Chapter 10: Justice Part 2

In the Edo Council Chambers Picard was led to what appeared to be a seat of honor next to Rivan, Liator, and other Edo. Riker, Buffy and Troi moved to flank the Captain. Hovering anxiously nearby were Tasha and Worf holding their small phasers unobtrusively in hand as they scan the Edo, alert for any further surprises.

Before Picard took his seat, he moved Buffy and Troi aside, spoke to them quietly: "Care to comment privately how either of you read any of this..."

Troi shakes her head, "Unnecessary, sir. I get strong feelings that they are honest almost to a fault. But they do have great respect, even pride, in their own ways."

"Other than the fact their minds were closed when it came to this punishment, they are open about everything else," Buffy said.

Picard nodded as he sat down.

"Welcome to our world, Captain," Liator said. "We regret that our system of justice is troubling you."

"Wesley Crusher and Dawn Summers - where are they?" Picard said.

"In accord with the Prime Directive, Captain," Riker said, "I've let them hold them pending the outcome of this."

"Against my objections to the contrary," Buffy said.

"Noted, Ensign," Picard said. After all she had initiated a Section 10 emergency, which effectively put this all in her court. With the entity in orbit with the Enterprise he decided it was a good call.

"They are safe and unharmed," Rivan said gently. "We promise that. Captain Picard... I do not know how you Earth people conduct law and justice; even if you respect such things..."

Picard nodded, "We do."

Liator smiled, "Good, so do we. Our precepts have been handed down from long ago. The tranquility you see in our lives has been made possible by our laws..."

"We are a people of law," Rivan added. "They do sometimes bring us sadness, but we have learned to adjust to that. Perhaps your laws work as well..."

"They haven't always, but they do now," Picard said.

"Do you execute criminals?" Liator wondered.

"No... Not any longer, that is," Picard answered.

"You did once?" Rivan asked.

Picard sighed as he glanced at Buffy. It was common place in her original time, now very few laws still on the books had the death penalty, "Unfortunately, yes. But since then..."

"And when you did, was it believed necessary to do so?" Rivan said.

"Can we please get to the facts concerning our crewmembers?" Picard asked. After a moment he noticed they were waiting for his reply. "Yes, some people then felt it was necessary. But we've learned how to detect the seeds of criminal behavior... Capital punishment is no longer justified in our world as a deterrent."

"But you once believed execution necessary," Liator said. "So, we are not yet as advanced as they are. And since you are advanced in other ways too, I suggest you use the, ah, transfer device..."

"Beam…" Rivan corrected.

"...the beam device to permit the Wesley boy and Dawn girl to escape from us," Liator said. "We will record them as convicted-criminals out of our reach... advanced people who luckily escaped the barbarism of this backward little world."

Picard looked at Buffy for a moment. He could see she was clearly agitated and tried to telepathically reassure her he would do everything in his power to free Dawn and Wesley. But first he had to placate the Edo for a peaceful resolution. "Unfortunately, we have a law ourselves known as the Prime Directive..."

"Riker has explained it to us..." Rivan said.

"Is either the boy or the girl in the slightest danger from you right now?" Picard asked.

"Until sundown?" Liator asked looking at Rivan.

Rivan nodded, "Because you are strangers, we are delaying enforcement of the law. But we must act by the time of sundown."

"Then, I have another question now, please. While orbiting... while circling high above your world as we do... we encountered a strange object, a vessel perhaps? Do you know of such a thing? It was... well, you could say not entirely real, at least not completely what you might call solid..."

"Do you mean God?" Rivan asked.

"God?" Picard asked.

Buffy's eyes went wide. She had to go back to the Enterprise at least to see this object.

"God is said to be somewhere up there. Protecting us," Liator said.

"Exactly... exactly how would you describe God?" Picard asked.

"As you just did," Rivan said. "As existing both here and in another place also."

Liator nodded, "But when God wants to show its power, it can make itself felt most fully."

