Pride and Prejudice
Chapters One through Three
Chapter One
"Sir, there's another riot outside of Boothby Hall!"
"Oh, if I know what this is about, Boothby would not like it at all if he were still alive today." Said the Head of Starfleet Acadamy. "Call Security and send them out there. It's a damn shame we have to have arm security officers for our own students now days."
"Get out of here, you damn Rommy!"
"You too, you stupid Cardie!" Another student yelled. "We don't want you here!"
They were the first Cardassian and Romulan to be admitted to Starfleet Acadamy. The Romulan had entered on Spock’s recommendation. The Cardassian entered on Sisko's recommendation.
Like many others before them, they were the first. The first of their race to enroll in Starfleet, but now, they were being persecuted worse than any other before them.
"Let's string them up by their toes!" Yet another student shouted. "That'll teach 'em to come here!"
"Yeah! The pigs don't belong here anyway!"
"The Cardie killed my grandparents on Khitomer!" A Klingon student stated.
"Stop!" Willy and Kestra shouted. "They didn't do it! Leave them alone!"
"What are you two? Rommie and Cardie Lovers?" A student snidely asked.
"It doesn't matter who we are." Willy stated. "What matters is you give these two people a chance. Let them prove to you that they are not like their ancestors. Learn from each other."
"Don't hurt them because of what their ancestors did." Kestra pleaded.
"String them up by their toes too, the bloody traitors!" A student with an Irish accent demanded.
The mob of rioters began scream incoherently as they grabbed the four people and dragged them to a tree.
"NO! Please! Let me go!" Kestra yelled with fear.
"Let her go!" Willy shouted. "She's a girl! Leave my sister alone!"
"I've got rope." Yet another student stated.
"Let us go!" Kestra shouted.
"We've done nothing to you!" The Romulan student stated. "Why are you doing this to us?"
"I just came here to learn and to be apart of Starfleet!" The Cardassian student exclaim. "I don't want trouble, please!"
"STOP! ALL OF YOU!" Came the voice of authority over a bullhorn. "CEASE AND DESIST! DISPERSE NOW AND GO ABOUT YOUR OWN BUSINESS OR YOU WILL FACE CONSEQUENCES!"
The mob of vicious rioters turned to see a group of security officers. They were all armed and had phasers pointing at the students.
The disgruntled students released the Romulan, Cardassian, Kestra and Willy.
"This isn't over, Rommy!"
"Yeah, Cardy!"
"We'll get you too, Rommy and Cardy lovers!" Another student stated and spit on Willy and Kestra.
Kestra began to cry and Willy pulled her closed and hugged her. "It'll be alright, Sis."
"I wanna go home!" She cried. "I can't take anymore of this!"
He patted her on her back. "I know, it upsets me too, but we can't let them win. If we did, then there would continue to be more like them."
"I can't take it anymore, Willy!" She cried. "Besides, it's not our battle."
"It is if we want the prejudice to stop." Willy stated. "That's one of Spock's friends and Spock would not like to see what has been happening here, either. He'd try to stop it too, if he could. Just as mom and dad would."
"Maybe so, but I can't stay here!" She shouted at him with tears in her eyes as she pulled away from him. "I'm leaving on the first shuttle and going home as fast as I can!"
"Kestra!"
Kestra continued walking towards her dorm. She was not about to stay and be pushed around by stupid people.
"Ah, man!" Willy exclaimed. "Things aren't going to get better this way! And what would Dad say?"
Kestra turned a corner as she headed to the dorm. Suddenly, two human male students jumped out in front of her.
"Well, if it isn't the Rommy lover!" One exclaimed.
"Maybe we should show her what real men are like." The other suggested.
Kestra was petrified. "No, it's not what you think. Stoawk and I are just friends."
"Yeah, right! Rommy lover!" Then the two grabbed her.
Kestra screamed and struggled to free herself from their grasps. "Let me go!"
She tried hard to fight them off, but it was to no avail. They ripped her dress off of her as they forced her to the ground.
"Stop!" She screamed and tried to slug one of the young men, but the other grabbed her fist. "Let me go!"
"We're going to teach you a lesson, missy." The one that was holding her down said as the other pulled out a knife and cut her underwear off of her. "Teach you not to play with Rommy boys!"
