Chapter Twenty
When they arrived back at Bramble, Beverly had told Tarya and Guss to go back to the tavern and explained she would inform Data and Lyden of the charge updates. They were both very grateful and headed straight to the tavern.
It wasn't quite as late as they thought. Although it felt like a lifetime had gone by, there were still a few people milling around, which meant it was still a good while before midnight. They entered the tavern and everyone was still up and chatting, confirming it was not too late. Tarya really wasn't in the mood. Still clutching her coat around herself, she headed straight to the bar and disappeared with a drink.
Doone rose to assist Guss. "Did you get what you needed?" He asked whilst pouring the pint.
"Oh yes." He grimly noted before taking a good swig and joining Deanna who sat with Picard and Christoph.
"Hey lad, I just saw how Tarya saved your life, and you Doone," he acknowledged hid friend. "I'd heard the rumours, but never realised how close you came to death that day. I'm sure glad you survived… it wouldn't be the same without you… Honestly though, we may not be where we are today either if not for you, you're a good lad." Guss was surprisingly emotional and Deanna sensed how Christoph appreciated that comment. Of all the folk they'd met or passed since they'd arrived, she noted how much the caucus were revered and loved, especially Tarya and Doone. It was as though they were royalty of sorts. It occurred to her that Christoph, being so young, didn't quite feel as though he belonged or deserved to be in their company in such an equal manner, which may have meant this affirmation was even more poignant.
"When I was little I used to think she was my guardian angel. I thought she was invincible. Guess I still do in a way… Wait! Don't tell me it was after that that Lyden…"
"Oh stop it Lad, you were practically foetal." Guss cut him off reverting to his more sarcastic tone. "Don't even think on that, apart from anything else it would not help right now." And here we go again, thought Deanna. There was an awkward Silence before she rose to leave.
"I'm going to check on Tarya."
Deanna knocked on Tarya's door. There was no answer. She waited for a few moments and knocked again – still no answer. She thought for a moment about whether or not she should just barge in, but then realised Tarya had completely closed her mind and this was too important. She was about to figure how to get in when she realised they didn't even have locks on their doors. This was how much these people trusted one another. She sighed, had she not known a bit of what these people had lived through, she'd almost say their trust in one another was completely innocent and childlike. Perhaps in a way it still was. It broke her heart to think they had been trying to claim something of that back – until they showed up.
Deanna entered the room to find Tarya lying on her bed, curled up. She walked up to her slowly and watched for a moment. She was quietly lying in the foetal position with lines of drying tears on her face.
"I heard you got what you needed?" She rolled her eyes at the very fact she had chosen to say that and use those words. For a councillor that was very bad form. She somehow thought it would be better than the usual, 'how are you feeling?' There were only so many times she could ask that and be snubbed.
She walked around the bed to enter Tarya's view and lowered herself to her level.
"Tell me, what's so different about this one? You seemed defiant and prepared to talk about the other incident. What's different about this one?" It wasn't like Deanna couldn't guess or surmise as to any number of reasons; she was so desperate for this woman to start talking. If she couldn't do it now, tomorrow would likely not happen at all. Before she could even respond, Tarya stood up and ran to the bathroom. Deanna followed and mirrored Beverly's earlier aid, holding her hair so she could wretch. This time there was nothing to come up. After a few minutes her stomach had settled and she slid to the floor. Deanna sat opposite her.
"I'm sorry," said Tarya, "I honestly don't know if I can do this tomorrow" as she spoke, she began to shake a bit. Deanna tapped her badge and asked Beverly to join them.
"I don't know why it's different. Maybe because it's new or because it was Lyden; it was him who was touching me, him who was in me. I don't even think it was about me, it was the fact I was unconscious." She was really beginning to shake now as Beverly entered the room and instantly took out her tricorder, scanning her vitals.
"She's in physiological shock. Quickly, loosen her top and get it off her." Deanna did as instructed, and Beverly retrieved a warm blanket from the bed as Deanna helped Tarya out of the bathroom and into a chair by the window, which she promptly opened.
"There's barely anything of her," Deanna noted as Beverly wrapped the warm blanket loosely around her.
"Oh trust me, there is," rebutted Beverly. "Let's give her a moment to see if she can regulate herself."
Deanna pulled Beverly aside. "What did you find out?"
"Oh god Deanna, it was horrendous from start to finish. Her husband, wait, I probably shouldn't call him that – Aygor was bad enough, but she knew that, she was used to him, though I don't feel comfortable saying that either... Anyway, Lyden he's… he's twisted... She'd been in a coma for well over a month. Aygor had gone away and Lyden came in to check on her. It was like something clicked in his brain as he watched her. Guss made a remark that Lyden never seemed interested in anyone or anything romantically, or otherwise. I'm not suggesting he's full blown into necrophilia, I mean, he might be for all I know, but if not, he still had an overly unnatural reaction to a very vulnerable person... You know, I think that may be what bothers her so much about this - the level of vulnerability she was in and the fact that everyone will find out." Deanna nodded her understanding. "What are we going to do?" Beverly added.
