Chapter 2

Picard finished listening to Data's report. "Thank you Mr Data. Mr Worf, Commander Riker did not board the Enterprise with the rest of the landing party. Hail him; see if you regain contact so we can beam him aboard."

Sitting forward in his chair in the centre of the bridge Picard turned so he could catch the security Chief's eye, nodding once, not wanting to voice out loud the seriousness of losing unexpected contact with a member of a landing party coupled with their a seeming inability to bring him back to the ship.

"Yes Sir." Worf agreed, returning the curt nod, already busy with his console.

Satisfied for the moment, Picard sat back and looked sourly at the view of the planet below as offered by the main view screen. The blue green world of RK2579 seemed unremarkable. Although boasting an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere able to support carbon life, it had never been explored or settled by the Federation and was still classed as a Db3 planet, which meant it that any inhabitants were not yet likely to have developed space travel.

"Ensign, confirm that we are holding a geostationary orbit with the planet below." Picard told the crewman seated at Conn.

Making a few minor adjustments, the Ensign nodded. "Our orbit remains unchanged Captain. We are holding at 38,000 km out from the planet's surface sir."

"Thank you Mr Hobbs. Lt Wright, have there been any significant changes in the anomaly that first attracted our attention?" Picard asked the officer staffing Opps in Data's absence.

"No Captain. It's remaining steady at 9 million parsecs."

Picard drew a breath, nothing appeared to be wrong, but intuition was making him feel less than happy with the answers. He was unable to put his finger on it, but couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something. With a sigh, he turned to Troi, knowing that the ships Councillor would have sensed his unease anyway.

"Deanna?" Picard asked softly, she was sitting next to him on his left hand side as usual. Her insight and empathic abilities were always a valuable asset in any unexpected situation.

Picard's unease mirrored her own. Seated beside the Captain, the Betazoid shook her head. "I have nothing to offer you Captain. Like you, I feel… ill at ease… However I don't have any direct sense that Commander Riker has been harmed, but I am able to sense anything from the planet at all. Not much use I know, but that's all I have, at this moment in time," she said softly.

"As you say Councillor, not much help, but thank you for trying."

A tense silence reigned on the bridge for several minutes, before the Chief of Security chose to break it. "Captain I am unable to reach Commander Riker," Worf announced formally after trying to reach the First Officer for several minutes. "Nor can I pinpoint either his whereabouts or that of his combadge. The combadge appears to have stopped transmitting. That being the case, I took the liberty to run a sensor sweep of the immediate area to no avail. I specifically searched for trace elements of the composite alloys the device, such as one would expect to find if it had been destroyed. There was none.

"However there are several heat signatures of bipedal humanoids in the area. My initial long range scan show that they share common DNA traits that are a 98.2% match to Earth Humans, although their body temperature is somewhat cooler than normal and they appear to be much less technically advanced."

"Thank you Lt Commander," Picard said with a nod. "You're sure certain there is no sign of the Commander or his combadge?"

"Yes Captain I am quite certain. I ran the scan three times just to make sure. Given my findings there is no indications that Commander Riker is on the planet."

"So the Commander is gone, but we are now picking up signs of humanoids?" Picard said turning back to Opps. "Correct me if I am wrong, Mr Wright but there was no life signs in the area when the life capsule crashed?"

The Lieutenant quickly scrolled through the information available to him from his station, since he hadn't been the officer on duty at the time. "You are correct Captain; there are no records of any life signs."

"Yet they are there now," Worf, added. "And the life pod did crash into one of their buildings. Despite the fact that initial scans indicated the building was empty at the time, the inhabitants could have perceived it's destruction as a hostile act and have taken Commander Riker hostage as a result?"

"Yes indeed. Thank you Mr Worf." Picard looked thoughtfully staring at the main view screen for several moments acknowledging the likelihood, turning over events in his mind, before he stood and pulled down his tunic. "Something doesn't feel right here, the natives, and anomaly notwithstanding. The Away Team made no mention of seeing anyone other the occupant of the life pod."

"Sir, scans of the area are now showing two groups of natives. The largest concentration of six or seven individuals are gathered around the crash site, with a smaller group some 500 metres to the west of that position. Judging from their heat signatures, maybe two or three individuals."

"Their leaders?" Picard hazarded, and then huffed to himself. "No, this is useless, speculation will get us nowhere." Tapping his combadge, the Captain drew a breath. "Picard to Data, meet me in my Ready Room at your convenience. Lt Commander La Forge please join us too. Mr Worf you're with me, Lt Capstone you have the conn." Picard said walking briskly towards his office just off the main bridge, not waiting to hear acknowledgments or seeing his instructions carried out.

