Mel watched Kaito intently as she stood in the dock of Mars’ highest court in Noctis City. Kaito had lost weight during the weeks of testimony, so her body was overwhelmed by her drab gray suit. Hanging her head, she kept her gaze from the people packed inside and eager to hear the judgment against her.
A hand-picked sample of the aggrieved and curious jostled around Mel in the public gallery. She, like the others, had abandoned her seat and was pressed up against the balustrade of the balcony overlooking the court. Below, lawyers from both sides sat divided by an aisle that led to the dignitaries and journalists who had been given a front row seat. Around them buzzed the rotors of hovercams, recording every minute detail for a scarred planet ready for vengeance.
Presiding over the proceedings was Honorary Judge Bublik, a former chief administrator with the Terraforming Committee who had a legal background and had been brought out of retirement for the inquiry. With no ties to Teractor or any other corporation, he was considered to be the closest thing to independent it was possible to be and his judgment was expected to be fair.
Anticipation hung in the courtroom. So thick that Mel tasted it with each nervous breath.
Bublik rested his elbows on the bench in front of him, interlaced his fingers to make a bridge with his hands and turned to Kaito with somber eyes.
“Doctor Kaito Tanaka, this inquiry has heard how you brought unnecessary fear and uncertainty to the people of Mars. You put one of humanity’s prime requirements for survival – the supply of food – at risk. You state that your motive was to do the opposite, to feed an increasing population. Although this may have been true initially, it was overridden by a persistent and increasing desire for self-gain.”
Bublik paused to look down at his notes. If anyone in the courtroom dared to breathe, they kept their breath silent so the only noise was the gentle whir of the ICN hovercams.
“When your plan failed, you compounded that failure by blaming a lifelong friend. You then accepted a position as the science lead for the food crisis where you attempted to control the flow of information to the public.”
Kaito’s shoulders sagged under the weight of his words.
“I would like to take this opportunity,” Bublik continued, “to praise the actions of that friend, Doctor Melanie Erdan.”
He glanced up into the public gallery and looked directly at her. Mel felt herself blush as everyone in the courtroom, except Kaito, turned to do the same. Two hovercams flew over to catch her embarrassment in close-up.
“Her investigations, although not entirely within the law, helped uncover the serious injustice being committed on this planet. It should be an embarrassment to the authorities that it took an accused scientist to uncover the truth. In light of this, I hereby fully exonerate Mel Erdan for any misdemeanors she may have committed in this endeavor and offer her the sincere thanks of both this court and of Mars.”
Mel’s legs weakened at the relief and she put out her hand to the balustrade to steady herself. On either side of her, the cameras captured every nuance as she thought of what it meant for her future. Now that there was a future to have.
“As for you, Kaito Tanaka,” Bublik continued. “This court acknowledges your admission of guilt, but doubts your testimony that no one else was involved. I find it incredible that you arranged for technology to be stolen, secretly propagated in a Teractor facility and distributed to farms without anyone else being aware of – and, indeed, complicit in – what you were doing.”
Bublik looked out into the court and his gaze settled on some of the dignitaries, including Teractor officials, sitting behind the lawyers. The cameras swooped to catch their reaction.
“This inquiry is not a criminal trial. My role has been to examine what happened and to make recommendations for the future security of Mars’ farming industry – which I shall do in my report.
“However,” he returned his attention to Kaito. “For your crimes of conspiracy to steal and endangering the food supply, it is my recommendation that you, Kaito Tanaka, serve a prison sentence of no less than ten years.”
Gasps rose up all around her, but Mel stayed silent. She had expected to be pleased to see Kaito punished for what she had done. Instead, all she felt was pity.
Kaito had been foolish, ambitious and self-serving, but she had never meant to lead Mars down the road to starvation. Her mistake had been to allow one bad decision to dictate her every subsequent move until she had dug herself into a hole so deep she was unable to climb out.
Kaito stared ahead at nothing. As if blocking out the reality of the judgment against her.
Only when a court official took her by the arm to lead her away, did she blink herself back into the moment.
