Commander Nevichi, Dr. Rosenthal, and Mij had been on their way to an early morning meeting with Ambassador Avech when Commander Data had paged them.

Nevichi eyed Rosenthal, who said, "I'm ready for this meeting if you are."

The commander nodded and then knocked on the embassador's door.

"You may enter," came the elderly Cromebian's voice and Nevichi opened the door to find the man sitting in the middle of a rather large quilt. Other than some floral decorations on the wall, the vast room was empty. The first officer eyed the Cromebian ambassador quizzically. How could this man lead an emerging technological race if he led such a simple life?

"Good morning, Ambassador Avech," Nevichi said. "This is our chief medical officer, Dr. Amanda Rosenthal, and this is Dr. Mij. He is the Ferengi scientist I told you about."

"It is good to meet you all. Come, sit," Avech beckoned, patting the quilt. "It will be time for briska soon. You should realize that it is an honor that I have permitted you to join me during such an occasion." The Starfleet officers and the Ferengi sat down on the quilt before Avech continued. "I am enjoying briska this morning to help me prepare for the task of convincing your Starfleet that my people are worthy of joining your ranks."

"Isn't briska some sort of tea?" the Ferengi asked.

"Mij!" Nevichi said with clenched teeth.

"Quite all right, Commander," Avech said. "After all, your friend is correct. Briska is a tea, but not like any you'd find on your Federation starships. Briska has special soothing powers and yet it cannot be classified as a drug. One cup of briska is rich in all the vitamins a Cromebian needs to get him through the day."

Nevichi raised an eyebrow. "Curious, as to whether it would be an adequate diet supplement for other species."

A servant stepped into the room with a pitcher and three glasses.

"Well, now is your chance to find out. Why don't you whip out--" Avech pointed at Nevichi's belt, "--one of those--things, and find out."

The first officer removed her tricorder. "This instrument is called a tricorder," she said as she accepted her glass from the servant and began scanning the tea. "Hmm...it is indeed rich in many vitamins." She took a sip.

"If this tea is as soothing as you say it is," Rosenthal began, "perhaps a daily serving could preclude the need for certain drugs." She indicated her desire to read the tricorder scan to Nevichi, and the commander handed the instrument to her.

"One day, you must share with us how you make this delicious tea," Nevichi said. "But for now, we better end the preamble. I must inform you that I spoke with Commander Data only a moment before joining you. He and Commander Riker have convinced the Riis that they are natives of this planet."

Avech nodded, though his expression was a bit distant. "And that is good?" Worry creased the lines around his eyes.

"It is neither good nor bad at this point. We must establish communication with the Riis without causing any additional harm. Until they have fully assessed the situation among the Cromebians, we cannot pass judgment."

"Drink!" Avech raised his glass. "Drink your tea, and then let us move on to the reception hall so I may introduce you to my council. We shall share our morning meal."

"I hope the reception hall has chairs," Mij whispered to Nevichi.

Having heard the Ferengi, the Cromebian laughed. "It does."

Nevichi nudged Mij, nearly causing him to spill his drink, and as she often did, she wondered why she put up with him.

*****

Commander Data had meticulously watched the indigenous insects for more than a half hour. Their behavior was quite fascinating. Each spent several minutes circling in the direct sunlight literally collecting the sun's rays before heading back inside the cavern only to be replaced by an equal number. Data continued to calculate their movements, how long they remained outside, how long before they returned. As an android, he could easily discern the minute differences of each individual insect and calculated that on average, each insect spent three-point-four minutes before returning to collect more sunlight.

Then after thirty-seven minutes, several of the bugs suddenly fell down supine. Data scanned them with his tricorder, discovering that they had expired. He could not, however, determine the cause of their death.

"Commander!" he said and Riker, who had been pacing along the path scanning the area, returned to the android's side. Data pointed to the lifeless bugs. "I am unable to determine the cause of their death. However, I have accumulated sufficient data to determine that the decreasing numbers among the insect population is directly responsible for the decreasing crop growth in the area."

"Data, collect some of these bugs so we can have them beamed aboard the Valiant

for more thorough testing.

"Aye sir." Data picked up the dead insects and carried them inside the cavern. He found a small cloth among the items Torque had left for them and wrapped the specimens inside it.

All over the cavern floor, he noticed many more dead insects.

He tapped his commbadge. "Data to Valiant."

"Lindenberg here," came the captain.

"Sir, I have discovered a colony of aerial insects, which are directly responsible for the plant growth among the Riis civilization. These insects are dying from a cause I have as yet been unable to determine. Permission to beam a few of the expired specimens up."

"Permission granted. However, we must take every precaution to first determine that they do not contain a communicable disease. Have them beamed directly to science lab one. I will instruct Lieutenant Quartermane to immediately place them in a quarantine field."

