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 34: The First Duty Part IX: The Truth Comes Out
"Three years maybe, but he's not out of the woods completely yet and the kid caused him to probably suffer a relapse due to that blow to the head." Geordi snapped angrily as he and Beverly crouched next to him. "Wes, it's alright it's us." she said as she tried to check him over and knew he needed to hear Will's voice. "Will, I need your help over here!" she called out over the noise to him then and he nodded.
And he nodded as he moved to them and crouched at his side. "Son you okay, come on, come on, focus. It's okay, it's okay." he said softly as he watched him try to pull free from his grip on his arm and felt his anger start building at the reaction and seeing his eyes glazed. "Wes, it's me, it's okay you're safe, it's okay." he said and knew his voice was what he needed to hear as he repeated it gently then.
"Shh, it's okay, you're safe." he said gently and that did it as Geordi help him sit up and lean against the wall as she checked him over gently as he stood up and turned to Locarno. "What the hell do you think you're doing, he's been put through enough already, freeze!" Will snapped at him as he looked at Wesley and quickly moved to his side a second time as he rested his hand against the back of his head as he sat there.
"Oh dear god not again." he said angrily, watching him trying to stay awake. "Have you lost your mind you little brat, did you really expect to get away with that, let alone this. He's taken one too many injuries these last 3 years, since the game, he doesn't needed another." he snapped at Locarno and that did it. "He's half conscious, that blow to the head was hard enough to cause a concussion."
"But he's trying to keep from blacking out right now, once back on the ship it's light duty, he's still recovering from the aftermath of the game. Though it's been three years, there's lasting side effects of the knack, and both together. When sick or injured like this, it triggers a fight or flight response, Captain, just give me a few minutes here." he said to Picard and Beverly and they both nodded angrily.
"The little boy in him just reactivated, at the moment now, but enough is enough already right now, that scene right now just blew his chances here. Help him up, after we're done here and the hearing is concluded here. Then we're getting his things, I'm taking him back to the ship, he's going home for 18 months." Beverly told him and he nodded as he grabbed his arm gently to help him.
"Son get up, come on get up." he said softly and he tried to stand up. "Easy take it slow son, I've got you." he said and he helped him up, before his back slammed into the wall and nodded as he got it then. "God if it's not the blasted programming and recovery, it's taking another head injury here. Geordi give me a hand here, we have to make sure he doesn't collapse, with that latest head injury now."
"But that blow was directly to the temple, he could have a concussion, so both of you stay close." he said and Geordi and Data moved to him as Data checked him over then as the Admiral stood up then. "Second degree, near third degree concussion, he's not bleeding, what with the fact she took care of that laceration, but best to stay close Commander as to why its because that one."
"Because that head injury is even worse then the last one, but he neeing to rest for a few days. Before he's back in training anf even then he need to be in observation right now, until we're sure he's fully recovered." Data said and he nodded in agreement to his thoughts as that did it then for the enquiry. "Possible explosion after that during stage two?" he whispered to him and Data nodded.
"Mr. Locarno Freeze!" Admiral Brand snapped sharply as Geordi, Will and Data helped him stand up then as Picard looked at him gently. "That's going to leave a nasty bruise later." Geordi said to him and he nodded. "Yeah and my body's been put through enough abuse as it is the 3 years." he said to him as Picard, Beverly, Deanna and Worf surrounded him as Picard snapped it out at the leader of the squadron.
"So what's the prognosis, Doctor, you needed 18 months to help him recover, is this a setback again in training. Even though he's with you on the ship?" she asked and Beverly sighed. "Three weeks maximum, he's got a second, near third degree concussion, between the broken arm, the burns. And now this, it's he's back to on the job training on the ship, and frankly he's safer with us."
"Then here at the academy after what just happened enroute to earth and in regarding to the duo's fury at him and Alberts for turning on them. If Locarno's reaction is anything to go by, he chose us over his team. But you better deal with this, my son has been put through enough right now. And he doesn't need anymore injuries right now not after his being in recovery for 18 months now."
"The seven of us are still concerned regarding what happened, we broke the connection. And took care of the amount of damage being around the trio caused. We destroyed the pills Loffler gave him, but this time he needs to be back on the ship so we can monitor his recovery. He's safer with us then he's around the duo with the fact he turned them in." Will said and she nodded to him.
"Indeed, I'm not risking it or a relapse, emotionally here, it's better we help him come to terms with this. With the loss of another friend now and he can get three more weeks of training on board the Enterprise. On light duty before he restarts his training and he's with what's left of his ship based squadron with the fact they lost a piece of it now." Deanna said and Beverly finished that firmly.
"That's my prognosis as well: three weeks light duty to recover from this latest head injury. And he's getting emotional support with what's left of their squadron on board the ship, his squadron is Gamma, not Nova. Three weeks maximum to heal emotionally from this one and he's in on the job training. Now to stay caught up, but he needs us more right now at the moment."
"Alberts earned his right to a position on the enterprise and they, Sito and Dayton, Lefler and Kurland became the team to beat. Now, against the hotshots like Nova squadron, but again, if anyone wants a shot at that, Derek can stay down here on Nova squadron with the Hajar. But Gamma did the right thing and they lose a piece to their team." she said and the duo looked at her in shock at that.
"What?" Hajar said in shock and Wesley looked at her coldly. "Josh, Sito and I are traitors in your eyes you two, in ours. We're not Nova and we never were, we're Gamma squadron, the ship based version that hold Commander Riker and his friends when they were our age. I did my job, and you blew your chances, Nick, your career in Starfleet, it's over." he said and Brand nodded as Picard got started.
"Freeze Mr. Locarno, alright violence in the courtroom and a hearing, alright young man whatever possessed you to react like this exactly. As he said, the first duty of a Starfleet officer is to the truth. Be it scientifical, ethical or responsible, we never lie, and you did, and it's for killing a team mate. And false truths, Wesley is more capable of being a Starfleet officer now."
