The Sarpeidon Chronicles Part 6

Chapter 4

T'Rhan arrived early for her usual pre-hearing strategy session with her client, only to find him as taciturn as ever. He offered little more than a perfunctory greeting as she opened her computer and took her place behind the cell's utterly inadequate desk.

"I have been in communication with your father," she informed him curtly. "He had quite a bit to say about the manner in which your defense is proceeding. Or perhaps 'not proceeding' would be a more accurate description."

"His attempt to become involved is unsurprising, though inappropriate. I trust that you reminded him of that."

"I told him that as your advocate, I am bound to keep the content of our discussions confidential. He agreed, but he did offer a few suggestions based on his past experiences with you. Chief among them was that you should make every effort to cooperate with me. After all, Sarek engaged me because of my expertise in diplomatic law. I can hardly demonstrate that if you will not allow me to do so."

When Spock said nothing, she turned to her notes.

"Perhaps we should begin. I have been considering Governor I'gara's account of what transpired during Therov's prison break. As you know, the standards of admissibility are somewhat lower in this hearing than they will be in front of an actual judicial panel. The governor may have swayed the arbiter, but all he really has to offer is a spontaneous remark he overheard from a distance. The highly stressful situation may have caused him to misinterpret it. Therefore, I feel confident that I can have his testimony rendered inadmissible in front of a real jury. I spent most of last night researching precedents. I believe I have found several that will serve our purposes." Looking up, she waited in vain for his response. "You are not attending me."

"I was unaware that you required my input. After all, you did assert your superior competence only moments ago."

"So you listened to that much, at least." T'Rhan's brows drew together in barely concealed irritation. "Your apathy is unproductive, to say the least. "

"On the contrary." His voice remained steely, his expression impenetrable. "Since this hearing began, I have complied with every request you have made of me. I have also given you autonomy to present my case as you think best. In some cases, I have concealed my own disagreement with your tactics. Overall, I fail to see what more you could expect of me."

"A profession of innocence might prove a sound option."

"You know that I am not required to present a defense, much less enter a plea. All we are required to do at this stage is prevent the Security Council from bringing formal charges against me. That is, I assume, the avenue you are pursuing."

"It is. Surely you must realize, however, that our chances of blocking an indictment are slim to nonexistent. I neglected to mention this earlier, since I hoped to encourage your cooperation through other means, but there has been a discouraging development. It appears that Naj Ahkafr has had your daughter Lidia followed almost daily for the past few weeks. Were you aware that she spends a good portion of every afternoon inside Sumarr's home?"

Spock flinched at that; T'Rhan did not think she had imagined his reaction, nearly imperceptible though it would have been to a non-Vulcan.

"No doubt she could offer a suitable explanation," he said stiffly. "They are colleagues, after all."

"Not any longer. Sumarr resigned his position at the Embassy school soon after his true identity became known. Circumstances left him little choice."

"Indeed."

T'Rhan sighed. "I don't suppose forbidding her to associate with him is an option. She is rather like her mother, is she not? Stubborn."

"Her mother would say that she is more like me."

"I will not argue with that. However, we might still be able to use her involvement to our advantage. What I suggest we do is prepare a response to the Security Council's charges-one that asserts that your temporary affiliation with Selyk was simply an attempt to rid your daughter of an unwelcome suitor. We need not confess anything with respect to your knowledge of his Romulan identity. Admittedly, it is rather thin as defenses go. However, we must remember that the Arbiter, and most potential jurors, are emotional beings. We might be able to sway them on that basis."

"As I have already stated, I do not wish to present a defense. Nor am I prepared to stipulate anything with respect to my association with Selyk."

"Frankly, I suspected that might be your response. Very well, then, we'll have to continue discrediting the witnesses. That might not be as difficult as I first supposed, thanks to some information your father supplied. I understand your wife was once convicted of treason herself. That should cause something of a stir when I bring it up in my rebuttal."

"If my father told you that, he was in error. He does not have access to all the pertinent facts."

"And neither do I-because you refuse to grant it, for reasons I find inexplicable. I have heard of humans reacting in such a way when their wives leave them, but I confess I am disappointed that you would follow suit, Ambassador. Life imprisonment cannot be preferable to distancing yourself from your current...circumstances." Pursing her lips, T'Rhan punched at her computer with slightly more force than was required. "On the other hand, I can understand your reluctance to take this entire matter seriously. One would think that the Federation would have more confidence in you, after your many years of distinguished service to their causes. Perhaps you have spent too much time with humans. Though I realize you share their heritage, their perfidy suggests that you might be unwise to remain among them. If we are successful in having these charges dismissed, you should consider returning to Vulcan. Your own people would respect your contributions more."

"Surely any such consideration would be premature."

"Is it? Your wife will divorce you; it is the way of emotional beings to change their allegiances on a whim. If you are convicted, I believe I can convince the Federation to remand you to the custody of the High Council. On Vulcan, you could join yourself to a woman who will remain loyal to you. Not all are as foolish as she has been."

