'Have you found out if it was a suicide attempt?' The captain asked his chief of security. He only shook his head. 'The woman doesn't want to talk to us, sir.' They were talking about an alien female they had rescued from burning in a star's corona along with her small shuttle. 'Captain, we are being hailed. The ship has the same energy signature as the woman's shuttle.' 'Good,' said the captain, signalling to open the channel. 'If they're her people, we may find out more from them.' 'This is Ganaki, the commander of the Burian vessel, Pursuer. Please, identify yourself,' they heard. The captain replied but before he could ask any questions, he was interrupted: 'You are holding a criminal aboard your ship. We demand you hand her over to us.' The captain frowned. 'May I first ask what crime she's committed?' 'She murdered her own son,' came the shocking reply. 'He was considered the future Prophet. We take our religion very seriously, captain' The alien added and it sounded like a threat. The captain explained there were some medical procedures involved before they could release the woman, making it all up as he went along to gain them some time. Finally, the alien agreed to wait half an hour and the channel went off. 'We only have thirty minutes, so let's get started,' the captain ordered the Vulcan counsellor. The mysterious woman still refused to talk to them. The mind meld seemed the only logical solution. It was dark. She was hiding in a cave, nurturing her baby boy. All she had with her were some lights which she kept very low and a few emergency food rations. She knew she couldn't survive like this for long but she kept trying. 'They're coming!' Said her maid and the best friend. She had more acute hearing. The mother felt chilled. 'They've found us!' She whispered, terrified. 'Then there's no choice.' 'Are you sure you really want to do this?' The maid asked sadly. She had been trying to stop the mother from what she intended to do but she knew she'd fail. 'I don't want any other deaths,' she heard the usual reply. She signed, resigned, and handed the mother a knife. 'Commander!' The captain's voice managed to snap the Vulcan out of his trance. He broke the link with some effort and turned to his commanding officer. 'She. did it, sir,' he gasped, struggling to regain his composure. What he just relived, was enough to move even a Vulcan. 'She stabbed her son to prevent him from becoming the Prophet. The captain wanted to say something but then, unexpectedly, the woman started speaking. 'You do not understand,' she said in her native language but the words were immediately translated into the Federation standard. The counsellor wanted to say something, but the captain silenced him with a gesture and nodded for the woman to continue. 'My people are technologically advanced,' she began quietly. 'But do not let that mislead you. Our religion is cruel. It has always been. Despite the fact we now know we're not the only sentient creatures in the universe, the Leaders refuse to let anything change our ancient customs.' 'It doesn't justify killing an innocent baby!' The captain couldn't help himself. 'Living in harsh conditions is still better than being dead!' The woman only shook her head. She returned to her bunk at the back of the brig and sat there, uptight. 'Please, tell us what happened,' pleaded the captain but she only looked at him across the cell and remained still. 'She doesn't even feel remorse!' The security chief whispered into the captain's ear, outraged. The captain thought for a while. Finally, seeing no other option, he asked the counsellor to resume the mind meld to find out more about those supposedly cruel religious traditions. The crowd had already started gathering at the bottom of the Sacred Hill. The group of young mothers stood separately, as always. Some of the young women were still weeping helplessly but most of them just stood there, acquiescent. One of the Holy Priests started his chanting. The people gradually quieted and picked up the melody. The singing grew louder and louder in the evening air. The young Prophet emerged from his cave all in lavish robes. He raised his tiny hands and everybody fell silent. 'Let the Holiest Ceremony begin,' he said and on that signal, the mothers formed a queue. Each and every one of them held her baby in her arms for the last time. One by one they approached the pyre and laid the infants inside. The crowd watched the spectacle in revered silence. Once the last oblation was completed, the Prophet Himself would start the Holy Fire. 'No!' The woman said forcibly. Everybody on the bridge turned to her, surprised. 'Return me to my people,' she demanded, looking the captain straight in the eyes. 'My son is already dead, I wish to share his fate.' The captain signalled his communication officer to mute the channel. Their time was up. The Burians demanded the woman be returned to them immediately. Her sentence was death. 'You don't have to do this,' said the counsellor softly. 'We can offer you asylum.' The woman didn't even look at him. She repeated: 'Return me to my people. I deserve my fate.' There was some strength in her voice that made the captain shiver. He nodded his head and whispered: 'We'll help you spread your message.' The woman bowed her head slightly and replied with dignity: 'Thank you. Please, proceed.' 'Have you got all the frequencies, lieutenant?' The captain asked. The officer nodded. 'Begin transmission,' the captain ordered. The whole crew also listened to the last message of the alien woman. That night, in every Burian house, instead of the usual transmission of the Holy Ceremony, people saw the image of a criminal. Some were indignant with such a blasphemy but listened anyway, since they were unable to turn their receivers off. 'I have killed my son,' the woman started her confession. 'I killed him so that no other woman would ever have to sacrifice the most precious God's gift she has.'
