For a moment there was absolute quiet then, obviously not wanting to appear as a belligerent ass over such a reasonable request, Delegate Vonn graciously nodded her acquiescence. “Well spoken, Delegate Sweetwater. Unless there are any objections, you may proceed to the Speakers Platform, Captain Serros.”
Silence was the only answer to the Vosaia’s query.
Avara nodded and with a brief tug on the immaculate jacket of her full dress blues and blacks, started walking with smooth, measured strides to the platform, neither her eyes nor head deviating an iota from course. When she reached the Speakers Platform, the Captain stopped and clasped her hands behind her straight poised posture, shoulders pulled, feet balanced and wide spread, chin firmly held high.
“Honorable Delegates, I thank you for your consideration and promise to be brief.” Taking a deep breath, Serros swept her eyes to deliberately meet the gaze of each of the ten Delegates standing above her. “I shall not waste time reviewing the data that Advocate Mirador has so competently presented during this Tribunal, only say this. If we remove our emotions from the equation, the facts and evidence speak clearly to the lack of proof legally required to condemn not only such a valuable asset to the Vosaia people and the Quorum as STF Agent Z’arr, but also an innocent person. For, make no mistake, Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr is innocent.”
With a conscious exertion of will, Avara intentionally built and then poured her belief and sincerity, her confidence and sense of justice into the sun–shimmering halls of the Paladex, the emotive outpour like the filling of a long dry well after years of wilting drought. “We in this room, whose actions represent and symbolize the highest ideals of law, justice, and compassion to trillions of sentients within the Quorum Aligned Systems, must make what can indeed be, the hardest call. To do what is right, not merely expedient. To resist the urge to capitulate to driving, lurking menace and terror crouched in the dark.”
With slow deliberation, Avara removed her right hand from behind her back and let her fingers gently brush two of the nine glittering medals that were affixed on the night–black, formal dress sash that rested across her heart. The first, a gleaming five pointed platinum star trimmed in royal blue enamel with a small ruby set in the center; the Primus Star. The second, a miniature crystal pyramid backed by red ribbon, the Summa.
“I know and understand the power of fear in the face of potential loss of those we love, of our way of life,” Captain Serros continued in a quieter, yet still resonant tone. The silent touching of those two medals, earned in the fires of cruel battle against the Karukai in two separate protracted engagements, added an undeniable gravitas to the meaning of her message in a form as clamorous as the explosion of a fractured QGST reactor ripping through a dreadnaught. “Yet we cannot succumb to that fear, or we will destroy all that we labor for, all we represent, and all that we are and can become.”
The only sound in the chamber was the breathless streaming of rushing water, the Paladex a blanket of emotionally keyed silence as Captain Avara Serros again met the gaze of each Quorum Delegate in the room; Vosaia, Braxien, Human, Shiraneth, and Zirgesh alike. Then, with simple dignity, she spoke the final words of her appeal in a ringing alto. “August Delegates of the Quorum, I ask you to make the right choice for all individuals of the Quorum peoples that we attending this Tribunal exist to serve. Here, today, I ask you to rule Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr innocent of any charges. Thank you for your consideration, Delegates.”
With a single step backward and a respectful inclination of her head, Serros waited.
Delegate Sweetwater, his mahogany colored countenance awash with quiet approval, was the first to shatter the spell of Serros’s words that seemed to grip Delegates and attendees alike. “Captain Serros, we thank you for speaking and as always, thank you for your selfless service; you are dismissed.”
With a second respectful nod, Captain Serros turned and retraced her route back to stand in her previous position in the right wing and with military discipline, consciously did not meet the stares that drilled into her face and back.
“Attendees, this session of the Quorum shall now recess.” The Braxien female Delegate Kersa Taaz informed the gathering minutes later. “We shall resume in exactly one hour and convey our judgment at that time.”
With that, the chime sounded again and the Delegates filed out. Serros felt the adrenaline that had been coursing through blood and bone gradually drain as Marcus briefly clasped her shoulder in recognition and salute.