An hour later, Lieutenant Quartermane came to brief Captain Lindenberg in his ready room. "Commander Data's initial assessment was quite accurate, sir," Quartermane said. He was a tall human in his late thirties with longish dark hair. "The bugs living in the mountain region are providing the plant life with the necessary carbons to thrive. But the bugs themselves are suffering from a viral disease that, if left untreated, will kill off all these bugs in no more than a month or two. Fortunately, I do not believe this disease is transmutable to other creatures."

"Is the virus similar to any on file, Lieutenant?" Lindenberg asked.

"No. I'm afraid I could look at a trillion viruses before I saw another one remotely like this one. If we are to find a cure, we will need to thoroughly search the area for a source."

"Agreed." The captain tapped his commbadge. "Valiant to Commander Riker."

"Riker here."

"Commander, we have the results of the tests Quartermane ran." He went on to explain what the lieutenant had just told him. "I need you and Commander Data to search for a possible source. But Commander, you must remember to be circumspect."

"Understood."

"Once we extract the causing agent from the source we should be able to determine a cure," Quartermane said.

Fortunately, Data was able to discover the source of the virus rather quickly. It bred in the only plant life left thriving. They picked several flowers and stems and had them beamed up to the Valiant for analysis. Afterward, Riker decided to sleep for a few hours so he would be rested enough to talk with the natives once nightfall came.

*****

Nevichi had expected the Cromebians to want to talk about their petition for Federation membership. Yet contrarily, they seemed more interested in what humans referred to as "small talk." When the commander even attempted to broach the subject of the on-going delegation, Ambassador Avech brushed her off with a shrug before continuing his prattle about the wonders of his homeland. His three council advisors said very little during the conversation, only providing a detail here and there to Avech's story, obviously meant to heighten their guests' interests in the mundane story. She found these people most illogical. None of them seemed to want the same thing! She began to wonder if the petition was a universal decision or simply a plot thought up by a group of scientists.

The aliens presented one dish of food after another as some part of a Cromebian ritual. Most of the indigenous delicacies were delicious, but the commander had overstuffed herself. How would the Cromebians react if she refused to sample the next dish they brought out to her?

Mij leaned toward her and whispered, "Marie, if they offer us any more, I'm going to have to ask my tailor to make me a whole new wardrobe."

She raised a hand, warning him to be quiet. She glanced at Dr. Rosenthal, giving her colleague a non-verbal order to again try to broach the subject of medicine.

Rosenthal wiped her mouth with her napkin and took her cue. "Ambassador Avech, this has been a most delicious meal. I do hope you won't take offense by my saying that I couldn't possibly eat another bite."

Avech chuckled. "I am glad to hear that," he said. "I was beginning to believe that there was no end to your appetite."

"Here, here," one of the council members, Meldenz, agreed, pushing his plate away. He was a stout, black Cromebian. He had been the one of the three advisors to speak up the most and struck Nevichi as a venerable old man.

"I don't understand."

"On Cromebia, it is considered bad manners to stop offering food before one's guests have had their fill," the ambassador explained. "Now that we are finished eating, I will have my servants clear the table, and we can finally get on with business."

"Am I to assume," Nevichi began, "that it is also bad manners to talk over business during a meal?"

"Indeed." Avech tapped a buzzer on the corner of the table, and a moment later, his two servants returned to clear the table for them. Other than the clinking of dishes, silence pervaded the room until the table was cleaned and the servants had left.

"What, if anything, do you plan to do about the Riis?" Nevichi asked bluntly.

"Our people are quite curious by nature," Avech replied. "Some will demand that we study the Riis unrelentingly. However, my council members and I have come to a mutual agreement. Strict laws will be enforced against direct interference into the Riis' way of life. We will not force technology upon them. Anyone who attempts to do so will be punished accordingly. I have assigned Meldenz to handle this matter directly. He will inform the general public of all the points regarding this new law. Valdik and Larno--." Avech nodded toward his other advisors. "--will serve as coordinators between myself and Meldenz. My main responsibility is toward you, or rather the Federation, in achieving an arrangement that will be beneficial to both sides. We don't wish to simply take your technology. It is our hopes to become contributing members in your Federation. Some of our young people even aspire to become Starfleet officers someday."

Nevichi studied Avech's face, looking for any sign that his words were sincere. He stared back at her with strained determination. "I will convey this information to my superiors. In the meantime, Dr. Rosenthal would like permission to meet with some of your most revered medical doctors."

"We sent our best doctor to your star station."

"Yes. I'm sure Dr. Filio is highly regarded among your people. My people, however, have reached the conclusion that we shouldn't make a final decision on your petition based on interaction with only one of your doctors and one of your scientists. We have decided to take a broader approach."

"Very well. I will arrange it. If your stay here is to be an extended one, perhaps you would like it if I assigned you guest quarters."

"Thank you. We would appreciate that very much."

