Luke hurriedly stepped forward. "Han, none of us have so much as touched a drop, honestly." Luke ruined his earnest statement though by throwing a glance over at Jack Sparrow who was poking his finger into an empty wine jug.

Han Solo's lips curled at the sight, but left his attention on Luke. "So you're saying that you all suddenly just appeared here from other planets?" Han asked critically and Luke did not miss the cynical lilt to his voice, but nodded anyway.

"No, no. We didn't just appear here. I was in the middle of a battle and had just fallen unconscious when I was yanked to this place." Will pointed out before turning and looking thoughtfully at Luke. "Yes, yes, you were also unconscious when you were thrown here, were you not?"

Luke nodded his head shortly.

"And you, Captain?" Will asked turning with a slight bit of reluctance to Picard. Picard pondered Will's words and then nodded ignoring Will's reluctance.

"Yes, I believe I to was unconscious, but my second officer is an android. He is incapable of becoming unconscious."

Data stepped forward at this point and said carefully, "I have put some thought to this fact, Captain and have formulated the theory that I was somehow turned off briefly, indeed I believe I was hit by something and deactivated temporarily."

Picard looked at him. "A rather well placed thing, Mr. Data, if it managed to deactivate you. Are sure you could have been deactivated by some thrown thing?"

Data frowned a little helplessly and said, "I am not sure, Captain, how it came about."

"Hmmm. And you Mr. Sparrow?" Picard asked carefully storing away the fact before turning to Jack who stood peering at the shelves and tools. "Mr. Sparrow?" Picard asked again when Jack did not turn.

"Captain." Jack interjected facing him. "Bloody well forgotten. I think I was hit something, but I can't recall quite. I was slightly busy at the time."

"I see." Picard said slowly and a touch disapprovingly. If Jack had been aboard his ship he would have damn well remembered whether he was busy or not! Why on Earth did people always forget the things that mattered! Pirates! Picard stifled these thoughts ruthlessly and looked towards the disbelieving Han and said politely, "I think we have established we were all unconscious when we were thrown here, but I don't understand how this all connects with us coming here. It seems to be the only fact we have in common though. Any thoughts you may have would be welcomed Mr. Solo." Picard added politely.

Han Solo grimaced at him. "I don't have any more idea than a Wampa does and don't call me 'sir'."

There was a pause of silence then only interrupted by muttered comments from Jack on the state of peoples clothing on this bloody strange planet. Suddenly Luke jumped as Picard gave a quick laugh. Data peered over at him as if wondering what ailed him and Han raised an eyebrow curiously.

"What is it?" Luke asked.

Picard smiled slightly replying, "I was just thinking about the book 'Lord of the Rings.' Silly, I know, but I could not help, but think that the main character, Frodo, carried a ring around with writing on it to and, well, had a band of people with him much like I have with me."

There was silence while all eyes turned to look blankly at Picard. Clearly, no one had even heard of the "Lord of the Rings."

After a few moments though Data's face lit up in comprehension and he spoke up suddenly, "Ah, yes. If I am correct, Captain, you are referring to the story by J.R.R. Tolkien. The tale of a, a hobbit who destroys a ring.Sir, is it not true that in the book the ring connects the, the hobbit to the, the nagul, nazgoo, nazgul by its power. Sir, it has occurred to me that what you have said may be more accurate then you think. I have been accessing my files on this subject as we speak and have found that the character called Frodo did indeed seem to sink into a sort of unconsciousness when he touched this ring and this drew the, na-nazgul to him."

Picard frowned at him. "Are you saying, Data that you think I somehow drew people to me when we all became unconscious because I was holding this ring? But how did we end up here?"

The others were staring at them rather blankly, but Data nodded. "That may be the case sir. You said you did not have this ring until you fell unconscious?" Picard nodded. "Perhaps, sir, it was programmed to take you to this spot." Data continued.

Picard frowned at him. "What are you saying, Data?"

Data met his clear blue eyes with his own yellow ones and responded, "I think, sir, we were given this ring by enemies and the only ones nearby to give it to us were the Cardassians. They could have programmed the ring to, to kidnap us."

Picard let out a long breath. "That is a large leap of logic, Mr. Data. You are saying the Cardassians programmed this ring to take us and the others here and then somehow beamed this, this ring aboard the "Enterprise" and then fired on us to knock us unconscious? That sounds rather unlikely."

Data shook his dark haired head. "Not precisely, sir. I, I do not believe it was the Cardassians-" Picard shot him a look. Data backtracked quickly. "I mean Captain, I do not believe it was our enemies intention to take the others, but somehow when we were all unconscious it trapped us and pulled us here."

"Your theory seems very shaky Mr. Data. It does not make any sense." Picard said who was pacing now. "Why? Why here? And why me?"

This timeless question would remain unanswered for just at that moment Jack interrupted with alacrity saying,"My your planet really does have some hideous people on it. Why in the gods name would someone want to look like that."

The others crowded around to see through the dirty window what Jack was so pointedly staring at.

Picard let out a gasp.

"My god, that looks just like the nazgul. How in the world-"