"And more than you could be, because he's already shown that dedication, to me." he snapped sternly and he swallowed. "Do you understand what I just did Nick, everyone looks at Nova squadron and thinks you're everything they made you out to be. But look at you now, you've just destroyed that image by attacking me in front of the entire school and lying to the admirals."
"And look around you, everyone working here at the academy is in shock by this loss of control at the moment now. Everyone, what you come to think in my case is not true at all right now. I never participated in a cover up, the truth to myself and Joshua Alberts is we were working undercover for the board. Our orders were given to us directly, 20 months in advance, by Captain Picard."
"And the enquiry, but during the time I was on sabbatical from the academy and on the enterprise. The plan in this was created that as the plants on the team. We and Sito were running an undercover operation, in case what happened did happen and one of Nova was killed." Wesley said, leaning against the table as Jean Locarno were looking at him in shock at the news then as Picard crossed his arms.
"So you were never involved in this cover up, you two?" a 3rd year asked and they shook their heads. "We're not, in fact we had the plan created after we met up at starbase 67, after I prevented the foothold from jumping ship off the Enterprise. After we got Hanson, Farley and Anderson off the ship, we had Kate Higgins, Josh and Sito arriving, I showed the information to them and then told them."
"But Cadet Sito is also part of my team on the ship based version of the Gamma team, but the three of us are Gamma spies on Nova. We're working for the investigation team and the enquiry, serving as plants. This is the only way out of what was coming in your case as a result, but we told the investigation team and enquiry the truth." he said and all 3 classes and the faculty and staff nodded.
"Plants on the team, you mean you're undercover agents?" they heard someone call out and he gave a nod. "Yes, our job as the Enterprise version of Nova's biggest rivals, Sito's my partner. And our job was we were looking into academy scandals if someone broke the rules. Like what happened this week. We needed you to think we're involved in this, until I revealed the truth to the board."
"But I'm a double agent, so make it look like I was involved in this scandal to the board and the investigation team. And in the team's case, like I was taking sides and turning them in until they incriminated themselves. And by their own words, spoken in his voice now, but that explains this. This version of Nova and Nova's leader is stripped bare, but here's the truth now as of this moment."
"Derek told them that Josh and I'd gone traitor, regarding the 'duty to your friends' piece. And they, Derek Hanson and his other cousin, Charlie Peter Hanson. They devised a way to destroy my image and career by making it look like I'm involved in a cover up. And the trio were stalling leading into when Captain Picard, and Commanders La Forge and Data figured it out last night."
"Fortunately due to fact that Derek Hanson and Tony Farley were down here, I altered the computer program I created. Put in several subroutines and got back on board in time to report the truth to the crew. And while doing so, I caught Derek Hanson red handed when he came in too soon at the time. And I reported this to the committee so all the bases were covered now finally."
"But the last 48 hours after my crew were stage acting, getting them to say the words that effectively ended his career in Nick's case. And destroyed their images in Derek and Charlie Hanson, and Jean Hajar's cases. I'm innocent of all charges, but my girlfriend is pregnant with my baby. And I'm returning to the ship for 18 months, but in truth I'm a full lieutenant on the ship now."
"As you know the captain was having me train up there until there was an opening here at the academy. Well I gained my first two ranks leading into when I arrived, but I just made full lieutenant during my sabbatical. When I saved the federation from a hostile take over and this was my squadron's next mission." he said and they nodded to him gently at that as one of them answered him.
"Have you ever checked the episode focused on this situation, my tv show, focused on me and the seven. So though I'm no longer a full member of the cast anymore. It was and is called Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 5 episode 19: The First Duty?" he called out and they shook their heads. "Well I watched reviewed this episode many times now and the crew and I decided, now."
"That we were stage acting it, as a result that saved my career, as I showed and told Sito what was coming if she didn't tell you the truth. But as a result of being a Starfleet born now, it came with the knowledge of knowing. In what just coming forward would result in and I decided on my first duty. Which was telling the inquiry and investigation team the truth of what happened here."
"As a result I can live with the consequences, but the one thing that matters more is I never lost my parents trust. For Sito she's saved from living with this as well and she's coming back on board the ship with me. But we're not Nova and we never were everyone, she too went Gamma. And told the team and enquiry the truth, but that's it." he said and the class 2 years ahead of them nodded.
"We understand and you're not involved in a cover up, so all this time you two were undercover agents. One's placed on Nova by the captain and the enquiry prior to this mission. We get it, with what we learned of the duo now, who was he trying to replicate exactly, if you and possibly Gamma squadron. Set them up to incriminate themselves by their own words and actions, at the time."
"If they broke the restriction on this maneuver?" He heard an upper classman call out. "You ever heard of a lieutenant Jack O'neill? " He asked and they all nodded. "Well he tried it at the parameters of 5 meters apart and it killed Commander Damian Reynolds. But Nick decided to try it and fix his mistakes, hoping to pull it off after it killed six cadets in the space of 130 years, if it worked now."
"He would graduate in a blaze of glory as the Nova captain that did the impossible and finally pulled it off. But it didn't work at all, and it resulted in killing another team mate. But Nova has been trying to get out of Gamma's shadow for 20 years ever since the previous generation was here. And since the Gammas had been winning the Rigel cup for ten years running now."
"But the Gammas invited me to join their team after their previous captain left, and I found the former leader on the enterprise. But said leader is the rival to Nick Locarno, in everything, but it's the same remark that Major Hailey gave Colonel Carter, 387 years ago." he said and they nodded as they all looked at Locarno in disgust at that as Picard went on as he crossed his arms as he said it to him.
"Son, pull it back now, Cadet Sito, you better join my crew now, because starting now, you're under my command." He told them and they nodded as she moved in front of Worf as he rested his hands on her shoulders. And Wesley stood between him, Will and Beverly as he looked at the duo sternly at that and Picard said it. "So first lying to us and now this scene, that was a test, Mr. Locarno, in truth."
