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Pride and Prejudice
Final Chapters
Chapter Twelve
After the two hour lunch break the trial continued. The defense was up next and it was not starting out very well. At least not in Picard's opinion.
"Defense, call your first witness." Louvois ordered.
"The defense calls Cadet Kestra Riker to the stand." Brooks stated.
Deanna gave a gasp of surprise and shock.
"Your Honour." Picard began to object. "I do not feel it is in the best interest of the person to be called to the stand. She is still suffering from the trauma she's been through."
"Objection noted." Louvois replied. "and denied. Will the witness step forward and take the stand."
Kestra shyly rose and approach the stand slowly. She did not make eye contact with anyone in the room.
"State your name for the record." Brooks requested. "And remember you are under oath."
Kestra spoke softly. Her words could hardly be heard even by Louvois.
"Your Honour, would you please ask the witness to speak louder so she can be heard." Brooks asked hostilely.
"Cadet Riker, will you please speak so the court can hear you."
"Yes, ma'am." She replied slightly louder. "My name is Kestra Riker."
"On the evening in question, what were you doing just before you were supposedly attacked?" Brooks asked.
"I had an argument with my brother." Kestra asked.
"And before that?"
"We had just came from class."
"After that, Miss Riker." Brooks vehemently stated.
"We got in the middle of a riot." Kestra admitted.
"You were in the middle of a riot." Brooks stated. "Why were you there?"
"It was on our way to our dorms."
"Did you or did you not provoke the students who were giving the other students problems?"
"No, we didn't." Kestra denied as she was on the verge of being upset.
"Yet you tried to stop them." Brooks said it as a statement and not as a question.
"Objection!" Picard exclaim. "He's badgering the witness."
"Sustained." Louvois stated.
"In essences you provoked them to attack you and your brother because you were trying to stop them."
"NO!" Kestra screamed. "We were not trying to provoke them!"
"Objection!" Picard said louder.
"Sustained!" Louvois again stated. "Brooks, you'd better change your tactics or I will have you thrown out of here!"
"I'm just trying to discredit the witness and also prove that if she had not gotten involved in the situation, she might not have been attacked by these students." Brooks replied.
"Noted, but you had better change your tactics." Louvois insisted threateningly.
"Cadet Riker, why did you try to stop these students from harassing the Cardassian and Romulan students?" Brooks asked.
"They were being unreasonably cruel to them." Kestra stated. She almost had tears in her eyes. "I didn't do anything wrong."
"Did you ever think that if you had not gotten involved that they would not have attempted to rape you?"
"Objection!" Picard yelled.
Kestra was in tears. "I did not do anything wrong! I didn't deserve to be treated the way I was treated!"
She was sobbing. Her tears came harder. "I really didn't do anything wrong!"
"Brooks, have a seat now!" Louvois insisted. "One more outburst like that and I will have you in contempt. Understood?"
"Yes, your honour." He stated as he took a seat.
"Picard, would you like to cross witness?"
"Yes, your honour." Picard walked up to Kestra. "I'll try to make this as easy as I can on you." He told her. His face showed that he sympathized greatly with her concerning what had just happened.
Kestra nodded and tried to wipe away her tears.
"Kestra, when you were a little girl what did your parents teach you about other people?"
"That we should treat them fairly and not pre-judge them." Kestra replied. "That everyone is basically the same regardless of their heritage."
"And why do you think they taught you that?"
"I don't know. Maybe because we were part Betazoid and knew that some people would act indifferent to us. Because they wanted us to have good self-esteem." Kestra replied. "And so we didn't treat others like we were treated."
"Very good values in this day and age." Picard stated proudly. "What have you learned about others in your short life?"
"Some people are good and some are bad, but that has nothing to do with their race." Kestra replied. "There are good and bad in every race, including the Human race."
"No words truer spoken." Picard again stated with pride. "So, you did not care that these new students were Romulan or Cardassian?"
"No." Kestra said softly.
"Given their people's past history, why would you want to give them a fair chance?" Picard asked. His question sounded mean, but his voice sounded almost philosophical. "I mean, Cardassians enslaved Bajorans and tried to commit genocide on Betazoids. The Romulans have tried to commit cruel and evil things in their history also. So, why were these people different?"
