Doctor Davies entered the lounge to find almost the entire senior staff huddled around a central table. He could tell Jake had the members enthralled but as to what the subject matter was, Drew could only guess. As he got closer, he heard Andy's name mentioned.

"Who called this meeting?" Drew intoned

The younger members: Kee, Zo and Lessa, all jumped at the question. All the others, except Jake, had the decency to look embarrassed.

Jake smiled broadly, "I think your Ensign Keege called it."

"I did not," she interjected excitedly, "I just asked about the Captain and the rumors."

Drew quickly glanced at Jake who nodded his head. "You're telling them?" Drew asked.

"I am." Jake replied simply.

"Jake," was the warning reply.

"They have a right to know, Drew."

Doctor Davies couldn't argue. These people who would be asked to serve at the Captain's pleasure DID have a right to know. There were the occasional idiots who would disparage their commanding officer and it would be good if her staff knew how to diffuse the situation.

"So where are you in the story?" Was Drew's reply.

Jake smiled and waved Drew into a seat across from him. Pasha and Lessa scooted apart to make room for the First Officer.

"Just getting to Andy's testimony at the trial. Want to take it from here?"

Drew again gave the Security Chief a warning glance.

Jake began, "When they returned from their lunch break, it was time for Andy to take the stand."

Drew picked up, "After being sworn in, the Admiral outlined the unique turn the afternoon's testimony would take…


"As I understand the request, Lieutenant, you will present a narrative testimony of events. The members of the Tribunal, along with the prosecuting and defense attorneys, may interrupt for clarification as you speak." Admiral Kim explained.

"Yes, Admiral, that's correct. And, thank you for the leniency." Andrea responded formally.

Looking to the other members of the Tribunal, the Admiral gave her consent for the proceedings to begin. From her seat at the witness stand, Andrea logged into the computer system and began pulling up documents and pictures. On the view screen were two images. The first one was an older woman, not very attractive, in a white lab coat. It appeared to be a picture from an old Earth identification badge. The picture next to it was similar, only it was a young teenaged girl. With mousy straight hair and thick, dark glasses, the teenager appeared to be intimidated even by the act of taking the picture.

Andy began, "The first image is Doctor Emma McGill. She was a research scientist in the field of genetics who worked for NASA in the early 21st century. As you know, NASA was the forerunner of our space program. The other image, the girl who looks like she might cry at any moment, is Doctor Erin Thornton. And, yes, ladies and gentlemen, I did say doctor. Erin is quite the story. She was a prodigy. At the age of six, she had already completed school through the ninth grade. At age, 8, she graduated high school. At age, 11, graduated college and by age 14 had a doctorate in chemistry and genetics.

Her parents knew that they were ill equipped to deal with this very special child so they gave her to Doctor McGill, who adopted her."

Andy brought the legal papers up for the Tribunal to see. "Together, these two ladies did some ground breaking research for NASA that was deemed very important. At the time, long range space travel was still unattainable. The warp era was still quite a ways off. Their only option to consider at this time was cryogenics. Putting the astronaut in stasis with the ability to revive them long term. In addition to Doctor McGill and Doctor Thornton, there were three other scientists assigned to this project. For NASA, this research was high priority. The lab was on a back area of the NASA campus in what was then Houston, Texas. Their research, as you can imagine, was highly classified."

From Commander Data, "This would be the research Commissioner Legat was to obtain?"

Andrea looked at the prosecutor and nodded, "The very same."

"So you want us to believe that what? You're one of these scientists?" Captain LaSalle asked incredulously.

Andrea looked to the commanding officer who had brought the charges against her, "Yes, Captain. That's exactly what I want you to believe." And hurrying on before anyone could interrupt, "And if you'll give me the opportunity, I can make it all make sense."

The Admiral looked at Captain LaSalle. She didn't really like the captain all that much. LaSalle's reputation was not spotless, having been linked with the selling of secrets herself. The young lieutenant was facing a death sentence so the Admiral felt it her duty to let the scene play out. From her place on the dais, the Admiral nodded her approval. "You may continue, Lieutenant."

From his seat at the defense table, Riker released the breath he'd been holding, waiting on the Admiral's decision. He nodded his encouragement to his young friend.

"Thank you again, Admiral." Andy now changed the images on the view screen. Headlines from newspapers begin to flash in rapid succession and then, images from an old style television newscast filled the screen. The reporter intoned the story, "A major explosion and fire on the grounds of NASA this morning destroyed one of the space stations primary research facilities. NASA officials have assured the public that nothing hazardous was stored on the site. At this time, they are reporting that two of the scientists are confirmed dead; three more are injured, one seriously."

