The Bonds Of Friends And Family
Disclaimers: The characters don't belong to me, the story belongs to me and every else belongs to the movie company and the creator.
Warning: For this chapter it's foreshadowing the results of what could have been if they hadn't discovered the traveler's plans for him. As he goes through the situations leading into his dropping out of the academy. As they go through each scene carefully. And this one is the rest of the trial after the accident that caused him to drop out.
Chapter 30: The First Duty Part IV: The Truth Comes Out
"In truth, Nick and Hajar pushed us into this when we weren't ready, Josh especially, I wasn't sure what the duo were thinking. But what I do know is that Wes made it clear that the maneuver was too close together right now. Despite the fact that the guys were starfleet born cadets, the stupid fool. But Nick was using the coordinates of someone in the commander's graduating class."
"Whatever Wes told you a bit ago, when you called him up here was just what happened, Captain, and I know I should have come forward. But I was afraid of what the penalty was going to be, well I can finish this by acting as the double agent now. But I wish to run my probation here with you Sir, I want to stay with Wes, as he's all I got left of my trio." she said and they nodded to her then gently.
"You're willing to work for us in shutting them down and end all use of that maneuver for good now?" Spock asked and she nodded. "Aye Sir I am, if this is the penalty I'll take it, it's better then the alternative right now. Your trust is all that matter, screw duty to your friends, I choose Wes and you. But I want to stay with Wes." she said and they nodded as Picard nodded to Brand and she nodded.
"I can grant that request, Wesley, could you show me the areas that got messed up when you attempted the plasma burst?" Brand asked and he nodded as he activated the computer terminal and showed it to her. "We got this part, and this part right, but Wes made it clear we had to be another 5 yards apart. But Nick used a Lieutenant O'neill's measurements, and it blew it in the plasma burst."
"Wes said that he and Josh were sitting this part out, and Jean started acting like the trainee that acted like the narrator's friend. Before she got zapped and accidentally killed their team mate as a result, but Josh was knocked unconscious. As a result, in the jolt and his engine was set on fire and Wes went to put it out and it went a second time." she told her and they all nodded to her.
"Well I see one thing, this was not orchestrated right now, the way you tell us this, is in the way we, my crew and I, heard it from Wesley. He told us this, in the exact same way as you did, and even showed us it. In where you, or rather Locarno screwed up the measurements. And Hajar got a little too cocky, before it was her engine that killed Josh." Picard said firmly and she nodded to him gently.
"We're telling you the truth Sir, but like Wes, it was an act of peer pressure, I never wanted to lie, but I was afraid of the penalty before. I see where I made my mistake, but telling the truth in a half truth is still lying, I won't do it. If you are my future commander, I'm being honest now, but I will not lie to save this team now." she said and he nodded to her gently as he looked between them at that.
"Word for word, what he told me when he reported in at the moment, earlier, so you were furious at her, because she's the reason Joshua is gone now. And their cockiness killed Josh and nearly Wesley with him right, is that correct, Cadet?" Picard asked and she nodded to him. "Yes Sir, but I wasn't sure what the penalty was going to be if we told you this, though now that I do, I never lose him too."
"But I haven't been able to sleep ever since, and every time I close my eyes I see Josh as his ship explodes. And how close I came to losing Wes at the exact same time, I lost one member of my trio thanks to letting Nick talk me into this. But as a result I nearly lose my best friend in the process, I can't do this, he wants to choose in the end, I choose you." she said and they nodded gently to her.
"I get why right now, but we're relieved you came forward anyway, so in your eyes you never lost our trust now. In his, that's a true case, but we had that conversation before Andrea told me there was an opening finally for him. He had to tell us the truth, just to keep our trust and bonds the way they are, he had to tell us." Picard told her and Wesley gave a nod to that as he answered him then.
"One of those days, with the fact we told you the truth now, we're off the hook, but Sito pretend you already told them the truth. When I stand up and tell her what really happened, we need to get him to admit it, but I know what his response is going to be. It's going to be he coerced us into attempting it, and neither we, or Josh were ready for it." he said and she nodded to him as he finished.
"But we can live with the consequences, all of that's minor, but what matters even more is never losing your trust, that matters even more now. We told the truth and we can be content, and in knowing though we made a mistake. And lost things that don't matter much, what matters even more is never losing your trust, but regarding why I took command away from Nick at the moment."
"But here's the truth Sito." Wesley said and pressed a switch on his wrist band and his uniform changed and she nodded in shock to that. "You're a lieutenant, well that explains a lot, your attitude is not that of a cadet, but a full officer. So all this time you'd been acting like you're in charge, it's because you're leader. Of the ship based version of our team's rival?" she asked and they nodded to her gently.
"That's right, he's been promoted twice in 3 years since he started in on the job training, but he wants to remain under my command. But we had this conversation, right after the last emergency we had on the ship now, and he decide to continue with this. But he decided to do our undercover work for us by being my eyes and ears on your squadron." Picard said and she nodded to him.
Watching as Beverly, Worf, Deanna, Geordi and Data also walked in then Wesley introduced her to the quintet. "Sito, this is my mother Commander, Doctor, Beverly Crusher-Picard, Lieutenant Commander, Counselor, Deanna Troi. Lieutenant Commanders Data and Geordi La Forge, and Lieutenant Worf, they're the senior staff crew." he told her and she nodded to the news as she looked at them gently.
Before she could say it, Ro also walked in and Wesley smiled at her as she gave him a hug and he tightened his arms around her. "And this is Lieutenant Ro Laren, like I was going to say a bit ago, during training. Like the quartet had Commanders Jackson, Carter and Martell. Well my mentors in training were Commander Riker, and Lieutenants Yar, Ro and Worf." he told her and she nodded to him.
"Nice to meet all of you, Sirs, Doctor, Counselor, so what he told me about you was just that, that none of you tolerate what Nick just tried to pull here?" she asked and they nodded as Worf crossed his arms then. "No Cadet, we don't, we spent years training him and he became our best student. But trying to save his career, that's our top priority, since we stopped listening to the traveler now."
"He's really come into his own since then, and we never were so proud of him or his accomplishments. But though you are fully active officers just activated from the academy, when on board the ship. You're still just children to us, entering the real world, to him, he's had to grow up faster, more then he should have. Thanks to that traveler, but he would never let us down or disappoint us now."
"At the moment, it's not his career I'm concerned about, but his emotional state at the moment, in truth, Will and I are his godparents. So his parents, us, Ro, and the boys, to him it's why lie or disappoint us now. He would never let us down, we decided when we kept him from the academy. That he decided he was going undercover on the team." Deanna said and she nodded as they went over it.
"So what's the verdict Mr. Crusher, what he say exactly?" Deladier asked and he crossed his arms. "He's decided to lie his way out of this, by calling you a liar right to your face dad, as of knowing we got the evidence to destroy his career." he said to Picard and he nodded to him. "I told him I would never turn on you like this or lie to you, and I then said I was going to tell you what happened here."
"And he lost it at that and then said, word for word his double's remark on the tv show, but he basically said, for himself and Jean. That if I can't lie to save this team I can just quit and resign, but he just sealed his fate by saying that." he told them and they nodded firmly in response at that news. "He really said that, Wes?" Sito said to him in disbelief at that and he nodded and she nodded firmly.
"I can't believe he said that right now, with the fact you and I took a chance and came forward right now, if he was speaking for me as well. It's he just screwed himself over right now, because with the fact you told me the truth. I'm just coming forward now that you told me what the penalty was going to be right now." Sito said in shock to that remark and he nodded to her firmly at that.
"Yeah I know, but I also know and knew when I got you alone and told you what the penalty was going to be. Then you decide this was better then the alternative and what was coming. But you better see this, because this was three years later, you were sent to the enterprise as a ensign." he said and she nodded as he activated the conversation between her and Picard in Picard's ready room.
