Genre: StarTrek: The Next Generation

Title: New Civilizations

Summary: The debriefing

Chapter 20

"—and until they answer, or until the creature comes out of its coma, we're at a standstill." Picard spoke quietly, gazing about at the many-hued faces sitting at the large table. "And now, I'd like to have a report from you, Commander Riker. What was going on with you while you had that," the pause was obvous, "ambassador on your head? I'd like to hear as much as you can remember from the moment you put it—her on." He gestured around the table. "And please, feel free, any of you, to ask questions if you think you observed something he's leaving out." Picard leaned into the high backed chair, trying not to give in to the weariness he felt. It had been a long day and promised to be endless.

Riker relaxed as his eyes located a spot in the air just above and to the right of Captain Picard's head. "I didn't start the association with a good attitude, that's for sure. Maybe I made the thing mad and it just got even with me. When I entered my quarters, I wasn't in the mood to wear a hat, but you'd made yourself quite clear, sir, and I knew there was no getting around it.

"I remember grabbing it and holding it upside down by the edges, looking into the insides, trying not to look at the flow of ridiculous feathers, flopping down onto the floor. I think I even shook it trying to get up the courage to actually put it on my head." Will leaned to one side, his thumb and forefinger gently smoothing his close-cropped beard.

"When I finally did, I wasn't gentle about it. At first, it felt loose, and looking in the mirror, sure enough, it had slipped to one side." He ducked his head and looked up through his brows. "I looked ridiculous and I slapped at it, trying to get it straight. Then I pushed at the ridged front, pressing it against my forehead, which seemed to make it stick. I fooled around with it for a while longer and finally got it so it fit all around. I didn't even think about why it was too big one minute and a good fit the next, didn't realize it was sticking itself to my head."

As if to explain to himself, he said, "I don't know how anyone else feels about formal dress, but whenever I've had to wear any, I think I look silly, and at the same time, I also feel good about doing it. You know, that 'I'm a good boy for following the rules,' feeling. Looking at myself in the mirror under all those feathers, I began having the same thoughts. I looked ridiculous, yet I began to feel good, and started to admire myself." Riker paused, looking at the middle of the table, frowning slightly, before he continued. "Then, of all things, I began taking off my uniform, posing from time to time in front of the mirror as if to see what my body looked like. Then I did some things men don't usually talk about."

Riker remained in his pose of study, while the other men in the room, Picard, Worf and LaForge, all unconsciously switched their gaze to either the view ports, to the stars, or to the far corner of the room. Troi and Crusher, on the other hand, intensified their attention. Only Data remained as attentive as ever.

Feeling the mood in the room change, Riker looked around quickly and added, "Oh, nothing unmentionable, just silly stuff." He went back to staring at the center of the table. "After I removed my clothes, I did some floor exercises; pushups, deep knee bends, even jogged in place. You know, things to pump up the muscles. Then, I began climbing up on the furniture. Once I even squatted in the middle of the card table. I lowered the lights, too. I remember thinking how bright, or rather, 'feeling' the brightness in the room." He paused again and gathered his thoughts, his eyes straying to the point above and to the right of Picard's head.

"I have no idea how long I went through this routine, but suddenly I thought of Doc D'Jang. I remembered she had mentioned that she wanted a feather from the hat and suddenly, I wanted to have sex with her!" The revelation seemed to take even Riker by surprise, and he continued as if musing over an interesting discovery. "I didn't want to make love to her, I wanted to have sex with her. I called her immediately and, without being entirely truthful, invited her to my quarters.

"At least I can say I greeted her in a robe, not naked," Will smoothed and resmoothed his beard, and took a deep breath, "but I did nearly jump her as soon as she came in. There she was, all ready for sex, I was certain of it. I moved close to her, but she backed away, and I remember that seemed unexpected. I don't remember what was said, but the next thing I knew, she'd put up her hand and said, 'No!' which was confusing. Here she was, ready for sex, and yet she was holding her hand up and saying no. I couldn't move! It was as if she was holding a gun to my head. I wanted her in the worst way, felt a drive to have her, but I couldn't do it. I'm bigger, stronger, could have forced her, and yet I couldn't; she'd said 'no'. The next thing I knew, she'd left.

"Now the strange thing was, once she was gone, I wasn't upset or angry; I just started thinking of other things." He smiled slightly. "I wasn't even aroused, the incident was over and forgotten.

"The next thing I remember clearly, I was being called to the bridge. I put my uniform on and left my quarters."

Riker swiveled his chair to look straight at Worf. "Worf, you showed remarkable restraint there on the bridge. What was I thinking of standing in front of you? You were in my place, in front of the command chair, and you knew you weren't supposed to be there when I was on the bridge."

