A/N: Merry Christmas! I've already eaten WAY too many cookies. Don't know how I'll be able to go to jiu-jitsu class tomorrow. May not even make it through one sparring round. If you don't hear from me again...I didn't survive hahaha.

By the way, totally off topic, but I pulled out Nova's paperwork (our black lab) because I wanted to look up her exact birthday, and it turns out her father's name is Riker! Also, her mother's full registered name is Jane Duck Commander. So it's funny that she has both "Commander" and "Riker" in her parentage. Just thought I'd share :-)

WIWJ-This chapter may or may not help your decision! lol

Zara08-Heat wave?! We had a white Christmas over here, cold and snowy. About as far from a heat wave as you can get haha. Please don't melt, I'd miss you! Hopefully this chapter helps you cope, got your Riker action right here! :-p

"You know," Troi said, wringing water from her long, dark hair. "If it weren't for all the rain and mud, this would actually be a lovely hike. I've never seen such beautiful flowers."

Riker leapt up a steep embankment, then turned around and reached for Troi's hand. "What flowers? I only see one beauty in this jungle." He pulled her to his level, straight up to his lips, and for the next few moments she didn't mind the rain and mud at all.

"I'm doing fine!" Carmen called, struggling to climb the same embankment. "Don't worry about me!"

Riker broke away from the kiss with a laugh. After sending Troi along, he bent down and hoisted their daughter the rest of the way up. "Sorry, I meant two beauties."

Carmen groaned. "Yeah, yeah, save your poetry for the wedding."

"Not to fear, I've got plenty of poetry to cover the occasion." Riker wagged his eyebrows at the counselor. "But I'm saving the best stuff for the honeymoon."

"Oh good," Troi chimed in. "I was looking forward to hearing about the moonlight again. And what was that one line, something about prolonging the dawn?"

"Ah yes. I believe I said that I would-"

"Decorum, officers!" Carmen wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Maintain your decorum!"

Their laughter followed her up and over the miry terrain. Though she shook her head, feigning exasperation, a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Their banter had become a normal, endearing part of life for the young woman.

The trail of little white flowers that she had followed before proved difficult to find in daylight. Several times already they had to double back after losing sight of the ethereal blossoms. Carmen found herself thinking of Silver and missing the security of the big dog's company. She had never understood the point of a pet before (especially after listening to Worf's misadventures with Spot, Data's tabby cat). Now she began to wonder where she could find a dog like Silver, and if the captain would even permit her to have one.

She glanced back at Riker and Troi, hoping for their input. Usually her mother could hear those kinds of thoughts, but this time, Troi was too distracted. She and the commander were already engaged in a private conversation of their own. Carmen could tell by the way they intermittently flashed each other devious grins. And so they barely noticed when the rain began to ease, falling to the jungle floor with a gentle, melodic rhythm.

"Is that the end of it?" Carmen wondered aloud, craning her neck to catch a glimpse of the sky through the leafy canopy above.

Troi followed her gaze. "No, look-it's just a small break in the clouds."

Riker blew out a short sigh as he, too, looked towards the sky. "I should probably try to reach the captain again. Why don't you two take a break, refuel with some of Lorana's sandwiches. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Carmen asked, not eager to part company.

"I'm going to follow that break in the clouds," he replied, tilting his head towards a glint of sunlight between the treetops. "Hopefully a signal will be able to get through this time."

Reluctantly, Carmen nodded and followed Troi over to a rock sheltered by large, fan-like leaves. She watched the commander's back as the jungle swallowed him from view.

Don't worry, the counselor assured. He knows we're being followed.

"We're WHAT?!" Carmen exclaimed aloud.

Troi put a finger in front of her mouth. He's been keeping his distance; perhaps that's why you haven't sensed him yet. We're hoping this will draw him out. Once he sees Will alone, he's sure to make a move.

And we're just going to let him?

Of course not. We're going to wait for Will's signal.

"Riker to Enterprise. Are you there?" The commander stood on a narrow ledge overlooking a gulch. Streams of water, formed by rain, raced down the slope to join a rivulet on the gulch floor.

Picard's garbled voice came through his combadge. "...the storm...than we anticipated…Mister Laforge..."

Riker frowned. He had made contact the night before, and Picard had warned him that the storm might temporarily affect their ability to communicate. Which also meant it would temporarily affect their ability to transport. But so long as they could pinpoint Dr. Gardener's location, they'd be ready as soon the storm eased.

