A moment after Bertram asked the question, Portia had him forced against the wall of Horatio’s dorm room, where the Warborn had gathered to discuss matters in private. The others showed little reaction, for clashes between the two most aggressive members of the group were not uncommon. But Bertram merely spread his hands and gave a casual shrug, as well as he could with Portia’s hand around his throat. “Just asking. I’m fine with it if you did.”

Portia gave his neck one last angry squeeze, then jerked away. Bertram folded his arms and relaxed against the wall as if he’d wanted to be there all along. His careless manner disgusted her. “No,” she insisted to the group as a whole. “I didn’t kill Rakatheema. That would ruin all our chances of a real life.”

Viola frowned. “But he wanted to use us for the Federation’s battles.”

“As an advocate, he could be countered. As a martyr, he’s a far greater threat to us.” Portia hissed through her teeth. “And Starfleet’s as good as abandoned us already. Even Kirk wouldn’t stand up for me when I told them I didn’t do it. Nobody’s going to question the false evidence.”

Viola and several others muttered in sympathetic anger. But Horatio put a calming hand on her shoulder. “Give them a chance, Portia. They have to follow procedure. If you didn’t do this, they won’t be able to prove you did.”

She stared at him, jerking away from his touch. “ ‘If’? You don’t believe me?”

“I want to believe you. But you have said you wanted to fight for your own goals.”

“Not like they say I did! If I choose to start a fight, it will be one I believe in, one I’m proud of. One I have no reason to deny.”

“That’s laudable. But it will be your word against the evidence, unless you can provide something more solid. An alibi, an eyewitness.”

“I was alone. I wanted to be. You know I was always the best at stealth.”

Horatio tilted his head. “You understand why that won’t be seen as a point in your favor.”

“Nothing will! Don’t you get it? They’ve feared the worst from us all along. They were eager to have their suspicions confirmed. Proven or not, even the insinuation will harden people against us. We’ll never be allowed to remain.”

She smacked her fist into her palm. “This has got to be Janith-Lau’s work. Her people have been against us from the start. Killing Rakatheema and making us look responsible for it solves all their problems.”

Benedick looked confused. “But… they arrested her. Why would she frame herself?”

“She must have been sloppy when she framed me. She got caught in her own trap at first.”