Worf listened passively to the analysis.

"I was absolutely sure I had to intimidate you, stare you down, make you move by sheer force of my superiority, show everyone watching on that bridge who was boss." Riker's voice had no rancor, no edge. Even if he hadn't been wearing that slight boyish grin, no one would have thought his tone to be anything but analytical. "I was lucky you're so thoroughly trained in Starfleet."

Worf's eyes remained fixed on Riker's face, his own visage passive. A warrior's internal struggles are his own, no one else's.

"Captain, I wasn't nearly as pleased to be talking with you at that moment as I was to be talking with the Kronatina. It was an odd feeling, too. It felt like old home week, and it also felt like I needed to talk and couldn't, like there was a communications barrier. Funny feeling."

Riker reflected a moment in silence. "Now why did I want to take the Enterprise out of orbit?"

Picard stirred from his listening pose with a start. He looked from Riker, who was ruminating, to LaForge, who was looking amazed, to passive Worf, to even more passive Data. He decided to wait to hear how this next episode went.

"All I really remember is listening to Ensign Ro's answers when I asked her how long it would take get to Zrrakita IV at different warp speeds. The next thing I knew, I'd ordered her to plot a course and the whole bridge crew yelling that we couldn't."

Picard could not keep his silence. "You were just going to leave? Did you even plan to say farewell to those of us left on the planet?"

"Oh, we were going to come right back, I'm sure." Riker tried to answer innocently while he mentally reviewed the Federation penalties for hijacking the Federation flag ship, abandoning a commanding officer, leaving friendlies (if the Ferengi could be called that) open to hostile aggression and so on. "Come to think of it, how did I know the name of the other Kron system? I don't recall being briefed on it?"

Dr. Crusher rolled her eyes as she speculated aloud. "I wonder if that creature's owner had a special interest in the planet? Maybe it had heard the name over and over. Do you think it could pass information directly through the nerve channels maybe? Sort of like a telepathic parrot?"

Riker shook his head inconsternation. He went on, wanting to get through this debriefing, to be done with it. "Data, you actually did me a good turn by suggesting that perhaps I was ill and should report to sick bay."

Data twitched his head ininterest but said nothing.

"It gave me an excuse to call Beverly, besides just asking her to wear the hat. I knew she wouldn't be wild about that idea, but would be unable to resist a sick call."

Crusher interjected, "As I recall, Will, you mentioned neither illness nor the hat but merely asked me to come to your quarters. That's why I didn't think to hurry and took an hour to finish my errands."

"Your delay was fine with me; I went on a tour of the ship. I don't remember much of it; the fever must have been starting by that time. I know I stopped by engineering." He looked at Geordi. "You and another crewman were talking to the captain, right? I recall a feeling of being highly entertained because one of you said something humorous, but I don't remember what it was, now. Then I left." The face of the commander suddenly took on a look of alarm. "Uh-oh." His eyes fell on Captain Picard.

"What isit, Number One?"

"I went to the battle bridge!"

Picard's mind carefully picked over what Riker could have done inhis peculiar state of mind in the seldom-used portion of the ship. He came to the conclusion that any mischief would have shown up long before now. After the one and a half seconds it took for Picard to perform this process he said, "And?"

"Believe it or not, I think I had the intention of overriding command and taking us hell-bent-for-leather to Zrrakita. I mean, I thought about it and yet, once I entered the room, I knew I wouldn't. Then," Riker paused and snapped his fingers, "that's what I did! I called up information on every piece of armament the Enterprise carries!" He looked at Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi. "Now why did I do that?"

Beverly shook her head but Deanna said, "Continue with the debriefing. You remembered this much, perhaps you'll remember the motive for your actions, or one of us may hear a pattern."

Picard nodded, "Yes, by all means. Did you do anything else on the battle bridge?"

Riker's eyes wandered as he tried to track his movements. "No, when I ended the scan, I left. I think I stopped off at the gym and watched someone working the weight machines, went to the school area and saw some kids playing, went to Ten Forward." He shook his head slightly. "I think I intimidated the hell out of a couple of odd looking women, but it all seems a little dream like."

Deanna asked, "What did the girls look like, do you remember?"

"That's why I'm not sure it happened. It seems like they were splotchy and had long bristles on their heads. They were... not supposed to be there." One of Riker's eyebrows lifted in suspicion of the odd memory. He waved it off and went on. "When I left, I think I met up with a woman crew member, a dark room, but I can't... All I remember is a uniform, but not the department, and dark eyes." He frowned slightly. "Come to think of it, I can't remember colors! Those girls in Ten Forward were tones of grey but so was everything else that I remember." He heaved a deep breath and continued.

