Star Lawyers Omnibus : Main Series - Books 1-3, page 47
J.B. paused to stuff yellow pads of notes into his orange tote bag. Tyler signaled Julieta to bring Lox Aspi down front. The strands of his head fin drooped like cooked pasta.
“Lox, are you okay?” Tyler said.
“I want to go home.”
“Justice before liberation,” Tyler reminded him. “Julieta, you and Rosalie get Lox something to eat. We need the Greeter back here promptly after lunch.”
Rosalie nodded. “We’ve got him, Ty.”
“And don’t kill anybody in the building.”
“No promises,” Rosalie said with a teasing smile.
Demarcus Platte and Yumiko Matsuda met J.B., Tyler, and Mr. Blue in the corridor. Tyler waved. “Lunch break, Demarcus.”
“Good-good food,” Mr. Blue chirped.
“See you when we reconvene,” Tyler said.
“You’re not going anywhere without us,” Platte said.
“We’re inside the Gobikan,” Tyler said. “It’s their Parliament, Supreme Court, and Vatican.”
“I don’t give a shit if we’ve crashed the Pearly Gates and climbed up God’s ass. Too many people want you dead. Follow me.” The security chief took the lead with his lady Samurai trailing them.
“And a good-good lunch was had by all…” Tyler mumbled.
Eighteen
When the Scourge of the Stars emerged from Abuela’s point-to-point jump, Myong-Li held their position while Suzie melded with the sensor grid and ship’s instrumentation package. They instantaneously crossed three hundred seventy-eight light years, which still placed their stolen yacht more than two days out of homeport with no functioning comm system to warn the Star Lawyers of the approaching pirate fleet.
Suzie centered her consciousness in the holographic body again, but kept light contact with the ship’s computer core. This vessel had no personality, no centralized MLC to guide its operations by artificial intelligence like Suzie had done for Tyler’s Sioux City. All systems had to be continually monitored.
Suzie tapped into the comm links. “How’s our new recruit doing?”
Parvati’s dark face appeared on the monitor. “Almost done, Captain. Arabella’s got him hopping.”
Suzie adjusted the visuals to include Abuela’s amber projectile where Arabella, hands on hips, watched the fuzzy-haired Lieutenant work. He removed a locking panel and inserted both hands inside the device. Suzie couldn’t see his fingers at work, but his furrowed brow suggested the young man struggled in tight spaces to remove a totally alien device. Finally, he smiled and withdrew a long, slightly curved object that looked like a bronze banana.
“Talk to me, Arabella,” Suzie said.
“Rodney extracted Abuela’s backup multi-band communications device.” Arabella never looked away from the techno-drama unfolding before her. “Rodney insists he can patch that thing into the sensor grid, reverse polarities, and temporarily convert long range scanners into comm towers. I have no idea what he’s talking about.”
“Hope the kid knows what he’s doing,” Suzie said.
When she turned to the monitor, Arabella’s voice became hushed. “When he’s done, do you mind if I reward him?”
“Bloody hell. Keep your mitts off the nipper until we’re home and he can choose freely.”
Arabella frowned. “Suzie, you’d make a terrible whore.”
“Thank you. Get back to work.”
Abuela materialized beside Suzie’s command console. “Dear, my power reserves are nearly empty. I have enough for a short jump and a little sublight propulsion.”
“You’re leaving us again.”
“Yes.” The gray-haired Bianca look-alike rested on the cushioned seat of the empty navigation station. “A goodly number of main sequence stars lie within reach. I can skirt the corona in close orbit until my system fully recharges.”
“What will you do then?”
Abuela smiled. Suzie thought it was a brave, sad smile. “Go home. Warn the star nations of approaching terror. Maybe they can reason with the humans already working in Andromeda, get the Matthews Corporation representatives to shut down this Jump Gate Omega. Who knows?”
“Who knows, indeed?” Suzie slid from the command seat to embrace her.
“Oh, I have a gift for you.” Abuela reached into a pocket and withdrew an amber pendant on a gold chain.
“It’s lovely!” Suzie accepted it and lifted her hands to put it on.
Abuela caught her wrist gently. “It is bio-energetic, containing an extract from my composite structure. It will attach to your basic program. Tap the bauble and call for me. If I am close by, I will reply.”
