The Icarus Factor ( episode ) When Commander Riker is offered command of the starship " Aries " , his estranged father , Kyle Riker , is sent by Starfleet to brief him on the mission . Meanwhile , Data , La Forge , Dr . Pulaski , Wesley , and O ' Brien help Worf celebrate the anniversary of his Rite of Ascension . Summary . Teaser . The is " en route " to Starbase Montgomery in the hope that the base can provide a consultation regarding minor readout anomalies in engineering . While Lieutenant Commander Data believes the anomalies are insignificant , both Riker and Picard think it is necessary to investigate the issue . Data suggests that the best solution would be to re - program the system to correct the readout variables , which which Picard agrees , but with the " Enterprise " heading to Starbase Montgomery anyway , they should have it checked out by the starbase ' s maintenance personnel . Riker points out that Montgomery was not in their mission itinerary . Picard mentions that a layover will not hurt crew morale and that he just received some priority personnel transfer directives . Riker asks if personnel are boarding or disembarking . At that moment , Ensign Wesley Crusher calls the captain from the bridge to inform him that they are within hailing range of the starbase . Picard orders them to proceed at half impulse and asks Riker to join him in the observation lounge for a moment . In the observation lounge , Riker enters the room to a waiting Picard . Picard recalls Riker ' s impressive manual docking maneuver when he first arrived on the " Enterprise " . Picard offers Riker a belated congratulations in the way of informing him that the commanding officer of the is retiring , and that Riker has been promoted as its new captain . The " Aries " may have found as - yet - unconfirmed indications of an intelligent lifeform which is in the Vega - Omicron sector , where it is stationed and which is months away at high warp . Starfleet wants to utilize Riker ' s impeccable exploratory and diplomatic skill to ascertain the situation . Picard informs Riker that he has twelve hours to decide whether he will accept the position . Act One . On the bridge of the " Enterprise " , Picard exits his ready room and asks Wesley to enter synchronous orbit with the planet . Picard informs Riker that a civilian strategic attaché with specialized knowledge of the frontier region will be coming aboard the " Enterprise " from Starbase Montgomery to brief him on the " Aries " mission . Riker is called to Transporter Room 3 . The attaché beams aboard . It is Kyle Riker , Will ' s estranged father of fifteen years . Kyle acts cautious around his son , while Will is cool – saying that he must attend to his duties , and when Kyle is ready , Will would be available to listen to his briefing regarding the " Aries " and her mission . Will exits while requesting that Ensign Herbert assign a security escort for Kyle , whom he calls " this gentleman . " Wesley finds Worf in one of the corridor s and calls to him . Wesley asks Worf if he has heard of Riker ' s promotion , his father ' s arrival , and Riker ' s reaction to his arrival ' s presence . Worf informs Wesley that he did not know his father and curtails Wesley ' s persistent conversation by yelling " " Enough ! " " and storming off . In engineering , Geordi La Forge ' s ego is being bruised by the " Montgomery " s analysis crew . Wesley enters and mentions Worf ' s strange behavior . La Forge believes it may be the prospect of losing Riker , and while he and Wesley agree the loss would be great , Wesley is unconvinced that this is the issue . In Ten Forward , Riker and Miles O ' Brien are having drinks . O ' Brien asks Riker what ' s troubling him . Riker answers " family " . Kyle Riker enters then , with his son looking on , and greets several people . Among them is Katherine Pulaski , who seems to be an old flame of Kyle ' s , of which Will was not aware . Back in engineering , Wesley , Data , and La Forge are discussing Worf ' s strange behavior . Data agrees that Worf is " " out of sorts " . " They decide to observe Worf ' s behavior in order to come to a conclusion as to his issue . In Ten Forward , Riker approaches his father , who is sitting with Dr . Pulaski , and informs him that he is ready for his father ' s briefing . Will abruptly exits . Act Two . La Forge and Data enter Ten Forward while Kyle Riker and Dr . Pulaski discuss their past relationship . Kyle inquires as to Katherine ' s marriages . She says she ' s had three , that they were all good men , and that she ' s still friends with them . Kyle asks , " " Like us ? " " and Katherine says that her ex - husbands were a little more in touch with their emotions than Kyle is . She says that Kyle has a reputation for being tough and efficient , but that he is lovable to some people . La Forge and Data observe Worf , who is looking out at the stars . They discuss whether or not to approach him . Data believes Worf may be lonely and that socialization may make him feel better . He joins Worf , telling him that he seems withdrawn and that his friends are concerned for him . Worf bellows at him to " " be gone ! " " to which Data complies . Upon returning to La Forge , he remarks that Worf seems to be valuing his solitude . They leave . Will is in his quarters looking at old photographs of him and his father . There is a chime at the door and Worf enters . Worf begins by saying that words are not his strong suit , then he mentions the photograph . Riker indicates that the picture is of him at age 9 in Alaska holding a fish . He says he did not catch it . As soon as his father realized that Will ' s line was pulling , he took the rod because he believed Will would lose the fish . Worf asks after Riker ' s feelings for his father . Riker says he does not know and redirects Worf to his reason for visiting . Worf asks that , if Riker accepts the captain ' s seat of the " Aries " , he would like to go with him , too . Worf believes that there is a great risk for battle , and to die in battle , on the " Aries " mission . Riker understands , and Worf leaves knowing that Riker will " do the right thing . " Will arrives for the briefing . While Kyle is glad they are alone , Will is only interested in the briefing . Once he receives a memory chip with the relevant information , he asks why the data wasn ' t just simply transferred to him . Kyle says he has heard good things about Will , and Will asks why he hasn ' t heard anything from his father . Kyle tries to explain that there is no manual for being a parent and that communication is not one of his strong suits . Kyle tries to bring up the death of Will ' s mother , but Will excuses himself . As Will is leaving , Kyle says that he visited the " Enterprise " because , in the event his son accepts the captain ' s position , he would be going far away . Kyle says , " " I ' m here with my hand out , son . " " Will exits without saying anything . Act Three . In sickbay , Kyle and Pulaski are discussing her most recent patient who has a flu . When Kyle asks after the remedy , Dr . Pulaski mentions medicine and " PCS " . Deanna Troi , overhearing the conversation , says that Pulaski ' s greatest medical skill is her empathy . The doctor introduces Troi to Kyle , saying that she thought they should meet . Kyle knows that it is a set - up , and Troi acknowledges the intent . The doctor leaves , allowing Troi and Kyle privacy to talk in her office . Troi senses anxiety in Kyle about Will , recognizing that Kyle wishes to be closer to him . Troi says she wants to help , and Kyle tells her that he came to " Enterprise " to bury the hatchet with his son " " only to find out that the ground was frozen solid . " " Kyle says he has not given up , but that he would like to have some sort of acknowledgment from Will . Troi responds , " " Respect is earned , not bestowed . " " Kyle says he does not need respect , nor pride , from Will . Troi senses that Kyle covets Will ' s achievements – that he is still competitive with him – and tells him that Will respects honesty above all traits . Kyle balks at each accusation and insists that he is only on the " Enterprise " to assist his son with his first responsibility as captain . Troi asks why Kyle seems so sure that Will would take a dangerous post , and Kyle responds that his son will do it because it is something he would do . Picard visits Riker in his quarters . He notices that Will is reviewing the assignment and asks if Riker has questions regarding the mission . Riker says no , though he is interested in the first officer , Commander Flaherty . Picard says the last time he saw Flaherty , the man spoke forty languages , had an uncanny ability to pick up new ones very quickly , and would be a valuable asset on the mission . A chime is heard , and Kyle enters . The captain exchanges pleasantries with Kyle and then excuses himself . Will tells his father that he will not be pushed into a decision despite the opinions of his father and Starfleet . Kyle says that he is available if Will needs him . Will quips that he has been independent since he was fifteen , but Kyle says , " " spare me the pain of your