Snapshots

[Robin Mayfair]

“There can be no justice so long as laws are absolute.” -Captain Jean-Luc Picard

== Office of Admissions, Starfleet Academy, San Francisco ==
== Three Years Later ==

“Miss Mayfair. Please, come in and have a seat. Would you like some refreshments? Some water?” Commander Rand picked up a bottle of water from his desk and paused, looking at the teenager… and then at the Vulcan who entered with her. “And you are?”

“Voric, Commander. I’m an advocate retained by Miss Mayfair to represent her at this meeting… and for what follows.” The gray-haired Vulcan nodded his head politely. The girl, short and a little scrawny, entered the room and sat down in front of Rand’s mahogany desk. She was dressed conservatively in a simple skirt and blouse, with short hair cut in a pixie style, but her appearance caused the commander to pause for a moment.

Purple hair, he thought. Purple eyes. What else have they played with in her genetics?

“I appreciate that, Advocate, but I don’t see the point. Starfleet regulations are clear. Miss Mayfair openly stated in her application that she is genetically enhanced. As an augmented human, she is not eligible to attend Starfleet Academy. Further, genetic modifications of that manner are illegal under Federation law.”

“That’s why I am here, Commander. Miss Mayfair intends to challenge the Academy ban, in court if necessary.”

“What?” Rand found himself struggling to retain his composure. This wasn’t what he had expected. He saw the pleasant weekend fishing trip he had planned evaporate, and resented the bombshell that had just been dropped on him. He’d been in hundreds of these meetings over the years, with upset applicants begging for another chance, and hadn’t been expecting anything different this time. He calmed himself, determined not to show anger in front of the Vulcan. “Those rules have been in place for centuries.”

“Times change, Commander. Federation citizens have rights, and those rights include equal treatment under the law. A ban based on genetics is the very definition of unequal treatment.” The Vulcan was, typically, annoyingly calm, but Rand could almost hear a hint of mockery in his tone.

The commander fixed his gaze on the girl, as he had so many other potential cadets. She blanched slightly, then sat up straight, clearly pushing herself to be brave. She met his gaze with her gemstone eyes, challenging him. He sighed. “Look, Miss Mayfair. If you want to waste your time, our time, and your advocate’s time, that’s your business. It won’t change anything. I’m sorry, but you are not going to Starfleet Academy.”

“Commander Rand,” Voric spoke up. “The preliminary motion will be filed next week, and we will be following the appeals process as stated in Starfleet regulations. We wished to do you the courtesy of informing you in person, and perhaps even see if you and the admissions board would use your discretion in this matter.” He moved to where the girl was sitting and stood next to her. “And you do have discretion. Star Fleet has, in the past, allowed all sorts of… non-standard... cadets to train here. Androids, members of non-Federation species, and countless others who didn’t fit the mold. Often they go on to distinguished, even legendary careers. In a way this is a place for outcasts, for people who don’t fit in. Here they can prove their worth, here they can show what they can contribute if someone will just look beyond the superficial.”

Despite himself he felt cracks open in his stern demeanor. Damn it, he has a point. Still, the Commander wasn’t going to make things easy on this annoying Vulcan. 

Late Friday afternoon is not the time for this.

Voric continued. “Miss Mayfair’s entrance examination scores… what do they indicate?”

“She passed everything with flying colors. Science. Knowledge of the Federation and its history. Cultural knowledge. Mathematics. Even basic engineering and ship operations.”

“Are you aware that she has no formal education outside of a substandard high school on her colony world? All of that came from her own independent work and study. She spent three years after leaving her homeworld learning everything she could, for the one goal of being here, in San Francisco, in this place. Does that not indicate drive and motivation, something you look for in your cadets?”

“Yes,” Rand grumbled. “But doesn’t that just show the results of her modifications? Augmented humans are exceptionally intelligent, and often highly motivated. We’ve seen the results of that intelligence and motivation. This world still bears the scars of it, centuries later. ‘Superior ability breeds superior ambition,’ I believe the saying went.”

