Aftermath

[Joy 0]

Rian heard the goings on and just shook her head. "I don't believe this. Joy, Im leaving her in your custody. Don't let her get lost between hear and the ship. Contact me if the Admiral returns. Im going back to the ship."

 

Kania just looked between the 2 officers, tears in her eyes, not believing what she just heard.

 

Joy nodded to Rian. "I'm going to borrow one of the legal conference rooms, and a security officer. We'll be in touch." She turned to one of the guards who was standing watch. "I need privacy to talk to my client, but would like you to confirm we are where we ought to be, if you could." He nodded, and led them to a small room which contained a table, a few chairs, and data access. He closed the door, and an angry and upset Joy turned to face Kania.

 

Kania followed Joy to the other room. She was worried what was going to happen to her and her child. She sat down in one of the chairs nearest the table and looked between the guard and Joy. "Joy? What's going to happen now? Do you think she was serious about sending me away for 30 years?"

 

"When she said it, she meant it. Whether she can do it or not, it another question." Joy paced back and forth. "I'd best give the sequence, describe to you what happened. She apparently came in with a plea offer along the lines I spoke with you about earlier. You were not here. I called you, and told her you would be there within two minutes. She did not seem to think this good enough, and directed the security guards to take you into custody, and informed me we would be going to trial.

 

"I did not believe the way she did so was proper," Joy continued. "She claimed that being two minutes late was grounds for changing your plea. Legal wise, this is pure bull. At that point, I may not have served you well. The Admiral and I do not share common values. I was assertive about law, procedure and fact. She focused on back room dealings and the prerogatives of admirals to do what they felt like doing, law and fact be damned.

 

"The result is that neither the Federation, Bajor or Justice is apt to be served, though I am still angry enough to shove law and fact down Blu's throat, given the chance. The question is whether you want to give me that chance. This might not be a true court of justice at all. This is admirals, egos and politics, and I'm the wrong Joy to cut through that crap."

 

"Your not the right Joy? I don't understand," said Kania." And I want you to stay on the case. You know me, I have a lot to loose here. And What about Schawana? What will happen to her?" Kania places her elbows on the table and places her face into her hands.

 

"The correct Joy would be Seven, a long time member of Council. Seven is used to putting high ego low discipline mid level managers like Blu in their place, and has the rank and political clout to do so. Unfortunately, while I have Seven's ideas of what duty, law and responsibility are, I've only got a pip and a half to make it happen. Blu is off her rocker at the moment. I don't know that Hastings ever had a rocker. If you, Bajor and the Prophets are not treated with the dignity, respect and due process you deserve, the Federation is going to lose the wormhole, and all because Blu couldn't sit still and behave herself for two minutes."

 

Kania looked up up Joy. Are you still willing to stay on my case? Do you think you can pursued Blu to change her mind?

 

"I am willing to stay on the case, but I am not the correct person to persuade Blu to change her mind. I just committed the mortal sin of speaking Truth to Power. Power isn't listening, and right now I'm not going to speak Truth any softer than I just did. She has me near emotion chip saturation. It would be a good idea to try to get someone to talk her off her high horse. Rain, perhaps? But not me. Not now. But if Blu can't be turned, if Blu insists on an adversarial court procedure, I'm your android."'

 

"What do you mean Emotion chip saturation? I don't know if I understand."

 

Joy sighed, stopped pacing, and sat down. "Right now, in organic terms, it means I am well and truly ticked off." She sighed. "When Professor Savic reprogrammed the Joys, he required us to respect Law, protect human life, protect cultures from outside influence... He was an academic idealist. He created a class of androids who are also idealists, then shooed use out into the real world. Unfortunately, the real world doesn't always rearrange itself to the good professor's requirements. At Priorities One, Two and Three, I have to try, though. At Priority Six, I have to prevent my own death and destruction. Anyway, when the universe doesn't behave like it ought to, I tend to throw a tantrum. Usually, a focused tantrum. This time, the tantrum was not enough."

 

Kania just nods her head as she turns away and looks down at the table. She spoke softly. "Do you think we would have a chance in a court of winning? Or should I just stop trying, and plead guilty and take whatever punishment they wish to give." She the very slowly turns her face back towards Joy, with tears rolling down her cheeks.

 

"You should have a strong chance of winning. The question is whether those judging you have open minds, or for us to finding the appropriate words to open them." Joy hesitated. "Would you care to hear me walk through my arguments?"

 

Kania nodded to Joy, a yes she wanted to hear. "Maybe We can get Rian to talk to the Admiral, since she is her Second in command, but yes I would like to hear what you have."

 

"Agreed." Joy tapped her badge. "Commander Kwai. A moment, if you could..."