childhood . I hung in for thirteen years . If that wasn ' t enough , it ' s just too bad . " " Then he leaves . Back in engineering , La Forge worries that he did miss something in his diagnostics . Data assures him that it is unlikely . Wesley arrives with news . It is the tenth anniversary of Worf ' s Age of Ascension . It is traditional to celebrate the tenth anniversary with ritual spent with fellow Klingon s and family , so Wesley suggests a holodeck re - creation of the event with Worf ' s friends substituting for his family . Riker visits sickbay to apologize to Dr . Pulaski for being judgmental of her personal life when it is not his business , even if it involves his father . Pulaski asks Will if his father ever told him why he did not remarry . Will is skeptical that any woman would want his father and his ego . Pulaski replied that she would have . She tells Will that twelve years ago , Kyle was a civilian strategist advising Starfleet in its conflict with the Tholian s . The starbase where he was working was attacked and those on the station were not expected to live . And they didn ' t , except Kyle , who was the only survivor . He was the only one with the strength to face the pain and live . Will says his father never told him the story . Pulaski says she never saw a man fight so hard to live . She and Kyle fell in love , but marriage was not Kyle ' s first priority . His career was . Pulaski advises Will to get rid of his emotional baggage before he leaves to take command of the " Aries " . Act Four . Wesley , Data , and La Forge discuss the details of the Age of Ascension ritual which includes the use of Klingon painstik s . La Forge is not keen on watching Worf submit to pain , but he will do it for his friend . Will enters Picard ' s ready room to talk about his promotion . Picard says he cannot tell Will what to do ; it is his decision . He says , In engineering , La Forge is still worrying over the inspection . O ' Brien asks if any progress has been made , and Data says there is none to find . He does point out that he would find the scrutiny insulting if he " " were not a consummate professional and an android . " " La Forge is thankful . Wesley invites O ' Brien to Worf ' s ceremony , and O ' Brien says he will attend . Wesley also requests that O ' Brien keep the ceremony a secret from Worf . O ' Brien agrees . Will and Troi meet . They do not want to say goodbye , so they settle on " until next time . " They share an intimate moment discussing their emotions . Will says he is feeling sad . Troi confesses she is too , and they embrace . Kyle is waiting outside of Will ' s quarters for him . He asks for a minute of his son ' s time , and Will ushers him in . Their conversation immediately devolves into an argument . Finally , the two challenge each other to an " anbo - jyutsu " match , a traditional Japan ese martial art form of combat . Act Five . Kyle arrives in sickbay after hearing the doctor wanted to speak with him . Pulaski disapproves of the " anbo - jyutsu " match , insisting that violence solves nothing . She also expresses her concern for his health , but Kyle is confident . In the holodeck , La Forge , Data , O ' Brien , Wesley , and Pulaski set up the Rite , while Counselor Troi is escorting Worf to their location . Worf is resistant to follow , as he dislikes games , but Troi insists that she knows the importance of this day , his Rite of Ascension anniversary , and asks him to bear with her . They arrive , but she leaves him as he enters . He enters a hall with eight Klingon warriors , four to each side on two raised platforms . His friends wish him a happy anniversary , and Data asks if they may begin . Worf recites in both Klingon and English : " " Today I am a warrior . I must show you my heart . I travel the river of blood . . . " " while being prodded by the Klingons with painstik s parallel to each other . The ritual involves being able to endure intense pain while expressing one ' s true feelings , and Worf continues to express his determination . Halfway through he falls to one knee ; Pulaski ' s first instinct is to try to go to him , but O ' Brien holds her back . Worf gets to his feet and continues , finally enduring all eight painstiks and reaching the end of the hall . Despite being out of breath , Worf genuinely thanks his friends for allowing him to observe the tradition . Pulaski joins Troi . Deanna asks if the Rite was successful , and Pulaski says that it was , but that she is happy Humans have moved past such barbarism . Troi brings up the match that Riker and his father have agreed to . She believes that certain traits are endemic to gender , in spite of evolution . They come to the conclusion that these are the very traits that make Human males so attractive , including Riker and his father . Riker and his father begin their " anbo - jyutsu " match , a sightless sport that takes place in a ring where each fighter uses a stick to attack the other . One end of the stick is padded and the other has a type of sensor on the end of it to help detect one ' s opponent . Will says his father should have died instead of his mother . Will successfully takes down his father once . Kyle confesses that when he lost his wife , the only thing that kept him going was Will . Will is skeptical . Kyle takes his son down , but Will protests . He says that the move , " Hachidan kiritsu " ( Will pronounces it as " karitsu " ) , is illegal . He realizes that his father only won by cheating when he was younger . Kyle tells Will that they both were affected terribly by the death of Kyle ' s wife , Will ' s mother , but Will barely knew her , and Kyle had loved her . He could not talk about it in the past , and then they grew distant . He says , " " It ' s funny . I can talk to a whole room of admirals about anything in the galaxy , but I can ' t talk to you about how I feel . " " Riker asks how he feels , and Kyle says that he loves Will . Will says he ' s glad Kyle came . They hug . Back on the bridge , Worf informs the captain that the analysis team and attache have left . Picard asks La Forge what the results of the analysis team were . La Forge reports that they suggested he reprogram the system to correct the readout variables , which Picard points out was what Data had initially suggested . As the " Enterprise " prepares to leave , Riker joins the bridge and requests that , with the captain ' s permission , he would like to remain aboard as first officer . Picard grants the request . He asks what changed Riker ' s mind . Riker replies , " " Motivated self - interest . For now the best place for me to be is here . " " Memorable quotes . " " You know , Wesley should really be doing this on his own . " " " " But he needs his study time . " " " " Huh , I can ' t believe you fell for that . " " " " This is more than a surprise ; it ' s total shock . " " " " You mean you didn ' t bake me a cake ? " " " " And they use those ? " " " " Those are Klingon painstiks . I once saw one of them used against a two ton , rectyne monopod . Poor creature jumped five meters at the slightest touch . Finally died from excessive cephalic pressures . " " " " You mean . . . " " " " That ' s right . The animal ' s head exploded like a - " " " " I think that ' s enough Chief O ' Brien . " " " " If I were not a consummate professional , and an android , I would find this entire procedure insulting . " " " " Female ? " " " " No . " " " " Career ? " " " " Career ? " " " " Family . " " " " You choose your enemies , you choose your friends ; but family ? That ' s in the stars . " " " " I know her , too ; but we don ' t do that . " " " " With . . . all due respect – BEGONE ! . . . Sir . " " " " Respect is earned , not bestowed . " " Background information . Deleted scene . At least one scene was filmed but later cut from the episode during editing . This was later included as a feature on the TNG Season 2 Blu - ray release . ( " Scene number derived from script . " ) Links and references . References . 2335 ; 2337 ; 2343 ; 2344 ; 2347 ; 2350 ; 2353 ; adulthood ; advisor ; Age of Ascension ; Alaska ; " anbo - jyutsu " ; ; Beta Kupsic ; bile ; cake ; cheating ; ; diaper ; diplomat ; dilithium ; Earth ; empirical study ; Farpoint Mission ; father ; Federation ; fish ; fishing ; fishing rod ; Flaherty ; Flaherty ' s languages ; flu ; formal wear ; Fuurinkazan battle strategies ; Giamon ; gymnasium ; " hachidan kiritsu " ; heart ; Holodeck 4 ; Human ; Japanese language ; Klingon ; Klingon cultural database ; Klingon Rite of Ascension Chamber ; Klingonese ; manual docking ; martial arts ; mayor ; meter ; Milky Way Galaxy ; mission itinerary ; Mogh ; Nasreldine ; number one ; painstik ; personnel transfer directive ; Pulaski ' s chicken soup ( chicken soup ) ; rectyne monopod ; retirement ; ; Rite of Ascension ; River of Blood ; Romulan language ; son ; Starbase Montgomery ; Starbase Montgomery planet ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Academy ; strategic attaché ; strategist ; Stroyerian ; synchronous orbit ; tactical advisor ; technical manual ; Tholian ; Tokyo Base ; ton ; transporter room 3 ; tryptophan - lysine distillate ; Vega - Omicron sector ; warrior