Yevan and I were kept under heavy guard, and I fought the temptation to talk to him. He had made his decision, and he was in a position to carry it out. Without any warning, we were ordered onto a transporter platform. Seconds later, we beamed into a great hall that was filled with Andorian dignitaries and a scattering of diplomats from around the Federation.
Our Red Sash escorts surrounded us, their weapons protecting us from the guards who started forward. “What is the meaning of this?” shouted a robed dignitary on the podium.
Jaranda stepped forward and pointed at Yevan with pride. “This is Prince Yevan, son of Thurl, true successor to the throne! We demand that you stop your illegal coronation and recognize him. By your own accords, Yevan is the true successor—not that pretender, Levak.”
“But Yevan is dead!” shouted someone.
“No, he’s not. This is Yevan!” countered Jaranda.
There was considerable murmuring in the crowd, and more than a few Federation dignitaries were staring at me. I hated to condone these unruly proceedings, but I had to speak the truth. “I’m Captain Jean-Luc Picard,” I began, “and I mediated the new accords. By full consensus, Yevan is the next in line to the throne, and I will swear that this is Prince Yevan. He has been in my company since his father’s death.”
Despite my testimony, the crowded hall looked as if it would erupt in fighting. In one corner of the room, I could see someone dressed in regal robes—probably Levak; he was mustering a squad of soldiers. The Red Sash formed ranks around us, and many of them appeared to be itching for a fight. Many members of the audience began to rush toward cover.
Yevan suddenly broke from our ranks and ran up to the podium, exposing himself to every weapon in the cavernous room. He pushed the old dignitary away and seized the speakers stand, and his amplified voice boomed throughout the hall.
“Everyone!” he shouted. “Be calm! Sheathe your weapons! We have no reason to fight. The Andorian people are a great people, and we have shown that we are above petty violence. Let this be a day of reason and forgiveness, along with celebration!”
Now the panicky crowd began to applaud. When fighting didn’t break out, most of them started returning to their seats. While no one was watching me, I slipped away into an alcove and tapped by combadge, hoping against hope that the Enterprise was in orbit. To my relief, I reached my first officer on the bridge.
Yevan waved his hands, quieting the crowd. “We have observers here from around the galaxy—let’s prove to them that we Andorians can have a peaceful transition of power. I know that a small number of misguided people killed my father in order to install Counsel Lavek on the throne, but I won’t seek revenge. I forgive you all. When I’m king, I will pardon you all!”
Now the vast hall was so quiet that I could hear breathing and feet shuffling. Spontaneously, a wave of applause and cheering broke out, and the gathered crowd chanted, “Crown him! Crown him! Long live King Yevan!”
The lad nodded solemnly and turned to face the robed dignitary he had pushed aside. The man opened a large scroll and began to read in a shaky voice, asking Yevan questions every so often. The youth answered in a ringing voice, as if he had trained all his life for this moment. Roars of acclaim met his every word, and the crowd was cheering lustily by the time the ceremony ended.
I thought the worst was over, but I could see the soldiers of the Red Sash pushing forward, waiting to see if Yevan would abdicate and put their man in place. Yevan held up his hands, indicating he had more to say, and the crowd hushed breathlessly.
“For my first royal decree,” said Yevan, “I pardon everyone connected with the death of my father, King Collev, and Prince Bregev. Let the mistakes of the past stay in the past. For my second decree, I declare that we will have a vote of the people. This plebiscite will decide whether to keep the monarchy or to install a democracy with elected officials. If the people choose a democracy in which everyone has an equal voice, I will give up power and step down!”
“Traitor!” screamed Jaranda, lifting her weapon to fire. Her blue beam caught Yevan in the shoulder, spun him around, and dropped him to the stage.
I slapped my combadge and shouted, “Two to beam up! Direct to sickbay!”
I never saw the rest of the mayhem, but I heard that Jaranda and several Red Sash were killed that day. I was more concerned about my young friend, for whom I had developed considerable respect. I’ve rarely ever seen a more noble or courageous act than his.
It took two weeks in our sickbay to nurse King Yevan back to health, and he almost died. I sat with the lad every day, filling him in on the progress of the plebiscite. As we both hoped, democracy won by a landslide, and the common people had a joyous celebration in the streets.
“Do you see, Captain?” said Yevan from his bed. “I had no intentions of ever taking that job.”
“I’m enormously proud of you,” I replied. “Your people love you for what you’ve done—you could easily be elected the first president.”
“Which is precisely why I’m never going back there.” Yevan lay back and stared at the ceiling. “I gave up all that power and adulation once—I don’t know if I could do it again. It’s best to avoid temptation. But I’m glad I listened to you, Captain Picard. Like you said, I made the hard decision.”
“You have my admiration.” I patted him on his undamaged shoulder. “Did the Red Sash ever pay you all that latinum?”
“No, I knew they wouldn’t.” He nodded slowly to himself, his antennae bobbing. “At least we know it was only a small faction of Absolutists who killed my father, and they’ve confessed. I would hate to have both sides as my enemy. It’s bad enough that I must stay in hiding for a while, with the Red Sash looking for revenge.”
“We could protect you on Earth,” I said. “Or aboard the Enterprise.”
The young Andorian smiled with amusement. “You want to hide an Andorian among millions of humans? I don’t think so. It’s hard to hide an Andorian anywhere but Andoria, but I have resources at my disposal.”
“If you ever need help, get word to me. I’ll be there for you.”
“And I for you, Captain.” We shook hands—two comrades, two friends, two equals.
I don’t know what Yevan is doing now, except that he’s still in hiding. He sacrificed absolute power and a comfortable existence in order to give his people a democracy. Today the name of Prince Yevan is just a small footnote in history, but his selfless, courageous act made all the difference in the future of Andoria.
That’s my story, proving that there is very little difference between a captain and a king.
Star Trek: Enterprise Logs Page 30