Then the one with the knife unzipped his pants and began to lower himself on top of her.
"Let my sister go!" Willy shouted. He was ready to fight for his sister’s honour.
"What are you going to do about it?" The one who was hovering over her with a knife asked.
"Just try me and see." Willy stateded.
Just then Kestra kneed the boy with the knife in the groin. The knife fell to the ground as he fell back and held himself.
The other slapped her across the face and repinned her to the ground. Willy took this opportunity to jump the one who had been restraining his sister.
He used all his strength to pull the guy off of her. It was a struggle, for it seemed the boy was stronger than he was.
Meanwhile, the one Kestra kneed was gasping for breath. "You bitch!" He yelled between gasps.
"What's going on here?" A security officer asked as he passed by from making his rounds.
The fighting stopped and the officer looked over the three boys and the girl. "What happen to your clothes, Miss?"
Kestra was standing, quiet and remorse, with no clothes. She had nearly been violated and she had no idea what to do or say. Her clothes were a few steps away, torn and only good to cover part of her. She could not wear the dress again.
"These two were trying to rape my sister!" Willy accused.
"Is this true?" The officer asked.
"No, Sir." They lied. "She was coming on to us."
Kestra sat down where she was, buried her face, and began to cry. She wanted to hide. She did not want anyone to see her.
"Sir, I was trying to protect my sister." Willy stated. "Honestly."
"He lies!" One of the boys accused.
Unbeknownst to any of the young adults, the officer was empathic. He knew who was telling the truth and who was lying. Even by the looks of Kestra, one could tell she had been mistreated. Bruises were beginning to form where she had been manhandled. Her face showed where she had been striked and her arms had finger markings. The rest of her body did not look much better.
"You two, come with me." He said pointing to the boys who tried to violate Kestra and pulling out his phaser. "You take your sister to the infirmary. I'll give my report later."
"Yes, Sir." Willy replied.
"We didn't do nuthin' " The boys insisted as the officer took them down to the deans office at phaser point.
"Are you alright, Kestra?" Willy asked as he reached to comfort her.
Kestra pulled away from him. She did not want to be touched by him or anyone else. She did not say a word to her brother. She just recoiled from him.
Willy did not know what to do. He tried to help her, but now she was mad at him. He did not understand why. He felt hurt that she was rejecting his help.
He went over to where her torn dress lie and retrieved it. "Here, it's not much any more, but it will cover part of you a little."
She just sat there and cried. She did not care where she was anymore. She just wanted to hide from the world.
"We have to get you to the infirmary." Willy stated sympathically. "I'm sure there is someone who can help you."
She did not move from where she sat. Her tears had stopped, but she now stared into space. She did not say a word.
"Kestra, they didn't succeed." Willy stated. "I got here before they really hurt you."
She said nothing. She just stared out into space.
"Come on." Willy pleaded. "Please let me help you."
"Need some help." A woman offered. "I'm Nurse Sarah. Officer Starks called for me to give you some help getting to the infirmary."
"Thanks." Willy replied. "She won't move. She just stares into space."
"Maybe I can help." Sarah stated. "What is her name again?"
"Kestra."
"Kestra, I'm here to help." The nurse stated softly and gently. "Let's go to the infirmary and get those wounds treated."
She pulled away and recoiled back into tears.
"Willy, what's wrong with Kestra?" It was Laura's voice and she was with Lydia.
"Long story. Help us get her to the infirmary." He stated.
Lydia came closer, but when she did she sensed the turmoil Kestra was suffering. "Huh!" She gasped. "No! How could they?"
They finally got Kestra to the infirmary and the doctor was treating her physical wounds, but her psychological state was still injuried.
"Her injuries were mild." The doctor told Willy and her cousins. "Mostly bruises, but I'm afraid her psychological state is going to need a psychologist. She's pretty disturbed by this incident."
"I understand." Willy replied. "I'll call mom and let her know what's happening."
"Have you filed your report with Security?" The doctor asked.
"Yes, ma'am. I have."
"Hopefully, those two will get what is coming to them." The doctor stated. "I'm tired of all this outlandish behaviour by some students and over what? A Romulan and a Cardassian. It's just not right."
