Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any of its characters, only my OC - Kaitlyn Donovan.
This is the sequel to The Ripple Effect.
(The story of Khan and Rachel's past is titled A Shot in the Dark).
Thank you everyone that is still reading/favoriting/following this story.
A/N: Sorry it has been so long my friends – life, alas, is finally settling down.
Chapter 17 – Yielding to Persuasion.
Broken Remnants
Chapter 17 – Yielding to Persuasion
Enterprise.
Doctor Leonard McCoy frowned as he watched the woman he cared for most in his life continue to keep her attention glued to the PADD in her hand and the monitor on her desk. "Kaitlyn?" he called to her again to get her to focus on him.
She took a deep breath and set the PADD down on her desk, then slowly looked up at him. "I did hear you; I was just contemplating what you suggested before I answer you." She shook her head slightly, "I really don't have time to take off this weekend. I appreciate your father offering everyone the chance to come and unwind at his ranch - and if it was any other weekend . . ." Kaitlyn watched as Leonard pursed his lips and crossed his arms.
"Jim wants everyone to come." Leonard stated simply. After she and Jim had returned to the ship, Jim had mentioned that she had actually fallen asleep when he'd been talking to Khan. He knew she'd been overworked; he just didn't realize how bad off she was.
Kaitlyn smiled tightly, "I'm sure he has everyone's best interest at heart, but that doesn't get rid of my obligations. Khan's Tribunal starts Monday and I need to go over all of the details again to make sure I present his case the best way possible."
"Khan says you're ready." he pointed out as he walked over to her desk and leaned his hip against it. "It's his life that hangs in the balance, if he says you're ready - you are."
"So now you take his word?" she could feel her blood pressure starting to rise. She knew the Leonard still didn't trust Khan. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to keep herself from saying something she'd regret later.
"You gonna fall asleep again?" he questioned.
Kaitlyn's eyes snapped open. "I didn't fall asleep - I was just resting."
Leonard reached for her hand as she quickly stood up. He rubbed his thumb over her hand gently.
Kaitlyn stopped abruptly. She could feel his concern for her health and well-being.
"Why did you sleep on the holoroom couch instead of coming back here last night?" Leonard watched as she looked away from him.
Kaitlyn looked back at him, "Because I knew that you would know that something was wrong as soon as you saw me. I didn't want to have that conversation last night - and I'm still not ready to talk about it."
Leonard nodded, "Okay, we won't talk about it now." He touched her cheek, "As your doctor, I recommend a weekend off. You are short tempered and that's not gonna do anybody any good next week during the Tribunal."
Kaitlyn nodded in acquiesce, "Okay." She knew she needed a break; she just didn't want to admit that she was tired and exhausted.
Leonard raised an eyebrow skeptically, "Really - no more arguing with me?"
Kaitlyn grinned, "No more arguing about taking this weekend off, I'm sure there's plenty of other subjects we can argue about." He must have forgotten she'd been there when he said the same thing to Jim.
He shrugged sheepishly, "It only held with Jim for a week." He tucked a stray strand of hair back behind her ear, "I really don't want to argue with you this weekend, I just want to spend some time with you."
Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest, "That sounds wonderful."
Leonard McCoy smiled and kissed the top of her head.
X
Secured Facility.
Khan watched as Rachel helped Lucy put her backpack on. He was going to miss Lucy while she went away to the McCoy Ranch this weekend. He offered a digital camera, "Take lots of pictures."
Lucy's eye's light up, she hugged him tightly before she accepted the camera, "Thank you! I'll be sure to take lots." She watched Khan for a moment, "Are you sure you can't come too?"
Khan kneeled down so he was eye level with her, "Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to leave. You know what I've done. My trial is next week. If everything turns out well, we will be able to settle on another planet."
Rachel rubbed his shoulder gently with one hand and touched Lucy's chin with the other, "Would you want to come with us if we go to another planet?"
Lucy hugged Rachel tightly, "You are my family now, of course I want to come with you." She looked at Khan as he stood up.
