The silence in the room felt thick as Freya and Meng observed each other. "You asked for this meeting, I believe now is when you speak." Freya said, breaking the silence. She focused her attention on Meng but couldn't help but notice Brian scowl or the surprised look on Lana's face.
"I agree with you." Meng said. "The violence has to end. The bombings weren't supposed to hurt anyone - merely make a statement."
"A show of force." Freya said. "And I imagine to show that you could circumvent security. Nothing more irritating to Commander Bonwick than not being able to catch a criminal - except perhaps not being able to catch an embryotic criminal."
Meng nodded to acknowledge her statements as truth. "That statement being made - we want peace as much as you do."
"What are your objectives?" Freya asked. "What do you hope to accomplish?"
"Freedom, equality..." Meng said before Freya cut him off.
"You're going to have to be more specific than that. The Council would argue that no real restrictions on movement are placed on embryotic or Quuvarii - though the security check points are more numerous in the lower decks - no one is stopped without due cause." she said.
"And you accept that?" Meng asked, for a fraction of a second doubt crossed over his face before being replaced with his typical calm.
"The Council is the only entity that can give you what you want - what I believe, what I accept is irrelevant. I'm merely telling you what arguments you will face if you gain an audience." Freya kept her face impassive.
"Then why are you even here!?" Brian rushed forward, slamming his hands hard into the table. His body was tense and his face was creased with anger.
Freya turned her gaze from Meng to Brian just as Meng stood to push Brian back. "I'm here Brian Garrett..." she paused a moment as all three looked at her in shock. "Because he requested me." she concluded motioning toward Meng. "Perhaps you should ask him."
"And perhaps you should tell me how you know who I am!" Brian shouted.
"Brian Garrett, parents George and Annabelle; both first generation embryotics. George Garrett was a respected member of the maintenance crew until last year when he died in an engineering accident. You have two siblings, both younger." Freya watched as the anger just about radiated from his body. "And you broke you leg two years ago. I've seen your medical record - before it, your parents' and your siblings' records all vanished from the system. I checked - after I saw you on the broadcast." Freya turned toward Meng, who still looked startled though she could tell he was trying to get his normally calm visage back. "How did you do that anyway?"
Brian pushed past Meng's outstretched arm and got in Freya's face. "It's not any of your business...Doctor! And if you tell anyone..."
Freya didn't flinch, even when their noses almost touched due to proximity. "Mr. Garrett, I don't care who you are; I don't care about who your family is. If I was of a mind to tell Commander Bonwick who they were, I would have already and they would all be sitting in the brig right now in an effort to lure you out of hiding."
"Brian! Back off." Meng said physically pulling him away from Freya. "Take a walk." he said shoving him toward the door. He turned his attention back to Freya. "You're full of surprises Doctor; if I were you, I wouldn't provoke Brian."
"He's a liability. He doesn't see things the same way you do." Freya said, still watching the doorway that Brian had left from.
"Do you? See things the way I do?" Meng asked.
"As I said, that's irrelevant. I have no sway with the Council, so I'm not the one you need to convince." Freya said.
"True - but let's consider it a mutual exchange of ideas. Humor me." he said with just the barest hint of a smirk.
"I can appreciate your cause; the prejudice, segregation and discrimination on this ship is abhorrent. Your methods - even as a statement - will not win you favor though. In fact, you have damage control you need to do." Freya said. "As it stands, you are feared by those that should support you and you are merely an annoying itch to those you wish to reach."
-----
"There you go! She's missed a duty shift! NOW will you look for her?" Andy pushed, smiling appreciatively at the confused nurse.
"As I said; it will get the appropriate attention it deserves." Bonwick said.
"It?! SHE; Commander...SHE is a person!" Julian snarled. If he could have risen, he would have stood and towered over her; as it was, he couldn't and he hated himself for it.
"If you are unsatisfied with method in which we give priority, you can take it up with the Captain or the Council." Bonwick said with a sick, twisted smile.
"Believe me, I will!" Andy said before storming out of the office, followed closely by Julian and the nurse. Nurse White left them and Andy turned toward Julian. "Do you think your Aunt would help at all? Ya know, put some pressure on Bonwick?"
Julian looked at her surprised. "My Aunt doesn't like that I'm dating Freya, I don't think she would go out of her way..."
"Would she do it for you? She's a Council member! If I can get to Captain Hunt and you can get your Aunt - maybe Bonwick will actually DO something instead of just sit there looking pleased."
"I'll talk to her." Julian looked dismayed at the prospect of talking to his Aunt about Freya.
"Fine, then I'll go find Captain Hunt - he seems to like Freya, maybe he can fire a torpedo under Bonwick." Andy said; before Julian could reply, she hurried away from him, in search of Captain Hunt, leaving Julian to track down his Aunt.
-----
They'd been talking for well over an hour and Freya could feel it and the sleep on the cold metal bench in her body. She shifted in the chair only as much as she had to. Brian had returned and appeared to have calmed down but Freya didn't want to give any of them a sign of weakness.
"Why don't we take a break?" Meng said just about the time Freya was going to have to come up with an excuse to stand and walk around a bit. You can get cleaned up a bit if you like."
"Of course." Freya said. "I can go back to my quarters, check in with the Ward, I'm sure I've missed a shift by now." she saw Brian shift his weight awkwardly. "Be back in a hour?"
"You'll understand if I send someone with you to make sure you don't come knocking with a security team - an hour doesn't give us much time to relocate after all." Meng said. She knew that he hadn't planned on having her return to her quarters then but didn't seem to want to alarm her.
"Of course." Freya said. "I have no intention of doing such a thing but I can understand your concern" she said. "You, I'm sure, will understand if I ask for a different escort than before." she looked over at Brian, who she knew had been the rougher of the pair that had nabbed her before. "Perhaps the boy..." she said.
"Boy?" Meng looked questioningly at Lana, who whispered in his ear. "Ah yes. I don't see that as a problem." he nodded to Lana who disappeared through the door. They passed a few minutes in silence when Lana returned and nodded to Meng. "Your escort awaits Doctor." he motioned for the door.
Freya didn't look surprised when she saw Ash waiting for her on the other side of the door. They walked in silence through the bowels of the ship. There were quicker paths to her quarters but she imagined he'd be instructed to keep her out of sight so no one stopped them along the way to ask questions. When Ash stopped in front of a door, they weren't in front of her quarters. "Does he know you tried to release me that night?" Freya asked.
Ash's eyes were wide with shock. "How did you...?"
"Your voice." Freya responded. "These aren't my quarters Ash." she changed the subject to his evident relief.
"Your roommate may have seen you, asked questions about where you'd been." Ash said, pressing his hand to the door pad. A bright green glow emanated from the device as it scanned him and then the door slid open for them. "There's a shower, some clothes and I can get some food for you if you like."
Freya took in the surroundings as she considered her situation. She didn't think she was being held captive - not exactly anyway. Others would worry though. Had Andy or Julian noticed she was gone, had the Captain? Or had Meng informed him that she was safe? "Food would be appreciated." Freya said scooping up the set of clothes on the table and disappearing into the small bedroom with adjoining bathroom. She felt odd being out of her uniform during 'diplomatic talks'. Ash had a selection of fruits and a sandwich waiting for her when she emerged. As hungry as she should have been, she merely pecked at the food before indicating to Ash that she was ready to leave. He took her back to their previous location but a completely different route; perhaps hoping to disorient her so she couldn't ever find those small, hidden quarters again.
-----
Once they were seated across from each other, the silence from earlier resumed. Each side was watching the other, waiting for the other to say or do something. Meng was expecting some comment about not being returned to her quarters while Freya wasn't entirely sure what to expect. "You know what I think?" she said finally.
"What do you think Doctor?" Meng asked, prepared to defend his decision. The others seemed to tense and closed in behind their leader protectively.
"You would make an excellent tactician." Freya said.
Meng was startled. Again. He hated being surprised like this. "Why do you say that?" he asked to cover his surprise.