Finally, although his arms remained folded, Spock did raise his eyes to hers. His brows drew together as she met his stare without flinching. "What you propose is unrealistic. I shall, after all, be confined, possibly for the remainder of my life."

"You assume that I speak in the abstract. Prisons are merely structures...and every structure contains an exit, however covert. I have connections on Vulcan that might surprise you. They might benefit you as well, if such a course of action became necessary."

He looked quizzically at her. "Explain."

"Not now. We are due at the hearing in less than an hour. At present, simply do me the courtesy of considering my words. If future events warrant, I shall remind you of them under more appropriate circumstances."

"I assure you that I shall consider them with the greatest interest."

For the first time, T'Rhan was convinced that she had claimed his full attention. Satisfied, she turned back to her computer screen and carried on with her legal preparations.

After yet another frustrating afternoon of lingering in the Embassy corridors and learning little or nothing about the status of Spock's case, Zarabeth and Adonia returned glumly to the house. There they found Kai waiting for them, hours before the usual end of the Embassy School day.

"Why are you home?" Zarabeth asked. "Your lessons cannot possibly have ended for the day."

"Lidia is here as well. Security escorted us both a few hours ago. My instructors felt I could make more progress studying independently, and I agreed. Besides, I was tired of answering my classmates' questions. Presumably Lidia felt the same."

"How considerate of her to remove you from such an unpleasant situation, however disruptive it might be to your education," Adonia said when she noticed Lidia at the top of the stairs, close enough to hear her. "Still, I suppose we can take some comfort in knowing that she has not ruined only Father's career, but her own as well."

"I thought we agreed to stop quarreling among ourselves," Zarabeth admonished.

"Pointing out the truth is hardly quarrelling, Mother, even if Lidia would prefer not to hear it."

"I can assure you that I have not been dismissed from my position," Lidia retorted, her cheeks coloring. "I simply decided that it would be prudent for both of us to pursue our studies here. As it happens, I was correct. Shortly after we arrived, we received a communication from Grandfather."

"Oh? What did he say?"

"He regrets that he is unable to be here in person, but he is monitoring the proceedings as best he can," Kai volunteered. "Also, in the event that we are turned out of Embassy housing, he has offered us shelter with him on Vulcan."

"I see. How generous," Zarabeth said without enthusiasm.

"Another excellent reason to secure Father's acquittal." Adonia crossed her arms and fixed her sister with a withering stare. Lidia, in turn, talked past her as if she were totally oblivious to her presence.

"There was also a message for Adonia. It is encoded, so I can offer no details. Presumably it is from Starfleet."

"Perhaps I'm being summoned to a court martial as well. I'll let you know momentarily." Suddenly ill at ease, Adonia turned and left the room.

"I fail to see why she is so angry with me." Lidia's fingers curled into fists. "However unworthy Selyk proved himself to be, I never considered myself the least bit infatuated with him. The same could not be said of her and Therov."

"She knows that. It's probably the main reason she is so angry. Lidia...I don't suppose there were any other messages? Anything about your brother, for example?"

"No. Of course, communications from that sector have always been notoriously slow. There is no reason to suppose that he didn't leave Gamma Aurelius soon after the others did. If so, he may simply be unable to send word to us. I am confident that we will hear from him eventually."

"I haven't stopped hoping that one day, I'll return from the city and find him already here. As terrible as it is to think of your father being in custody, at least we know where he is-and that he's alive."

"This isn't the first time we've had to trust Jarrod's survival instincts. He's always managed to find his way back. He will again."

A few moments later, Adonia returned. "I'm afraid I have unwelcome news for you, Mother."

Zarabeth paled. "I'm afraid to ask how things could get any worse."

"Then I will spare you the uncertainty. My shore leave has been cancelled. A shuttle is leaving for Starbase 6 in two hours, and I am to be aboard it."

"Oh, no."

"There's more. A surveillance probe has confirmed Romulan activity near Gamma Aurelius. Starfleet has reason to believe that Therov's forces are indeed gathering there. There are more of them than we anticipated: four ships so far, apparently the spoils of piracy. Two of them remain in orbit around the planet."

"And Jarrod may still be there."

"It's possible. In any events, all available starships are to assemble at strategic points along the Neutral Zone, both as a show of force and as a precautionary measure."

"You'll only be on border patrol, then," Lidia said with relief.

"Not exactly. Since she is accustomed to dealing with Therov, Admiral Taylor is assuming temporary command of the Wellfleet and is heading directly to Gamma Aurelius. For obvious reasons, she has requested my presence on the mission. I have already sent her my acceptance. "

"You might have discussed it with me first!"

"I apologize for causing you more grief, but my duty is clear. You must excuse me now. I have little time to gather my belongings and report to the launch site."

