"Did you get the page from Picard, too?" Riker stepped into the bathing quarters, barely dressed and holding his combadge in one hand.

"Yes," Troi answered, running her fingers through her hair as she stood before the mirror. Her eyes shifted from her reflection to the commander. "Now hurry! We'll be late."

"But I was supposed to report to the bridge. Why-"

"Looks like plans have changed."

Riker stepped closer, reaching around her to set his combadge on the counter and raising a suspicious eyebrow. "You already know what this meeting is about, don't you?"

"Maybe." A smirk hid in the corner of Troi's mouth. Meanwhile, her gaze roved unabashedly over the commander's reflection. Without warning, he bent down and scooped her up. She shrieked in surprise. "Will! What are you doing?"

"Tell me," he demanded, walking her back towards the bedroom.

"I have to finish getting ready! Put me down!"

He threw her onto the end of the bed and then climbed over top, pinning her in place. "There, I put you down," he said with a grin. "Now tell me."

A giggle broke through her feigned outrage. "Alright, alright. It's about the mission. But that's all I'll say!" Her fingers reached up to run through his dark hair. "What now, hmm?"

"I have a few ideas." He bent down and kissed the side of her neck. "And so do you, judging by the way you were looking at me back there."

"They'll be expecting us soon, you know," she reminded him. But his kisses continued, and soon his lips were making their way across her chest as it began to heave. "Okay..." she relented, every breath dissolving into a moan. "You have...five...minutes."

"Ten," he growled.

She would have argued more, but her resolve had already given way.

Riker and Troi hurried through the halls on their way to the briefing room, feeling a bit like tardy school children. They paused just outside of the doors. "Ready?" Riker asked, straightening his uniform and steeling his composure.

"Ready."

As the doors opened, Riker could see a number of people occupying the conference table. Picard presided over the meeting, Carmen sitting to his left. Though she had no doubt heard them come in, she kept her face turned away, towards the captain. Four elder gentlemen sat scattered among the rest of the seats. They glanced towards the door, almost in unison. Then three of them looked to the last, a man with steel gray hair and grave eyes, as if gauging his reaction. He must be their leader, Riker infered.

Picard waved them in. "Sit down, Number One. Counselor." Nodding politely, each took their seat. "These gentlemen are here from the Rutherford," Picard began. "The research vessel that made contact with us yesterday. Miss Riker has informed you of their predicament?"

The commander nodded. "She has." His eyes fell on the young woman, but still she kept a cold shoulder between them.

"Good." Picard shifted his attention to the strangers at the table. "This is Commander Riker and Counselor Troi. They are the ones who will be accompanying her down to the surface."

"Riker?" one of the scientists echoed. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes flitting between Carmen and the commander. "Ah. I see it now."

But Riker was still reeling from the rest of Picard's statement. "Down to the surface? I thought a team wouldn't work in this case?"

"No, a team wouldn't work," Carmen said, turning towards him for the first time. "But a family might."

Riker glanced at Troi, who smiled at him excitedly. The man with steel gray hair smiled as well, though it was more of a sneer that twisted his lips. "I'm glad you've reconsidered," he said. Carmen's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.

"More officers on the surface mean better chances for the missing doctor," Picard asserted. "And this way, we can utilize the counselor's Betazoid abilities as well as your experience with the Prime Directive, Number One."

"How familiar are you with Vakronian culture, commander?" one of the scientists asked him.

"Only vaguely," he admitted.

"These men will train you in what you need to know." Picard nodded towards the scientists. "Then Dr. Crusher will assist with the modifications. We need to begin immediately, I'm afraid. I know the timing is...unfortunate."

Troi placed a hand over Riker's arm. "It's alright, sir. The wedding plans can wait. And I'm sure my mother would be more than happy to extend her stay."

Hours passed as they submersed themselves in Vakronian history and politics and etiquette. They decided on a backstory, and each committed it to memory. Keeling, the head scientist, warned them to steer clear of Elion and the others sent by the government to investigate. "They are not yet ready to believe in outside lifeforms. If given the chance, I feel they would meet the revelation with hostility."

"Why?" Carmen asked, wrenching her face in confusion.

"Fear of the unknown," Picard answered her. "Mankind was once as limited."

Keeling nodded. "Please. You must find Joseph before they do." His shoulders drooped, and Riker felt a pang of pity for the despair behind his eyes.

Carmen spotted it, too. "We will," she promised, forgetting her dislike of the man for a moment. "Rest assured."

A proud smile tugged at Riker's lips. Her promise had been so sincere, so eager, even though Keeling had made his lack of faith apparent. It was then that Riker realized why she had been so upset with him the night before. His skepticism had no doubt been harder to swallow than Keeling's.

Once they had been dismissed, Carmen mumbled a few hurried goodbyes and then left straightaway. Riker dashed down the hall after her. "Carmen! Wait!" he called. She paused, but did not turn around.

"What?"

"That...that was a good idea back there," he said, coming around to stand in front of her.

She gave him a flippant, one-shouldered shrug. "Well I didn't come up with it because of what you said. Just so you know."

"Then why?"

"Because…" She squared her jaw as she articulated the answer. "Because this isn't about me, okay? This isn't about proving anything. It's about that missing doctor, and bringing him home again."

She pushed past him, continuing down the hall. Riker smiled, slowly shaking his head. "That's why Picard was right," he said. "And I was wrong."

The admission halted her feet once more. "What did you say?"

"I was wrong," he repeated. "You are ready for this."

Carmen said nothing else as he turned back down the hall, heading for the briefing room where Troi was waiting. Still, he could feel her stare the whole way. At least I hope I was wrong.