The Needs of Many
A short story by Heidi
She waited patiently as the turbo-lift of the ship ascended the levels to put her at the bridge. It’s hum barely audible. She waited calmly, holding an iron bar in her hand.
The door opened and Hecatri entered the bridge. People acknowledged her presence
by a nod of the head or a quick glance. Only commander Saavik had a faintly quizzical
expression on her face. But she had no time to quiery Hecatri’s arrival, for there was a disturbance in the air.
This was also the moment Hecatri had awaited – even anticipated the timing, for there was a powerful being that demonstated god-like powers and he had been annoying the crew of the USS Hawkins for the last month, appearing at will (despite their security measures). The Hawkins was en route to the 128 Nerosian system to act as brokers of peace between 2 enemies on the planet Thoria. Anymore delays would diminish the chances of peace. Intolerable.
The hum and orange glow of a being materializing by a transporter appeared. Hecatri
had only a couple of seconds to do what she felt was the best option.
She simply held out the iron bar into the assembling particles, and held it there.
The being – who called himself M’Fistto, solidified; and the shocked look on his face was only matched by the shocked look on the faces of the bridge crew.
Only Saavik and the captain were seemingly indifferent to what had just happened. In fact, Captain Delaney showed a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.
M’Fistto stared at Hecatri as she leaned toward him and said in a whisper, “The needs
of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one”.
Then M’Fistto – not so god-like now, dropped dead.
CHAPTER TWO
Captain Delaney didn’t know what to do for a moment, then he gave his orders
“Security – take the body to sickbay. Ensign Hecatri – follow me”.
She promptly followed him through another door to his office.
Once inside, he motioned for her to sit down.. “have a seat, ensign".
Delaney looked at her, her face a mask that was as unreadable as a Vulcan’s,
“Too damn lika a Vulcan at times” he thought to himself.
He addressed Hecatri..
“ I can see why you’re Saavik’s protégé. Do you have any regrets as to what
you’ve just done, ensign?”. “Only in having to resort to the taking of a life
sir. But I saw no other option left. The lives of THOUSANDS could be lost
as a result of M’Fistto delaying us any further”.
“Yes, I agree. War is the Thorians way. I think you did the right thing. In
fact I want you with me as a part of the delegation, your training in logical
discussions could help us".
“Sir,” replied Hecatri thoughtfully “with all due respect, isn't Saavik, T’Lar
or Stonn a better choice? Their powers of reasoning are far superiorer.”
“Be that as it may, the Thorians are somewhat xenophobic towards species that
don’t look like themselves, I’d be wiser to keep an all-human team with me”.
“Yes sir, I’ll be ready”. Hecatri replied.
“Good. You’re dismissed ensign”.
CHAPTER THREE
Outside was the unreadable, unperturbed face. Inside was turmoil. “ How COULD
she?!” Thought Saavik to herself. She was furious that Hecatri had taken another
life, in an ingenius way she had to admit, but it was WRONG.
Saavik wondered
where SHE had gone wrong. Hecatri was her pupil, a HUMAN one, but one who had
embraced the teachings of Surak with enthusiasm and sincerity. She lived out
as best she could (for a human) the principles she’d embraced. But right now
Saavik had other pressing matters that needed attending to.
Over the last
month there had been small warning signs that the captain wasn’t fit for command.
Now, the seven concerned commanders talked together. They felt the last two
weeks events and their captains behaviour warranted their chosen course of
action. “Are we agreed, then?” asked commander Phillips.
“Yes”
“Yes,certainly”
“I concur”
Phillips was the second in command. Commander Oldman spoke next
“Then we must see Doctor deGracia to have Delaney relieved of command on medical
grounds”. “Then let’s do it” said Phillips solemnly.
CHAPTER FOUR
Half an hour later…
The intercom piped the message through to ensign Hecatri –
“Ensign Hecatri, ensign Hecatri! Report to Commander Saaviks quarters, report
to Commander Saaviks quarters!”.
“Help me God!” prayed Hecatri.
Deck 5, Saaviks quarters…
The door swished open and Hecatri entered. The environmental settings were
set to be a lot hotter than most of the ship. It was like a Florida heatwave,
and the lighting was subdued but she could see Saavik waiting for her. She
was not in the red and black uniform, but wore a long simple dress, cream
coloured and flowing, with the IDIC brooch attached to a cream cloak.