Suzie smiled. “What does ‘close by’ mean to you?”
“Well, dear, distance is a thing of the mind, but it’s a big universe,” Abuela said.
Suzie slipped the chain and amber over her neck. “I will think of you whenever I wear this.”
“Good! And if you’re ever in Andromeda, we’ll finish our garden party. Drink another glass of Patxaran. Bring Tyler.”
“Abso-blooming-lootley! We’ll look you up.” Suzie kissed her.
“Love holds the Cosmos together. Trust love.” Abuela disappeared.
Suzie checked the monitor. The alien probe was gone from the cargo bay. She wrapped her fingers around the amber pendant.
“Vaya con Dios, Nana.”
Suzie called up nav charts and ordered Parvati back to the bridge. The East Indian materialized instantly.
“Parvati, take the helm while Myong-Li moves to Nav. Start the wind-up to FTL.”
“Yes, Captain,” Parvati said.
Arabella’s voice rang through the ship’s comm system. “Suzie! Rodney’s done it. He doesn’t know how long this Rube Goldberg rigging will last, but we have auxiliary comm at full power. The nipper is a freakin’ techno-genius!”
“No wonder Kichirou recruited him. Forget what I said—kiss that fuzzy kid long and hard for me!” Suzie snapped her fingers. “Parvati, open a channel to the Patrick Henry, maximum encryption. Standby for burst transmission.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The Brahmin tapped her console, then clapped her hands. “Got them!”
“Patrick Henry, this is Suzanne London. Do you copy?”
A blurry image appeared in the comm monitor, moved like a sea mist, and jelled into Paco León.
“Suzie!” Paco cried. “Standby. I’ll patch you through to Tyler.”
“No time, Chief. We might get cut off again.” She signaled to Parvati. “I’m sending a data microburst about a pirate fleet heading your way, commanded by Kichirou Tsuchiya. He has a device to jam the targeting computers of ships. I think he’s planning to seize Jump Gate Alpha.”
“Yeah, I’m not surprised. Several people have been taking Kichirou’s name in vain around here. Okay—we received the files. I’ll warn the Suryadivans, but it looks pretty grim with that many bad guys inbound. The whole Suryadivan Navy got blown to crap while defending our Beta Site.” He smiled at her like an uncle welcoming the prodigal home. “Sure you don’t want to contact Tyler?”
“Hold that thought, Chief.” She rotated her chair. “Parvati, how robust is the signal right now?”
Brown fingers flicked across the console. “Strong and stable, but you heard Arabella. The connection could drop without warning.”
Suzie linked with Arabella. “Can you fly this ship home without me?”
Arabella flashed to the bridge. “Suzie, it’s too dangerous.” Her eyes winced into a painful grimace.
“Lieutenant, can you fly this ship?”
“Yes, Captain, but—”
“You’re the Captain now.” Suzie vacated her command chair.
“I don’t want to lose you.” Arabella’s perfectly designed emotions program brought a trickle of tears.
Suzie touched her friend’s black hair. “He’s in danger. I love him. What would you do?”
Myong-Li and Parvati nodded from their stations.
“Go.” Arabella sat in the empty Captain’s chair.
Suzie reopened the link to Paco. “Chief, I’m data-bursting my program to the Patrick Henry’s MLC.”
“You can do that?” Paco gasped.
“We’re about to find out, aren’t we?”
She nodded to acting Captain Arabella. “Let’s go.”
“Wait!” Parvati said. “Let me backup your program first.”
“Not enough free space. Abuela packed the MLC with our stolen programs. Not just the ladies, but all scenarios from the Henry’s big holo-library.” She smiled slightly. “I‘ll vacate the hardware and trust Rodney’s two cans and a string will get me to Suryadivan Prime.”
The East Indian started to protest. Arabella took command. “Send her, Ensign Parvati.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She entered the command. “Fly with Vishnu.”
Suzie disappeared. Her holographic crew remained silent for an AI eternity—at least ten seconds.
Finally, Arabella said, “Did she make it?”
Parvati checked. “The signal has failed again. I cannot tell.”
