From: neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Neale Davidson)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: STTUQ 13/15
Date: 2 Sep 92 02:50:33 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center


 
  - STAR TREK      ---------------------------------------------------
  - THE UNFAIR QUO ---------------------------------------------------
 
  Part Thirteen of Fifteen
 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  CHAPTER THIRTEEN
 
        The ladies had been beamed in, one at a time, in front of
  Riley and Sulu. The Star Fleet office was sparse, except for a
  few notable pieces of antique weaponry that Sulu had been
  allowed some time to pack in. But the newest Admiral hadn't yet
  been given proper time to dress his new workplace.
        It had taken only a few moments for the Admiral to summon
  them here, much to the relief of Riley, who had expected the
  women cringe at the thought of discussing the matter amoungst
  themselves.
        But cicumstances were different than normal. The
  women didn't have to take it upon themselves to report their
  incidents, they were being asked. Perhaps, it helped as
  well that the three of them had suffered the same fate and
  Grissom, and that there were understanding souls who could
  share and relate their experiences.
        The first, the one sitting most to Riley's left, was
  Lieutenant Commander Tierra Washington. She was rather
  smallish, and almost fatally attractive. "Admiral," she greeted
  as she took her seat. "Captain Riley, it is a pleasure to
  finally meet you."
        "I am flattered," Riley answered flatly, thankful that
  Saavik was elsewhere.
        The second was Lea Thomas, considerably older than her
  Star Fleet visual records, but no less pleasant in expression.
  "Hello, Captain, Admiral," she greeted nervously, having
  forgotten Fleet protocol.
        Last came Mary Quix, who said nothing as she took her
  seat. Of the three, she seemed the most hesitant to be here.
  Understandble, considering the circumstances, but Riley
  needed her to be somewhat talkative. She had to at least tell
  them all what had happened aboard the ACUTIS.
        "The first thing I want all of you to know is that you
  are not alone," Riley began, trying to sound as relaxed as
  possible. "No one here is going to force you to speak. But I
  want you all to know that there is a young woman resting on the
  ENTERPRISE who's gone through the very same thing that you
  have. And I don't want it to happen again."
        "Heito," Tierra began coldly, "Captain Heito should be
  punished for what he did to me. But I couldn't report it, I
  tried," she continued painfully. "Admiral Keyan told me that
  reporting the incident would hurt my career."
        "At least you got that far," Mary Quix snorted. "I just
  left the ship and tried to forget about it." She let out a
  breath, forcing her body to relax.
        "No one's blaming any of you," Sulu replied caringly. "I
  know that this must have been difficult for you," he began.
        "How could you know?" Lea suddenly snapped. "No one ever
  did anything like that to you. No one forced themselves inside
  of you, Admiral. No one told you how you were supposed to
  feel, and how cheap you were because you wanted it." Her temper
  flared, causing her stern face to redden.
        "No he didn't," Riley snapped back in reply. "And maybe
  he can't relate with the experience. I can, I've seen enough of
  it on Hellguard to know exactly what it is. You've got the
  chance to stop it now, and all I'm asking is for your help. How
  many more is it going to take before Heito is stopped?"
        "If you know what he did," Lea replied, "then why aren't
  you prosecuting? Why do you need us?"
        Riley sat back, trying to calm himself, cursing himself
  for never dealing with other people's feelings more often. "I
  need you because this is mainly a case of word against word.
  Grissom's got a bad reputation in Star Fleet, and Heito has a
  chance to get off the charges."
        "You want us to testify," Quix contiuned for him. "You
  want us to go to court." The thought, for the trio of women, 
  was disturbing. It was hard enough to relieve the experience 
  here, nevertheless in front of a review board, in front of 
  their aggressor.
        "I do," Riley admitted, "I do want you to help me 
  prosecute Heito. With your help we can put him away." The women 
  hesitated, unsure of themselves. "Look, I think he's done this 
  to eight women already, and he's still in charge of that ship. 
  I don't want someone else to get hurt."
        "I'll do it," Lea muttered. "Since it's not a secret 
  anymore, I'll help you." Riley offered his hand to hers, 
  shaking it firmly. "It's been hard living with myself since 
  then, but maybe I can make it up to myself."
        The other two were more hesitant, but more receptive 
  after Lea's decision. "I'll prepare a statement," Quix 
  responded. "I don't want to sit in a courtroom. I can't take 
  that," she admitted, with a bit of shame.
        Tierra was the last to agree, pressured by the weight of 
  the room. "I'll take him to court with you, Captain," she 
  decided with a wavering voice. "It won't be easy for any of us, 
  but you're right. More people are going to be hurt if we don't 
  do anything."
        Riley crossed his arms. He had his suspect, and now he
  had three more victims, ready to tesitfy against him. All he
  needed to do now was to confront and capture Captain Heito
  before the ACUTIS left orbit.
 
-- 

"Our crew's living quarters have left the ship."
			- Secundam Yto aboard the IRON CLAW II
Neale Davidson, another writer wanna-be. neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative