Arkady and Irina held hands and Irina closed her eyes as they joined Will and Deanna in beaming aboard the Enterprise. When she opened them again, she looked around in wonder. Everything was so shiny and new and strange! Feeling a little frightened, she clutched her husband's hand more tightly, and he gave hers a reassuring squeeze.

Suddenly Will and Deanna were there, smiling. "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard and our chief medical examiner, Dr. Beverly Crusher." From the way the two gazed into one another's eyes, it was obvious that they cared deeply for one another. "They're also lovers," Will whispered into Arkady's ear, confirming his suspicions.

"Our chief engineer, Geordi," Will continued.

Irina frowned. "Why the shades?"

"Because without them, I couldn't see anything at all!"

"Do you mean to say they're a type of artificial eyes?" asked Arkady.

"That's exactly what they are!"

"May I please examine them for just a minute?"

"Of course!" Geordi handed his visor to Arkady, who examined it at length.

"This is my assistant, Mr. Data," Geordi continued.

Irina couldn't believe her eyes. Before her stood the strangest man she'd ever seen. His skin was a shiny gold, and his eyes were yellow. "I am very pleased to meet you," he said as he shook the twentieth century couple's hands.

"I must confess, I've never met anyone with yellow eyes before," Arkady told him.

"I am an android, sir," Data told him.

Arkady's eyebrows furrowed. "I see."

"Meet our chief of security, Worf," Will continued.

Irina gasped in fright at the sight of Worf's forehead. "I assure you, madam, I am not dangerous," he assured her.

"Mr. Worf is from the planet Klingon," Will explained.

Irina glanced at Deanna. "Yes, there are many other planets that contain intelligent life besides Earth and Betazed," the counselor explained.

"How many?" asked Arkady.

"That's really too broad a subject to get into right now," Will replied. "Jean-Luc, I have important news for you. Deanna and I have decided to marry, and we want you to perform the ceremony."

"Well, now, congratulations!" Jean-Luc beamed. "I'm so glad to hear you've finally chosen to take the plunge. Now, if I could only persuade Beverly here to do the same." He cast wistful eyes in her direction, and she smiled and glanced down.

The ceremony was set for several days later, and then Deanna showed Arkady to their temporary quarters. "Everything just looks so...futuristic," Irina remarked as she ran her hand over the unfamiliar furniture.

"I can't wait to figure out how everything works." Arkady searched in vain for an alarm clock, a radio, or a toaster.

At dinnertime, Will returned to teach them how to use the food replicator. At first, Irina was hesitant to try the replicated chicken, potatoes, and peas. "Go ahead and taste it! It's perfectly safe," Will encouraged.

She did, then grimaced. Will laughed. "The taste does take some getting used to."

By the time of the wedding, the Russian couple had become somewhat accustomed to their new surroundings. They and the others watched as Deanna, escorted by Worf, walked down the aisle to stand beside Will. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to unite this man and woman in holy matrimony," Jean-Luc began. "William Thomas Riker, do you take this woman, Deanna Troi, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," said Will.

"Deanna Troi, do you take this man, William Thomas Riker, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," said Deanna.

"Then by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Everyone gathered around the happy couple, embracing and congratulating them. Arkady and Irina prepared to return to New York soon afterwards. "It's very important that you never say a word about what you've seen and heard to anyone," Will told them. "Our prime directive forbids us from interfering in the development of any pre-warp society.

"I have no desire to be considered mentally ill, anyway," Arkady chuckled.

"Will we ever see you and Deanna again?" asked Irina.

"I hope so." Once Will had become accustomed to the idea of conversing with his own distant ancestors, he'd become genuinely fond of Arkady and Irina.

Upon finding themselves back in New York, Arkady joined the New York Police Department, while Irina became re-acquainted with with the city she'd left over ten years previously. While touring some of her old haunts in Broadway one day, she came upon a familiar face. "Irina!" The slight, middle-aged man with the salt-and-pepper beard walked over and shook her hand. "So you've come back to visit us!"

"Actually, I live here now," Irina replied. "My husband and I recently moved here from Moscow."

"So you and Max are married now?"

"No, not Max. I married my true love, Arkady Renko."

"The investigator who helped you defect back in '83."

"Yes."

"And are you still working in broadcasting?"

"Oh, no. I haven't done that in awhile."

"You know there's always a place for you here should you desire to return to us."

"Perhaps I'll do just that."

Arkady was going about his usual business the day he saw her. Although he hadn't seen her in seven years, he recognized her right away. He turned and headed in the opposite direction, but it was too late. She'd already seen him.

"Arkady!"