*****

While Riker still slept, Data wandered quietly in search of something that would help him learn more about the cave dwellers and stumbled on a library. During the remaining hours of light, the android studied the numerous books he found, and through them, learned much about the history of the Riis. Some of the texts dated from way back, perhaps even as much as a thousand years. Data perused a few books until he had grasped the written language. Although they were all written by hand, their authors had taken great care in sustaining accurate details. They told of the people who had lived there, what they had believed, what their roles were in the family and in the society. Though the Riis had never advanced technologically, they were by no means primeval. Despite their many superstitions, these people had developed some advanced skills, such as basic surgeries. Torque had spoken of the abortions he had performed, while the writings also revealed their knowledge of several life-saving procedures

Interesting, Data thought as he marvelled at how a society could advance in one way and not in others. The Cromebians perplexed him even further in those regards. He knew that it was wrong to judge a group of people based on their cultural beliefs, but then philosophy had been his most difficult subject at the Academy.

He made his way back to their cavern at the first sign of dusk and awoke Riker. The commander barely had time to rub the sleep from his eyes when they were greeted by the elderly doctor.

"Good evening," Torque said. "I do hope you are well rested."

"I've slept on more comfortable beds, but I'll be fine," Riker replied. "Would it be possible for us to speak with Earon today? Our people sent us out to explore, and we are expected to return as quickly as possible with knowledge of the world. If Earon is willing to speak with us, he could greatly reduce the time of our journey."

"I cannot take you there. I am no longer permitted to go into the heart of the village. I will tell you how to get to his cavern, though."

"I believe we passed it on our way to see Krag," Data said. "A woman named Ala was standing just outside a cavern door."

"Yes. Ala is Earon's wife. He is convalescing inside their cave. Might I suggest that you offer Ala one of your possessions, preferably something edible if you can spare it. That would probably increase your chances of getting to see Earon."

"Thank you for the advice," Riker said. He stood and began folding the bedroll.

Fortunately, they had brought along replicated rations and could pass some of those off as food substances coming from another part of this world. Riker wondered if it were customary in this culture to invite oneself to breakfast, if that someone were providing the food for that meal.

Once he had gathered enough food for several people, Riker gestured for Data to follow him outside. When they reached the cavern of Earon, they found Ala sweeping. They could see her two small children sitting at the table behind her. There was no food on the table.

"Hello, dear lady," Riker began. He gestured toward himself and then his companion. "We are Riker and Data. We arrived in your village only last night. If you will permit us to speak with your husband for a few minutes, we can offer you food in return."

Ala eyed them suspiciously, but her gaze landed on the folded cloth Riker was holding. It contained food, and she obviously knew it. "He is not well. . ."

"We promise not to upset him in any way."

Ala placed her broom against the wall. "What would you have to talk about with a man you've never even met?"

"We are travelers from a far away village. He has seen things we have not. If you allow us to talk with him about the journey he took, we can shorten our own journey and begin our trip back to our own people."

"We miss our wives children," Data added.

Ala glanced back at her own children, and they stared back at her with hungry, pleading faces. "All right," she said, "but only for a few moments. And only one of you can see him. Your friend can wait out here." She reached out to grab the food, and Riker graciously handed it over to her. "My children will eat while you speak with him." She brought the bundle over to the table and opened it up between her children. She grabbed a biscuit and said, "For Papa."

She led Riker into a smaller room. On the bed lay a man burning with fever, and Riker wondered if he was too delirious to speak let alone have a conversation. Ala bent toward him and said gently in his ear, "Earon you have a visitor. He wants to talk with you about your journey. He has brought food in exchange." She placed the bisquit in his hand. "Do you feel well enough to speak for a few minutes?"

Earon opened his eyes and struggled to a sitting position. He brought the bisquit to his face and sniffed. Nibbling at it for a moment, he seemed to be considering whether he liked the flavor. After a moment, he tossed it aside. "Thank you," he barely managed. "I am sure it's delicious, but. . ."

"I understand," Riker said. "I won't disturb you for long, but I need to know about the people you encountered. Did they frighten you?"

"Yes. We took them for demons of Hazeus."

"And now?"

"Now I'm no longer sure. They took us in, gave us food, clean clothes, and they tended my wound. I would have lost my arm if it were not for their medical attention. And yet while we were there, they made my brother and I stay inside a room. They would not let us wander their village. I was too sick to be inclined to leave my bed. However, my brother. . ." Earon faltered, closing his eyes to rest for a moment.

"Maybe they were as frightened of you as you were of them," Riker suggested.

Earon snapped his eyes open. "That is impossible! Hazeus' demons are afraid of nothing. I warn you to head back to your village. Do not venture into the village of Hazeus!" He fell into a coughing fit, and his face began to redden.

"You must go now!" Ala ordered. "Can't you see that you are upsetting him?"

"I'm sorry," Riker offered.

Ala would have none of it as she screamed, "Go!"

Riker backed out of the room and without a word, gestured for Data to come with him as he passed. It was time to contact Captain Lindenberg again.