“She is not Khan Noonien Singh, Commander. Robin Mayfair is her own person, and should be judged accordingly, by what she does, not by the crimes of long dead and unrelated people.”

Rand shook his head, rising to the argument. “Again, Advocate, Federation law bans such modification, and those laws exist to prevent future Khans from being born. Creating Augments is a serious crime. The Federation has seen the results when people try to play God with the basic structures of life. Repeatedly.”

“I was enhanced in order to save my life, sir.” The girl’s voice was warm and musical, with a hint of Appalachia. “I had a particularly dangerous form of genetic breakdown, and the doctors were forced to replace whole sections of my genetic code with augmented DNA. Roughly two thirds of it, as a matter of fact.”

“Which doctors?” Rand’s job wasn’t to track down lawbreakers, but he would be more than happy to pass any information on to the authorities. 

“The ones on Adigeon Prime, sir. It’s a neutral world where such technology isn’t illegal. My parents went to Federation doctors, who said that even with all their tech there was nothing that could be done for me. They refused to accept that.”

“Under Federation law, corrective DNA resequencing is permitted to save someone’s life,” Voric stated. “Miss Mayfair’s situation certainly qualified. The enhancements she received are a side effect from the genetic material that was used.”

“All right, then,” Rand said slowly. “Let’s put a pin in that for now. It’s not my concern anyway, as you are my concern, miss. Tell me what abilities you have. How do the augmentations affect you? At least compared to average humans.”

Robin looked up at her Vulcan advocate, who only said “Go ahead” in a reassuring manner. She straightened her skirt, then spoke a bit shyly, as if reluctant to brag.

“I am exceptionally intelligent, sir. I remember everything I study even briefly, although it isn’t what’s called ‘photographic memory.’ My reflexes are incredibly quick, and I have enhanced hand-eye coordination. And my senses are very, very sharp.” She paused, clearly uncomfortable. Voric merely said “Continue.”

But Rand interrupted. “And your physical strength and endurance?”

“Normal. Actually less than normal, when it comes down to it. I’m not sure whether that’s a side effect or just that they couldn’t repair all the damage. I’m not a Eugenics War Augment.” There was a bit of a defensive edge in her voice; she resented any implication that she was a psychopathic monster. 

Voric put his hand on her shoulder, indicating that he wished to speak, and Rand noticed with interest that the girl obeyed instantly.

“Federation law specifies that all sentients are entitled to equal treatment, equal rights. And yet Miss Mayfair is to be judged because of her genetics? She is to be denied those rights despite having broken no laws, merely because of what she is? I believe humans went through that centuries ago, and it isn’t a time your people are proud of.” He raised an eyebrow. “Or am I mistaken?”

Rand could see where the advocate was going with this. “All right, I understand your point. No need to bludgeon me with it. She’s not Khan. Her enhancements weren’t done to create some sort of ‘master race.’ But the Academy regulations…”

“Can be overruled.  It has been done on numerous occasions. Section 19, subsection 12a. It requires a three quarters vote of the board. You sit on that board.”

Damn him, Rand thought. He knows exactly where to hit me. 

Rand was as familiar with Federation laws as anyone in his position was supposed to be, and further, he believed in them. For all his by-the-books attitude, he was an idealist when it came to the Federation and its values.

Rand looked at the girl. “All right. Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that I’m willing to recommend to the board that we accept you for Academy training. Why are you here, Miss Mayfair? I trust it’s not just to challenge rules you don’t agree with. Are you in my office right now to prove a point?”

“No sir,” Robin said softly. “I’ve wanted to travel the stars since I was little. I don’t remember the trip out from my colony… memory issues from the condition. But I remember the trip back in perfect detail. Space was so vast, so beautiful. We can see the Helix Nebula from my home, but I got to see it up close. I knew I wanted to be out there. I wanted to see it all, to explore. And that’s what Starfleet does. My parents refused. They expected me to take over the ranch when I grew up, marry a local boy, and make grandchildren.”

Her voice grew more confident.

After all I’ve been through to get here, I am NOT going to back down to this man, she thought.