Gathering himself up a cup of tea, using the time it gave him to ponder still further, Jean-Luc Picard sat down behind his desk, Worf coming to attention beside him. Data and Geordi arrived a moment later.

"Gentlemen, for the moment Commander Riker's whereabouts remain unknown," the Captain said succinctly. "Mr Data how is the science division getting on in their examination of the anomaly?"

"I have not yet received a full update Captain, but I believe much of the information has changed little from when I left as part of the initial Landing Party. We have now determined that the anomaly is of unknown origin; formed of particles and matter not of a type we have encountered before. Its waveform and electrical resonance pattern are not behaving in a correct manner as describe by Newton's Law 68th Edition. The magnetic quality of the boson particles are decidedly off vector and are also not of a pattern that we have thus far seen. Additionally the Delta, Blue, and Black light properties are microns off their expected core spectrums. I estimate that the science team will have a preliminary report ready for you in two point 76 hours."

"Under the present circumstances Mr Data, you need to make it sooner," Picard said firmly. "I need their preliminary report on my desk within the hour."

Data opened his mouth to suggest that the task was impossible, but the look Picard gave him changed his mind. He nodded briefly. "As you wish Captain," he agreed.

With a nod, Picard turned to Geordi. "Mr La Forge, I realise that, like Commander Data you have only just returned to the ship, but I presume you have already begun to run a diagnostic on Transporter Room One?"

"Yes Captain. As you are aware, a full level one diagnostic will take an Engineering team several hours to complete, and take Transporter Room One effectively off line, while it's completely stripped down and put back together again. We were fortunate that Lt Marksham was on duty when we returned, as she was quick to understand what had happened and was just completing a standard system check when I left the transporter room. There was nothing to indicate a serious malfunction."

"I see. You didn't feel or experience anything different when you beamed back up? Either of you?"

"No Captain."

"No Sir."

"There was no sense of displacement, of something being a little off or not quite right?"

"Not at all Captain," Data responded firmly.

Picard breathed out heavily, weighting his words with care. "Good, because I need to be absolutely certain that any rescue team I send down won't end up in the same situation as Commander Riker. Mr Worf has completed a sensor sweep of the entire area and has reported that no trace of the Commander is to be found. I don't want to take the chance of the same thing happening to a second landing party. If we send down a further team, I want a transport lock on them at all times."

"May I suggest that we take Transporter Room One off line and use Transporter Room Three until Engineering is able to complete a Level One diagnostic?" Data suggested.

"I concur," Wolf agreed. "A sensible precaution."

"It would certainly make sense," Geordi said nodding.

"Indeed, make it so Mr La Forge."

"I also picked up several heat signatures in and around the area. Sensors indicate the presence of several beings native to the planet. They are split into two groups, the larger of the two around the crash site of the life pod, the smaller approximately 500 metres away." Worf continued.

"Did you see anyone when you were down there?" Picard asked Geordi and Data.

"No Captain," Geordi said immediately.

"The building which the life pod crashed into was obviously not in use." Data said, recalling the incidence with near perfect clarity. "Prior to impact, I do not believe it had been used for quite a while."

"But there had obviously been a group of people living there at some point, for it to have been built in the first place. We didn't get much of a chance to look around Captain, but there were several other structures in the area." Geordi stated.

Cocking his head to one side Data nodded. "You are correct Geordi," he agreed. "However my visual record of all the buildings in the area showed them to be in various states of decay. I do not believe there has been anyone dwelling in them at the moment."

Picard looked thoughtful. "But the fact remains there was a civilisation living there at some point. At present we need to determine the whereabouts and secure the safety of Commander Riker; however we may need to find a way to communicate with these beings, if they have anything to do with the Commanders disappearance."

"Sir, I request that you allow me to lead an Away Team to the surface in order to locate Commander Rikers' whereabouts," Worf said firmly.

Picard nodded. "Yes Mr Worf, I intend to ask you to do just that. You and a security detail. I just want to be as sure as possible, that you don't encounter any other surprises along the way."

"Yes sir, thank you," Worf replied, already itching to be on his way.

"Lt Commander do not forget that RK2579 now comes under the jurisprudence of the Prime Directive now we have identified the very real possibility of existing native inhabitants." Data added. "You and your team must make every effort not to be seen or interact with the natives until it has been unequivocally established that they are Commander Riker."

