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Pride and Prejudice
Chapters Four and Five
Chapter Four
It was late morning and Beverly was working at her desk shortly after she had pronounced the secruity officer dead. She was drudgingly doing added paper work. Paper work that she wished she never ever had to do.
"Beverly?" Will said at her office door. It was open, but he did not want to walk right in without permission.
"Oh, Will! Come in."
"I'm not disturbing you am I?"
"No, in fact I'm glad you're here. It gives me an excuse to put off filling out this death certificate."
"You always did hate filling those out." Will stated.
"So, what's on your mind?" Beverly asked.
"Everything that's been going on here." Will stated. "How long has this been happening?"
"Since the begining of the semester." Beverly informed him. "Except at first it wasn't this bad. Riots mostly, but then people started getting hurt. Mostly from fighting breaking out, but nothing like this past week."
"So, for almost three months armed security officers have been patrolling the grounds?"
"No, they weren't armed until about six weeks ago." Beverly stated. "That's when the higher ups decided we needed to tighten security, except the violence had been going one a few weeks longer than that."
"And why are the parents the last to know how bad it is?" Will asked sounding a bit annoyed.
"Honestly, Will. It wasn't this bad until this week." Beverly insisted. "There wasn't any attempted rapes or murders until now. Mostly injuries from fist fights breaking out, but not this."
*Picard to Captain Riker*
Will taped his comm badge. "Riker here."
*There have been more developments that I would like to discuss with you.* Picard stated. *Can you come by my office now?*
"Yes, sir. I'll be there as soon as possible."
*Very well. I'll see you in a few minutes. Picard out.*
"If you'll excuse me." Will said to Beverly.
"Go right ahead."
Will left her office and walked out of the infirmary to head to Picard's office. He wondered what was so urgent that he wanted him to come to his office, so quickly.
Meanwhile, Willy was in class and Deanna was with Kestra. She wanted the time alone with Kestra and was thankful she had gotten the time. She wanted to talk to her daughter alone because she thought a mother-daughter talk would be helpful to her.
"Kestra, I know you can still hear me and I really want you to listen to me." Her daughter remained motionless on the bed. The was no acknowledgement of any kind as Deanna spoke to her.
Deanna took a deep breath. "I know I am your mother and therefore probably not the best person to counsel you, but I am going to talk to you. As your mother, because I want to help you, but first, you have to let me help you. Secondly, you have to talk about what happened or your feelings aren't going to get any better. Thirdly, I love you and it pains me to see you hurting in this manner. So, please, talk to me. Let me help you through this."
There was still no response. Deanna gave her a gentle mind brush again, but Kestra still did not respond to her mother.
Deanna switched gears and took another approach with her daughter. "I know what those boys did was worse than awful. Worse than terrible. There are no words to describe what they put you through."
Deanna relied on her past experience to break through to her daughter. The incidents were somewhat different, but the outcomes could have been the same.
"Kestra, right now you feel like shrivilling up and disappearing, but you can't do that. You want to run away from the world, but you can't do that either. So, you crawl into your shell and hope everyone leaves you alone, but it's not going to happen, because we all care about you and want to help you."
Kestra's countenance changed slightly. It was like she were trying push all the feelings deep down inside herself so she could not feel anymore. Deanna picked up on this.
"You also want to push the feelings you have deep inside you and bury them, but that's not going to help you to do that." Deanna said gently. "However, I'm here and I want to listen to your feelings and help you through this time."
Tears began to flow out of Kestra's eyes as she let out a soft sob. Pain and other emotions were begining to surface.
Deanna could sense her daughter's pain as she began to allow it to surface. Deanna also sensed fear, self-blame, self-loathing, and deep depression. Kestra's tears started to flow freely as Deanna lovingly pushed Kestra's hair back from her face.
"It's going to be alright." Deanna told her softly. Kestra cried harder as Deanna spoke to her. "I'm right here. Nothing's going to happen to you."
"Why me? What did I do wrong?" Kestra sobbed.
"You didn't do anything wrong." Deanna reassured her. Deanna pulled her daughter up close to her and held her. "It's alright."
Kestra wrapted her arms around her mother and cried. The river of emotions was strong and overwhelming, but were finally being released.
Deanna did not say another word. She just let her daughter cry in her arms. Allowing her to release all the pain and anguish that she felt deep within side her.
Will arrived at Picard's office door and knocked. "Come." He heard Picard say and entered the room.
"Ah, Will." He greeted. "Have a seat."
Will sat down and faced Picard with curiousity. "So, what's going on?"
"Well, it seems fourteen outfits have been replicated from various replicators."
"So, what's so unusual about that?" Will asked. "People replicate clothes all the time."
