I've made up a little directive on this as can't find anything on the issue (if it's there I welcome you're input), but I'm taking writers liberty and playing with it anyway.

Chapter 14

"Dear Smokey! What on the orb are you doing woman?" Swiped Doone, playfully.

"Fish, you said catch fish, we need to eat."

"How have you not starved to death," he said extending an arm to help Tarya out of the stream.

"Tell me lad, have you ever caught a fish before." Wesley looked mildly panicked, Beverly amused.

"No Sir."

"Ay, less of the Sir, laddie. Come on." Doone's overly round, imposing frame whisked up young Crusher and plonked him bang smack in the middle of the stream. He was too polite to look totally gobsmacked, but it was close.

"Now, hands or a stick?" Added Doone.

"Umm, Stick," Surely that was the lesser of two evils Wesley thought. Guss had already taken it upon himself to carve some stakes. He threw one to Wesley who dropped it before fumbling around to retrieve it."

"Well go on then, try and stab one."

"You expect me to catch one, kill it and then eat it?"

"You got it." Wesley looked horrified, but a part of him was determined to excel at the challenge. He stabbed quite a few times at one of the many fish that were swimming upstream. They were of varying colours, beautiful and vibrant with an electric quality.

"They are beautiful fish." Wesley noted ironically as he kept trying to stab at one.

"Hmmm, but at least two or three of them should be lunch by now." Doone decided to help him.

"I got one, I got one!" Exclaimed an ecstatic Wesley.

"Great, add it to the pile lad." His win felt hollow as he threw his fish on the four Doone had already caught.

"That'll do; half a fish each and some berries." Doone pocked the fire ensuring it was burning nicely. "Sorry for the rough and ready meal. I imagine you're used to a far better cuisine."

"Actually," countered Picard. "It's rare we get to eat anything fresh, let alone this recently departed."

"Recently departed," toyed Beverley as she snuggled into him on the forest floor; "this is delicious, I can't remember the last time I was so carefree. There is definitely something to be said about living life day to day and off of the land."

"Indeed there is," said Picard echoing her sentiment wholeheartedly. "Who knows, when retirement looms, this could be our life."

"Hmm, maybe we should try it one holiday at a time." She responded.

"Curious…"mused Data.

"Feel free to elaborate," returned Starnel who was relaxing in the meadow grass.

"We appear to be being watched?" Starnel sat up, suddenly alert.

"Who by?"

"Creatures." As Starnel looked to the edge of the woods, he realised what Data was talking about. Packs of wolf-like creatures and several smaller animals were nestled around the edge seemingly just watching them. Several large birds were also perched on low branches, peering down.

"You were right in your initial assessment Mr Data," Starnel said as he plonked his head back down.

"Initial assessment, I am not aware I made one."

"Curious, they are curious. They are observing you, making sure you're not a threat… Come with me." Starnel led Data to the edge of the woods and towards the wolves. The biggest was a beautiful, long haired, canine creature with silver and white markings and dazzling blue eyes. Guss gestured for Data to take a step closer. The big beast mirrored his movement, stepping ahead of his family. Data noticed the eyes of all the other creatures had turned to him and some small woodland animals had scurried closer, huddling as though watching a play.

They kept slowly mirroring one another until they were barely an arm's length apart. By this time, everyone else had finished or left their eating to come and watch too. The canine bared his teeth, yet made no sound. Starnel stepped beside Data, his eyes turned purple and he reached his arm to the beast. The beast had no issue allowing Guss to stroke him. After a moment Guss stood and told Data to do the same.

"At least he's not capable of feeling pain if he does get bitten," sighed Beverly from the side-lines. They all held their breath as Data reached out to the creature. Within a moment the beast rubbed his head against Data and snuggled into him. From behind, Tarya and Doone had also sent a message to the other animals to assure them they were friends.

After a moment the creature's family ran forward to join data. "You can all go and pet the animals if you want. Just be calm, with quiet vocals and handle them gently," suggested Tarya. With that said, they all walked to data, as did many of the other creatures. The young pups seemed to be enthralled by Wesley and the birds especially taken by Deanna.

"This is fantastic," exclaimed Beverly as she cradled a small animal that had jumped into her hands. It was not dissimilar to a red squirrel, but had very tufty ears, big eyes and a very long, thin tale with a tuft I on the end. Its eyes were like fire crystals.

"That's a willet," noted Christoph. They live in the trees and use their tails to swing from branch to branch.

"It's beautiful," responded Beverly as the willet seemed to rub in understanding.

After a few more minutes the animals bolted, as though a gun had fired. Deanna could sense the tension in the air too.

"Let's get to Bramble!" Shouted Tarya with a sense of urgency. "Doone, Guss, lead everyone to the Tavern. Christoph stay with Wesley. I'll bring up the rear." They all began to move without question. Picard dropped to the back with Deanna to speak to Tarya.

