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	Return Engagement Cont. by Zlanna@AOL.com


	"I assume you have a good reason for breaking curfew, Commander
Riker?" Sergeant Hyoto stood between Riker and the Security check point
that led to the greeting room. There was no way for Riker to get to the
Terminal without going through the check point. He hesitated.

	"I have to meet incoming flight number 433." Riker's thoughts were
starting to cloud. He had half expected it to happen, but it was not a
convenient time for it to occur.

	"May I ask why?" the Sergeant pressed.

	"Look," Riker swallowed hard trying to keep his voice calm. "I don't
have much time. Please." In desperation he found himself talking to
Primerashioro, then turned immediately back to Hyoto. It wasn't fair to
put this on Primerashioro. Riker's anticipation was growing. His stomach
was tied in a knot, despite the deep breathing that he had unconsciously
begun.

	Sergeant Hyoto shrugged her shoulders and looked at her husband
whose eyes were also pleading Riker's case. "Well, Commander, I
suppose,"

	Success. He would make the transport after all. Just as he was ready
to thank Hyoto, a man's shouts filled the large crowded area causing
Riker to turn to see what was the commotion. "That's him! Stop that
officer!" Riker looked up to see the MP from the dorm running at full
speed, both arms pumping, one clutching the ominous looking Klingon pain
prod.

	"What is going on here?" Hyoto asked as Marshall Warren came to a
halt in front of her. He bent over, trying to talk at the same time he
was gulping in large, deep breaths of air.

	"He." Warren gasped again. "He broke curfew."

	"Oh God. I don't have time for this." Will said. His mind was nearly
on autopilot. Tension was escalating. People were jostling for position.
Break free, his mind screamed, but duty kept him pinned to the spot.

	Warren's face was red from his exertion. But it was his anger that
maintained the color. "You, mister," he screamed pointing a shaking
finger at Riker, "You broke curfew. Just what makes you better than
everyone else in the dorm? What makes you so special you don't have to
mind my rules?"

	It was almost time. Riker could feel it. Any more delay and it would
be too late. Too late to make a difference. Too late to salvage the
mission. Too late to alter his future.

	"Do you know who this is?" Primerashioro shouted at Warren.

	"I couldn't care less who this is. No one is above my rules!" Warren
screamed back at the transport driver.

	"Your rules?" Hyoto asked, her voice calm in the wake of the men's
fury.

	Warren blinked several times as if confused. "What? Are you siding
with him? Against one of your own?"

	Hyoto gave Warren a reassuring smile, "Commander, breaking curfew at
the Academy is a serious offense. I'm afraid you must return with Mr.
Warren."

	Riker was only vaguely aware of the conversation. Worry. Where to
go. Would anyone be there? He had to meet that transport. He had to be
there. "I have to go."

	"Yes, that's right." Hyoto agreed. "Unless you can reveal why you
have to meet the transport ship. Are you on an official Starfleet
mission? Do you have permission to break curfew?"

	"I have to meet the transport." Riker began to walk toward the
Security check point.

	"Just a minute here." Warren stepped in front of Riker. "You aren't
going anywhere but back to the dorm."

	"The dorm?" Riker focused on the MP in front of him. "The dorm? I
have to be at the terminal. Get out of my way."

	"All right, buddy, that's enough." Warren brought out a stun phaser.
"You are coming with me, conscious or unconscious."

	"No!" Riker's cry was one of both frustration and refusal. "No, I
will not. I have to go to the terminal. I have to get there."

	Warren never expected the officer to jump to the right and forward.
"I was hoping you would say that." Warren fired the phaser an in his
excitement, Warren's shot went wild. Dazed by his failure, Warren just
stared at his phaser.

	Riker turned to Hyoto. "I have to go. Please."

	She nodded, "Go."

	"No!" Warren cried, "You can't let him go."

	"Let him go, Warren. Let him meet his transport. We can sort this
all out later. After all we know where he's staying and he'll never get
out of the transport station without our knowledge."  Hyoto turned
toward Riker, but he was already running toward the Security checkpoint.
In her combadge she instructed, "Let the Commander through Security."
Turning toward Warren she ordered, "Follow him, but don't interfere
until after he's met the transport. Find out what it was that was so
important he was willing to risk an official reprimand on his record."

	"Knowing his reputation," Primerashioro laughed, "he's probably got
some hot date."

	Hope. Disappointment. He was too late. But he kept running. Maybe
just the effort would be enough. The fact that he tried. He reached
Terminal C to find the passengers already milling around the greeting
room, making their way toward the main terminal. He stood, drained,
alone, lonely. He was so sure he had done the right thing this time. He
spun around once more, searching. The ache of discovery. Anticipated
excitement. He heard her laugh before he felt her presence behind him.