"Your image has been shattered by this decision and reaction Mr. Locarno, Boothby told me that you're a natural leader. When I was questioning everyone on campus after the accident and his exact words. When I spoke to him were, 'He watches out for them, he keeps them together. Nick is what made the team special, he's their coach, surrogate father and best friend all rolled into one."
"He's a natural leader, the members of the team, they love him and they would do anything he asked them to do, even following him right over a cliff'." That's the way my crew sees me, and believe me it's hard to live up to that image. But acting as a true leader means looking out for your team noe. But you see where you messed up now, when you cross a line you can't take back now."
"Said line asking a team mate to turn on the man, the men, that helped raise him, train him in every piece to being in Starfleet. Watches out for them, keeps them together, to phrase that in his eyes regarding me, it's saved his life, rescued him, offering advice. The bonds of mentor and a surrogate father, far outweigh that of a team mate when said team mates are twice your age."
"And they help your last surviving parent raise you, to him, nothing is getting between us. Not you, not Nova, not even your anger at your rival, but being a team means being a family. Win together, lose together, one member goes down, they all go down a team is not tried separately. They will not lie and they do everything as one, as such, that's what the ship version to your rivals are."
"His adult version to Charlie Dayton happens to be my number one, cadet: coach, surrogate father, best friend, he had that for close to 6 years now. And it was with Commander Riker and myself, our bonds are everything Boothby described about you. But to him, the bonds are so strong, he'd do anything we asked him to do, as we helped raise him at the time these last six years."
"It's not about making choices like this, but what's best for your crew and team mates, and though you once had his admiration and trust, you don't anymore. Not when he spent an added eighteen months under me, his loyalty is to me now, our bond is everything you used to have. He'd never let me down, because I'm everything Boothby claimed you to be at the time now here."
"And he wants to continue serving under me once he graduates, not just me, but Willam Riker, we're both everything you were claiming to be. As to that, by every choice you came to your future in Starfleet is at an end and with it is your ex team mate. The one you were mocking is now a true Starfleet officer and serving as part of my crew, he's the leader of the junior crew on board."
"But all that time you've been gloating over the fact that my team may not figure out exactly what you did and tried. We had this discussion weeks prior to this, Mister Crusher contacted his crew, and told them first. Before telling us the second we arrived, and you were too late to prevent it, because he's closest to us." he said to him as Will finished that remark as he stood behind them as he said it.
"Let's see coach, surrogate father, best friend, he's got all of those with us, because we're his leaders, and family Mr. Locarno. When we met him we were close, for two and half years under us, our bonds deepened then. And then the previous eighteen months back under us, our bonds deepened even further. We're the essence of what a true team really is, as a crew, as friends."
"But being a crew is being a team, being a team is being a family and what it means to be friends, Mr Locarno and with that in mind. The team is family, as a family you look out for each other, you take care of each other. When a member of my away team was hurt I was in sickbay waiting for the final details. And if they were unconscious I was staying by their sides till they woke up."
"But to be a team means to be a family, sure you have a family, but your surrogate is the one you're with. And all the time, and they look out for and take care of you, and vice versa. But make a choice such as this and your family falls apart and look what it does to the team. Wesley has been serving under such conditions, and when he ended up in the E.R., when we kept him home."
"At the time for the added eighteen months, I was staying at his side till he finally woke up. but did you really expect him not to tell us the truth. Mr. Locarno, at the time here, because if you didn't then, you're dreaming. As he did tell us everything, being his parents, he'd never, ever lie to us." Will said sternly as he moved behind Wesley as Wesley pressed his shoulder to Will's.
As he looked at the other boy sternly and he got it then as Will wrapped his arm around his shoulders and the duo looked at him in shock. "Commander Riker and Captain Picard are everything Boothby said about you Nick, that bond got established when I joined the bridge crew. But during that time, before I did, it was they watched my back, I watched their's, I took care of them, they took care of me."
"And our bond tripled in strength as a result. As to that, the time back on the ship only reinforced that bond and made it even stronger, they're my team. They were willing to help me heal, stuck by my side and we worked out things in the details, to them they weren't having my career destroyed. And it's because of you and we decided on this, but I vented my feelings to them."
"In regarding Josh's death at the time during that trip up there to them, their reassurance helped me and I decided that, no I wasn't holding back information from them. Do you know what their exact words were to help maintain our friendship, prior to my returning two months ago. Before I started at the academy at the time and when one of my charges was in recovery at the time."
"As we got the person that put me in sickbay off the ship and Hanson ended up in a ship version of probation and juvenile hall for six months at the time?" he asked and they swallowed as Will said it then. "To maintain our friendship and trust, our bonds as a parental/offspring and mentor/student bond, be honest with us and just let go, he had to tell us the truth." he said and Wesley finished that firmly.
As he leaned against his side as he leaned his head against his shoulder as he finished that remark then. "And I did it, and in two words here: weekend leave." he said and the trio looked at him in shock as Jean said it for the quartet in shock. "No, you told them, you mean you turned us in!" she said in shock and he nodded to her as he said it with a smirk then at her shock then firmly at that as he answered her.
"Yeah and I can see it in your eyes, why did it have to be a fellow team mate that turned you in, for all you know it could have been Kate Higgins. I mean for all you know here, she could have been standing there right outside the door." he said and she walked up behind at that as she gave him a hug. "No, no it wasn't, in fact, it was Gamma squadron, all this time it was Gamma squadron."
"Charlie and Kate were the two defining votes in bringing me into Gamma squadron 2 years ago and before they could tell me, you picked me. Well this is justice now, protect me from my career being destroyed. And it's because of you, I didn't join up at the time and because I wanted to impress anyone. And not some silly little girl who wants to look handsome in her uniform, Hajar."