*
The Delegates filed into the Paladex’s Balcony for the second time that day with the same unhurried solemnity as before, and try as she might, even with her Synergy Enhancement, except for a spike of anticipation, Avara couldn’t get a read from any of them. For just a flash, she did sense a muted thrill of trepidation from K’llan Z’arr, but it was smothered an instant later like a snuffed candle.
As one, the ten Delegates proclaimed: “All in attendance hearken, for thus do we begin this meeting of the Quorum and Tribunal.”
Shifting forward, the Shiraneth Delegate Ota Ney officiously intoned “Now we set forth the decision of this Quorum.”
With the reedy quality Avara associated with most Zirgesh tonality, Delegate Ishness Altek announced “This Quorum finds no data supporting the claim of murder by Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr of the Vosaia Senior STF Agent Nanzai C’lann.”
“This Quorum also has determined reasonable doubt as to deliberate and knowing acts of High Treason in regards to the stolen Arca Technology by Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr.” Delegate Sweetwater added without embellishment or pause, his dark eyes intense with some contained emotion. “Additionally, this Quorum shall institute a continued investigation into the acts of Proconsul Tanad as it is our belief that it is she who remains the prime suspect in both arranging the Arcatech theft and the murder of Agent C’lann.”
Resisting the urge to release an exclamation of joy, Serros felt the fist that had been hungrily squeezing her heart over the last two weeks loosen its grip. However, her surging relief was almost immediately dampened by Vosaia Delegate Errevorr’s next words. “Though this Quorum has found K’llan Z’arr to be innocent of any act of deliberate treason or of murder, we do find her to be guilty of being an unwitting Accessory to High Treason and of excessive incompetence.” The Vosaia Delegate’s features were coldly stern as she declared, “As such, the Vosaia Consulate has asked the favor that this Quorum extend the Vosaia Consulate’s civil and military decree here and now at this place and time. K’llan Z’arr is stripped of all Vosaia military rank and of her status as a Strategic Task Forces Agent.”
“Furthermore,” Lara’a Vonn pronounced, taking up where her college had finished, her pale blue eyes severe, “the Vosaia Consulate has asked that this Quorum also extend the Consulate’s civil and military decree that beginning one hour hence, K’llan Z’arr be barred on pain of life imprisonment from venturing planetside upon the Vosaia capital world of Thalia for the duration of three–hundred Galactic Standard Years.”
“Finally, for the same duration of time and under the same terms, K’llan Z’arr is forbidden to meet with or be in the presence of her biological mother, Consul Ry’anlyar Z’arr. The Consulate wishes it to be known that these terms of banishment as well as forbiddance of access to Consul Z’arr have been meted out because it has been determined that such would cause irreparable harm to the Vosaia people.”
With a glance and a nod of respect aimed specifically towards Captain Serros, the Vosaia Delegate added, “This Tribunal has been faced with a number of hard choices. The members of this Quorum as well as the Vosaia Consulate believe we do indeed possess the responsibility to represent the highest of our collective ideals, as well as to ensure justice. At the same time, our consideration must also be based on the fact that we carry the responsibility for the safety and security of the trillions of members of our respective systems, whom we represent and serve.”
With a lift of one pebbled, four–fingere
d hand, Delegate Nerek Sonalen proclaimed “Attendees, this council of the Quorum and this Tribunal is formally ended. May Peace Be With You.”
*
With Marcus at her side, Avara Serros made her way towards where the obviously shell–shocked but proudly controlled K’llan stood with her poised mother, Consul Ry’anlyar Z’arr. Slightly hesitant of offending but certain of her course, the Shield Operative politely cleared her throat so as to gather the attention of the two Vosaia, only to find that the younger woman had already turned her head towards her. “Captain Serros, greetings and deepest gratitude to you for your efforts on my behalf.” The smoky tone to Z’arr’s normally clear voice and the haunted look in her violet eyes cut Serros’s heart.
“Lieutenant Z’arr. You are most welcome; I only wish we could have done more.” Somehow, she managed a warm if pain filled smile for Avara as she replied, “It is now only Z’arr, Captain, and I know what you accomplished on my behalf this day. Gratitude also to you, Commander Perez and to all of Excalibur’s crew.” Z’arr said the last with a gracious nod to Marcus.