"They are all the same." Picard told him. "They are all surgical suits, with one difference."
"What's that?"
"They are gray instead of red."
"I'm not sure I follow you, Sir."
"We're not sure, but we believe there is a connection to the recent actions on campus." Picard stated.
"How so?"
"We suspect there is a group of people who have banned together." Picard stated. "There are also rumours that various people are on a hit list so to speak."
"Let's hope they stay rumours." Will replied.
"The problem is, your son is on that list." Picard informed him. "We have taken measures to insure his safety given last nights events. We have assign him a security officer to stay with him at all times. We are also placing a security officer outside of Kestra's room in the infirmary."
Will did not know what to say. His anger was turning into worry for the safety of his family.
"I can understand how this might be disconcerning, but we want to be sure your children are save and are able to testify when we have the hearing." Picard told him. "We have also assigned a security officer to both the new students, to prevent further assaults against them."
"Are you saying, no matter how bad I think it is, it is actually worse?" Will asked.
"We're not sure." Picard replied. "We do know, from near by residents some strange activity went on last night off campus. We're checking into that as we speak. The thing is, the safety of everyone in this school is the ultmost importance."
"I understand."
"On a more personal note, I empathize with what your family has had to endure." Picard stated. "I will make sure the young men that assaulted your daughter get the punishment they deserve."
"Thank you, Sir."
"How is Kestra doing?"
"When I left she was still the same. Deanna wanted time alone with her to see if she could do something to get her to come around and talk to us."
"Deanna is a good counselor and mother." Picard complimented. "I'm sure she will figure out something to help her."
"I hope so." Will replied. "I hate seeing her this way."
"I can understand that." There was a long moment of silence after Picard's last statement. Both wondering if something more could have been done to protect Kestra. Then Picard finally broke the silence. "Well, I'll let you get back to your daughter."
"Thank you and thank you for keeping me posted on what all is happening." Will said as he stood to leave.
"You're very welcome." Picard replied as he stood to see Will out of his office. "I'll continue to keep you posted."
"Thank you, Sir."
Will left Picard's office just as Picard was receiving an urgent message.
Meanwhile, it was lunchtime and Willy decided to eat lunch with his friends. He had not spent anytime with them since the incident with Kestra.
He had not yet received the message that he had been assigned a security officer and none had arrive yet. He had no idea he was in danger.
He sat with his friends, one of whom was the new Romulan student. They were talking peacefully amongst themselves when a Klingon student approached the table.
"I smell a Rommy!" He growled. Then he leaned over the Rommy and sniffed him. "Yes, definitely a Rommy. I would recognize the fowl smell of a slaughtering murderer anywhere."
The Romulan just sat there without saying a word. He tried hard to show no emotion, just as Spock recommended he do.
Willy on the other hand got very upset. "Leave him alone! He didn't do anything to you or your family!"
"What did you say Rommy lover?" The Klingon asked threateningly as he walked over to where Willy sat at the table.
Young William Riker Junior sat with his head held high, like any Betazoid would. He tried to hide his fear of the overbearing Klingon. "I asked you to leave him alone."
The Klingon's reaction was to spit in Willy's food. "You're lucky I don't consider your request a challenge or I'd kill you where you sit, you Betazoid mongrel!"
Another Klingon joined the first Klingon. "I think we should teach the Betazoid hybird a lesson."
The first Klingon looked at the other. "Agreed."
The second one grabbed Willy by his collar and lifted him out of his seat. Then he pulled out his Klingon knife. "Where should we give him a warning cut?" The second Klingon asked. "Here?" Placing the knife on his cheek. "Or here?" Then he placed the knife on his throat.
Willy was very frightened by this time. He was not sure what was going to happen to him and wondered where all the security officers were.
Just then the Romulan had had enough and stood up from the table. He could no longer contain his emotions. In an effort to get the second Klingon to release Willy, he kicked the burly Klingon in the stomach.
"Why you taj ket! QaHoH!" Then the knife landed in the Romulan's stomach. The Klingon pulled the knife out as he pushed the Romulan backwards.
"Tokus!" Willy screamed as he ran toward his friend and knelt down beside him.
The Romulan laid on the floor in pain and was trying to catch his breath. The blood flowed from his stomach and cover his hand that he had placed on the wound.
Suddenly, the world seemed to have stood still for everyone in the cafeteria. Everyone was speechless.
Suddenly there were the sound of shoes rushing into the room as a herd of security officer rushed into the place. "Freeze!" They shouted as they pointed phasers at everyone in the room. "Nobody move!"
"Student down!" One stated loudly.
"I'm on it!" Another said as he called for a medical team.
The Klingon with the knife had not moved since the Romulan fell to the floor. He held the bloody knife in his hand and stared at it. With the evidence in hand the officers took the knife from him and secured his arms behind him. Then they did the same to the other Klingon.