"Are you a certified pilot Ensign?" he asked her and she nodded. "Yes Sir." she said as she followed him into the room as he sat down at his desk and leaned back at that. "Tell me ensign, how long have you been aboard the enterprise?" his double said and she answered that as she went into parade rest."Seven months, Sir." she said and he nodded as he answered her gently at that as she watched her double.
"I see, I understand you've been recommended for the ops position, do you think you're up to it?" he asked and she nodded. "Yes Sir." she said and his tone shifted and Picard crossed his arms as he watched it, firmly. "Well I'm not so sure, Ensign, I'm concerned about your record." he said and she looked at him confused. "Sir?" she asked and he went further to clarify it for her then in emphasis at that.
"The incident, you were involved in the academy." he said and she quickly said it at that. "With all due respect, that was 3 years ago and my record since then..." she started to say and he interruptd her at that. "It doesn't matter how long it's been, would you do something like that again?" he asked and she quickly said it to him. "The starburst resulted in his getting concerned about it happening again."
"But I would never, ever jeopardize the lives of others in getting reckless at the controls and helm, I come forward now. And he and I have the bond you have with him at the moment, I don't and we stick it all the way through to the end. I'm never living the situation down at the moment, no not going to happen, I'm turning Nick in, yeah alright keep it going." she said and he nodded to her gently.
"With all due respect Sir, I would never, ever jeopardize the lives of everyone on the ship, by participating..." Her double started to say and he finished that, his tone going slightly stern at that. "In a daredevil stunt, I would certainly hope not, but what concerns me. Is that you participated in a cover up, that impeded an official investigation into the death of a cadet." he said to her at that remark firmly.
And as she answered him, and they both sighed as she said it. "Just hearing the truth, regarding in what the consequences were going to be is easier to take now then it would be later on, now. But just telling you the truth now, is easier then waiting until the last minute now that you showed me the fall out. I never lose your trust, Sirs, and instead, I'm creating a bond in the end that matters to me."
"And one that matters more, more then ever and then both of them put together, don't worry Sirs, you got me. And as a member of the junior crew as well, my loyalty is to you." she said and Picard nodded to her softly. "Well trust me right now, you just met him and are getting to know him. But being the son, or godson of the man, the men, that you want to trust you is even worse."
"And it's because you never want to disappoint them, or lose their trust, especially when your parent is also on board the ship. As a result, I decided to just get it over with and told them all the truth after he called me up here. But believe me, having to live with this on your head is the thing. That makes you not want to take the pressure anymore." Wesley said, quoting his double gently.
"Sir, I know I should have come forward right from the start..." she started to say and he interrupted her at that. "Yes you should have, but you didn't, instead you joined with the others and pretended that was just an accident. Now tell me, what just does that tell me about your character?" he asked her and she nodded as she crossed her arms and waited for her double to say it as she looked at Picard then.
"Sir if you had any idea what it was like after that incident, I didn't have any friends, I didn't have anyone to talk to. I had to take my flight test with the instructor, because no one else wanted to be my partner. In a lot of ways it would have been easier to give up and walk away, but I didn't, I stuck with it. Doesn't that say something about my character?" she asked and he answered that.
"Well I'm really very sorry if you didn't enjoy your time at the academy. But as far as I'm concerned you should have been expelled from the academy. And quite frankly I don't know how you made it aboard this ship, you're dismissed." He told her and she nodded to him as she looked over her shoulder at him. "And that's what's going to happen if this happens for real right now at the moment, son."
"But she needs to understand right now that this is her one chance to prevent this at the moment, but once on board the ship. Just after you show her the reason you were kept home in the first place, and we show her this at the moment. But then for four years I raised you, you would never let me down in this way, but as a result, Locarno is screwed." Picard told him and he nodded in agreement to that as they watched it.
"Yep, and as a result, it's enough to know that with you being a skilled pilot yourself, and the fact you had one investigation involved after one murder. That you were getting to the bottom of this either way, but in my case I'm not lying to you." he said and Picard nodded as he rested his hand on his shoulder. "Well I get the point right now, but there's no need to worry about that now, I told you the truth now."
"So with permission Sirs, and I'm not running away from this, I wish to serve my probation here on the Enterprise now, Sirs. One member of my trio is dead, I want to stay with my best friend starting now after we end this hearing." she said and they nodded. "At least I never broke my promise to you guys, but that's all that matters to me, your trust is all that matters, those other things."
"They can be gained back easily, but trust, once broken, takes time to earn back and even then it may not ever be the same again. I won't do it, I'm not losing you for his sake, it's you, it will always be you now." Wesley said and the quartet smiled gently at that as Will answered him."I knew you would never let us down, but I'm proud of you son." Will said smiling at him then, gently as he answered him.
"Thanks dad, but we got him now at the moment, so we finish this by playing out the rest of the episode, but before the separation. We show you what happened as his remarks get contradicted, but he loses it in the conference room. And everything everyone claims him to be gets contradicted right now. But I took on your personality Sir, when I let him have it, for that."
"But he thinks he can get away with this, because he thinks you got only a theory, he doesn't realize I reported in and told you both. I mean my remarks were to get him to lose it, uh you guys want to hear to the conversation, Sirs, mom?" he asked and they nodded as he dialed in the orders. "Lal play back the conversation between me and Cadet Locarno." he said and it activated on that.
Watching him as he pretended to be a nervous wreck and was pacing back and forth as he waited, before they heard a knock on the door and he went to get it. "Your message said it was urgent." Locarno said and Wesley nodded as he answered him in fast remark. "They know Nick, they know what we did." he said quickly and the older boy looked at him at that remark as he answered him at that gently.
"Calm down, calm down, now tell me exactly what happened." he said and Wesley sighed. "Captain Picard called me aboard the enterprise, he told me he knows, the Kolvoord, the cover up, everything. He said if I didn't come forward and tell them, he would." he said and Locarno nodded. "Does he have any evidence?" he asked and Wesley shook his head as he answered him at that quickly.
"No, but he knows exactly how it happened." he told him and he nodded and Beverly's eyes narrowed as she saw him smile at that. 'Here it comes, this is the evidence I need to get him to incriminate himself. And he doesn't even realize that the camera is still on in my quarters. You're screwed now, Nick, you just incriminated yourself by your own words, and you don't even realize it.'
'I've already resigned from the squadron, I'm working undercover and you're exposing yourself. Mom, Sirs, I'm doing this for you, if it's a choice between you and the team, I choose you now. I will not lie and I have had enough of this. You matter more to me, they're not my friends and they never were, my place is with you, on the enterprise, at home.' They heard softly and she crossed her arms.
"Captain Picard doesn't know anything, he has a theory. So let him tell the inquiry what he thinks happened, they'll ask us, is it true, we'll say no sir. There's no evidence, so there's no case, we'll get off with a reprimand." he said and seeing the shocked look on Wesley's face as he looked at his version, he knew that did it, as he answered the remark in disgusted shock as they heard it mentally.
While seeing another play back of everything from year two to that point flash through his mind along with several images of year one when they got back together and knew he made his choice then. 'You have got to be kidding, he's been there for me since I was 15, saved my life, rescued me. No, no forget about it, I won't do it.' they heard in answer to that, as he said it out loud at that remark as he looked at him.
"I can't call Captain Picard a liar." he said to him and the other boy sighed. "Wesley we have to hang on just a little longer, than this will all be over." he said to him gently. "It's wrong Nick." he said to him firmly at that as he tried. "Wesley." Locarno started to say. "I'm going to tell them what happened." he said and Picard smiled at that, before they saw the other boy lean back and cross his arms then at that.