Kaito glanced up into the public gallery as she left the dock and Mel saw sorrow in her eyes. Whether it was remorse for what she had done to Mel, remorse for what she had done to Mars or regret over what she had done to herself – it was impossible to tell.
Mel returned her stare without sympathy. She hoped Kaito understood that no amount of sorrow would ever erase the contempt she had for what Kaito had done.
•••
Mel emerged onto the steps outside the court building and was instantly surrounded by a crowd of journalists, hovercams and members of the waiting crowd.
She garbled a statement welcoming the judgment, avoiding any personal opinion about Kaito and expressing hope that Mars could move on from the trauma of the food crisis.
When it was clear she was going to say no more, the crowd spotted Inspector Deverau leaving the court further along the steps and rushed over to berate him with their questions instead.
Isaac and Daniel stood patiently waiting for her at the bottom of the steps. The little boy, standing under his own strength and hanging on tightly to his father’s hand, gave her a big smile and waved.
The joy at seeing them, enhanced by the knowledge that no judge, court or law would take her away from her family, lifted her so she felt she was flying, not running, down the steps.
She embraced Isaac. She embraced Daniel. They both embraced her.
“Mommy, you’re squashing me!” Daniel complained.
She laughed. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
She ruffled his hair and he grimaced while patting it down again.
“Hey, Mel.”
Mel turned to see Pedro approaching from behind. Overwhelmed by the emotion of it all, she hugged him too.
“Pedro! I thought you were going to be in court.”
“People were camping out overnight to get in the public gallery and I wasn’t given special status like you.”
“Really? After everything you did?”
“You’re the one who made the science work, Mel,” said Pedro. “I only got it over the last hurdle.”
“Why don’t we go celebrate?” said Isaac. “I’ve booked a restaurant around the corner. Now that regular food is returning to the supply chain, they’re promising not to serve a single potato.”
Pedro laughed. The crops had been a savior for Mars, but there wasn’t anyone on the planet who wasn’t fed up with eating them.
Mel wasn’t yet ready to leave. She looked to where the crowd had gathered around Deverau. “Wait a minute,” she said to her husband.
As she approached, she heard the last of Deverau’s prepared speech. “… vindicated by the judgment handed down today. I look forward to Judge Bublik’s report and hope that both Mars and the MSS can learn from his findings. Thank you.”
Journalists shouted questions, but Deverau said nothing more.
Eventually, they dispersed and Mel was able to catch Deverau’s eye.
He smiled as he came over. “It was a good result today,” he said.
“Yes,” said Mel, still coming to terms with the reality that it was all over.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Me and Pedro are fielding a lot of inquiries about our accelerated growth and viral enhancing technology. There’s the possibility we could improve and adapt it to other uses on Mars. The problem is, EcoLine owns my bit of the science and Tharsis Republic owns Pedro’s. The corporations are talking about solving the issue by selling the whole lot to Splice Tactical Genomics, with an option for me and Pedro to continue the research. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet – like the rest of Mars, I’m a bit tired of potatoes.”
Deverau nodded his understanding.
“What about you?” Mel asked.
“The MSS aren’t sure whether to praise me or punish me for helping you,” he admitted. “So they’ve opted to leave me alone in my current job for now. Which is fine by me.”
“We’re going out for a meal to celebrate,” said Mel. “You’re welcome to join us.”
“No, I promised Jones I would see him back at the station.”
“If you’re sure I can’t tempt you…”
“It’s a celebration for you and your family. You don’t want me there.”
Mel felt something touch her leg and glanced down to see Daniel had run over. Still a little unsteady on his feet, he hugged tightly onto her knee.
“Mommy! I’m hungry!”
When she looked up, Deverau was backing away. “Good luck, Mel!” he said. “I don’t expect we’ll see each other again.”
“Yes, good luck!” she called after him as he turned and walked off down the street.
She watched him go until she was joined by Isaac and Pedro.
“Ready now?” said Isaac.
She picked Daniel up, sat him on her hip and felt how heavy he had become. “I’m ready.”
They walked to the restaurant with Isaac reading out all the amazing-sounding options from the menu on his WristTab. By the time they got there, they were eager to eat the most long-awaited meal of their lives.