Chapter 6
The Ilosians were a very difficult people. They didn't believe to the proposals of the Federation and thought that they could be used only because they had great mines of dylitium… They refused all the proposals of an entry into the Federation. Alex seemed more relaxed. His function was now crucial. If the Federation wanted to continue to explore the 23th Sector, they had to forget any kind of revenge against the rape which he committed. He thought that it was better if he could explain his plan to the Captain Picard. –"Hello, Captain."- -"Good morning, Ambassador. What are the news from your planet?"- -"I have considered the opportunity to mediate in order to solve this difficult situation, but you should make a solemn promise to me, Captain."- -"Please, tell me what it is …"- -"If you sign a declaration in which the Starfleet won't proceed against me, I promise to you that the treaty will be made."- -"What kind of declaration should I sign, Ambassador?"- Picard asked. –"You know perfectly what is it, Captain. It regards Commander Scoffield, you know…"- -"Oh, really? And what happened to her, Ambassador?"- -"It was a misunderstanding, Captain. I thought that she wanted my companion, but indeed she didn't."- -"You raped her, Ambassador. We have the medical proofs. You could be judged to 10 years in jail."- -"Yes, I did. But I am the only person who can conclude this difficult situation, you know. And so Admiral Janeway does."-
Picard was perplexed. Alex was right, the treaty was impossible without the help of an expert diplomat, but he promised to Cindy to revenge her.
The needs of many were more important than the needs of an individual…
But Data gave his life only to save his Captain on the Scimitar… And was that the reward for him? To be so humiliated by a rival without the possibility to have a right process? It was all so complicated… His emotions suggested to Picard that he should cancel a treatment with a so evil people before it was too late…
-"Ambassador, I need two hours, I must contact the Starfleet and dispute about your proposal with my superiors."- -"Well, Captain, very well… I will remain in my apartment, you know."- Alex said and went away.
Picard called Data and Cindy in his office. They came in a few minutes. –"So, Captain, what happened?"- Data asked. –"Data, please, deactivate your emotion chip. It is an order."- Picard said. –"If it is an order, I will do it, Captain."- Cindy was perplexed. What happened so terribly that could upset the emotions of Data? –"Very well, Data… So, the Ambassador promised to conclude the treaty only if we sign a declaration in which we won't proceed against him in a process… What do you think about?"- -"It's disgusting, Captain. He is lying. He knows that he is an influent person on his home world and he tries to escape the justice…"- Cindy said. Data was astonished. The human beings were so stupid that they couldn't understand that the emotion chip had only a minor part in Data's brain. He continued to have his viewpoint after all… -"No, Captain. I did no save your life only to ruin mine and that of my wife. I cannot promise to you such a thing. It is incredible that you really think that the deactivation of a chip could change my mind. We are ready to resign from the Federation and begin a private process against the Ambassador."- Data said resolutely. Cindy feared that Picard could feel himself offended by the hard speech of her husband and said: -"Sorry, I changed mind. My husband didn't intend to offend you, Captain. I am ready to sign this declaration. The Ambassador is too powerful to be defied. We need only to forget this dramatic incident. But he should sign that he will avoid forever the Enterprise, especially us."- -"Are you sure, Cindy?"- -"Yes, Captain. I don't want to obstacle the treaty of the Federation."- she said. But she lied. In fact, she hated Alex. She thought that it would be another time to revenge her offence. Data didn't reply. He seemed to elaborate the situation. His eyes were fixed … but he seemed to see anything in particular. The answer of his wife astonished him. He reactivated his emotion chip without an explicit permission of the Captain. After that, he understood why his brother Lore had hated the human beings. They were so cold… He pretended to agree the proposal. In fact, he thought that there were a lot of ways to destroy the public image of the Ambassador in a second time. For the first time in his life, he was sorry for saving Picard. He was only an android for him, not a real friend to defend. –"I am sorry for my behavior, Captain. My wife is right. The needs of many were more important than the needs of an individual…these are the last words of the Ambassador Spock to Captain Kirk. He was always a positive figure for me."- Data said. Picard understood what Data meant and became very sad. Spock gave his life to save Kirk and his starship… and then Kirk found out a way to bring back Spock from the death… meanwhile he couldn't reward his friend with a process against his enemy… It was all overwhelming. Picard replied that it was only the will of his superiors. So he wrote the declaration and Cindy and Data signed it. Then Picard said to his friend that he could reactivate his emotion chip only in his apartment, for security. Data confirmed to have understood the order, but lied.
Should really the enemies win so easily?