Title: After the Rescue
Part: NEW 59/73
Author: Karmen Ghia, karmen_ghia@yahoo.com
Series: TOS
Romance Code: S/Mc and then some.
Rating: NC-17
Appendices: http://members.tripod.com/karmen_ghia/atrappendices.html
See part one for disclaimers, etc.
"...It was in Hobie's best interest for Hypz to die." Ibri Adniz finished her story.
"No further questions, your Honor." Lapham sat and felt sure that Jir wasn't going to be able to punch holes in this witness.
"Defense." Lord Suqiet looked over at Jir's holo. He noticed Hobie had an odd look on his face - half amused, half annoyed - but being Vulcan could not equate the visage with any emotional state so he dismissed it.
Jir rose and braced his knees so as not to curtsey to the Pirate Queen as she was known in some circles.
"Ibri," he said. "Why were you on Meza 6 when Hypz was murdered?"
"I needed repairs on my yacht."
"Who did the repairs?"
"They were done in Hobie's boatyard."
"Drydock or in orbit?"
"SaJir, is there a point to this line of inquiry?" Lord Suqiet asked.
"Yes, sir." Jir turned back to Ibri Adniz. "Drydock or ..."
"May I know it or will it be necessary to fine you for contempt?" Lord Suqiet snapped.
"I wish to form an idea of what transpired before Hypz was murdered," Jir answered blandly. 'Get up on the wrong side of the sleeping stone, dad?' he thought sourly and hoped Suqiet's mood wouldn't wreck his - Jir's - day.
Lord Suqiet eyed him for a moment. "Continue."
"Ibri," Jir resumed. "Were the repairs to your yacht performed in drydock or in orbit?"
"In orbit."
"Were you only in one ship?"
"Yes."
"And that ship was in orbit around Meza 6 at all times?"
"Yes."
"So, you never had a ship on the surface?"
"No, never."
"And your yacht never came into the atmosphere?"
"No, never."
"All right," Jir sighed. "Let us move on to the actual event. Smig, please." Jir waited until the holomodel of Hxrana central square was in place before continuing. "Do you recognize this place?"
"Yes."
"Will you name it, please."
"It was the civic square of Hxrana," Ibri Adniz said. "Hxrana is the capital city of the inhabited land masses of Meza 6."
"Is this where you saw Hypz was murdered?"
"Yes."
"Where in this model did you see him murdered?"
Ibri Adniz took a pointer from Smig and directed it to the balcony of one of the buildings on the west side of the square. "Here."
"And from what direction did you see the blast emanate?"
"From the east," she said. "From here." She pointed to a alley between two buildings.
"And then what happened after Hypz was hit?"
"He fell off the balcony and into the crowd."
"And then?"
"The crowd began to fight and loot."
"Do you remember why Hypz was on the balcony that day?"
"He was delivering an edict. No one allowed on the streets after dark."
"Why?"
"There had been some unrest in the city."
"What kind of unrest?"
"I don't remember."
'Riiiiight, Ibri, can't remember unrest your people stirred up, eh?' Jir thought. "Did the edict have anything to do with Captain Talljet or his boatyard there or with offworlders in general?"
"I'm sorry but I don't remember."
"Well, then," Jir said, "let us move on to something you can remember." He stepped around the table and into the holomodel. A fuzzy white aura surrounded where the holos overlapped. "You say you saw Hypz fall into the crowd and it began to fight and loot, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"And the momentum of the crowd, now a mob, became riots that lasted for several weeks, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Do you know why Hypz would deliver a controversial edict without enough militia to quell an incipient riot?"
"Objection. The witness is not here to speculate on the victim's actions." Lapham wondered where all this was going.
"Sustained. Rephrase your question, SaJir." Lord Suqiet had an idea where it was going and didn't care for it.
"Did you see any militia or riot police in the square when Hypz made his announcement?"
"No."
"Did you notice any person or persons attempting to quell the escalating riot?"
"No."
