Justine was falling. All the air was leaving her lungs in a frenzied rush. She felt a sharp tug in her rib cage and realized her heart had ceased to beat. Little flashes of light exploded behind her eyes as her head hit the defense table. Her vision narrowed to a point, then blackened.

Justine Riley was dead.

Data's positronic brain was firing at total capacity. You weren't there, Data, the electronic memory whispered. She can stop my heart. He put one hand over the court railing and jumped over the barrier. The decision to act had taken only 0.000004 seconds. He was completely aware of the consequences, and was prepared to serve time in the brig. His hand closed around Miranda's neck as he lifted her from the witness stand.

Holding her aloft, he tightened his grip. "Say it."

Miranda gasped, purpling. Data decided more specific instructions were necessary. "Deactivate code 43."

Miranda pulled at the android's fingers. "Put! Me!... Down!"

Data overrode his voice volume modulator. "SAY IT."

"Deactivate – code – 43…" she gasped, faintly. "Authorized – Miranda."

Data dropped her. She collapsed, gasping.

Dr. Pulaski hit Justine with another stimulant. "Come on, come on," she gave Justine several quick chest compressions. Nothing. The doctor fumbled in her bag for a defibrillator, and attached the node to Justine's collarbone. "Clear!" she said, and everyone took a step back. With the remote, Dr. Pulaski activated the device, and the air cracked with the sudden hiss of electricity.

Justine convulsed once but then lay, unresponsive.

"Clear!"

Justine convulsed again.

For Geordi, time had stopped. The entire courtroom was on its feet, and he fought his way through the bodies, but he felt sluggish, dreamlike, useless. He had to get to Justine, he had to save her, he –

"Clear!"

Justine convulsed, shuddered, gasped. She coughed, limbs shaking with the effort. "M-mom?"

"Breathe, Justine, breathe."

"I – can't - see –" Justine gasped, eyes wild. "Can't – see – "

"Don't talk. Deep breaths," Dr. Pulaski looked over her shoulder. "Worf, get us out of here."

Justine's head lolled as she felt herself lifted, hefted over a broad shoulder. A chained bandolier wavered in front of her eyes. The sudden movement sent a rush of blood to her head, and she collapsed back into the blackness.

The courtroom was chaos. The judge shouted at the bailiff to take Miranda into custody. Riker was on his feet, yelling at the judge that this was attempted murder, and Data was trying to turn himself into the Captain for assault on a civilian. ("Not now, Data!")

Geordi would remember the rest of that day in a haze of confused shouting. He slumped on the nearest bench, shaking. He wanted to run after Justine but for the first time in years, he'd slipped out of neural focus. As good as his implants were, it required a little effort on his part, and his head was swimming. He took several deep breaths and tried to bring the world back into focus.

The judge ordered Miranda cuffed, and Miranda began shouting about her rights. Over the din, the judge ruled that Miranda was to be taken into custody and that court was adjourned, and that she would render her decision the following day.

Geordi felt his arm yanked upwards. "We're going," Riker said. "Let's go." Geordi stumbled.

"I can't see straight," Geordi protested.

"I'm starting to think no one can," Riker said.