The Dyak

Part 4 :

Vice-Admiral Nash looked sadly at Sheeka as he and Church sat across the desk from him. "I'm sorry," he said truthfully. 
"Now what?" Sheeka asked without acknowledging his pity. 
"A new name, a new face. The trial has been delayed." 
"Why?" he asked. 
"Rex-Nex tried to kill himself, at least that's what the doctors on his planet have reported. Would you like something to drink?" 
"No. Where do I go from here? I can't go back to the Endeavor." Sheeka's hands clenched until the knuckles turned a purplish white. 
"No," Nash agreed, "you can't go back to the ship." 

Church bit his lip. He wanted him to stay aboard his vessel but logic told him Sheeka would not be safe there, not any more. He glanced worriedly at him only to notice how he avoided looking at him. 
"Then where?" Leae asked. Nash's eyes went pointedly to Church. "I trust him." Church smiled at him but he still did not meet his gaze. 
"No, I'm sorry, Captain Church, but you do understand, don't you?" 
"Yes." Church thought, "Unfortunately, I do." Aloud, he asked, "Shall I leave?" 
"Yes," Nash replied firmly. 
"Please wait outside, Peter." For the first time since their arrival, he looked at him, took his hand. The human's flesh felt warm within the confines of his cool ones as he squeezed them in love. Peter smiled, agreed with him that he would wait, and left. Half an hour passed before Sheeka came out. He went immediately to Church, held him tightly in his arms.
He saw the anguis buried at the back of the Dyak's eyes. "Sheeka?" 
"I will never see you again," he admitted in anguish. 
"After the trial..." 
"No. Rex-Nex's father will not forget I spoke out against his son. For the rest of my life, I'll have to run and hide. Peter, if I knew then what I know now, I would not have stepped forward! I would have hidden until they had gone and then have continued with my work." 
"You don't mean that," Peter chided. 
"I do! I swear I do!" he buried him face against the captain's shoulder.
"Oh, Sheeka." His heart ached for him. 
Later, Sheeka admitted, "I did not mean what I said, about not coming forward." 
Peter smiled tenderly. "I know that. Sheeka, I'll miss you." 

"And I will miss you, my captain. Good by." The Dyak hurried inside the Vice-admiral's office. 
Peter gazed sadly at the closed doorway before beaming back to his ship. Baden was in the transporter room. "Will you be the only one beaming over?" the Chre priest asked. 
"Yes. Take the ship out. I'll be in my cabin." 
"Captain?" 
"Yes, Mr. Baden?" 
"My records show Yeoman Sheeka died of his injuries. Who placed that information into my computer?" 

Nash's instruction to Church had been explicit. No details were to be divulged until after the trial. Church chafed at the restrictions put on him, on the orders that kept him from sharing the truth with his friends. "The tooth fairy?" Peter asked and quickly left the Transporter room. 
On Star Base one, no one paid any attention to the small group of religious monks who boarded a shuttle craft for the WINDWARD. After all, all Izberian monks looked alike in their dark green robes and hoods. No one talked with them for they were boring, uninspiring habits. If anyone had taken the time to inspect the Dyak monk's eyes, they would have seen a horrible loneliness and desolation in them.