"No ma'am. It's not." Willy agreed.
"You can see her for a few minutes, but I doubt she will speak to you or anyone." The doctor told them.
"Thank you." Replied Laura.
The three of them stayed and visited. The conversation was almost nill. Kestra did not respond to them verbally or telepathically.
"Doctor?" Willy called. "Yes?"
"May I use your comm panel to call our mother?" Willy asked. "I really don't want to leave her."
"Of course, it's over there. You can stay as long as you want and reassure her you're here for her."
"Thank you, ma'am." He replied and then proceeded to call the Titan.
Will and Deanna were watching a group of crew members playing a symphony. They were playing classical music.
As Will and Deanna were enjoying the music a communications officer approached Deanna. "Counselor, there's an emergency communication for you."
"Who from?" She asked.
"Can't say." He stated.
"You want me to go with you?" Will asked.
"No, Sir." The communications officer interrupted. "They only want Counselor Troi-Riker."
Will was shocked. This seems a bit strange. He thought. Something is up and I'll find out eventually.
"Don't worry, Will." Deanna told him. "I'll let you know when I get back."
Deanna rose and went to answer her call. "I'll take it in my quarters." She told the communications officer.
She got to their quarters and sat down at the computer to answer her call. "Mom! Is Dad with you?"
"No, it's just me." She told him.
"Good, I'm glad. Dad would go nuts if he heard this and we don't need anymore problems."
Deanna was really concerned now. "What's wrong, Willy?"
"Well, as you know, things have not been good lately at the acadamy."
Deanna nodded. "Go on."
"It's Kestra. She's been hurt and is in a bad way."
"Hurt?"
"Physically she fine now, thanks to the doctor, but she's withdrawn and won't talk to anyone." He told her. "Not even Laura and Lydia."
"William, start from the beginning and tell me what happened."
Willy told her everything that had happened to them lately right up to and including the attempted rape of Kestra. Deanna could not believe what she was hearing.
"Willy, I'm sorry." She said, not knowing what else to say. "I'll get there as soon as I can."
"Mom, please don't tell Dad." Willy asked. "He'll go nuts."
"You know I can't promise not to tell him." Deanna stated. "He'll want to know why I am visiting you on short notice like this."
"Just tell him something, but don't mention what has happened to Kestra." He requested. "Not yet at least."
"Did you file a report?" Deanna asked.
"Yes."
"I'm assuming, given what you have told me, Kestra hasn't yet?"
"No, Mom. She won't talk to anyone."
Deanna sighed. "I'll come as soon as I can."
"Can you bring Aunt Mriana?" Willy asked.
"Laura and Lydia want to see her. They are pretty shook up by this."
"I'll see what I can do."
"OK, Mom. We'll see you soon."
The screen went blank and Deanna sat back in her chair with a heavy sigh. Will is going to go ballistic on those two boys once he finds out. She thought to herself.
Chapter Two
Deanna went back to the concert and stayed quiet through out the rest of it. She was trying to figure out what she was going to tell Will. He would want to know why she was wanting to leave immediately for Earth.
The horrors their son told her of what had been happening at Starfleet Academy since the Romulan and Cardassian entered was very disturbing to her to say the least. The news that came their way was not as disturbing as a first hand witness account of the acts of violence against people.
Deanna was scared for her children, but first and foremost she knew she had to help her daughter. Part of the help she hope would come from Beverly until she arrived.
Before she had returned to the concert, she had placed a call to Beverly, asking her to look after Kestra. She wanted a close friend of the family to care for her daughter and not some stranger who may or may not have the same compassion as someone who was practically family.
Then there was her son. She knew he had to have been affected by the happenings on the campus of Starfleet Academy, also. There was no way he could come out of any of this unscathed. She only hoped that he could stay strong for his sister. At least until she arrived at the academy.
The concert had ended rather abruptly for Deanna. She had no idea what all the music that had been played was. She was so lost in thought, that she did not hear any of the music.
Everyone stood to give their appreciation to the musicians. It was then Deanna realized just how much she had missed. She stood with the rest of the crowd and applauded the musicians.
When the applause died down and everyone was beginning to leave, Will spoke to her. "You were certainly lost in thought. Anything to do with that emergency communication?"