"I joined up so I could return to my ship, my home, serve truly under my captain and crew as a true member of it. But I'm not a cadet at all up there on the ship, I'm a Starfleet officer doing my duty, as were the quintet. We did our duty in doing the right thing, and our brother is dead, because of you." he said sternly as Hajar repeated the remark as she looked at him in shock at that.
"Gamma squadron circle up!" he added and the quartet, Sito and the trio moved behind him and they looked at them in shock. Before they saw Will, Jackson and the rest of the previous generation of Gamma move behind him. "I informed him of how and why Damian Reynolds was killed and we decided we're not getting in trouble. We're following our predecessors example by making sure that it's not used."
"Ever again by any more generations of Nova after it killed 7 cadets in the space of 130 years, did you really expect anyone to not realize it. And when your rivals are all computer and technological geniuses who do stuff like this all the time. And when the leader of the junior version of that same squadron, nearly, single handedly, prevented a foothold by outsmarting your crew."
"And when the program ended, but just three teenagers outwitted an entire group of senior officer and when they were all drones. Cracking a way to bug a room to listen to your rivals when they're talking about lying and cheating their way to stay at the academy. When they committed a daredevil stunt that was banned by the committee is child's play to us." Will said to her at that sternly.
"And with it, reporting to his former adult version meant meeting the officer he takes after the most, but he got the idea from me. And then pushed it three steps further at the time, but the day he told us was the day. That I happened to be reporting into the committee and with me was Commanders Anna Carter, Peter and Jenna Ferretti and I reported into Commander Riker after he did it."
"But the eight of us were with his ship based version of our squadron and Kate Higgins and had put a listening device on the door. And one that penetrated the soundproof areas of the door to hear your conversation, Nicholas. We heard your entire conversation, and you signed your death warrants that day. When you said that, but there's no going back or taking it back, the words."
"The captains and Admiral gave you chance, after chance, after chance to save yourselves. But did you take it, no you didn't, instead you continued to dig yourselves into that hole deeper until you crossed the line in decision here. But there's no going go back from your decisions. You washed right out of the academy, Nicholas." Jackson added firmly to them and she said it in shock at that.
"You turned us in during that trip back to the ship, you lied to us!" Jean said in shocked disbelief and Wesley nodded. "Yeah, why should I hold back the truth huh, you realize a few things here Nick think it over it, you ended the Alberts line by choosing this choice, Josh is gone, because of you and your arrogance. My mother lost my biological father and I'm all she has left of our family."
"In our family, to her she'd stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, just to put you behind bars if I had been killed at the time, as would the sextet, but here I am, stil with her, still her son, still the man of the house in my family and you nearly take me away from her. You just turned me into the very thing that you should have been worried about now here and it's I'm now working for the admirals."
"When it comes to scandals at the academy case in point is investigations, what about you Nick, you joined up for the wrong reasons. You got a guy killed, that's pretty clear you don't have what it takes to make as a Starfleet officer here. As for you two, Jean you're acting like the girl that he was dating, before he was alone with his team mate, who because everything he wanted."
"I'm looking at it like this: you're Ibanez, Robin is Flores, she's my girlfriend, my team mate and to save her, I'd risk getting shot and she'd do the same for me. We went through something together you don't understand. Ever since I joined the squadron you wanted me to cut loose and even went so far as try to seduce me. But no, I'm taken already Jean, I belong to Robin, always."
"In fact she's my girlfriend and I love her with all my heart, but I have another reason now to deal with this. Said reason is she's pregnant, with my baby, I'm an expecting father now. Fact of the matter is that entire weekend I needed time to think, she gave me the support I needed and brought it to this, naming off the comparision, we're in the 24th century of the Heinlein novel."
"Her exact words were, 'you made a mistake and now it's time to fix that mistake, you tried to save him, you can't give up. Don't make the same mistake he did, you have me and I'm not giving you up or losing you to your guilt, that girl is not worth it and neither is he'." And you know what, she's right, none of you are not worth destroying my career over now at the moment."
"And decided I was making you sweat it out regarding this till today, why well it's simple. I'm not taking the fall here so you can be free from the guilt, you bailed on me when I tried to save his life. To me that means you don't deserve my friendship, if you're willing to leave me hanging out to dry. This is like if we were back 400 years ago, and a member of our team was shot with a gun."
"And it's because we're too young for playing around with it, and you took off and left me to deal with it, by getting him to the hospital. Or we accidentally set off the alarm in a robbery and I was the last one out, but you left me to fend for myself. It's all the same difference. If we were back in that time frame, it's that was then, this is now, I'm turning you into the 'cops, for this now'."
"Hate me if you want, but I'm doing the right thing and it's by making sure Commander Alberts gets justice for Josh's death, by being the one to turn in the ones that accountable for it. But here's the thing, regarding being a team and why I'm disgusted with you. Being a team means working as one, but this is no team, there is no I in team, we're there for each other, you three.."
"And you're not my team if you tell me that if I can't hack it, I should leave." he said and they looked at him in shocked disbelief at the remark. "How can you say that exactly, the two of us, I thought we had something here?" she said looking at him and he crossed his arms. "We don't and I'm not wrecking my life over some silly little girl who wants to look handsome in her uniform, Jean, in fact."
"Or allowing her to take me for everything I have, you're a hotshot, pilot, I've been flying a galaxy class starship since I was sixteen. Look at the facts: you're growing up on earth, I've been on the go since I was five. Not when the person that shows everything that a mother would want for her son is standing there in plain sight." he said and with those words Robin moved to him at that remark.
And wrapped her arms around him then as she looked at her coldly as the duo looked at him in shock. "Were you not listening when I said you nearly left my wife a widow and my baby fatherless. We're engaged and during my 18 months back on the ship, my 3 years back. We're getting married, but she's pregnant, with my unborn baby." he said and they looked at him in shock as Locarno said it quickly.