	"Will! I knew you would be here."

	Riker twisted around again and finding Deanna Troi directly behind
him he pulled her into his arms and hugged her with such intensity that
she gave a small cry. Their eyes met briefly and then their lips joined
followed by the merging of their thoughts. Their thoughts which had been
in communication all day during her trip from Deep Space Five. "Welcome
home, Imzadi." he sent to her.

	He drew back, his arms still around her waist. "I missed you. I kept
thinking about the last time we were together. How I ran out."

	"Shhhh. I understood."

	"I was afraid if I didn't go, I'd never be able to leave you." He
stroked her hair, reacquainting himself with the sight of her, the feel
of her.

	"The strength of the bond is frightening."

	"I don't mind. It brought me to you." Will whispered. He closed his
eyes, content just to bask in the emotions they shared.

	"Will." Deanna broke away, "didn't you have a curfew?"

	Riker bit his lower lip in answer.

	"Will? You did get permission to come didn't you?"

	"Not exactly. See that MP over there?" Riker pointed to where Warren
was standing blocking the checkpoint back to the main terminal. "My
personal escort back to the dorm."

	"He has a Klingon pain prod with him!" Deanna winced. "And he's
itching to use it."

	"I figured as much." Riker said.

	"We'll see about that." Riker started to protest but it was too
late. Already Deanna was marching over to Warren. Taking off behind her,
Will tried to shake the image of an angry Lwaxana Troi that had just
flashed though his mind.

	"Just what are you doing with a Klingon pain prod?" Deanna demanded.
She looked up at the big MP, her hands on her hips, her chin stuck out,
looking as if she were ready to forcibly take the stick and use it on
Warren herself.

	"You're Deanna Troi!" Warren said.

	"Yes, that's right." Deanna answered, momentarily distracted by
having a complete stranger recognize her.

	"From the Enterprise." Warren continued.

	"Yes."

	Warren broke into a rare smile. "Nice landing. Is he your
boyfriend?" Warren asked.

	"Well." Deanna stopped, speechless.

	"What of it?" Riker answered behind her.

	Warren jerked his head to his right drawing Riker off a little ways.
"She's the reason you broke curfew?"

	"I'd rather not get her name in the official report. She's done
nothing wrong. I'm the one who broke the curfew." Riker answered
defensively.

	A slow smile spread across Warren's face. "You were willing to risk
getting stunned by a phaser for her?"

	"I've risked a lot more than that for her before." Riker said, his
eyes resting on Deanna's face across the room.

	Warren gave Riker a gentle poke in the side with the pain prod.
Luckily it was turned off. His eyes never left Deanna Troi. "I don't
blame you, man. Don't blame you at all."

	Riker fought back the first pangs of hope mixed with the tinge of
jealousy , both born from Warren's comment. "I was hoping to help get
her settled. Find her quarters."

	"She have a dorm assignment?" Warren asked.

	"Dorm I-3. You know I served 6 months in security on Betazed as
Starfleet liaison. Ever know Sergeant Tang?" Riker met the MP's gaze,
hoping that he had struck a chord.

	"Nope. Can't say I have."

	"Well, its a big universe. Lots of men in Security." Riker said,
reconciling himself to returning to the dorm with only Warren as a
companion. At least he had met Deanna and she knew he had made the
effort. He felt better for knowing he had tried this once. Given it
everything he could.

	"Lots of good men in Security." Warren put the pain prod in its
sheaf that hung off his belt. "Sindareen attack. A Lieutenant Riker
rescued a girl."

	Riker couldn't keep the smile down. "Yes, that's right. That was
me."

	"Now that I get a good look at you I can tell it is. First time they
used the portable Level 10 , shoulder-mounted phaser cannon, Model II in
action. Took guts giving the order to shoot down those raiders." Warren
ran a hand through his hair, then nodded toward Deanna, "Deanna Troi is
a Betazoid."

	"Yes." Riker answered carefully.

	"She's the girl the Federation security team rescued?"

	Riker shook his head yes.

	"You were five days in the jungle bringing her out. I bunked once
with a young fellow who was there. Adams. Remember him?"

	Riker tried. He tried hard, but the truth was he didn't remember.
"Sorry, afraid not."

	"Well. Like you said there's a lot of us in Security, right Riker?"

	Riker relaxed for the first time. "Sure are. Call me Will."

	"Here." Warren reached in his pocket and pulled out a security pass
padd. "Dorm MPs have the option of giving out passes you know. You want
to go visiting her again, you'll need a pass, okay Will?"

	"Okay. Thanks." Will took the pass and read it. "Unlimited dorm
pass. No curfew restrictions. No expiration date." He looked up at
Warren who clapped the Commander hard on his shoulder.

	"No thanks necessary. All part of the service."

	THE END.