"Didn't you think it was odd of Hypz to deliver an unpopular edict without any protection?"
"Objection. The witness is asked to speculate again," Lapham said.
"Sustained. Stick to the facts, SaJir." Lord Suqiet would have like to have heard her answer but he was obliged to side with the prosecution.
"Yes, sir," Jir said blandly. "Did you notice any land or air vehicles attempting to quell the riots?"
"No."
"Your 'yacht' did not come into the atmosphere to discharge four hundred or so fighters to take over the city of Hxrana?"
"No."
"Is that because they were already in the crowd, whipping it into a frenzy?"
"No, it is not."
"Objection. The witness is not on trial," Lapham said, rather wishing she were.
"Sustained. SaJir, make your point." Lord Suqiet growled.
"Yes, sir." Jir nodded and turned back to Ibri Adniz. "Another question." He returned to Hobie's side. "You said in your statement that it was in Hobie's best interest for Hypz to die. Why was that?"
"Hypz wanted all offworlders off Meza 6 and Hobie had a lot to lose by moving his operation."
"What operation?"
"He had a very busy shipbuilding operation there."
"More than a boatyard?"
"A bit more."
"And why did Hypz want him gone?"
"Hypz was afraid the Federation was going to take over the planet."
"'Take over the planet'?"
"Yes."
"Was Hypz in negotiation with the Federation for membership?"
"I don't know. I don't think so."
"Did Hypz want the Federation on Meza 6?"
"No. It was the last thing he wanted."
"Why?"
"It was a threat to his power."
"Perhaps. But you've just said he wanted Captain Talljet off the planet so the Federation would not take it over or is it the other way around?"
Ibri Adniz was silent for a moment.
"Answer the question," Lord Suqiet said to her.
"I don't understand it."
"Rephrase it, SaJir," Lord Suqiet said. "And be more concise."
"Yes, sir. In your opinion, why did Hypz want Captain Talljet off Meza 6?"
"Hypz was afraid of retaliation from the Federation if they found Hobie and his operation on Meza 6."
"Was Hypz in contact with the Federation for membership?"
"No."
"How do you know?"
"He would never give up his power there."
"Then why was he concerned that the Federation would retaliate if they found Captain Talljet and his boatyard there?"
"Hypz was afraid the system was about to be invaded."
"By whom?"
"By the Federation."
"Not by pirates, but by the Federation?"
"Yes."
"So, in your opinion, what was Captain Talljet's alleged motive for allegedly murdering Hypz?"
"To be able to remain on Meza 6."
"But if the Federation came to Meza 6, how ever they came there, Captain Talljet would have had to leave because he was wanted by the Federation Police. Was it not in his best interest to have Hypz in place, keeping the Federation off Meza 6?"
"Objection. This is speculation." Lapham was seeing huge cracks appearing in his witness’s credibility.
"Overruled. It is valuable speculation," Lord Suqiet said flatly. "Answer the question."
"I don't know what the now dead were thinking just then," Ibri Adniz snarled at Jir.
"Who benefited the most from Hypz's death and the ensuing system-wide chaos?" Jir asked her.
"Hobie Talljet."
"Hardly. He lost his yard, a dozen ships and a lot of friends there. I say it was you, Ibri, who gained the most there."
"Objection. The witness is not on trial," Lapham said.
"Sustained. SaJir, a witness cannot respond to statements or accusations. Ask your questions and get on with it," Lord Suqiet snarled.
"Did you reap financial gain from the unrest in the Miska system after Hypz's murder?"
"No," she lied with cool and convincing confidence.
Jir had her account balance histories from the House of Zqia on Xo-brnia 4 in the Xochian Autonomous Zone, bankers to all the major pirates of non-aligned space. However, this information was deemed inadmissible. It didn't really matter - it was common knowledge that Ibri Adniz had raped the Miska system for as long as she could.
"I have no further questions." Jir sat down.
"The witness," Lord Suqiet said as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. "Is dismissed."
