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Phasing In PG Rating

by Zlanna@AOL.com

Will Riker was never bored. There were too many details to keep straight as First Officer. He was constantly checking on the each of the bridge station officers and there were always the shift schedules to keep straight, reviews to be completed, staff meetings to attend to, daily activity rosters to check and a myriad other details that fell to the First Officer of a major star ship.

Today was not usual though. It actually had started during the second watch on the previous day. Stray, random thoughts would intrude in the middle of his routine. At first the distraction was a rather pleasant, if an ill-timed intrusion. At 52 it had been several years since he had been forced to concentrate on his duties during a watch, actively resisting a stray fantasy or two.

Damn! There he was again. He glanced at Councilor Troi as discretely as possible to judge what her reaction to his latest lapse would be. To his surprise, Deanna was starring off into nowhere in particular herself. "Good", he thought. "Perhaps she didn't notice after all." Although the half Betazoid could not read his thoughts, she was good at picking up on any sexual urges he might have. Very good at picking up on them. Usually she delighted in letting him know just how much she disapproved of such thoughts too. Will checked the computer's chronometer, 2 standard hours until the shift change. He tried to remember the last time he waited for his shift to end. Yesterday, actually. Yesterday he started stealing glances at the computer chronometer 1 standard hour before his shift was over.

An hour later Riker was still checking his chronometer. Time was dragging on and he was finding it harder and harder to concentrate. The thing that bothered him most though was that these fantasies were not his usual fare. Instead they seemed to begin with a romantic walk, or a soft kiss. Riker forced himself to return to writing the final edits of the phase inducer emergency power down drill scheduled in two days. Glancing up, he checked the time. With relief he realized the shift was over.

Riker passed the watch and gratefully entered the turbolift. The constant distractions could be a sign. Maybe his subconscious was telling him that he had put his personal life on hold for far too long. As if in response to his thoughts, his communicator sounded. "Riker here."

"Commander! This is Dr. Celeste. I was wondering if you would care to join me for dinner this evening?"

Riker was tempted. Judy Celeste was a civilian scientist that had started a six month project on board the Enterprise just a few weeks ago. She was an avid mountain climber and did seem to have a good deal in common with him. Almost to his surprise, Riker found himself replying, "Thank you for the invitation, but I have other plans tonight." Other plans? Riker wondered who he was kidding. Then he remembered his fantasy. Why the hell not, he wondered? With that he headed back to his quarters.

"Riker to Troi."

"Not now Will."

Riker didn't know what response he was expecting from Deanna, but a refusal to talk to him had not been a scenario he had anticipated.

"Deanna are you okay?"

"Will leave me alone!"

Riker paced his quarters beginning to worry what could be wrong with Deanna. Finally he decided to try just one last time. "Deanna, are you all right?" There was no answer. He was about to request Dr. Crusher's assistance when his door chime sounded. He was in no mood to deal with Judy Celeste. "Open!" he ordered impatiently. Dr. Celeste was not present. Instead, Deanna stood in his doorway. She ran her hand through her disheveled hair and impatiently asked, "Well, are you going to ask me in or do you want me to leave?"

"No, come in. Deanna, are you okay?"

"I need you, Imzadi." was his only reply before she came over to him burying her face against his chest.

"What's wrong?" Will demanded but already he felt her mind probing his. Not the soft, gentle brush she upon occasion had used with him, but an insistent probe that demanded entry into his thoughts. Then abruptly she pulled away despite the fact that he opened his mind to her.

"Imzadi. I choose you." She sent to him.

I choose you. For what? He tried to understand, but he had no idea what she was referring to. "Deanna, what is troubling you?" Her answer was a very vivid, very explicit picture she planted in his mind that immediately brought back the fantasy that he had experienced earlier. Then dissolving into tears, Deanna tried to break loose from his embrace and escape back to her room. He held her too tightly though. He was not sure, but he had an idea he knew what was troubling the counselor. On the off chance that he was correct, he gave the traditional promise in the old Betazoid dialect, whispered softly in her ear. Her tears fell quietly as she answered in the traditional response, confirming his suspicions. It was a rather romantic way to get engaged, he decided, but as Deanna drew him close and began to kiss him, Riker realized the celebration was going to be even more romantic.

By the time the computer announced Riker's usual wake up time hours later, the Commander had already come to realize the dilemma that faced Deanna Troi. He lay next to her watching her sleep peacefully, exhausted after their non-stop love-making that had made up a little for the thirty some years since the last time they had spent the night together. Will wondered what would happen now that Deanna had indeed entered the first stages of the phase. His promise issued the previous evening was an indication of his acceptance of her desire to have him for her mate. He kissed her on the mouth and watched her wake up. "Good morning, I mzadi," he sent to her surprising himself at how little effort was required to achieve the telepathy.