The medical officers arrived and rushed in to aid the Romulan. As they begun to work on the Romulan an officer pulled Willy away from the scene.
"He's my friend." Willy stated. Panic was in his voice. He was scared that his friend would die. He did not want to leave him.
"You're coming with us, Cadet." The officer who was dragging him away from Tokus stated.
"But, I didn't do anything." Willy protested.
"Maybe so, but we're still taking you in." The officer informed him.
Willy willingly went with the security officer, but not without taking one last look at his friend as the officer led him out of the cafeteria.
Chapter Five
"Aunt Deanna! Aunt Deanna!" Lydia and Laura yelled as they ran through the infirmary.
"Hey! What's the emergency!" Beverly asked as she stopped them.
Lydia's hands flew as Laura told the story of what happened to Willy in the cafeteria. Laura spoke too fast for Beverly to understand her and Lydia was signing too fast for her also.
"Slow down!" She demanded and signed.
"What's wrong with Willy?" Deanna asked as she came out of Kestra's room and sensed the panic the two girls were having.
"Willy was taken to the brig!" Laura stated.
"The Brig? Why?" Beverly and Deanna asked at the same time.
"We don't know why. He didn't do anything. It was the Klingons."
"Oh, the incident that just happened in the cafeteria." Beverly reminded Deanna.
Part of the staff that was in the infirmary ran over to the cafeteria to treat the injured. Suddenly, there was a loud bang as the staff busted through the doors of the infirmary with the Romulan's body.
The doctor that had lead the group was barking out orders. The staff hooked the Romulan up to the computer to keep tabs on his vitals.
The doctor tried desparately to save the Romulan's life, but it was looking very bleak. Beverly tried to jump in and assist the doctor working on the Romunlan, but it was to no avail.
Suddenly, the computer made one long continuous beep. "Flat Line!" A nurse yelled.
"I need 10 cc's of norep." The original doctor yelled.
Nothing. The doctor kept trying while Beverly was trying to tell him to give up on saving the Romulan. "He's gone, Mark. There's nothing more we can do."
Lydia and Laura began to cry. Lydia did not need to hear to know what had just happen. They saw their friend die and now it was confirmed right there in the infirmary.
Deanna hugged the two girls close to her. "I'm sorry, he's gone." She sent to them.
"Damn it!" The other doctor exclaimed. "It's just not right!"
"No, it's not." Beverly agreed. "I'll notify his family and Spock. You take a break for a little while. I can handle things here for a little while."
"I'll go check on Willy." Deanna informed Beverly, then left with the two girls.
Picard had just finished with the emergency call. It seemed the deeper they delved into the crazy mess, the more complicated it got and the more students they would have to try at the hearing. Now, they were not just looking at two young men at the trial, but at least four, if not more.
He knew there was bad blood between some people and the Cardassians. Even the Romulans still had their share of enemies, but he could not fathom why students at the academy were not more open minded.
Worst yet, where did they learn their attitudes from. Some had not even met a Romulan or Cardassian before and yet they all had set opinions formed about them already. What happened in their families to make them hate so much? Picard asked himself.
*Crusher-Picard to Picard.* Bevelry brought Picard out of his thoughts.
It still sounded unusual to him, but he was very proud that she was now his wife. "Go ahead, Beverly." He said when he tapped his comm badge.
*I have some bad news* Beverly informed him. *The student Spock recommended to the academy is dead.*
Picard was now upset and very concerned. "How did it happen?"
*Maybe you should come to my office and then I can explain better.*
"Agreed. I'll be down momentarily. Picard out."
Deanna, Lydia, and Laura walked into the Brig. The young girls were a bit nervous and uncomfortable about being there.
"I'm here about my son, Cadet William T. Riker Junior." Deanna inquired of the officer at the front desk of the Brig. "I heard he was brought here."
"Riker, Riker." The officer went through the list of students in the brig. He had an accent as though he were from hillbilly country. "No, we only have two students here and neither one of them are a Riker. Sorry ma'am."
"Well, could you tell me where he is then?" Deanna asked.
"No, can't say that I can."
Deanna sensed he was telling the truth. He did not know where her son was. Lydia and Laura sensed the same.
"But, I saw an officer take him into custody in the cafeteria." Laura stated.
"Me too." Lydia stated in her best controlled voice.
"An officer may have taken him into custody, but that doesn't necessarily mean they come here." Informed the officer. "Now, those two Klingons." He did not say anything more.
"Well, any suggestions where we might find him?" Deanna asked.
"If an officer escorted him, you might try the security office, itself." He stated as he leaned back in his chair.