"Do you mean it Lucy? You consider Rachel and I your family now?" Khan took a deep breath. Could this child have formed such a bond with them? He wanted her to be part of his family, but he wanted the child to choose since so many things had been taken away from her recently.
Lucy nodded, then swallowed hard. "I don't want to call you Mom and Dad." She glanced between the two of them – she was worried they would be upset.
Rachel touched the girl's cheek and wiped the tear away, "No one can take the place of your Mom or Dad. We love you very much Lucy. Thank you for choosing to make us your family."
Lucy hugged Rachel then Khan again. She went over to the couch to check out the features of the camera.
Khan watched as Rachel sighed softly. He reached for her hand and held it. She turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "Does that also mean that you want to be part of my family?" Khan watched her closely.
Rachel frowned slightly, "I want much more than that, but I don't know if you are capable of what I want from you." She closed her eyes as he touched her cheek gently.
Khan dropped her hand as he heard the familiar whirl of the transporters. He walked over to Kaitlyn as she materialized. "Good morning, Kaitlyn. I'm glad you've decided to take a break this weekend."
Lucy came over quickly and hugged her, "If I'm part of Khan and Rachel's family, does that mean I can call you G.G.?"
Kaitlyn smiled at the girl, "I'd be pleased if you did." She gave a curious look to Khan and Rachel, then turned her attention back to Lucy, "Are you ready?"
Lucy nodded, "I've got everything I need in my backpack and Khan even gave me this camera so I can take lots of pictures." She was practically jumping up and down with excitement.
Kaitlyn grinned and held Lucy's hand then waved to them with her other hand, "Very well. We will be back Sunday afternoon. ELSIE, transport Lucy and I to the McCoy Ranch. Authorization KDR 211."
A few moments later, they transported away.
Khan looked over at Rachel, "Why do you think I'm not capable of what you want?"
Rachel chuckled softly – he just picked up their conversation like nothing else had happened. She moved over to him slowly, "I didn't say you weren't capable, I said I didn't know if you were capable." She patted his chest and looked up at him, "I love you with all of my heart and I want to be with you, not just a part of your family."
Khan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He knew she meant it. He opened his eyes and smiled. He cupped her face, "I love you Rachel. Please know that means that I will do everything to keep you safe – even if it means that others are harmed in the process. It also means that I will not share you with any other man as long as I'm alive – do you understand?"
Rachel smiled gently, "I understand – and that goes both ways. I won't share you Khan."
Khan nodded, "Is there anything else you're not sure I'm capable of?"
Rachel tilted her head slightly, "Do you want to have your own family, your own children?"
Khan raised an eyebrow, "Do you?" The subject had never been brought up before. He hoped she did. He would be very pleased with the children they would create together.
"Yes."
Khan kissed her hard, "Then we will do our best to make sure that happens." He picked her up and carried her to their room.
X X X
McCoy Ranch.
Kaitlyn smiled as she came into the stables and stood beside Carol at the railing.
Jim was showing Lucy how to brush the horse, "That's it. See how she likes it? You can tell when she's happy because she nods her head." He rubbed Sadie's neck as Lucy continued to brush her.
Lucy was enthralled with all the horses, but she seemed to particularly like Sadie. She smiled brightly, "Where did you learn so much about horses Captain?"
"Right here. When Bones and I had time off from the Academy, we'd come here." Jim looked at her puzzledly, "I thought I said you could call me Jim?" He gave her one of his most charming smiles.
Lucy grinned, "I think I would rather call you Captain – it sounds more important than just Jim. Is that okay?"
He nodded, "Fine by me." He rubbed the horse gently, "So, how are you doing Lucy?"
Lucy shrugged, "I'm okay. Khan makes sure that I keep up with my studies and Rachel makes sure that I do other stuff and not just study all the time." She glanced at him, hesitating her brushing of Sadie slightly.
Jim raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"
"I know you don't like Khan because of what he did – but do you think he'll ever get to be with his people again?" she questioned him quietly as she started to brush Sadie again.