Andrea stopped the audio and turned back to the Tribunal, "Doctor McGill got out alive. She had only a few cuts and bruises. The more seriously injured of the three died a week later. The two scientists that were killed in the explosion were Doctor Gabe Jordan and Erin."

The room was silent as Andrea moved to the next piece of evidence, an audio marker from Doctor McGill. Andrea smiled wistfully as Emma's familiar voice filled the room. She explained the purpose of the experiment and their goals. Finally, Emma concluded with the hope that whoever found this place could give the two doctors a chance to live a life that was too quickly ended. Andy quickly lowered her head and wiped the tears. Emotion could not take hold now. She needed her complete, logical, analytical self in order to overcome this situation.

"Now, we come present time, ten years ago." Andy's voice showed only a slight hint of emotion. On the screen, she had a survey drawing of Doctor Thoreau's home and land. Andrea had overlaid it to a drawing of the old NASA facility. "What you see is where the research facility that was destroyed existed ten years ago, on Doctor Thoreau's private land. One of his favorite things to do was 'poke around' as he called it. On one of those excursions, he found the lab and the message. Constance was a physician and had some experience in plastic surgery. Between her and Doctor, they believed they could help grant Emma's last request – to restore the lives of the two dead scientists."

Andrea paused, regrouping one last time. The next part of the information would be the hardest for her.

"Doctor was very fastidious that everything be documented. As you can see, he has pictures of the site…the equipment…the location of the bodies," Will noticed Andrea's slight stumble. He knew this was going to be physically demanding and emotionally draining but she had to complete this task. He tried to give her encouragement visually but she wouldn't or couldn't look at him.

"Their medical opinion was Doctor Jordan couldn't be saved. His body was severely burned. They determined that he had been too near the explosion point and had probably died instantly." During this part of the testimony, Andy showed picture after picture of the scene, each supportive of her position. "This is where they found Erin's body. Apparently, she had the presence of mind to get under the table so that the chemicals did not completely burn her flesh."

"I don't understand why you refer to her in the third person if you and she are, in fact, one and the same." Captain LaSalle's voice sounded imperious.

Andy turned to the Captain, "Because, ma'am, Erin died that day when the building caught fire and exploded. Everything she was, everything she knew, died right then and there. What was left was a shell that Doctor and Connie rebuilt." She knew her voice sounded slightly bitter but she couldn't help it. Opening up this chapter in her life still gave Andrea issues. These people couldn't understand it – never would be able to – and that's what angered Andy most of all.

"Please continue, Lieutenant," The Admiral intervened.

"Connie had to do six surgeries. Some reconstructive and transplant work to bring me back to life." Andrea stood and unbuttoned her uniform jacket, dropping it off her left shoulder, "I still have scars to remind me exactly what happened all those years."

Will could hear the tension in the Lieutenant's voice. He stood, posing a question to give Andy time to get herself back together, "The formulas that you developed with Doctor McGill. What happened to those?"

Andy sat back down, rebuttoning her uniform. She looked at the Commander as she answered, "Well, interestingly enough, everything I knew seemed to have been lost. Doctor called it selective amnesia. That subconsciously I believed that my work had created this situation and that, if I couldn't recall it, I couldn't recreate it."

Will nodded and continued, "So what were you giving Commissioner Legat?"

Andy smiled sheepishly as she replied, "A recipe for ice cream."

The members of the Tribunal and room, except for Captain LaSalle, laughed slightly. Will continued, "I don't believe sharing an ice cream recipe could be treasonous, Admiral. I would move for dismissal of all charges."

"I will take that under advisement, Commander." The Admiral answered and then turned to Andrea, "But there is more, isn't there Lieutenant?"

Andy nodded and then continued, "After Doctor and Connie put me back together, they then had to deal with the mental issues. I had to learn all this history I had missed. Things that were common to me what seemed like only yesterday were now ancient history and didn't exist. I had nightmares because I could remember what happened…I could remember dying."

Again, Andy paused for composure, "What I found I still had, though, was an aptitude for math and science. Maybe no longer as a prodigy, but still sufficient to gain access to the Academy. With the encouragement of Doctor Thoreau and a student of his at the time, a Cadet Riker, I found an interest in life again."

"Why then," Commander Data interrupted, "did you need to tamper with the computers?"

Andy nodded, "I discovered, shortly after Doctor died, that there was no legal record of what had happened. Basically, I just appeared. I knew Doctor had meant well but he had created more issues than he solved. I wanted to make sure nothing could damage his reputation or Connie's." Her next comment was made with malice, "I didn't want anyone to be able to make accusations like you did earlier."

