The get out clause.

Posted on Tue Apr 22nd, 2025 @ 8:53am by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T'ghann-Dex. Doctor

3,361 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Voices of the past
Location: Runabout Glauca.
Timeline: Current.

Shon stowed her bag under the compartment that was, for the next five days her bed. She checked the medical containment field that held Kara's body in stasis and sat down at the flight controls waiting for Finchley. He was still quite weak but had insisted on coming with her to the tribunal on the woman's death. 'So many unanswered endings and the possibility of new beginnings" she thought.

Finchley walked slowly onto the 'bridge' part of the runabout, and dropping down into the seat next to Shon, he placed his cane up against the console.

"You know I highly recommend not getting yourself shot, it can be a real pain in the...well, everywhere if I'm honest" he smiled. He adjusted the seating position and once he was satisfied, he turned back to Shon, "I know this is going to be a little scary for you, but I have your back, I'll be representing you at the tribunal, I've been given the facts as they were told to me and I think we have a good chance of winning this case."

Shon smiled at his attempt at humour. "I suppose as you were clinically dead I can give you as much leeway as you need." She paused, "I must admit to wondering why they did not require any statements from Alec or Isabelle?" She contacted the bridge, "Runabout Glauca ready to depart."

"Depart when ready safe journey Glauca."

Shon took Finchley's hand for a few seconds then withdrew it. As the Glauca slid out of the bay into the vast business of space she smiled. "You know they may find me guilty, I will not lie." she said as she engaged warp two.

The touch of Shon's hand on his sent a pleasurable tingle up Finchley's arm, and he squeezed it gently just before she let go again.

"Ok, I know this has been asked of you before, but walk me through the situation with Kara, try to be as detailed as you can be. There will be something in there, a small detail, something said, something suggested or hinted at...we just need to find it and build our case from there. Walk me through it all" he asked.

Shon placed the runabout on automatic pilot and turned. "The place was in chaos missiles raining down and the concussion in the air made it hard to think. There was myself, Kara Isabelle and Alec who was also injured, it was he who noted that she was beginning to fit. I knew this was something that would happen in the later stages of infection. Kara was just standing there looking at us. Isabelle's borg nanites had turned against her augmentations and, whatsoever won would still kill her. Kara refused to let us into their medical facility so I sedated her down to the barest level of life. My hypo contained a large number of active nanites." Shon paused. "Do no harm" is the oath I swore to uphold and yet I went ahead with my plan, I knew I had the barest chance to save Isabelle but there was no way I could save Kara. A missile took out the interior wall and threw me forward and I injected all the nanites into Kara's neck. I knew she had felt an immediate change and her face took on fear. It all happened so quickly. I promised that, if she took us to her medical facility I could save her."

Shon looked out at the effects of their warp travel. "All I could think about was saving my colleague and friend. Kara took us straight to their unit, she wanted me to help her first and, I had promised to do so but she was already dead you see. I had an idea to wash Isabelle's nanites in Floran treachloride 4 then, reinsert them. New augment technology is very susceptible to the denuded oxygen molecules in Floran and, the minute they reached Isabelle's blood it was search and destroy. When I was sure it was working I turned to Kara she was already dead. The pain she suffered must have been unimaginable. I made a choice, I infected a perfectly well woman with something I knew would kill her, I lied to her she died."

Finchley listened quietly as Shon explained the situation in full to him. Once she was finished he looked at her and said, "I understand the fact that you believe you broke your hypocritic oath, but understand this, the oath, in it's basic form says you will do no intentional harm to anyone. From what you've just explained to me, and explosion caused you to fall forwards and inject Kara, you didn't do so intentionally. Apart from that, she refused you access to their medical facilities, so you were trying to act on your best interest for a fellow crewmember. No court anywhere would convict you on that evidence. You may think it a technicality, but it's not, it's a fact, you did not intentionally inject Kara. If the court were to proceed with a case of prosecution, then by definition, any Starfleet medical practitioner anywhere at anytime in any circumstance who has been in a similar situation and done anything like that would need to be convicted. What happened afterwards with Kara then allowing you to use the medical facility for her own needs first just proves that she was willing to allow Isabelle to die, denying you the opportunity to save her if needs be, which they were. Denial of medical help, an accidental injection, a selfish assertion of medical practice by someone holding you to ransom, are all cause for the case against you to be dropped. Yes, Kara died, however, had she allowed you access to the medical facility in the first place, none of you would have been in the situation you were in, in the place where you were caught by the blast. that then caused the situation that happened. By definition, Kara brought all of this on herself by her initial actions. The case has no basis for prosecution from that view point. Kara is to blame, not you."

