Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek: The Next Generation or any of its fantastic characters. Please don't sue me or steal my story. Thanks! :)

NOTE: This story takes place during TNG's First Season, shortly after my earlier stories "Best Friends" and "Trust." It'll probably have about three or four chapters in all, but I can't be sure yet. I hope you'll enjoy it! :)

The Wild Men

By Rowena Zahnrei

Three bridge officers stood in an otherwise empty corridor, staring at the walls, the ceiling, the carpet…anything but each other.

There was Lieutenant Worf, the first Klingon in Starfleet. Lieutenant Geordi LaForge, the ship's blind navigator and the only Starfleet officer fitted with a VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement). And Lieutenant Commander Data: an android with origins as mysterious as the workings of his positronic brain. They were known as groundbreakers, these men, celebrated for the dubiously notable fact that all three of them had earned a footnote in Federation history just for being who and what they were. Yet, although they'd been living and working together for the better part of two weeks now, riding a hectic roller coaster of life or death challenges from the moment they'd met, they seemed unable, or unwilling, to break the awkward silence that pulsed between them.

"He's late," Worf grumbled.

Data blinked and seemed to brighten, as if Worf's complaint had been the permission to speak he'd been waiting for. He said, in a quick, eager tone, "I have been told that in informal situations, such as this, humans often allow a leeway period of five to ten minutes following the established meeting time before—"

The turbolift doors opened and Chief Petty Officer Miles O'Brien stepped out, wearing a tight black and teal wetsuit, life jacket, water shoes, gloves, and a matching helmet. He paused and stared at the gathered officers, aghast.

"Don't tell me you're going to kayak the Colorado River dressed like that!" he said, his voice revealing his Irish roots.

The three men glanced at their uniforms, then back at the chief's outlandish get-up, wearing varied expressions of bemusement.

"Ah, well, can't be helped. But, if you lot get soaked, don't come whining to me," O'Brien went on, striding past the group to activate the holodeck program.

"Well, what are you waiting for, men?" he said. "Let's go show that river who's boss!"

Worf grunted grimly, but followed O'Brien through the heavy sliding doors into the holodeck. Geordi raised an eyebrow at Data, an amused smile quirking his lips.

"This should be…interesting," he said. Then his expression grew serious. "You sure you're up for this, Data? Getting tossed down the rapids in a skinny little boat, spending the night camping out in the open…"

"Absolutely, Geordi," Data said. "Are you not looking forward to the trip?"

"Oh, sure. Sure," Geordi said, although his hesitant body language suggested the opposite. "Just…promise me one thing."

"Anything, Geordi."

"Don't let Worf cook dinner."

To Be Continued…

What do you think so far? Would you like me to continue the story?