"You're going to tell them what happened, alone, you, you're going to decide what happens to me, to Sito, to Jean, you're going to tell them?!" he said slowly and Will sighed. "Uh oh, in his eyes, this is a severe betrayal now." Geordi said to him and he nodded to that as Wesley moved between them. As Jenson rested his hand on his shoulder and he smiled at that as he answered him gently at his remark.
"18 months to 6 1/2 years, did he really expect me to just forget everything that happened since you decided to keep me home. I mean honestly you're the assistant coach to the squadron, dad the full coach. I earned the right to my leadership position on the team and I was making a command decision here to save the team, Dave." he said to him and he nodded as he went further at that.
As they exchanged smirks at that. "Does he really expect any less, it's not been 18 months, but three years of separation at the moment from them. And with it, you're more starfleet officer then he is now if he can't accept that right now?" Will asked as he crossed his arms and Jenson nodded. "No kidding at the moment, our bonds matter more and secondly, you knew what we would say to this."
"You never lied to us, before so why start now exactly, aside from that, I was your coach, and with me was Will all this time at the moment here. But we, the captain, your mother and the rest of the members that helped your mother raise you. Come on between us, it's a no brainer, you choose us every time at the moment." he said, quoting his double then and Wesley smiled in agreement to that.
"But yeah, he was beginning to realize that Derek was right at the time here, I'd been around you guys so long. I'm not about to break the rules, and like I said, up here was the straight and narrow, you had me on a regime. One that kept me strong, I followed my regime and I was with you, mom, always. And being my doctor, I could never break your trust, but around them it was temptation."
"I needed to be with my own kind, here on the ship now, but either way, I'm a Starfleet cadet and I have a duty to the truth. To you, my crew, my parents, Josh's parents, the enquiry, Starfleet, but most of all. Most of all, I have a duty to the truth, that truth is what mes me who I am, I can't lie to myself. And anymore then I can lie to you, it's that simple now, as a result here."
"But too late, it was too late for them by this point, to repeat your words right now, Sir. You gave them chance, after chance, to save themselves and if they didn't have the will to come forward. And tell the truth about what really took place, then they don't deserve to wear that uniform." he said and Picard looked at him and rested his hand on his shoulder as he answered him gently at that
And he looked at him then gently. "And that's the truth now in our eyes and your's, that's the you we know, and we would always know now. You never lied to us before, so why start now. Yes, but seeing that you had to do this alone without telling us sooner you were really stage acting this entire time.. But please, you never lied to me before and why start now and secondly amd more important."
"You're my son, so never mind lying you got to tell me the truth here now, you certainly did earn the right. Now to wear that uniform, but that lecture is not aimed at you, Wesley, I see that now. I was talking to them this entire time, we gave them chance after chance, after chance. Just to come forward and tell us the truth." he said to him and Wesley nodded as he looked at him smiling softly.
"Yes and your trust means more to me then they do now, but by saying that there was no taking the words back. He just destroyed his career at the academy for good, and I was about to give the lecture you told me Sir. As your words were spoken in my voice at the time as I let him have it then. Making it clear, that I wasn't turning on you at the time, for him, no matter what he thought now, a choice betwen you or them."
"It was you and it would always be you, and I made my choice long before the event ever happened now, and after close to five years together now. But the facts remained now for me that even though I never got the chance to tell you, it's that the scales. They landed in your favor, and my crew up here, I've been in training for 5 1/2 years. And I was finishing my mission in getting them to incriminate themselves now by this."
"I'm a Starfleet officer I have a duty to the truth, be it scientifical, ethical or responsible and this is considered the third. A starfleet's first duty is a duty to the truth, to betray that is to betray who I became under you guys at the time. And you decided, ever since we figured out what the traveler's plan was to make your own decisions. And the pressure eased up since, as I came into it as a teenage version of Commander Riker."
"And my decision, now, was I'm not going to lie to you, I never lied to you guys before and I'm not going to start now. I was stage acting this situation Sirs, as I said I was a plant. But this was to get him to sign their death warrants, he signed their warrants here." he echoed and they all nodded as they heard it. "And that's exactly what I want to hear right now, Wesley, you never lied to us, before, so why start now exactly."
"You knew what I wanted even though we never had to say anything, but that's what we keep talking about. The crew with the strongest bonds is the one who beats the odds everytime now, but we have a connection that nobody else does. Because our past lives were all members of the Atlantis expedition crew." Picard told him smiling gently and he nodded as they waited for his response then, knowing this was to bait him then.
"And it was clear here right now to, to you, I'm your father in the same way Will was, but by then if your thoughts are heading where I think. Then your mother and I got married, before this happened, so to you, you never lied to me before I became your father. So why start now exactly, you always told me the truth, and I mattered more to you." He added as he waited for the response he was about to give him at the next sentence.
"Do these fools not realize that they triggered something bigger then themselves, by screwing with me when it comes to all of you. You four in particular are my family, we're close to the edge of you adopting me now as your own, Sirs." Wesley asked and and he nodded. "Evidently not, son, but then, in four years since your choice to stay with us, the remark of family emergency makes perfect sense now here, as to why."
"It turned into just that, we're trying to get you off on probation here right now and these fools don't realize I adopted you already as my godson. Let alone that by now your mother married the captain the year before this happened. Though that happens for real and Derek just got caught by the officers and parents he didn't want to be. As the rumors he created about you are true now." Will told him and Picard nodded to that firmly then.
"And we're going to now at the moment, once Hanson and his friends are off the ship, but everyone of his rumors, regarding your mother, me and you. I really am your father now and he doesn't realize he just crossed me now, if this happens for real. But it's I'm adopting you and 2) once things change directions and this comes to an end." he told him and and Wesley nodded to him then at the news gently as he hid a smile at that.
"I'm not going to lie to them again Nick, I can't live with it." Wesley said to him, quoting his double and they nodded to him as he said it to them. "Yeah I can't live with the act of lying to you and not knowing what I could do to fix this between us. But mom, Sir, guys, I was coming forward and telling you the truth, they no longer mattered. And to me, I would never lie to you, I would never participate in a daredevil stunt willingly."
"Nor lie to cover it up, but this, this was the last and final straw for me, I wasn't calling you a liar. Not after everything you ever done for me, Sir, Commander, while you gave me the confidence I needed. Just to get what was left of the anger regarding things in the game out of me, and this, and it was over with now." he said and they nodded and that did it, as they saw Locarno lose his temper at his remark then firmly.
"You can't lie to them, you can't live with this, you have to be the one to decide, who the hell are you?!" he snapped at him. "Nick." he said and he over rode him. "You're going to turn us in." He snapped at him as he tried to stop him at that. "Wait a minute." he started to say and Locarno snapped back at him. "No you wait a minute." he said as he turned around and and ran his hand through his hair at that.
As he turned around then. "You better get ready for this one, because he crossed the lines in Comparisions now at the moment." Wesley quoting his double in the image then. "He got to you didn't he?, Picard, he told you some big story about duty and honor. Well it must have been good enough speech to make you turn your back on your friends." he said and Wesley stood up at that remark as he said it firmly.
As he shook his head in disgust as he said it to Picard and Will firmly at that. "Wrong answer, you been telling me that for years, it's the first duty of every officer. That we have a duty to the truth, I promised I would never lie to you. Regarding something this serious and if I was in trouble. I would tell you automatically, aside from that, when in the training regimes now, and you, both of you."
"But you, mom and Counselor Troi set the standards, you screw up in training you get sent back to the academy and they flunked. So if they get sent to our ship, Derek, Colin and his friends screwed up their chances at making a good first impression on you guys. And they blew their chance to stay on the Enterprise, well now the trio blew their chances at this, regarding this incident."