"It's nothing, Will." She dismissed as they walked out the door.
"Deanna, you can't tell me it was nothing." Will asserted. "You weren't paying any attention to the music, much less me."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I tried to think to you and you never answered me." Will stated as they entered the turbolift. "Deck Eight. I just wish I were half as much empathic as you are so that maybe I could get into that head of your's when you are so distant."
"Will, I need to go to Earth and visit the children." She blurted.
Will knew there was something wrong now. "Why? What's happening? Is there something wrong with the children?"
"They're fine, Will." She lied.
"Computer, stop turbo!" Will order. "Deanna, you make a terrible lier. You don't get an emergency call from the children and then tell me nothing is wrong."
"Did I say it was from the children?"
"Except for Starfleet and the children, there's no reason for you to get and emergency call from anyone on Earth." He was starting to become irritated by Deanna avoidance.
"Alright." Deanna said indignantly. "It was William. He called because he and Kestra are scared by the incidents on campus lately and they just want to see their mother."
It was not a complete lie. Willy was scared. He was terrorfied. Kestra was beyond terrorfied.
"Why not their dad too?" Will asked suspeciously.
"They figure you are too busy commanding the Titan."
"Damn it, Deanna! What the hell is going on?" Will asked. "I've known you far too long to not know when you are not telling me everything."
"Can we discuss this in our quarters?" She asked.
"Alright." Will agreed. "Resume turbo."
They rode the rest of the way in silence. When the turbolift stop they exited without a word. Then they walked down the corridor to their quarters.
Once inside, Will restarted the conversation again. "Alright, what's going on that's so bad that they don't want their father there, too?"
"It's not so much Kestra as it is William."
"And why is he not wanting me there?"
"He's afraid how you will react." Deanna informed him. "He doesn't want you to do anything rash."
"That bad huh?" Will asked. "What has he done now?"
"It's not what he did." Deanna insisted. "As it was what two others did."
"Oh, this I've gotta hear!"
Deanna took a deep breath. "I think you'd better sit down for this."
"Alright." He walked over to a well cushioned chair. "I'm sitting and I'm listening."
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Oh, I don't know. I think I'm alright. Now stop pussy footing around and tell me what's going on with William."
"It's not exactly William."
"It's not?" Will asked in shock. "What did Kestra do?"
"She didn't do anything except stand up for what she believed in." Deanna stated. "What we taught her to believe."
"Is she in trouble?" Will asked, still surprised his little angel was the issue in this conversation.
"Not exactly."
"Deanna, this is getting really frustrating." Will said with exasperation. "Why won't you tell me what is happening with our children?"
"Are you sure you don't want anything to drink?" Deanna asked again as she rose to get herself some hot cocoa from the replicator.
"No, just tell me what is going on, Deanna."
Deanna retrieved her drink from the replicator. Her hands were shaking as she was about to tell Will the very thing their son asked her not to tell him.
"Kestra was sexually assaulted by two male students at the academy." The statement released emotions Deanna did not realize she had about the situation. Tears began to roll down her eyes and she shook even more.
Will let out a heavy breath of air. "I believe I'll have that drink now. Make it a whiskey."
Still shaking and emotionally upset, Deanna got her husband a drink. As she handed the glass of whiskey to him, Will asked another question.
"May I ask how it happened?"
Deanna began telling him the gory details of the events leading up to Kestra's assault. Then the final events.
"I'll kill the bastards!" Will exclaimed.
"That's exactly what William does not want." Deanna insisted. "They have had enough violence lately."
"I'll make sure Starfleet prosecutes them to the fullest, then." Will stated. "Did they file a report?"
"Security, the doctor, and William did. Yes."
"Not Kestra?" Will asked with shock.
"From William's discription of her state of mind, I'd say she has been traumatized into a state of shock. Without looking at her, I'd dare say she is catatonic." Deanna informed him. "She's not talking verbally or telepathically. She's not even moving."
Will tapped his comm badge. "Captain to Bridge."
*Bridge here.* Came his first officer's voice.
"I'm making a course change." Will stated. He rattled off the heading.
*That's Earth. Sir, we're not due back there for a couple more months.*
"Just make the course change, Matlin. Warp eight."
*Aye, Sir.*
"Riker out."