Just then Picard's commbadge beeped at him. "Picard here."

"CMO Crusher here, sir. Commander Data has just regained consciousness."

"What condition?" Picard asked. "Can he talk?"

"He is insisting on it, sir. Urgently."

"Stand by; Picard out," Picard said as he looked at Troi who must have gotten his attention. "I'd rather explain about her son to her personally." He looked back at Rivan and Liator. "You promise Wesley Crusher and Dawn Summers will be safe until sundown?"

Liator nodded, "You have our word."

"Then, will one of you return with me to our vessel?" Picard asked.

"Of course," Rivan said. "I'll go as a hostage for the girl and the boy's safety."

"No, that's not it," Picard said. "I want you to... identify something for me, if you can." He looked at Buffy. "Ensign, I know you are concerned for your sister but I need you also." Buffy sighed and nodded as she moved to Troi, Picard and Rivan. He touched his combadge. "Captain to Transporter Room. Stand by for four to beam up..."

Rivan smiled weakly, "I'm...frightened..."

Troi touched Rivan, gently smiling, "No reason to be."

"Transporter Room, energize," Picard said as he, Buffy, Troi and Rivan beamed out.

Moments later on the Enterprise Picard, Buffy, Troi and Rivan walked down a corridor. Rivan was astonished by what she saw. "But this is a ... a city. A great city!"

Beverly noticed Picard and fell in step with them. "Captain, I've just seen the away team report about Wesley..."

"In a moment, Doctor..." Picard interrupted.

"In a moment..." Beverly said astonished at the fact she was just blown off.

"Exactly, Doctor, in a moment." Picard said icily. "You were about to say...?"

Rivan glanced at Beverly and then turned her attention to Picard, indicating the vessel. "Since you have all this power, why be concerned about our laws? You could take the boy from us!"

"It's not that simple," Picard said.

Beverly gave a quick look at Rivan and Picard as she began to understand at least something of what was happening on the planet. With so much of her own at stake, it was all Beverly could do to keep from interrupting again. They entered the turbolift and exited onto the bridge.

"From here we can view whatever's outside our vessel," Troi said.

"Do you mean my world?!" Rivan asked. "You said we'd be high above it..."

Picard nodded, "And something else that's up here circling your world too. It's very important to us... perhaps to you... to know what it is," he said as he watched Rivan drops to one knee, clenching her eyes closed and crossing her hands over her chest. "I'm sorry, Rivan, but this was necessary. Do you know what that is?"

Rivan nodded jerkily, her eyes still clenched closed.

"Can you tell us what it is?" Buffy wondered.

Rivan stayed frozen in the same position.

"Is it God?" Picard asked as Rivan again nodded jerkily. "Now, it's very important you answer something. How do you recognize what it is?"

Troi noticed that Rivan was trembling and bent down close to her. "Nothing will harm you; I promise! Just tell us how you recognize it."

"It... has appeared...before. It is... the same," Rivan said weakly.

"Can you speak to it... Does it speak to you?" Picard asked.

"Return her," Buffy said. "Now!"

Picard looked up at Buffy and then followed her gaze to the vessel. He saw what she saw that it was glowing steadily brighter. It was then that the bridge began to shake as a voice filled the bridge. "RETURN MY CHILD!"

"Return...?" Beverly said.

Picard looked back at Buffy and they both understood instantly. He motioned for Buffy to stand beside Rivan. When Buffy had moved beside the woman, Picard tapped her commbadge. "Picard to Transporter Room, urgent!"

"Yes, do that! But hurry...!" Troi said.

"It is still coming toward us..." Beverly added.

"Transporter Chief to Captain..."

"Lock on to Ensign Summers commbadge and beam her and our guest to the away team's location. Hurry!" Picard said as he stepped back from Buffy and Rivan. "Engage, Transporter Room, urgent! Engag..."

Buffy and Rivan beamed out and materialized in the Edo Council Chambers.