"When I returned to my quarters, all I could think of was to get out of my clothes. I barely had time to put on a robe when you came by, Beverly." Riker bent his head and scratched at the back of his head. "For the record, though I hardly remember it, and I'm embarrassed to say it, I made overt sexual overtures to Dr. Beverly Crusher." He raised his blue eyes in wordless apology.

The doctor's head bowed slightly, her pale skin blushing, her sensitive features changing from smiling forgiveness to flashing anger at the outrageous behavior to puzzled anxiety about her friend's behavior.

Will continued, "It was the same feeling as with D'Jang. Beverly, you were sexually receptive and I was willing, eager to oblige." He looked fondly at her. "But, good doctor and courageous woman that she is, she took more notice of my illness than my behavior, and before exiting, ordered me to sick bay.

"Now, I have to admit that I thought you were just playing a game with me. You know, sort of stating where we would have the sex. That's why I got dressed and followed as quickly as I did. When I saw the nurse as I entered sick bay, I just naturally gravitated towards her because she was closer." Commander Riker sat back, contemplating his inexplicable actions, not noticing that the others were waiting for the next line of the story.

Dr. Crusher did notice and added, "When he entered sick bay, he made a pass at one of my medtechs. Before the poor girl could figure out what was going on, he passed out from the fever. By the time he was recovering, we had the hat off and the effects of it were wearing off."

A moment of silence passed while each person at the table digested the information.

Picard spoke first. "While you were on the battle bridge, did you investigate any other privileged information besides weaponry? Anything about any Starfleet vessels? Did you look up anything about propulsion?"

Riker examined his recent past and shook his head. "Not that I can recall, sir."

"The reason I ask is that the notion that Beverly brought up about the thing being a telepathic parrot is sticking in my mind. Was it sent as some sort of spy, trained to urge you to look up information that it could parrot back to the Kronatina? Was this preplanned by them?" He was free-forming ideas, and he knew it. He looked about the table for reactions.

Deanna shook her head, her long curly hair bouncing in unison. "I don't think so, sir. Not once, not while they were on board, or while we were with them on the planet, did I ever sense any surreptitious or covert feelings. Fear of discovery is a distinct emotion and I never sensed that. When you announced your plan to remove S's'haht'a from Commander Riker's head there was only the sort of fear that's more like deep concern for a friend in danger."

Worf was sitting across the table from Deanna. "Sir, until we've determined the motives for putting this creature among us, I believe we should hold it as hostage. Their concern is centered around the thing and, as such, can be used as leverage."

As usual, Deanna felt there was more than a table dividing her from Worf. "Hold it as a hostage? That would only escalate the situation. Sir, I think this is more likely a great misunderstanding."

Though he could only lean forward as far as the table would allow, Picard metaphorically put himself between the dove and the hawk. "I don't intend to do anything until I have more information either from the crea— S's'haht'a, or from his— her companions on Kron. I do appreciate your input, both of you." He leaned back. "Now, I'd like to hear from you, Geordi. Any comments on the situation?"

The gold VISOR glinted warmly in the surrounding light. "Well, it sounds like the thing had a pretty powerful influence on Commander Riker. I mean, notwithstanding your behavior with the women and with Worf, I think it would take more than a little persuading to get you to take the Enterprise out of orbit and leave the away team. There's nothing wrong down in Engineering so you didn't do anything in that line."

"Data," called Picard, "Do you have any comment?"

"Actually Captain, I do not. It seems to me that this is a matter of relationships. There was a relationship between S's'haht'a and Commander Riker which no one seems to be able to understand. There is a relationship that seems to be deteriorating between yourself and the Kronatina. Then there is the relationship between S's'haht'a and the rest of the Kronatina, which, again, no one seems to understand. I am not qualified to comment on relationships, yet. However," he went on, "I have made an observation that has led to a speculation, if I may."

Picard gestured that the way was open and added, "By all means."

"The Kronatina seem to value these animals a great deal. I note that they have often referred to the one we have with us on board by a name, S's'haht'a. My speculation is that these creatures, as you have called them, may possibly be pets."

Worf looked down the table at the golden-skinned figure. "Pets?"

"Yes, Worf. I have a cat that I value very much. I have even named my cat, Spot."

"Yes," urged Picard, "We're familiar with your pet, Data, and you may have a valid point. I hadn't thought of the matter in quite that way."

"It may explain the Kronatin attachment to them."

"Thank you, Data." He turned to the willowy redheaded medical doctor. "Dr. Crusher?"

