Troi lifted two heavy goblets from the banquet table and carefully stepped around the chairs on her way to the bonfire. The forest was pitch-black, except for the bonfires that blazed among the trees, and each one was surrounded by Aphridian wedding guests, who were gyrating wildly to the music pulsating through the air. Most of the Aphridians' scales were jet black, making them nearly invisible in the darkness, except when their silhouettes darted in front of the flames, casting their ridged profiles in stark relief for a moment before they melted into the darkness again.
A group of Aphridians beside the nearest bonfire were tossing one of their group into the air, cheering every time he flew up and landed again. Troi kept a safe distance until the figure was caught a final time and tumbled to the earth in a laughing, gasping heap. The figure leaped up, the fire striking his skin and illuminating his bared teeth as he grinned. "You're quite good at that, aren't you?" Troi commented.
Commander William T. Riker, for so it was, met her gaze and accepted the goblet she offered. "Well, I'm no Baron Vonschlip, but I know my way around a wedding dance."
The corner of Troi's mouth dipped into an amused smirk. "Who's Baron Vonschlip?"
"Renowned professional dancer from Bruzhad Two. Bit of a snot, but impeccable form. Too bad the revolutionaries didn't appreciate it." He took a sip from the goblet and smacked his lips. "Ooh, that packs a wallop!" he exclaimed.
Troi looked past the bonfire to the wedding bower at the head of the clearing. The groom obviously doted over the bride, who bore striking white splotches all over her scales. In the darkness, she practically glowed, like a constellation suspended in space. Both families sat grouped around the couple, the bride's family sporting similar markings. "It's amazing to think those families were determined to wipe each other out only three days ago," Troi commented. "And all over a triviality like the color of their scales."
"Well, the Aphridi have always been a passionate race. They just needed a more positive direction for it," said Riker with a grin.
The parents of the bride spotted them and hurried over to where they stood. "Commander Riker, I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for us," said the father of the bride. "After decades of feuding, our families can finally move forward as a united clan."
"I do love a good wedding," Riker agreed.
"And you did such a beautiful job officiating the ceremony," added the mother of the bride. "We were honored by your reading of the sacred texts."
Riker laughed. "I hope my Aphridian wasn't too rudimentary." The mother of the bride clasped his hand in hers and beamed at him. "May I wish you starry nights and good earth on this happy occasion," he said softly.
"Starry nights and good earth, Commander," she replied, her voice quivering with emotion.
Riker's communicator beeped, interrupting the moment. "Enterprise to Riker."
Riker tapped the communicator. "Riker here."
"I hate to break up the party, Number One, but the Enterprise is ready to leave orbit. Have you sufficiently discharged your duty?"
Riker looked back at the beaming parents, their eyes full of gratitude. "Affirmative, sir."
"Very well. Prepare to beam up. Enterprise out."
The happy scene disintegrated into the familiar yellow flash, then in an instant they were standing on a Star Fleet transporter pad. Troi was puzzled. " 'Starry nights and good earth'?" she asked as she stepped down.
"Traditional Aphridian blessing," Riker explained. "They're nocturnal, and highly ecological. Many of the plants they grow only bloom at night and are highly sought after in other parts of the quadrant."
They went out together and followed the corridor to the turbo lift. "Bridge," Riker commanded, and the lift immediately began to rise.
"So why the feuding?" asked Troi.
"Aphridians typically are all black, so they can blend into the darkness, but some have a genetic mutation that creates those white splotches. The "pure" Aphridians viewed them as inferior and unfit to survive, and it started a feud that lasted for decades."
"I guess I just can't understand a society that devalues people just because of their appearance," Troi sighed.
The turbolift opened onto the bridge and they took their places on either side of the captain. "I hoped negotiations would go smoothly, but it was just dumb luck that the son and daughter of the opposing chieftains were in love," said Riker.
"Sounds like a true Romeo and Juliet story," commented Wesley from the helm.
"But thankfully with a happier ending," Picard added.
Data turned around in his seat, his head cocked quizzically. "Romeo and Juliet? Accessing." His eyes darted rapidly as the information was found. "Ah, Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. The plot is based on an Italian tale written by Matteo Bandello and translated into verse as The Tragical History of-"
"Yes, thank you, Data," Picard interrupted.