"Liator, may I see my sister," Buffy asked. "I must discuss something very important with her."

Liator agreed and Buffy was escorted to the detainment area where she found the Edo mediators, Wesley and Dawn.

Buffy walks over to Dawn and hugged her. "Are you okay?"

Dawn nodded, "Yes, Buffy. A little scared but otherwise I'm okay."

Wesley looks at Buffy, "Buffy is…?"

"Picard was here," Buffy said. "He is doing all that he can to fix the situation so you can go home."

"And if he doesn't?" Dawn asked.

Buffy looked at the Edo, "Then I will."

"No, you can't Buffy," Dawn said. "As your Watcher I must remind you that a Slayer does not kill humans."

The Edo mediator looks at Buffy in shock. "You are a Slayer?"

"You know what a Slayer is?" Buffy asked just as shocked.

The Edo mediator nodded. "One has not been called in a thousand years. Not since the last of the demons were driven off our world by our God. Based on ancient customs the Slayer is a Mediator. It was agreed they would be mediators to ease the role they were to perform."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

On the Enterprise Beverly and Picard entered sickbay.

"What do you intend to do about my son and Dawn?" Beverly asked.

"They are being held safely, until sundown..." Picard said.

Beverly turned and faced Picard. "When they face execution! Although neither he nor Dawn has committed any crime, certainly none that any sane and reasonable person would..." She realized she was beginning to become hysterical. She stopped for a second to get control of herself before returning to the conversation. "I... apologize, sir... but this is very difficult for me..."

"You saw what that thing was about to do," Picard said. "I have a ship, an entire crew to consider..."

Beverly sighed, "If you felt the same, you'd be as frightened and trembling..."

"But I am," Picard said. "We have a supernatural threat out there and our Slayer is currently on the planet dealing with a Section 10 emergency."

"What does that mean anyways?" Beverly asked.

"It means she can override even my orders when it comes to the supernatural," Picard said. "When she made that call, she immediately became the commanding officer of the away team. And you remember what happened when we met hers and Dawn's friend, Admiral Summers … Angel."

Beverly nodded, she remembered the ghost ship and the ghosts that inhabited it. She also remembered Picard himself had relinquished command to Angel because Angel like Buffy and Dawn had experience with the supernatural that they themselves did not have. She motioned toward the main part of sickbay. "You'll find Data able to talk."

Picard nodded as he left Beverly. When he walked up to Data he saw that the android was conscious.

"I was an excellent choice for them, Captain," Data said as he noticed his commanding officer walk up to him. "They could communicate with me quite..." He shook his head. "...I was about to say quite easily, but there was nothing easy about it. Fortunately, they stopped short of overloading my circuitry..."

"You're saying they," Picard interrupted. "It is a vessel of some sort..."

"Definitely not a single entity if that's what you mean, sir... although they know the Edo worship them as a God thing," Data said.

"They know...?" Picard asked.

Data nodded, "They recognize that this is quite expected and harmless at the present Edo stage of evolution, and..."

"What kind of vessel?"

"It is perhaps not what we'd understand as a vessel, sir," Data explained. "The dimension this one occupies allows them to... well, to be in several places at once. But they consider this entire star cluster to be theirs, and it was probably unwise of us to attempt to place a human colony in this area. Of course, there are three thousand four other planets in this general star cluster in which we..."

"Data, don't babble!" Picard said.

"Babble, sir? I am not aware that I ever babble, sir," Data said as he did what Picard actually told him not to do. "It may be that from time to time I have considerable information to communicate, and you may question the way I organize it..." He trailed off as he became aware of Picard's expression.

"Please organize it into brief answers to my questions. Do they accept our presence at this planet?" Picard said.

"Not yet decided, sir."

"Please feel free to volunteer any important information, however."

Data nodded, "I volunteer that they are now observing us, sir."

"To judge what kind of life forms we are?" Picard asked.

