Title: Kes is Dead (Part 25)
Series: Star Trek: Voyager
Author: Singing Violin
Rating: T
Spoilers: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Disclaimer: TPTB own them, but they didn't do what I wanted with them, so I'm borrowing them for a bit. I'll give them back when I'm done.
Feedback: Yes please.
Archiving: Anywhere.
In orbit of the home planet of mankind, Voyager drifted gracefully, unmanned, piloted by remote, its peaceful glide belying the turmoil many miles below it. All those who had resided inside its walls over the past few weeks were crammed, not so gracefully, into the hearing chamber where, before the Federation Council, they were being tried.
On one side sat the rescued prisoners, valued witnesses to the events in question, with the exception of Harry Kim, who had risen to stand with his friends as they entered the hall. On the other side was the majority of Voyager's former crew. Only the official Starfleet officers of the bridge crew stood before the Council, representing the other Starfleet officers who had been involved. In order were Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok, Paris, Torres, and Kim.
"Lieutenant Commander Kim," the President remarked, "you do not stand accused."
"I stand," Harry spoke, well aware that he was repeating the words of one Captain Spock, a century ago, in an eerily similar situation, "with my shipmates."
The President nodded. "Very well."
The charges were read, among them conspiracy, theft of Starfleet property, trespassing into enemy territory, and, worst of all, terrorism - for the destruction of the Breen facility.
Lightly, almost imperceptibly, Chakotay brushed his arm against his former captain's, sensing her unease and wanting to remind her, silently, that she was not alone.
"Admiral," the President asked. "How do you plead?"
Again, aware that she was a veritable echo of one Admiral James T. Kirk, she expended all her energy to keep her voice steady as she replied, "on behalf of my crew, Sir, Not Guilty."
The crowd murmured, and the President held up a hand to silence them.
"In general," he began, "the ends do not justify the means, and all of you would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and of Federation policies.
"However," he continued, "we are well aware of the bond this particular crew has shared, having worked closely together, so far away from your friends and family, for seven long years, and we do not expect that, even two years later, your loyalty to one another, and to your former captain, should dissolve.
"Furthermore, we are grateful for the information you have brought us, along with the successful rescue of twelve Starfleet officers."
He paused then, looking around the room, observing the reaction. "We have recently suffered the highest casualties in Federation history at the hands of the Dominion, and we do not wish to repeat this at the hands of Species 8472, the Breen, or any other enemy. The accused are among those who must and will help to prevent such a war."
Taking a breath, he looked directly at Admiral Janeway, who stared back at him, forcing herself to appear strong, though she did not feel it.
"Admiral Janeway, please step forward," he ordered, and she complied, instantly feeling the loss of Chakotay by her side.
"It is the Council's decision that, in light of the dire situation, we absolve the rest of your crew. Only you remain accused."
She nodded, expecting a similar punishment to Kirk's. Noticing that her knees were shaking slightly with anticipation, she attempted to quell them.
Then the President's speech took an unexpected turn. "You, Admiral Janeway, led your former crew into enemy territory, risked their lives, and lost your own - in order to save the small remaining compliment of another ship. Your actions were brave, but they were also incredibly foolish. By all rights, you should not be alive. Once again, you have cheated fate, but it is the Council's judgment that you are far too reckless to be trusted at this time."
She felt her knees begin to buckle, and she willed herself to remain strong, squeezing her fists and breathing deeply to calm her nerves.
"You have been an asset to this Federation, Admiral, and perhaps one day, you will be again. But at this time, we are stripping you of your rank and your duties, and asking that you submit to psychological counseling and an extended leave of absence."
I will not cry, she told herself repeatedly as she struggled to remain upright. But then, she felt herself overcome with a curious sensation, and realized, with belated panic, that she was no longer in control of her own body.
Chakotay watched in horror as Kathryn, as if to prove the President's point about her mental instability, fell to her knees and performed an unspeakable act he'd been sure he'd never see her do again, and this time, in front of the entire Federation Council and her former crew. It was as if he were watching an atom bomb explode in slow motion, knowing there was nothing he could do, but that the destruction of his world was at hand. In the back of his mind, it occurred to him that this was somehow different - her movement was stilted, like a marionette, but more confusion was to presently erupt, distracting him from making a conclusion about what he had observed.
Meanwhile, miles above this horrific scene, Voyager exploded into tiny bits, some of which immediately began to fall into Earth's atmosphere, creating a sparkling light show for bewildered observers on the surface of the planet.
Back in the hall, there was a moment of shocked silence, but then, when the audience realized what they were seeing, a muddled cacophony of voices began to rise. She's insane...what the?...she's protesting...she's sick...
Two guards came to Janeway's side, prepared to take her away, and she slumped between them, limp and pliant, hardly the same person who had, just moments ago, stared defiantly into the President's eyes. An aide approached the President, whispering into his ear about the news from outside.
Kathryn's eyes were to the floor, but they were suddenly on fire, and, amidst the confusion, more quickly than anyone could react, she had drawn one of the guard's phasers, and in one fell swoop, set it to kill...and fired into the crowd.
Another guard quickly stunned her, and she fell to the floor, unconscious, splashing into the pool of her own emesis.
Witnessing it all, wanting to run to her and erase time but knowing he could not, Chakotay began to cry, and was only dimly aware of the new murmurs bubbling through the crowd as they carried his former captain away unceremoniously.
She's shot Strickland...he's dead...hold Janeway for questioning...dangerous criminal...
It was nearly four hours before Chakotay was able to find her, locked away in a Federation holding cell, held for questioning about the murder and her disgusting display.
It was the tears in his eyes that persuaded the guard to let him in to speak with her. They lowered the force field, and he stepped inside, searching the dim cell for the enigmatic woman.
Finally, his eyes found her, huddled in a ball in the corner of the room. Instantly, he was at her side, kneeling in front of her, turning her face up to him. In all the years he'd known her, he had never seen her exhibit such a look of naked vulnerability, and suddenly he remembered what he had observed, and concluded that she had been unspeakably violated. He pulled her towards him and held her for a moment, and he felt her trembling in his arms. But although her eyes were red and puffy from crying, she did not weep now, and began to push him away almost immediately.
With his hands still on her arms, he reluctantly allowed her to pull away, sensing her urgency. It was then that she made her plea. "It wasn't me," she whispered.
"I know," he told her, reaching forward to touch a mat of hair that was plastered to her forehead. With his fingers, he plied at it, finally getting it unstuck and brushing it out of her eyes.
Then she spoke again. "The body...make sure the doctor sees it...our doctor..."
He nodded, not understanding why, but knowing that it was imperative to honor her request.
Then the guard cleared his throat, and Chakotay knew his borrowed time had concluded. Again, he pulled her to him, squeezing her as hard as he could without hurting her, and whispered in her ear, "I'll get you out. I promise."
Then the guard lowered the force field and he stepped out, looking over his shoulder one last time at the broken woman in the cell, his eyes once again overflowing with shame and grief, and now, with the beginnings of rage. Whoever did this to her will pay...
Two hours later, Voyager's Mark One EMH pressed a hypospray to the body in the morgue, and it reverted to its natural form. Around him, the human doctors gasped. After all, they'd never before seen, in person, an 8472.