Starbase 515 biomedical stasis unit, 0800 hours, day five
"I didn't expect I'd be able to weasel one last visit, but I guess the med tech on guard is used to me even after almost no time at all."
A small, useless movement to adjust the pillow.
"I've been informed about your advance directive… who knew that would survive to this century? Sorry, but I knew when they called me to the 'advance directive' meeting that you'd have to wait for the final 'make it so'. Well no matter anyway… I've swapped my so-called soul for the secret to your survival. Who knew that those jerks would value so highly something that means nothing to me?"
Confessions followed, confidences in one who'd never betray them, then:
"I've said it before... I'd rather have you alive to be disappointed and think you wasted your time than... whatever. Whatever it is, it's worth it."
A pause, a final bow through the blue field.
"One last inappropriate expression," and not just one kiss, but one kiss on the now-grey forehead, and one at the sadly immobile eyebrow, and finally one at the corner of the mouth.
"It's as close as I dare. But good enough for the last time."
Starbase 1, San Francisco Earth, , 1000 hours, Day 8
"So you tell this board of inquiry that, without any advice from friends and colleagues, you contacted a senior member of the Cardassian assembly?"
"No, ma'am. I intended to contact a commander at Celtris III."
"And will you name that member?"
"I intended to contact Cardassian Commander Gul Madred, believing he still was in command of the unit that had held Captain Picard during the border incident. I was unaware that he had been demoted, and that his communications protocols had been changed when that happened."
"So you in fact contacted what member of the Cardassian high command?"
"My communication was redirected to Commander Gul Lemec."
"I ask you again, Lieutenant, did you advise any of your crewmates or commanders that you intended to contact any member of the Cardassian command at Celtris III?"
"No ma'am I did not."
"Not even your husband, who had served on the Enterprise longer than your commission?"
"No. I'm not saying I'm proud of it, or that he didn't ask me what was going on. In fact he did, before his return he asked me point-blank what I was up to and why."
"And what was your response?"
"I lied. I told him I was simply visiting with the captain, and hoping for the best."
"And your husband, who is an android and capable of analyzing all human verbal responses, believed you?"
"Yes, because he's never had reason not to. An android bases its responses on its previous inputs... and even given my irregular human responses, he had never had reason to expect I might lie to him."
"And why should the court believe that you would confide in none of your crewmates, or even your husband, once you decided what you would do?"
"Because I knew that doing so would endanger their commissions and their command."
"And what of the safety of the Federation and Starfleet? Did you consider that?"
"Yes, ma'am, I did. Rightly or wrongly I determined that my communications did not share any information that would endanger the Enterprise, Starfleet, or the Federation. I was aware of these concerns at all times."
"And what did you accomplish from this forbidden communication? You did understand that it was forbidden to communicate with an established enemy of the Federation?"
"Yes, ma'am I did. The regulations are quite clear. And what I hoped to accomplish has been accomplished, regardless of my actions."
"And that was?"
"The survival of Jean Luc Picard, commander of the Enterprise. Which is my sworn commission."
"At this time the commander of the Enterprise is William Riker."
"That is a temporary post, ma'am."
"But your actions at all times considered his well being and that of the ship?"
"Always."
"Leo, don't even try to lie to me. I found the signatures, I have the details."
"Okay, Geordi, so what have you figured out?"
"A lot more than what Starfleet knows, a lot more than the fact that you contacted the Cardassians... as if that weren't enough! What were you thinking?"
"You know what I was thinking, or you'd have told them already."
Starbase 1, San Francisco Earth, 1400 hundred hours, day 8
"What was the substance of your communication with Gul Lemec?"
"I asked him for any information that might help us figure out what led to the Captain's… to Captain Picard's heart failure."
"And what inspired you to contact the Cardassians rather than Starfleet, or the medical authorities at Starbase 515?"
"I'd become aware that Starfleet believed it held no relevant information. Comm—Captain Riker inquired, and related the response to me."
"And what was Gul Lemec's response?"
"He told me to go to hell, ma'am, or the Cardassian equivalent."
"No suggestions of what might be a worthy trade for the information you asked for?"
"Given the current negotiations between the Federation and the Cardassian empire, he saw no available benefit."
"So these communications have no relevance to the resignation of your commission as a Starfleet officer?"
"None, ma'am."
"Yet a very short time after your failed attempt to gain information from Gul Lemec, information came anonymously to Starbase 515 that enabled them to discover the reason for Captain Picard's heart failure, "
"Go figure, ma'am. It's a strange universe."