"Commander Data is correct," Picard agreed. "We cannot risk any further contamination of their belief system at this stage. Or further disturbance of their way of life."

"I will be careful," Worf agreed.

"One last thing," Picard suggested leaning forward slightly to open a Comm channel to Sickbay. "Dr Crusher, may I have a moment of your time please?"

Dr Crushers face appeared on screen a moment later. "Yes Captain, how can I help you?" she said indicating an instrument selection to someone off screen. "Yes, that one, the size 02."

"Your patient doctor?"

"Yes Captain that is who I am working on at the moment. I'm doing my best to stabiles him and fully assess his injuries. Speaking of which, I really need to get back to him, I'll let you know when I have anything further to report."

"I need that report now doctor,"

"I don't have much more to give you than that, I'm afraid."

"Commander Riker is missing doctor," Picard said firmly.

Beverly blinked. "Missing?" she enquired.

"Yes, he failed to transport aboard with the remainder of the Away Team."

"Transporter malfunction?"

"That we are still trying to determine, it seems unlikely though."

"Then how can I help?"

"Has our guest regained consciousness at all?"

"No Captain and he's not likely to for some time." Beverly said looking down at the data padd in her hands. "Ok, as far as a preliminary report goes. My initial scans show massive internal bruising and blood pooling in his thoracic cavity, decreasing his ability to breathe amongst other things. Bruising and lacerations to the left side of his temple and occipital bone at the back of his head indicates that he will likely suffer some degree of concussion, which may or may not indicate memory loss. I already know that four of his ribs have broken bilaterally across his chest in a diagonal pattern, the likely hood that the straps on an internal harness failed. Additionally there are compound fractures to his right femur, left pelvis, left Glenohumeral joint, that's the ball and socket articulation between the head of the humerus and the glenoid cavity of the scapula as well as complete breaks to his left ulna, and radius. He should make a full recovery, but it will take a day or so before he'll be able to give you any useful information."

"Understood Doctor, however he may or may not hold the key to finding Will, so please do your best to stabilise him, I'll be down shortly."

"You will be going against medical advice, even if it is possible for me to bring him round."

"Noted Doctor, Picard out." The Captain said terminating the call. He looked round at his assembled Officers, "Gentlemen, you have your orders," he said dismissing him. "Mr Data, a moment if you please."

"Of course Captain."

+ Truly a most fascinating place + Orac hummed to itself, still in the purpose-built metal carrying case Avon had constructed many months ago in order to make the super computer more portable. The case had yet to be opened, however Avon had slid Orac's activation key into its connection port shortly before blacking out in the escape pod, leaving Orac with rare control over his own abilities. Having ridden down to the surface of the planet in with Avon, and been taken up to the Enterprise by Data, a helpful tech had then taken Orac's case down to Main Engineering soon after, on the mistaken assumption that the box contained some of the Chief Engineers personal tools.

Orac hadn't minded in the slightest. The dematerialism effect of the Enterprise's transporters was a new experience for the self-aware super computer; the forces at play completely different from the technology found on the Liberator. If a computer could be described as happy, Orac felt in its element. It was inside a truly alien machine. Fascinating! First on the list was to learn to communicate properly. Orac had reached out eagerly to study everything it could about its new surroundings, only to learn that he could not connect with the Enterprise D as easily as it normally could with other computers, as there was not a Tarriel cell in sight.

Orac had only just begun to scratch the surface of understanding how the Enterprise had been constructed and powered when it found itself interrupted by Zen.

+ Information. Repairs to Liberators systems continue apace. We are not yet fully functional, however a nitrogen/oxygen mix able to support life human life has been restored + Zen told Orac via a subspace channel. As per Orac's instructions, Zen gave Orac hourly updates on the status of the ship.

+ Very well. What is your estimated repair time? +

+ Systems indicate another eight hours and 23 minutes before full power is restored. Energy banks three through to seven remain drained of power. Transporter function will be available in 2 hours and 57 minutes. Computers are responding to search, locate and recovery +

+ You heard from the crew. +

+ Affirmative. A voice transmission from Blake stated that he is safe and well on the planet Epheron. It is a planet of the system Lauritol with several primitive life forms. Jenna reports superficial injuries in a life capsule malfunction. She is aboard a neutral cargo carrier in transit to the planet Morphenniel and advises that her situation requires no priority treatment. There has been no communication from Vila, Cally or Avon +

+ Avon has been found by the humans aboard this ship. He was badly injured, and is currently undergoing emergency treatment. We have not heard from Vila or Cally + Orac said, preparing to continue with the more pressing task of learning everything about the Enterprise . + Report again in one hour +

There was silence for several moments before Zen surprised Orac by interrupting his studies once more.

