Author's Note: So, now we know that Eli did not betray Malcolm :p But she does have secrets, as we're about to discover ;)


8. Verdict

September 6th 2159

The five accused filed slowly into the court chamber, standing in front of their chairs and waiting for permission to be seated. To the observers, they appeared to be in good health, with no obvious injuries. In truth, many of the injuries that had been inflicted during the questioning sessions had been fully healed, in an attempt to hide that they had ever existed. Malcolm's posture was rigid, his face expressionless as he took his place on the end of the group. As Trip caught his gaze, the engineer could see the depth of fury and horror in the eyes of the Englishman. He turned to look at their Captain, the tightness around Jon's mouth indicating that he too had seen the change in his officer.

"Something has happened," he whispered to his colleagues in Vulcan. Both the Captain and T'Pol nodded their agreement.

"We must be patient," T'Pol advised quietly. Trip nodded his ascent reluctantly, not liking leaving his friend's fate in the hands of someone he neither knew nor trusted.

First Minister Jerem entered the chamber and took his seat, motioning for the accused to do the same. He looked at them all carefully, his gaze lingering on Malcolm for a moment longer than the rest and his nostrils flaring in annoyance. Despite the intensive torture session the day before, including the gang rape of Eli at his feet, they had still been unable to break the Starfleet officer. He knew that the only option now was to see if Malcolm would trade the information for his life.

"Ministers," he addressed the jury. "Have you come to a decision?"

"Yes, First Minister, we have," the foreman replied, getting to his feet.

"Please deliver your verdict," Jerem invited, careful to keep his face neutral.

"On the count of setting an explosive device with the intent to cause damage and injury, we find all the accused Guilty," the foreman said. Cries went up from the gathered crowd, some in in support of the accused and some against them.

"Quiet!" Jerem barked. He waited for the crowd to quieten before he motioned to the foreman to continue delivering the verdict.

"On the eleven counts of unlawful death," the foreman continued, swallowing hard. "We find all the accused Guilty."

"Thank you Ministers, you are dismissed," Jerem told them, a cold look in his eyes. He turned to the accused and continued. "Sentences will be decided today and given out tomorrow."

###

The door of the cell swung closed behind the guards but Malcolm remained still until he heard their footsteps fade down the corridor. He turned to look at Eli, huddled in the corner of the cell. Her dress had been replaced but the evidence of her torture and gang rape covered her body and face. He walked slowly over to her and knelt down in front of her, reaching out to gently touch her hand. She looked up at him, no sign of fear in her eyes as she studied his face.

"Guilty," was all he said, his voice soft.

"Like there was ever any doubt?" she smiled slightly, her voice light.

"No, I guess there wasn't," he agreed. "Sentencing is tomorrow."

"You know what the sentence is, don't you?" she asked him, her eyes sad.

"I do," he confirmed with a sigh.

"Don't worry, Malcolm," she told him, leaning forward and gently putting her arms around him. "You won't be going to the noose any time soon," she whispered in his ear, using the hug to be able to convey the message she didn't want overheard. He knew better than to ask what she meant, but he also knew that she was telling him not to make any deals with Jerem.

"Oh?" he whispered back, desperate to have something hopeful to hold on to.

"You'll have to trust me, but we won't be here much longer," she replied, her voice barely audible to him even with her mouth almost touching his ear. He nodded his agreement, shivering slightly. He didn't know what to believe but he knew he had to trust the woman who had already proven herself to him.

###

"Cap'n, we have to do something," Trip exclaimed angrily. "We can't leave him there to die!"

"I know that, Trip," Jon snapped back. "But we have to wait and see what happens tomorrow. It may be that First Minister Jerem decides to turn Malcolm over to us to be imprisoned back home."

"I'm afraid that isn't likely, Captain," T'Pol advised calmly. "We do know that if they hand out a death sentence, we'll have several days to figure something out before the sentence is carried out."

"Are you suggesting a jailbreak Commander?" Jon demanded in surprise.

"I believe the term you are looking for is 'liberating an innocent person Captain," she replied logically, her voice carrying only the barest hint of emotion. The two men looked at her in shock for several moments, before grins began to spread across their faces.