NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24
The proclamation was chilling, silencing all but the buzzing camera drones that took every angle of the room and broadcast them abroad for the billions to enjoy. It was slightly concerning to me that most of them had their camera eyes pointed my way, but I kept a plain face and soon enough they got bored and turned back to the Adjudicator panel, who by protocol had been holding a long silence.
The lessons I had learned told me that it was supposed to last just a minute, but despite my mental acuity, the roiling in my guts suggested that it’d gone on much longer. The central Knowle cast a meaningful scan over the audience, left to right, before banging her gavel.
“We are here to decide the truth of fact on three instances, leading up to a determination on truth of character, regarding Tyson Dawes, former CEO of Silken Sands,” the central Knowle said. Her voice was bland, as though reading lines into a record. “I am lead Adjudicator Blary. To my left is Adjudicator Hart. On my right is Adjudicator May.”
“Each an expert in your history,” Tazha whispered to me. “What was taught of it, at any rate.”
I held my tongue, despite wanting to respond. Arbitrators were allowed to whisper to their clients, but the clients could not whisper back without incurring a penalty from the court.
I absorbed the reminder without acknowledging the whisper, per protocol. Instead I kept my focus on the Adjudicators as I was supposed to.
“The first incident in dispute is your time aboard a BlueCleave military spacecraft, and the damage that was incurred as a result,” Adjudicator Hart said. “Let us begin.”
“Our recorded statements from BlueCleave officers will be accompanied by a direct witness interview,” Hart said, peering over his glasses.
The door behind me swung open and I ignored the impulse to turn and look. Within a few seconds, the witness walked into view. Phyllis, in full uniform. She approached the dias and sat in a smaller seat near the front, where all could see her. The witness stand.
“Grand Admiral,” Hart started, still sounding quite bored. “WIll you give us an accounting of the events that transpired aboard your ship, please?”
Phyllis nodded. “With the exception of classified material, yes. I was sent to the Sleem gate on orders to apprehend a criminal entity operating inside the Sleem universe. Upon arrival, Mr. Dawes was taken into custody for transport back to Nu-Earth. Upon arrival in orbit, Mr. Dawes damaged my ship by punching a sizable dent in the cargo bay, then proceeded to escape custody. During his flight from custody, he flew through our gravity array, causing its complete destruction.”
I stared at Phyllis, remembering our times at her trailer, smoking pot and laughing at the world. It saddened me to see how BuyMort had changed us all. She was young now, and mean, not at all the woman I’d used to help out despite the wishes of Mr. Sada.
“Mr. Dawes,” Adjudicator Hart said, breaking into my thoughts. “Your recounting next, please.”
I stood and began. “I was in the Sleem universe because that is where Admiral Omen left me, after he drained my suit of charge, and removed my head via dustcaster fire. I was not operating as any criminal entity, I was merely confused and trying to get home. When I was approached by the BlueCleave ship, I did not resist, and went aboard willingly. During my time in custody, I had words with several crew members, and witnessed acts that led me to believe my own life was in danger. I did damage the deck of the cargo bay, and the ship’s gravity array, but my motivations were simply defense of self.”
“Grand Admiral?” Hart asked. “I do not wish to interfere in BlueCleave operations, and we all must bear in mind that this hearing is public. That said, I would like you to expand upon the criminal entity portion of your testimony.”
Phyllis’ lips tightened. “Those were the orders I was given. My investigation of the system found only Mr. Dawes.”
“I see,” said Adjudicator Hart. “Mr. Dawes. Could you elaborate upon the elements that led you to fear for your own life? Bear in mind the assembly’s full knowledge of your starfish suit and stat shot enhancements. For the record, it does take considerably more effort to end the life of one so protected.”
“Yes,” I replied with barely the hint of a nod. “I witnessed concerning behavior from some of the enlisted hobbs when I spoke of the BlueCleave I had known, and the summary execution of an officer. I was also regularly plied with pulsed ion cannon shot, which completely drains a starfish suit’s charge. Monowire weaponry was employed to contain me several times, and no matter the enhancement one may carry, nothing prevents damage from a live monowire.”
“Any refutation from the Grand Admiral?” Hart asked.
Phyllis sat stoney faced and glared at me. “No.”
“Defense of self fact established, in that case,” Hart drolled. “I would like to know more about these orders of yours, and of course the incident Mr. Dawes has referred to regarding the end of the Church war, but for the moment I deem that the threat to his life was indeed sincerely believed. Once mortie reparations are made, the matter will be settled for both parties.” The Knowle took his folders from the center of his area and placed them under the desktop.
