The Dyak

part 5:

"Captain, Vice Admiral Nash has sent a tape of a hearing on Hardia," Carson said. 
"The Rex-Nex trial?" Church guessed. 
"Yes, sir," Carson agreed. "The Vice-admiral has requested you watch it." 
"In private?" the captain asked. 
"There was no mention of that, sir," the communications officer replied. "May we watch it with you? I've been following that case." 
"As I have, Captain," Baden said. "Treason cases are quite remarkable in this day and time." 
Peter agreed, "Let the whole Bridge watch it." 
"Why would he send it to you?" Johnson asked. 
"Ask him the next time you see him," Peter said in mild irritation. This whole episode in his life bothered him more than he realized. Every time he thought of Sheeka in his arms, Sheeka lying beneath him, his shaft reacted.

"Shall I play it then?" Carson asked Church. His nod set him fingers swiftly moving over the keys.
Peter watched with only half interest until a Dyak male took the stand. He sat up, moved to the edge of his chair. Only Baden and Johnson noticed his sudden interest, and they too paid closer attention to the male on the stand. He did not look like Yeoman Sheeka, but the voice was definitely his. Church, Baden and Johnson recognized it immediately. 
"I am Dr. Hee Vinst. I am...I was...a psychiatrist at the Trauma center on Star Base four." 
"And what did you do there?" the prosecutor asked. 
"I was in charge of therapy for people with severe injuries, mental and emotional." 
"Were you in charge of only Dyaks?" the Fleet lawyer inquired. 
"No, and not just Confederation members either." 
"Do you mean you took care of Urbuns and Vendits as well?" 
"Objection," the defense attorney grumbled. "He's leading the witness." 
"Objection sustained; rephrase your question," the head judge ordered. 
"Dr. Vinst, when you said you took care of non-federation patients in addition to those who did belong to the Federation, what did you mean?" the prosecutor asked. 
"I took care of anyone and everyone who came to our center and was assigned to me by my supervisor. These included Urbuns and Vendits." 
"So it wasn't unusual to see these aliens, specifically..." And the Fleet lawyer glanced quickly at the defense who immediately sneered in disdain, "Urbuns and Vendits?" 
"That is correct, Commander Dais," Sheeka--Dr. Vinst replied. 
"Were you in charge of Rex-Nex?" 
"I was." 
"What was your diagnosis of his illness?" 
"Besides delusions of grandeur, there was nothing wrong with him. My supervisor verified my finds when he examined his files." 
"I submit prosecution exhibit A, your honors," the Prosecutor told the panel of judges responsible for making a finding in the treason case, Confederation versus Rex-Nex, citizen of Hardia. He handed the yellow chip to the head judge. "This is the medical record of Rex-Nex. It has been sealed by the Fleet, and requires a security clearance of One-A-A to open it." 

The main judge, an admiral, announced, "I have that clearance." The tape was inserted into the computer, played for the panel, and then entered it into the court records. 
The prosecutor returned to Sheeka. "Dr. Vinst, why was Rex-Nex there at your center?" 
"Objection!" the defense attorney rose with sharp haste. "Your honor, it calls for a conjecture on the part of the witness!" A look of annoyance passed quickly over his thin, grey face. 

"Objection sustained," the head judge agreed. "Continue your questioning in a different vein, Commander." 
On and on the questioning went, and when it was the defense's turn, Rex-Nex's attorney asked crude questions, insinuating remarks about the type of character he had. "Wasn't it true, doctor, that you made sexual overtures toward my client, and when he refused, you became enraged? So angry in fact, you falsified his records and set him up for treason?" 
"No," the Dyak answered calmly. 
The attorney continued in that vein, but Sheeka's coolness, his detachment (gained from handling crude and obnoxious patients), disconcerted him. It became clear in no time that he was losing control of the case. Rex-Nex protested his words, claimed his innocence again and again. Only the judges' threats of forcible silence quelled his noise. 
At the end, all ten judges declared him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment without parole. 
"Good!" Carson said in triumph. 
"Indeed," Baden agreed. 

The scene shifted to a news cast as reporters from throughout the Confederation system tried to get the Dyak to answer their questions. Suddenly, a man with a weapon ran toward him, somehow making it past the guards that surrounded him. A bright light filled the screen. When it cleared, they saw the Dyak doctor -- Sheeka-- lying on the ground. People began screaming: "Get a doctor! He's been injured!" And then: "He's dead! 
"NO!" Peter cried out. Johnson placed a comforting hand on the Captain's shoulder. 
The scene changed to Nash in his office. "Captain, the next part of the tape is scrambled. It cannot be duplicated, and it will self-erase as it plays." The Confederation emblem appeared. 
"Transfer it to my quarters," Church ordered Carson. He did so, and when Church unscrambled the tape in his room, Nash reappeared. 
"Captain Church, I have someone here who wishes to say good by to you." He moved aside and a Dyak male took his place. Peter did not recognize him for he neither looked like Sheeka nor the doctor at the hearing. Then he smiled. 
"Thank God," Church said in joy. The difference in facial features, the change in coloring, could not disguise that smile; It was Sheeka. 
"Peter, I will never forget you. You are very special to me and you always will be. The nights I spent in your arms meant a lot to me. Thank you for being so kind to me. I was not hurt in that attack; it was not real. Vice-admiral Nash planned it for my protection. To everyone else, I am dead, but I could not bear to let you think that. The Vice-Admiral was kind enough to agree to this tape. Good by, my friend, my love, and again, thank you." 
"Good by," Peter murmured. 

Nash's face came back on the screen. "I too shall say good-by. Rest assured, we will take good care of your friend. You have my permission to inform your first office and your chief medical officer about Sheeka's identity." The tape ended. 
Church called both Baden and Johnson into his quarters, explained things. Baden said, "I see. I do not understand why I did not come to that conclusion as I sought to solve the mystery of the yeoman's presence and departure." 
"Even if you had guessed and had told me," Church admitted, "I could not have acknowledged the validity of your words." 
"Accepted," Baden said gravely. 
"Is he going to be all right?" Johnson asked. 
"I hope so," Church replied, his mind no longer on their conversation for his thoughts were on Sheeka. The others saw the distance in his eyes and left him to his memories. 

The Confederation put the father on trial. It was drawn out. Before it was over, the old
Hardian died of a heart attack.
One month later, they took on a Dyak yeoman, an underling-aide to the Captain. The yeoman came to Church's door and rang for admittance. "Enter," Church said, his whole being distant. He knew he was getting a Dyak for an underling; he did not want the Dyak. He told Baden that. The Chre priest only stared coolly back. "All right! All right!" And now the Dyak was here. 
The door swooshed opened and the Dyak entered. It closed.
"Hello, Peter," he said softly and smiled.
Church's heart expanded in joyfulness. "Sheeka!"