"Where?" Deanna threw back the sheets only to discover her lack of sleeping attire. "Will Riker! How dare you take advantage of me like this!" Jumping out of bed, she started towards the door as Riker reached out taking her hand. "Deanna. Are you telling me you don't remember coming here last night? Don't you remember the promises we exchanged?"

She stopped confused, staring at him. He could feel her desire increasing again as she stared at his nude body. Gently he pulled her towards him. "You know I would never take advantage of you, but neither could I turn you away. Tell me, have you no memory of last night?"

Deanna hung her head. "You are my Imzadi. I am drawn to you as a moth to the flame at this time." Again, she tried unsuccessfully to pull away, but he would not let her go. He gently placed his hand under her chin and pulled her face up forcing her to look at him. "Will, I am sorry. I should never have put you in this position." she confessed.

"I would have been very upset if you had put anyone else in this position." Will answered truthfully.

An hour later, Riker hit his com badge. "Riker to Data. Data I am going to need to report an hour later than normal. I will be with Dr. Crusher if you need me."

"Acknowledged Commander."

Will looked over at Deanna. "Ready?"

Deanna was looking at him in a very suggestive way and the fantasy she created in his thoughts was tempting. Laughing Riker took her hand. "Come on. We just got you dressed, let's go see Doctor Crusher."

Beverly Crusher listened compassionately as Deanna sat in her office and discussed her 'problem'. Outside the office Riker sat waiting, wondering what people would think when they learned what was happening to Deanna and what had happened between the two of them.

"Yellow alert!" "Yellow alert!", "Commander Riker to the bridge." Riker stuck his head in Crusher's office. "You'll watch her?"

Beverly nodded, "Yes, I will."

Deanna looked up at him, her eyes begging him to stay, her thoughts in conflict between demanding he come to her and trying to control her desires so he could do his job. Crusher watched the two of them for a moment. "Are you okay?" She asked Riker, wondering for the first time just how he fit into all of this.

"Of course I am." he called as he turned to run out the door toward the bridge.

"Is he?" Crusher asked Deanna.

Deanna hesitated, "I, I don't know. Maybe if you sedate me."

Riker reported to the bridge to discover that the Enterprise was orbiting a class-N planet. "What's going on?"

The communications officer answered, "We received a distress call from a small transport shuttle that apparently crashed onto the surface before we could arrive."

"Conditions, Data?"

"The atmosphere is thin, with a high mixture of sulfur. A humanoid could survive but only for a limited time without protection."

"How limited?" Riker asked.

Data turned to face the Commander. "Fifteen minutes - half hour tops."

Riker looked to Picard who nodded, "Pick your team, Number One."

Riker picked Data, Crusher and a security detail. Normally he would have picked Deanna Troi, but today that was out of the question.

Doctor Crusher glanced quickly over at Troi as she fell asleep on the bio bed. Turning to the nurse, Crusher warned, "I hate sedating her. It is not a solution, but unavoidable for the moment. Don't let her wake-up before the away team returns to the ship." The nurse confirmed the order and Crusher made her way to the transporter room.

On the transporter pad, Beverly eyed Riker who was waiting for her. "How is she?"

"Asleep." Crusher replied.

Riker relaxed, "Ah! Okay."

Crusher scanned him quickly with her tricorder before he could protest. "And how are you?" she asked him.

"Fine." was her curt reply, but the doctor noticed that his readings on the tricorder were the same as if he had been given some sort of relaxant. "Are you two" her question was interrupted by the whir of the transport beam.

Everyone gagged at the first inhale of the strange atmosphere. Nearby was the transport shuttle, broken into three pieces scattered over the ground. Strange clouds of fog were scattered around the barren landscape which was punctuated by bubbling mud holes, small geysers and open beds of lava which periodically spit out molten rock in tiny fireworks. Everyone heard a moan and Smith, one of the security men, ran toward a body that was stirring. As the fog enveloped Smith he cried out in agony and fell to the ground, writhing in pain.

"Doctor, what is the nature of that fog?" Riker demanded.

"Sulfur, oxygen mix, similar to what we are breathing. Some more complex chemicals, that I don't recognize...nothing *dangerous." Crusher confirmed.