"You assess a situation, you do so quickly and reach a decision with what seems like very little thought but in fact, you are simply that good. That skill, with your presence means that few would question a decision you make." she said.
"My presence?" Meng inquired.
"Yes, your presence. You didn't set out to be a leader or even a revolutionary but you have a certain charisma that attracts people to you; as a leader, they follow you because of the way you are, the way you act. You are completely confident in every decision you make." Freya explained. Until then she seemed distracted, casual even as she assessed his general character. She focused her gaze on him and locked eyes with him. "Except one."
"Which one?" he said, not taking his eyes from her gaze.
"Me." Freya said, "Your tactical ability, while outstanding, is clouded by the general assumption that all embryotics must want what you want."
"You don't?" Meng asked.
"Actually I do." Freya said. Meng narrowed his eyes, and was about to question her further but Freya spoke first. "Why did you choose me?"
"Because you're one of us." he said without missing a beat.
"No, I'm not. I'm an embryotic - but I'm not one of you." she countered.
"They are one in the same. Or will be." Meng said confidently.
"No, they're not." Freya said, sounding disappointed. "I told you earlier that the only people you had to convince were the Council members; that's not true." she said. "You claim to represent all embryotics, all Quuvari but you haven't convinced them that your goals are their goals - you assumed that they would see your way immediately. And now innocent people who had never heard of the Sons of Liberty until your broadcast will be persecuted, implicated; they'll lose their jobs, their belongings, their families..."
"Which is why we need change!" Meng said loudly, angrily even - showing the first crack in the calm facade he displayed. Within a moment, he seemed perfectly calm again but his eyes were on fire.
Freya stood quickly and leaned in toward Meng; softly, just a whisper almost, "But you didn't ask them if they were willing to risk all that." She straightened up and looked from him to the others still in the room. "You will get people killed, good people will lose everything - what little they had - because of you. Is that what you hope to get from this?"
"To be fair Doctor, you don't know the strength of the Sons of Liberty." Lana piped up after a moment of heavy silence.
"You're right, I don't. But I know enough to know that as things stand, you will lose and a lot of good people will lose in the process. Bonwick is ready to begin a witch hunt and SHE has the support of the Council. They will force you out by hurting the people you claim to represent; other embryotics and Quuvari will pay for your revolution. Bonwick and the Council will bank on the fact that you won't want to see your 'kind' persecuted." Freya shook her head. "Your 'statements'; the explosions, the injured people, have all made you the villains - like I said - you have damage control to do. In the mean time I suggest you stay quiet so emotions can calm down."
"You want us to give up." Lana sounded disgusted.
"No. I want you to play smart - consider the people you're dealing with. They are the law - they can rule by fear."
"The more they tighten their grip, the more people will slip through their fingers." Meng said; once again an image of confidence.
-----
"Captain!" Andy was exasperated. "She's missing, a member of your crew is missing - doesn't that concern you?"
"I have every confidence in Commander Bonwick's ability to find Doctor Ryan." Captain Hunt said simply. "I suggest that you not concern yourself with it any further and leave it in the hands of our security team."
"But Captain Hunt..." Andy was cut off when he turned his full, piercing gaze on her.
"Lieutenant, I understand she is a friend but this is not your concern or department. Dismissed." Hunt said sternly.
Andy furrowed her brow, still wanting to argue the point but nodded slowly. "Yes Captain." she said quietly and left the bridge to hunt for Julian. She hoped he'd had better luck. She found him in his quarters looking glum - of course he'd look glum a lot lately. "No luck either?"
"Aunt Theresa has absolute confidence in Commander Bonwick. When I told her I had to leave to meet you; she perked up - you are apparently a more suitable match for me than Freya..." Julian said looking disgusted. He looked up at Andy looked sheepish. "No offense."
"None taken." Andy said. "I can't believe the Captain brushed me off. I thought he liked her - he even asked her to meet with the Sons..."
she was thinking aloud mostly, but Julian's head shot up at the end. "What are you talking about?!"
Andy looked at him surprised. "She didn't tell you? Oh shit..."
The cool, salty breeze coming off the ocean surrounded her as she stood at the edge of cliff. Below, in contrast to the deep sense of calmness she felt, harsh ocean waves beat against the rocks. Even as high as she was, a fine mist occasionally enveloped her. The glittery blue of the water was breathtaking.
And it was all an illusion.
Freya knew, deep in the back of her mind, that she couldn't really be standing on this cliff. She knew she didn't own a dress like the one she was wearing. She knew she hadn't stepped foot on the surface of a planet since she was twelve.
And yet she could feel the mist from ocean. She could feel the rocks under her bare feet. She could smell the salt in the area. She even shivered as a particularly cold blast of air brushed across her skin.
Freya frowned, wanting to rationalize what she was seeing and feeling with what she knew to be fact.
"Why so sad sweets?" he asked from behind her. His hand slipped into hers. Julian's voice, Julian's hand.
"This isn't real." Freya said.
"It's real somewhere; it real in here." he said placing a hand over her heart.
"Am I dreaming?" she asked.
"Probably." he said simply. "Why are you so sad Freya?"
"I'm not sad." Freya protested.
"Yes you are. I know you well enough to know when you're sad." Julian said with a familiar smirk on his face. "There's something...out there..." he motioned toward the horizon but she knew he meant outside this little dream world. "Something is making you sad, or frightened?"
"I'm fine. Just hold me?" she asked leaning into his arms. He wrapped them around her and together they watched as the sky turned pink and orange. She didn't see when he left, she never even felt his arms leave her but there she was, alone. The fear and sadness and anger and frustration beat against her much like the water below beat against the rocks.
"What were you thinking?!" a female voice broke through the haze of Freya's dream. It sounded miles away from her but Freya turned her attention toward the voice, trying to hear over the noise of the ocean.
Freya was sure someone else was with the woman, probably replied to her outburst but Freya couldn't hear the reply; she just knew he was there.
"You!" the female voice again. "Go get Meng, he's going to be pissed." Freya's dream faded into nothingness as she started to wake up. She stayed still and kept her eyes closed in case they were watching her. She heard the quick footsteps of whoever the woman had sent away.
There was silence between the two - Freya knew there were still two people in the room. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the sound of running water but that made little sense. She opened her eye just enough to get a look around the room, keeping herself as still as she could on the cold metal. She recognized both of them instantly - from the broadcast by the Sons of Liberty. The male was looking smug and the female paced the room fuming. She shot occasional daggers at the man.
Freya closed her eyes. The woman had not been one of her captors but the smug male was probably the rougher of the two. Again, Freya heard the sound of liquid running, it echoed above the room followed by the occasional churn of machinery. She was trying to determine the significance when the loud clank of a metal door reverberated through the room. She kept herself still as the two - yes there were two - people entered the space.
She could feel people closing in on her and tried to feign sleep. A pair of warm fingers pressed against her neck - to ascertain she was alive. Before he could remove his fingers, the smug male piped up from the back of the room. "I didn't kill her - she's perfectly fine."
"You're an idiot Brian." a new voice replied; he was very close to her, probably belonged to the man with the fingers on her neck. It was familiar to Freya and surprisingly calm. He removed his fingers and the air cleared as the people surrounding her moved away. "You were supposed to escort her, not kidnap her!" Meng said; she was sure this was Meng - the leader, or spokesperson anyway, of the Sons of Liberty.
"She's here isn't she?" Brian replied, his voice still smug. They continued to argue and Freya decided it was as good a time as any to 'wake up'. Slowly sitting up, they didn't notice her at first but Brian saw her first. "And she's awake. Finally."
For the first time, Freya wondered just how long she'd been here. Had she missed her duty shift? Had anyone noticed she was gone? She only had a moment to consider these things as the trip from the broadcast surrounded her.
-----
"Julian!" Andy exclaimed. She was growing frustrated with his disinterest. "Are you hearing what I'm saying?"
