House of the Silent Moons

by Tom Shepherd

  Mr. Blue’s face wore a puzzled look. “Is that what you believe the Free Enterprise League represents? Economic equality?”

  She nodded. “Privateers are merciless advocates of justice. They strike the wealthy and help the needy.”

  “Take from the rich, give to the poor.” Mr. Blue wiggled his shaggy little ears. “Where have I heard that phrase before?”

  “I wouldn’t know.”

  “Oh, yes! Is it your testimony that pirates behave like the human legend, Robin Hood?”

  “Yes, yes!”

  “In fact, you have no hard evidence of privateers despoiling the prosperous and donating their gains to the needy, do you?”

  “Not hard evidence, no.”

  “Just stories you’ve heard?”

  “Yes.”

  “Like the fictional story about Robin of Locksley?”

  “No, this is true! Flávio told me—”

  “You wanted to be Flávio’s Maid Marian, did you not?”

  “No.”

  “Why did he abandon you?”

  Tanis Zervos looked to Kaito, who sat impassively, as if to say her trouble was of her own making.

  “It became obvious he only loved one woman in his life.” Tanis lowered her head, looking at her lap. “He still does.”

  “Who?” Mr. Blue said.

  She grit her teeth. “You know who.”

  “I need you to say it under oath. Say it to Flávio. He’s sitting right there, inwardly smirking at your foolishness. Whom did he love, what woman caused him to reject your bed and arms?”

  “Bianca! The woman who’s killed more privateers and Segerians—my people—than any living being in the Cosmos. That son of a bitch still loves her. I’d murder her if I could. But if he suffers, she will suffer, too.”

  “You believe Bianca Matthews still loves Flávio Tavares.”

  “I am certain she does.”

  Tyler started to rise but Suzie pulled him back. “Let it play out, luv.”

  “So, you wanted the Capitão to die. You wanted him to be guilty of spying on the privateer nation, many of whom are your fellow Segerians, like Flávio himself.”

  “He is guilty!”

  “But you really wanted him back, didn’t you? You wanted to spread your legs for him like the old days.”

  Kaito finally rose to object. “Your Honor, haven’t we heard enough of Prince Zenna’s sexual perversity?”

  “I was rather enjoying it,” Carman said.

  Mr. Blue said, “May I approach the bench?”

  The Captain-Judge picked up his blaster. “With an abundance of caution, laddie.”

  Tyler joined him when the prosecutor also moved toward the Judge.

  Kaito got in the first words. “Your Honor, I have no idea what the sex life of this witness has to do with the Capitão’s guilt or innocence.”

  “Really, Kaito-sand?” Judge Carman said. “I totally understand where they’re going with this line of questioning.”

  “Friend Judge, I have a motion,” Zenna said. “Move to strike all of Ms. Zervos’s testimony, due to her stated desire to punish my client and her acknowledgment that she could have falsified the documents in evidence.”

  Tyler nodded. “Would the prosecution like to save himself further annoyance by dismissing the case now?”

  “No,” Kaito said. “I have more witnesses. We have just begun to fight.”

  “Now he thinks he’s John Paul Jones,” Tyler muttered. “We just sent his case to Davey.”

  “I won’t dismiss. It’s too interesting,” Carman said. “And the testimony of Ms. Zervos stands. The jury can sort out whether her love for the Capitão and hatred for your momma drove the lady to perjury and falsifying evidence.”

  “Your Honor—”

  “Step back, Mr. Matthews. Let’s keep this case rolling. I think we may have a two-day marathon going here. First time in the history of Port Royal that a guilty bastard has lasted this long.”

  “Mr. Blue, you’ve done well.” Tyler said as they withdrew from the bench. “Mind if somebody else takes over?”

  “Certainly not. I like to watch, too.”

  Tyler let that one go by without comment. He pointed at Suzie. “Your witness. Take her down.”

  Suzie cleared the chair before his words stopped ringing in the air.

  “Miss Zervos, how did you appear here today, since you are in jail awaiting trial by the Suryadivan Sacred Protectorate?”

  “I have friends in the government. They helped me escape.”

  “Suryadivan traitors?”

  “Patriots,” she corrected.

  “Patriots?” Suzie scowled. “People who share responsibility for the massacre of the Suryadivan fleet and M-double-I crews at the Beta Gate?”

  “It had to be done.”

  Guppy leaped up and lunged at Zervos, and Judge Carman promptly shot his Suryadivan clerk. As if summoned telepathically, three Groxbitz rolled into the courtroom, picked up her limp body, and carried Guppy away. The Judge checked his weapon.

  “Well, damn. Full stun. She might survive.” He glanced at Suzie. “You got any more questions, cutie?”