Just to be making a good first impression on you, now that there's no going back." Wesley said to Picard and he nodded in agreement as he and Brand crossed their arms at that as he looked between his comanders gently at that remark then. "Get ready for this next piece, not only was I giving him the lecture you gave me. But I was passing forward your ultimatum to him while doing it, Captain."
"But I was altering the added condemnation remark we had in your ready room. As I made it clear what everyone was going to think now, if he didn't come forward at the time." he added and they nodded to him gently as they heard it, as Picard crossed his arms as he said it. "Oh this should be good, let him have it, Wes." Goldberg said sternly as they waited to hear it then at that remark as he said it to him.
"We are Starfleet cadets, we have a duty to the truth, I was born a Starfleet cadet, I have a duty to the truth, Nick. I'm not lying to them: him, the quintet, my mother, they mean more to me than you think. I have a duty to the truth, to them, to Josh, and with it, it's the only way. But if I lie, there's no going back right now, I have a duty to the truth, to them." he said to him sternly then at that.
"You already gave them an answer and that answer was a lie, do you recall when you arrived here, and since you took control of the team. Everyone saw you leading with grace and wisdom, and they never doubted you'd be a fine officer. And until this moment that belief was never shaken until the accident, and the captain figured it out, regarding what caused it in the first place."
"The first duty to every Starfleet officer is a duty to the truth, be it scientifical ethical or responsible. And it's the founding principle in which Starfleet was based, now if you don't have the will to stand up and tell them what really took place. Then you don't deserve to wear that uniform right now, the captain gave you and the girls a chance right now to save yourself and made it simple, Nick."
"Now either you come forward and tell her what took place, or we will!" Wesley said to him sternly as they heard the under current of command in his voice and the senior Enterprise crew nodded with stern smiles. "Yes that's good, that's really good right now Lieutenant, nicely done." Jenson said with a smile as Picard said it, with a bemused smile as he commented on his approach as he answered him smiling.
"Altered slightly but that's what I said to you, when I called you up, Wesley, but if anyone had the right to act like a senior officer it's you. Been doing this for years now at the moment, but yes you definitely turned into me now. And by saying that at the time to him at the time, although, in truth. I think you took your command training when you were still up here, just a little too seriously."
"At the moment right now." he said as he tried to hold in his laughter at the stern commanding officer tone in his voice at that as he went further. "Because he's a cadet and he doesn't realize you're a full lieutenant on board. Here on the enterprise, let alone that, as we all just promoted you to full Lieutenant. Now, that he's been deactivated and is about to lose everything in a couple of hours now."
"And as the leader of the team and you were the one in charge of the team you made a command decision. And he decided they were to try and lie their way out of it right now." he said and he heard his student say it firmly. "And while I'm at it, this was the final test needed, in leadership training, in honesty. To stay we have to tell them the truth, I have a duty to the truth, Nick, it's that simple."
"Being honest means we get to stay, lie like you have been doing and you're digging yourself into a hole you can't get out of. And look at the results, I told you the captain was going to figure it out sooner or later. Well my decision was made, I have a duty to the truth, to him, to Josh, I'm not going to lie to them again, Nick." he said and that did it as they heard the answering response to that.
And he emphasized the next remark. "Oh yeah, well what about your duty to your friends, I got you on this team. I gave you a chance when there were upper-classman just waiting in line, I said he wouldn't let us down. He was on the enterprise, he knows what it's like to trust someone with your life. I guess I was wrong." he said and Wesley said it sternly at that as he said it to the image then.
"He probably said that after Derek told him that there was the likelihood of my turning on them once I was away from them and Josh with me at the time. He wanted to believe it so much that he decided to use the last remark as a parting shot. Before I gave him my final decision now, and he's now seeing Derek was right all along." He said and the quintet nodded as Picard answered him for all of them.
At that remark."Just give me one damn good reason for him to violate my trust, you've been separated from him for three years in a time dilation field. But you're just a helm Jockey, Wesley is the one to surpass you in ranks as you grow up right now. But I know my son, he would never break my trust or lie to me, on purpose right now, young man." he said with a stern growl to that remark.
As they heard him say it with a with a firm tone of submission then, as he tried to make it clear to him at that. "If we all come forward together and tell Admiral Brand." Wesley said and the boy scoffed. "Oh boy, well that crossed a line he can never take back right now at the moment. Because we're taping this entire conversation from my computer, and Lal hardwired herself into the camera."
"In his dorm room, and then jumped back to the holodeck to prepare for this." Dayton said, quoting his and he nodded to that remark as he looked at Picard then. "As you said, if he doesn't have the will to come forward and tell her what really took place. Then he doesn't deserve to wear that uniform, and with him the girls, I made my choice, I was coming forward and telling you the truth."
"I was going to do what was right, and with that, I earned my right to keep my uniform, but him, he doesn't deserve to wear his." Wesley said and Picard nodded then as he answered him then at that remark as he quoted it with his double. "Yes, you're correct, and that attitude goes against everything we stand for. Here in Starfleet and this child doesn't deserve to wear that uniform right now."
"And I'm not tolerating this, if you wanted a chance on board my ship, you should have just told the truth, but you blew it." Picard said sharply to his remark as they heard Wesley's mental remark to that as they heard a tone at that. 'Alright just go ahead and say it, you're speaking for all of you, so just tell them the truth.' Wesley quoted as they heard it in a firm tone at that remark as they waited.
"We don't want to come forward, Sito, Jean and me, we do not have a problem with this. But if you do, than resign your appointment to the academy and walk away, but don't make us pay for your guilty conscious." Lorcarno said and Wesley looked at him in shock. "You'd do that, you'd let me throw away my career, just to save your neck." he said in shocked disbelief and he emphasized the remark at that.
"To save the team, that's more important than you, and it's more important than me, and if I was in your place. I would do so, and without hesitation, but that's just me." he said and left the room and watching Wesley, they saw him smile coldly as he waved a second time at the camera and it blinked blue at that to him.
"Well it's too late for you now, but that's exactly what happened, but Sito and I made our choice and we chose you. We will not lie to save this team now, you have my word, Sirs, we will not lie, we're coming forward. But at the moment, stage act the last piece as he's revealed to the school." he said and Brand nodded to him smiling gently as Sito gave a nod of agreement to his thoughts as she said it then.
"Mine too, Sirs, if we were the next generation to SG-1's legacy, than I'm acting in the way I should be and I choose you. But we finish this together, so we complete the episode. before we pull the epilogue as the truth comes out now. I'm working for you like he is right now, you have my word." she said and they nodded to her as she took his hand and they nodded as Brand said to them gently.
"Sirs, I'm taking my place as his partner, I'm working for you now, but we're telling the truth. But nothing he says can change the amount of damage done right now, Josh is dead and we're turning them into you right now. With the fact Wesley saw the episode focused on this situation that helped. I know that we're not being expelled, but these other things can be made up easily now."
"Your trust, that's far more important, and trust, once broken, takes time to earn back, and even then. It will never be the same again, I guess Marks was also apart of your ship, before he and his friends blew it." she said and Picard nodded. "Yes, he was, but there was a trauma he suffered a few years back at the time, and sometimes the knack of a Selelvian, if they push too hard."
"It leaves an everlasting mark on the victim they threw it on, but the knack connected to his biggest fear after his biological father. Which was losing someone else he loved at the time, the elf died saving his life. But after losing his biological father, and then Lieutenant Yar, my original security chief. And followed by the elf, that was it and since then we were trying to figure out."
"In what caused it until Marks exposed himself to us, regarding the rumors he created on us, his mother and me. After the exchange they had, this time in front of us and his mother, I caught the conversation more clearly. Before the ship was hijacked and Wesley told us he was the source of the rumors. As was Derek Hanson, so he exposed himself to us." he told her and she nodded to him.