"You found Freya's data pad and want me to give it to her, I get it Andy." Julian said rolling his eyes. "She hasn't been by all day but I'm sure she'll come by eventually." he voice was a mix of anger and sadness as he thought about Freya. Why hadn't she come by yet? He'd been ready to apologize for his behavior but then she didn't come...
"No!" Andy cried.
"You don't want me to give it to her?" Julian asked confused.
"Yes I do but that's not what I'm saying Julian!" Andy said, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers. "She's not in her quarters, she's not in the ward, she's not on the Deck, she's not here - I can't find her."
"Maybe she doesn't want to be found." Julian said.
Andy rolled her eyes. "This is Freya we're talking about, you and work are her life - when she's stressed about you she works, when she's stressed about work she comes to you and she isn't in either of those places."
"You're point?" he asked.
"She's missing!" Andy exclaimed.
-----
"I must apologize for the method in which you were brought to see us Doctor." Meng said, offering his hand to help Freya stand.
Brian scoffed behind him. "Well you didn't want her knowing one of our hideouts did you? She'd go back to tell the Captain or security...."
Meng held up a hand to silence Brian, to his credit Brian shut up. "You needn't have bothered." Freya said, "I know where I am." she said calmly. Brian looked suspicious; Meng looked surprised.
"Do tell." Meng offered.
Freya pointed toward the ceiling but didn't actually look up. "This is one of the old water filtration units - stopped being used about thirty years ago when newer systems were installed - directly above them. There were two, one was recycled into a cargo bay. This one, deck 2, section A - was not ever really used for anything else since then. I also remember ninety percent of the trip here in a blindfold, I imagine Brian there knocked me out with an injection once they were in an area that no one would see them carrying me unconscious."
Meng was impressed, that much was clear. "Very good Doctor - how did you know?"
"I have a good memory." Freya said by way of explanation.
Brian rolled his eyes. "She's just going to run back and tell them exactly where to find us Meng! We need to deal with her now!"
"I'm not in the business of killing." Meng said simply. "Although he raises an interesting point Doctor. Why tell us that you know so much?"
Brian stalked away from them before Freya could reply. She followed his movements for a moment before turning her attention back to Meng.
"I am tasked with getting your trust, I could have kept it a secret, returned to the Captain, told him everything and ended the problem - except it wouldn't have and you know that. There are four of you here - or there were, I'm not sure where the boy went. A raid from security would have escalated the problem; renewed violence would have broken out and a lot of people would have been hurt or died. All in order to free you, the leader of this group. I have no doubt that there are a small cells of the Sons all over the ship. Even you probably don't know all their identities." Freya said. "So now you know that I know. I have given up any value in the information. If you decide to trust me, you can stay here and continue to use it as a hide out; if not, you can leave long before I could ever reach the Captain."
Meng sat back in his chair, considering the doctor's observations. "You're very smart Doctor."
"Yes." Freya said simply. "So are you, you'll leave after whatever this is ends. You will erase all evidence of being here - just in case. You may want to trust me, but you don't - not yet. I don't blame you really. You have many lives to consider. So do I, which is why I didn't struggle or raise any sort of alarm when your men took me. The violence has to stop. That's why I'm here isn't it?"
"Yes." Meng said still in thought. "Hmm, you are....unexpected."
-----
Andy finally convinced Julian that Freya's absence was more than her just hiding herself for several hours. So together they faced Commander Bonwick. "She's missing Commander." Andy bit her tongue to keep her tone in check.
"Has she missed a duty shift?" Bonwick asked.
"Not that I'm aware of." Andy replied, Julian merely shrugged. Andy wanted to smack him for his apparent lack of concern about Freya's well-being.
"Then she's not missing." Bonwick replied.
"What?!" Andy asked startled. "She can't be found, and this is a spaceship - there's only so many places she could be!"
"We have protocol Lieutenant." Bonwick said. "If she misses a duty shift, the situation changes and it will be given the appropriate priority." she said with a sick smile.
"Meaning?" Julian spoke up for the first time.
"I'm sure you know Mr. Ice." Bonwick replied.
"You mean because she's 'only an embryotic' you won't look for her." Andy said, catching her drift.
"Of course we will, but there are other matters that may take precedence of course." Bonwick said. "Good day." she added and turned her attention away from them.
Julian turned from her in annoyance and almost rolled right over one of the nurses in doing so. "Commander Bonwick?" she said getting the security chief's attention. "Doctor Ryan didn't report for her duty shift..."
Freya stared at the old book through the glass and tried to follow the scrawl of the late Captain James Hunt. He had entered all his official logs into the computer, even then, but his personal notes he'd written by hand in an old diary of sorts. Freya had seen the book every time she'd been in the captain's office; she'd seen images of it in school as well but she'd never taken the time to truly study it. She was so engrossed with deciphering the script that she didn't hear the door slide open and the current Captain Hunt approach. "Can you read it?" he asked.
Freya jumped and spun around to face him. "Wow, I didn't hear you come in Captain!" she exclaimed.
"My apologies Doctor." Captain Hunt said. He motioned to the book, "My predecessor had horrible hand writing don't you think?"
"I'm not sure any of us would have much better hand writing sir - given that we don't take pen to paper in the same fashion anymore." Freya said.
Captain Hunt nodded and moved toward his desk. "Fair enough. Would you like something to drink?"
"No thank you." Freya said, sparing another glance at the book and then taking a seat across from him.
"You didn't answer me, could you read it?" Hunt asked as he settled into his own chair.
Freya shook her head. "I picked out a few words but most of it was fairly illegible."
"'We are of the stars now; we have no where to call home save the walls of this vessel. It will ferry us through this life as it will ferry our children and our children's children. The fear which brought us together has been replaced by friendship, love and a kindred sense of family. We, all of us, need each other to survive, to thrive, to flourish. We should be returning to Earth now; having grown as scientists, presenting a unitied front to people, giving them hope for the future. But we cannot return, not now, not ever. I pray for those left behind and I pray for those I brought along, my family.'" Captain Hunt stopped and seemed to be studying his coffee cup. "That was written about a year after they fled. The original mission, of course, was only supposed to be for a year - before the Quuvarii came." he smiled. "Unlike you, I've had plenty of time to study it."
"It's both sad and hopeful at the same time." Freya observed. "Leaving behind their home and yet forging newer, stronger bonds between each other the farther they got from home."
Captain Hunt nodded. "That it is Doctor, they became more than a crew then; they were family. They felt every death keenly and celebrated every birth with triumph. Pity that couldn't have lasted." Hunt said, in thought.
"There were only twenty-five people then Captain, hard to look at fifteen hundred people and see them all as brothers and sisters." Freya pointed out.
Hunt merely nodded but didn't seem to necessarily agree with the assessment. "Are you sure about this Doctor?" he asked changing the topic.
"Yes." Freya said, hoping to sound more sure than she felt.
"And do you think you can be impartial and neutral? It won't do any good to send someone in who is holding a grudge - which you'd have fair reason to be holding one." he said.
"I think I can be. To be honest, Captain, I am conflicted. I don't think violence is ever the answer so first and foremost, I want to end that if possibe. But I understand their motives and their desire for change. On the other hand - I wouldn't completely be opposed to see them on the other side of a forcefield..." Freya said with a small chuckle. "As I said, conflicted."
"I can understand that; perhaps that's why they selected you. Naturally they won't give me any real information except to assure me of your safety - which I can't say I entirely trust. This could be a huge risk on your part Doctor." Captain Hunt said.
"I know, believe me I know. I can't honestly explain why I'm agreeing to this because I made the decision without even realizing I was making the decision but it's the right one - that much I know." Freya explained.
"Alright, well, this is what I do know." Captain Hunt started to explain the single message he'd received from the Sons as well as the thin Security file that was mostly filled with conjecture and very little proof or progress.
-------
"What are you thinking?!" the man exploded in Meng's direction. "Inviting one of THEM for talks?! This isn't a time for talking!"
