Chapter 133.
(Leah POV)
I was in my Ready room. When my door bell rang.
"Come in," I said.
As 7 came in.
"7, what's up," I said.
"We just found out that B'Elanna is pregnant," 7 said.
"Seriously," I said.
"Yes," 7 said.
"Wow," I said. "Looks like Tom and B'Elanna beat the odds,"
As my door bell rang again.
"Come in," I said.
As Chakotay came in.
"Have you heard," Chakotay said.
"About B'Elanna being Pregnant," I said As Chakotay nodded. "Just now thanks to 7 here,"
"I was about to hope down to Engineering feel like joining me," Chakotay said.
"You mean surprising her," I said.
"Yeah," Chakotay said.
"Let's go then, See you later," I said. As we headed to Engineering heading in Different directions in.
"Have you Checked the warp core for radiation leaks today," Chakotay said.
"No, Why," B'Elanna said.
"You have a certain glow about you," Chakotay said.
"Okay, Who told you," B'Elanna said.
"I just heard," I said coming out. "Congratulations," Hugging her.
"Thanks," B'Elanna said.
"7 said you were dizzy, Are you all right," I said.
"I'm fine," B'Elanna said.
"Nothing ever Rattled her not even the Cardassians," Chakotay said.
"This is scarier," B'Elanna said.
"Would you like some time off," I said.
"To do what," B'Elanna said.
"Adjust, this is a big changed. Hell even I been through this with Clara and Chloe," I said.
"I'll work during the day, Sleep at night, and have the baby when it's time," B'Elanna said.
"Well, if you need to cut back on your duties, I'm sure 7 would be happy to fill in for you," I said.
"I think I can handle it," B'Elanna said.
XXX
"I'm not exactly sure what you want me to do," I said.
"I want you to order the doctor to genetically alter my child," B'Elanna said.
"Do you see what I'm dealing with here," Tom said.
"What you're asking for is ethically questionable, The Doc has reservations, Tom is against it," I said.
"I only want to do what you did for 7," B'Elanna said.
"What," I said.
"You had her implants removed," B'Elanna said.
"Which would have killed her if they stayed in," I said. "I don't see the connection,"
"You altered her physiology, you changed who she was," B'Elanna said.
"More like gave her back who she is," I said. "More like acting in her best interests,"
"That's all I'm doing," B'Elanna said.
"7 was born Human, The Captain just helped to restore her original physiology," Tom said.
"And gave her a much better life in the process," B'Elanna said.
"Our child isn't even born yet, How do you know what's going to make her life better," Tom said.
"I just don't want her to start at a disadvantage," B'Elanna said.
"Look, the Doc said you might experience mood swings," Tom said.
"That's it, Just dismiss my argument as some kind of hormonal outburst," B'Elanna said.
"I didn't mean that," Tom said.
"Knock it off. Both of you," I said. "The Biggest problem you 2 have isn't ethical it's marital, I'm happy to offer you advise as a friend, But as your Captain, I am going to overrule the Chief Medical Officer, You 2 need to work this out. Together,"
XXX
It's been some time since that happened and thank god it's over. But now we picked up as Distress call and have just dropped out of warp.
"They're directly ahead," Harry said.
"Open a Channel," I said.
"Channel open," Harry said.
"This is Captain Leah McCall of the Starship Voyager, We're responding to your distress call," I said.
"A ruptured conduit is flooding my ship, With Plasma Radiation, We request immediate Transport," He said as it got cut off.
"I'm detecting 11 lifesigns 2 are weak," Harry said.
"Transport the injured to sickbay the rest to Cargo bay 1," I said. "Tuvok I want security teams at both locations, And forcefields around the Cargo bay,"
XXX
"We're lucky you came along, Captain," Yediq said. "10 more minutes and none of us would have survived the plasma leak,"
"Your vessel was equipped with escape pods," Tuvok said. "Why didn't you use them,"
"I couldn't risk letting any of the prisoners get away, As you've seen they're extremely dangerous," Yediq said.
"Where are you taking them," Chakotay said.
"Back to our homeworld, They're due to be executed for the crimes they have committed," Yediq said.
"What were their crimes," Tuvok said.
"All 8 are murderers, 3 are multiple offenders," Yediq said. "We're just 13 lightyears from our system, I'd appreciate it if you'd take us back there,"
"Actually we were headed in the opposite direction," I said.
"I could arrange for one of our ships to rendezvous with Voyager, It'll take several days, My prisoners will have to be strictly monitored," Yediq said.