"You're the rival, I thought it was Dayton all this time!" Locarno said in shocked disbelief. "You remember, all's fair in love and war, in fact she and I are expecting our first child now. She told me she was pregnant when I got back up there after the accident and you know what, I'm beyond proud at that. But you nearly destroyed my family this week by pulling this stunt, I'm a father."
"I'm not turning my back on her, I'm taking the responsibility of being a father now at the moment. Sure it's three years too soon, but we're engaged now, but I'm telling you now, with the black mark on the record, depending on how long it takes to complete your time. Then whoever in you two arrives on my ship, is under crew evaluations until they can determine you're not going to try it."
"And I mean try it twice here at the moment, but I'm finishing my training, I have my duty station, what's left of my quintet. And by that I mean Gamma, my squadron: Josh, me, Robin, Kate, Jake and Charlie, are together and we and the seven are now a full crew for life now. And you know what, everything I have is waiting for me when I get back up there, my baby is due in seven months."
"And you nearly left my wife a widow and my child, my son or daughter fatherless Nick. It's over, you know you could have killed me and my wife would have died of heartbreak and my baby with her, multiple murder. Thanks to your idiocy now my mother nearly lost what's left of her family, my wife, me, and my baby girl or boy." Wesley said to them coldly as he looked at them firmly.
And she swallowed at that remark as Robin pulled him closer to her. "Once done at the academy, my permanent duty station is with the Enterprise, and she and I are moving in together as our lives as a young family get started now after that. Charlie is the best friend I could ever could have had, you never wanted us to meet and be there for each other, well too damned bad, now, Nick."
"We did now did when I went home last year and here's the result, best friend, I have everything I want and it's because he and Robin are just like me, we're half soldier/half scientist, she's my choice, he's my brother and we're a trio now. But the the way life is and was, before I returned to the academy, I was beyond happy now, back at home, I had others like now finally as well."
"And you know what I'm even happier now, Charlie, Jake and Josh are my best friends, sure I lost one member of my quartet. But I have Charlie and Jake still and he's my best friend, Jake he's my other best friend in the squadron. We sorted out our differences last year and we worked as a duo at the time. But Josh was learning seven to eight months worth of on the job training
"And the four of us became a team, and you murdered a member of our team, we're a team, the seven are a team, a team looks out for a each other, we take care of each other, we're family. The away team, that's the truest example of a team, we work as one, we look out for each other, we take care of each other. The quartet see me as a junior member, but they adopted me, officially."
"As a son at the time and believe me, if it comes right down to it, I'd gladly risk my life and my neck for them. Why well it's because to me if it comes down to it between you and my mother and the sextet's trust, respect and our bonds. It's a no choice needed, I chose and choose them, I'm the son. And the apprentice, to four career Starfleet officers, and surrogate son to 30 others as well."
"When I was back up there in recovery from what Etana did to me, our bonds only deepened further, to the point, that everything Captain Boothby said. To them, I'm not having my career destroyed so you can save your necks, in fact to them, it's making sure my career is never destroyed, but here's the thing now. The rule of being a team here is you watch my back, I watch yours."
"So we take care of each other, we work together, we don't become a bad influence in each other and with it is if one of you was hurt, I'd be at your side waiting for you to wake up from the injuries. But we don't bail on each other and leave the one who's trying to save the life of a team mate to fend for themselves." he said sternly and the trio swallowed at the remark as he went on.
"But here's the thing now when the three of us became a trio, we decided to get Josh away from you as well because to us, we win as a team we lose as a team. But we will not be tried separately' nor will we accept the consequences as individuals, we all committed the infraction, we accept as a team the consequences, but that's the difference now in this situation here."
"To save the team, that is more important than me, and it's more important than you, and to save us and it, we go to the admirals, together, and tell them the truth. The captain may say he ordered us to do it, but no, we agreed on our own and we will not be tried separately. We all were involved in it and we all take full responsibility, we all risked our careers to do the right thing."
"I tried to take full responsibility when I prevented the incursion into Starfleet and she decided. We were in this together, we take full responsibility and accept the consequences together. And Charlie chose the exact same thing, we're a team, a family, we will not be tried separately now. That's the point and essense of friends and team mates at the current moment as well."
"That's being a team, we work together, we win together, we lose together, that's being a team. This is no team, you're no coach Nick, to be a good team leader you have to consider the welfare of your team, the ship and everyone on it. That's what makes Captain Picard the best at what he does and why everyone serving under him, including me, are ready to follow him."
"Follow him right into the infernal regions, we'd do anything for him, the commander has given up command after command to keep us together. That's being a team and being a good leader, it's not forcing your friends to keep silent, or throwing that guilt trip on them. The duo, they're the very essence of being a true leader, and we, and them, are the very essence of being a team.
"You though, as the ones being tried, are no team at all, this is no friendship, no partnership. Because with them, I always had someone to catch me and you, leave me to take the fall you're no friend of mine, or my team they are. That's being a team and after I risked my life to save him this is the result." he said and the trio swallowed at the wording as Picard rested his hands on Wesley's shoulders.
"That's how you see us, we're not a true team, is it just because you've been with them you don't see it as anything, but what you make it out to be?" Hajar said in shock and he shook his head. "Did you forget that up until then Sito, Josh and I were a trio, we could be considered a team at the time. But then Josh is killed, and it's just us left after that, instead of telling the truth here."
"You lie to the enquiry, but a team wins together, lose together, we will not be tried separately and with that. Let me ask you something, would a true team bail on a member when they're trying to save a fellow team mate. Would a true team use peer pressure on you as you know the only option to stay here. That the person who is supposed to be your best friend coerces you to silence."
"Is to come forward, together, when you know you should have told the truth truth, go against the whole anf come forward. And would a true team say that if I don't want to lie to the person that help my parents raise me. Said man the best friend of my parents, the man who helped them raise me. And along with five others, being your adoptive family while your parent is planetside."
"Would they say if I can't lie to save the team I can get the hell out of said team. And exact words being, spoken in the leader's voice, 'they don't want to come forward and they don't have a problem With lying to our parents, the enquiry, the committee, but if I did, I should resign my appointment to the academy and walk away, but don't make them pay for my guilty conscious.'."