"Thank you, Sir." Deanna replied. "Come on, girls. Let's go see if he's there."
Lydia was looking at the officer when Deanna told them to come with her. So, Laura tapped her on the shoulder and signalled for her to come with them. Lydia followed.
Will had already been called down to the security office and was there with Willy as he talked to the officer about what had happen in the cafeteria.
Another officer walked up to the one talking to Willy and whispered in his ear. "No." Said the officer talking to Willy. He was shocked to hear the news he was hearing.
"Yes, at 1243 hours."
"What's happened?" Will asked.
"Willy, I'm sorry." The officer told Will's son. "Your friend didn't make it."
Willy felt like he wanted to cry, but yet at the same time he felt very angry at what those two Klingons did. "Dad, can I go home now."
"Son, you know you have to give your report." Will told him. "It's standard procedure."
"There you are!" Deanna exclaimed. "Lydia and Laura thought you were taken to the Brig. So, we looked there and didn't find you. Then we came here."
Suddenly, Deanna felt Willy's emotions. "I guess you have heard." She finally said.
Will nodded. "We just found out."
"Dad, can't I file my report later."
"Cadet, you know the procedure. There's time for grieving later, after you finish giving your account of the incident." Will scolded him as though he were another officer.
"Yes, Sir." Willy replied sadly. "I guess after all of this, I'm going to have an officer stuck like glue to me, huh?"
"That was the plan before you went to lunch." Will told his son. "Except you didn't get the message in time."
"What?" Deanna asked. "He has a security officer assigned to him now?"
"For his own safety, Deanna. Admiral Picard and other higher ups thought it best." Will informed them.
"Alright." Said the officer. "Now, what happened when the Klingon approached you?"
Willy gave them his account of the event that happened in the cafeteria. When he had finished his story, the officer addressed him again.
"Alright. I think we have it all." He said. "This is Security officer McKinley. He'll just be hanging out with you for a while. Then another will take his place when the shift changes."
"Fun." Willy said sarcastically. "And here I thought I was now an adult who didn't need a grownup to watch over me."
"Willy, you're not the only one. SuKat has on too, as well as your sister and a few others." Will informed his son. "They just want to make sure you get to class safely and then back home again. That's all."
"Yes, but he'll be standing outside my door and in the classroom and everywhere I go."
"Better that than be." Will did not finish his sentence. He saw the hurt in his son's eyes even before he finished the sentence.
"Can we leave now?" Willy asked.
Will looked up at Officer McKinley. "You ready?"
The officer nodded. "Anytime you are. I go where you go, so lead the way."
"Will, I'm going back to see Kestra, when we pass the infirmary again." Deanna stated. "You see that the girls get back to their dorm safely?"
"Not a problem." Will told his wife.
"So, do you want to tell Ambassador Spock or shall I?" Beverly asked her husband after giving him the details of Tokus's death.
"No, I think I shall be the one who let's him know." Picard replied. "It's a shame, that our first student from Romulus had to die like this."
"Yes. It is." Beverly agreed.
"By the way, how is SuKat doing?" Picard asked.
"Better." Beverly replied. "Doctor Bashir sent me information on how to treat Cardassians in situations like this. It helped SuKat a lot."
Picard nodded. "That's good. Well, I guess I should go contact Ambassador Spock."
"Tell him I send my condolences." Beverly stated.
"I will." Picard replied as he left her office to go to his.
Picard was speaking with Spock about what had happened. Spock tried hard not to show his emotions, but Picard knew the man was taking it hard.
"I shall be there at the hearing to represent Tokus's side." Spock stated. "That is if it meets with Starfleet's approval."
"Ambassador Spock, I don't see why anyone would complain or object." Picard stated. "I wish it were under better circumstances, but I will be glad to see you again, myself."
"I thank you for your kind words, Admiral."
There was another commotion outside on the grounds. Students were chanting and singing, but Picard could not make out the words.
"Ambassador, I best be signing off. We seem to be having another riot or something outside."
"Understandable."
"Picard out." The screen went blank and Picard walked over to his window. He saw the signs some of the students were carrying. One said, "End the violence, now." Another, took an old saying from Earth's history 300 years before and said, "Make love, not war." Yet another said, "End the hatred." The crowd sounded like they were singing songs of peace.
He was not sure to be happy about this group of students or not. It did concern him that the other group of students could retaliate in some manner. However, the security officers appeared to be standing by for almost anything.
Then there was a sudden loud noise, as though a bomb went off on the grounds near the group of people. People screamed and ran. Then, when the smoke cleared, Picard saw bodies lying on the ground.
He jumped to attention and ran out of his office to help rescue those injured. He did not bother to count how many had been hurt by the bomb. He just knew it was time to react and see what could be done to help them.