They watched in agonized silence as she hurried up the stairs. On the landing, Adonia paused and looked down at them. "Lidia, I would prefer to go without taking our differences with me. While I am away, I trust that you will conduct yourself as I would have done."

"I...I'm not at all sure that I can."

"In that case, I can only encourage you to guard yourself against harm." Frowning, she turned and continued on her way.

"At least she'll be able to send us news of Jarrod," Lidia said in an effort to console her mother. "We must respect the life she has chosen for herself, even if we cannot agree with all her decisions. Father will understand why she had to go."

"Yes-I know he will." Zarabeth tried, and failed, to choke back her tears. "She really is very much like him."

For the fourth night in a row, Therov kept Selyk and Jarrod up late, reviewing yet another set of star charts taken from the ships he'd commandeered. As the hours wore on and the night grew more humid, his temper became much quicker to ignite. Finally, sensing that he had lost their attention, he slammed down the holographic projection device he'd been using and confronted Jarrod.

"You seem to disagree with my calculations, yet you offer no specific suggestions for correcting them," he barked. "I did not take you into my confidence because I missed your smug disdain. Frankly, it was scarcely bearable when we were young, and it is even more offensive now. Speak!"

"Very well, if you insist. I think your plan is ambitious to a foolish degree. Do you really think that established colonies and settlements, even those without Federation sponsorship, will follow you as readily as your current gaggle of convicts and buccaneers?"

"They can follow me or die. It worked well enough in your case."

"Not every colony is like Gamma Aurelius. Besides, if you do manage to become Regent of half the galaxy, how will you maintain control over so many worlds all at once? You'll be forced to appoint a different lieutenant for each new conquest. Eventually one or more of them is going to decide that he can do a more efficient job than you can. Once your tapestry starts to fray, it won't take the Federation long to unravel the rest of it. Perhaps you've spent too many years in a small prison cell, because you haven't taken the broader view in this situation."

"And you, friend, have even less vision now than you did ten years ago!" Therov banged his fist on the table with such force that a splash of Romulan ale leaped from his cup. Wild-eyed, he swung around to Selyk. "You're hardly more helpful than he is. What do you have to say?"

Selyk shrugged. "Jarrod is overly cautious, and you are too eager to throw yourself into the fire. What we need is someone who values restraint and espouses the Golden Mean. I see myself fulfilling that role quite successfully."

Therov snorted, and Jarrod got up.

"Since you're not inclined to listen to anything I have to say, I'm going to bed. This has gone on too long already."

"Go, then-we wouldn't want you to be punished for staying out too late. But we will continue this tomorrow, perhaps when you're feeling more tractable."

Scowling, Jarrod pushed his way past the guards at the door and strode off into the night.

"We'll have to kill him, you know," Therov said when he and Selyk were alone again.

"I feared as much." Selyk sighed and reached for the depleted bowl of fruit that sat beside him. He polished off the last of its contents, then greedily licked his fingertips. "In this case, though, I have no desire to quibble with your logic."

"Go easy on those victuals, brother," Therov admonished. "When we do leave this rock, you'll be too fat to fit in your command seat."

"I'll chance it. The flavor beguiles me no less than it does the rest of our men. Perhaps the Federation really is wise to fund the old man's agricultural research."

"Yes. If Leila's other talents equal those she displays in the greenhouse, maybe we should spare her after all."

Smirking, Therov crossed the cabin and reached into the larder, which held another bushel of the coveted fruits. He tossed one to Selyk, who continued to laugh even after his mouth was again full.

Jarrod returned to the cabin he shared with Leila to find her asleep on top of the covers, as if she had dozed off waiting for him. Settling beside her, he moved a few strands of hair from her forehead. With a murmur, she inched closer to him, then suddenly opened her eyes.

They widened slightly, and her expression froze. Slowly, she seemed to recover her senses and reached for his hand.

"What happened?"

He shook his head. "Therov is mad, as we suspected, and Selyk might be even more insane to listen to him. Then again, I once did the same. The difference was that I didn't have a stolen fleet and an army of hostages to help do his bidding."

"You know they won't have the chance. String them along. Give it a little more time."

Jarrod stared at the floor for a long time, biting his lower lip until it turned raw and painful.

"Perhaps we're going about this all wrong. Perhaps I should go with them willingly. Therov would give me an insignificant little planet somewhere-I could set up an entire world just to my liking. I can't deny that it's a tempting fantasy."

"You won't." She squeezed his fingers, which remained motionless against hers. "You're too good a man for that."

"How do you know? Treason flows through my blood-from both sides, it appears."

"Because you believe in doing what's right. And participating in a coup, with an eye to becoming a despot, isn't something that would appeal to you."

"I wouldn't have thought so either...once. But people can change, Leila. Especially once they've been betrayed. It's easier to do evil once it's been done to you."

When he looked back at her, he found her staring as if she were trying to make sense of his words. All he could think about, though, was her instinctive reaction when he'd entered the room. In her dream, she'd expected someone else. He knew who.