"Well you don't have to worry now, Sirs, we're coming forward and telling you the truth, you can trust me. But I recommend that you do this in a case of stage acting, wait until we're back in the room. After you show the rest of this to them, as we do this and then just say it then. Before you turn to me Wes, as I make that request myself of doing it up here." she said and they nodded to her.
"How long before he blows it exactly, right now because you both came forward and just told us the truth, regarding this as he got you alone. But I'm proud of both of you, Mr. Crusher, Miss Jaxa, what you show is the true essence of a Starfleet officer. You passed the test of honesty and dealing with peer pressure and you both earned the right, now, to wear your uniforms, so with that."
"Alright then, we complete the episode and go from there, cadets, the final decision of the hearing to commence in three hours now." she said and they both nodded to her. "Alright add the hearing results and your confession and we go from there." Picard and Wesley nodded as they saw the quartet sitting at the hearing table with Picard and Beverly sitting in the stands as she went over it then firmly.
"Captains Seltak, Deladier and I have gone over your testimony and the physical evidence from the crash. Your statements can not be reconciled with the data collected from the Nav-Con satellite. Your unwillingness to offer any further explanation for this contradiction is disappointing and raises suspicion." she said as her tone went stern and Wesley went ramrod straight at that remark firmly.
"We can not escape the conclusion that either the evidence was faulty or you have lied to us. However suspicion is not proof and I have no proof that you lied to this enquiry. Therefore if no further evidence is presented, I have no choice, but to close the investigation. For failing to file an accurate flight plan and allowing Cadet Alberts to fly when you knew he was having difficulties."
"I am ordering a formal reprimand into your records and I am also revoking your flight privileges, the enquiry is closed." she said and he exchanged looks with Picard, before standing up quickly at that. "Sir, I would like to add something to my testimony." he said and she nodded. "Proceed Mr. Crusher." she said and Locarno and Hajar were looking at him in shock at that and Geordi nodded to that reaction.
"I can feel the 'what are you doing' vibes, coming off those two, they were hoping you wouldn't come forward now, but he knows he's screwed right now from this." He said and Will and Beverly gave a nod of agreement as he said it then. "Yesterday I testified that the crash occurred following the Yeager Loop, that is not entirely true. We did the loop and then broke formation and attempted a Kolvoord Starburst."
"We knew it was prohibited, we knew it was dangerous, but we wanted to do something spectacular for the commencement demonstration. We pushed Josh into it when he wasn't ready, we thought we could do it. We thought we could do anything, we were wrong and Josh died. Josh never let us down, the accident wasn't his fault." he told her and she nodded as they watched Locarno then at that.
"He's trying to compose himself at the fact you contradicted his previous statement, keep it going, because he loses it now. And he's screwed with your mother and me, let alone Alan in the room with us." Picard said smiling sternly as she said it firmly to that information. "Mr. Locarno you are the leader of Nova squadron, do you have anything to say?" Brand asked and watching, she said it with a warning tone then.
"Mr. Locarno?" she said and he sighed as he and the duo also stood up. "No Sir." he said and they nodded. "Well it's clear that they left the area between this final portion of the hearing as we debated this at the moment. As she left it to me, to be the one to deliver the academy's decisions to you at the moment. So we go from there, and the only place you feel comfortable to be alone is the garden." Picard said and he nodded to him.
"It's too late you two, the fact you lied repeatedly is enough to get you expelled right now, that's why I told Sito this soon. She's faking it right now at the moment, so let's finish this, Lal tie it up, the episode results finish with me in the garden. And sitting on my favorite bench out there, as I dealing with the fact I lost my best friend." Wesley said and it switched to that as Picard gave a nod as he saw his double look for him then.
Watching him come forward, they saw Wesley's double sitting on a bench then as he said it gently. "Mr. Locarno has been expelled." he said and Wesley's double sighed as he answered him. "They should have expelled all of us." he said and Picard's answered him gently at that. "They very nearly did, but Mr. Locarno made an impassioned plea for the rest of you, saying he used his influence as Squadron leader."
"To persuade you to attempt the Kolvoord maneuver. And then cover up the truth, he asked to take full responsibility." he said and Wesley nodded. "He did exactly as he said he would do, he protected the team." he said and then stood up. "I feel awful, I let everyone down: my mother, my friends, you." he said and Picard said it gently to him at that as he moved behind him then at that.
"You should feel bad, and you will be pay for what you've done, Admiral Brand decided in addition to a formal reprimand, your academic credits for the past year will be cancelled and you will not advance with your class." he said and Wesley nodded. "I understand." he said and Picard nodded. "Its not going to be easy, staying here on campus, everyone knowing what you done."
"You have difficult times ahead." he said and Wesley nodded. "Yes Sir, thank you captain." he nodded as Picard said it gently. "You knew what you had to do, I just made sure you listened to yourself, goodbye cadet." he said and Wesley's double said it softly. "Goodbye Captain." he said, and as Picard started moving away from him as, then, they heard a whispered name as he said it firmly as Sito ran up to him then.
"Josh, I'm sorry, I tried, buddy, I tried." he said as he looked at the ship then and feeling the pain in his heart start growing. "Wes, you okay right now?" she asked and he shook his head. "No I'm not, I'm relieved you came forward with me, but everything else, I failed Josh, the team, the duo, think I'm a traitor. And for coming forward, but it's a choice now, and I lost one friend now in this."
"But Survivor's guilt, Robin is pregnant, I have one chance to fix this right now, but I'm not losing my family. Let alone you and my parents right now, we have do it now, I'm not a Nova and I never was, I'm a Gamma, duty to the truth. Duty to the truth, I have to finish what I started, I'm not having everyone thinking I was involved in that cover up, go, get ready." he whispered and she nodded to him.
"No I can't do this anymore, alright that's it, I have to tell him the truth of what Josh and I were really doing up there and all this time. Charlie, Robin, Jake, Josh, Kate and me, Gamma squadron, I'm Gamma, not Nova, I'm Gamma." they heard and he moved to him. "Sir, wait, in my case what I meant in that remark, is I should have told you when you arrived what I was really doing in this."
"But it's not what you think right now, listen to me please, you remember when the trio and I decided on recreating our team. We decided on being the ship version to Nova's rivals the entire time Josh was with me when I was 1/3 of the way into my recovery from the aftermath of the game. Regarding your asking us for help, in case this did happen at the time 18 months ago."
"You asked me to be your plant in case he tried to attempt the starburst and it resulted in killing someone else." he asked and Picard nodded to him. "Well here's the truth now, but we already had this conversation, I never turned on you. Nick tried it a second time and it killed Josh this time. And even after Peter screwed up the measurements, he still wanted to try it at the time now here."
"And instead of telling when you were enroute to earth this week, Josh, Charlie and I decided we're doing this in undercover mission. We didn't have time to tell you or set up the priority 1 message because we had to get ready, but it worked and we were going to tell he broke the restrictions. If not and what happened, did happen, the surviving partner was getting the evidence."
"To turn them in for it, but I never turned on you, I was leading him into saying the words he couldn't take back out of fear. But he's been following O'neill's motto, I took after yours and Jackson's. We took Jackson's idea and shoved it five steps forward leading them into incriminating themselves. We decided to, in the middle of that second portion basis of this the five of us decided."
"When, or if, the trio committed anything illegal in the flight competitions, we were being plants for you. Undercover operation, we got on the line with Charlie and I told him to wait till you arrived and I would tell you. The second you arrived we were getting started on our mission under your orders. And I was going to tell you that the second you arrived, and with you was mom."
"But Josh and I, we were your plants, the accident was an unexpected on to the undercover operation. But this entire I've been trying to get the truth out, I was working as a double agent, make you: the enquiry, our parents, the crew and everyone on campus think I was involved in a cover up and vice versa, make then think I was siding with you all this time, but I'm a plant on the team."