"So tell me, if you were me, would you follow through with their request or turn turn them in. And especially when one of them is supposed to be your best friend with the other gone. Go ahead, would a true team and true friends tell me that, when we all know that to stay, we had to come forward, huh would they say that, answer that why don't you." he asked and they swallowed at that.
Looking at everyone staring at them in shocked disbelief, they knew they were screwed. "Go ahead and try to answer that why don't you, cadets, because saying that it's enough he chose us without thinking twice about it now. You just signed your death warrants by that proclamation and it's enough they're never seeing your version of Nova the same way ever again." Beverly said sternly as she listened to her son's remark as he went on.
"I can say it with pride when I'm around my friends and adult team mates, because we've been together for 5 1/2 years. Six years together you learn to depend on each other when in the field. So yes I served aboard the Enterprise, to quote Nick, I know what it's like to depend on someone. And have them look out for me, because the sextet, the engineering team, my wife, my brothers."
"But everyone on board the ship that I'm closest to, have given me someone to depend on and they all did exactly that. But they helped me recover, physically, and we spent an added fifteen months together. Commander Riker, when I woke up from the caffeine detox at the time. But were you even paying attention, when Derek told that I've made my choice 18 months in advance."
"I just barely killed myself by making sure that weapon never gets off the enterprise. And it's because the added side effects of having my training go crazy in stage two of that storyline, is what landed me in the emergency room. But he was asleep at my side and that was enough to tell me that he and the quintet would do anything to help me, they practically raised me themselves."
"While at the same time I find Commander Data's cat lying on the bed next to me, but they, Lieutenant Worf and Comander La Forge. They're the ones I'm closest to, along with Counselor Troi, and had Tasha Yar still been alive. That's it, they're my friends, I'm a junior senior staff crew member. And after Jake and I created our team, that was it, we reported directly to them after that."
"After mom left the enterprise and instead of legal guard and mentors they became adoptive family after that. Commander La Forge's third in command, he's the assistant coach to my squadron while Commander is head coach of the team. To them, I don't have to hide anything from them, the sextet, or my friends in the engineering team, including Commander Jenson."
"And it's because after mom left for earth, I was under their guardianship, Commander Jenson's as well. Mom chose her closest friends, the command team to take care of me and that's the act of trust, of being a team, especially when it concerns family. And with them the sextet I'm closest to in the team acted on being surrogate parents to me so as a result I was well taken care of."
"Regarding Nick, I already had it, Commander Riker was training me in officers training that entire time. And he and Captain Picard, along with my mother and Counselor Troi, were and are the ones that showed every aspect of what you used to be Nick. Your image has been shattered by this reaction here in the courtroom now Nick, you're no coach, best friend or surrogate father."
'They love him and would do anything he asked them to do, even following him, right over a cliff'. Well news flash now, that's how I see them at the time, Nick, everything that you once showed to the outside world is stripped clean and look at you now. They're ready to expel you now, but to save the team, I'm taking charge of it now and I'm adding several upper classman to the line up."
"But you're not on that team anymore, because of every charge you wracked up these last three weeks. It's over and I'm the new leader, or rather in this case I'm choosing a new leader of the team. As you're no longer squadron leader anymore as I relieved you of duty leading into the hearing." he said and Locarno swallowed at the news as he saw every academy officer and cadet looking at him.
"Everything I said to Picard, regarding him, just got contradicted by this outburst. And while you're demonstrating the attitude and personality we were looking for at the time." Boothby said as he looked at him in shocked disbelief at this situation as his mother answered that question sternly then. "Uh huh, and we decided on a sting operation last week just to expose him for who he really is."
"My son has never lied to me before, and he's not about to start now, as to that and why he waited till now, it's because they a case of peer pressure and emotional blackmail. Because he tried emotional blackmail on my son, regarding Joshua." Beverly said and everyone all looked at him in shocked disbelief at that. "What's the blackmail exactly anyway, if you're ready to have his head."
"Because I know I'm ready to, if he's deciding to get justice for Josh for me now, by turning them into you that night right now?" Alberts said and he climbed over the railing and moved to them as he rested his hand on her shoulder and she crossed her arms as she answered him. "Exactly words being, 'we don't want to come forward, and we don't have a problem with this, but if you do."
"Then resign your appointment to the academy and walk away, but don't make us pay for your guilty conscious.'. He was getting a tape recording set up for us and upon hearing information and that circumstance and the fact that he and girls don't want to come forward. We deduced that they took off on my son when he'd been knocked unconscious by the explosion at the time."
"But he turned them in the second my ship arrived at earth." She said and he nodded. "A team goes down together, they win as a team, they lose as a team, and you chose a choice. And one that goes against the very essense of what it means to be a team. To us you displayed the attributes of someone trying to be the best even if it meant throwing a team mate to the wolves, Nicholas."
"But for incompetence of command, for failure to abide by safety regulations during a live flight exercise. For neglegince that contributed to the death of a team mate and nearly the death of second. For lying to a superior officer and falsifying a report in a restriction of a banned maneuver. Peer pressure of said team mate, and of five other charges the judgement had been rendered."
"Mr. Crusher said our thoughts out loud today when he said that to you, when you first arrived at the academy we saw your appeals in training. As Boothby said, to us, in our eyes, you looked out for your team. You kept them together, you were the reason the team was special. The members of the team, they loved you and would do anything you asked them to do at the time."
"But that loyalty there has to be limits and he reached his by you making that decision, we saw you excell in your training, and for four years we never doubted you'd be an outstanding officer. And nothing ever made us doubt that conviction, until this moment, we gave you a fair chance to save yourselves. And look at where his decision and yours has lead to now, young man."