"Will, don't do anything rash."
"I won't. I'll just make sure they get what is coming to them." Will insisted. Deanna could not only hear the anger in his voice, but she could also sense his wrath.
Back at the academy infirmary, Kestra laid on the biobed unmoving. She stared out into space and did not acknowledge anyone's presence.
"Kestra, I wish I could get you to talk to me." Willy pleaded. "I want to help you. It will be alright. Mom is coming as soon as she can."
"William Riker Junior, what are you still doing here? You have class in the morning! You need your rest."
"Oh, hi Aunt Beverly." He greeted her with saddeness in his voice. "I can't leave her."
"I just saw Lydia and Laura." Beverly informed him. "They are waiting for you to escort them home."
"I'm not the best person to escort them. Look at what happen to my sister."
"Willy, it wasn't your fault."
Willy sighed. "Maybe not, but I didn't stay with her. It might not have happened if I stayed with her."
"And it might have still."
"They'd never assault a female teacher or you for that matter. Why my sister?"
"You don't know what they would do." Beverly insisted. "A lot of the students are very disgruntled by a Romulan and a Cardassian coming to Starfleet Academy. They have been very volatile lately."
"Doctor!" Someone shouted. "Is there a doctor in here! Please! SuKat needs help!"
Beverly jumped into emergency mode. She ran out to see what the problem was and saw the Cardassian student. He had been beaten to a bloody pulp. His face and body were almost unrecognizable as being Cardassian.
She gasped at the site of him. "Bring to the biobed and lie him down."
"I'm sorry I moved him, but I was afraid what would happen to him if I left him."
"Judging from the looks of you, I'd say they would have been back." Beverly stated as she saw the young man's face. He had a black eye, bloody nose, and mouth.
"I'm fine. I came to his rescue, but he was already down, I'm afraid." He stated as he watched Doctor Crusher examined SuKat. "Will he be alright?"
"I don't know." Beverly stated. "Nurse Sarah, will you please attend to this man's injury while Ogawa and I prep this man for surgery."
"Yes, ma'am." Sarah replied. "Come with me and we'll get you fixed up."
"Will SuKat be alright?" The young man asked as Sarah escorted him out of the room.
"I don't know. Let's leave and let the doctor work on him." Sarah replied.
After the young man left, Beverly stated what she needed of Ogawa. "I need plasma and 10 cc of eprinephrine, stat. This man is going into shock."
Willy stood in the doorway of his sister's room and watched has Beverly went into action. He could not believe how people could be so mean. He was afraid their new friend was going to die.
Ogawa returned with Beverly's request and began to administer the plasma and the eprinephrine. She gasped when she saw the Cardassian's face. It was almost unrecognizable. It was swollen, bruised, and bloodied.
"We have a ruptured spleen. His ribs are broken and have puntured his lung." Beverly informed her. "Let's get started on operating on him. I want vitals every five minutes as I work on him."
"Understood, Doctor."
Then Beverly noticed Willy standing near by watching the sickening scene. "Someone get Cadet Riker and his cousins home now!" She ordered. "And close that patient's door now!"
Beverly did not want Kestra to hear what all was happening. Beverly knew that if she was coherent of anything around her, the sounds of what was happening in the infirmary would only make it worse.
"No, I don't want to leave my sister!" Willy insisted.
"Go home now, William!" Beverly ordered. "Or I'll have security remove you. You can see your sister tomorrow."
Willy reluctantly left the infirmary with the escort who volunteered to see him and his cousins home. They were not very well liked by the people who were against the new students and Willy feared for his sister and cousins' even more now. Especially after seeing their friend SuKat almost beaten to death.
Chapter Three
Will and Deanna finally arrive at Starfleet Academy. They had beamed down directly to campus. They had decided to see Kestra in the infirmary first then go from there.
They arrived at the infirmary to find Beverly checking on the Cardassian who had been badly beaten two nights before. They were shocked to see the only Cardassian on campus in critical condition.
Beverly was still trying to reconstruct his face after the beating, so it still looked rather bruised and swollen. The injuries to his face were not life threatening, but they would still scar even with Beverly's efforts to treat him. However, he was still in some danger from having his spleen ruptured and his long punctured.
