Vincent was frantic by morning. He still could not find Victoria. He knew she was in a bathtub in the Village but nothing more. He returned to the Federation Complex looking disheveled and horrible. Bobbi-Lee was there. She started to cry when she saw him so frantic.
"She brought this on herself.", Bobbi-Lee tried to be consoling.
Vincent only grew more frustrated.
"She is a young thing. She was manipulated.", Vincent knew how hopeful it sounded. In truth, he knew how manipulative she could be and likely she did bring this on herself.
Sgt. Leo walked in. Vincent turned the Caitain in sheer hope, "Anything?"
"Nothing.", Robert replied.
Vincent was so frustrated. Nicole walked into offices. Vincent glared at Nicole. He was furious that she had not been involved in the Omega rescue. Nicole looked at Robert and Vincent, "Any luck?"
Vincent so wanted to call her incompetent and join the T'Nley attack but he held his cool.
"Unfortunately, no.", Vincent held his tongue.
"Why didn't you ask me?", Nicole asked.
Vincent could not hold himself any longer, "Nicole, the freaking colony was under attack by the Borg? Where the F**k were you? And now you want to be involved in the rescue of my niece."
Nicole looked at Vincent and her bottom lip started to quiver. She tried to speak but clasped her hands over her mouth. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Commodore Viceroy, I was... I was coordinating the evacuation of my student, my refugees, of my home.", Nicole wailed.
Vincent felt his heart sink in his chest. Robert actually walked over and put his arm around Nicole. Vincent had horribly underestimated his partner. He never even thought of the fact that who better to evacuate nearly 2 million people then the civil servant. She, like no other could organize this.
Nicole gathered her composure, "Who better to search for a lost girl than a lesbian... I am sure I can sniff her out."
The little ditty seemed to lighten the entire mood. Nicole and Robert headed back out to the next location on the gird, the Wharf at the River Covington.
Robert and Nicole were walking along the river when Nicole turned to Robert, "Did you hear that?"
Robert looked at Nicole, "I am Caitian. I have highly sensitive hearing. You are hearing things?"
Nicole took off running, "I hear it."
Robert could barely keep up as he called Commander Martin Evans and Sergeant Rochford Powers.
Nicole burst into the room.
Nicole ran up to Victoria and tore the duck tape from her mouth. Victoria started to cry, "I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry."
Robert and Rochford rushed in. Nicole was untying Victoria.
The three rescuers and Victoria heard a clapping. General Jean-Michel Robespierre smiled as the dog-like Antican walked into the light.
"Well played. You found her. Soon, Commodore Viceroy will come here to see his beloved niece. She was manipulated. Even Zek Ishka, the so-called Quadrant Crime Lord was manipulated. When the Commodore arrives, all the leadership will be in one place. You will be killed and I, General Jean-Michel Robespierre will become commander of the colony.", The antican sat down in his chair.
"Always have a back up plan.", the General started laughing as the Commodore Viceroy burst in.
"Right on cue, Commodore.", the general smiled.
Nicole looked at Jean-Michel, "You won't get away with this. The police are right here."
Commander Martin Evans came out of the shadows, "They will die in a heroic attempt to save General Robespierre and you all from the remnants of the Borg Invasion."
Martin cued the dropping of three Borg bodies on the floor.
"How did you get those?", Nicole asked.
"From us.", Commander T'Ros of Vorta'Rome, the Romulan entered the room.
"With the Antican in charge, we will have total and unlimited access to the Omega Molecules here. No one, not even Rear Admiral Covington himself will be able to stop our research.", Commander T'Ros boasted.
"The Romulans will be the supreme force in the quadrant.", T'Ros boasted once more.
"No Lesbian and no old man will stand in our way. The Romulan Star Empire shall once again be the preeminent superpower.", Commander T'Ros spoke with so much honor and pride.
Vincent looked at the triumvirate, "Commander Evans, I never would have believed you would betray us. General Robespierre, you are scum. I thought you could do it. And T'Ros, you change sides so often, Romulans will never change."
T'Ros slapped Vincent across the face. Nicole looked at the triumvirate as well. Victoria was crying uncontrollably. Nicole looked at them and collapsed to her knees, "Please...."
General Robespierre started laughing as he walked towards Nicole, once again on her knees. He reached down to put his hand on her head. She hit him so hard in the nuts. He collapsed in a groaning mess. Victoria started to laugh. Commander T'Ros slapped her down. She fell to the ground, still partly bound.
Martin walked up to Victoria and pulled a phaser. He looked over at the Commodore, the Vice Admiral and the two officers and shot her at close range. The horror filled the room. Vincent started to cry uncontrollably as well. She was his neice.
Martin slowly walked over to Nicole and put the gun to her head. Vincent looked over. Nicole wet herself right there in total fear. She was an absolute basket case, falling forward puking on the ground. Martin kicked her very hard in the abdomen. She puked once more. He kicked her again.
Vincent screamed, "Stop. Do me first. Leave her alone."
Martin walked over to Vincent. He held the gun to his head. General Robespierre had made it to his feet. He grabbed the gun from Martin and shot Sgt. Powers in the chest twice. The smell of burning flesh and fur filled the room. The smell was horrible. Beyond horror, the smell will remain a part of the colony history for all time.
General Robespierre walked up to Nicole, "Good bye, Governor. Your services are no longer required."
General Robespierre engaged the phaser. Nicole screamed so loud. Vincent too screamed. Nothing happened. Nicole collapsed on the floor. She could vomit no more. She could cry no more. She was finished.
Jean-Michel looked at Martin, "What happened?"
Martin was about to speak. He was interrupted by the appearance of Dr. Rochester Powers, the professor.
"It is called a dampening field, General Robespierre. Your weapons will no longer work here.", the professor smiled.
"For the last seven years, we, the inhabitants of Antican B7, including us in the intelligentsia have stood buy and watched you assume control of our military, sell us out to the Borg and even watched as the Borg sacked our cities and drove us from our homes. We were homeless until Vice Admiral Branson saw the image of the young Antican on the streets of a refugee camp. She gave us a home. In fact, she gave us our honor back. She gave us job, prominent jobs. She welcomed you, a known sympathizer into her cabinet. She is a special person. She is surrounded by great people. Commodore Viceroy sacrificed his own legendary career and the privilege of rank to come here to be with us. We can no longer stand idly by.", Dr. Powers spoke with eloquence in a horrible situation.
The room began to fill with Anticans. Dr. Powers helped Nicole to her feet. Several Anticans helped Vincent to his feet. Many picked up their downed colleague, Rochfort Powers and held him up carrying him from the room. Vincent picked up Victoria's body and carried it outside.
Dr. Powers looked at General Robespierre and Commander Martin Evans, "It is with deep sadness that the Phoenix Colony Leadership reports the deaths of General Jean-Michel Robespierre and Commander Martin Evans who died at the hands of the Borg for failing to comply as Sympathizers."
Commander T'Ros beamed from the room. Somehow the Romulans have breached the dampeners.
Dr. Powers looked at the huge Anticans in the room, "This concludes the Robespierre Report."
No one will ever know the brutality that occurred in that room to these men. May the punishment fit the crime.
Posted by:
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Executive Officer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Vice Admiral Nicole Branson
Commanding Officer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Sgt. Robert E. Leo
Police Officer
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