"Dr. Ryan is not one of them" Meng said simply, without response to the man's outburst.
"Well she surely isn't one of us!" he spat. "This is a bad idea!"
Meng watched, with apparent indifference, as the man stormed away from them.
As the door hissed closed behind him, Lana closed the gap between them. She was silent for a moment but Meng knew she was there, waiting to say something. "Out with it." Meng said, not looking at her.
"Maybe...I don't know about this. I'm sure Ryan has a lot of anger for us Meng. She'd just as soon see us floating in space..." Lana said.
"Perhaps." Meng said, still not looking at her. "But my instincts haven't failed me yet."
"Are you willing to bet our lives on instinct?" Lana asked.
"Everything I've done has been based on instinct Lana. I've been betting our lives for months." Meng finally turned to look at her. "It's gotten us this far."
-------
Andy had been talking for a few minutes when she realized her friend hadn't responded with so much as a grunt. She stopped talking and looked at Freya. "Freya? Freya are you listening?"
Freya clicked several times and Andy watched as her eyes darted quickly from the left side of the screen to the right.
"Freeeeeeee-yaaaa" Andy stretched her name out trying to get a reaction.
Before Andy could slam her hand down on the desk to get a response, the doors to the ward hissed open behind her. Andy turned to see Dr. Hapsberg walking in. "Doctor." Andy acknowledged her with a nod.
"Hello Lieutenant." Dr. Hapsberg gave her a friendly smile. She turned her gaze to Freya. "Hello Doctor Ryan."
Andy cringed as Freya immediately looked up at Hapsberg and smiled at her. "Hello Doctor." Freya said standing up and coming around the desk. She didn't so much as look in Andy's direction. "Everything is in place and ready for Mr. Ice's release, I was just finishing up the final discharge."
"Very good." Hapsberg said. "You will ensure he gets to his quarters safely yes?"
Freya nodded. "Of course." For the first time Freya looked in Andy's direction, although briefly. "I think Lt. Kawolski is here to speak with you about the exo-skeleton." she said as she quickly returned her gaze to Hapsberg.
Hapsberg looked between them, momentarily looking confused but nodded. "I'll prep Mr. Ice for discharge." Freya said before leaving Andy standing there feeling confused and hurt.
Less than an hour later, Freya wheeled Julian into his quarters. He'd been silent during the discharge proceedings and the trip from the medical ward to his quarters. In the passing week, his optimism had slowly started to break down.
Freya suspected he'd hoped the exo-skeleton would be done before he'd ever left the ward, so he could walk out on his own two feet - in a matter of speaking.
"Engineering has been here, they added a few support bars, lowered the gravity some to make it easier for you to move from the chair to the couch, bed, whatever..." Freya trailed off.
"Yes, Andy explained it all to me, you explained it all to me before, Dr. Hapsberg explained it all to me. I know." Julian said, his voice verging on angry.
Freya took a steadying breath and followed as he started to wheel himself further into his quarters. "Do you need anything? Are you hungry?"
"I think I can take care of myself Freya!" Julian snapped. For a second, he looked at her, his eyes full of rage and then he turned away from her. "I'll be fine thanks." he said quietly.
Freya nodded. "Okay. Um just use the comm if you need anything. There's always someone in the medical ward..." Freya said.
She knelt in front of him but he stubbornly kept his gaze on the table, away from her pleading and pained eyes. "Or you can call me." she said softly. He didn't look at her, even as she lingered beside him a moment longer. Finally she stood and left the quarters with a heavy sigh, collecting her data pad as she left. She knew that it would take time for Julian to come to terms with things; she knew that he'd go through a range of emotions. Intellectually she knew all that - but it still stung.
Once the door was closed behind her, she stopped in the hall to try to shake off the feeling of rejection. She was about to turn and leave when she heard the clink of heels on the metal deck. She turned to find the source of the sound and briefly wished she hadn't.
"Freya..." Andy said sadly. "Look, I'm sorry okay? I probably shouldn't have told him..."
"Probably?!" Freya practically shouted. She pinched her eyes closed for a moment and quickly lowered her voice. "He was sure he'd be walking out of the ward...walking Andy! Because of you!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't think he'd...." Andy's words were cut off.
"You're right about that, you didn't think! You got him seeing visions of himself running and swimming and fighting with the best of them; and then I had to come in and give him a dose of cold, hard reality! IF! IF the exo-skeleton works - it's still only going to give him the ability to walk, slowly." Freya swallowed back more angry words.
"There's nothing wrong with giving him hope!" Andy retorted, now feeling angry herself.
"Hope for something possible yes...even if there is a chance of failure but at least it's possible. You don't understand Andy....He will never be the same person he was before. Never. We don't have the technology, we don't have the means." Freya's anger fell apart into the same feeling of sadness she'd been coping with since Julian had been hurt.
"I'm sorry Freya." Andy said simply.
"I'm sorry too." Freya said softly. After a few minutes of silence between them, Andy finally just nodded minutely and left.
Freya started in the opposite direction when the lights in the cooridor shut off; she could see lights in the adjoining corridor though. She walked a couple steps more before she was seized on either side by strong arms. "No need to struggle Doctor." one of them said as a blindfold was slipped over her eyes and tied firmly.
Freya dropped her data pad on the ground as she was roughly pushed through the darkness. One of her captors was more rough than need be considering she didn't resist or struggle. The other held her so loose that she probably could have gotten away from him if it weren't for his partner.
-------
Andy was walking quickly from the Freya - she was sorry for what she'd done and she hated being at odds with Freya but still...what was wrong with a little hope? She stopped and vowed she'd go back, catch up with Freya and continue their discussion through - even if it turned into another argument. She didn't turn but did start walking again. "Oh crap!" she said, turning back. She practically ran back to Julian's quarters. The whole reason she'd been there was to see Julian but seeing Freya had made her forget.
She came to an abrupt halt when she saw the discarded data pad on the floor. She looked around curiously, as if the owner would materialize suddenly and then remembered seeing Freya holding a data pad before. She stooped to pick it up, and sure enough it was from the medical department.
"Freya?" she called out. She looked into the adjoining corridor but saw nothing to alarm her. She glanced at the data pad again curiously and then shrugged and resolved to return it to Freya when she saw her again. She returned to Julian's door and rang the chime.
Freya rubbed her head again, hoping to rub away the headache forming. The words on the screen were starting to blur as it stretched into the third hour of her research. The lights were dim in her quarters and for a moment, she envied her roommate, who was sound asleep. Freya glanced at the clock and sighed; oh four hundred. She had to be on duty in a few short hours. And yet every time she tried to lay down and sleep, she found herself tossing and turning as she thought about Julian.
*Beep*
Freya jumped as the sound echoed around the otherwise silent room. After a moment, she looked around for the source and spotted her comm unit. She picked it up and activated it. "Ryan." she said simply.
"Can you meet me in the gym Doctor?" Freya recognized Captain Hunt's voice instantly. Her brow furrowed and she found herself looking at the clock again even though she'd just checked it.
"Um, yes sir." she said finally. "I'll be right there." she said. She looked down at her slightly wrinkled pants and shrugged, he would just have to understand. She arrived in the gym five minutes later, disturbed only slightly by the complete lack of people on the deck. On first glance, the gym appeared empty but after a second she recognized the familiar sound of someone running and the gentle turning sound of the machine. She looked over toward the running machines and saw Captain Hunt. "You wanted to see me Captain?" she asked approaching him. She looked quizzically at the monitor where an old history clip was playing before returning her attention to Hunt.
"Yes." Captain Hunt said, not stopping his work out. "Sorry for the early call, did I wake you?"
Freya shook her head. "No, I wasn't sleeping."
Hunt nodded. "I figured as much." he said. "I wanted to talk somewhere we weren't likely to have....company." he said.
"Umm, okay." Freya said hoping she didn't look as confused as she felt.
Hunt continued to run and punched a few buttons as he spoke. "I received a message, from the Sons of Liberty. They want to talk."
