Chapter Sixteen

What on Earth have we done coming here, thought Picard as he listened to this young man's story? His mother had paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to save her son. Picard had worked out he'd been physically the equivalent of around an eight to ten year old boy. For the sake of food not being up to par, his mother had been made an example of. She chose to endure the torture that ultimately killed her in order to save her son from harm. Picard was only grateful after listening to his story that Christoph had not succumbed to a similar fate. At least her sacrifice was not in vain and he couldn't help but think she'd have been immensely proud of the young man he'd grown to be.

He was suddenly ripped from his thoughts by the violent sound of rage and smashing glass. "Doone!" Christoph spoke more out of worry than fear. The door behind them shot open and Tarya and Beverly came out. They ran straight to the kitchen and Tarya indicated to Christoph to stay put.

Upon carefully opening door, Beverly could see Deanna and Data were well. They stood together in the opposite corner of the large kitchen. Doone had thrown something through the window and was now smashing a rolling pin into the wooden table, hacking chunks into it. Beneath the rage lay an inconsolable man. Deanna looked to Tarya.

"Let him get it out, he needs too," she whispered. "As long as no one gets harmed, it may make tomorrow more bearable." She looked to the window as she spoke. It was nearly pitch black now. Curious and concerned townsfolk had lit candles and were peering out of windows. Tarya edged towards the window to look outside and make sure no-one had been caught in the crossfire. No-one was there, she was grateful it was late.

Doone had calmed down a bit; the blood was beginning to drain from his face. Tarya hated this moment, trying not to re-escalate the situation, but equally helping it move on. She steeled herself just in case. "Doone, you don't have to go through with tomorrow if you don't want too?"

"Are you kidding!" He shouted, slamming his fists on the table. She was an expert in catching her flinches. Data, Deanna and Beverly moved in close Behind Tarya as Doone continued. "It's out there now. Everyone knows and you know full well the whole town will be there - they can't help themselves. Look at them now!" He shouted so they could hear and poitned to the window, his voice was clearly loud enough to travel through the otherwise silent night. Several of the lights quickly went out. He calmed a bit more and turned back to Tarya."If I don't testify, he will likely end up being declared not guilty - not guilty! I am the only witness and the only one who can stand up for my family…" He broke and the tears began to flow as he added, "I couldn't then! You know that! I couldn't then…" He released a breath before collapsing in a chair, burying is head in his hands… "My little girl…" He sobbed. With the exception of Data, there was not a dry eye in the room. Deanna took the bold move to go and sit next to him. Tarya retrieved a picture he kept of her from the bits and bobs draw. Sometimes it hung in pride of place, other times, he couldn't bear to look at it. She handed it to Deanna.

Deanna stroked the frame that surrounded a little girl who looked to be the equivalent of four, maybe five. "She looks like you, the same beautiful flame eyes and what gorgeous curly hair. Please tell me more about her?" With that, Doone looked up and took the picture from her, stroking her face as he began to reminisce.

"Let's leave them to it," said Tarya, "Data are you able to stay nearby?"

"Of course, I will wait outside until they are finished. Hopefully I won't be needed."

Beverley and Tarya returned to the others in the main bar area. The fire was still bright and they were huddled around. Beverly joined Wesley on the sofa, placed her arm around him and kissed his head.

"Is everything alright mum?" She just hugged him close for a moment.

"Not really, we just need to get through tomorrow." Christoph stood as she spoke.

"I think I am going to retire for the night. It's getting late. I hope you all manage to get a goodnight sleep." They all wished him a goodnight.

"This is all our fault isn't it?" Said Wesley. Tarya topped up all of their tankards up from a jug of the Hollowbark.

"This is not your fault Wesley; this is something that had just happened, long before you arrived." Tarya warmly tried to comfort him.

"But had we not arrived here, you would not have to go through this trial. You were moving on."

"Possibly Wesley, but maybe it's something we really should deal with. Look, at some point the exile would have had to end and we would have had to deal with him anyway. Hey; look on the bright side, whatever happens we get to get rid of him. Either he gets banished to the north, or you end up taking him with you."

"Hmmm" responded Picard negatively. "Let's try and get him banished to the north shall we. I've only heard one story and that is not a man who should be gallivanting across the galaxy. I'm really curious as to how he thinks he can possibly defend himself."

"Jean-Luc, it's unlikely he's even interested in that." Offered Beverley. "This sounds like a man that likes to play games."

"How is he going to be judged?" Wondered Tarya. "I mean, I can't see how you could put an unbiased jury together."

"Indeed," responded Picard. "I've been speaking with Data and there don't seem to be any peers who haven't somehow suffered at his hand. Being the official dignitary and having the authority under our law, I will have to act as judge."

"Then just declare him guilty!"

"I can't just do that Wesley. My decision has to be according to our law. I wish it was that easy. After the trial I am going to have to submit an official transcript and ruling to Starfleet. Whilst legally on this world, it's less cut and dry; unfortunately, I am bound by the Starfleet judicial system."

"I'm going to follow Christoph's lead; I'll see you guys tomorrow. Sleep well." They bid Tarya farewell as she rose to leave, Wesley, not wanting to be a gooseberry, also chose to retire.

"Bloody hell, Beverly." Jean-Luc finally let out with a big sigh. "Wesley is right though, we've really managed to dive headfirst into this culture and look what we've done. I honestly have no idea what Starfleet will make of this. We are meant to be exchanging poetry and making sure there's no giant, planet annihilating... thing. Not literally judging them. How anti-prime directive."

"How was Christoph?" Asked Beverly as she snuggled into her lover.

"He's a very brave young man. It's quite a distant memory for him now, almost as though he's lived a lifetime since. I guess he has. Hell, if he was human he'd have lived six or eight. I think he will be okay, though that depends on what this Lyden character has to say, or if he will try to bait him. It's Doone that concerns me more. If he can't control himself, it will cause an issue."

"He is angry, bitter, heartbroken, and eaten by guilt. Oh Jean-Luc - his little girl. She was so young." He pulled her in closer.

"What about Tarya?"

"Oh I have no idea. She threw the PADD into my lap and just sat there. It took me a while to read and she didn't say anything - nothing. She is so hard to read. Whoever it was that said she kept things to herself wasn't kidding, though I can't blame her either if this was the sort of thing she had to contend with. I asked her if she knew whether or not one of the men was him and she just replied he was at the top of her list at the time, but she couldn't be sure."

"One of the men?"

"Yes there were technically three perpetrators of this particular crime, but one of them was this Aygor."

"But that means that there is a witness, potentially?" Pondered Picard.

"If said 'witness' was still alive, either Lyden would have to give him up, or that person would have to come forward. According to the PADD, it sounds as though Aygor was breaking in a young new 'soldier' and ensuring he was compliant. The other man may well be as much a victim as she, though he would need to come forward."

"Oh what a mess, are you going to allow Wesley to sit through the trial?"

"Absolutely not. It would be interesting and he'd learn a lot, but there are just too many horrors. He doesn't need all of that in his head. It's bad enough he's been speaking to Christoph. It's not even like he'd get a true understanding of what a day in court would be like. This whole trial is almost an antithesis of what it should be."

"I suppose it is. I hope Starnel knows what he is doing. Right come on, we should try and get some rest too."