“I think she’s right, sir,” Y’lira said. “The squales’ language relies heavily on pitch, rhythm, harmony, syncopation, and other musical elements.”

“Syncopation?” Riker grinned his big, infectious grin, the same one that had won Aili over twenty-two years ago. “So they’re jazz musicians?”

Y’lira’s gemlike eyes just stared. “Sir?”

“Never mind.” He turned to Troi. “It’s tempting, but…the baby could come any day now. I can’t be away…”

“Will,” the counselor said. “We’ve always agreed, you’re the captain first. Aili’s right—you could be valuable down there. And if I go into labor, you’re just twenty minutes away by shuttle. Go.” She smiled. “I know you’ve been dying to.”

Eagerness warred with reluctance on Riker’s face, but he split the difference and settled on captainly resolve. “All right. I’ll lead the away team.” He turned to Ra-Havreii. “Doctor, I’d like you along as well.”

It took a moment for the Efrosian engineer to realize he’d been addressed. “You’d…Me, sir? Wait, me…down there?”

“Yes.”

“On the planet, you mean?”

“That’s right.”

“Me.”

“Is there a problem, Doctor?”

“Well, sir…I get terribly motion-sick without a steady surface beneath me.”

“We have inertial dampers in the shuttles, and Ree can give you an antiemetic.”

“My people sunburn very easily…”

“The sun’s far away and doesn’t give off much UV,” Pazlar told him.

“I’m a poor swimmer. Sir.”

“You always did pretty well in my quarters,” Aili said with a grin.

“Your quarters, my dear, are not ninety kilometers deep.”

“You said it yourself, Xin,” Troi told him. “The squales’ language may be similar to Efrosian. Your own musical skills could prove invaluable.”

“I don’t doubt it, but I’d be happy to consult from the ship.”

“If I’m going, Doctor,” Riker said in a tone that brooked no more argument, “you’re going.”

“But—Very well, sir,” he said with a heavy sigh.

The captain rose, signaling the end of the briefing. “Prep a shuttle,” he said. “We leave at 1400.”

The crew filed out, and Aili came over to Ra-Havreii. “You’ll love it down there, Xin. It’s so warm and beautiful…a very romantic setting,” she added, winking at Melora.

Ra-Havreii didn’t look reassured. “Maybe,” he said. “But it’s just so… outdoors.”

CHAPTER S

IX

DROPLET

Once the Gillespieset down at the main floater-island base, Aili wanted to waste no time getting into the water. But Xin Ra-Havreii was less enthusiastic, hesitating even to leave the shuttle. It took a verbal prodding from the captain to get him out, and he trod gingerly across the loose soil, his eyes scanning it as if for land mines. “There, this isn’t so bad, is it?” Melora asked.

“Ohh, I can feel the ground rocking beneath me.” He looked even paler than usual.

Aili couldn’t resist teasing him. “I thought you liked to feel the earth move.”

“I prefer my metaphors less literally realized, thank you.” He looked back and forth at the Selkie and the Elaysian who flanked him. “Although I must confess, the company of two of my favorite intimates could do wonders to distract me from these environs—if you’d both be inclined to cooperate.”

Melora threw him a cold look. “We’re here to work, Xin. Try to stay focused.” She strode ahead of them.

Ra-Havreii looked after her for a bit, nonplussed. But he soon shook it off and focused on Aili. “Ah, well. All work and no play, as they say. I’m sure you and I could create sufficient distractions on our own.”

Aili was tempted. Although Xin and Melora technically had an open relationship, they had been involved enough in each other that Aili hadn’t shared a swim with him for months. But after a moment, she smiled and said, “I appreciate the offer, but Melora’s right. I’m really looking forward to working with you on the squale language, but let’s leave it at that for now, all right?” After all, Melora was her friend too, and Aili didn’t want to add complications while Melora was still unsure where her relationship with the engineer stood. Aili had been the one to suggest that Melora should let Xin go, and she didn’t want Melora to think she’d had any ulterior motive behind that suggestion.

Besides, Captain Riker was right behind her—also at her suggestion. She wanted him to be comfortable working with her, without their past liaison becoming an issue, and so she didn’t want to give the impression that she was a potential homewrecker.