"I honestly don't know," said Deanna, "It's not like this is a quick fix. It's not even something I honestly think can be patched up merely to survive tomorrow." As they were speaking they noticed Tarya rise and begin to change.
"What are you doing?" Asked Deanna.
"I'm going for a run. I need to clear my head."
"That really isn't a good idea," insisted Beverley. "As your doctor, I am saying you are in no fit state to go for a run right now. Your body needs to recuperate. You need some rest."
"My body will be fine, trust me, I know it inside out. It refuses to give up whether I want it to or not."
"You know, saying that really doesn't help your case," added Deanna.
"Deanna, I know what I need to do, and before any of you pull rank on me, quite honestly, I don't care. This is my home and on this Orb, I am my own master, just me." With that she threw on a tank top and abruptly left.
"Well that told us - again," said Beverly.
"We don't have an option, we've just got to play this out," countered Deanna.
The following morning, after breakfast, the crowds began to gather again for the final part of the trial. Tarya had arrived and was seemingly back to her old, defiant self. She'd even opened her mind somewhat to Deanna. Data arrived with Lyden; he'd lost the cocky spark he'd had yesterday, but there still seemed to be a glint in his eye. Starnel took to the floor first.
"Tarya, Lyden has been accused of the crime of rape upon your person. Are you aware of this particular charge?"
"I am."
"As I understand it, you were in a state of deep sleep or unconsciousness as this occurred. Is this true?"
"It is."
"Then how are you aware of this incident?"
"Because I bore his child." There were quite a few gasps from audience. Deanna could sense a mixture of horror, disgust, sadness and plain intrigue. Lyden knew he'd been caught out. She even saw a hint of sadness penetrate his fear. Maybe he genuinely did care for this boy in some way.
"By that admission, you will agree that, at the very least, he must have inserted his penis into you and released his semen."
"Yes," she remained very stoic.
"Did Aygor instruct Lyden to violate you in this way?"
"No."
"How can you be sure?"
"Aygor was out of town at the time, he was solidifying his authority in the towns of Fentown, Swanon and Scorton. He'd been away for several weeks prior."
"Could he not have given Lyden the instruction before he left?"
"Aygor had no possible way of determining how long I would remain unconscious, it would have been too risky and secondly, he never, ever allowed anyone to touch me. If I annoyed him, he'd deal with me himself. On the extremely rare occasion he would ask anyone to do anything, he was present and residing over it. In nearly two hundred years, never once did he allow anyone to even touch me when not in his presence."
"Thank you." Guss sat down to allow Lyden a rebuttal. He stood up and crept to the centre of the floor. The air of arrogance had deserted him, but it was clear he was still attempting a defiant stance.
"Tell me, where is this child of yours, the one I am meant to have borne?"
"He's dead, but you know that already." He half smiled, but the sadness still managed to penetrate.
"Oh I do know, but prove he is mine."
"I don't have too and quite honestly, I don't care. You were fond of him and the very fact you refused to kill him, set of the alarm bells. I knew you had some sort of connection to him."
"He was different to the others, yes, he was smarter and wittier, but just because I was fond of him, does not mean I was his father."
"Of course not."
"Well, if you can't prove, or are not willing to try and prove I was his father, and you say you were unconscious at the time, how can you possibly, in all true conscience, accuse me of rape – it could just well have been anyone else? Let's face it, it's not as though you aren't secretly desired by many men." Deanna was surprised to sense waves of guilt and jealousy from members of the audience, but when she thought about it, she realised it was only natural, she was a beauty after all.
"That is out of line, Lyden, such talk will not be allowed," insisted Picard. Lyden seemed irritated as though he was hoping to make a point out of this, but he relented.
"Apologies Captain."
"We viewed the walls. Oh we found your – desire, to use your own words," it was her turn to play with him now. He genuinely looked perplexed , it was clear from their dealings over the years with anyone from the north that they hadn't ever delved into alchemy, why would they when they cared so little for their orb.
"What does that mean?" Was all he could say. A small smile now graced her face, banking on his naivety was playing off. She'd already figured he was unaware of how walls stored information, otherwise he'd have not done what he did, certainly not without attempting to disguise himself.
"It means I saw you came into check on me. Something happened to you didn't it. You saw me lying there, alone, tied up, in a close to death like state… you opened my eyes. You wanted to see what I looked like, how close to death I was, if there was any sign of life. What did you see Lyden…" he began to clench his teeth as she continued… "was it just the fact I couldn't fight back… or was it the fact my soul was lost, possibly even vacant from my body. You tell me, what's it like to stare into someone's eyes, find a void, and have the urge to pleasure yourself?" More gasps of disbelief filled the room, some even choked on their drinks.
Deanna could feel Lyden's world closing in on itself. He was beginning to enter panic mode. Just as she was about to intervene he vanished in a puff of smoke only to return standing just behind her, knife to throat.