Adjudicator Blary opened her files and sat forward. “Grand Admiral, please stay for the second round of questions. The second incident in dispute is the damage to Nu-Earth’s gravity sling, as well as several injured or in arrears parties. Affiliates and individuals both. Complaints and testimony has been provided, and a determination of truth has already been made in this incident. But, for the public’s sake, we will walk through the determination and provide evidence. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, please adhere to decorum rules while this evidence is provided.”
The silence in the hall was palpable. I nearly sighed, but caught myself. My past was full of so much destruction and chaos that I was never held accountable for—it felt absurd to be in court over stuff that wasn’t even my fault.
“Shortly after Mr. Dawes escape from BlueCleave custody, during which he feared for his life, an altercation in the skies above the gravity sling caused roughly fourteen billion morties worth of damage and loss, and caused no less than twelve minor and moderate injuries,” Blary said. “First, we will hear the official stance of BlueCleave, from the Grand Admiral please.”
Phyllis sat forward. “In pursuit of Mr. Dawes, still considered a criminal entity at the time, my fighter wing engaged him above the gravity sling, at which point he landed upon it. The damage and injury proceeded from there. In the conflict, Mr. Dawes destroyed multiple craft and injured multiple pilots.”
“I must remark upon the passive, neutral tone used by BlueCleave in official capacity. We all have access to the same evidence, and while the military’s statement is not inaccurate, it lacks comprehension that I feel is necessary to view this incident in the light of fact-based truth. Before the evidence is provided, the council will take testimony from the accused, Mr. Dawes. Please, go ahead,” Blary finished, looking at me.
“I was in the process of exploring Nu-Earth again, having come to the realization that a century had passed since my last visit. In doing so, my intention was also to leave behind the BlueCleave pursuit. When pursuit found me above the gravity sling, they opened fire with a pulsed ion cannon, which discharged my suit and caused my drop to the sling. From there, I was struck by oncoming cargo, which recharged my suit. At that point I began efforts to prevent further harm to those around me on the sling. BlueCleave continued firing upon me, which led to more disruption of the belt, as well as more cargo and spacecraft damage. In order to stop the damage, I destroyed an attacking ship’s drives while being intentionally careful to avoid harming the cockpit. I then took the pursuit away from the belt and succeeded in escaping BlueCleave forces,” I recited.
Blary nodded and closed her folder. “Now to video evidence. Relevant portions have been edited to show each available moment of the incident.”
Multiple camera angles began to play, one at a time. The video jumped from source to source and the scenario played out exactly as I had described. There was ruffling from the press as the BlueCleave ships hit the belt itself with pulsed ion cannon fire. One member of the audience gasped as a ship collided with another on screen, and was quickly escorted out of the room. After the initial outbursts were quelled, the evidence was presented from multiple angles, multiple times.
An evidentiary expert presented each scene, the Knowle’s tone cold and devoid of emotion. He carefully explained each sequence, and at the end presented his findings, always in my favor. The minutes ticked away as the battle was shown over and over, exhaustively proving how BlueCleave’s pilots had been at fault for the carnage and destruction. I sat still and merely watched in silence as the evidentiary hearing proceeded.
Blary peered down at Phyllis as the videos played, watching for reaction. Phyllis just stared stoically as the evidence played out. As the civilian craft jammed together around me, I saw her fingers tense. It was a small movement, but it told me something important.
“If I may,” Phyllis suddenly said. My heart flared at the stern look her face made, a glimpse of the woman I had known and fought beside. Her action felt like the Phyllis of old as well; I knew from my classes that she’d just committed a severe breach of decorum, and I fought against a smile when I saw all three Adjudicators suddenly glare at her.
Good old Phyllis.
Blary frowned, a rare expression of emotion from the bench. Then she looked back and forth at her fellow Adjudicators. “I’ll allow it,” she said. “Be brief.”
“I was not made aware of these elements,” Phyllis said, shifting in her seat. “If I had been, my own statement would have been different from the statement that was prepared for me. I didn’t know he tried to help people.”
An assembly guard approached and Phyllis stood and followed. As she left, her eyes were glued on me, calculating and reassessing.
I felt the urge to get up and reassure her that, whatever story had been told about me, it was all lies and that she of all people should know better. Instead, I kept my eyes ahead, letting her disappear from sight.