+ Information +

+ Yes? What is it now? +

+ A space vehicle is registering on the detectors. Visual scans indicate that it is approaching the Liberator. Statistical analysis suggest it will attempt docking with the side port entrance +

+ Can you identify the craft? +

+ Negative +

+ Is there any voice contact with the space vehicle? + Orac asked, its internal lights blinking faster as it processed the unforeseen data.

+ Negative +

+ Is it continuing to approach? +

+ Confirmed. Full function has been restored to Liberator weapon systems, the vehicle could be destroyed +

+ You will do no such thing! It is most likely to be one of the crew returning. Do not bother me with such trivialities + Orac said dismissively. + I am in the midst of some fascinating discoveries +

"Information. The space vehicle is now outside safe strike range and continuing forward motion +

Orac's diverted a small amount of its vast energies towards the problem Zen was announcing, even though it regarded the conversation as an irritant, taking it away from the fascinating exploration of Enterprise. + Yes, of course, why didn't I think of this before? Zen let me see this ship for myself. + Orac demanded, linking with the Liberators sensors so get a glimpse of the oncoming spacecraft. +

The space vehicle about to dock with Liberator resembled an angular horseshoe in shape; it was bright red and battle damaged. Orac recognised the design as Callipson, a neutral planet, several million parsecs distinct. Using Liberators systems Orac tried to initiate contact itself, but received no response.

+ I am unable to communicate with the space vehicle either + Orac told Zen + Initiate a gamma level quarantine and lock inner hatch doors +

+ Con... Zen ceased transmitting abruptly; all communication lost.

Orac sat and thought about the probabilities of Zen losing all power, blowing up, or more likely being boarded by unknown and potentially hostile entities. He set a small part of his cells aside to ponder the problem, and continued to probe the Enterprises' systems.

The Doctor stared hard at Vila. It was simply impossible for anyone to arrive unannounced in the Tardis. After the incidence with Donna and the excitable Huon particles inside her, he had tightened the shielding around the time machine enormously. "Wait, what? Walking for hours? That's impossible. "What are you, some kind of hologram?"

"No … I've told you, my name is Vila, and I've been walking for hours," Vila tried to explain. "I got lost, in the forest out there…"

"Right, yes of course," the Doctor said calmly in a tone of utter disbelief, surreptitiously putting down the gadget he'd been fiddling with prior to Vila's arrival, while turning his sonic screwdriver to scan for life signs and pointing it in his direction. "What are you, some kind of hologram?"

The sonic beeped. The Doctor frowned, shaking it a couple of times. "Really… Really?" he asked it, tapping it against one of his hands. Pushing his glasses up his nose, the Doctor squinted at the screwdriver. Reading the sonic was an art form at the best of times. Right at that moment, its readings refused to make sense. "Hmmm, it seems you're corporeal enough."

"I'm what?"

"Present. It seems you're really here," the Doctor said quite rudely. "So the question is; how did you get in? Some kind of matter transporter?"

"I walked."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "You can't have done," he said flatly. "You're obviously here for some reason? Am I supposed to guess what that is? Who are you…?"

"I'm Vila, that's all, just Vila." Vila said rather bemused by the stranger's reaction to him; his exhilaration at finding 'civilisation' drained away completely, leaving him feeling unexpectedly tired. Unnoticed by anyone apart from Donna, Vila wavered slightly on his feet.

Frowning the Doctor continued to wave his sonic about, before deciding to tap it firmly against the Tardis control panel several times with a loud metallic twang, causing both Donna and Vila to jump. "Ok, let's try this now shall we. No really, this is rubbish… right well as you're physically here, so the fact remains - what are you? Some kind of shape shifter then? Where is your home planet then?"

Vila looked at the Doctor in bemusement. All he'd wanted was a drink or two, a chance to sit down, rest a bit, and get his wrist sorted. Nothing the Doctor was saying to him made any kind of sense. "Eh? What's that? It's Earth, of course," he said caught off guard and answering truthfully. Realising his error, he tried to deflect. "That is, I mean to say. I've been walking for a long time; really all I need is a drink, and maybe the chance to sort my wrist out a bit."

Still looking at his readings on the screwdriver, the Doctor shook it a couple of times. "Well you're not a shape shifter," he agreed. "You could be a plasmavor I suppose, which… Earth you said… mmm, well you're apparently human, well human enough anyway, with a few extra bits I don't quite understand yet. What's wrong with this thing?"