Avara could feel her best friend’s carefully mitigated ire at the proceeding outcome as he responded in kind to the former STF Agent. She knew he’d grown rather fond of the Vosaia over the last weeks, and like her, believed fully in her innocence.
“Yes, Captain Serros, please allow me to also express sincerest gratitude to you for your care in ensuring that my daughter receive fair deliberation during the Tribunal. It is a debt I shall not forget, I promise you. One’s child is irreplaceable.” Consul Z’arr proclaimed, eyes boring into Serros’s own as she reached out to clasp Avara’s forearm in the Vosaia fashion of true friendship. Avara felt a powerful surge of thankfulness and respect at the contact, as well as an intense sense of this woman’s great intellect and will. For a handful of heartbeats, the almost two thousand year old Vosaia’s mind and soul seemed unbearably painful in its strength, until it was consciously tempered and the pressure receded.
With an inclination of her head, Avara replied, “It was nothing less than my duty and certainly my honor to do so, Consul Z’arr.”
When Dr. Z’arr released Serros’s arm, Avara continued, addressing both Vosaia. “I do not wish to intrude on your last hour together and apologies for doing so. K’llan Z’arr, if you would be so gracious, I would like to speak with you later this afternoon in regards to your status now that the Tribunal has been completed. Perhaps on the Sollex Level, at Sonata in the Aesir Plaza, seventeen hundred hours?”
Though Serros could feel that she was emotionally exhausted, Z’arr nodded in agreement. “Of course, Captain Serros.”
“Until then, K’llan Z’arr. Consul Z’arr, it has been a rare privilege to meet you.”
“The same to you, Shield Operative Serros.”
As the two left the chambers of the Paladex for the Consortium’s corridors, Marcus asked Serros, “Why can’t I decide if we won or not?”
“Because in a way, we both won and lost, old friend.” The Captain responded, her voice shadowed.
“You did everything you could, Avara.” Perez offered.
“I know, Marcus. Just wish it could have turned out differently, for her sake.”
Perez was about to reply when they heard a strong voice call out, “Captain Serros, a moment if you will.”
Both Nova Squad members turned to see Quorum Shield Operative Goyan Hadarr a few feet away, walking towards them. She moved with easy efficiency, her uniform crisp and complimentary. “Major Hadarr, greetings.” Serros welcomed the Vosaia as she joined them in the hallway adjacent to the Paladex’s entrance.
“Greetings to you, Captain, and to you as well, Commander Perez.”
“Hello.”
“That was quite the stirring speech you delivered to the Quorum, Captain.” Hadarr stated, attention shifting solely on Serros.
“Merely a few words, Major.” Avara responded, manner polite but faintly cautious.
“No, your words were more than that. Surely you realize, it is only due to your entreaty that K’llan Z’arr’s freedom was maintained, yes?”
Studying the beautiful yet typically cold Vosaia Major, once more Serros could gain no reading of the woman’s feelings. Nothing but a mental rampart met her attempts. “You flatter me, Major. I only did what I thought to be right.”
“Yes, I believe you did, Captain.” Major Hadarr’s turquoise stare flickered with some sentiment Serros couldn’t interpret. “Though offense was and is not intended, I stand by my earlier words. You are, I think, idealist and naïve. But you are also courageous and determined to accomplish what you choose to pursue, which is most admirable.”
Avara found herself speechless and blinking in mild astonishment at the Major’s words. Recovering, she answered “Thank you for the compliment, Major Hadarr. You are a most capable Shield Operative.”
“If you find yourself in need of aid on any future Quorum assignment, please do me the honor of asking, and if able, I shall gladly assist.”
Avara knew a compliment and a peace offering when she heard it. “Gratitude to you for your gracious offer, Major Hadarr. I extend the same in return.”
With a slight curving of her lips in response, Hadarr replied, “I will, Captain Serros. Gratitude to you.” And then with a final inclination of her head, she turned and walked away down another corridor.
