Author's preface: This episode occurs about two years after the episode "Pen Pals" and is a sequel to it. Thus, it fits in about the fourth season. That's all you need to know to enjoy the story.

Scene: OUTDOOR CAFE IN TREETON

Crusher and Data are at a table at an outdoor cafe.

CRUSHER - (Looking at the menu) Well, Data, what will you have?

DATA - I do not believe we will be able to order refreshments since we do not have any Dreman currency. However, the menu does look interesting.

CRUSHER - You can read this writing?

DATA - It is similar to Aurelian, Cornelian, and Vulcan, with traces of another root that I cannot identify.

CRUSHER - I wonder if we can learn anything from the kinds of foods the Dremans prefer?

DATA - That is highly unlikely, Doctor. However, we may be able to learn something from the things the Dremans read.

CRUSHER - What do you mean, the menu?

Data gestures to Crusher to look at the woman at the next table, and leans closer to Crusher. The woman is reading from a blue flat rectangular object that, we will learn, is an electronic Dreman newspaper.

DATA - (Lowering his voice) The person at the next table is deeply engrossed with that device in her hand. It would be helpful to see what is so interesting ...

Data is interrupted by a Dreman waiter.

WAITER - Good morning. Our breakfast special is a freshly baked Cruman, two greegs, a glass of orolo, and koffel, regular or de-spleegered.

CRUSHER - Thank you, we'll just have water, please.

WAITER - Wa - ter?

DATA - Two glasses of agua, please.

The waiter turns, disappointed. Meanwhile, the woman has left, and the waiter picks up his tip from the table. The blue tablet remains. Data waits until the waiter leaves, and picks up the tablet.

CRUSHER - Data, what is it?

DATA - I believe it is a communication device. I am not sure if it is capable of both transmitting and receiving. Ah, here is a switch.

Data pushes the switch and the device lights up. It resembles an electronic newspaper.

DATA - This appears to be a receiver. It is showing news from all parts of Drema Four. There are sections on local events, sports, entertainment, comic pages ... The list continues for news stories for the past several weeks. The planet quakes still dominate the news.

CRUSHER - What can we learn about the different factions here? ...Data?... Data?

DATA - Here is information on the singing stone. It is being examined by scientists in a government building in a town nearby.

Data is absorbed by the news display. He is reading a page a second, and processing the information.

DATA - Doctor, this is more than just a news display. It is literally a guide to the planet. When I have finished storing these maps and descriptions, I will be able to effectively talk to the population as a native. This will enable us to ...

Data stops talking as he is absorbed by what he is reading.

CRUSHER - Now what? Data?

Crusher allows Data to continue reading.

DATA - It is an article on Sarjenka.

CRUSHER - Has she been found? Is she hurt? What is it?

DATA - I am attempting to use the information in this news article, cross referenced with the maps that I have just loaded into memory, to determine her hiding place. We must leave.

CRUSHER - Where are we going? ...Data?... Data?

The waiter bring the water stops and watches them leave. Shrugs his shoulders, and sips the water.

Scene: PLANET DREMA FOUR

Tavern where Picard and Kitsman are drinking with Dremans. Some time has passed and the two are more relaxed. The boy Keller is in the background, watching.

KRAIG - ...So I asked him where he stood on the question of the miracle of the planet quakes, and he just stood there and looked at me like a two-legged goober.

The Dremans in the tavern erupt in laughter. When it quiets down again, the second Dreman, Benote, leans over and nudges Picard.

BENOTE - So where do you stand, Picard?

There is an awkward silence as Picard looks down at his drink.

BENOTE - And you, Kitsman? Are you a believer in the miracle?

Kitsman looks from Benote to Picard, but he cannot catch Picard's eye. Then he speaks jovially, trying to lighten the situation.

KITSMAN - Are you going to call me a two-legged goober too?

KRAIG - Well? Are you a religious or a scientist?

PICARD - I am still undecided until I learn more about the situation and...

KRAIG - You lie. You have a stand. Now state it clearly for us, Dreman.

KITSMAN - Picard is right. We are trying to find out more about the miracle ...

BENOTE - Find out more? Where were you when it happened, Dreman? On another planet?

KITSMAN - Did you see the hand that stopped the eruptions and the quakes?

BENOTE - My faith does not depend on my sight alone.

PICARD - Benote, Kraig, listen to me. We do not want trouble. We are here to listen and learn, not to argue or judge.

KRAIG - You are spies! (To the crowd in the tavern) They are spies sent from the governor!

The Dreman boy has been getting closer to the action and now sees his chance.

KELLER - They're ALIENS!

The crowd in the tavern laughs. Picard and Kitsman begin to look sick.

KELLER - No, really. I saw their space ship. It landed in Wanderer's field. There are five of them!

The people in the crowd begin to raise voices and react angrily, with shouts of "What do you want?" and "We have a right" and "Make them tell".)

Scene: BRIDGE OF THE ENTERPRISE

Riker, Troi, Geordie, and Worf are listening to arguments.

RIKER - It's starting to get pretty nasty. We may have to intervene.

WORF - Commander, I request permission to transport to the planet and "intervene".

RIKER - Not just yet, Lieutenant. You may get your chance, though. (To the Ensign at Ops) Ensign, prepare to break out of hiding and enter a standard orbit. But wait for my signal. Geordie, prepare for warp speed. Transporter chief, prepare to locate and lock on to the away team. Mr. Worf, hail the shuttle craft.

WORF - Shuttle craft is receiving but not answering.

RIKER - Well, try again.

WORF - Hailing, sir.

ENSIGN FORD - (VOICEOVER, agitated, sounds of boys in the background) Shuttle, Ensign Ford here, sir.

RIKER - Ford, what is going on?

The scene switches to the shuttle and chaos as the Dreman boys are still romping around in the shuttle and Ford has a defeated look.

FORD - I have a problem here, sir. Some Dreman boys have discovered the shuttle and ...

The scene shifts to the point of view of each speaker.

RIKER - (Glancing at Troi) Boys? Dreman BOYS?

Troi is amused but does not say anything.

FORD - Yes sir, like I said, some Dreman boys just came up and ...

RIKER - How many boys?

FORD - Well, it seems like about ten or so, but ... I guess there are four or five.

RIKER - And they are actually inside the shuttle?

FORD - Yes sir.

RIKER - Ensign, how did they get inside the shuttle?

FORD - Well, they slipped in when I opened the shuttle door to make them leave.

RIKER - Well open the door and let them out.

FORD - Yes sir. If you have any suggestions for how to do that, sir, I would sure appreciate it.

RIKER - Ensign Ford, I don't have time for these games. We may have to transport the away team. I want to have them on board by the time the echo reaches the wall. And I want you off the planet two seconds later.

FORD - Acknowledged, sir. Ford out.

Ford closes the channel and remains standing, looking at the boys, feeling defeated.

- to be continued