"Yes sir."
"Mr. Crusher, set course for the Nigelli system, warp factor two," Picard ordered.
Wesley's fingers flew over the controls. "Course laid in, sir."
"Engage."
Picard consulted his conn panels again. "Mr. Worf, inform the Nigellans that we will be arriving at Nigelli Six in four hours," he ordered.
"Aye sir," replied Worf, working rapidly. "Transmitting now."
Picard turned to Troi. "Counselor, have we received confirmations from all delegates?"
"Yes, Captain. All forty-six delegations have confirmed their places at the conference," she replied.
"Forty-six?" Riker repeated. "That's a lot of moving parts."
"More like pieces in an ever-evolving jigsaw puzzle," Picard sighed. "I admire their efforts to maintain peace by simply redefining their territories to accommodate new factions, but it's a temporary solution at best."
"You can't please everyone, no matter how hard you try," Riker agreed.
"They've wanted to enter the Federation for so long, but it concerns me that not all of their territories share that desire," Troi mused. "I'm concerned about their stability as a society."
"Hopefully we can assuage any concerns and guide them towards a resolution," Picard replied.
The helm beeped and Wesley's brow furrowed. "Captain, I'm reading a disturbance in the engines. We appear to be slowing down."
The bridge crew all looked up in surprise. "Bridge to Engineering," Picard called.
"LaForge here, Captain."
"Are we experiencing engine trouble?"
"No Captain, but something is definitely causing us to slow down. We're barely cracking warp one."
"How did we lose half our speed so quickly?" Riker wondered aloud.
"Can you compensate, Geordi?" Picard called.
"Yes Captain, once I figure out where the problem is coming from. At first glance, there's no discernible hindrance to our engines."
"Keep me apprised. Picard out."
"Engine now at three-quarter impulse," Wesley announced.
Picard turned to Worf. "Sensors?"
"Negative, Captain," he replied, "there's nothing out there."
"There must be something slowing us down," said Riker. "Maybe some sort of anomaly our sensors can't see?"
"Engines at one-half impulse and continuing to slow down," said Data.
Picard rose from his chair. "Engineering, this is the Bridge. What do you have, Mr. LaForge?"
"I can't account for it, Captain. According to everything I'm seeing, there's no reason we shouldn't be at warp right now."
Picard paused for a moment, thinking. "All stop," he suddenly ordered.
"All stop, sir," Wesley acknowledged.
The hum of the engines died away, and immediately the Enterprise began to shake so violently that the crew was tossed about the bridge like dice in a cup. "Red alert!" Riker shouted, and the alarms began to blare.
"Engineering, what the hell is going on?!" Picard shouted.
"I don't know, Captain! It's like something's grabbed us!"
Data managed to grab onto his chair and peer at his console. "Captain, we appear to be on a descent," he called. "The Enterprise… is spiraling down."
"To what?!" Riker yelled. "There's nothing out there!"
Picard grabbed onto the nearest sturdy object, which happened to be a ledge near the view screen. "We must… steady the ship!" he called. "We must trigger the inertial dampers!"
Troi, who had been clinging to the helmsman's chair, struggled mightily hand over hand until she could reach the panel. She could just see the buttons, and she jabbed at the right one. "Dampers triggered, Captain!" she shouted.
The shaking did not abate and Picard felt as though he would black out. "Geordi!" he yelled, then he lost consciousness.
The first thing Picard became aware of as he came to was a warm, blinding light that pierced through his eyelids. He held a hand over his eyes as he attempted to look around, but it took several seconds for him to adjust. The light resolved into a white sun, set into a blue sky similar to Earth's atmosphere. The surface underneath him was hard and uneven, and rather cold, like frozen brick. Picard pushed himself into a sitting position, wincing as the many cuts and bruises covering his body spasmed and ached, but it was nothing to what he saw. He lay on a mountain ledge, and below him, in a deep crater, lay what remained of the Enterprise. He scanned the mountainside, straining for a glimpse of his crew, but he couldn't see anyone. It would be a miracle if more than a few survived, he realized. Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks, and for once, Captain Jean-Luc Picard allowed himself to weep.