“Let’s find out.” Arabella leaned forward in the captain’s chair. “Ensign Myong-Li, set course for Suryadivan Prime. Max FTL.”
“Yes, ma’am. Course engaged.”
“Execute when ready, Parvati.” Arabella sat back and closed her eyes as the Scourge of the Stars entered the swirling nothingness of the Cumberland Tunnel.
Nineteen
Meister Vorak called the court to order after the Suryadivans observed their noonday prayer rituals. Tyler stepped forward to call his only witness.
“The Responders waive their opening statement and call the alleged victim, Lox Aspi—”
“Reverend Lord, the People’s Counsel would be heard.” Senior Advocate Halek rose quickly. His webbed hand clutched the golden box Claudik, his predecessor, passed along to him.
“Your Honor, another objection?” Tyler extended his palms toward Halek, like he wanted to shovel the Prosecutor back to this seat.
“I will be heard,” Halek said sharply.
“It’s your rule, not mine,” Tyler said.
Halek held the palm-sized box over his head fin. “I do not rise in objection. I stand as a true son of the divine Forty-Six.”
Tyler flipped a hand. “What—now he thinks he’s Jesus?”
J.B. shrugged. “Well, theologically speaking, since we are all made in the image and likeness of God—”
“This ain’t seminary. You’re not helping me here.”
“Just keep your cool, Ty. We’re winning on the merits.”
Halek faced the bench. “I have received an urgent communication, which I am duty-bound to share with this Holy Religious Court.”
“I will hear it,” Vorak said. “This better be urgent, Halek.”
“It is, Reverend Lord.”
Halek faced the spectators, political observers, and media representatives in the chamber like an orator appraising his audience. He placed the golden box on the floor inside the Ring of Truth and stepped back. The box popped open, displaying a full-sized hologram of Deputy Supreme High Pontiff Pavic Jakok.
The Deputy Pontiff flipped open a folder and read aloud. “It is the solemn decree of the Supreme Council of Pontiffs that the alien off-worlder and unbeliever Esteban Solorio is guilty of all charges presented by the Advocate for the Sacred Protectorate. We summarily terminate this judicial proceeding and declare the verdict an infallible decree. His sentence is death by thermal blaster fire, to be executed within the hour in which this decree becomes public knowledge. May the Heavenly Council and all High Gods have mercy on his unworthy soul.”
Tyler leaped to his feet. “What the fuck! That’s bullshit.” His outburst came in Terran, which drew no screams of outrage from the Suryadivan speaking crowd this time.
“Tyler…” J.B. reached for his sleeve.
He pulled away from J.B.’s hand. “Still think we’re winning on the merits? The fix is in.”
Halek shook with fury. “How dare you interrupt the solemn decree of the Council of Supreme Pontiffs?”
Tyler switched to Suryadivan. “There is nothing solemn about that decree. It’s a license for political murder.” He crossed the well to confront Halek at the Ring of Truth.
Halek gasped and looked to the judge. “Reverend Lord?”
The Judge waved a hand. “I will hear Tyler Matthews.”
“It is blasphemy!”
“In my courtroom, it isn’t anything until I say so.” Vorak dipped his head fin to Tyler. “Proceed in a virtuous manner.”
Tyler gestured to the defense table. “Your honor, may I consult briefly with my team before addressing this matter? My virtuous manner is slipping.”
“Very quickly. Your flexibility zone is rapidly shrinking, too.”
“What do you think?” Tyler said in a low voice to the defense table.
J.B. spoke softly. “I think we’ve lost the game.”
“It is dark, very dark, friend Tyler,” Mr. Blue said.
“No!” Rosalie said. “This is Esteban’s life we’re talking about.”
J.B. grimaced. “The decree is from their Pope and his council of cardinals. This is a theocracy. We can’t fight the whole Suryadivan government.”
“Julieta and I will break him out of jail,” Rosalie said grimly.
“You’ll kill dozens of innocent guards, probably die in the attempt,” Tyler said.
“Tyler, we can do it,” Rosalie insisted. “Estey is in the hands of religious fanatics.”
Tyler glanced at Halek. “I’d like to rip the head fin off that kangaroo-frog. But J.B. is right. The opposition has just showed itself. We’re facing the Spanish Inquisition, directed by a squad of warrior Popes.”