"Because, they are not their ancestors." Kestra stated. "They are themselves and they make their own choices on how they treat others. Therefore, they should not be judge by what their ancestors have done."
"Would it be fair to say that the Romulan and Cardassian students are or were good people?" Picard asked.
"Yes, they treated my brother and me very nicely and with respect. SuKat still does for that matter." Kestra informed the court as she looked towards SuKat sitting with the Cardassian representive and Admiral Sisko. "They did not want to be hateful to us. SuKat still does not want to be hateful to my brother and me. In fact, we are still good friends. "
"Cardie lover!" Jasper shouted from his seat.
Louvois was irrated by that statement. "That will be enough! Gaurd, remove him and take him back to the Brig!"
The Security Officer did as he was told. He walked over to Jasper and escorted him roughly to the Brig.
"No further questions, Your Honour." Picard stated as he walked back to his seat.
"You're free to step down, Cadet Riker." Louvois stated.
Kestra step down from the stand and took her seat. Deanna wrapt a loving arm around her to give her a hug. "It's alright, Kestra. You did fine." She sent in an effort to comfort her daughter.
"Ambassador Spock, do want to question any witnesses or add anything to the proceedings?" Louvois asked.
"Not at this time, Your Honour." Spock Replied flatly.
"Very well. Worf do you have anything to add at this time?"
"No ma'am, I do not." He said in his booming Klingon voice.
"I do, Your Honour."
"Not now, Mother." Deanna sent to her mother.
"Very well, the Ambassador of Betazed may speak." Louvois stated although not overly enthused by Lwaxana's outburst.
"I think the actions of these students was completely uncalled for and they should receive the highest consequenses possible!" Lwaxana stated arrogantly. "To treat the daughters of the Fifth House as they did was criminal!"
"Thank you, Ambassador Troi." Louvois interrupted. "You may have a further say during closing statements."
"Well, I never!"
"Would the representives of Cardassia or Romulus like to question anyone or add anything?"
"Not at this time." Both the Cardassian and Romulan representives replied.
"Sisko or anyone else?"
Everyone stated they had nothing else to add at the moment.
"Very well. Before I can hear the closing statements, I need new psychological profiles on each of the students being charged." Louvois stated. "I have ordered psych evals on all the defendants and not just Cadet Bolings. They have been scheduled for tomorrow morning by various psychologist. I apologize to Counselor Troi for not including her in on the evals, but given the circumstances I'm sure you will agree my decision is valid."
Deanna nodded her agreement.
"We will reconvene tomorrow afternoon after the results are in at 1400 hours." Louvois continued. "Court is in recess until then."
The defendants were escorted back to the Brig and everyone else left for the day. Lwaxana continued to rant about how the judge supposedly dismissed her.
"How dare she just dismiss me like that!" Lwaxana ranted. "Me! A daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed."
"Mother, she was right." Deanna insisted. "Your statements can wait until closing statements."
"Really!" Lwaxana stormed off and left the group behind.
"Why don't we go get some dinner?" Will asked.
"I'm not hungry." Kestra stated.
"Jean-Luc, you and Beverly are welcome to join us if you like." Will informed him.
"Kestra, you have to eat something." Deanna insisted.
"That would be nice, but I think it would be best if Beverly and I dined alone until after the hearings." Picard replied.
"Really, mother, I'm not hungry." Kestra insisted.
"I understand." Will replied.
"How about a chocolate sundea?" Deanna offered.
"No, mother. I'm fine." Kestra insisted.
"At least sit with us, Kestra." Will insisted. "Willy?"
"You know me, Dad." Willy replied. "I eat whenever I feel like it and right now is no exception. That is if it doesn't eat me first."
Will laughed. "That's my boy!"
"I'll leave you alone for now." Picard stated and left to join Beverly for dinner.
"See you tomorrow." Will and Deanna said together.
Kestra went with them to dinner, but hardly touched her sundae. "Mom, Dad. I want to go to the University of Betazed and study Psychology there."
Will dropped his fork into his plate. He was stunned by her sudden announcement. "What? Give up Starfleet?"
"Yes." Kestra stated. "I don't like it here."
"Kestra, maybe you should stay and think about it for a while." Deanna told her. "Now that the trouble makers are removed, it should get better."