"Well that's good right?" Freya asked, although for a moment, anger flickered inside her. They were the reason Julian was paralyzed.
"Mhmm." Hunt said. "They are naturally hesitant to come out in the open; for all they know we might have security waiting and simply be done with it."
Freya nodded, that made sense to her. Part of her would love to see them stuck under Bonwick's spiteful glare but she knew that wouldn't be the end of it, it would probably just escalate things.
"They've requested a mediator." Hunt continued. "A neutral party, so to speak." he stopped talking but didn't stop jogging as Freya accepted what he said. "They've requested you."
"What? Me? Why?" Freya asked shocked.
"I suspect they feel you are the only person who can see both sides." Hunt said. "I can see the logic in their choice. You are an embryotic, you have something to gain should this movement effect change but on the other hand, you are already a prominent member of the crew, you are outside the rules so to speak."
"But I don't have any power to make change." Freya argued. "The Council would never listen to me, if they even granted me an audience."
"They didn't ask for power, they asked for you. I'd like you to do this Doctor, but I won't order you to." Hunt said as he turned off the running machine and steady his gaze on her.
"Why not? Why won't you order me to do it?" Freya asked.
"Because I can't offer you any back up, I can't protect you. I may not even be able to find you - they have proven that they know this ship better than our security forces do. I don't think they mean anyone any harm but...." Hunt shrugged as he trailed off.
"But you don't know for sure." Freya concluded and Hunt nodded. "What would I have to do?"
"Talk to them, make them trust you and hopefully at least me. I am a member of the Council - I may just be one but I am a member. But the violence has to stop." Hunt said.
Freya's brow furrowed again as she thought about it. "What about the medical ward?" she said thinking about Julian lying in that bed still. He'd been quiet since she'd told him the extent of his injuries.
"Doctor Hapsberg will be back on duty in a few days so there will be someone available." Hunt said.
Freya bit her lower lip considering and then sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Captain, I'm a doctor, not a diplomat - I don't see how..."
Hunt smiled and held up his hand. "Just think about it. I don't need to give them an answer right now. Consider it, talk to someone - discreetly - if you need to." Hunt put a hand on her shoulder and then picked up a hand towel to wipe his face and left her standing there.
Freya turned to ask him a question but he was already gone. Freya started walking back to her quarters, considering the Captain's request, and then stopped and turned toward the medical ward. She wanted to check on Julian and hoped being near him might help clear her head. But when she got there and looked down on his sleeping, broken body; all she wanted was for the Sons of Liberty to take a walk out the nearest airlock.
Freya's thoughts tumbled around as she stood over Julian. She reached out and touched his leg; even though he couldn't feel it. She choked back tears. "I'm sorry." she whispered. "I'm sorry I couldn't fix you." she knew he wouldn't hear her, not really. He was deep in sleep, a place she wished she could reach right about now.
She jumped back when she heard the door to the ward swish open. She turned toward the wall and wiped away tears and then turned to see Andy standing there with a huge grin on her face. "What?" Freya asked softly. She heard Julian shuffle slightly and took Andy's arm and led her out onto the deck. Across the way she could see the dim early lights on in the mess hall and thought she saw Ash moving around. "Let's get some coffee." she said.
Andy practically bounced along next to her, clearly eager to tell her something but she waited until Ash handed them each hot, fresh cups of coffee and they were seated. "The exo-skeleton! We can do it!" Andy finally exclaimed.
Freya was in the middle of taking a drink and nearly spit the coffee out at Andy in surprise. "What?"
"I found that archive you were talking about! It took some digging since you didn't give me too many details but after reading through it, I ran it by Dex and he thinking the engineering side at least can be done!" Andy said clearly pleased with herself.
Freya just stared at Andy. She'd read over the archive several times and had no doubt in her friend's ability to build the exo-skeleton; she doubted the medical side. But it was worth a try right?
"Freya? Come on Freya - this is awesome news, Julian will be able to walk again! I admit it will be heavy and bulky and he probably won't get around too quickly but at least he'll be walking!" Andy said happily, in spite of Freya's obvious hesitations. Freya was lost in thought, which was irritating Andy, "Earth to Freya..." she said as Ash walked up.
"You two need anything else?" Ash asked.
His voice jarred Freya from her thoughts and she turned her gaze on him. Ash raised his eyebrows and looked back at her. "What was that?" Freya said feigning deafness.
"Do you need anything?" Ash repeated looking at her curiously.
Freya closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to capture a fleeting thought. She finally shook her head and opened her eyes. "No thanks." she looked over at Andy who was looking at her like she was crazy. "You?" Andy just shook her head and Ash walked away slowly, he turned back and locked eyes with Freya for just a second before he turned away and headed into the kitchen to work on breakfast.
"Okay what was that about?" Andy asked.
"Nothing." Freya said. She tried to focus on Andy as her thoughts tumbled through her mind again. She was sure Andy was talking about something but Freya interrupted. "The Sons....they've requested me as a mediator." Freya leaned forward and whispered, throwing a few glances around the empty hall. She quickly recounted the few things the captain had said watched as Andy went from surprised to curious to upset.
"Are you actually considering this?" Andy hissed.
Freya nodded and then shrugged. "I don't know. I think so."
"It would be crazy." Andy said clutching Freya's arm. "They are terrorists, all their talk of not wanting to hurt people didn't stop them from blowing up a console on the bridge...on your boyfriends legs!" Andy said trying not to attracted Ash's attention as she navigated Freya out of the mess hall.
"I know what they did." Freya said back coldly. "Trust me, I know. But I don't want to have to operate on someone else because of this, I want it to stop." Freya yanked her arm from Andy's grip and backed away. "I need to go get a couple hours of sleep. I'll look over the exo-skeleton research and get back to you."
Freya turned on her heel and walked quickly away from Andy. After a moment, Andy called after her. "Freya wait!" Freya didn't stop or turn. Freya could hear the click of Andy's heels on the metal deck and knew Andy was going to catch up with her soon. "Freya!"
Freya stopped and turned, the two almost collided. "Sleep, Andy, I need sleep."
"Just...just be careful." Andy said. "And I think you should talk to Julian about it first."
Freya swallowed back a lump in her throat, she knew what Julian would say and didn't want to hear it again. "I will." she lied. "On both counts." she added with a faint smile. Freya didn't get the sleep she needed. She laid in bed thinking about Julian, about Captain Hunt, about the Sons of Liberty. As angry as she was with them for what had happened to Julian - did their cause have merit? More than that - could they actually effect change if given a chance? The violence had to stop, that much she agreed with Captain Hunt on. The ship wasn't big enough for a civil war to be fought right on the decks.
As she got dressed for her duty shift, she told herself that she would simply tell the Captain no, he would have to find another diplomat or whatever for these people. Julian needed her right now, he would be dismissed from the medical ward soon and it would take him time to get adjusted to life. Even if the exo-skeleton thing worked out - he would still have to make adjustments and she was his girlfriend, his best friend. She had to be there for him.
She reminded herself of her decision the entire walk to the medical ward and even as she stood over his bed to do a quick exam.
Julian looked over the book he was reading as she did the exam and tried to catch her eye but she'd been avoiding looking at his face because it made her want to cry. "Freya." Julian finally said catching her hand.
Freya turned her eyes toward him finally. He closed the book and put it on the table by the side of his bed.
"Am I going to live?" he said with a teasing smile. It was the first time he'd attempted a joke since she'd told him and Freya wondered why the change of attitude.
"Yes." Freya said. "Yes you will. How are you feeling?"
"Optimistic." Julian said. "Andy stopped by, told me about the exo-skeleton."
Freya frowned. "She shouldn't have done that."
"I'm wondering why you didn't tell me actually." Julian said, the smile slowly leaving his face.
"Because I haven't figured out if it's possible, if it will work." Freya said. "I didn't want to get your hopes up and then have to crush them if it turned out not to be feasible."
