty."

"I don't understand."

"The diners', the flowers, the dress. I've seen a lot of things here, but you know what I haven't seen?" asks Inara.

"What?" asks Riker.

"A lot of intelligence on your part. Commander, I am a registered companion; I don't know what you thought was to happen here, but you've miscalculated. I provide a service – that's all, and I can't be bribed or bought. Maybe this works for all your other girls, but I … I'm of a higher class. Good evening," and with that she turns and exits Riker's quarters.

Picard stands in front of the brig holding the two blue-gloved men.

"I am captain Jean-Luc Picard, commander of this vessel. Why have you killed a member of my crew?"

"We were-"

"-locked up," the other completes the sentence.

"And for good reason; you attacked a vessel in Federation space, one which bares no weaponry."

"We do not recognize-"

"-Federation authority."

"You may not recognize it, but you must abide by it's laws when transversing our space, and I find it hard to believe you could venture this far in, and with such limited propulsionary technology, and not know of the Federation's existence.

So, because of all of this, you felt it necessary to murder one of my crew?"

"River and Simon Tam are bound-"

"-by Alliance law; you must relinquish them to us."

"No…" shakes his head while eying them, "no, I don't think so. Their captain has requested asylum and quite frankly, from this vantage point, your motives are suspicious."

"They belong to us," says one of the blue-gloved men.

"Then your government can contact me personally; I will be more than happy to hail them on a subspace channel. Until then they stay under my protection. You can contemplate that for the remainder of your stay."

Picard exits the brig at a normal pace, not giving the men a second look.

The doorbell to Troi's quarters sounds.

"Come in."

Mal comes in; he looks around before approaching Troi, who is pruning a bonsai tree.

"Counselor."

"Captain Reynolds. Can I help you with something?"

"I think I'm crazy. At least – that's what my crew tells me."

"Obviously they know something you don't."

"The session thus far has been oddly unhelpful.

Bonsai tree, huh? I had one of those when I was a kid. Mine always came out strangely looking like a bush."

"I'm learning, something I got from Doctor Crusher. Did you need my help, or were you just here for a visit?"

"I read from the computer that you're a telepath. So, can you read minds?"

"Sort of; my mother was Betazoid and my father human. I only got half the genetic trait. I can sense emotions, feel them."

"Are these meetings confidential?"

"Always. Nothing said here will be repeated to anybody. What's said here, stays here."

"Good. What I needed to hear. I just wanted to you to access tye state of my crew's minds."

"I've personally introduced myself to each one."

"You get around."

"Fast lifts."

"Um. Zoey and Wash – how are they?"

"Intimate. A little excited about the prospect of staying here. Except Zoey ... she feels the fight wasn't over, at least that's what I feel."

"Expected. I won't bother asking about the shepherd, he takes things in stride, and I already conversed with Kaylee, so … Jayne?"

"Jayne seems to feel comfortable; also feels like there's nothing to do."

"Funny, I would have said violence or grenades … oh well. What about-"

"Inara?"

"No! of course not. She's not even part of my crew. But if you happen to be feeling her, I wouldn't be adverse to knowin'."

"Ah huh, you can hide from everyone but me, captain. Greater captains have tried. But that's not completely why you are here, is it?"

Mal just stares out fro a moment, then looks down and away from Troi. He starts to turn about.

"Captain, there's no need for that here. I know that you're hurting, but I'm not sure why."

"Frankly, I'm not sure myself. Counselor … things have been going real bad. I can't feed my people or fill up ship's gas tank. I've even gone without food a few times, breaking it up or giving it wholly to Kaylee. And it's just at times that…" he trails off and sort of bites his bottom lip and she sees tears forming in his eyes.

She walks over and places a hand on one of his arms, "You feel what?"

"Counselor tell me – what does it feel like to be losing one's mind? 'Cause I feel like I'm starting to lose whatever it is that makes me me. Can you tell me – am I going to flip out?"