Though
no emotion showed, Hecatri knew Saavik was furious with her. She walked quickly
into the room and knelt down, bowing low and stayed in that position. Trembling,
she said nothing.
She wondered if Saavik was going to say anything,
Finally she did.
“Explain!”. Though she didin’t raise her voice,there was a force to it.
“I believed it was the right course of action,so I took it”.
“How long had you thought about it?”
“The idea came three days ago”.
“And yet you did not talk to me about this. You took it upon yourself to take action that resulted in the death of another being”.
“I chose the death of one over the potential deaths of THOUSANDS”.
Silence ensued for a moment. Saavik spoke again, “POTENTIAL”. She spoke low, there was a hint of anger in her voice, and Hecatri wondered if she would walk out from there or need a stretcher. Fear started to build up within her.
“There was POTENTIAL to reason with M’Fistto, IF I had the opportunity. Perhaps YOU could of reasoned with him. It seems you have favoured violence and brutish tactics over peaceful negotiations. That is NOT what I have taught you. I doubt that you have had a personal encounter with him from his previous incursions. Were you aware of all the facts necessary to come to that decision?”.
The last sentence was a challenge. A challenge to speak the truth regardless of the consequences. Wether the captain approved of her actions or not was irrelevant to her teachers views. With only the slightest hesitation, Hecatri answered
“No, I guess I wasn’t”.
“You GUESS”. Saavik intoned these words in a way that Hecatri felt was similar to being stabbed with a knife.
All hope of forgiveness leeched away.
Saavik let the seconds pass before changing the direction of the conversation.
“What were you FEELING when you murdered M’Fistto?”
“N..n.nothing. I disassociated from my feelings so I could go through with it”. Hecatri’s nervous stammer came back. Something that she hadn’t had since her first few weeks at the academy.
“Convenient”. Replied Saavik
“Th..that doesn’t mean I have no regrets! I have to live with it o..o..on my conscience. It wasn’t something I WANTED to do, but I did because I honestly thought all else had f..failed!”.
The outburst was raw emotion, Hecatri felt the tears welling up, brimming to overflow.
“Why did you not discuss this plan with me?”.
Hecatri knew her answer would condemn her. “I was afraid you would disapprove".
The tears fell to the floor, in a barely audible whisper that no human ear
would have heard, she said “I’m very sorry”.
CHAPTER 5
If she were a Romulan, if she let herself be – Saavik would have let her anger
feed itself and give vent to it. But she had chosen the way of Peace, she
had chosen the way of logic. She had also chosen (she reminded herself)
to take on a HUMAN pupil. She doubted she would ever understand humans, and
she would be in danger of being a hypocrite if she didn’t make sure she was
considering ALL the facts too. Hecatri wasn’t fully human, she too was half-Romulan.
She too struggled with the intensity of emotions that came with that race.
Humans…. Romulans… both so emotional and illogical, ruled very often by their feelings.
Saavik felt the anger dwindle. Should she expect perfection?! Should
Hecatri NEVER fail?!. Saavik knew only too well of her own failings – and
of the patience Dr.McCoy, Spock, Sarak and Amanda had shown her. They HADN’T
written her off.
CHAPTER 6
Saavik looked down at the kneeling figure before her. This was a tradional posture that Vulcans used to show contrition, humility and vunerability. (In pre-reform times, one was vunerable to being struck dead by one who chose to withhold forgiveness).
Waves of compassion flooded her soul. Hecatri was
only human after all, and as Saavik mused with humourous self-assessment –
Hecatri had an imperfect teacher. So when she spoke next, she was careful
to adopt a tone of voice she had learnt that Humans found re-assuring, comforting.
“I have expected too much from you”. She lay her hand on Hecatri’s head, indicating
Forgiveness bestowed, then she walked to the low couch.
“Come, sit”.
Hecatri obliged and Saavik offered Chaal to drink (a Vulcan tea). Hecatri’s
hands were shaking too much to hold the cup steady, so she set it on the table.
“Actions have consequences…” said Saavik “ are you prepared to face them?”.
“Yes, as far as I am able” replied Hecatri.
They spoke long into the night, pupil and teacher, repairing the friendship and understanding one another more,
THE END