Julian nodded. "Okay, I get that." he said. "But I'm still optimistic."
Freya merely nodded and resumed the exam. Still no feeling, no surprise there and yet every time she hoped it would be different, like he would miraculously recover. Freya pulled up his chart to give herself something to do and somewhere to look. "You'll be discharged in a couple days. We'll have to make a few arrangements for your quarters, to make things easier for you. I'll talk to Andy and Dex about it." she closed the chart and turned from him.
"You know that's not very fair." Julian said to her back.
"What?" Freya said, not turning to look at him. She wanted to tell him about the Sons, or maybe find out if Andy had told him but she didn't want to argue with him.
"Walking away from me when I can't come after you." Julian said.
Freya swallowed and blinked several times. "I have to work Julian." she said finally. "I'm not walking away."
"Are you sure?" Julian persisted. "I think you're holding back actually. And walking away is the easiest way not to face it."
Freya turned around and faced him. "Holding back what exactly?"
"You're still mad at me. For what I said, before..." Julian said. "Or you're hurt. And you're using my injuries as an excuse to avoid the issue."
"I'm not mad. Or hurt." Freya said and realized as she said it that she was lying again. She had been hurt by what he'd said that day. If she weren't, if she believed he was sincerely sorry and had just been saying the wrong thing, she would have told him about the Sons of Liberty and the request. "I have to work Julian, we can talk about it later." she turned away from him again and heard him sigh just as her eyes locked on a visitor.
"Aunt Theresa." Julian said, with little enthusiasm in his voice.
Freya looked at the Council member and Julian's aunt. She'd been raised to respect the Council members and the Council and the rules but here, in this moment, she felt nothing but anger toward the elder woman. Freya nodded to her and scooted past her to escape.
Freya sat at the computer looking over the archive on the exo-skeleton and tried to tune out the conversation she could hear between Julian and his aunt but words such as "unacceptable", "inappropriate" and "low-bred" trickled out from the back of the ward. As soon as Nurse White arrived for her shift, Freya stepped out of the ward to put a thick wall between her and the disapproval of the visitor.
Without realizing she'd made the decision, she walked toward the primary bridge. As she waited for the lift to reach the top of the ship, she thought about what she was planning and almost changed her mind but at that moment the doors opened. Her eyes landed on the scalded center console where a trio of engineers were working around the feet of Rob Jamison, who was piloting from a make shift panel. Bonwick was standing by with a familiar scowl on her face. Freya could feel Bonwick and Andy's eyes following her as she moved to the Captain's side. "Ah Doctor Ryan, what a surprise." Captain Hunt said although he didn't sound surprised.
Freya steeled herself. "I wanted to give you an update on Mr. Ice." she lied quickly, realizing that the people here probably didn't know about the Sons' request. "He's doing well, probably won't be back on duty for a few days yet but his spirits are improved..." she turned to look at Andy disapprovingly for a second.
"I'm glad to hear it." Hunt said.
Freya caught his gaze and nodded, hoping he'd understand. "I'm going ahead with it." she said with another nodded. "With his discharge. I'll need to talk to you later about certain arrangements" she added for the others.
"Very good Doctor." Captain Hunt said with an understanding nod. "We'll work out those arrangements as soon as possible." he said.
"Right." Freya said with another quick nod. Andy watched her curiously as Freya left the bridge. She was sure the Captain, at least, had understood what she was trying to say. She leaned against the back wall of the lift as the doors closed and it slowly began it's descent.
"We do not negotiate with terrorists!" Hisham Basara shouted in the Captain's direction.
Captain Hunt said nothing in response but met the Council member's gaze for several seconds. "You don't, I do - or I will if it saves the lives of everyone on this ship."
"You are out of line Captain." Theresa Ice, another Council member, said more calmly than her counterpart.
Another chimed in quickly, "And you don't have the authority."
"I have no intention of making them any promises I can't keep - but the violence has to stop and the only way to do that is to get them to the table to talk." Captain Hunt said. "Unless you want them to target our chambers next? Or your quarters?" He looked at each of the silent Council members for a moment. "I don't think they aim to hurt people - but it doesn't mean they won't. They have eluded incredible security and even with names, we can't find them."
"It's a ship, there's only so many place they could be!" Tobias Bohm said exasperated.
"And yet....Commander Bonwick has nothing, no leads, no tangible suspects, no clues...surely you can see that it's time to take another approach." Captain Hunt said. "Unless you have another idea?" he looked at each of them again, meeting their critical gazes with an unreadable face. He nodded. "As I thought. Good day." he concluded and left the temple.
Rob Jamison was waiting for him and nodded in acknowledgment. "You've received an encrypted message Captain."
"From?" Hunt asked taking a data pad from him and glancing over it as they walked. "Ah, very good. Please have Commander Bonwick meet me in my office."
"She's already on the bridge sir. Her security team is....uh...crowding the engineers and the bridge crew as they attempt to investigate the explosion." Jamison said.
Hunt nodded knowing all too well how much Bonwick liked a show of force. "I'll meet her there then. How is Mr. Ice?"
"On his way to the medical ward now. Stable I think, but his injuries were extensive given his proximity to the explosion." Jamison reported sounding worried.
"Has Doctor Ryan been briefed?" Hunt asked, still skimming the data pad as they walked.
Jamison was silent for a moment; one moment too long since Hunt stopped walking and turned his full attention on him. "Um, well no sir."
"Why not? She is the acting chief medical officer and the only doctor we have available." Captain Hunt asked.
"From what I overheard - she's in custody." Jamison said reluctantly. "Commander Bonwick brought her in for questioning and then there was the bridge explosion....." he trailed off.
Captain Hunt narrowed his eyes at Jamison and the man wisely stepped back. Hunt, clutching the data pad, started for the bridge; walking so fast Jamison had to jog to keep up with him. As the doors to the bridge swept open, Hunt immediately summoned Bonwick to his office and led the way with no other address to the crew. Bonwick glanced at Jamison quickly before going into the office.
"Captain, the engineers aren't done yet so I have nothing to report regarding the bridge explosion." Bonwick said.
"Do you have evidence that suggests Doctor Ryan is involved with these explosions or the Sons of Liberty?" Hunt asked, giving Bonwick the same calm, poker face he'd used with the Council.
"Well Sir, she is dating Mr. Ice - an ancestral - as you know relations between ancestrals and embryotics are forbidden without permission from the Council." Bonwick gave the only thing she had to hold Freya.
"True, do you have a confession or evidence that they have had physical relations then?" Hunt asked.
"No, not yet. But Ms. Ryan..." Bonwick was cut off by the Captain holding his hand up.
"Doctor Ryan, if you please." Captain Hunt said and then motioned for her to continue.
Bonwick tried to suppress the scowl from her face. "She and Mr. Ice have had a falling out as I understand, I have no doubt that I will have testimony from Mr. Ice soon."
"Except Mr. Ice is in critical condition in the medical ward without a doctor. If he dies, you won't have anything; you're assuming of course you can get him to turn on her, which I find unlikely." Captain Hunt said. "Release her from custody."
"But Captain, if she is..." Bonwick started to protest but Captain Hunt narrowed his eyes at her and cut her off again.
"Release. Doctor Ryan. From. Custody. Now." Captain Hunt said. "Unless you have some other, real, evidence and intend to charge her with something."
"Yes Sir." Bonwick said with a great deal of resignation.
"In fact, I'll accompany you to the security office. Now. After you." Captain Hunt said with a barely perceptible smile.
-----
One....two...thee....four....silent. Freya was laying on the bench in the cell, staring at the ceiling and listening to the thrum of the ship. It amazed her that she'd never really listened to it; but then usually there were other noises to make hearing the faint noise impossible. How long had she been here? She glanced over at the open door. No one had come back to the security office or surely they would have seen that it was wide open so it couldn't have been that long. The emergency red lights had turned back to the standard white some time ago - or it seemed some time ago at least. Was it an hour? A few hours? She glanced at her watch and realized it was pointless, she hadn't really paid attention to what time it was when she'd been escorted from the ward. Couldn't have been more than an hour or two though.