"I don't want to be apart of Starfleet." Kestra insisted. "I want to work and live on Betazed."
"But here your tuition is covered." Will insisted. "You can study Psychology here."
"I want to study on Betazed and then work on Betazed." Kestra again stated. "I don't want to fly all over the galaxy like a gypsy."
"We're not gypsies!" Will retorted.
"Will, if that's what she really wants to do." Deanna replied.
Will sighed. "Alright, if that's what you want, Princess. You can go to the University of Betazed."
"Thank you, Daddy!" Kestra found it such a relief not to have to stay at Starfleet Academy. She was now smiling for the first time since the incident.
"I suppose you want to go with her, Willy?" Will asked. He was still disappointed that his daughter did not want to attend Starfleet Academy and follow in their footsteps.
"Actually, no." Willy replied. "I like it here. Maybe I can make your dream come true and beat Kirk's record for you."
Will smiled. "Promise me one thing, Son."
"What's that, Dad?"
"If your Imzadi comes along, don't blow it like I almost did, just to beat Kirk's record." Will stated.
"OK." Willy stated. "But I don't see my Imzadi coming anytime soon."
"It happens when you least expect it, Son." Will stated as he smiled at his wife.
Chapter Thirteen
It was the next afternoon and everyone was back in court. Judge Advocate General Phillipa Louvois had already reviewed the psychological evaluation of the fourteen students and the four security offices involved in the recent incidences. Some were disturbing while others were not surprising.
As she walked into the court room everyone stood. "You maybe seated." She stated as she had a seat.
"I have looked over the psych evals. and while some did not surprise me, others I found quite disturbing." She informed them. "As I had suspected, quite a few students had been sucked into this behaviour. While others were not. I found at least four evals very disturbing. How they manage to get into Starfleet or stay in Starfleet I do not know, but it is quite clear something happened to some of these people. When and how, I do not know, but I am going to hear all closing statements before I make a final decision on what to do with everyone in this case. Admiral Picard, would you like to go first?"
"Yes, ma'am." Picard stated as he stood. "History." He paused to let the word soak into everyone's psychic. "History has a tendency to repeat itself. People seem to forget what they learned in their early years of school or they remember what they choose to remember about others. In this case, it was previous history of Cardassians and Romulans. These students chose not to open a new page in history. They chose not to get to know a new generation of people. They just assumed that these new people were just like their ancestors, not giving them a chance to prove themselves as being different from their ancestors. So, these students and officers repeated a human past. A human past of hatred, bigotry, and cruelty. One that delt with harassment, assaults, murders, and lynchings. Thus, they sealed their fate. A fate that leads to only one thing. Consequences to their actions. These consequences should and will end their lives as they know it. They did not allow others to be free and now they will not have their freedom as they once knew it. Therefore, I recommend that they receive the highest consequences possible fitting their crimes. To not do so, will only support what they believe and this behaviour will continue. It will them reflect on Humans and Klingons alike. Let us not support their actions today, by not giving them the highest possible consequences."
Picard finished and took his seat. There was a brief silence in the room as his words soaked into everyone's minds.
"Admiral Brooks." Louvois addressed. "Let's hear your closing statement."
"Ladies and Gentlemen." He began. "My goal here was not so much to prove these students and officers innocents as it was to convince all of you that they do not need severe punishments. These students and officers reacted out of fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of an unknown future. They did not know what the future held when these students were allowed in Starfleet. Therefore, they reacted out of fear. We should give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they have learned from their actions. We should also hope they have now learned something about Cardassians and Romulans. We should give them another chance at life."
Brooks took his seat. He knew he had not convinced anyone of anything. He was not even convenced himself that these students and officers did not need the fullest punishment possible. He hated their actions as much as anyone did, but he got stuck with the job of representing these students and officers. He did the best he could and he knew at times he went overboard in trying to do the job he was assigned. He was glad it was almost over with.
"Picard, your rebuttle?" Louvois asked.
Picard stood to give his rebuttle. "Fear. Fear is our worst enemy. We have nothing to fear, but fear itself. All these statements someone else once said. Fear is something that is unbecoming of most species, be it Human or be it Klingon. Even Vulcans do not acknowledge fear. If we give into fear, then we are giving into the worst enemy there ever was. We must not allow fear to prevent us from striving for a new future or new friendships. We must allow ourselves to go boldly into the future and not allow ourselves or others to give into fear. Thus, we must conquer our fears and fight discrimination and bigotry were it stands."