"Get out! Get out all of you!" He turned to the audience and demanded they leave, drawing a small amount of blood from her neck.
"Please everyone, please leave and allow us to handle this. We don't want anyone getting hurt." At Picard's plea the audience began to file out.
"All of you move to where I can see you. Stand at the front." Christoph, Beverly, Data, Starnel and Guss all moved to stand alongside Tarya and Picard. Lyden wrapped his free arm around Deanna's waist and sniffed her hair. She could feel his hardness on her lower back.
"You see, this is where you have me very, very wrong." He began. "I do find you attractive Tarya. I've always loved your beauty and your elegance, silly things like the way you carry yourself… but, LOOK AT ME!" He shouted in Deanna's ear.
"I'm not a fool. I know who and what I am - what I look like. No one has ever shown me any affection - EVER!" He sniffed Deanna's hair again, audibly near her ear. She tried not to show revulsion on her face, but she couldn't contain it.
"I dared to think that, possibly, with my little boy..." he trailed of as a tear left his eye, "but I could never tell you... could I!" Tears began to descend Tarya cheeks at the thought of her little boy, even Lyden's anguish. Lyden continued.
"Do I regret it? Honestly, no. Would I do it again, possibly? I will tell you what I would prefer though. Someone to look at me and see me! Someone to love me for who I am. Here's the irony between you and I. I've got no chance. I'm doomed in the north and now doomed in the south. I'll never earn the affection of anyone. And then there's you, someone who could have anyone, any man would love to call you their lover yet you, unless forced otherwise, never offer anyone anything." None of the southerners had ever heard this side of his story. All they'd ever known him as was a tyrant from the north who travelled south and helped enslave and torture the populace.
"Lyden, you cannot blame us for this." Interrupted Doone. "Had you come to us as just you, a man who wanted to integrate properly in our society, your story could have been very different. You cannot blame us for your actions or that of your people." Lyden sighed at his words
"I appreciate that. I do, but you must understand, please. I'd never, ever been allowed to do anything for me. I was sent south because my parents hated me, they just wanted rid. I wasn't regal enough for them or intelligent and believe it or not, ruthless. This is what I had to prove in coming south. Now I can't go home and I can't stay here. I don't know what to do."
'Deanna what are you sensing from him?' Asked Tarya, telepathically.
'Can you not sense him,' she replied back telepathically.
'No, we have to actively share things with one another.'
'For the most part he's actually telling the truth, I think his story is very sad, but, there's a deception there, an underlying tone, he's not being completely honest. I can't tell, but whether or not he chose to do what he has done, or whether or not it was enforced upon him, regardless, he does find a thrill in it. Can that honestly be undone - I don't know?'
'So is it fair to say he is employing some home truths for sympathy whilst not being truly contrite?'
'I'd say that's a fair assessment.'
'Has this been forced upon him though, or is it just part of his nature?' Deanna took a few moments to think over her question.
'I don't think we'll ever know the answer to that. I've no idea what his upbringing was like, but I doubt I could ever truly determine whether he would have been an upstanding citizen or not given the chance. We only have truths and what has happened to deal with. Regardless of what he's been through, his actions were still his own.' Lyden could tell by now that these folk were not paying any attention to his words. He pulled Deanna's arm around her back and his frustration began to grow again. She winced in pain.
"Lyden… Lyden," Picard tried to calm the situation. "What can we do right now to get you to release Deanna.
"I want to come aboard your ship. I don't want to be contained in a cell though."
"How about we continue this conversation elsewhere then?" Picard offered.
"How can I trust you?"
"Do you trust my word?" Tarya looked directly into his eyes as she spoke. He slowly and cautiously nodded affirmatively. Tarya turned to Picard.
"Can we agree to continue this conversation on board the enterprise, with security present, but no-one on any side threatened or detained?" Picard considered this proposal.
"I don't make this decision lightly, but with the insistence security are present, I will agree to this, providing you release Deanna right now Lyden."
"And after I release her, you will just kill or restrain me?" He retorted.
"I have said I will not. I promise, after you release her I will have us all transported aboard my ship. We will continue this discussion further, with security present in our conference room." Lyden looked to Tarya.
"If that is what he promises. He will deliver. It will be up to you whether or not we can talk further or you will need to be taken down." Deanna still couldn't believe this strange level of trust they all held, but she'd do anything to get his hands off her now.
"Very well Captain." Agreed Lyden.
"Picard to Riker, please report to the conference room with a security team." There was a silence for a moment, Picard new Riker was confused and probably querying his orders with the bridge officers.
"Aye sir," came the simple reply.
"Let me know when you have arrived." Picard turned his attention back to Lyden. "Now is the time for you to release my councillor." Lyden slowly released Deanna and moved aside." After a few more moments the silence broke.
"Riker to Picard, we are in the conference room."
"Very good number one. Nine to transport to your location." After a few seconds, everyone dematerialised.