"Commander Tuvok will help you make arrangements for both," I said. As they left.
"Some of the crew may not be comfortable helping to deliver 8 men to their deaths," Chakotay said.
"I can't say I like it either, but we have a Prime Directive to Follow," I said.
"Even though that didn't stop you from getting B'Elanna off a planet from that thought crap," Chakotay said.
"That was different, B'Elanna was my responsible, These men aren't, Especially what we have heard," I said.
XXX
As I got to Sickbay.
"You okay," I said.
"I'm fine," 7 said.
"You, This your ship," He said.
"Yes," I said.
"Then let me out," He said.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," I said.
"If you don't I'll kill you all," He said.
"McCall to Tuvok," I said. "Are the Prisoners accommodations Ready,"
"Affirmative Captain," Tuvok said.
"Then by all means, Initiate Transport," I said.
XXX
"Our Response was justified," Yediq said.
"How the fuck do you justify beating a defenceless Man," I said.
"Violence is the only thing he understands," Yediq said.
"You seem to have a Pretty good grasp of it yourself," I said.
"Do not presume to tell he how to handle my prisoners, Captain," Yediq said. "You don't know Iko like I do, He killed a young Father for no reason, Before that he committed dozens of Violent crimes, He spent his entire life hurting people,"
"That doesn't excuse what you did to him and On this Ship I will tell you how to handle your prisoners on my Ship. Until your transport ship gets here, you and your men won't be allowed in the cargo bay, You're in Charge of the Prisoners, Tuvok," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"They're my responsibility," Yediq said.
"Not as long as you're aboard my ship. I won't risk any more violence," I said.
"The only risk will be your crew, Commander Tuvok isn't qualified to guard Prisoners this dangerous," Yediq said.
"Tuvok has been a Starfleet security officer for a very long time, Believe me He's more qualified than you are," I said.
"I hope you're right," Yediq said. As he left.
XXX
"This is a scan depicting a healthy Nygean brain. This node is analogous to the Human pineal gland," Doc said. "In addition to controlling behavioural impulses, it regulates decision making, You might say it's the physiological equivalent of a conscience,"
"Normally the node connects to the rest of the brain, through a series of neural pathways," 7 said.
"Now, Look at the scan of Iko's node before we applied the Nanoprobes," Doc said. "It's detached,"
"Did that happen when he was assaulted or when he was born," I said.
"No, The Second one more likely. I believe it's congenital a birth defect," Doc said.
"Without the node Iko would have been prone to violence, and sociopathic behaviour all his life," 7 said.
"And maybe absorbed it from others growing up," I said.
"When I used 7's nanoprobes to treat the injuries from the assault," Doc said.
"They repaired the defect," I said.
"Yes," Doc said.
"You're activated his conscience, Well that would explain why he's suddenly experiencing guilt," I said.
"There's more to it than that," Doc said. "I believe he's become capable of controlling his violent impulses,"
"Capable, Maybe, But how do you know he will," I said. "Cause I remember Suder,"
"Even the though of Violence makes him ill now, That also happened with Crewman Suder when we were trying to retake Voyager from the Kazon, In my opinion he's no longer a threat to anyone," Doc said.
"By some definitions, Captain, He's not the same man who committed the murder," 7 said.
XXX
"Are you suggesting we release him," Yediq said.
"Of course not, But at the very least his case should be re-examined," Doc said.
"Because he's sorry," Yediq said.
"There's new Medical Evidence to be considered," 7 said.
"None of it changes the fact that he killed a man," Yediq said.
"He was suffering from a neurological defect, He couldn't control his behaviour," 7 said.
"If Iko had been Diagnosed and treated, He never would have committed that crime," Doc said. "In a manner of speaking he's a victim of his own biology,"
"So Iko is the victim now," Yediq said.
"No one's denying that he committed a terrible crime, but as a result of the Doctor's treatments, He's undergone a fundamental change, Killing him won't accomplish anything," I said.
"That's not your decision to make," Yediq said.
"Or is it yours," 7 said.
"He's obviously deceiving you somehow," Yediq said.
"Listen we could debate this all day, but the fact is our personal opinions are irrelevant, All that matters is Nygean law," I said.
"Does Iko have a legal means of appeal at his disposal," Tuvok said.
"In accordance with Nygean Penal code, a capital defendant has a right to appeal his sentence to the family of his victims," Yediq said.
"Then I'd like you to help Commander Tuvok draft an appeal and submit it to the proper authorities," I said.
XXX
My ready room door bell rang.
