14
The court most certainly does not allow,” Kaviti snapped.
“Point of order, Honored Justice.” The man stepped away from the jury box. “The court has no choice. It is within my right.”
The Advocate rose from her position on the front pew. “Ambassador, perhaps it missed your attention, but Commander Taunton has formally registered his interest in the proceedings.”
Kaviti demanded, “Why am I just hearing about this now?”
“I was only informed upon arrival in the court.” Advocate Cylian seated herself, then glanced at Sean. For the briefest instant, so swift it would have been possible to believe it had not happened at all, the Kabuki mask dissolved and she smiled.
Kaviti missed it because he was scowling at the newcomer. “Formal notice of interest permits you observer status, nothing more.”
“True, unless the accused elect to change my status,” the newcomer replied. “I formally request the court’s permission to address the young men before you.”
“Oh, let him,” the fake grandmother said. “He’s going to in the end.”
And then it happened again. While Kaviti scowled at the stranger, the woman shot Sean a look as swift as the Advocate’s. And offered him the day’s second ray of hope.
The man bowed. “I am most grateful for the court’s indulgence.”
Dillon jerked to his feet and hissed, “Stand up.” When Sean rose, Dillon whispered, “Say yes.”
“To what?”
“To anything he says.”
Taunton was a small man, half a head shorter than Sean. But he carried himself with such authority that the physical elements were meaningless. He asked Dillon, “You know who I am?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“That makes things easier. Introduce your brother, please.”
“Commander Taunton, this is Sean Kirrel.”
“A pleasure, I’m sure. Are you two willing to appoint me as your Advocate?”
“Out of the question,” Kaviti said.
“Yes, Commander,” Sean replied.
Taunton then offered Sean the day’s third gift. Not a smile so much as the expression of a hungry tiger. All teeth and rage. He leaned forward and murmured, “Then let the games begin.”
“If it pleases the court,” Taunton said, “might I inquire as to when the prosecutor will arrive?”
It seemed to Sean that Kaviti’s ire carried a new and nervous tone. “This is a preliminary hearing. A prosecutor is not required to be present.”
“And yet the Advocate assigned to the young men by your own office told them that charges were already leveled. Quite serious charges. Is that not so?”
“If she did so, it was without my knowing.”
Sean looked over to where the Advocate sat behind the empty left-hand table. Her mask was firmly back in place. But she must have felt his eyes, for she shot him a glance and gave a fractional head shake. Sean turned back around.
“Even so.” Taunton stood before their table, hands laced behind his back. “Does it not appear a bit strange that a prosecutor would level such extremely severe charges and not feel required to attend the first hearing?”
Kaviti appeared to be the only Justice willing to speak. “Certainly not.”
“I thank the court for this most illuminating clarification.”
“If that is all, the court hereby orders the Kirrel brothers to be returned to their—”
“One moment, if it pleases the court.” Taunton made a process of drawing papers from his pocket and unfolding them. “It appears that the prosecutor’s name has been omitted from the court documents.”
“Justices are entitled to bring charges,” Kaviti replied. “Which you would know, if you had any foundation—”
“And yet do these same rules of procedure not require the Justice to then immediately appoint a prosecutor? Following this, are they not required to immediately excuse themselves from all court proceedings?”
The Zulu said, “That is correct.”
Kaviti snarled, “I have already stated that this is a preliminary hearing only, and thus none of these rules apply, as you would know if you had any business—”
“Ah, but it is my business, honored sir. These young men have made it my business. Have you not, Sean? Dillon?”
“Definitely, yes.”
“Absolutely.”
“Let it be so noted.” Taunton returned his attention to the Justices. “Now that this matter has been resolved, allow me to raise another. Am I correct in assuming you have imprisoned these young men on charges that were not formally registered?”
Kaviti bridled. “How dare you enter this court uninvited and imply—”
“And they have been incarcerated for six days—can that truly be so?”
Kaviti snarled, “They resisted arrest.”
Taunton seemed to take exquisite pleasure in drawing forth another document. “Ah, but I have taken the liberty of gathering testimony of numerous witnesses who claim the exact opposite.”
The grandmotherly Justice looked askance at the central Justice. “Is this true? You involved me on a false premise?”
Kaviti rose to his feet and thundered, “How dare you!”
“How dare I?” Taunton grew in size and volume until he filled the space between their table and the dais. “How dare I? You are seeking to serve as investigator, prosecutor, judge, and jury. How dare I? You order them to take as Advocate a member of your personal staff, and you ask this of me?”
“Let the records show that I hereby accuse you, Ambassador Kaviti, of breach of judiciary trust and illegal use of your court-appointed position! Furthermore, I accuse you of reckless abandonment of every principle that underpins the Human Assembly!”
“Those two boys—”
“These two men, my clients, did nothing whatsoever except respond to an emergency appeal. They saved an innocent civilian from being dismembered, and a high political official of their home world from being coerced into making a terrible choice—go against his principles or condemn his nephew to a slow and painful death.”
“Now, see here—”
Taunton stabbed the air over their table. “These two are heroes. They have precisely obeyed the Human Assembly’s covenant. They have always acted as servants to our code of ethics and behavior! How dare I? This is how I respond, sir. I will go before the Assembly and request—no, demand—that you be stripped of all titles and positions. That is what I dare.” He turned his back on the Justices and said, “Come, lads. We are done with this travesty.”
Kaviti sputtered, “I have not dismissed them!”
“Might I suggest,” the Zulu murmured, “that now would be a good time to remain silent.”
Taunton led them back to where the guards stood at rigid attention. He pointed to Dillon’s ankle clamp and ordered, “Free these men.”