Having resumed their quick–stepped pace, Perez exclaimed “Whew!” in surprise, then with a vaguely sly expression, added “I think she’s beginning to like me.”
Laughing, Serros responded by putting an arm around Perez’s shoulder and in a low, humor filled tone remarked, “Let me know how that goes, buddy. Given all the frost, I’d say you’d be the first in a long time!”
“You know me, I always pack heat.” Perez grinned.
“That was pretty terrible, even for you, Marcus.” Serros replied with a rueful shake of her head and a grin.
“Well, the truth is sometimes hard on the ears.”
“Almost as hard as your singing.”
“Speaking of singing, which naturally brings up drinking, let’s go find Sweetwater for our casual debrief, as we promised.”
“Alright, but you’re buying the first round, and I can’t stay late because of my meeting with Z’arr.”
“Meeting, huh?” Perez commented, playfully smacking an elbow into Serros’s abdomen with enough force to make her wince. “Maybe I can find some super–hot woman to have a meeting with too, eh?”
Serros ignored Marcus’s implicit question. “Stop talking about how much ‘heat’ you bring and maybe you will!” She quipped, mussing Marcus’ spiky hair.
“Hey! My methods are tried and true.” He protested.
“Exactly.”
CHAPTER 9
K’llan Z’arr walked the Sollex Level of Sigil city like someone who had suffered some form of severe physical trauma and so had been medicated to numb the pain of her injuries. The innumerable people, buildings, edifices, and shop kiosks all blurred together as she made her way from city sector to city sector like a person adrift in the deepest of waters, desperately casting about for some chance of safe harbor to swim to and finding only an endless expanse.
Was it truly only a little over seven hours ago that the Tribunal had concluded? That she had spent the last hour in the physical presence of her mother that she would be permitted for the next three centuries?
The thought crashed into her like storming waves slamming into a worn cliff–face. Immediately after the Tribunal, the two had been permitted to spend those last sixty minutes in a small, emptied office in the Consortium that was situated adjacent to the Paladex. As soon as the room’s doors had slid shut behind them, allowing for blessed privacy for the first time in days, K’llan’s mother had crossed the short span of distance between them and wrapped her daughter in a fierce embrace. The careful control of emotions and the mask of pride and reserve that K’llan had clung to in the last two weeks shattered and in answer, rivu
lets of tears fell like scars across her cheeks.
Her mother had responded by holding her all the tighter and saying, “Oh my Star, my little K’llan… you have been so brave. It is all right; I’m here and hold nothing but pride in you.”
Though in some ways it was almost laughably so, even after two–centuries of life, it amazed K’llan how much import she attached to her mother’s love and pride. Still crying, K’llan had answered, “But Mother, three–hundred years…. How shall it be endured? One of us could pass from this world in that period… And how, how do I continue? Everything I have worked for in the last two hundred and thirteen years, my career, my reputation, destroyed in less than three hours?”
“Hush now, my beautiful Star. Such time is nothing for Vosaia, a period that constitutes less than seven percent of our probable life span. And communication has not been taken from us; we still can see and speak with one another, even if it will be across the stars.” The last her mother had said as she gently held K’llan’s chin with two slender fingers, meeting her eyes and willing the love and confidence she felt to enfold her daughter as tightly as any embrace.
“As for the rest, K’llan, you are Z’arr and you are my daughter. You shall endure and hold to your self–worth and honor because it is not within you to do anything else. Though the one you wished for has now closed, other doors shall open for you.”
Her mother’s silver eyes had held nothing but certainty and the love and belief she felt for K’llan had steadily pulsed with the unstoppable elemental energy of a lava–fall for each precious breath of time they spent in that small, messy office that some nameless bureaucrat had vacated for their use. Precious minutes had slipped by, one by one, as they talked of inconsequential matters. K’llan’s recent travels before the last mission, their mutually continued macti studies, her pastime playing the firanelle, her mother’s recent pet biotech research project that she still engaged in despite her Consular position. The two simply enjoyed one another’s physical and psychic presence while they could, deliberately steering away from more difficult topics that could be easily communicated over Vid or the Net.
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