Chapter 20
Epilogue
Stardate 57246
“Kitty, can you hear me?”
Kitty awakened slowly from the comfortable sleep. Waking was very difficult, which seemed strange to her. She was used to being able to wake up easily. But not this time. She had to struggle back to consciousness.
It seemed very bright here.
“Lights,” she murmured.
“Computer, reduce illumination to sixty percent.”
The lights grew dimmer, and her eyes became more comfortable. She opened them slowly. She was in sickbay and Beverly Crusher was standing over her.
“Welcome back, Kitty. You gave us quite a scare,” she was saying.
“How long have I been here?
“Almost five days,” she replied. “You were pretty badly damaged when they beamed you in, but I think you’ll make a full recovery. Do you remember what happened?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “I killed Gladiator. I phased my sword into his body and let go.”
Beverly nodded.
“Are the Captain and Lilandra all right?” asked Kitty.
“They’re fine. Nothing more than a few bruises and scratches. They’re at the negotiating table right now, hammering out an economic and mutual defense agreement.”
Kitty smiled brightly at that. “Good. Good for Lilandra.”
“Yes. I think she had her eyes opened by Gladiator,” Beverly replied.
“How are the Shi’ar taking his death? He was a hero to a lot of people. There could be political repercussions.”
“Kitty, relax. It’s all taken care of. You’re still in sickbay. Stop trying to solve the world’s problems for a little while, and just let yourself heal,” Beverly admonished.
“But what about...”
“Hush, I said. Not another word. Go back to sleep.”
“If you wanted me to sleep,” she asked grumpily, “why’d you wake me up?”
“You were already waking yourself up,” Beverly replied. “Now go to sleep.”
And she did.
*****
The next morning she received a visit from Picard and Lilandra. They had hammered out the details of the treaty and were preparing a ceremony for the signing of the treaty.
“I’d like you to sign on behalf of Starfleet,” Picard informed her. “After all, without your help, there would be no treaty. Or perhaps there would, but we wouldn’t have been the ones doing the negotiating.”
“Captain, I shouldn’t...” she began.
“I insist,” he replied.
“As do I,” said Lilandra. “Frankly, if we could do it, I would have you sign on behalf of Shi’ar as well. You are a member of the nobility, and a standing member of My Counsel, so you certainly have the authority. But that would be a conflict of interests, and you are here in your capacity as a Starfleet officer. So you will sign in that capacity.”
“But I...”
“Stop calling me a ‘butt-eye’ and simply say ‘Yes Your Majesty”,” Lilandra ordered.
Kitty chuckled and said, “Yes Your Majesty.”
“See, that wasn’t so hard,” Lilandra joked. “You see, Captain. A firm hand of discipline is how you keep this one under control,” she said, indicating Kitty.
A voice came from the doorway. “I tried that, but it didn’t work out too well,” said William Riker.
They turned to him. “That is because you are neither captain nor sovereign ruler of an empire,” Lilandra retorted. “It helps to have large armies at your beck and call.”
They chuckled for a moment. Then Riker asked, “Would you mind if I speak to Kitty alone for a moment?”
Picard and Lilandra left the two alone.
“Kitty, I just want to say...”
“Will, you don’t have to. I’ll be tendering my resignation once we get back to Federation territory, and I’ll be submitting myself for military discipline.”
He looked at Kitty for a moment. The he said, “You will be doing no such thing. I came down here to apologize to you.”
“Apologize to me? Will, I’m the one who disobeyed orders. I’m the one who broke the rules. I have to be disciplined. If I’m not, it sends the wrong message.”
“What are you talking about?” Riker asked.
“During World War Two there was an American wet-navy ship, I forget which one. The ship got into a battle with a Japanese ship, and the two pounded each other into scrap. On board was a young lieutenant, just out of the naval academy. It was his first battle, and he was terrified. He was a bridge officer, a communications officer, I think. In any case, the bridge was badly hit, and the captain was badly hurt. Without orders, this young lieutenant took the captain to get medical attention. While under fire from the enemy, the young man carried the wounded captain across the ship and got him to a doctor who saved his life. Do you know what happened to that young lieutenant?”
“I assume he got a medal,” Riker replied.
“He was sentenced to Leavenworth Military Prison and stripped of his rank. Eventually, after serving his full term, he was dishonorably discharged,” she said.
“But why?”
“I told you. He left his post without orders. If something had happened to wipe out the entire chain of command above him, he potentially could have been left in command of the ship. Only he wasn’t there to give orders. Will, the only way that any military or quasi-military organization can function is if everyone follows orders, and if those who don’t follow orders are punished for doing so. Otherwise military discipline breaks down. I broke the rules, Will. I may have been right, but I disobeyed orders, and I broke the faith. I have to be held accountable, or else someone else will get it into their head that it’s okay to break the rules that you don’t think are right. That can’t be allowed to happen.”
Riker considered this. Then he spoke. “I see your point, Kitty, and I don’t disagree with it. Those who break the faith have to be disciplined. But did it ever occur to you that I was the one who broke the faith, not you?”
“Come again?” Kitty said dumbfounded.
“Kitty, you are the third ranking officer on this ship, outranked only by me and the Captain. I was in command. That made you my first officer. Kitty, you did your job as first officer superbly. You handled the personnel issues, the command decisions, all of it perfectly. And when necessary, you questioned my decisions, as a first officer is supposed to do. It was I who didn’t do his job right. It was my job as commander to listen to your points and make informed decisions based on that information. I didn’t listen. As soon as I heard the words ‘solo mission’, I closed my mind to anything you had to say. I didn’t bother trying to figure out why you would put such an insane idea forward. I didn’t ask you why. I didn’t look for the facts. We weren’t in a hurry --- at least not much of one. I could have taken the time to find the facts. I didn’t do that. I instead jumped to snap conclusions. And in doing so, I got members of this crew killed. I broke faith with them, and I broke faith with you. I am the one responsible for that, not you. I didn’t do my job as a commander and listen to you. And I am so, so sorry for that, Kitty.”
“So if there is anyone in need of discipline in this situation, it’s me, not you,” he concluded.
Kitty didn’t know what to say. Ever since she had made the decision to go rogue, she had been prepared to take full responsibility for her actions and face a military tribunal. She had never even considered the possibility that the responsibility was anyone’s but hers.
“Kitty,” said Riker softly, “I don’t want to lose you. You are a damn fine officer and I think you are a good friend too.”
“I haven’t been called a fine officer in a long time, Will,” she said, her eyes tearing up.
“I know. And I think they were wrong,” he replied. “I want you as a member of this crew. So does the Captain. And the rest of the bridge crew. And I know the security department seems to be in awe of you. Ensign Wolcott seems to think you can walk on water. I know you haven’t fit in very well on other ships before this. And I know that things won’t always be easy between us because you have a different perspective on things than anyone I’ve ever met, and I don’t always get you. But I think you fit in here pretty well. I’d like you to reconsider that resignation you were planning on tendering. I’d like you to stay on.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Kitty choked back tears. Then she slowly nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. “If you’ll have me, I’ll stay on.”
“Good. Then it’s settled.” He smiled that incredibly charming smile at her. “Now you rest up, Commander. I expect you back at your station as soon as possible. None of this lollygagging about on my ship, mister.”
“Aye-aye, sir,” she replied with a chuckle.
“Good. Get some rest.” He moved away from the sick bed and started for the door. He stopped halfway through the door and turned back. “Oh, Kitty.”
She looked up at him.
“Welcome home.”
End.