Furious

57

An hour later, Kris was in court, standing at attention in dress whites with full decorations and facing her judges. Her lawyer stood beside her.

They hadn’t had a moment to exchange any words. Kris wondered if a day and a half was a good sign or bad.

She’d know soon enough.

The Chief Justice did not waste time. He stared straight at Kris like the angel of death and pronounced judgment.

Sort of.

“This court, having thoroughly reviewed the capital charges against you and the evidence provided to this court, find that the prosecution has not proven the charges. This court is adjourned,” and the gavel came down.

The judges beat a hasty retreat, their faces as devoid of emotion as any you might find on marble statues.

The room behind Kris broke into bedlam as reporters called in this latest bit of news in the ongoing Longknife saga.

And Kris turned to her counsel. “So I’m innocent?”

“Not exactly,” Tsusumu said, eyeing the retreating judges the way cavalry of old might eye a routed army.

“Then I’m guilty?”

“Not exactly,” Tsusumu said, glancing at the prosecution table. The head prosecutor looked like he’d just been slapped in the face with a week-old fish.

“Then what exactly am I?” Kris demanded.

“No longer in danger of a meeting with the headsman, at least not on Musashi,” Tsusumu said, offering Kris his hand to shake.

She did while saying “I don’t understand. Will there be another trial?”

“No, you need not fear further legal action here on Musashi. By one of the more unusual fine points of our law, you have been found neither guilty nor innocent, but the government has had its day in court and failed to make its case.”

“But if I get clapped in cuffs on another planet, will I be able to point at this decision for any comfort?”

“I’m not sure that even if Musashi judged you and found you innocent that it would have created a precedent on any other planet. I really do miss the good old days, when we were all in the Society of Humanity. It made for clear legal precedent.”

“But are we done here?”

“Yes, Princess, we are done. You are free, and no, you won’t be getting a bill from me. I think we will be seeing an election very soon, and that will be more than payment for the enjoyable time you have given me and mine.”

“I’m glad someone enjoyed it.”

“And now, there is a man who wishes to talk to you. Be careful about any contracts he offers you to sign. I would be glad to provide legal advice on them . . . for my usual exorbitant fee.”

And Kris turned to face a tall man in a three-piece business suit. He announced himself as “I am Kikuchi Rokuro,” as he offered his hand. He sported a huge smile.

Kris shook the hand. Few people in court were smiling; the verdict didn’t exactly make anyone too happy. She couldn’t help but wonder at this man’s joy.

He didn’t make her wait long.

“I am the CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Space Industries, and I am here to invite you to visit your new ship, the Wasp II.”

Kris wanted to take a step back, but the defense table was behind her.

“Don’t worry, Princess,” Tsusumu said, “the man is not crazy. I helped incorporate the fund that is buying you your new ship.”

Kris found a chair and sat in it. “Can we start this story at the beginning?”

“We can, but wouldn’t you like to come with me up the beanstalk to see your ship? We have just about finished spinning out the frigate Wasp, and it looks most beautiful.”

Still none too sure how she felt about her day in court, Kris stood and prepared to follow this new friend up the beanstalk, or maybe down a rabbit hole.

One thing about being a Longknife, it never got boring.