Picard again took his seat. "Thank you Admiral Picard. Spock, would you like to say a few word upon closing?"
"Yes, I very much would like to do so." Spock replied as he stood. "Everyone knows my mother Amanda was Human. My father, Serek was of course Vulcan. As a child, I was not accepted by Humans or Vulcans. So, I join Starfleet when I was of age. My father objected at first, but I still joined. It was the first place I was truly accepted for who I really was. I felt as though I fit in for a change. I never left Starfleet because of that, until I became Ambassador of Vulcan. Still, I keep my ties with Starfleet."
Spock's voice reflected emotion, but his face did not. His voice rose and fell as he spoke of his past history.
"It surprises me, as I listen to everyone's statements, that we are here today trying a racial case." Spock continued. "I thought those in Starfleet had grown beyond that. Obviously, they have not. Tukos was a fine young man. If you had gotten to know him, you might have thought you were talking to me or another Vulcan, only with emotions. Yes, he was Romulan, but he was no different than you or I. Yet the treatment he received was worse than I ever endured on Vulcan or Earth. All he wanted was to make new friends and be apart of a new future and alliance. Now, he is more of a martyr, than he is anything else. As we pass judgement on these individuals, let us think of Tukos's feelings as he was killed under ignorance and hatred. Yet, let us not hate these individuals for who they are, but for what they did. They are Klingons and Humans, yes, but it's their actions we should dispise, not their race."
As Spock took his seat, Louvois spoke. "I think that is about the longest speech I have ever heard Spock give, but quite thought provoking." Louvois stated. "Admiral Mendak, would you like to say anything?"
Mendak nodded and rose from his seat. "I look around this room. I see friends and I see past enemies. Yet we had a truce with the Federation. That truce did not go beyond the staff of the Federation and Starfleet Academy apparently. While we are angered by the actions of a few and sadden at the loss of a fine Romulan, we do not wish to break this truce. However, we ask that you not send the accused to Rura Penthe. The reason we have decided against this punishment, is some of them are Klingons and therefore would not get the same treatment as if they were Romulans killing Klingons. We wish the accuse to go to a prison on Romulus for the murder of Tukos."
"We object!" Worf stated as he jumped up from his seat. "They would be tortured and beaten to death within the first week!"
"High Counselor Worf, please take your seat." Louvois ordered. "You will get your chance to speak."
Worf again took his seat. He was very disgruntled, but awaited his turn to speak.
"That is all." Mendak stated as he retook his seat.
"Admiral Dukat?" Louvois asked when Mendak was reseated. "Do you have anything to add?"
He also nodded as he stood. "We have always been a proud race. Yet some of us are not proud of our past. Be that as it may, SuKat is a fine Cardassian. He maybe too friendly and trusting at times, but he is young and nieve. Or at least he was. Until now. I would have preferred this young man had kept his nievety, but it was not possible. Be that as it may, we too request those that assaulted SuKat be placed under our prison system also and not those of their own."
Dukat sat and Louvois continued. "Worf you may now speak."
"As Admiral Picard stated, we have a long history with Cardassians and Romulans." Worf stated. "We were at war with the Romulans long before Humans ever were. Klingons were at once at war with Terrans even. Now, we have formed peace with Terrans. I too know very well what discrimination and hatred is, for my adoptive parents were Humans. Human children did not always say kind words to me or treated me kindly, thus I was in trouble a lot at school. I, like Spock, found a feeling of comradery at Starfleet. Apparently it has been lost with this generation. I must also inform you, that the Klingons have threaten war if the Klingon students serve time on Cardassia. That is not my first choice if it happens, but rather the majority of the Klingons on the High Counsel. Still, It is my wish for the Klingon students to get fair treatment and not the kind of treatment the Cardassians despense at their prison camps."
Worf took his seat. He felt his short speech was not good enough to save the Klingon students from a fate almost as bad, if not as bad, as what they had done.
"Strong words from Worf." Louvois stated. "We finally come to Ambassador Troi, whom I thank very much for her patience. I'm sure you have something to add to all of this Ambassador."