Jim was quiet for a few moments, then took a deep breath and answered honestly, "I don't know. The Admirals will listen to all of the evidence presented and weigh it carefully, then they'll make their decision."
Lucy looked at him cautiously, "What do you think his punishment should be?"
Jim shook his head, "I'm not the best person to ask Lucy."
Lucy sighed, "I understand." She glanced to make sure they were far enough away so no one else could hear them, "Can you do anything special now?"
"Like what?" Jim questioned her.
Lucy grinned, "I can think faster and understand things better, I'm also stronger and faster."
Jim nodded, "I've noticed that I can move quicker."
"Are you smarter?"
Jim chuckled, "I've always been smart." He looked over and noticed Kaitlyn and Carol at the rails a bit away from them. "Is it about dinner time?" He questioned them loudly enough so they could hear him.
Kaitlyn gave him a thumbs up in reply.
Jim smiled at Lucy, "Come on – let's go get washed up. Bones and I will bring you back after dinner." He gave Sadie another few strokes along her neck.
X X X
Kaitlyn sat down at one of the picnic tables out the back of the main house after dinner and watched as some of the crew members played around in the pool, some wandered off down to the lake, and some went to the stables. She smiled softly as the outside lights started coming on as the sun started to set. She looked up at David McCoy as he brought two coffee cups over.
He handed her one cup, then sat down on the bench beside her, "Figured you could use some coffee."
She noted he had already added cream and sugar for her, "Thank you." She wrapped her hands around the warm cup and smiled again as she heard laughter from the stables.
"That Lucy is one smart girl." David McCoy commented as he looked toward the stables.
Kaitlyn nodded, "That she is." She watched as the older McCoy sighed heavily. "Are you worried about Leonard being gone for five years?"
He glanced at her and chuckled, "Can you read minds?"
She sidestepped his question, "I just know how I felt when my children started living their own lives." She had decided earlier that she would tell him more about herself.
David McCoy raised an eyebrow, "I wondered if you were gonna tell anyone who you really are." He took a sip of his coffee, then set it down. "I was a bit of a history buff when I was a kid. My parents took me to the MACO Museum. I'll never forget learning about the first female Commandant." He looked over her facial features, "You don't look like you've aged but a few years." He looked back to the stables, "Leonard knows?"
Kaitlyn smiled and patted his arm gently, "He knew before I told him."
"Anybody else know?" He questioned her as he took another sip of coffee.
"Everyone who's here knows. The Command Council, many of the older Federation delegates and Ambassador Spock." She listed, then took a long sip of the coffee.
David McCoy had a thought, "How old is your oldest now?" He remembered reading that she had eight children.
"Robert and Caroline are both in their eighties." She smiled when he chuckled. "I know – it sounds weird. It still throws me for a loop – I don't feel that old most days." She shrugged and took another sip of the coffee.
"Well, I'm feeling old." He admitted and looked over his son's crewmates. They were all young, but they had proven themselves to be some of the best of Starfleet. "I don't know how long I can keep running this place by myself." He admitted as he fingered the rim of his empty cup.
"Would you like to have some help? I have a great grandson that wants to buy land and start a ranch with his wife, but he has no clue as to what it all involves. He's been looking for a place to apprentice at, but he hasn't found anywhere yet." Kaitlyn explained the information she had learned in a communique last week.
The older McCoy stroked his chin, "I can't offer a salary, but they could stay rent free in the guest house." He could use the help and it would be nice to show someone how to run a ranch.
"I'll send him a message to reach out to you. His name is Andrew Reed and his wife's name is Allison. I know they'll appreciate the opportunity." She looked back over the crewmembers and thought back to his concern, "I'll do my best to keep them safe."
David McCoy smiled, "Coming from you that means a lot." He took a deep breath, "Eggs, bacon, hash browns and pancakes sound okay for breakfast in the morning?"
"That sounds wonderful to me." She handed him her empty cup after he stood up, "Thank you."
