On the way to Starbase Montgomery, Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is notified by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) that the First Officer is being granted a promotion to Starship Captain. However, the new command would require Riker to relocate to the far distant Vega Omicron sector, a minor sticking point. A larger one looms though, when Riker's own father (Mitchell Ryan) is dispatched to the Enterprise to prepare him for the mission. Estranged since his mid-teens, Commander Riker is dismissive of his father's appearance on the Enterprise, and spends most of his time trying to avoid contact.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Worf's (Michael Dorn) aggressive side is coming through due to the approach of his tenth anniversary of the Klingon Rite of Ascension. The occasion requires a ritual celebration with fellow Klingons, and since none are to be had, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) is given the task of managing Worf's belligerence. He comes up with a holodeck simulation that has Worf walk a gauntlet of eight Klingon warriors prodding him with painsticks, sort of like electrified cattle prods that test Worf's physical stamina and character at the same time. Would anyone doubt Worf's resolve?
Quite coincidentally, the differences between Riker and his father also result in a physical confrontation when they accept each other's suggestion to a bout of anbo-jytsu, a martial arts contest in which the senior Ryker always managed to beat his son. During the contest, the dirty secret of Kyle Riker's record was revealed - he was cheating by using illegal tactics! The confrontation however, offered the opportunity for both father and son to air their differences regarding a conflicted past. The expected reconciliation occurs, as Commander Riker rethinks his promotion, and decides to remain as First Officer on the Enterprise to the satisfaction of Picard and the rest of the crew.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Worf's (Michael Dorn) aggressive side is coming through due to the approach of his tenth anniversary of the Klingon Rite of Ascension. The occasion requires a ritual celebration with fellow Klingons, and since none are to be had, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) is given the task of managing Worf's belligerence. He comes up with a holodeck simulation that has Worf walk a gauntlet of eight Klingon warriors prodding him with painsticks, sort of like electrified cattle prods that test Worf's physical stamina and character at the same time. Would anyone doubt Worf's resolve?
Quite coincidentally, the differences between Riker and his father also result in a physical confrontation when they accept each other's suggestion to a bout of anbo-jytsu, a martial arts contest in which the senior Ryker always managed to beat his son. During the contest, the dirty secret of Kyle Riker's record was revealed - he was cheating by using illegal tactics! The confrontation however, offered the opportunity for both father and son to air their differences regarding a conflicted past. The expected reconciliation occurs, as Commander Riker rethinks his promotion, and decides to remain as First Officer on the Enterprise to the satisfaction of Picard and the rest of the crew.