"What happened?" Deanna asked with concern.
"Things are bad here." Beverly stated. "And this has been the end result so far. Some of the students are still causing problems over the new students. Most of them are Terrans causing the problems."
"Earth history repeats itself." Will stated unhappily.
Beverly did not know how to reply to Will statement. She knew he was correct in his assumption, but to confirm it would make it seem more real to her and she did not want to face anymore of the reality than what was before her.
"I only wish I knew more about Cardassian physiology." She stated sadly. "I'm having trouble stablizing him and I only hope Doctor Bashir and a Cardassian colleage of his get here in time to help him more than I can. I can keep him alive, that's about all I can do at this point."
Will and Deanna sympathized, but they desparately wanted to see Kestra. They wanted to see how she was doing with their own eyes.
"How is Kestra?" Deanna asked.
Beverly shook her head. "About the same. I can't even get her to respond to me. She has completely shut down."
"May we see her?" Will asked.
"Yes, but don't expect too much." Beverly informed them. "Willy has been in to visit with her as his classes allow, but I have not allowed him to miss class because of all this."
"Thank you, Beverly." Deanna said. "I know it must be hard on him too."
"It is." Beverly stated. "He really loves his sister, but he blames himself for the attempted rape."
Will's face began to show his anger and loathing for what was done to his daughter. He wanted to get the boys for what they had done to her.
"Physically she fine, Will." Beverly told him. "But psychologically she's very traumatized."
"I will make those boys regret they ever touched my daughter." He said in anger.
"Will, she's not hurt physically." Deanna reassured him.
"In my opinion, my daughter was hurt physically." Will stated in anger. "No one gets away with raping my daughter."
"It was only attempted." Beverly restated. "Willy got there in time to stop them from actually doing it."
"The outcome is the same, so you tell me the difference?"
"I can't." Beverly said sadly.
"May we see her?" Deanna asked again. "It might help a little if we did."
"Yes, I'll take you to her." Beverly showed them to Kestra's room. "I had to start giving her nutritional injections. She hasn't eaten since the incident and I don't want to see her get sick from all of this."
"Thanks, Bev." Deanna said as she saw her daughter lying motionlessly in the fetile position on the bed she was placed. Kestra's affect was devoid of all emotion. She was distant as her eyes stared through the wall that she faced. Deanna sensed the turmoil within her daughter and felt as though she herself could just crumble to the floor.
"Kestra?" Will spoke to her, but got no acknowledgement. Will looked at his wife.
Deanna shook her head. "She's not even responding to my mental brushes."
Will reached out to touch his daughter. He had barely touched her when she suddenly jumped and recoiled off the oppisite side of the bed. She sat with her knees pulled up close to herself and her arms wrapted around them. She said and did nothing but continued to star into space.
"Damn bastards!" He exclaimed.
"Will, your emotions are not going to help her."
"Yeah, well they are not going to help two other people either." He said as he angrily walked out of the infirmary.
Deanna followed him as he hurriedly walked to the Security building and rushed into the office. "Excuse me, I'd like to see the reports on the Riker incident." Will inquired almost demandingly.
"Do you have authorization, Captain?"
"I'll give you authorization!" Will exclaimed in a fit of anger.
"Will, please." Deanna pleaded.
"I'm the girl's father! Now you show me those reports so I can know more about what happened to my daughter!"
"Will, calm down." Deanna continued to plead.
The officer was a little reluctant. "Alright, but it's not pretty."
"Hatered never is, Lieutenant."
The officer returned with the reports. "Here you go, Captain Riker."
"Thank you." Will replied considerably more calm than he was before. He looked the details of the reports over and then asked, "Do you know when the hearing will be?"
"No, sir. You'll have to ask one of the admirals who are involved in the case."
"I see an Admiral Jean-Luc Picard has taken this situation also."
"Yes, sir. I hear he is representing the young lady and her brother."
Will smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant. You have been more than helpful."
"You're very welcome, Captain Riker."
Deanna and Will left the Security office. "Come on, Deanna. Let's go see Admiral Picard."
"Will! Deanna!" Picard greeted. "Have a seat. I wish this visit was for pleasant reasons."
"So do I." Will stated. "I hear you are representing Kestra and Willy during the hearing."