"Why is this door open?" Commander Bonwick asked. Without receiving a reply she turned to someone else with a look of triumph on her face. Freya craned her neck to see who it was and was pleased to see Captain Hunt and opted to sit up. "You see Captain, she attempted to escape. Surely..."
"And yet she's still here - waiting patiently it would seem. Surely if she were trying to escape she'd be gone." Captain Hunt said. "Come along Doctor. I think Commander Bonwick is finished with you." he said.
Freya got to her feet and ran her fingers through her hair quickly. She bit the inside of her lip to resist the impulse to say something to Bonwick or look too triumphant as she passed by her and followed the Captain. Bonwick was scowling; Freya bit down harder.
"You're needed in the medical ward." Captain Hunt explained as they walked. "The explosion on the bridge...." he placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her for a moment. "It's Julian Ice."
Freya felt as if ice cold water had been thrown on her. She stared at the Captain's face but didn't even see him. She could only see the painful and panicked look on Julian's face the last time she'd seen him that day in the rec room. Finally she felt herself nodding although she couldn't remember making the decision to do so. She turned from the Captain and practically ran to the medical ward. There was chaos everywhere as nurses hurried about. It was a full minute or more before someone saw her standing there. "Doctor! Thank goodness!" the medic exclaimed. He thrust a pair of scrubs into Freya's arms and grabbed her by the arm; dragging her further into the ward. Without thinking, Freya moved aside and put on the scrubs and then washed her hands. Meanwhile the medic was giving her the details about Julian's condition. "...plasma burns on his lower legs and possible spinal damage..." Freya had to force herself to focus on the medical details instead of the fact that it was Julian. "....he's currently stable but the internal...." A nurse put gloves on her hands and she kept her eyes locked on the medic as they walked toward the surgical bay.
There were several images displayed on the screens showing the damage the explosion had done to Julian's body; and then there was Julian, laying sedated on the table. Freya dragged her gaze from his face to the images to start making plans. Freya pointed to the the image of Julian's spine. "There." she turned back toward the surgical table and waited as a mask and cap were tied on. After several steadying breaths, she was able to push Julian's face from her mind. "Let's get to work."
Freya instructed a medic and a nurse in how to treat the wounds on Julian's legs. They were ghastly and deep but not life threatening. She could hear the metal clinks as they extracted pieces of console from his flesh and dropped them into the tin. The more pressing matter was his internal bleeding...and his spine. 'Can't think about the spine yet.' she reminded herself as she picked up the regenerator she would need to repair the internal damage.
-----
Freya pulled off her mask and gloves after hours of surgery. "Lot of good it did" she muttered, blinking away the tears threatening to spill over. Tears of anger, tears of fear and tear of exhaustion.
"You should get some rest Doctor." Arabella said putting a hand on Freya's arm. "You did everything you could."
Freya shook her head and pushed herself away from the wall, walking into the main ward. She watched the rest of the medical staff transfer Julian to another bed and then shooed them all away and sat down on the empty bed next to him. She watched his chest rise and fall just to reassure herself.
One...two....three....four....her eyes fluttered and she laid down, never taking her eyes from Julian. And then she slept.
Andy shook her friend by the shoulder and then jumped back as Freya nearly smacked her jumping out of bed. "Woah! Sorry, was just trying to wake you..."
Freya blinked away the sleep and check the time, three hours; she'd slept for three hours. She looked over at Julian and took several steadying breaths in time with his own breathing.
"How is he?" Andy asked when Freya seemed to be awake and calm.
"Alive." Freya said trying to sound thankful for that much.
"Well that's a good thing. I saw how he was right after the explosion and it took the team so long to get him transported here...." Andy trailed off as Freya dissolved into tears. "What? Why are you crying? You said he was fine."
"No" Freya said as she tried to stop the flow of tears. "I said he was...." She hiccuped "Alive." She looked over at his still body and had to close her eyes tightly to collect herself. "He won't be able to walk." She saw Andy look over at him and watched the shock hit her face. When Andy looked back at Freya again, Freya swung her legs over the side of the bed and walked toward the front desk.
Andy followed her closely. "He won't be able to walk? Ever?"
"No, probably not." Freya said as she sat down at the computer.
"Probably - you mean there's a chance?" Andy pestered.
"I don't know!" Freya exclaimed making Andy jump back a bit in surprise. "I don't know Andy. Medically there is a 99% chance he will never walk again. Not under his own power anyway."
"His own power? What do you mean?" Andy said sitting on the edge of the desk.
Freya suppressed a yawn. "About twenty years ago, the ship encountered a species that used these sort of exo-skeletal devices due to the atmosphere..." Freya saw Andy's attention perk up at exo-skeleton but then her eyes wandered away as Freya got to the reasoning. "Anyway, it could be adapted but I'm not sure - I haven't had a chance to research it. I just remember reading about in the archives about five years ago."
Andy looked at her curiously. "How do you remember stuff like that?"
Freya just shrugged. "I have a good memory." From deeper inside the ward, she heard a groan and looked at Andy anxiously. "I'll talk to you later" she said quietly and took a few moments to calm her nerves. When she first saw him, she had to suppress a sob. "Don't try to get up." Freya said moving to his side and gently helping him sit up some.
"Freya!" he reached out and grabbed her hands. "Oh I feel horrible!"
"Physically or mentally?" Freya asked trying to smile a little.
Julian chuckled and then his face creased with pain. "Ow, that hurt...and both." he said. "I'm sorry about what I said...I was...I don't know, stupid I guess. I'm sorry."
Freya blinked back tears and squeezed his hand. "You just had surgery. I should examine you." she said but didn't move from his side. She didn't want to let go of his hand. "The explosion on the bridge....it was your console. Your legs took a lot of hits from debris and, from what I've been told, you were thrown pretty far and hard. You had some internal bleeding which I took care of."
"Pays to know the best doctor on the ship." Julian said with a grin. Freya nodded and gave him a small laugh. "What haven't you told me?" he asked. When she only looked away from him he squeezed her hand. "Freya, just...."
Freya pulled her hand from his and stepped to the end of the bed. She reached under the covers and ran her finger along the bottom of his foot. "Julian can you feel this?"
"Feel what?" Julian asked. She did it again, and again, each time hoping he'd feel something but he just looked at her confused.
"Okay." she said tucking the blanket back over his feet carefully. "When you were thrown....your spine...it was damaged and..." she struggled to stay some what calm. "You're paralyzed Julian. From the waist down." Julian's face was a mix of shock and concentration. Freya knew he was attempting to move his legs even now. "I'm so sorry." she said quietly.
"Pena was in the temple!" a woman exclaimed, her eyes darted around the small, darkened room. "Master Pena was in the temple when the fire was started!"
"Did he die?" one of the men asked coldly. Truth be told, he'd be thrilled to hear of the religious relic's death - Pena had no love for almost half the population of the ship because of their birth or lineage.
"No! Thank goodness!" the blue skinned woman replied. "Ryan found him and went into the burning temple to pull him out."
The cold man rolled his eyes. Freya Ryan was one of the only people of 'lesser birth' to have ascended; she seemed to the support of the Captain but was too concerned with following the rules to serve their cause. "She should have let him burn." he replied finally.
The woman and the other man turned their gaze on him once more. The woman looked shocked and appalled but the man seemed to be calculating. "We're not trying to hurt people." the man said with an air of power, everything he said carried weight and authority whether he meant it or not. He hadn't set out to lead a
revolution but people were drawn to him and listened.
The cold hearted man backed off a fraction and his eyes lowered for just a second before he rallied himself and looked into the leader's eyes. "If you carry a gun, you should be prepared to fire it."
"Prepared, yes; not start a massacre." the leader replied. "Our goal is not to hurt anyone." The other man merely shook his head in reply and turned away from the leader and the blue skinned girl.