"What's happening?"

"Not too sure. Maybe you guys should beam back to the Enterprise… "Just as she spoke, smoke surrounded them and a black hooded figure appeared in their midst. He grabbed Beverley locking her tight and placing a blade to her throat. They all stopped and circled round.

The figure was silent and wearing a twisted mask with distorted features.

"Oh stop it Lyden," said Tarya with an air of authority, Deanna and the others, however, new she wasn't completely convinced.

"Oh, you got me." He said like a petulant child and removed the mask. What lay beneath wasn't much better. A thin, long face with greasy black hair and very yellow teeth, everything about his being and personality made your skin crawl.

"What do you want? Let her go."

"Hmm… hmmm no."

"And what was it you wanted?"

"Oh right – I want to get out of here - off this rock."

"Lyden you are in exile on this rock," retorted Guss. "Believe me, I'd love nothing more than to toss you off, but we can't just send our problems elsewhere."

"Tis not your choice though grandpa!"

"Oh please, you're my age - aren't you?."

"Stop it!" Demanded Tarya. "Let her go and I promise we will all just talk." He looked into her eyes for a moment, she was trying to hide her distain, if only not to give him the satisfaction. Lyden released Beverly and pushed her into Picard's arms.

"I know you love that one." He said whilst over fluttering his eyes creepily at them.

"You're not going to reprimand him or arrest him for assaulting someone?" Queried Wesley, angrily.

"Ahh, the son," mocked Lyden.

"Wesley, we don't have laws the way you do and we made a deal with him to free your mother. Talk we will," replied Tarya, "we don't want anyone getting hurt."

"I want to claim sanctuary aboard your ship." Lyden addressed Picard directly.

"On what basis?"

"I am a foreigner in a land and am being persecuted for it. I've been exiled, refused a home and ostracised by an entire community. I seek Asylum aboard your ship."

"Lyden, you are a criminal, you faced death, a ridiculous length of imprisonment, or Exile. You even got to choose your fate," aired and irritated Doone.

"Your lenience is not my problem. As you technically have no laws, I have not broken one, therefore your exile is not lawful and I have committed no crime, it is demeaning and exclusionary. I need political asylum and I ask you for it Captain. I believe it is a part of your directive and my right."

"In order for you to be granted Asylum onboard our ship we will need to prove you are not a threat to my crew or ship. You've already threatened us."

"That was out of fear Captain, you see, I am afraid for my life. Terrified, I did what I thought I had too, I didn't know you were so reasonable, I had no choice." Nothing about his demeanour or attitude concurred with his words, but Picard knew this put him in an awkward position.

"Captain, in order for Lyden to know what he does, he must have probed your mind, which is in itself is a threat and violation. That's twice before he's even spoken to you he's violated you," rebutted Tarya.

"Ah ha, he is a stranger on our world, a stranger in my space. It is only a natural reaction when your home is invaded. The animals did the exact same thing."

"Don't insult the animals, they are innocence personified." quipped Tarya.

"My point exactly."

"Listen," interrupted Picard, "I have no choice in this and I have to consider his request, but I have to also, prove his level of threat. As you have no laws I will have to judge him and his application under federation law."

"What does that entail?" Queried Doone. Picard thought for a moment.

"You say he is exiled for crimes. I need to establish whether he has committed any crime that would break our laws. He will need to have a trial."

"What!" Offered everyone at pretty much the same time. It was clear the concept of such a thing was alien to their new friends and felt extreme to the crew members.

"It means you will have to stand accountable for any crimes you may have committed under the jurisdiction of our laws."

"I have no idea what they are?" Speculated Lyden.

"I will assign Commander Data here to be your council, he is an android and will be fair and impartial to your course. He will highlight what you may have done that violate our laws and represent you accordingly."

"I can confirm that what he is saying is true." Confirmed Tarya. Lyden seemed more at ease with her words. Picard thought it really odd. Seemingly mortal enemies that took each other's words for everything they said.

"I am assuming you will be on the opposing side to everyone here Lyden."

"Yes, there will be no one on my side."

"Tell me Tarya, do you trust him?" She looked perplexed by his question.

"No. Not at all." Picard was confused now.

"His words, do you trust his words."

"Of course." They really were on oddity he thought.

"And Lyden, do you trust them."

"Are you referring to words again?"

"I am.

"Of course."

"Why!?" Asked a bewildered Picard, Tarya seemed to understand his confusion.

"Captain," offered Tarya, "we are not like otherworld's, "we don't lie. If he were going to kill you now he could so with no words, he is not a nice man, and it's why you shouldn't trust him. However, If you were to ask him, are you going to kill me? He would say yes - if that was his intention." Picard puffed out whilst considering and stroked his head.

"This will be an interesting trial... For the record Mr Lyden. Are you going to kill me?"

"Uknown." He simply replied, and with that they all headed off towards the tavern.