"Yes. I am." Picard admitted. "That is for the prosecution side. Willy asked me to help him bring these charges trial or at least a hearing."
Will smiled. "That's my son."
"I've visited Kestra and I can understand his desire to prosecute these boys." Picard stated.
"Why do I have a feeling there's a but coming?" Will asked.
"No, but. However, I do want to inform you these students have been released on their own recognizance." Picard informed them. "Personally, with their attitude, I don't trust them."
"They let Jasper and Brent go?" Will asked excitedly. "How could they? Has anyone seen my daughter?"
"Will, I understand your anger, but there was nothing I could do." Picard stated. "They are Starfleet Cadets and unless they have committed murder, they are free until the final decision is made at the hearing."
"In my opinion, they may as well have." Will stated angerly.
Later that night, Jasper and Brent had staged a rally off campus. They did this partly because of security on campus and because they did not want anyone but those in their group knowing what they were planning.
There were twelve other students in the group and they all wore gray outfits much like the red ones used for surgery. Every part of their bodies were covered except their eyes.
Two banners hung downward from a pole that branched out into a tee shape. One bore the Cardassian symbol and the other bore Romulan symbol. Two people set each of the banners on fire. Everyone at the meeting watched them burned while they were addressed by two other people. Applauding the burning of the flags.
"We've asked all of you here tonight, because we feel you are worthy in helping us with our efforts get rid of the Cardy, Rommy and those that love them from our school." Brent stated to the small crowd.
"These Cardies and these Rommies are going to be the ruin of the Human race as we know it!" Jasper stated as he spoke to the crowd. "We do not want them here for many reasons. They are evil doers and will try to take over our planet if we let them. They take our women and have mongrol children by them and try to run our government. We can not allow that!"
The group succumbed to the proproganda the young men were preaching and cheered them. Their anger and hate grew against the new comers as the young men continued.
"Now, we must rid those who prosecute us, starting with the officer who took the Rommy lover's side." Brent added. "Then we will rid ourselves of that Rommy loving brother of that whore who loves the damn Rommy. We will not stand for them joining Starfleet!"
"We don't need any stickin' Rommy and Cardy lovers telling what they know!" Jasper yelled to the group. "We will get rid of all them!"
The small crowd cheered in approval. The meeting grew more ominous as the night wore on and finally ended around midnight.
Then the group snuck back onto the Starfleet campus and into their bed, except two.
Beverly was returning to the infirmary the next day. As she walked across campus four students approached her.
"Your the doctor that saved that Cardy's life aren't you?"
"I guess you could say that, but just barely." She said gaurded.
"You're a Cardy Lover!" One exclaimed.
"I'm a lover of life, if I'm a lover of anything." She stated firmly. "What you or your friends did was appaulling!"
"Oh, the doctor thinks she knows what is right and wrong." Another taunted. "I'll tell you what's wrong. Saving that stinking Cardy's life."
"I think you had better go on to class before I call for security. All of you." She informed them.
"Alright, we'll go, but you'd better watch your back, Doctor or you might be next." One informed her before they all left.
"Doctor, we have an emergency here!" Someone yelled as she walked into the infirmary.
From the door she could see two security officers standing over an unmoving bloodied body. Her doctor instincts kicked in immediately as she ran over to see the man lying on the table and was appaulled by the site before her. She knew in an instant the man was already dead. Had been for what look like several hours, for rigor mortis was begining to set into the body.
He had been stabbed several times in the abdomen and chest. Even if he were alive now, Beverly thought there would have been no way she could have saved him.
Willy was visiting his sister with Deanna and Will. They heard the comotion and peeked out the door. Willy gasped when he saw who it was.
"That's the officer who helped Kestra and me!" He exclaimed.
Will was begining to feel more rage building inside of himself, for he knew there was only one reason why anyone would kill this man. They did not want him to testify. Will was now also angry because they needed this man's testimony and now all they had was his statement he filed.
"Do we know who did this?" Will asked.
"No, sir." Said one of the Security officers who brought him into the infirmary. "We found him this morning. The three of us were suppose to go into the office together, but when we got to his cabin." He paused. He could not say another word.
"Well, I have my suspecions." Will stated. "I just can't prove it."