Data shook his head, "No, it is more curiosity, sir. I doubt they expect us to abide by their value systems."

Picard saw Beverly hovering near the door before returning his attention back to Data. "Do they... know of our Prime Directive?"

"They know everything I know, sir," Data said.

"And, in your opinion, if we violated the Prime Directive...?" Picard asked.

"That's not a fair question at..." Beverly blurted out. She bit off the rest of what she was too say.

"Continue," Picard said.

"That would be a case of judging us by our own rules, sir," Data said. "If we violate our own Prime Directive, they might consider us deceitful and untrustworthy. You do recall, sir, they cautioned us not to interfere with their children below." He looks from Beverly to Picard. "What has happened?"

"The Edo wants to execute my son and Dawn," Beverly said as she looked straight at Picard. "I will not allow that to happen, Jean-Luc! And what you just told me is true, I bet neither will Buffy."

"Most interesting, sir," Data said. "The emotion of motherhood, compared to all others felt by humans..."

Beverly whirled on Data now. "SHUT UP!" she yelled as she dashed angrily from the room.

Data looked from Picard to the doorway and back to Picard. "You were right, sir. I do tend to babble."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

In the Edo detention area, the Edo mediators decided they would allow Buffy to have some privacy due to her new status. So, they had moved across the room away from the trio.

Buffy smiled as she ran her hand through Dawn's hair.

"So, what is a Slayer?" Wesley asked.

Buffy sighed. "It's a long and complicated story. How about I tell you when we get back on the ship."

"Is it true you both are from the past?" Wesley asked as the sisters looked at him. "I heard some of the crew talking."

Buffy nodded, "Yes it's true. I was born in the year 1981. I was six years old when Dawn was born in 1987."

"Wow. How did you get here?" Wesley asked.

"We don't know," Buffy said.

Dawn rolled her eyes and telepathically projected, 'Liar.'

Buffy frowned and shook her head as she telepathically projected back, 'It's not a lie exactly. Yes, we went through the portal but it wasn't meant to throw us in to the future just into another dimension. So, the question is how did it.'

Dawn shrugged.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

On the Enterprise in the starboard lounge Picard was sitting alone, looking out at the mysterious vessel. He knew what Buffy would do of course and in the interest of the Section 10 emergency she had called she was within her rights. That said he debated trying to settle this himself so she wouldn't have to.

"You sent for me, sir?" Data said as he walked up to the captain.

Picard sighed, "Let's talk some more, Data."

"Yes sir. What level of communication?" Data asked.

Picard gave him an annoyed look. "Any. My apologies for saying you babbled."

"But I do, sir," Data admitted. "It was wise to beam back the Edo woman."

Picard nodded, "Barely in time."

"The Edo's God is very protective of its children," Data said.

Picard sighed, "There was no choice but to learn..." he said as he motioned toward the vessel. "...what we could about that thing from her. Especially after what happened a few weeks ago."

"With the ghost ship," Data said with a nod. He motioned toward the vessel. "Apparently the Edo people had seen it before, from time to time, sir."

"But I'm sorry I had to," Picard said. "She was so frightened."

"Understandable," Data said. "To share an orbit with God is no small experience."

Picard looked at Data and smiled. "You have a facility for seeing things not in the way we do, but as they truly are," he said as he shifted his seat closer to Data. "I need help, my friend. I cannot let Wesley, Dawn or any member of this vessel be sacrificed this way. The Prime Directive does not really intend that. And I think Admiral Summers would agree as well."

"The problem, sir, is there!" Data said as he indicated the mystery object. "Although they have learned of the Prime Directive from my mind, how will they evaluate it? How do they reason? What are their values? Remember its warning to us, sir."

Picard sighed, "Exactly. How do I explain not obeying the laws down there, not permitting young Crusher and young Summers' executions? Does that endanger this ship and over a thousand other lives?"

"Would you choose one life over one thousand, sir?" Data asked.