"I most certainly do!" Lwaxana stated.
"Oh, no!" Deanna mumbled and buried her face into her arms that were crossed and laid on the table.
Lwaxana shot a look towards her daughter, who did not see it with her head buried. "I don't know how, but these students who raped my granddaughter."
"Attempted rape, Ambassador." Louvois informed her.
"Whatever it was, these students should also serve time on Betazed." Lwaxana stated. "As you know, rape of any kind, is deplorable to us and the consequences are sever. Mind rape being the worst, physical rape, attempted or successful, is secondary to it. Now, as Ambassador of Betazed, I ask you to have the two who attempt to rape my granddaughter also serve time on Betazed."
Lwaxana took her seat. She was very worried about her granddaughter and hoped that the two young men also served time for their crime against a Betazoid on Betazed.
"Thank you, Ambassador Troi." Louvois replied. "I have listened to several of you and have considered each and everyone's advice. The problem is, I have the psychological evaluations to consider also. I also have to consider how to keep the peace between everyone and the Federation."
There was a brief pause as she considered her next words. She chose her words carefully before she spoke again.
"As I ponder the choices I have on my decisions, I think about what is also best for these students. I look over the psych evals and I also add that into my considerations. Jasper and Brent, the leaders of the group and the two who attempted to rape Cadet Riker, need more than just prison time. They need to be in a psychiatric facility as well. So, my only alternative, given who they assaulted, is to send them to a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane. My reservation on that, is that they could be placed with criminals who are worse off than they are mentally. However, I leave their psychriatric placement up to the Betazoid authorities. Their psych records, as well as medical records, will be sent with them as they are sentence to Betazed's laws on their attempted rape charges and psychiatric care."
Lwaxana nodded her approval.
"As for their treatment of the Cardassian and Romulan, they were more instigators and harassors more than they were the ones doing the actual crimes. However, I do feel they should be subject to Cardassian and Romulan Laws on the harrassment charges. Therefore, after they serve their time on Betazed, they will serve time a brief period of time on Cardassia and Romulus, not extending past five years per planet."
Mendak and Dukat seemed to approve of this action.
"As for the two Klingons who killed Tukos, I do feel they should be subject to Romulan Law." Louvois stated.
"I object!" Worf shouted.
"Hear me out please." Louvois requested. "However, in the interest of preventing war, I am willing to hear any compromises the two parties have to suggest. I have even considered having them serve a life sentence in a Federation prison as a compromise. It is an option I wish the two parties will consider."
Mendak and Worf nodded.
"I am willing to accept a life sentence in a Federation prison." Worf stated. "I will have to discuss this with the rest of the Klingon High Counsel, but I do not see any reason for objection."
"This will most likely be acceptable to my people also." Mendak stated.
"As for the four, that physically assaulted SuKat." Louvois continued. "They are humans. It is not my preferred consequence for their actions, but I sentence them to Cardassian Laws. You four will serve time on Cardassia for your crimes against a Cardassian."
Brook was not happy about Louvois decision, but he did not make any complaints about it. He allowed her to continue in her sentencing.
"As for the six students that are left." She sighed at the thought of having to continue giving our sentences. "You will serve time in a Federation prison, no longer than twenty years and no less than five. Two of the four officers involved in these crimes, I sentence to thirty years in a Federation prison with psychological counselling. The other two will serve thrity years in a Federation prison also. In all four cases, all rank will be removed and you will no longer serve as officers in the Federation once you are released. I request that the various representives make arrangements for their prisoners to be transported to their home planets as soon as possible to serve their sentences. In the meantime, they will stay in Federation custody until your secruity teams are ready to transport them. Court is dismissed."
Louvois rose to leave the court room and the people stood as she walked out of the room. Once she left the room, the security officers escorted the prisoners back to the Brig and the others talked amongst themselves as they began to depart.
"Well, Kestra." Will began. "Do you still wish to study on Betazed?"
"Yes, I do." She replied.
"Even with Jasper and Brent serving time on Betazed?" He continued to ask.
"Yes, Daddy." She replied. "I do. Besides, they'll be locked up and unable to bother me."
"I think she will do fine on Betazed, Will." Deanna told him.
"I hope so." Will stated. "I certainly hope so."
The End or is it?