Ibri Adniz was gone from Vulcan twenty minutes later.
* * *
"Why are there no pictures of me in this sale?" Farro asked in his usual direct and charmless fashion.
Maja looked up at him. "We could not bear to part with any."
"HA!" Farro postulated. "There aren't any to part with! This is the problem with being the youngest. You were out of paint by the time I came along."
"Nonsense, Farro." Maja pointed at the viewer. "Look here you are as a baby, and here again under your tree, and here again last year and here drawing Tien." Maja patted his arm. "Now, shut up; I love you as much as your brothers."
"Then why aren't there more pictures of me?"
"I do not know. It's an outrage that shall be remedied in the future through more thorough recordkeeping. No pictures of your brothers will be painted until the balance of JetCheqs is even. Okay?"
"Okay," Farro agreed sulkily. "Why are you people selling my tree?"
"This is not your tree, Farro," Maja told him. "This is a painting of your tree. Don't confuse the map with the terrain."
"All right," Farro said. "Why are you selling this painting of my tree?"
"We need the money."
"Oh. Do you want me to go get a job?"
"Doing what?"
"Sweeping the streets or something."
"No, dear, that will not be necessary."
"Don't call me dear."
"Yes, Farro Gozshedrefreingin baMajaKhat."
* * *
'2. Sleeping youth (Hraja Gozshedrefreingin baMajaKhat) (Oil on canvas) 2.5M X 5M'
General KmordriYhet looked up from his viewer and turned to his aide. "Make sure the auction is relayed to me on my ship. I will be en route to Vulcan to confer with our ambassador there."
* * *
'2. Gozine the Confessor (Oil on canvas) 3M X 4.5M'
"Such precious work should not be allowed out of the Church's hands," the Hierophant Kroldt, rising majestically, intoned to his escort. "If I cannot retrieve the work at least let me retrieve the subject. Inform our embassy on Vulcan that I intend to confess their chaplain and send for my ships. Have Admiral KzostGhet and his people join us. I understand he has some influence with Master Ghet."
* * *
'2. Portrait of Tien Gozshedrefreingin baMajaKhat. (Oil on canvas) 2.75M X 5M'
"Who does Tien remind you of?" Kirk asked lazily.
"Spock," McCoy answered, scrolling down the catalogue. "But all vulcanoids remind me a little of Spock."
"They do, don't they?"
"Uh huh."
Kirk sat up in bed to kiss McCoy's shoulder. "I enjoyed myself last night."
"So did I." McCoy said. "I missed Spock while he was gone."
"Yes. Me, too." Kirk looked out at the view of mountains.
Due to Maja's nocturnal presence in Spock's family home, Sarek had offered the humans use of his villa in the mountains. He had offered them the apartment he still kept on the Strand but they chose the peace and solitude of the mountains.
Kirk ran his fingers over the doctor's nipple until it hardened for him.
"We should get up, Jim."
"In a little while," Kirk said, pulling the unresisting McCoy down next to him.
* * *
"Before you call your next witness, Commander Lapham," Lord Suqiet said without preamble, "there is the matter of the Vulcan Interplanetary Ministry's reluctance to release certain records and allow Sarek to testify in this case. I wish to inform you in advance that if the Vulcan Interplanetary Ministry remains recalcitrant, my fellow judges and I will give serious thought to a mistrial or outright dismissal of the charges related to that evidence."
"Yes, sir." Lapham wondered how much of a horror trying to put this together after a mistrial would be and decided to worry about it later. In the meantime, he would ask the Admiralty to use its influence with the Vulcan Interplanetary Ministry. "Prosecution calls Commander Jaroslav Tikel."
A tall lithe Star Fleet officer was ushered in and informed of the Federation's law regarding perjury.
"Commander Tikel," Lapham said. "Will you please tell the Court how you came to be on Captain Talljet's ship."
Tikel had been coached so he replied very simply that they were en route to Dhrgestera, where they could arrange transport to a Federation port.