"In truth I'm a double agent, Sir, I too Jackson's idea and shoved it five steps forward this week, leading them into the direction. Of incriminating themselves and by their own words, I know I should have told you the truth. But if I spoke up too soon, Derek was possibly going to hear that conversation and warn them I turned them into early, I had to go slowly." he said to him and he looked at him.
"Plants, as in undercover agents, that's what you meant, you choose not to answer. And it's because you were going to tell me this when I figured out what caused the explosion. You were getting ready to tell me the truth when I ended that lecture, so instead of you being the victim of that lecture, I was..." he started to say as his eyes narrowed in anger as he looked at him gently, his eyes warm.
"I was saying it to the trio, in giving that warning, and you were going to tell us, if Locarno hadn't walked in after we came to see you. The expression on your face when he gave his testimony, you were the only one to come forward at the time. Do the trio know this as well, that you two were pulling an undercover operation?" he asked and Wesley nodded to him as he explained it to him.
"Aye Sir, I contacted Charlie and he forwarded the news to Robin and Jake, but if mom said not to try and protect me. It's because I was under your orders already to be an undercover agent, I was your spy on the team. In truth I took Commander Jackson's idea regarding O'neill and his attempt on this one. And pushed it several steps further, word for word our double's at the time."
"And every charge on the movie, it ended up with attempted coercion and emotional blackmail. So by the sheep lead in trick, I lead them right into your trap and by getting them to incriminate themselves by their own words now. But that's it, I never turned on you, but I had to make you think I was in on it till I told you this now and we finished this, but I gave him your warning."
"And he responded in the exact same way his double did, word for word, I even added my version of your double's reprimand to me. And then gave him your ultimatum, but still that was it, I'm your officer, still, Sir." he said and Picard nodded. "Alright if there's more to this. I want to hear it, because it's your only chance to over rule what the enquiry decided on in your case, Wesley."
"What happened exactly, if you're telling me this now?" he asked and Wesley looked at him. "Sir, what I meant by my friends I didn't mean the trio, I meant the quartet, I tried to save my partner, but I wasn't fast enough. Just like Jaan, and Tasha, it's happening again right now, of the four of us. I was the only who tried to save him, but the ship blew up before I could do anything here."
"Sir, it's not them, it's not the trio I let down, it's Josh, I tried to get to him, but his ship blew, before I could put the fire out." he said and they watched him freeze. "What happened exactly, if there's more to what happened prior to the explosion, I need to know that in your case." he said and Wesley nodded. "What Brand told you regarding the ships was a lie, it wasn't all five ships at all."
"Though he made that plea, it's two fold, what happened in this incident is not what you think at all. I told him that he had it too close together, the exact measurements were ten meters apart here. But he used a Lieutenant O'neill's measurements and the blast threw us 20 yards apart from each other. I get my fighter stabilized and turned to catch sight of the flames coming off of Josh's."
"But the plasma blast lit up the fuel tank and the blast knocked him unconscious, I tried to wake him up, and then tried to put out the fire, but the tank went just as I got with in ten feet of him. And that explains my fighter, the blast nuked my controls and I was slammed into the wall of my fighter. I was the only one who tried to save him, the trio froze up at the time here."
"If this could be construed to anything it's the loaded gun remark, if we were military recruits, the trio were playing with a loaded gun and it goes off. Hit the fifth member of the gang and they take off, and I'm left holding the bag. As I tried to save him, but the added jolt is that he was holding the gun powder. And the bullet hit the pouch, went off and it kills him and knocks me unconscious."
"And the colonel and medical team arrive, bring me around and the EMT says I have several burns, a concussion from the blast and my arm is broken. And I tell him I'm relieving Nick of his command as squad leader. And then say I'm telling you the second you arrive, and with you, my mother. But the truth was coming out when you arrived at the academy." he said and Picard nodded to that.
"Before I tell you this, I'm asking for an alternative to being stuck down here regarding this, I wish to be put on probation, but back on the ship. I know what she's going to say regarding the consequences in this. I knew all along and I can earn both back that way, but you and mom, I need that even more. I'm not leaving things like this between us, I want a chance to fix that right now."
"Nick, he may barter to save the rest of the team like he did today at the moment now. But I'm just saying this, they are not my team or my friends, I was never apart of Nova. I'm not Nova and I never was, ever since Charlie and Robin came into the picture and with the fact I had Jake. The truth is they're my squadron, my friends, the four of us and Josh became Gamma squadron."
"Since you kept me home that 18 months at the time, because I was already part of a team. But the Enterprise crew and the ship based version of Novas rival, I'm Gamma squadron, not Nova and with that in mind. Its I was trying to tell you this ever since she called you back, but he kept interrupting. In truth after Captain Deladier arrived at the scene, I told him I was relieving Nick."
"Of his command of the squadron and I needed to see the seven of you A.S.A.P. and that I had something to tell all of you. The truth is I wanted to come forth right from the start, to tell you what I was really doing, what Josh and I were doing, but he was stalling in that." he said and Picard nodded gently. "If there's more to it, than we need, I need, to know that in order to make it work."
"You been under my wing since you were 15, and if there's any chance to salvage this situation right now, I need to know that now." he said and Wesley nodded as he said it it then. "Before I go further, I need to get mom, and the quartet down here, because you all need to hear this. But it's either we do it down here in the simulator, or on the holodeck and we do a total reenactment."
"But it's urgent that you do as well, because his attitude at the hearing was hiding an escalating amount, of anger. And it's because he thinks you got to me when you caught them in the act, but you've been telling me that for years. The first duty of every Starfleet is a duty to the truth. Be it scientifical, ethical or responsible, and this is considered the third right now and with that in mind."
"To them it's what about you duty to your friends, but there is no duty when they're trying to get you to be dishonest. Unknowing or not, you gave the exact response I wanted you to give, undercover agent, Sir, I'm a double agent. The reprimand you gave was actually aimed at him, I was a double agent. I was remembering our last fight over Lore when I tried to tell you he replaced Data."
"But this time I was remembering that fight, but that's what I meant, I choose not to answer, and it's because I was going to tell you I was a double agent. Get them to think I was turning them into you directly for breaking the restrictions your age group in Starfleet gave on this, and you thinking. That I was in on the cover up here, so we decided that we were doing this together."
"But Robin was watching the entire conversation from her computer on the ship. And turned on the audio so she, Charlie and Jake could hear the entire conversation, but we have every recording and it's over with in the trio's case." he said and Picard nodded to the news. "So you were leading them in the direction of signing their death warrants, and in ours, till we caught them in the act."
"Yes alright I need to see everything from your point of view with Alberts gone now. If you were leading them in the direction of signing their death warrants in the academy, I need to see that too." he said and Wesley nodded as he lead him to his quarters as he went to a spot behind his bookshelf. And he pulled out a recorder, before digging into a duffle bag and pulling out a thick batch of papers.
As he also pulled out five discs and they nodded. "We better do this on the ship we can do the re-enactment on the holodeck and you're seeing everything as well. As a result, because this was not a forgery either, Josh and I contacted Charlie, Jake and Robin the week before. When you were enroute to earth for the commencement demonstration speech at the time here at the moment."
"Robin and the guys were in on this, we did what Commander Jackson did, regarding O'neill breaking the rules when Commander Reynolds was killed. In the last attempt to get it right at the time, but in 110 years. There were two attempts to try and get it right and they both were from ill conceived timing. Negligence and measurements gone wrong in this situation at the moment."
"Josh and I went to the trio and in regarding your conversation with Charlie, it was made clear now. But this attempt was so he could upstage the academic leader by finally pulling off the maneuver that killed six cadets in 110 years. You read the situation correctly Captain, he wanted to end his academy career in a blaze of glory by upstaging his rival who was the best at everything."