“I can understand everything you are saying but, you see the one fly in the ointment was the fact that injecting Kara with those nanites was my idea, the fact that the explosion threw us together was not the only method of delivery. The failsafe on a hypospray is the hand that is using it, so Finchley, you see it became my life to save in that one second and I chose not to.” Shon’s voice drifted away as she watched the streaking stars. "I thought about you all the time I was planetside Finchley." She smiled at him seeing the current vulnerability his medical condition offered them both, knowing it would not last that look in his eyes, the way they crinkled at the edges when he smiled at her, the gentleness of his touch and the brush of his lips on her cheek. Shrugging she jumped up, the moment gone. Taking out her tricorder she opened it and began her medical scan of his current condition.

"The one thing you are forgetting, well, two things actually" Finchley began his reply, "is that you were in a war zone, a war may I add, begun by Kara and her followers. There's also the fact that you were being kept against your will. Taking the first situation into consideration, of the two factions of the populace of the planet, Kara's side were the one's who began it, so by extension, Kara brought this upon herself. Had there been no war, there would have been no bombing, if there was no bombing none of you would have been hurt and needing medical help so Kara wouldn't have denied that help. The second situation is that you were in fact prisoners, held against your will. Again, and by extension, Kara brought this upon herself. Had she let you go, the bombing would probably still have happened, but none of the away team would have been there so wouldn't have been involved. Shon, as much as you're almost 'looking' to blame yourself for Kara's death, she brought it upon herself by her actions. You cannot be held responsible for her death, even if you keep saying again and again that you injected her. Had Kara not begun the war, or held you all prisoner, none of what happened would have happened. The fact that it did is ALL down to Kara and her actions, not you and yours. Stop blaming yourself and start seeing this as her fault and not yours."

Shon smiled, closed her tricorder sat down and looked at him. "You would have made a great advocate Finchley.....Your body has almost healed and I would advise you begin gentle exercise to avoid further muscle wastage. Can I get you anything, would you like to lie down?" To tell the truth it felt so good to get away from the Blackeagle and the tensions between the senior staff.

"Now there's an offer I can't refuse" he said jokingly, "a light snack would be nice, I don't seem to have a big appetite at the moment, and a lie down would be very welcome. As for being an advocate, I highly doubt I'd be able to keep my feelings in check, so probably not. I'm happy to hear that this old wreck still has a few more miles in it, and I'll try to do a little more walking than I have done, but I'm not physically ready for the gym just yet. To be honest, if you're up for it, perhaps you and I can design an exercise regime that will get me back in shape so I can shot again" he laughed, causing a slight coughing fit.

Once he was recovered from it, he looked at Shon and took her hand, "You know Doctor, it may not be ethical for you to be so...homely with one of your patients, but I'm willing to look past it if you are?"

"Well I am also a great nurse, I made a proper bed for you under the bulkhead. I know you will get a good bed when you get there, they will probably put me in the brig but I have always appreciated a good hard bed. Here let me help you....piggyback?" she asked smiling.

"I have to say, having something hard to be on does sound nice, I don't like things when they're soft" he replied, unable to keep a straight face. His old sense of humour was beginning to return, and with that the teasing adolescent jokes.

"I won't let them put you in the brig, if they do insist on doing that though, I'll be right there beside you" he added, "Let's see how that plays out in the tribunal with the judges!"

Shon smiled to herself to watch his spirit begin to return as she checked their course and the few surrounding light years surrounding the runabout. Closing the view screen she picked up his bag and waited for him to stand, "When I get you settled I'll get you something to eat." She looked at him, "You know I think I can see the old Finchley in there."

"Old is right, more aches and pains on top of my aches and pains" he laughed. "One things for sure, I may be old, but I can still give you a run for your money at sleeping!"

Shon actually laughed out loud, "Ah but that is because I have not taught you the Riasian sea worm trick. Tell you what, if we are still together I will teach it to you on your fiftieth birthday! Now, sit down on the bed, get undressed put your pyjamas on, you know the ones with the feet in and I will check the healing in your shoulders, if that is doing well I will massage them."
Shon stood and walking over to the replicator order a Vulcan spiced berry tea with a hint of Aldaberan whiskey, an egg sandwich, "anything else?" she asked kicking her shoes off.

"I have to wait thirteen years to learn about a worm trick?" Finchley asked, "well, it'll be worth the wait as I'm curious now."

He sat on the bed, got undressed and put his pyjamas on as Shon had said. He turned round so it was easier for her to check on his shoulders, the massage sounded nice, so he hoped he was healed enough.

"A little ice cream would be nice, just a scoop full, as I said, my appetite isn't very big" he replied. He was thoughtful for a moment, "You know when you said, 'if' we're still together...had you plans on being elsewhere?"

She ordered a scoop of ice cream for him, "Ah, you noticed that Finchley...well you know I wanted to make sure you had a get out, you see if I tell you the sea worm trick and then you left me" she handed him the scoop. "Then I would have to kill you." She knelt up on the bed behind him and checked his back with her scanner. "Muscles are healing nicely but you will need to work up your strength slowly. Now, tell me if I hurt you, it's meant to burn a little but, on the whole it should feel good." She took a deep breath until she felt her fingers warm and them began to slowly decompress his deltoid process.