After two more failed attempts, Riker decided it was no use and that he would try again later. Tucking his combadge out of sight, he moved closer to the edge. He pretended to be deep in thought, casting his eye over the rain-battered jungle. Water dripped from his chin onto his chest, but he paid it no mind, thoroughly soaked already. Then he heard it: the barely audible sound of a heel scraping against rock. Silently, he called for his imzadi. And silently, she answered.

"Don't move," someone ordered. The cold, hard tip of a weapon touched his back. "Just answer my questions."

Riker squared his jaw. Though he had been expecting the threat, it still ruffled his ego. "What are you doing here, Elion?"

"Searching for the truth," Elion replied. "And Adren said you were searching for work. But you're after something else, aren't you?"

"Took a wrong turn on the way to Kitadara, that's all," he quipped. Elion lashed his weapon against the back of Riker's head, leaving a painful welt behind. The commander hissed through his teeth.

"Did you kill him? Did you kill Durand?" Thunder crashed overhead, mirroring the agent's mood. Riker waited for the rumbles to fade before answering.

"No, Elion," he said calmly. "I had nothing to do with that."

"But you know who does, don't you?" He gave the commander a shove towards the edge when he failed to answer. "I said don't you?"

"Just stay out of it, okay?" Riker warned. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself wrapped up in." He tried to turn around, but changed his mind when Elion dug the barrel of his gun into his back.

"So you do know. Tell me-how would a miner from Ebon Plains know something like that? Who are you really?"

"I'm not your enemy. Course, I wouldn't consider us friends, either."

"Who sent you?"

"You wouldn't know him."

Elion's patience waned. "Don't play with me," he growled. "I said I was searching for the truth, and I won't give up til I have it. Now who sent you?"

"You mean like how the other agents gave up? Is that why you're out here alone?"

Elion snarled, frustrated with his lack of progress. He grabbed the back of Riker's tunic and yanked him towards the treeline. "Just move," he ordered. "I don't want Deanna to come looking for you."

"Too late for that."

The agent froze. "What did you say?"

Just then, Troi and Carmen came bursting out of the jungle. They slid to a stop, their eyes flitting between Elion, the gun, and the commander. "No-don't hurt him!" Troi cried.

"It's alright, Lady Deanna," Elion assured. As much as he despised the position this put him in, he refused to back down. "So long as everyone follows my directions-"

Carmen interrupted him with a groan that sounded like the audible version of an eyeroll. "No, you mak'dar. She was talking to my dad."

"To your-?" Before he could finish his question, Riker drove an elbow into his ribs. As Elion doubled over in pain, Riker spun around, twisted the gun from his hands, and then drove another elbow onto his back. Elion went sprawling over the ground at his feet.

"I said don't hurt him," Troi scolded.

"He's fine," Riker insisted, tossing the gun to Carmen. "Aren't you, Elion?" Roughly, he picked the agent up and set him back on his feet. Elion stammered a reply, stealing a glance towards the women. Carmen was training his own gun on him, grinning smugly, as Riker was patting him down for more weapons.

"Alright then," the commander said once his search yielded nothing of concern. "Now there's only one question left: what should we do with you?"

"I could dispose of him right now, if you want," Carmen offered, waving the gun.

Troi pursed her lips together sternly, but Riker appreciated the jest and the way it made Elion blanch. "Well we can't send him back to the village-no doubt the river's flooded by now." He stepped back and ran a pensive hand over his beard.

But as Elion kept his eye on Carmen, a connection suddenly sparked in his mind. "It was you!" he blurted out. "You were the one I saw crossing the river the night Durand disappeared!"

The young woman blinked in surprise. "What? How did you-? I-!"

"What are you talking about?" Riker swiftly interrupted before she could implicate herself any further.

"I thought it was Jora at first, because that dog is always with her. But it was you, wasn't it? Coming back across the river at dawn?" She could feel desperation burning in his mind like an itch that wouldn't go away. "Please," he implored. "What happened to my partner? Who killed him?"

Conflicted, she looked to Riker for what to do. Duty clashed with compassion, each one clamoring to be upheld. Before she could answer, however, something came crashing towards them. A familiar flurry of barks filled the air.

"Silver?!"

All heads turned towards the shadowy edge of the jungle. Silver emerged, every bark ending on a shrill and frantic note. He pawed at the ground, visibly agitated.

"Something is wrong," Carmen declared, a lump of dread forming in her stomach. "Jora. Something happened to Jora."