"But that's the motive and you're seeing the rest by use of my own memories, on holodeck 1 and trust me, you're going to want to double the sentence. So to everyone else's thought I'm on probation, in the girls and Nick, but to the trio and me. I'm revealing the added truth now, but you're not going to like the added reason he chose that maneuver." he told him and Picard nodded to that.
" So not just a recording of these conversations between you and the trio at the moment, we're also viewing your memories from start to finish. Though if this is enough to double the sentence in their case, then it's enough it's going to take time in your case now. But your training is getting doubled once I get you back up there, but your probation ends when we decide to release it."
"Because with what you just told me now, the only thing you're guilty of is not telling us automatically you were starting your mission in this. And you going it alone with the trio up here at the time. As to that, once the duration is over you're getting a second chance and it's means your team had and has to deal with the new training ensigns to who see this as unfair we didn't let it go later."
"Admiral Brand, I'd like to see you, Marcus Deladier, and Commander Alberts aboard the enterprise. But it seems everything we thought is not what we were lead to believe at the moment, it's a case of smoke and mirrors." Picard said into his communicator and they heard a quick response to that. "Smoke and mirrors, what is going on here exactly if we lost another cadet and we get told a half truth."
"Who came forward in the aftermath to this if you're just telling me that now?" she asked and he explained that. "It's Wesley Crusher, he's got more evidence to be brought forth to us, but he needs to see all of us, as well as Commanders Riker, La Forge, Data and Counselor Troi now, regarding this. It seems that when we had Alberts on board the enterprise, before they returned to school."
"That they decided on their next mission." he said and they heard the answering response to his remark. "Yes alright I will get the duo and we will be there in 15 minutes. And Mr. Crusher this better be good, if you were running an operation for us, I want the truth. And I want it now, young man, as your team leader has been expelled." she said sternly and he nodded as he answered her gently to that.
"Yes Sir, but I'm not haggling for the duo's sentence, you made the right decision, but they're not my team and they never were, Sir. Alberts and I recreated our junior crew on board the enterprise when I was laid up, and we, Charlie Dayton, Robin Lefler and Jake Kurland. We decided we were becoming the ship based version of Nova squadron's biggest rivals at the academy."
"But you're not going to like the added motive for why he pressured us into this and why as a result. So believe me when I say you're going to want to double the sentence at the moment regarding this, because the charges are wracked up even higher in Nick's case. And in the girls case it's even worse, because it's far more serious then you think right now." he said and they heard a gentle answer.
In her voice to his remark, as she answered him then. "Locarno is still here, do want me to bring the trio up there as well, Cadet Crusher." she asked and he sighed. "No Sir, this is my added testimony right now, but the smoke and mirrors remark wasn't just a metaphor. Commander Alberts and my mother need the truth to what we were really doing at the time these past two weeks."
"But there's more you have to see regarding this, what happened, how and why exactly. Commander Alberts deserves to know the added truth, regarding Josh and as does my mother in my case. All I ask is to be put on probation, and from there on the enterprise." he said and they heard a gentle tone to that. "We need to hear that truth in order to redo your decision, but we need to see this first."
"So again fifteen minutes and if there's more to the evidence, we need to see it, I'm gathering the enquiry, Captain Deladier and Commander Alberts. And we'll be up there in fifteen minutes." she said and he nodded as Picard tapped his communicator. "Chief O'Brien two to beam up and get Commanders Riker, La Forge, and Data, as well as Counselor Troi and Doctor Crusher and the trio."
"And the twelve and meet us on the holodeck, holodeck 1, we're getting more imformation Cadet Crusher never got the chance to tell us." he said and they heard an immediate response to that remark. "Yes Sir, energizing." he said and they beamed up as they arrived then as he looked at O'Brien. "Chief, trust me, you and the quintet are going to want to see this, because the truth is far more serious."
"Then you think right now at the moment." he said and he heard Data answer that. "Whatever it might be has to be enough if you asked us to be in the room when you show it to us." he said him and Wesley nodded. "Yes well we got to wait for the enquiry to get up here. But the short version right now is that this wasn't what you were lead to believe, after the game aftermath at the time."
"Once we got Josh up here and swapped places with Derek and Eric Farley, the quartet and I got to work on our next mission, only it was undercover work. Lal probably did a soundproof lock down on Charlie's quarters when Josh and I called him. But the trio and me, we were going to tell you this the second you arrived, before Nick kept interrupting when I alone with you, mom, to tell you."
"I knew he was trying to keep the truth from getting out and I was hoping you were going to bring me back up here. So I could tell you ahead of time and take a weekend off, but every time I had the chance to come forward. He kept interrupting it, until you finally realized what it was that caused the explosion to begin with." he said and she nodded firmly as she answered him at that remark.
"You remember when planned for this right after the conclusion of the no winner, Etana and the game?" he added and they all nodded. "Well that sums it up, double agent, I was leading them into your trap and in your case and anyone thinking I was involved. I've been serving as a plant on the team, mom, Sir, but that sums it up." he said and the sextet nodded as Beverly answered him then.
"That's what you meant, don't protect you, because you were really working in an undercover operation. And Josh was killed in the line of duty of said operation, you were going to tell us. The minute we got to your dorm room and before you could get the words out, he interrupted the conversation. Uh huh, okay, so what are those papers exactly?" she asked and he explained that gently.
"The confirmation to what I just told you now, you need proof to this information, here they are. I told Captain Deladier to get you on the radio to let you know what happened. And that I was telling you the second you arrived, and I relieved Nick of his command of the squadron. Prior to their contacting you, but Nick lied about every piece of this in the hearing with the enquiry."
"And though we all agreed not to lie to you, he said he told you the truth, but it was a half truth, if you caught the shocked look on my face when he said that. That would have told you a few things and I was about to beam up here, so I could tell the seven of you straight off. But every time I was getting ready to ask that question, to Admiral Brand, he threw up the command card."
"Here's the truth now, Josh and I decided we were going to be plants on the team, if what happened did happen and one of the girls were killed. We were going to explain this to our own interpretations regarding the motive, and show you the blueprints. If it was one of us, the surviving partner was getting the evidence to incriminate them, by their own words." he told her and they nodded.
"And it had to another friend that was killed in the explosion, well the only thing I see in this. Is you're guilty of not telling us this sooner at the moment, kiddo, and with that in mind. We need to see everything, what's the request if you're just telling us this now?" Will asked him gently and he sighed. "Rather then being stuck at the academy, I wish to be put on probation, up here."
"But this did damage to our bonds and I want a chance to fix that, my grades and flight status they mean nothing to me right now. You do, I want a chance to fix our bonds and get your trust back, things like the way they used to be. But the trio they are not my friends, I'm not Nova, I'm Gamma squadron. I need to be with what's left of my squadron, up here." he said and they nodded gently then.
"Alright, but before we make that final decision, we need to see everything, from your point of view, as tape recording is not enough. But your memories are, that's the only chance you have of getting off in this situation, honey." she said and he nodded as he answered her. "I need to get the holodeck ready, so permission to be excused?" he asked and they nodded as he left the room at that.
"Well if that's not enough to change things now at the moment, nothing is right now in our case. Though if this continues and it still plays out in the exact same way, Alan is not going to take it well when he sees this later." Beverly said and he nodded in agreement that as they saw the quintet, Deladier, Brand and Alberts beam in then. "Where is he, he said he had something to show us?" Brand asked them and he sighed at that.
"Alright we're finishing this situation in a single way and the hearing got rearranged now, Lal, grab the trio and beam them up. As to why it's because Locarno is not only getting expelled from the academy, he's been marginalized from the academy permanently. As for the girls, they're losing their flight status for 18 months and the truth is getting out all over the academy that the trio are liars, cheaters and their decisions killed a cadet."