"I think you're near an edge and that if you don't learn to calm yourself down, you might have a psychotic episode. Though I think it's far more likely to be a stroke."

"Things aren't going to get better; the Alliance will just keep on encroaching in until we're just fenced in for the slaughter. Your captain has to let us stay here."

"Mr. Reynolds, there's something I have to tell you…"

The doorbell sounds. She looks at the door, "Come in."

Picard walks in at a brisk pace; obviously with something in mind. He doesn't bother to stand in front of Mal, instead letting the captain face him.

"You lied. To me."

"About?" asks Mal.

"I've just been informed by the prisoners that you harbor a fugitive from their government, the Tams'."

"That's correct good sir. But while some may argue there is never a good reason to lie, I feel I was justified."

"How so?" asks Picard, still hard-fast.

"They cut into that poor girl's brain," points at the doorway, "and left her damn near bonkers. Now I'm sorry if that's not excuse enough for ya, but the Alliance might have killed her had they kept their clutches on her any longer. Now, she may not be mine, but I'll be damned if I let the Alliance commit another atrocity just because they're in power."

"You could have informed me-"

"Of what? We didn't know who was chasing us until the sick by incident."

"While that may be, you could have informed me you were in potential danger, and my men would have the two under tighter security, thus avoiding the death – the unneeded death – of a crew member."

"Didn't know which side you were on until out little chat and by then it didn't seem like the thing to bother you about."

"What you think is irrelevant when it comes to the safety and care of my people. In danger yours all you want-"

"Already done," Mal quips.

Picard picks back up quickly, not loosing the tone, "But do not presume to know what's best on my vessel."

"We'll disembark. But captain, I kindly ask that this doesn't affect any decision to let us remain in your sky."

"I'm afraid you cannot stay."

"This isn't just about your people now, at least reconsider what you do to mine," says Mal.

"This has nothing to do with my personal feelings toward you or your crew. The reality you exist in doesn't mix with our own. You cannot exist within our own."

"Like oil and water."

"Yes, except that when that rift closes, you will all cease to exist. Now, for the remainder of your stay you are your crew are welcomed to continue to stay onboard as guests, but I expect no further trouble or you will all be placed into custody and removed from my ship."

"Fair is fair," and Mal walks to the door.

"Malcolm," Troi says aloud to him. He does not answer.

Picard taps his badge, "Data."

"Yes, sir."

"How much longer until the rift closes?"

"Approximately six hours," his voice comes back over the comm.

"Notify me an hour till."

"Ay, sir."

"Don't look at me like that, counselor; I gave them chances to come forth. Riker informed me yesterday and I spoke to the detainees myself for verification. But I shouldn't have had to do any of that."

Troi just looks at him.

Simon watches Beverly as she loads something into a hypospray.

"This will repress the memory synapses in the hippocampus; until it clears her system, she'll be unable to recall long tern memories. She'll still know who she is and certain hard-wired facts, but not much beyond that. This will give her a few days of normalized behavior and might also inhibit her psychic abilities."

"What do you think, River? Do you want to take this?" asks Simon.

She looks at Beverly, "She loves the captain."

Beverly clears her throat.

"She means 'yes', I'm sure," and gives River a kiss on her head.

Beverly presses the hypospray to River's right arm, "this won't hurt a bit; just a quick jet of air."

"There's no air in space…" says River.

"Un hum," and inject River.

"…or bunnies."

"Will I be able to make this myself?" asks Simon.

"I'll have toe check the computer to see if this formula is permitted for distribution, but I do know it's not easy to replicate; you may be unable to do so on your vessel."

"Thanks anyway. It's no good as a long-tern solution if she can't recall her passed life though."

"If there was just more time, I'm sure I could run some tests and scans and be able to reverse or repair the damage done to her brain."

"There's not much time left…" River trails off while looking across the room.

Simon, off to her side, "I know, I talked to captain Picard."

River continues to stare out; beginning to feel the affects of the sedative.