"Andy," Will's tone was silent with a warning.

"I'm sorry, Commander Data." He nodded his acceptance.

"Was that the only reason, Lieutenant?" Captain Picard had been silent for most of the proceedings, listening to the facts presented. Andy jumped at the sound of the question posed in the rich baritone voice.

Her answer was honest, "No, Captain, it wasn't the only reason." She looked downcast as she continued, meeting the Captain eye-to-eye, "I was so tired of being different. From the time I was six years old, I was just strange. People couldn't understand someone so young was so smart. Then, I went from normal mentally to abnormal physically. Realistically, I'm older than everyone in this room," Andy paused, "Combined! I thought if I could just cover the information, the questions…the problems would go away."

Andy shook her head, "I've only served to make them public record now."

The members of the Tribunal considered the Lieutenant's comments and quickly spoke among themselves. Andy cast a weary glance toward Will. Admiral Kim spoke, "Is there anything else, Lieutenant?"

"No, ma'am. Unless there are any more questions?"

"No, I think we're satisfied. You may step down, lieutenant."

Andy nodded and returned to her seat next to Commander Riker. The Admiral continued, "We are in recess until 10:00am at which time, we will render our decision." The gavel struck, signaling the end of the session.

The members filed out along with those few who were in the gallery. Will and Andy remained seated, neither looking or speaking to the other. Commander Data stopped at the table, "Lieutenant?"

Andy rose to address the senior officer, "Yes, sir?"

"I understand what it means to be different." He said simply.

Andy smiled, "Yes, sir. Thank you, Commander."

He nodded and left. Andy waited for Will to speak. It wasn't long.

"You couldn't tell me this yourself?"

Andy dropped her head onto her hands, folded on the table, "I honestly thought you knew."

"Why would you think that?"

"All the time Doctor spent with you? The time you spent at the house. Your cajoling me to enter the Academy? I figured he had told you everything and that's why you were there."

"You should have said something, Andy." Will's tone was heavy with exasperation.

It was the last straw. Andrea jumped up from the table and turned to confront her only friend. Her voice was heavy with emotion, "I can't talk about it, Will. Do you know what this will do to me? This exercise today? What it will cost me?"

Will shook his head.

"I won't sleep. For months. Weeks, if I'm lucky. Because every time I close my eyes, I will see the explosion. I'll hear the screams. I'll hear Jordan's moans and cries for help. I will die over and over again every time I try to sleep. And being in the brig?"

Andy's agitation grew, "I'm confined. The walls close in and I can't breath. I suffocate just like I did all those years ago. I don't talk about it because I can't!"

The control Andrea had been able to maintain was gone. The fatigue and stress of the events along with the enforced enclosure in the confining space of the brig had taken its toll. Will rounded the table quickly and pulled her close. Their relationship had never been romantic in any way, shape, form or fashion. She thought of him as an older brother; she, a younger sister. It was the relationship Doctor had fostered between the two of them. Her entrance into the Academy had allowed Will an opportunity to mentor her as well. She took pride that her first assignment had been on Will's ship. Now she had embarrassed him and that was too much, as well.

"I am so sorry, Will. I've ruined Doctor and Connie's reputations. I've destroyed my career and I've embarrassed you. I am so sorry." She continued to cry on his shoulder.

Will let her continue for a few minutes longer before pushing her back to arms length. "You have never embarrassed me, Andrea. You're a very strong woman who's been through hell, literally. You will survive this as you have everything else. Now, pull yourself together. Doctor wouldn't want to see you like this."

Andy nodded and wiped her face with her hands.

"It will work out as it is meant to, Andy. There's nothing more you or I can do. I'm only sorry I have to take you back to that cell."

"I don't think that's necessary, Commander." The voice of Captain Picard seemed even louder in the empty room. Will turned, keeping Andy partially hidden in order to allow her more time to compose herself.

"Captain, I had no idea anyone else was here."

Picard walked toward his First Officer and the Lieutenant. "If you're willing to be responsible for her, and I assume you are, she can go back to her quarters tonight. I'll post a security detail. Number One, you'll make sure she's here for the verdict."

Will looked back at Andy and then to his Captain, "Yes, sir. She'll be here. And I can assure you, Captain, she will not be a problem."

The Captain nodded, "I didn't really think so." He smiled at the Lieutenant and Riker before turning and leaving the two alone, for real this time.

"Come on, you need to eat, too." Will took her arm and escorted her from the tribunal chamber. Tomorrow would come soon enough.