DISCLAIMER: See Teaser.
ACT 4
Ressik, 1404 by Earth's calendar
In the eight years since Meribor had first reached her conclusions about Kattan's future, the drought had continued unabated. The symbolic tree planted by Batai in the town square 32 years earlier had long since died.
*****
Janeway was in the courtyard of her home, peering through a large telescope and occasionally entering data in her journal. Alain slowly came out of the house to join her. "I've put your shoes away for you again," he said.
"Yes, thank you, dear," Janeway said, without looking at him.
As Janeway turned away to enter notes in her journal, Alain carefully stepped over to the telescope and peered through it. "You know, I've been looking through this thing on and off for over thirty years, and I still don't see what you and Meribor find so fascinating."
"Fine," Janeway said as she moved back toward him. "Then maybe you'll sit down and have a rest the way you're supposed to."
Alain smacked her lightly on the shoulder. "Oh, you treat me like some frail flower. People have surgery all the time," he said.
"Ummm…"
The sound of a flute being played in the house drew Janeway's attention. She shook her head a little, and moved again to her telescope. Alain noted her reaction.
"He loves playing. And he's quite good at it, don't you think?"
"He loves doing a lot of things," Janeway said. "Last week all he wanted to do was be a botanist, the week before that, a sculptor. I wish he could find some focus in his life."
Alain caught the note of frustration in his wife's voice and quietly said, "I think he has."
She looked up at him from her work, surprised and curious. "Maybe you should talk to him," Alain said over his shoulder as he walked over to a bench to finally sit down.
Janeway realized that something was going on. "Batai?"
The music abruptly stopped, and young Batai, twenty, emerged from the house, carrying a flute.
"Mother."
"I get the feeling from your father that you have something to tell me."
Father and son exchanged quick glances, and Alain nodded.
"Yes," said young Batai. "I was waiting for the right moment, but that will never come." He paused for a moment, and then plunged ahead. "I'm leaving school."
Janeway was indignant. "Leaving school? No, you're not."
"I want to concentrate on my music. That's what I care about."
"Last year, all you cared about was mathematics," said Janeway. "The year before that it was botany. Now…"
"But through it all, there was my music. I think you know that, Mother." He stepped forward and took her hand. "This is the life I want."
Janeway looked at him, realizing that now that her son was grown, he would go his own way, regardless. "Well, we'll… discuss it," she said.
Young Batai smiled, suspecting that in the end, she would acquiesce. "Thank you, mother." He bounded back into the house. Janeway picked up her journal and leafed through it pensively.
"Even after all these years, you still have the ability to surprise me," said Alain.
"If music is what he wants, why should I stand in his way?" A bitter expression crossed her face as she set her journal down and came over to sit next to Alain on the bench. "Anyway, who knows how much time he'll have to follow any dream?"
"Are you still planning to talk to the Administrator tomorrow?"
"Umm hmm," Janeway said, with a nod. "It's possible he'll dismiss me from the Council."
Unless, of course, you keep quiet," said Alain, looking intently into his wife's face.
Janeway met his gaze with a solemn expression on her face. "The evidence is too pronounced. I can't stay silent."
"What a surprise," said Alain with a gentle smile as he patted her arm.
*****
The following day, Janeway and the very same Administrator she had met that first day in Ressik were walking through the arcade on their way to the Council meeting. They took a step down onto the main level of the town square and began to cross it. Only a few people were walking about, so they were nearly alone. Janeway carried her journal under her arm.
"Kamina, what do you hope to accomplish?" asked the Administrator, waving his hand for emphasis. "Spreading rumors that the planet is doomed… there could be chaos."
"The facts are here," insisted Janeway as she slapped her journal. "At least show them to someone who will recognize what they mean."
"I won't be a party to your making trouble."
Janeway put her foot down. "Well then, if you won't take them, I most certainly will," she said, her voice rising.
The Administrator suddenly realized that their argument had drawn a few curious looks. He lifted a warning hand to Janeway, and then casually began to walk to a more private area of the square. Janeway fell in line with him.
The Administrator glanced around and then spoke quietly to Janeway. "Your observations, your findings -- our scientists reached those conclusions two years ago." She just stared at him, open-mouthed, and then looked away.
"Well, what did you expect us to do? Make it public? Can you imagine the effect?"
"But surely the technology exists to save something of this world," said Janeway, her voice quavering with dismay. "Perhaps some people could be evacuated."
"Evacuated to where? Our technology is limited. We're just beginning to launch small missiles."
"A collection of genetic samples, then – something, anything," she sputtered. "You simply can't let this civilization die."
"Enough!" snapped the Administrator. He knew when he was beaten. Lowering his voice, he said, "There is a plan in work. I cannot tell you more than that."
Before Janeway could press for additional details, she heard her son calling her.
"Mother!" Young Batai came barreling toward them, out of breath, his face pale. Janeway moved toward him, alarmed.
"What is it?"
"It's Father. Hurry."
*****
Janeway and Young Batai hurried into the main room of their home, where Alain lay back in the reclining chair, pale and blanket-covered. The doctor was just rising from examining his patient.
"Doctor?"
But the man simply shook his head and said, "Kamina, I'm sorry." Janeway set down her journal and rushed to kneel by her husband's side.
"You see? I'll go to any lengths to get your attention," said Alain.
"You always had a flair for the dramatic," she said, answering him in kind.
Alain looked over at the two men and said, "Thank you, Doctor. Batai, leave us alone for a moment. I want to talk to my wife." As they left the room, Alain asked, "Did you show the Administrator your evidence?" Worry was written on his face.
"I didn't have to. They already knew."
"So he won't throw you off the Council."
Janeway looked at him, not wanting to believe what was happening. She managed a tiny "no."
"Good," said Alain, as he gave his wife a warm smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. He reached up and stroked her cheek lightly as she struggled with her emotions. "Remember – put your shoes away."
"I will," she said, unable to stop her tears. Janeway watched her husband's face intently, and saw a single tear slide down his cheek as his eyes closed and his life slipped quietly away. She stared at him for a moment longer, and then buried her face in the folds of his blanket, weeping for the gentle man who had stayed by her side for so many years, and for the unimaginable life they had shared together, one she could never have foreseen the day she had looked up into his loving eyes for the very first time.