Her sky blue eyes seemed to cast about for some information as her long, tapered fingers fluttered ever so slightly. "Other than to report that Will is medically unimpaired from the trauma of the disease, as well as from the enforced nerve contact, I have nothing to say."

"Thank you, Beverly. I'm glad to hear that my Number One isfit. Speaking of his fitness, Deanna, would you say Will isalso emotionally fit, considering his behavior of the past few hours?"

Deanna's dark eyes turned towards one of her favorite views. Her mouth tried not to show the tenderness she felt for this man. She narrowed her eyes, as if suspicious of some latent dangers lurking in the recesses of his feelings. Only after he almost squirmed under the scrutiny did she answer, "He's fine, sir." Then she turned to face the general table. "I would like to make some comments on his debriefing though. I found his words to be quite revealing."

"Oh?" questioned Picard.

"I can't come to any conclusions because I wasn't there to observe for myself, but I'm struck by several of Will's comments. For one, anytime he actually thought about a woman, he became sexually interested. He also said he 'knew' they were in a sexually receptive state. Now, one of the facts of nature is that human females are always in a sexually receptive state. They don't go through estrus, a rather brief period of sexual receptivity, which the male animal finds totally irresistible. Sentient males ordinarily find this constant receptivity to be very interesting, but generally resistible for rather obvious reasons, but it seems that Will, under the influence of S's'haht'a, couldn't resist the receptivity. He seemed to be acting in much the same way an animal acts around a sexually receptive animal but was also reacting to the rejection. What gave me the clue was his remark that he needed D'Jang and Beverly to be agreeable to sexual intercourse. No male animal will rape a female, no matter how deeply into estrus she may be. If the female rejects the male, he'll be frustrated, but he won't force copulation.

"Another observation was what you said, Will, about why you seemed to challenge Worf on the bridge. You said you had to show him who was boss; you had to intimidate him, to make him leave the front of the bridge. Again, in the animal kingdom, in any group, there is always an alpha male, the leader. Often, when rejoining the group, a leader will perform an act of intimidation just to display his dominance, to make sure there's no question of who's the boss."

Deanna would have continued, but Riker interrupted. "Just what are you trying to say, Deanna? Did I think I was some sort of animal?"

"I'm not making any conclusions about what your general behavior was or what you thought. You see, you also showed intelligent cognizance of such concepts as understanding the speed of the Enterprise, understanding the idea of a planet around another sun, you got dressed when you knew you were going into the public arena, and none of these are animal behaviors. However, much of what you did was quite reminiscent of very animal-like behavior." Deanna kept trying to include the entire table in on the discussion, but she knew she was also trying hard to reassure Commander Riker. "I just think everything must be taken into consideration."

"Quite right, Counselor," chimed in the Captain. "We're passing no judgments, Number One, just trying to get a sense of things. I've concluded that although the episode with S's'haht'a was unfortunate, it was not wrongly meant. Counselor Troi has not sensed any untoward feelings from the Kronatina, and Will, even though your behavior was inappropriate, especially for a Starfleet officer, you were in no way hostile nor did you actually threaten the ship. The Kronatina are upset at the circumstances, now, but I don't think they can be faulted for that, especially not if Data is at all correct and if S's'haht'a is indeed a pet. I think Will's illness was part of the unfortunate aspects of what happened and was not purposely transmitted. So, are there any objections to continuing to try to contact Kron and renew our talks, meanwhile trying to bring good health back to S's'haht'a?"

Picard looked at his command staff, never knowing what to expect. They remained silent. "No? Well, if you have any further comments, I'll be ready to accept them on the bridge."

The captain rose from his chair. The others followed suit. "Number One, will you please accompany me? The rest of you may resume your duties. And thank you, all."

Deanna slowed her pace so that she was last to exit the lounge. Odd that she'd not been able fully to analyze Will's behavior; this man, whom she knew so intimately, inside and out; this man who, because of circumstances of the here and now, and because of their personal lives in other places and times past, she was not now being intimate with; this man whom she'd had to analyze and define many times, whom she could not quite analyze now. Oh, she'd bluffed in her analysis and had made it sound good. Animal-like behavior, yes, but where did it come from? From where had it come, from inside of this man who was Will, who was a civilized, kind, gentle man?

Deanna sighed, twitched herself out of her reverie, and found herself standing alone in the corridor. Shaking her head at how involved she could get with her own thoughts, she turned now to the new case that would soon need her analysis, the bridegrooms. In order to evaluate the two men, she needed answers, a few of which were sure to be in the Menagerie. She headed to the ship's science section.

TBC to Chapter 21

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