Looking quite alarmed Vila stepped backwards down a step, clutching hold of the handrail with his good hand as his worldview wobbled a bit. "What? I'm human, of course, I'm human. I don't have any extra bits; well at least I don't think I have. What extra bits are you talking about?"

"Doctor," Donna said quietly, though her voice contained a hint of warning. She'd watched the stranger slowly seem to deflate in energy as he'd entered the Tardis, and now he looked rather unsteady on his feet.

The Doctor gave Donna a questioning glance. He had learned the hard way not to ignore that tone. Donna looked pointedly at Vila and mimed holding her arm, her left eyebrow raised in what was clearly a question.

Tired, Vila watched the byplay between the Doctor and Donna and took another step down. "Perhaps I've come at the wrong time, and should just leave?" he suggested.

"You need to be nice," Donna warned; her voice low enough for only the Doctor to hear.

With a look of exasperation and fondness in equal measure, the Doctor turned back to regard Vila with keen interest, once more, and noticing that he'd moved away, quickly closed the gap between them. "No, no-no, why would you want to do that, you've just got here after all? Don't you want to see everything now you're here?"

"I don't want to be here," agreed Vila, deciding that the man in front of him was seriously unwell and as changeable as Avon could be, which probably made him just as dangerous too. "I've changed my mind and…"

"Then why not change it back again? I change my mind all the time, well most of it at any rate," the Doctor said deliberately prattling as he took several more scans of Vila, waving his sonic around again, trying to track down the odd readings he was getting.

Vila found his eyes following the motion unwittingly. He began to look more anxious by the moment.

"Hmm, nothing remarkable, just a little odd; how did you say you got here again?"

"I walked. From the forest." Vila tried patiently.

Still waving his sonic, the Doctor sucked in a breath. "Oooo…"

"Oooo?" repeated Vila. "What's an Oooo?"

"Ha! I knew I'd get it. Your quantum signature is off…"

"Eh?"

"Oh, not by much, 0.04492% - but that's a huge amount on the Lutan scale, not that anyone really uses the Lutan scale any more, except of course the Lutan's, and well the Tegarns and their small conglomerate of miners, and the Zoorons, mustn't forget them… and…"

"Doctor; stop it." Donna said firmly.

The Doctor looked at his assistant and scowled.

Donna copied the motion.

Seeing the funny side of things, the Doctor grinned and turned back to Vila, who regarded the now smiling Time Lord with even more distrust.

"I'm sorry; I really don't feel at all good. Perhaps I should just leave," Vila, said carefully taking another step backwards, then clutching at the railings as he stumbled a bit.

Donna took a step towards Vila in sympathy. She knew she was rubbish at reading people, but there was something about him that she couldn't just help feeling sorry for.

"Donna, stay where you are," the Doctor warned, before turning on Vila again. "You can't leave, not now. Just tell me how you really got here."

"I've already told you, hundreds of times. I. Walked. Here." Vila said slowly as if talking to an idiot. "My life pod crashed. I got out, walked all day, until I found your village, and well here I am."

"So you are," the Doctor agreed. "And that's why we have a problem, because it's impossible and do you know why it's impossible…?"

Motioning to Donna to keep back, as she'd crept forward despite his words, still not sure what kind of threat Vila possessed, if any at all, but determined to get to the bottom of the mystery he presented, the Doctor scooted quickly round their unexpected visitor and walked up to the Tardis doors which he flung open with a flourish. "Because of this! Would you like to try again, as you can see, we're in space!"

Donna stared through the open door. "Er Doctor, I don't think…"

"The alleyway, just like I was trying to explain to you," Vila said, looking at the crates and odd bits of rubbish he'd seen moments ago. "I really should go, I won't tell anyone anything, I promise…"

The Doctor looked from Donna to Vila and then through the doors of the Tardis. They did indeed appear to show a narrow alleyway. "What? But that's impossible!" he stammered.

They were in space, drifting along just inside the time vortex, and had been for a few days, while they'd caught their breath after their adventures on Bendenium. The Doctor had spent his time tinkering on a few pet projects, while Donna had lazed away a few days reading and topping up on her sleep.

"It looks like an alley to me Doctor," Donna said agreeing with Vila.

"But it can't be."

Tired, Vila sat down on the steps leading up to the main platform. "It's an ally, of course it's an alley, what else could it be?" he said despondently thinking the Doctor was quite, quite mad.

"A projection?" Donna hazarded.