"And when did Captain Talljet rape you?"
"As I have explained before, he never raped me."
"Your report to Star Fleet has you as a prisoner aboard his ship. Is that correct?"
"Yes, but..."
"Therefore, any sexual contact with the crew, including Talljet, would be coerced."
"No."
Lapham paused, he had really hoped Tikel would just answer the questions the way they'd been rehearsed. Evidently not. "Are you now saying the Star Fleet report is incorrect?"
"Yes."
Lapham gave up. "Your Honor, I believe this witness had changed his story and I ask that he and his testimony be dismissed."
"We shall take that under consideration." Lord Suqiet said. "Are you finished?"
"Yes, sir."
"Defense." Lord Suqiet looked at Jir, who rose.
"Commander Tikel," Jir said, unnecessarily looking at his yellow data padd. "You were a lieutenant on the USS Internationale when she was taken by pirates in the neutral zone. Is that correct?"
"Yes." A shadow crossed Tikel's face.
"Will you please tell the Court as briefly as possible what transpired between the pirate attack and arriving on Dhrgestera?"
"Objection. This is immaterial to the matter at hand," Lapham said.
"Let us see if it is, counsel." Lord Suqiet was interested in the story. "If so, it will be dismissed along with the witness. Please proceed, Commander Tikel."
Tikel drew a breath and told his story: "The Internationale was boarded and the pirates separated us by age. We were taken aboard their ship. Some of us were raped, some did not survive. That is in my Star Fleet report so I will not go into it here.
"We were taken to a planet that I later learned was Uyrt in the Xochian Autonomous Zone. We were sold in the slave market there. I was sold in a group to the Gozshedrefreingin Commune, they were looking for Standard speakers to help them learn it. Ensign Grushinkev was sold to someone else but Master Ghet asked me why I was staring at him and I said he was a shipmate and I would like him to stay with us. I don't know what Master Ghet did, but he went over and talked to the slave buyer and came back with Dmitri a little while later. We left in the Commune's ship and went to Zatichket, where they were working on a cathedral, a garrison and the Tossarian Gates.
"We lived with the Commune for almost a year, that was the agreement: we would teach them Standard for a year and they would let us go, and at the end of that time we boarded Captain Talljet's ship - the Zoltir.
"What happened en route to Dhrgestera between Captain Talljet and myself was completely voluntary on my part. We arrived on Dhrgestera and were put on a commercial ship into the Federation. And that was that." Tikel looked calmly at Jir, whom he'd never met before, because it was too emotional for him to look at Hobie. Hobie had finished what the Commune started; he brought him back to life.
'So much useless suffering in this life,' Jir thought sadly, reading Tikel's sorrow even at this distance. "I have no further questions but reserve the right to recall this witness." He sat and bumped his knee against Hobie's, it was the most affection he could show at the moment.
"The witness is dismissed," Lord Suqiet said and waited until Tikel was out of the room before he continued: "I'm going to let this testimony and witness stand for now, Commander Lapham. I hope your next witness is more prepared to agree with your case. Call Ensign Dmitri Grushinkev."
'DmitriFara. So young, so lovely. What lengths Maja went to rescue you from the brothel you were bound for. And you shall never know, child,' Jir thought, seeing for the first time the beauty he'd been told about, many years before.
"In your Star Fleet report," Lapham began carefully. "You state that you slept with Captain Talljet en route to Dhrgestera. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"How old were you at the time?"
"I was sixteen."
"What were you doing on the Internationale when she was attacked?"
"I was traveling from boarding school with my cousin, Lt. Xeshirev, who was on the Internationale. I was to meet my parents at Star Base 53 and then go to the new settlement on Cinta 3. No one expected the attack." Grushinkev did not add that he never saw his cousin or the majority of the crew again.
"What happened on Captain Talljet's ship en route to Dhrgestera?"
"Nothing."
"Let me rephrase. Did you sleep in Captain Talljet's bed?"