"I refuse to let arithmetic decide questions like that!" Picard snapped. Then, he indicated out toward the mysterious object. "Did you learn anything of the relationship between the Edo and that? Why are they so certain it is God?"

"Any sufficiently advanced life form can appear to others to be that, sir," Data said.

Picard looked at Data. After Angel had left he had gone into Buffy and Dawn's pre-jump records and knew of the battle with Glorificus. He wondered if she had been an advanced being or like the records said an actual goddess.

"But when they were probing my thoughts, Captain," Data continued. "I could feel that whatever they are now, they once existed in this dimension, just as we do. Perhaps also in the same kind of flesh and blood form. Since then, however, they have evolved considerably further. Their present existence in mixed dimensions no doubt has advantages we do not understand..."

"Then, in their earlier flesh and blood existence they could have once shared our kind of values," Picard said.

Data nodded, "The Edo shares them, sir."

"Why would advanced things like that feel obliged to protect the Edo?" Picard wondered.

"Perhaps because the Edo is a child-race by comparison," Data said. "Possibly a race which the life forms over there planted here much as we now plant human colonies on Class-M planets."

Just then Beverly joined them and walked in front of Picard as she tried for a somewhat respectful position of attention. She was mastering her emotions, but the pain was obvious. "Having fulfilled my professional obligations regarding Commander Data..."

Picard nodded, "You now request permission to beam down - permission granted." Picard said as he stood up. "You can accompany me while I try to resolve this. And you should know that whatever the cost, I will not allow them to execute your son or Dawn. Even though I can't override Buffy's Section 10 emergency I can circumvent it."

"And bring a peaceful resolution that will not only free them but also satisfy her emergency in the process," Beverly said as she smiled. "Thank you, sir. And I am sure Buffy would thank you as well."

Picard nodded, "Take command, Data."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

On the planet in the council chambers Riker stood at the door, looking outside. He turned and took a few steps to where Liator sat talking with Rivan. "

"Almost dark," Rivan said. "I want the boy and the girl brought here now.

On hearing this, Tasha and Worf move in. They do not brandish their phasers but it is clear they would enforce whatever Riker wanted. Rivan and Liator obviously understood this and perhaps did not really oppose it.

"I'll go along with you," Tasha said.

"Of course," Liator replied. Not long after he and Tasha left, Picard and Beverly appeared in a transporter beam.

"Captain Picard..." Rivan as she rans to him and dropped worshipfully to one knee, crossing her hands across her chest, eyes closed as when she saw the mystery vessel. "I saw you share the sky with God. You must be Gods." She turned to the other Edo; eyes still clenched. "And the boy and the girl too."

The Edo there shuffled nervously, uncertainly. They had always appeared to be a calm, intelligent life forms, never seeming overly superstitious, but should they reject this possibility? Beverly turned to Picard hopefully; is this an answer to the dilemma?

Picard bent and lifted Rivan up by her elbows. "No, no, we're not Gods." He smiles. "Your own idea of that is much better for you at this time..."

Wesley, Dawn and Tasha at that moment walked into the council chamber followed by Liator, Buffy and a single mediator.

"Where is the other mediator?" Rivan wondered.

"She is here," the Edo mediator said. "Buffy Summers by ancient precepts is a mediator because she is a Slayer."

The Edo gasped as they looked at each other and then at Buffy.

"You know what a Slayer is?" Picard asked.

"One has not been called for at least a thousand years, not since God drove the demons from our world," Rivan said.

"Are you going to let them kill me or Dawn, sir?" Wesley asked.

Picard looked at Buffy for a moment. She was nodding toward him, he understood that she was ending her Section 10 emergency. The away mission was now his. Of course that didn't change what he was about to do. "No."

Buffy smiled she had been right in her thinking. "See I told you, Dawnie."

Picard turned to Liator and the mediator. "But I'd like to prevent it in a way you can understand..."