He smiled and patted her shoulder, then headed inside.
X X X
Kaitlyn stretched out on the bed in the small cabin, then continued to read.
The door to the cabin opened and Leonard came in and sat down on the edge of the bed beside her hip. He looked at the PADD in her hand and frowned slightly, "I thought you'd be with the girls. You're not studying up for next week, are you?"
She put the PADD down and smiled as she ran her hand on his arm, "No, I'm not studying for next week."
He picked up the PADD and frowned, "Klingon?" he questioned. What was she up too?
She took the PADD from him and set it on the nightstand, "It is a Klingon play – think along the lines of Macbeth and a Comedy of Errors."
Leonard's face scrunched up, "I can't fathom it."
Kaitlyn grinned, "It's funny."
Leonard leaned over and kissed her gently, "You ready for bed, or do you want to read for a little while longer?"
Kaitlyn pulled him closer, "I'd like to spend some quality time with you. Are you sure you don't want to go over to they guy's cabin? I heard they were about to start playing poker." She ran her hands over his sides and raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not going to waste the time we have playing poker with them." He kissed her again, then leaned his forehead against hers, "Thanks for talking to my Dad."
She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair, "I'm glad you got to talk to him tonight."
Leonard sat up, "You need anything else before I turn off the light?"
Kaitlyn grinned, "Lock the door. I wouldn't put it past Jim to try and play a prank on us."
He contemplated it and nodded in agreement, "He is acting like this is an overnight camp." He went over and locked the door and turned off the light. He came back and laid down beside her. "Do you feel like pulling a prank on our dear Captain?"
Kaitlyn rubbed his chest, "What do you have in mind?" She was intrigued – Leonard was not the pranking type, but he had been the brunt of the Captain's pranks previously.
He kissed her gently, "Give me a little bit and I'll think of something."
X X X
Starfleet Command.
"The Prosecution calls John Harrison to the stand." Captain Fowler waited for him to take a seat at the witness stand.
"We have heard from numerous people over the past few days that you built weapons and helped design the ship for Admiral Marcus. You had the Kelvin Memorial Archives blown up and you personally shot up the Conference Room at Starfleet Headquarters. You traveled to Qo'noS and attacked multiple Klingons. You were on the ship when it crashed into San Francisco. Do you deny any of these statements?
"No, I do not." Khan replied calmly.
"The Prosecution rests." Captain Fowler stated and sat down.
Admiral Barrett nodded, "The Defense will present their case tomorrow at 0900. Dismissed."
The Admiralty exited the court room.
McCoy frown from his seat next to Spock a few rows back from the railing as they stood up. "Why didn't they question him more?"
"The Prosecution wants to make it understood what crimes were committed and that he doesn't deny them." Spock watched as Khan was transported away to the secured location. "It's up to Kaitlyn to show the court why he did what he did, to show he was manipulated by Marcus, and to give reason for a lesser sentence."
X X X
Kaitlyn looked up as Samuel Riker came over to her table at the coffee shop. "Good evening, Samuel. It's good to see you again."
Samuel Riker smiled as he sat down, "It's good to see you too. How's everything going at the trial?"
Kaitlyn nodded as she took a sip of her coffee, "I think it is going as well as can be expected."
Riker leaned closer, "How can I help you? Your communique was unexpected."
She clicked on an icon on her PADD, she indicated for him to get his out. "I have found an ideal planet. The Corps of Engineers will be leaving soon to build the settlement. I think it would be wise if the families start to leave their current jobs and homes. I think it would raise suspicion if everyone quit all at once. I have a transport vessel that will leave in a month and a half – it will take a month to get there." She sent him all the information she had on the planet.
He looked over the information and sat back, stunned that she already had everything in place for them. "Won't the Engineers and Starfleet get suspicious when a settlement is built and left there?"