"Yes. Once."
"And you were fifteen?"
"I was sixteen by then."
"And what happened?"
"Nothing."
"Did he touch you?"
"No."
"Not at all?"
"I slept in his arms, that's all." Grushinkev looked calmly at Hobie. "Just slept."
"Were you raped?"
"No."
"You were very young, were you coerced?"
"No."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I was raped by the pirates and nobody ..." Grushinkev paused to get his breathing under control. "Nothing like that happened on Hobie's ship. Neither there nor in the Commune." He looked Lapham right in the eye. "So I can speak as something of an expert," he said slowly.
"No further questions." Lapham sat.
"Defense," Lord Suqiet said.
"I have no questions at this time but reserve the right to recall this witness at a later time," Jir said quickly. The Commune had requested that Tikel and Grushinkev somehow be delayed on Vulcan so the Terrans could visit them. Grushinkev, Tien and Kalzat had become fast friends during that year and Tikel was extremely well thought of there, so the Commune was eager to spend some time with them.
"The witness is dismissed," Lord Suqiet said. "Remove the prisoner." He waited until Hobie was out of the room before turning on the attorneys. "This trial has become a mockery. Thus far the Prosecution has presented two dubious witnesses, another that might have committed the crime herself and now we are presented with two 'victims' who have stated under oath that they were never victimized by the accused. Unless you have a compelling closing argument, Commander Lapham, the only charge I'm willing to consider is statutory rape in the matter of Ensign Grushinkev and then not very seriously as he stated 'nothing happened' and I am inclined to believe him." Lord Suqiet noticed Lapham wince. "Speak!"
"We believe it is possible that Captain Talljet tampered with both Commander Tikel and Ensign Grushinkev's memories of the incident," Lapham said.
"Entirely possible and entirely impossible to prove without witnesses that can keep their stories straight," Lord Suqiet snarled. Obviously the Terrans were still suspicious about telepaths and they had good reason to be. Not all telepaths in the galaxy were as circumspect as the Vulcans. "I will recess for two days before we start to hear your piracy charges. By that time I expect the Vulcan Interplanetary Ministry will have made a decision regarding Lord Sarek. Yes, SaJir?"
"I request bail for my client."
"Denied."
"My client has children and other family responsibilities. We can post a bond ..."
"SaJir," Lord Suqiet said in his voice-of-god voice. "There are over a thousand of Captain Talljet's people camped in and around Shirkar. There are close to a thousand Star Fleet personnel here to monitor their behavior. There have already been altercations between the two groups. Releasing Captain Talljet into this volatile situation strikes me as unwise."
"Then I wish to lodge my complaint about the two day recess and move that the charges be dropped. You can rule on the murder and rape charges right now. I have no witnesses to call in them," Jir said firmly.
"Refused."
"I move to cite the Vulcan Interplanetary Ministry for obstruction of justice."
"I cited them this morning, SaJir. I gave them two days to make their decision before I dismissed the charges against Captain Talljet and brought the matter before the High Council." He cut Jir off with a warning finger. "But no bail for the accused. He will survive another week in the prison."
Jir and Storen exchanged looks. Jir dropped his eyes.
"Your Honor," Storen said rising at Lord Suqiet's nod. "The Vulcan Interplanetary Ministry claims that we have no conclusive proof that Lord Sarek was in contact with Captain Talljet during the period of time he is to be questioned about." Storen picked up a data chip from the stack before him. "We have what we consider suitable proof that they were in contact at least once during that time." He handed it to Smig, who approached the bench.
"Is this four more conflicting Mseian police reports that place Captain Talljet and Lord Sarek in various locations on Mse?"
"No, sir." Storen and Jir watched Lord Suqiet take the chip. "It is a DNA report indicating that Lord Sarek fathered Captain Talljet's eldest son, Polmira, in the time frame about which we seek his tesimony."
* * *
end of part 59
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Appendices: http://members.tripod.com/karmen_ghia/atrappendices.html