“So I stowed away on one of the few merchant ships that came to the colony, the SS Triple Seven. Captain Cardon decided not to send me back when he found me… though it was probably because he wasn’t due back at the colony for a long time and didn’t want to divert his ship.”

“Captain Cardon?”

Voric spoke up. “Captain Miguel Cardon, Starfleet retired. Formerly of the USS Horizon.”

Rand whistled. “That’s impressive. I know of him. He was one of the best. I wondered what happened to him after he retired. He’s captaining a freighter?”

“Yes sir,” Robin said. “He told me that he understood wanderlust, and that it was one of the reasons he let me stay. I worked for my passage. I cleaned and cooked for the crew, helped with maintenance in engineering, and became an assistant in the medbay. He used to tell me stories of Starfleet, of his adventures, of the things he’d seen and the places he’d been. And I knew I wanted that. So I studied, I worked, I tried to make up for the lousy education I got on the colony. Captain Cardon wrote my letter of recommendation.”

“Did he know? About your augmentations?” Rand asked.

“Yes sir. I told him. He didn’t care in the slightest. He said ‘the law is an ass’ when I asked him whether I would be banned from the Academy because of my enhancements.” Robin looked embarrassed to even have used that mild profanity.

Good God, she really is a farmgirl.

“He thought I should keep them secret. Dye my hair, keep my reflexes and other abilities hidden. But I want this to be real. If I’m going to be in Starfleet, I owe Starfleet that much.”

Rand stood up, came over, and sat on his desk in front of Robin. “And we appreciate that. So what do you want to do at Starfleet Academy?”

“I want to be a nurse.”

Rand coughed, surprised. “A nurse? With your abilities you could go into tactical, or science. You could be fast-tracked for command, if you showed the aptitude. Hell, you could be a top neurosurgeon. Why a nurse, of all things?”

“Because people need nurses.”

How naive are you, kid? Rand thought.

“I’m serious, sir. It’s one of those jobs that people overlook, but it’s every bit as necessary as a doctor. They're the first line of medical care. I want to help people, care for them, and fix them up when they get hurt. I’m not squeamish, I don’t panic or freeze up, and I follow instructions well.”

The girl had a determined look in her eye, one that Rand had seen before in countless cadets. For all her abilities, she really was ordinary in that regard.

“Sir, I know I have a lot to offer Starfleet and the Federation. Please. Just give me the chance.”

Rand sighed. “You both know there’s going to be hell to pay over this, right? If I recommend that Robin here be admitted it’s still up to the board, and I’m only one vote. You’re going to have to convince them as well. You have your work cut out for you.”

“I know it, sir,” Robin said seriously… although Rand could see that she was tearing up a bit. There was hope in her eyes. Voric said nothing.

“And there will have to be some rules. Your parents might not have violated Federation law, but you still have augmented genetic code and abilities. We would be letting you in on a technicality. You won’t be competing on any Academy sports teams, I don’t care if it’s bowling or darts. You will pass every class to the best of your ability, with no special treatment. And this will not be kept secret. We won’t be announcing where your enhancements come from, but the other cadets will know who you are and what you can do in short order. Word travels. Expect hostility from many of your classmates who may view you as a ‘cheat,’ as someone with unfair advantages. And let’s face it, they would be right. You do have unfair advantages.”

He continued. “It’ll be up to you to prove that you can get through all of this. Many students with great natural abilities have flunked out of Starfleet Academy. Your enhancements can only take you so far. The Academy is a place where character is the most important trait of all.”

Robin merely nodded and said “Yes, sir.” 

He extended his hand. “Personally I have no doubts about your character, Robin.” The girl smiled and shook it politely. “And to you, advocate, all I can say is ‘well played.’ You may have brought us a worthwhile cadet. We might be able to make something of this one.”

Voric nodded graciously. “Thank you, Commander. Miss Mayfair? Let’s be on our way. The rest will be settled in due time.” 

Hmm, looks like I might be able to enjoy my weekend after all, Rand thought as the pair left his office.

== The Beginning ==