"Actually, there are five planets that are getting settlements built this year – yours is just one of them. Besides, you will arrive just as they are about to finish so that you can go over everything with them and ask questions if you need to." She indicated the plans on the PADD, "I have shown the design for the settlement to him and he would like your input. Would you be willing to meet with him tomorrow evening?" Kaitlyn asked as she watched the man beside her, making sure not to use Khan's name in public.
"Of course. I'll speak to the others to see if they have any suggestions." Samuel Riker put the PADD down and took a deep breath. "So, you're going on the assumption that he and his people will be coming after we've settled."
Kaitlyn nodded, "If all goes well. If it doesn't – you and the families will have plenty of room to grow." She smiled, "I have apartments available for the families to move into here, while they're waiting for the transport and I have a storage facility to hold all of the belongings."
"What do we need to do?" He questioned her.
"Start to make a list of items you'll need to run the settlement. Think about plant seeds, animals, tools, computers. There is geothermal energy that will be tapped into for the settlement and there is also a river nearby that we can install water turbines if there is machinery you need to run. Think about the jobs people will have and how you will live out your everyday lives."
"Thank you, Kaitlyn." Riker shook her hand as they stood up.
"You're welcome. I'll comm you when I have a more fixed time for tomorrow's meeting." She smiled, then headed out the door.
X X X
Starfleet Command.
Captain Fowler sighed heavily as Commander Donovan was about to call another witness. For two days she had called back all the previously interviewed witnesses and questioned them on what restrictions had been placed on Harrison and their knowledge of his manipulation by Marcus. He stood up, "Your Honors, may we approach the bench?" he requested as he glanced at Donovan.
Admiral Barrett motioned for both to approach. "What is the motion, Captain Fowler?"
Captain Fowler took a deep breath, "We are willing to acknowledge that Admiral Marcus and his subordinate Captain Cartwright manipulated Commander Harrison. We see no reason to continue to question each witness."
Admiral Barrett looked for a response from the other four Admirals on the panel.
Admiral Kellogg leaned forward, "Commander Donovan, do you have further witnesses that will strengthen your claims?"
Commander Kaitlyn Donovan nodded, "We do have a few more witnesses that have not been heard from as of yet." She loosely clasped her hands behind her back and looked over Captain Fowler, "Is the Prosecution willing to state for the record that they acknowledge Commander John Harrison was manipulated by Admiral Marcus and he had no choice but to created the weapons and design the ship for Admiral Marcus, that John Harrison's family was kidnapped, that Commander Harrison was threatened that his family would be killed if he did not comply, and that Admiral Marcus ordered their deaths?"
Captain Fowler took a deep breath, "May I have time to confer with my office?" He did not know if he had the full authority to make such a sweeping acknowledgment.
The other Admirals nodded to Barrett. Admiral Barrett nodded, "You have until tomorrow morning. We will reconvene at 0900 tomorrow."
The Admirals stood up and left the room.
Commander Donovan raised an eyebrow again at Fowler.
"I'll see you in the morning." Fowler nodded to her, he stopped at his table and picked up his bag then he and his Aide headed out.
Kaitlyn walked over to Khan, "We'll see what the Prosecution says in the morning. I'll speak with you again this evening."
Khan nodded and a few moments later he was transported to the Secured Facility.
Commander Spock walked over to her slowly, "That was unexpected."
Kaitlyn nodded as she picked up her bag, "Yes, it was. Though I'm not sure what will come out of it." They walked down the corridors and headed to the Transporter Room.
Commander Spock nodded to the operator and swiped his ID in the reader, "Two to transport to the Enterprise."
The Operator nodded as they stepped up to the platform.
After they materialized on the Enterprise, they continued to walk together down the corridor to the lift.
Kaitlyn stopped walking as she thought of a reason as to why the Prosecution wanted to speed things along.
Commander Spock looked at her curiously, "Commander?"
Commander Kaitlyn Donovan glanced at Spock, "I'll see you later. Thank you for attending the session today." She turned and headed back down the corridor.
Commander Spock wondered what she had just realized as he stepped on the lift and headed to the bridge to give Captain Kirk a briefing of today's tribunal session.
X X X
TBC.
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