The Doctor waved his sonic screwdriver at the doorway; it buzzed and whirred then fell silent. The Doctor looked at his instrument, and then cautiously reached out to touch his hand to the doorway. When in space a forcefield allowed the Tardis doors to open without loss of atmosphere. The field should have glowed blue to the touch.

There was nothing to impede the Doctors hand as it passed the threshold of the doorway and was 'outside'. Experimentally the Doctor wiggled his fingers about, then cautiously stuck his head outside, and drew in a lungful of air.

"Well?" Donna asked from her position, keeping an eye both on Vila and the Doctor. "Oh no… don't you dare…" she said suddenly as she saw the Doctor attempt to put a foot outside. "What happens if the doors close, we're really in space, and I'm left her with… with… with him?"

"I'm Vila you know," Vila said to no one in particular.

The Doctor put his foot outside the Tardis, nothing happened. Grinning he prepared to step forward.

Donna growled. "Do not do it," she warned.

"I'm holding on, see, holding on…" The Doctor made a show of holding onto the doorway as he stepped outside.

Nothing happened.

The Doctor looked round. "Well that was a bit… A bit anticlimactic actually."

Keeping an eye on the Doctor, feeling a little bit sorry for their guest, Donna moved to sit on the steps next to Vila. "I would ask how you are doing, but I can see you've hurt your arm," she tried sympathetically.

"I think it's broken," Vila said miserably. "I could really do with a drink. My head hurts as well as my arm."

"A drink, that's maybe something I can help with." Donna suggested. "What can I get you?"

"I don't suppose you have any Soma? It would help with my arm see?" Vila tried hopefully.

Donna shook her head. "I don't know what that is, I'm sorry. I could get you a tea maybe, or some water. Don't worry about the Doctor… whatever is wrong; he'll help… just talk to him."

Will Riker stared at the screen in frustration. Despite several rounds of shocks, the natives didn't seem that they were likely to give up any time soon. "Your plan doesn't seem to be working," he told Danya.

"Yes, they do seem to be unusually stubborn today don't they," the young woman responded also looking at the screen.

"Do you have any other bright ideas?"

"Yes, actually, I do." Danya smiled.

"Good, then I'd like to hear it."

"We wait," Danya said simply. "And have a proper meal, not just a piece of fruit. Whatever happens, they won't stay out after dark."

"Do I want to know why?"

"They're a superstitious lot; they think nasty things walk the earth at night."

"What kind of nasty things?"

Danya shrugged. "Do you know, I've never found out? Isn't that strange?"

"So for all you know, it could be true?"

"Oh come on. Surely someone like you can't believe in monsters under the bed?"

Riker chucked humourlessly. "Believe me, I've met plenty of monsters, and most had nothing to do with bed sheets."

"Oh do tell, I love a good story." Danya said opening several cupboards and pulling out a varied assortment of ingredients."

"Some other time maybe, not now. We really can't afford to stay here much longer."

"I can, I often spend several nights up here. Will your friends come looking for you?"

"They will," Will Riker, agreed attempting to activate his combadge once more, scowling when nothing appeared to happen, the communication device not even acknowledging an open channel.

"Then you have nothing to worry about. In a couple of hours the Sorrens will have got bored, we can leave and look for your friends. I see the cut on your head has stopped bleeding now, come and help me prepare a meal."

"Now, remember the Prime Directive remains in force on this planet. We do not show ourselves or allow ourselves to be seen by the indigenous people. This is a recon mission only. Our objectives are to locate Commander Riker. If an opportunity arises where we can extract him unseen, then we will do so. Otherwise we will report back to the ship in one hour and discuss his rescue further." Worf said firmly.

It had taken engineering nearly half an hour to finish a standard diagnostic on Transporter Room 3 – just to be on the safe side, as Geordi had said. In the meantime, Worf had chosen his security team carefully. They were all seasoned security team members, that were unlikely to be trigger happy, or misinterpret any difficult situations.

Data had come to see Worf off; handing the Chief of Security a tricorder he'd programmed with the exact coordinates of Riker's last recorded whereabouts.

"Do not take any chances," he told the Klingon. "The initial findings of the anomaly are intriguing but inherently unstable. Now would not be a good time to take unnecessary risks, Commander Riker's whereabouts, and safety notwithstanding."

"Understood."

Data turned to the transporter operator as Worf and his team climbed onto the transporter platform. "Ensign, keep a lock on the Away Team at all times. Be ready to beam them back at a moment's notice."

"Yes, sir."

"Then energise."