"Enterprise, lock on to Ensign Smith and beam directly to Sickbay." Riker looked at Crusher, who was gingerly making her way to another body. "Just a minute doctor," Riker warned. He went first. Bending down he started to examine the dead transport shuttle pilot when he noticed some strange looking powder on the ground. Reaching over he touched the powder. One of the largest fog patches moved directly to Riker and covered him, leaving him screaming in convulsions.

Overhead, Deanna Troi woke up from her sedated sleep. Dutifully a nurse ran to her with the injection. "No!" Deanna screamed. "I must help Commander Riker."

Nurse Temple shook her head, "I'm sorry Counselor. Doctor Crusher gave me strict orders."

"Just double-check the orders with her." Deanna demanded.

On the surface Crusher started to go to the aid of Commander Riker when a patch of fog blocked her path. Fearful of the strange smoke, Crusher tried to go around it, but was blocked again. "Fascinating," Data said, "it may be alive."

A moment later, Nurse Temple's call came through.

"Doctor Crusher, Counselor Troi is insisting that she beam down to the surface to help Commander Riker."

"That is all right, Nurse. Go ahead and release her." Crusher replied.

Picard's voice came through the com badge, "You think that is wise, doctor?"

"I think we need her, Captain. It appears we may be dealing with an intelligent life form. Troi may be the only one capable of confirming that."

Troi materialized a few feet away from Riker's body which was shaking, but quiet. Immediately she sensed his pain as every nerve seemed to be raw. "Will, I'm here." she sent to him and immediately heard another voice in her head. It was a howl like the wind, but the words it formed made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. "The mate has arrived, now the sentencing can begin."

Crusher noticed that Deanna was still as if listening to something or someone. "Deanna?" she called, but Troi did not respond.

"Captain, it appears that Deanna is communicating with someone or something, but she will not respond to us."

"Acknowledged." Picard paced on the bridge, then stopped for a moment. "Doctor, what is the status of Commander Riker?"

"He is the same."

Picard resumed his seat. Leaning forward intently he quizzed, "And the Counselor?"

Beverly's voice over the com link reflected her concern, "Counselor Troi is communicating with the life forms."

"The manifold of the transport ship indicates that they were to report to Gamnus IV in two days time. We have uploaded the transports logs and it appears they experienced a power failure in their essential maneuvering array. We suspect they were forced to crash land on the surface. Do you see anything that would confirm this theory?" Picard waited for Crusher's report.

"Yes, Sir. Debris is scattered all over the surface here. There are scorch marks as well. It looks like there was a fireball when the craft hit, Sir."

On the surface of the planet, Deanna Troi asked her captors, "Sentencing for what?"

"For disturbing the dead." was the answer.

"But we are only trying to retrieve our dead colleagues. We must take them back to their families."

"Not your dead! Our dead!" came the response.

"Did he disturb your dead?" Troi asked indicating Riker.

"Yes! He will pay. You are his mate. You will stand by him since the two of you are one." The echoes of the words reverberated in Deanna's thoughts.

"He did not realize your dead were here." Troi protested.

"That is no defense." the voice continued.

"The others are not capable of speech, they may go, but you and your mate are aware. You will be punished. That is the law."

Deanna looked at Crusher. "Get back to the Enterprise."

The doctor looked at Troi in confusion. "What?"

Deanna was starting to feel the effects of the phase again. Her head pounded and the blood raced through her veins. "Beverly, go now while you can!"

"What about you and Will?"

Troi licked her lips and looked at Riker on the ground. "We must stay. Will disturbed one of their dead. We are being punished for the crime. Now go quickly." Beverly shook her head. "Being punished by who?"

"By the entities that exist here." Troi waved at the clouds of fog scattered around. "Please Beverly, go. Maybe you can figure something out from the Enterprise."

Crusher remained. "Why are the two of you being punished?"

"Because we are linked telepathically."

"We are not leaving you here." Crusher protested.

"If you don't you may be preventing our only chance of a reprieve. I sense that not all agree with our guilt, but they are all disturbed by your refusal to go." Troi answered before entering a deep trance. Against her better judgment, Crusher took out two atmospheric mask with filters and passed both to Troi. One the Counselor put on. Crusher hit her badge and announced, "three security officers and myself to beam back. Troi and Riker are remaining."

"You will have an opportunity to defend yourself." a voice warned Troi. "But I must tell you there is no defense for your actions."

Deanna paid no attention to the voice, instead she went to Riker, crumbling to the ground when one of the fog patches approached her. Crawling to Will she put the mask on his face before she collapsed on the ground beside him.

"Why do you not answer?" the voice asked. "Are you admitting your guilt?"

