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Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 17:48:43 -0400
Subject: [ASC] NEW:VOY "In Pursuit of Justice" 6/13 J [PG-13]
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Forwarded by the ASC-VSO 
Posted: 3 Jun 2004 13:27:02 -0700  
In: alt.startrek.creative 
From: roq@iname.com (Rocky) 
 

Title: In Pursuit Of Justice
Author: Rocky
Contact: roq@iname.com
Web page: http://www.angelfire.com/yt/rockyroad
Series: VOY
Part: 6/13
Codes: J
Rating: PG-13
Date first posted: 6/3/04
Archive: ASC yes, all others please ask

Summary & Disclaimer: see part 1

The waves rolled in to the shore, their crests breaking in frothy
white lace a few meters from where Janeway and her companion stood.
The beach was deserted except for the two of them, doubtless due to
the slate gray skies overhead.

"I'm not sure if I'm happy to have a break for two days, or if it
would be better to have the court-martial continue uninterrupted,"
Janeway said, her gaze fixed on a white sail near the horizon.
Unconsciously, she rubbed the spot in her arm where the security
transponder had been implanted; without it, she would never have been
permitted freedom of movement.

"Taking the weekend off is a Human custom, but one that Admiral
U'Tzedek appears to have adopted," Tuvok remarked. "Knowing you,
however, I suspect you would prefer to forego custom and 'get it over
with.'"

Janeway smiled briefly. "You know me too well."

"As I mentioned during my testimony, I have served with you for many
years."

"But length of service has nothing to do with whether or not you
really know someone," Janeway said. "It's possible to work with a
person for many years and yet..." She resolutely changed the subject.
"Your granddaughter's bonding ceremony is soon, isn't it?"

"Yes, in another eight days," Tuvok said.

"I still remember when we received the communication from home--it was
one of the earliest ones, as I recall—in which you first learned of
her birth."

Tuvok exhaled softly. "As I recall, Mister Neelix was quite insistent
on reading the letter to me at once. He could not fathom my intention
to wait until I was unoccupied."

Janeway smoothed an errant lock of hair back from her face. The wind
was picking up, a sign that the impending storm would not hold off
much longer. "I almost think Neelix was more excited at the news than
you were."

"Considering I am a Vulcan and do not become 'excited', that is
undoubtedly true."

"Dear Neelix," Janeway said, thinking fondly of the faithful companion
they had left behind in the Delta Quadrant. "I wonder how he is
doing?"

"He is making a new life for himself among his own people," Tuvok
said, as they slowly began moving back up the beach.

Janeway absently watched the antics of two gulls, fighting over a
crust of bread. With a harsh scree of triumph, the victor took off.
"Which is basically what all of us are doing, I suppose, regardless of
where we ended up."

"With varying degrees of success."

Janeway looked at him in surprise for a moment. She had not imagined
the criticism implicit in his words. "These things take time," she
said somewhat defensively.

"Yes, and often the circumstances are beyond our control. However, we
must adapt to the best of our abilities." Tuvok paused. "I regret that
I must return to Vulcan at this time. I had hoped to remain until at
least the conclusion of your--"

"Don't be ridiculous--it's your granddaughter's bonding," Janeway said
immediately. "Of course you have to be there. You've missed too many
family events as it is."

"Over the years, I have been absent from home on numerous important
occasions," Tuvok said, nodding. "An inevitable consequence of my
decision to serve in Starfleet. But I consider my presence here at
this time no less an obligation."

Janeway slipped her arm through his. "I appreciate the sentiment,
Tuvok. Your support has meant more to me than I can say."

"My original deposition, Captain, contained some material which did
not come out in the courtroom, and which I wish you to be aware of,"
Tuvok said quietly. "I was asked about the possibility of removing you
from command during the set of events concerning the Equinox."

She did not allow her pace to slow. "You mentioned this when you were
on the stand. Gaines asked if you would have been in favor and you
told him no."

"I did not, however, have the opportunity to elaborate further, about
the effect your removal would have had on the ship and crew. It is my
belief it would have been a major blow to morale, and been quite
detrimental to the success of our mission."

"Thank you for that, Tuvok."

"It is a statement of fact."

She squeezed his arm gratefully. "Of course, if you *had* deposed me,
you would have then been stuck with the problem of what to do with me
for the next few decades. Put me under house arrest, confined to the
brig, or perhaps dropped me off on the nearest planet..."

"It would have presented quite a dilemma," Tuvok agreed gravely. "Of
course, it was always our experience that there were no easy solutions
in the Delta Quadrant. I am sure we would have come up with something,
eventually."

Janeway rolled her eyes, and then caught sight of the black storm
clouds rapidly moving in.

"It would be advisable to turn back," Tuvok said, glancing up at the
sky as well. No sooner had the words left his mouth when Janeway felt
the first drops hit her hand.

"An excellent idea," Janeway said as they broke into a run. 

The raindrops grew larger, began falling faster. Within seconds, it
had turned into a downpour.

"Whew!" Janeway said as they climbed into the flitter. "It's a good
thing we didn't have too far to go. I'm soaked through."

Tuvok turned on the heat, and then began maneuvering the controls,
heading back to the city. "As am I. But we should be dry shortly."

"We would have had to return soon anyway. I'm sure you've got a lot to
do before your shuttle leaves this evening." Janeway watched as the
flitter banked sharply to the left and emerged for a brief moment into
dazzling sunlight. "I got a message from Chakotay," she said suddenly.

"Indeed?"

"Yes, it was rather surprising. I hadn't heard anything from him in
months, let alone seen him," –she did not mention their brief moment
of wordless communication when he was on the stand a few days
earlier—"and all of a sudden, he wants to meet."

"Did the Commander give any indication what it was about?"

"No, he didn't."

"Then you will have to wait until you see him to find out."

She shot him a look, wondering how Tuvok knew she was hesitant to meet
her former first officer. "I suppose I will," she said at last.

***

The trial resumed on Monday, with a further parade of prosecution
witnesses. Janeway watched with greater trepidation than before,
thanks to a casual remark by Gaines.

"Mendez has certainly been busy," he said. "She's added to the witness
list again. Looks like the entire security department of Voyager is
going to be called to testify."

"Most of these people weren't on duty at the time," Janeway said,
perusing the PADD he handed her.

"It doesn't matter," Gaines said. "Mendez is proceeding under the
logical assumption that they were *all* aware of what was going
on—both during the actual incident in the cargo bay, as well as your
meeting with the aliens when you offered to hand over Ransom. Under
article 78, they can be charged as accessories for not objecting to
your orders."

"That doesn't make any sense!" Janeway said heatedly. "Surely they
can't be held liable—"

"For your actions?" Gaines said. "Of course they can. Lieutenant
Butler has already been charged, along with Ensign Morrison, and I
wouldn't be surprised if Commander Tuvok is next in line."

"It's not right," Janeway said, striving to remain calm. "I alone am
responsible for what I did. I alone made the decisions regarding
Lessing and the Equinox. No one else should have to answer for what I
did."

"That's very noble of you, Captain, but I doubt it will make a
difference." He smiled briefly. "I wouldn't worry too much, I'm sure
they'll get something in return, some type of deal, in exchange for
their testimony against you."

Now, watching Michael Ayala take the stand, she could only repeat to
herself, this isn't right.

End part 6

--
Forwarded to ASCL by:
Stephen Ratliff
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