"While Joshua Alberts died a hero as an undercover agent and Wesley Crusher is spending another 18 months in extensive training back on the enterprise. As he and Alberts did this undercover operation together and what happened was planned in advance." Picard said and in answer to that they saw the trio beam on board. "What are you three doing here exactly young man, ladies?" Picard said sharply to the trio.
"Took the liberty of grabbing them as well Sir, because there's no getting out of this. And I guess you never expected to learn I was also up here along with Charlie, did you, Nick?" Robin said to him and he paled at that remark. "In all honesty your not learning from one mistake before I left has cost one life. And nearly resulted in Wes's washing right out of the academy training as well."
"But does the scenario sound familiar right now, never learned from one mistake, you were cheating on me. And decided to not say we cool things down, I see you cheating on me with Hajar, and I tell you it's over with between us. Your mind takes the same turn Rico's does when you see Charlie move to my side and you get into a fight with him after Hawkins baits you then."
"And your team mates have to separate you two, but it wasn't Charlie that started it, it was Charlie Hanson, or should I say Peter. Charlie and I get chosen for the enterprise and Wes arrives on the ship. And at the very same time we were there, so you never wanted to lose me or Wes to your rival. Well too late now, you did 3 years ago, along with Josh, the guys are Gamma squadron."
"Not Nova, but Gamma, we knew you were going to pull this stunt, you've been jealous of Charlie ever since you arrived at the academy. Highest grade in every class you been in, won every award you ever been up for. They been comparing you to Charlie from the day you walked in the door. And you couldn't measure up in their eyes did you, so you decided if you can get it right for the first time."
"You'll go down in history at the academy as the Nova squadron leader who beat the academic champion and by pulling it off for the first time in 110 years. Since the academy directors banned it's use in flight competitions, but you never expected or wanted to hear the truth did you. From Derek Hanson and Eric Farley, that your rival and ex girlfriend are on board the youngest version."
"Of the enterprise, being trained by the great Commander William Riker and Captain Jean Luc Picard, let alone you argued to have Wes return. But no, not going to happen, if he blacked out at the academy it could put earth at risk. And wind up killing him in the process, my mother in law decided on the command/medical/parental card and after he was 1/3 of the way there now."
"In his recovery we had another year of training together and we decided to pull an undercover operation, in case what happened, did. You just signed your own death warrants, Nick, the light was on in his dorm room. And it was connected to my computer, we saw everything, we know, and this is the final piece to it." she said and he froze at that information then as he looked at her in shock.
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, Lal connected your computer to the camera in Wesley's bedroom at the academy and taped every conversation. Which one resulted in his coming forth with telling me the truth, regarding that, Robin?" Alberts asked and Wesley answered that as he came back into the room and she wrapped her arm around his waist, as the trio looked at them in shock at that.
"It was his admitting they didn't want to come forth in the truth and it's ready now Commander. We're ready for the demonstration in this, Admiral, but come with me please." he said and they nodded as they headed for the holodeck as they saw his diorama and nodded. "Where are we starting from Mr. Crusher, if you wanted us to see this?" she asked and he explained that to her as he nodded to the table.
"We're starting from the beginning, but these papers are the entire blueprints of the entire operation, from two weeks prior to this. Which was when the captain was enroute to earth leading into today after you gave the final sentence. But here it is Commander, Josh never let us down, in fact, he died in the line of duty, we decided to act as your undercover agents here."
"In case what happened did happen, and I've been trying to tell you from the second you brought me around, Captain, after the explosion that killed Josh. If it was one of the girls that were killed we'd have told you the truth to our interpretations. If it was one of us that was killed, the surviving partner was gathering the evidence to make sure that the sentence was much harsher."
"Then what you decided admiral, but that was why I said I was relieving him of duty. I was beginning my mission to ensure this was resulting in the right consequences. The only thing I'm guilty of is not coming forward the second my parents arrived, Sirs." he said and they nodded as they read through each piece and Picard turned around and looked at the trio, who were shaking at that, sternly then.
"In fact the only thing I'm guilty of right now, is not immediately telling all of you what Josh and I were really doing right right now. But other then that, same punishment for me, but I wish I do it up here admiral as to why now. Well, it's because Robin's pregnant, with my baby, I need to be with my family, and what's left of my true squadron now." he said and the group nodded gently.
"In truth what he told you was a truth of ommission, but what I'm about to show you now is the results of a psychosis of desperation. To be chosen for the training ship in the fleet, and it's because where I'm stationed at the current moment. And the other is who my leader is on the said station, but that's exactly the problem these fools keep making, showing off in daredevil moves."
"But you three listen to me, this is my ship, my crew, my captain, as such they have zero tolerance for showing off, hotdogging. Going by your gut instincts or you're trying act like a hero and definitely when in the middle of a crisis. You want to know how I got anywhere with them, starting from the first day leading into now, do you?" he asked and they swallowed hard at the sternness of that remark.
"Well it's definitely not by daredevil stunts such as this it's something else, said something else the matter of being together from day one. The bonds of something more then complete strangers, seeing past the rumors about them now. Here watch this, Lal activate the recalls, Crusher 2412 dioramas, when my crew were turned into drones." he said to her and it activated at that remark firmly.
"Captain you remember these things about us, you, me and mom together?" he asked and they watched the gentle smiles of pride on their faces at his being promoted to full ensign then. Him and Will dressed in Anbo Jysitsu armor with Will's arm around his shoulders, him, Geordi and Data, in the engineering with smiles on their faces, his being in training with Worf and the rest of the security in practice drills smiling gently.
"What's all this saying to you Sirs, mom, guys, Councilor?" he asked them gently and they smiled as the images continued as the trio paled at the realization as the images showed a completely different portrait to them. A portrait that said everything of the reverse of what Derek Hanson had told them gently. As it switched to his being with Picard on the bridge and his resting his hand on his shoulder in pride then gently.
"It's the act of not being strangers at all, but us being more then crew mates or friends, but adoptive family to each other. You were a son to all of us at the time, but you made us proud at the fact you pulled it off in one shot now. When the ship got hijacked, but we never were more proud of you till this moment." Picard said watching them in a fencing matching with a smile on his face then gently.
"But what's the first you thing you ever taught me here Sir, you specifically Captain, that in order to be picked for said duty station exactly. If you weren't the best friend of my parents or known me all my life and trained me yourselves?" he asked and the trio paled as Picard crossed his arms. "That instead of showing off, get to know me and vice versa, but know us as who we are."
"Instead of as the legends everyone makes us out to be, and you did just that, but to give off that demonstration. Lal, program Crusher 23-45-65." he said and they saw an image of them in a fencing match. Before shifting to them playing chess and them just talking with gentle smiles on their faces. "You get the point you three, I didn't need to show off, he's my mentor, we been together so long that helps."
"In truth that's the case example, but I have a reason not to need to show off, because I have the right answer when it comes to him. I never needed that kick start when he busted you guys, because he's taught me this since I was 15. He watched me grow up, I knew everything about him and the other officers in this room, even my mother, I could never disappoint them, and with that now."
"You know you guys, I don't know how many times I had to say it, you wanting me to turn on a man who's like a father to me. No, it's not going to happen you three, they, he, means more to me then all of you together. I told you, repeatedly, not going to happen, I've never lied to him. My mother, the quintet, let alone the duo ever, so why start now?" he said sternly and they swallowed hard.
"You want further proof in the way that the enquiry saw this now, I suggest you watch this now, because like the group in the room, it's the same way. Lal, 2325 Crusher Diorama 2345-235." he said and they saw him in the same way with Brand and Deladier then with a gentle smile on his face as he was fencing with the older man. Him working with Brand and Haden with a look of a subordinate then gently.