Deanna searched for Will's thoughts in vain. "No, we have no guilt. Look at us, we are different from you. We cannot disturb the dead the way that you do. We are constructed differently than you. We can only detect things by touch or sight."

"But you are aware." the voice answered.

"Only in a limited way." Deanna admitted. "By our laws you are murdering us. If you make our leaders angry by killing us, they will send others here that will disturb your dead. Others who are even less aware than I am. They will have no idea that you even exist."

"What do you want here?" the voices asked.

"Release him and let us take our dead home." Deanna felt herself starting to slip into unconsciousness herself.

From a distance Deanna heard the voices arguing, but it was as if in a dream, "Father this will not bring mother back to life."

"Someone must pay!" the wind answered.

"It was an accident. Mother would not want you to kill a bonded pair like these two. They have not even borne young yet. Let them go, father. Let them go as a tribute to mother."

"No!" The wind howled in frustration.

"It is not right! You dishonor my mother by their deaths." Silence came to the surface of the planet. The atmosphere was still.

A voice ancient and tired echoed the words, "Daughter, you are wise." slowly the fog lifted from the bodies of Deanna and Will Riker and Deanna's communicator began to beep for automatic transfer.

"Deanna. Deanna. Can you hear me?" Troi opened her eyes to find Doctor Crusher staring intently at her. She sensed Will near her. "Is Commander Riker okay?" she asked.

Crusher looked over at Riker as he slept. "I believe so, but I need to know whether your 'condition' affects him."

Deanna pushed herself onto one arm, surveying the sick bay to see who else might be listening. "Yes." she replied quietly, "a little."

"Mostly it just tires me out." she heard a deep voice reply behind her.

Several hours later Riker pulled his uniform back on as he stood in the bedroom of Deanna Troi. He eyed her suspiciously for a few minutes. "You are sure this is what you want to do?"

"Are you saying it is not what you want?" Deanna challenged him.

His smile spread across his face. Taking her hand he pulled her to him. "Imzadi." He sent as he bent down to kiss her. "I'm not about to let you off this ship without me by your side. If you are sure, let's go and get this over with."

Picard was in his ready room, expecting the visit. He raised his head when he heard Riker's request to enter. Will Riker looked remarkably like a cat that had just swallowed the canary. He had his arm wound tightly around the waist of Deanna Troi as if to physically establish a no man's land around her. Picard stood and motioned them both to take a seat. "I was expecting you two. I have read your request Counselor, and I do understand, your, situation. I will miss you during your leave of absence which I am happy to approve." Picard saw Riker's worried expression and fear of being denied his leave request. There were few opportunities when the Captain could get Riker back for the years of being the brunt of Riker's off-handed comments so he savored the moment. "And of course, we will miss you as well Commander, but I do look forward to seeing both of you at your wedding next month on Betazed. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your three months leave of absence. Oh, by the way, Beverly asked me to invite both of you to dinner tonight. Say in a half hour?"

Picard caught Troi's embarrassment first. Will looked over at her as if she had said something to him then he answered Picard. "Actually Captain, could we make it in two hours?"

Nodding Picard started to ask what the problem was when he saw Deanna start to lick her lips as if she was thirsty. Suddenly the Captain felt his face burn. "Certainly, Number One. Two hours it is. Take all the time you need, uh, want." Picard watched the two of them standing there awkwardly and wondered why they hadn't left. "Ah, yes, dismissed."

Riker's grin had returned and his eyes twinkled with anticipation as he led his fiancee out the door. The doors shut and Picard relaxed against his chair. He was beginning to see the wisdom of Counselor Troi's leave request. Hitting the com link he called, "Picard to Crusher."

"Crusher here."

"Beverly, Deanna and Will need two hours before dinner."

"Two hours?" Beverly giggled. "Jean-Luc, at that rate Will won't last until the wedding."

"I have the utmost faith in my First Officer's ability to fulfill any duties required of him by the Counselor, Doctor."

"Do you have 200 credits worth of faith?"

Picard thought for a moment. "I will do better than that. If Will Riker isn't on his feet at the wedding, I will take you on a week's leave to Thelius's beaches myself."

The com link was silent. "And if he is on his feet?" Crusher's tone was deep and suggestive.

"Then you will take me on a week's leave to Thelius of course." Picard answered.

Beverly's laughter filled the room. "That is a deal you can't lose."

"Nor can you." He replied.

"Well, I'm pulling for Riker then!" Beverly replied.

"As are we all, doctor."

The End.

Copyright 1997 by Zlanna.

I only do this for the pleasure of Imzadi fans. If you enjoyed the story or if you have suggestions, please send your comments to Zlanna@AOL.com.