--------
Meanwhile, in sickbay, Freya looked over Master Pena's injuries once more. He'd received a few minor burns and must have fallen while trying to escape the fire because he had a nasty head wound. Freya was sure he'd be fine but was still anxious for him to wake up. She was not a particularly religious person but the man laying in the bed was a religious icon for many on this ship.
Half the medical staff had shown up for duty early it seemed once word had spread that Master Pena was there. No one could really do anything else for him so everyone loitered around - a little nervous to leave the ward as a crowd was growing outside to pray for him. Freya looked around the spotless ward in search of tasks to give them but there wasn't much to be done as Pena was their only patient.
She tried to tune out the growing clamor of noise both inside and outside the ward as she glanced over the chart again. She had it memorized, it's not like the letters had magically rearranged themselves, but she had to keep herself busy somehow while waiting for him to wake up.
One of the nurses approached and tapped Freya on the shoulder after failing to get her attention. "Dr. Ryan? You should come see this."
Freya looked up, startled. "Hmm? Oh of course." she said and followed the nurse, not sure what it was she needed to see. The ship wide communication monitor was on, showing three people. Freya didn't think she recognized the men but the woman was certainly a descended Quuvari.
The man in the center was speaking calmly; his voice was even and commanding even though Freya had no idea who he was.
"...those that remember the Earth of Old history, may understand why we call ourselves the Sons of Liberty..." he said. Freya loved history but still had to think hard to find the reference as it was almost 300 years before Unity left Earth. "Those considered to be of lesser birth will rise from the bowels of the ship, demand the same rights to live, to marry, to work and to flourish as those who claim and ancestral right. Together we have formed this community, together we add to it with each passing year and together we can live - in harmony." he paused a moment and stood straighter, if that was possible. "I am Meng Asada; my father was a second generation embryotic; my mother was a first generation embryotic - that means I can't marry who I choose, I can't work where I choose, I can't live where I choose. And that is unacceptable. This is Lana..." he gestured to the blue skinned woman. "She can clearly trace her lineage back to the half human, half Quuvari twins born to one of the original crew, as all our blue-skinned shipmates can. In blood, they are ancestral but because they are part Quuvari they have fewer rights tha...." his words were cut off and replaced by the ship symbol before going black. They'd been cut off by security finally.
Freya stared at the blank screen trying to process what was happening. "Did you hear the opening Doctor?" Annabelle asked quietly. When Freya didn't respond she nudged her. "They claimed responsibility for the fires, the explosions - everything."
Freya raised her eyebrows, clearly she'd missed a few minutes of the speech but she shouldn't be surprised. "I'm going to take a break. Call me if he," she turned to look at Master Pena, "if he wakes up. I'll be back." Annabelle nodded and watched Freya walked to the doors. As they slid open, the noise from the praying crowd grew louder and Freya almost changed her mind. With a sigh, she pushed through the people - many of which shouted questions at her or looked to her for some word. She tried not to look annoyed by them but said nothing until she was free of the crowd. She wound her way through the throng of people, most buzzing about the broadcast. She caught a few curious looks before she slipped into the rec room. She was happy to see that it was fairly empty. She was thrilled to see Julian there. "Hey you." she said joining him at the table.
"See the broadcast?" Julian asked as he dropped the ball back into the table.
"Yes, have you ever heard of these Sons of Liberty?" Freya asked, narrowly catching the ball and sending it back the other way.
"No." Julian asked. He let an easy save slipped by him and Freya looked up at him curiously. "Have you?" he asked looking at her intently.
"What? No." Freya narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice. "Why? Would it be a problem if I had?"
"No....it's just...." Julian ran his hand through his hair and leaned over the table toward her. "They're terrorists, all the talk about rights and liberty...they're still blowing the ship to pieces little by little."
"And you think I'm part of that?" Freya asked.
"Well no...but you are a..." he trailed off and she could see the panic cross his face as he tried to figure out how to change what he'd been about to say.
"I'm an embryotic. Yes, I know that well enough." Freya said with an eye roll. "I didn't think that bothered you Julian Ice!"
"It doesn't! I love you Freya...I'm just....oh I don't know!" he exclaimed.
"Right, I get it. I have to go back to work." Freya said and left without another word. She saw several new security personnel had taken positions along the deck as she made her way back to the ward. She braved the crowd of people again but this time made no effort to hide the look of annoyance from her face until she was safely inside the medical ward.
-----
Master Pena woke up a few hours later and with his departure from the ward, the crowd of praying people left as well. For a few days the only sign that the Sons of Liberty existed was the increased security presence, particularly around the communal areas.
Commander Bonwick was questioning anyone she could remotely tie to the explosions and with each day, her frustrations grew because they had nothing to go on. If any of the people she'd questioned knew anything, they hadn't given anything away and even though they now knew exactly what three of the Sons looked like, and even had names - she couldn't find them.
Freya knew they were coming before the door opened, she'd known for days that they'd come. She hoped, rather than believed, that it wouldn't be the case and yet there they were. Commander Bonwick, flanked by four security officers, made an imposing force as they entered the medical ward. Two of them took up posts at the door and Freya marveled at the thoughts that must be swirling in Commander Bonwick's mind to make such a show.
"Five people? Really? For little ole me?" Freya asked. She knew she shouldn't use humor, Bonwick would take it as some sort of admission of guilt, but she couldn't help it.
"Please come with us Ms. Ryan." Commander Bonwick practically sneered at her.
Freya felt two of her most supportive nurses move closer to her, as if they were going to keep her from going with the security team. Freya waved them off and nodded to Bonwick. "After you Commander."
Freya noticed more than a few looks as she and her armed escort walked from the medical ward to the security office. Bonwick dismissed the other security staff to other duties and led Freya into a small room to ask question.
"I'd never heard of the Sons of Liberty until the broadcast." Freya said before Bonwick even asked a question.
"Really?" Bonwick asked, sounding unconvinced.
"Yes really." Freya said.
"I find that hard to believe." Bonwick said.
"Believe what you want - do you have any real reason to suspect me of anything?" Freya asked coolly. Bonwick didn't reply so Freya knew the answer already. "Well then, can...." she was cut off as the lights flashed red and security officers started scrambling.
"There's been another explosion Commander, on the bridge!" one of them called and ran by quickly. Bonwick grabbed Freya roughly by the arm and thrust her into a cell. "Stay!" she said and sealed the door before leaving.
Freya considered protesting but seeing as everyone had pretty much rushed off to the new emergency, she didn't see much point in it. She sat down on the bench and decided she might as well relax. Not more than 10 minutes later, she heard footsteps and looked out into the darkened office, bathed in red emergency lights.
"Come on." a male voice said. She heard the electronic beeps of buttons being manipulated and the doors slid open.
"Who are you?" Freya said trying to get a look at the person's face.
"Not important, come on, you weren't meant to be wrapped up in this." he persisted and offered her his gloved hand.
"Are you crazy? If I leave here, she'll think I'm guilty." Freya protested.
"She already thinks you're guilty." he argued.
"But she has no proof. She can't hold me forever with nothing, but escape attempt sure screams 'Guilty!'" Freya said remaining on the bench.
"Fine!" the man sounded annoyed. "Your choic...." he was cut off as they both heard the familiar sound of Captain Hunt's voice. They turned toward the office to see his image on every monitor.
"To all residents, we are instituting a stricter curfew and several precautionary security protocols. Please check your consoles for all details. To the Sons of Liberty; your grievances have been heard, your might has been seen but for there to be progress, the violence needs to stop. I offer my time, my ear, my voice, to you in order to resolve the differences that fracture our home. Every attack on the ship, is an attack on your home as well as ours and your grievance is not with the majority of the ship. Let's talk now." Captain Hunt's image was replaces with the ship symbol after he relayed the invitation. Freya turned back to the man but found he was gone. The door was still open.
She sat back down on the bench and waited. And hoped she wasn't making a big mistake.