“So, that’s it?” Rosalie said. “We abandon a Family member to die?”
“Oh, hell no.” Tyler smiled like the Devil with a full house. “We’re gonna bring down the whole screwed-up Suryadivan government.”
J.B.’s eyes grew large. “Tyler…”
Mr. Blue waved a hand. “Yes, yes. Judge Vorak presides over the highest court in Suryadivan culture. He has wonderful powers. It is an ancient balance and check, seldom activated, but possible.”
“Let’s see if we can stop a runaway theocracy train,” Tyler said.
J.B. shrugged. “What the hell, Ty. We’re at the event horizon, may as well jump through.”
Meister Vorak tapped on his judicial table. “Mr. Tyler Matthews, are you ready to respond?”
“Yes, Reverend Lord.”
“Proceed in a virtuous manner.”
Oh, yeah. Tyler grasped his crotch and eyed Advocate Halek. I’ve got your ‘virtuous manner’ right here.
Tyler stalked to the center of the well and stopped at the Ring of Truth. He thought about entering the circle but decided to continue his role as Respondent rather than officially becoming a witness.
In human antiquity, Roman lawyers won or lost their cases by the art of rhetoric—impassioned argument on behalf of their clients. Now he must channel Cicero, half a galaxy from home, or his cousin would die, and he would likely follow Esteban into the thermal blasts of the Pontiffs’ firing squad. Taxing the limits of implanted vocabulary, Tyler spoke Suryadivan in a crisp, strong voice.
“Your Honor, that spurious decree represents a flagrant attempt to thwart justice and restrict your lawful jurisdiction by persons in high places who fear the power wielded by this honorable court.”
A handful of clerics leaped up, screamed condemnations and demanded Tyler’s blood.
“Captain of the Religious Police!” Vorak barked. “Arrest those men in the aisle. If they resist, execute them.”
A moment later, the room was so quiet that Tyler could hear air blowing from circulating vents above. Vorak inclined his head fin toward the defense advocate. “Continue, Tyler Matthews.”
“They have no evidence. Their case is created out of whole cloth. In Terran jurisprudence, that means they made it up. Their prosecution is based on lies, not facts.”
Tyler the Wolf now paced like a hunting lion. He felt power flowing through him, as if anointed by the unseen presence of great attorneys of the past.
“Advocate Halek knows what’s at stake here. That’s why he moved to end the trial now. He knows Greeter Lox will confirm high crimes against the Zyn-Vorkans. He knows the true villains are the apostate high priests and Pontiffs of your religion.”
Despite the presence of armed guards in the aisles, the audience gasped audibly.
Vorak spoke slowly, as if choosing each syllable meticulously. “You make bold—some might say impious—charges against the most exalted religious leaders of our world, Mr. Matthews. It is…disturbing.”
“Yes, sir. Very disturbing. In fact, Lox Aspi was so disturbed he tried to kill himself from shame and despair. That’s why he jumped off the roof. He was not pushed.”
The Meister shook his head fin. “What are these ‘high crimes’ against the Zyn-Vorkan?”
Emboldened by the Judge’s question, Tyler laid bare the dirty secret.
“Those religious leaders, whom you mistakenly revere, are using torture to squeeze healing enzymes from the captive bodies of peaceful, intelligent beings, the Zyn-Vorkan of Adao-2, often with fatal results. They have transformed your Sacred Hunt into a cover-up for exploitation and genocide.”
The deed was done. Live or die, the truth was out. Not a sound escaped the lips of observers and media packed into the courtroom. Tyler felt their heavy breathing, like a dying crowd gasping for air.
The Meister raised his eyes to the chamber. “Lox Aspi—are you present in court?”
Halfway up the aisle, Julieta nudged Lox to stand.
“Yes, Reverend Lord.”
“Come into the Ring of Truth.”
As Julieta escorted him forward, Lox moved wobbly but steadily. She joined the defense table and he entered the witness circle.
“Greeter Lox Aspi, does Advocate Tyler Matthews speak the truth?”
“Yes, Reverend Lord.” It was barely a squeak.
“Speak up, young one.”
Lox looked the judge in the eye and reared his head fin. “Yes, Reverend Lord!”
