Star Trek The Next Generation: Discovered

Chapter 2

Will Riker, dressed in the new standard dress uniform, pressed the chime on the door in front of him and waited. It slid open seconds later to reveal an equally formally dressed Deanna Troi.

"Okay, let's go and get this over with."

"Deanna, are you worried about something?"

"No...Yes. It's Kitana. You see we've been rivals since we were thirteen, all the way through University and Starfleet too. She's jealous of anyone who seems to be better than her at anything. She hates my status on Betazed, my empathic and telepathic abilities, but most of all, my position here on the Enterprise. She applied for this posting too, so I'm not particularly looking forward to having her on the jury."

Riker wasn't sure when Deanna had taken a breath in between all of that, but then that simply highlighted her agitated state.

Whilst he had been in the 'Ten-Forward' Lounge last night, after leaving Deanna, Kitana had approached him and had tried to flirt with him, but something about her just pushed him the wrong way. She was very attractive; there could be no argument about that. She had long blond hair and piercing blue eyes, but her attitude had been all wrong, there was something not quite right about her. He had completed some research on her career and found a formal complaint in
her record. The complaint was not about her; however, it was made by her. Shortly after Deanna had been awarded the position of Counsellor on the Enterprise-E, Kitana had written to Starfleet Command claiming that Deanna was unfit for the Enterprise's mission and was better off in the office job that she had been awarded. Riker knew at that point, before Deanna had even mentioned it, that Kitana Lepec was what he called a 'spoilt-little-rich-girl.' She had the kind of 'I-
want-and-I-want-it-now' attitude that so many people despised. He was worried about this hearing too. If the grudge, that Kitana had for Deanna, had been going on for over twenty years, then Kitana had the perfect opportunity to exact revenge on Deanna by finding her guilty, no matter what everyone else thought.

The conference room fell quiet when Deanna and Riker entered. Will moved away from Deanna and sat with Beverley, Geordie, Data and Picard, who were seated in front of a large crowd of Enterprise officers. Deanna took the seat situated in the middle of the room behind a large desk. To her right was another large table with four seats behind it for her jury and in front of her was another table and chair for her judge. The judge and jury entered and everyone stood, as the five officials sat down. Osan indicated for the crowd to sit, they did so and Deanna remained standing.

"Do you," his voice boomed, "Commander Deanna Troi, Counsellor and Bridge officer of the U.S.S Enterprise, Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed, swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I do." She answered her voice firm and confidant.

"Very well. Do you know why you have been summoned before this court, this morning?" He had a kindly, but authoritarian voice.

"It is my belief, sir, that an anonymous person has informed you that I am part of an ancient bond of my people, known as 'Imzadi'."

"That is correct. Now, may I ask, where is your Imzadi?"

"I plead the Right of 'Inni-ya', sir."

"Very well." He said, nodding to her with a slight smile. "For the benefit of those among us who do not know the Betazoid Law, the accused has pleaded for the 'Right of Hidden Identity' for her Imzadi, which I will grant in accordance to the Betazed-Federation Treaty."

A murmur rose and fell amongst the spectators.

"Now, Commander, may I ask why you never informed Starfleet of this bond, as in accordance with the same treaty?"