"Come in," I said. As 7 came in. "We just received a response from the Nygeans, The Family has refused to consider the appeal,"
"But the Medical Evidence," 7 said.
"They won't look at it," I said.
"The Family found the request insulting," Yediq said.
"Your government could insist that they review it," 7 said.
"We have laws that protect victims from emotional distress," Yediq said.
"In that case, We should grant Iko Asylum aboard Voyager," 7 said.
"You agreed to work within the confines of our legal system," Yediq said.
"Your system is flawed," 7 said.
"That's enough," I said. "I assure you we'll abide by the family's decision, Now I need a moment alone with 7 if you don't mind,"
As Yediq left.
"We did everything we could to help him," I said.
"We have to do more," 7 said.
"7 barely know this man, Why are you so passionate about helping him," I said.
"I want to give him the same chance you gave me," 7 said. "When you severed my link to the collective, you changed who I was, you made it possible for me to get back my humanity, Because of my Nanoprobes Iko has undergone a similar change, He should be given the chance to atone for his crimes,"
"Atonement? Is that what this is about," I said.
"Yes," 7 said.
"For who 7, him or you," I said.
"I don't know what you mean," 7 said.
"I think, Actually no, I know part of you still feels responsible for the violent act you committed when you were a Borg," I said.
"You're wrong," 7 said.
"No am not," I said. "Maybe you believe if Iko is found not guilty, Somehow you won't be guilty either, You said it yourself, you've reclaimed your humanity. It's time you stopped blaming yourself for the crimes of the Collective. I'm still here,"
As we got hit.
"Red Alert, Captain to the Bridge," Chakotay said. As the Klaxons went red.
"Report," I said. As we got hit again.
"An alien Vessel just dropped out of warp and opened fire," Chakotay said.
As we got hit 3 more times.
"Shields down to 80%," Harry said. "We've lost power on Deck 8 through 10,"
"The Cargo Bay, Tuvok," I said.
"Shields Down to 60%," Chakotay said.
"Still no response to Hails," Harry said.
"Evasive Pattern Beta 9, Chakotay, Target their weapons array and fire," I said.
"Tuvok to Bridge, The Attacking ship is attempting to transport one of the Prisoners," Tuvok said.
"They're trying to lock on to all 5 Benkaran lifesigns," Harry said.
"Target their Transporter Array," I said. "Fire. This isn't just an attack it's a breakout,"
"Direct hit, They're retreating," Chakotay said.
"Pursuit course," Tom said.
"No, We have more immediate problems," I said. "Bridge to Tuvok, Status,"
"We've neutralized 2 of the prisoners," Tuvok said.
"Someone trying to get into the Shuttle Bay," Harry said.
"Lock them out, Are Forcefields Back online down there," I said.
"No," Harry said.
"Tuvok to Bridge, Lock onto Yediq Signature and beam him to," Tuvok said.
"Transporters are offline," I said. "We need at least 10 minutes to get them up and running,"
"Then I'll need more people," Tuvok said.
"Is your Hazard team ready," I said.
"Aye Captain," Tuvok said.
"Call them in," I said.
XXX
"Captain's Log Supplemental, Warden Yediq has used his influence to convince the Nygean Family to hear Iko's Appeal for leniency, End Log," I said.
"I won't beg for my life, It belongs to you, I only want you to understand what's happened to me, I'm a different person now, A better person, This crew, has helped me to see that, If my death helps you find peace I can accept it, But if you let me live, I will never hurt anyone again, Whatever you decide, Please Know How sorry I am for what I took from you," Iko said.
XXX
We gotten the response. It's not what we were expecting. Yediq and I headed down to astrometrics. As We headed in.
"I'm sorry, The family has denied your appeal," I said.
"We're due to rendezvous with a transport ship in a few hours, I need to return you to your cell," Yediq said.
"You were the first person who wasn't afraid to look me in the eye, That's how I'd like to remember you," Iko said.
XXX
"I just finished looking over your warp core analysis," I said.
"And," 7 said.
"I'm impressed, It usually takes a few days to finish one of these," B'Elanna tells me you did it in 22 hours," I said.
"I haven't felt the need to regenerate," 7 said.
"Everyone grieves in their own way, If you want to talk you know where to find me," I said.
"It's unfair," 7 said.
"Yeah it is, But we have to try and not to judge their system," I said.
"That's not what I meant," 7 said. "Iko was executed for taking a single life, As a drone I took Thousands, But I was never punished,"
"You lost 20 years of your life to the Borg, That's punishment enough, 7," I said. "See you back home," As I kissed her.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!