The Bridge

Will Riker stepped out of the turbo lift in his new, female cut uniform. He’d tied his hair back into a regulation pony tail. Everyone in the bridge stopped and looked at him for a moment.

“Yes… I’ve changed, but I’m still me… everyone back to work…”

The bridge staff returned to thier duties.

Riker walked down the ramp toward the Captain’s Ready Room and rang the buzzer.

A loud “COME!” Echoed from inside as the door opened and he walked in.

“Requesting to return to duty, Captain” Riker said.

Captain Picard looked up at him.

“Are you sure, Number One?” He asked his now female XO.

“Yes sir… I… I would rather be useful than sitting in my quarters moping…”

“Well… that’s… good…”

“Is there a problem, Sir?” Riker asked.

“Yes… it would seem someone has directly requested Ambassador Langley to mediate a dispute in the Peng system…”

“Oh no…” Riker said “didn’t anyone tell them she died… I’m not going to beam down and pretend to be her.”

“Honestly, I wasn’t going to ask you to.” The Captain said “we still have been ordered to investigate while Starfleet sends a ship with someone else aboard…”

Riker breathed his first sigh of relief.

“Oh…” Picard said, picking up a pad.

“Oh… oh what?” Riker asked, his relief dying a quick ****…

“Well, I know who sent the request and I know who the federation is sending…”

“Lwaxana Troi…” Riker said, suddenly wanting to die himself…

“Unfortunately…”

“Who sent the message?” Riker asked.

“Someone named Jalus… they didn’t go into too much detail… but said they wanted Ambassador Langley and ONLY Ambassador Langley…”

“Why do I get the felling this is going to end badly for me…” Riker said