"Well if that's how it's going to be, you're now a murderer Locarno, for all these choices, you're the gang leader and you two, girls, are a bunch of sheep. Wesley is the one who demonstrated everything of a career Starfleet officer. And if you wanted a chance to save this team, you should have done it two weeks ago. But he was under our orders to gather incriminating evidence in this now."
"Evidence that would expose you for who you really are now, and Joshua died in the line of duty and this is an insult to his memory right now. So Wesley is now the true leader in our eyes. Though as Wesley is no longer part of Nova squadron. You're hereby officially getting three new recruits for the team, recruits we are choosing." Morrison said to them sternly as Brand finished that.
"I see that everything we made you out to be went to your head, but look at you now. You attack one of your team mates, because he did the right thing and went against the whole. When I look at you I see Rice, or another Admiral who was confident to point of arrogance and it either kills hundreds. Or destroys his team, but they are people I see you as and all them destroyed their careers."
"Out of a psychosis or bravado, bravado killed one member of your team and nearly killed a second, and the second did the right thing. As to that I see this as a need to relieve you of your command and put someone else in charge now." she said and Henderson crossed his arms. "Of you, only Mr. Crusher and Miss Jaxa gained the wisdom, virtue and heart to come forward and admit to this."
"But I'm looking at every charge you wracked up and it's enough you're going to be stripped of your stature and expelled from the academy for this. And there's no returning and trying again, because you're marginalized from the academy. As of this moment, your appointment hereby is permanently deactivated." Henderson said sharply and he paled as he looked at Wesley in shock.
"How could you do this to us!" Locarno snapped at Wesley and he crossed his arms as he said it. "I'm a Starfleet officer, and I have a duty to the truth, I made a promise to them. I wasn't lying when I said that to you guys, but this, this is peer pressure Nick. When I said I'm not going to lie to them Nick, I meant it, the captain, his respect and trust means more to me than you think."
"But he's my father's best friend, my mentor, my surrogate father, he raised me from the time I was fifteen. I meant it when I said you're not getting your way in this, I can't call him a liar, not after everything he's done for me. That attitude you showed in the images is a mockery of being a Starfleet officer. But as Starfleet officers we have a duty to the truth, it's our creed we do not lie."
"But my duty to my friends, I lost a friend in the accident and you're making a mockery of his death by not coming forward, that's not friendship, not at all. Not when true friends do whatever it takes to help you heal and have watched you go through some of the hardest parts of training. I have 40 adult friends on the ship, they taught me the biggest parts of being a Starfleet officer."
"I'm not living with the guilt just so you can save yourselves, aside from that, I'm already apart of a team, though it lost a piece of it. But a team none the less, the team I spent five years together with: my family." Wesley said and Locarno swallowed at the look Riker was giving him. As Geordi crossed his arms as he, Beverly, Worf, Will and Deanna were all listening to that dedication in his words.
As Admiral Brand hid a smile at the way he held himself as she exchanged smiles with Henderson and Picard smiled proudly at the amount of dedication he had to working under him. As he moved behind Wesley and rested his hands on his shoulders. "I thought we were friends, a team!" Locarno said in shock and Wesley shook his head. "By insulting the captain and the crew, you just insulted me Nick."
"Aside from that, a true friend would risk their life to save a member of their team, I nearly killed myself to save him. You know what I went through 18 months ago to prevent you, my team, from getting infected by the Risa's mind control technology. And now you insult a member of our squadron by not coming forward, that's no friendship, that's every man for themselves."
"Aside from that, my team has already been chosen, five years in advance, I'm part of the Enterprise Crew. A member of Gamma squadron, that's my team, and friends please. And believe me this is an insult to my father, he was killed in action, and an insult to the captain. I don't care what any of you think of me Nick, I'm moving forward with a clear conscious that he's had justice."
"With the fact I told them up straight right after Admiral Brand contacted my mother, that exonerates me, but this stunt was illegal, it was banned by the fleet committee pending a training accident, and one in which all five recruits lost their lives. You wanted to try it so you could go out in a blaze of glory and it kills another cadet while doing it, and nearly kills in the process here."
"Your pride and recklessness has become your undoing you three, you're not getting any warm welcome among the junior crew during evaluation. And with not coming forward that very first day you just condemned yourselves to your fate as of now. My bedroom was bugged and Commanders Riker and Data were listening to the entire conversation when I called you into my room."
"Captain Picard's speech had more an impact on me then you think, but he's the captain I respect more than you think, I'm not losing his trust, because you want to get off scots free. To be totally honest now, after I created my team up there and when they kept me home for that eighteen months. In that and I decided to insure nothing destroyed our relationship, with him or the quintet."
"By acting on being the Starfleet officer I am, and decided I was being the undercover agent. Did Derek tell you this when he and Eric were with you while Josh, Sito and I were up there?" he asked and they nodded feeling their hearts sink. "Well you should have heeded his warning, regarding that and not try anything stupid at the time, going by the looks on your faces, I guessing he did tell you."
"You all just dismissed his warnings thinking we'd never turn you in, that we're your friends, a team. And you could trust us with your lives, correct, is that what you thought in this?" he asked and Locarno nodded shaking and Wesley hold up the chip then. "Well then if you really thought that you don't know us at all, as 18 months together changes things, we changed and grew up with our training."
"That eighteen months apart and 15 in his case now, and it seals a person's fate now, as to why. Well it's because the person that matters more is always the people who raised you at the time. These seven, they raised me, they took care of me, I took care of them, we trust each other with our lives. And it's because we've been working as a team since I was fifteen, 5 1/2 years now."
"That changes things and the results are they matter more ties that bind, that's the catch. And it's something you should have considered now, because once tightened there's no going back. Despite the fact I warned you that you had the measurements off you still wanted to try it and kills Josh. So I decided after the first hearing, I'm coming clean and doing the rest of their investigation."
"And doing it for them and decided to have you incriminate yourselves by your own words that week after I told my mother and the rest of my crew the truth. You understand what I'm saying, up there I'm not a cadet at all, I just gained my uniform, command red, but up there things are completely different. To down here, as to why, it's because once you enter on the job training now."