The Edo mediator looked at Buffy as if to ask how can you do this. "Everything we respect, our law, our peace, our world's order... You are more powerful but we beg you not to do this to us. At least study what we once were - hurtful to each other, savage, thieving..."

"We understand," Riker said. "In fact, your system of law and punishment may be better than many we once had." He motioned toward Picard. "But he has laws he must obey too. And one of them says he must protect his people from harm."

"We did not ask you to come here..." Liator said.

"Which has to do with another law I must obey," Picard said. "All of us are sworn not to interfere with other life in the galaxy. I am caught between the two. If I save this young man and this young lady, I break that law..."

"And you should be executed if you do so!" the Edo mediator said.

"I may suffer almost as much," Picard said. "Starfleet takes our Prime Directive very seriously..."

"No, it is God who will punish you!"

"That has crossed our minds too," Riker said.

Liator sighed, "Our laws have been violated. What of justice?"

"What of justice to Dawn or Wesley?" Buffy asked. "Do they deserve to die?"

"What makes our law strong is the certainty of punishment!" the Edo mediator said as he looked at Buffy.

"Wesley and Dawn had no warning," Buffy said. "You must tell visitors of your laws and their punishments before you allow them to roam freely on your world."

Rivan nodded, "Is it possible we are wrong about punishment? Surely there is such a thing as too much harshness..."

"We do not dispense mercy... only justice," the Edo mediator said.

Tasha who stood looking at the darkening sky called out. "Their sun is almost down, sir."

"Stand ready to beam out," Picard said as the Away Team gathered around him. "The question of justice has concerned me a good deal lately. Pained me. Until now, Liator. I realize now that there can be no justice..."

"God will destroy you!" the Edo mediator said.

"...no justice as long as laws are absolute," Picard continued. "Life itself is an exercise in exceptions."

Buffy smiled, "Well spoken, Captain."

"Bravo," Riker said as agreed with Buffy. "When has justice ever been as simple as a rulebook, sir?"

"Exactly," Buffy said. "And I know that from experience. Not everything is good or evil. There are many shades of gray."

Riker smiled as he looked at Buffy. He then looked around to make sure everyone was there and ready to beam up. "Eight to beam up, Captain?"

Picard touched his commbadge, "Eight to beam up."

"God will punish you!" the Edo mediator shouted as the group from the Enterprise disappeared in a transporter beam.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Picard, Riker, Tasha and Worf exited the turbolift onto the bridge and headed for their positions.

"Main Viewer on!" Riker ordered as Wesley, Beverly, Buffy and Dawn exited the turbolift.

Geordi looked up at Wesley and Dawn and smiled, "Greetings, Jailbirds."

"Hailing frequencies open," Picard ordered.

"Open, sir," Tasha said as her hands moved across her console carrying out Picard's order.

"To the object sharing this orbit... we will remove the human colonists from the adjoining solar system if signaled to do so. Or we'll proceed on our mission, if signaled to do that. Please tell us..." Picard said.

"Captain!" Data said bring their attention to the fact that the vessel had faded from view.

"Is that a signal?" Geordi wondered.

"I was hoping for more," Picard said.

"More of what, sir?" Geordi asked. "I'm happy it's gone."

"We're all thrilled with that, sir," Riker said.

"I was hoping we'd learn more about it," Picard said. "But since we can't..." He looked toward his first officer. "Take us out of here, Number One."

"Gladly, sir," Riker said.

As the Enterprise left orbit. Dawn walked down in front of Picard.

Picard looked at Dawn, "Yes Ensign Summers?"

"Since Buffy initiated a Section 10 emergency, I will make a report to Angel," Dawn said. "I will also pass along a recommendation that your Prime Directive violation, that there was no violation. After all, with the Federation having so many member worlds, we do need every single Slayer and Watcher we have to make supernatural forces are never a problem on any of them."

Picard nodded and smiled at Dawn. "Thank you, Ensign."