"You know, a lot of people would pay good money to be 'hurt' in this way, I'm going to get it for free!" he joked. As Shon began to get to work on him, he could feel the burn of the muscle as she'd said he would, but on the whole it was bearable. Slowly, the pleasure of his muscles being manipulated began to spread over him, and he actually began to smile and enjoy it.

"Out of curiosity, how exactly would you kill me?" he asked.

Shon gently continued to massage him releasing hidden pockets of analgesia that spread across his back warming his muscles. Her long fingers reaching his deep muscle fibres. She bent down to his ear and whispered, "I could kill you now with one touch of my finger, I could......." she abruptly broke away. "I shouldn't talk like this Finchley considering what I have done. Maybe I should think about resigning my medical commission?"

The massage was so nice and it was doing him the world of good. As Shon began talking and explaining what she could do, he was surprised when she broke off and said about her resignation.

He swivelled round and faced Shon, "Really, you need to get out of your own head for a bit, what kind of talk is that?"

He took hold of her hand, "Shon, I've already explained how we're going to beat them in the tribunal, how do you think it will look if you resign your commission, eh?"

He looked down and looked up again, "I'll tell you how it'll play out, the tribunal will see it as you admitting to your fate without first having the opportunity to be defended, they'll see it as an admission of guilt, that you guilty before a word has been said. Now, I could get all hot and bothered, get angry and shout at you for thinking of doing something so ludicrous, instead, I'm going to sit here and tell you in a calm demeanour that you're not going to do that, you're not going to throw away your career for something that wasn't your fault to begin with. Then, when we're done winning the tribunal case, we're taking off some place, just you and me, and we're going to have a great time together, then once that's done, you're going to talk with someone who's qualified to get you through this phase and stop you from saying that ridiculous phrase, 'Do no harm', which by the way is really pissing me off greatly. However, first things first, you're going to complete the massage you've started on me, then we're going to have a sleep, then we're going to have something to eat and have a drink or two. What do you say to all of that?"

"Understood Commodore," she said smiling. "The last thing I want to do is piss you off Finchley." She continued her massage her hands gently working her way through his deltoid muscle groups. "Sometimes my mind just changes into fright mode and, I do not feel that emotion when I am with you." Shon breathed deeply, "the thought of a couple of days away with you after this sounds wonderful." She continued massaging him silently up into his neck. "You know when we met again I never thought we would once again be close, and this, this is the closest we have ever been." she leant forward and her kiss grazed his neck.

Once again he began to feel the warmth of Shon's fingers working their magic on his tired aching muscles. "I do honestly understand you feeling frightened Shon, honestly I do, but I've got your back in this, same as you have mine when it comes to healing me and helping us become happy together. I will admit, your return to the ship had me wondering what cruel game the universal Gods were playing, but it would seem they were helping us out, helping us see that we are meant to be together."

As Shon's lips softly touched and lingered on his neck, he turned to face her once again and put his hands round each side of her lower jaw. Gently, he pulled her face towards his and he kissed her lightly, allowing his lips to brush against hers. He moved his head forwards just a little and kissed her fully on the lips, her lips and his, her wonderful scent filling his nostrils and he ran his fingers through her hair round to the back of her head.

Pulling back, he looked deep into Shon's eye's and said, "Whatever we did before was in the past and there it stays. We have a wonderful opportunity to build a future for ourselves, wherever we are and whatever we're doing. My uncle once told me that a soul mate is someone you know completes you, helps you grow, helps you to understand that there's more to life than just living. Well, let me tell you here and now, you complete me, you help me grow in a way that shows me there's much more outside of duty and following orders, and you definitely have taught me that there's more to life than just living it's loving as well. I love you Shoniara T'ghann-Dex, and I always will."

Shon sat there, still, not talking. She had never heard him like this and wondered what really happened to him when he died. Maybe he will tell me one day, she though. Standing up she said "Let me go checkup front then we get cozy ...well" she laughed, "as cozy as we can. I will give you your injections and you can sleep. I will sit up for a while collating my medical notes."

"Yes Mother!" he grinned at Shon, "do I get a spoonful of sugar if I don't cry when I get my injection?" he laughed, unable to resist pulling Shon's leg.

Shon laughed as she walked forward. "You can have as much sugar as you want dear boy!" she exclaimed as she checked their destination, speed, state of shields and drive. She also performed an extra check on surrounding space. Happy she moved back. "Everything fine up there, we picked up a little extra speed so we should be there in two days." Picking up her hypo she depressed it into his neck. "Now for that spoonful of sugar," she said as she bent forward to kiss him.

 

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