"You're dressed in a grey uniform, no insignia on it and just your communicator badge. I was wearing the emblem of a full lieutenant after my parents kept me home the previous 18 months at the time. I completed basic training of 2 1/2 years and I was now dressed in red, command red now at the time. I just skipped blue and gold, because I've been an acting ensign for 2 years here."
"Acting ensign, and I graduated to full on the ship before I got accepted into the academy, but I just earned junior grade. Before the admiral yanked my training out of their hands and the no winner, it made me a full lieutenant. I'm not a cadet, I'm an officer of Starfleet command and the junior crew leader. I'm the commander of the junior senior staff crew on the enterprise here."
"So take a guess of who's going to be giving crew evaluations if either of you join my ship in 3 years exactly. As they're holding this over you and they know everything after you left the academy. Because the memories are getting shown to the rest of the crew that are training, so whoever of you two. That is joining the crew, well let me tell you, after it gets out that you caused a secondary."
"I'm still suffering the added side effects of what the game and headsets caused, which explains why my mother called the commander over. But a concussion and they barely defused the effects of. Now, of what's left of the fight or flight response left over in the programming. They may treat you with kindness, but the issue of forgive and forget is long in coming at the moment."
"To them until you can show you can do flight training at a real helm on a real ship without pulling a daredevil stunt you're not getting out from under that scrutiny, during crew evaluations here." he said and they swallowed at the wording, knowing they set themselves up then. "We set ourselves up, by picking you and letting him and Sito leave, you were working under cover this entire time."
"You're working for the admiral and the captain in investigations, regarding broken rules, you're not a cadet, but an acting officer on the ship?" Hajar asked and he nodded. "Yes, you see, compared to you, I've served under the best all this time. I've trained in on the job training on a real bridge, done things you've only done in simulation and believe me it works better than you think."
"But Admiral Brand, my captain and I decided to test you when I called you into my room and you just demonstrated everything that goes against our code. I acted by our code and told them the truth and Admiral Brand decided to let me run this test for you. They wanted to see what you would do when a member of your squadron was suffering guilt and you flunked that test at the time."
"'You'd let me throw away my career just to save your neck'..." he quoted and Locarno swallowed as he realized his fatal mistake as he finished that. "To save the team, that's more important than you, and it's more important than me, and if I was in your position I'd do it and without hesitation, but that's just me.' You set me up so I can incriminate myself by my own words and Jean with me."
"Again, I thought we were your friends!" he said in shock and he shook his head as he answered him at that remark. "We were at first, but no longer, you set yourselves up by incriminating yourselves by your own words. Charlie and Robin, they told me the truth to why you're driving me into exhaustion. And why exactly, it draws this friendship as you used me to get back at him."
"This never was a friendship, you used me and when I decided to do the right thing, to save his life and come forward you used emotional blackmail. To be an effective officer it means doing choices that sometimes go against your morale. And that's why my mother's friends, in the senior staff, in addition to the captain himself, they showed up today for the rest of this hearing."
"And it's because my ship does stunts like this all the time and while you're all hoping to get to assigned to other duty stations I've got one waiting for me. But you three just blew your careers by this decision, you're both getting double the time and you've been expelled. There's no chance of your trying to save the team now, or your reputation within the academy Nick it's over."
"I knew my parents were getting closer to the truth, but I'd never lie to them, we had this planned out the second they decided on an investigation. That photo I gave to the admiral was barely two months after we prevented a foothold. And a war from spreading from my ship to earth, and to every Starfleet base and federation planet we were connected to at the time here."
"Our bonds tripled in strength, but I was homesick at the time, but you, you're a criminal now, go ahead and hate me if you want. But I'm not disappointing my mother, my friends or my captain, just so you can stay here, without guilt, just to save your necks. They're my real team, my friends and believe me, to save the team, a team mate and friend, I'd risk nearly killing myself."
"To save this team, I would do anything, but lie to cover it up and I lost a team mate, my brother. My duty is to my friends, and the other my job, but if you can have both, you're the strongest warrior of your year. The team is more important than you, and it's more important than me. And to save it, and us, I would tell the truth on the first day, and if I was in your place."
"I would do so again in a heartbeat, but that's just me." he said and Locarno swallowed at his hearing his words quoted back to him. "Parents, what parents, Picard's not even your father!" he said quickly and Picard crossed his arms at that. "Uh oh, low blow there, don't go there, there's more to our bonds then you think." Geordi said under his breath at that remark as he crossed his arms at that as Will sighed.
"And frankly right now, he's got more then one father and parent on board this ship, but he's closest to us, are you really that stupid by insulting him, you lamebrain." Jenson said in shocked disgust at that as Will finished that remark as he looked at Picard and he nodded. "If we had gotten together, she's my wife and Wesley is my stepson, you just crossed a line you can not take back." Picard said with a stern growl and he nodded.
"Yeah just tick him off why don't you, I replaced Jack when we shipped out and I've been training him, since he was fifteen. Our bond covers both sides of it and the captain is the same way with him as well." he said softly as Picard nodded in agreement to that as they heard his response to that. "And if we do get together it's done, I am your stepfather, so he crossed the line he shouldn't have at the moment." he added and Wesley nodded.
"Did you not hear my underlying remark, when you were listening my conversation, before I left. I had more then one parent and father on board the ship, why do you suppose Counselor Troi ordered I was to stay home. After I drained every ounce of my energy after the emergency three years ago. Why I chose above all not to hide anything from him since I was part of his crew."
"As I went to go tell them I was on weekend leave at the time with the council the other day. The trio took top positions after my mother left the ship, my bonds with them are so strong I could never disappoint them. Look at the way Commander Riker, Counselor Troi and Captain Picard are surrounding me now." he said coldly as Deanna wrapped her arms around him and he looked at her smiling