  “Yes, Your Honor,” she said. “And it’s ‘Counselor Cutie.’ If it please the bloody court and doesn’t get me blasted.”

  More laughter. The Judge touched the point of the weapon to his forehead in a smiling salute. “Proceed, Counselor Cutie.”

  “Ms. Zervos, you testified that you provided the prosecution with a data chip. Evidence of files sent between Matthews HQ and field locations, such as the Trade Embassy on Suryadivan Prime?”

  “Yes.”

  “And the last entries discuss a bounty placed on Flávio Tavares by M-double-I.”

  “Yes, I suppose so.”

  “What was the date of your arrest?”

  “April first.”

  “And what was the date of the BOLA and Bounty message to Matthews Interstellar Industries, Terran colonies and trading partners?”

  “Later than that.”

  “Would you believe April fourth? Do you need to consult your datacom?”

  “April fourth sounds about right.”

  “Jailed on April first, without bond or access to datacom—standard Suryadivan policy. How did you obtain a message issued three days later?”

  “It must have been added by my Suryadivan allies.”

  “Or did your allies patch together a conglomerate of M-double-I message traffic and slip bogus ‘Top Secret’ documents into the mix without checking the cutoff date?”

  “Objection,” Kaito said. “Counsel is speculating.”

  “I’m asking her a question, Your Honor. Is she a bad spy, or a bad liar?”

  The Judge nodded. “Where’d you get the BOLO on Flávio, Ms. Not-Penis?”

  “I told you. My allies.”

  “What allies?” Suzie demanded.

  “I am not prepared to disclose their identities.”

  Judge Carman snorted. “Right. Because you’re loyal to the Robin Hoods of our fucking Free Enterprise League? I think you’re loyal to yourself, ladykins.”

  “What do I gain by coming here to testify?”

  “Somebody busted you out of jail, didn’t they?”

  Kaito objected and the Judge told him to shut up, hurling a few jarring ethnic slurs at the Asian attorney. Suzie asked the Judge to please stop using that kind of language, and he apologized to her. Not to Kaito.

  “Are you done with the witness?” Carman said.

  Suzie nodded. “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “Good.” He flapped a hand at Kaito. “Hey, slant eyes. Anything on re-direct?”

  “No, Your Honor.”

  Tyler smirked. If the Tsuchiya family had anything admirable going for them, it was their ability to remain impassive to outward events, like the flagrant racism of this judge. When they were still friends, he made it a practice never to play poker with Kichirou.

  Tanis left the courtroom, escorted by a squad of fierce lookin
g bodyguards. Zenji, dog-faced humanoids who walked upright but could drop to all fours and run like greyhounds. They were packing serious firepower. Blast pikes and sidearms.

  Tyler passed an encrypted datacom note to Julieta, who nodded when she’d read it. She got up and left the courtroom.

  “What did you tell her?” Suzie whispered.

  “You don’t want to know,” he said.

  Kaito rose. “The prosecution calls Nicolette Cloutier.”

  Tyler bolted from his chair. “Your Honor—”

  “Sit down, laddie.” He turned to the bailiff. “Leefie, bring out the next witness.”

  Suzie grasped Tyler’s arm. “She’s your father’s personal secretary. How the bloody hell did Kaito—?”

  “Attack on a passenger ship in Mars transit. Dad thought she was dead.”

  Five Sakura House samurai escorted a disheveled, frumpy looking late middle aged woman in red jumpsuit, who shuffled into the courtroom with thick chains on her wrists and feet. Red and puffy eyes told of recent crying. Someone had fixed her brown-and-silver hair, but not the sleek way Nicolette usually brushed it. She wore no makeup, and the cosmetic implants Tyler knew she had were not online.

  He spoke softly to Suzie. “My father will exact a terrible price for this.”

  “God, she looks bloody awful.”

  Nicolette sat unsteadily on the witness stool. Tyler caught her eye, and she stood up with a surprised, wordless gasp. He motioned her down with both hands. She complied, tears streaming her face.

  “Before my opposing counsel raises the issue,” Kaito said, “please tell the court, Miss Cloutier, how you came here today.”

  “I was… I was kidnapped.”

  “Where did this kidnapping occur?”

  “I was flying to Mars to take documents to the Matthews SPR labs at Tim Mutch City.”

  “SPR labs? Starship Propulsion Research.”

  “Oui.”

  “And what happened while you were in transit?”

  “A band of enfoirés de lâches from Sakura House attacked us.”

  Suzie laughed, covering her mouth to contain the sound.

  “What did she call them?” Tyler whispered.

  “French for cowardly bastards.”

  Tyler smiled. “You go, Nicolette.”

  “Were you, in fact, aboard a Matthews Corporation vessel, and did you know our corporations were at war?”

  “Oui.”

  “A war started by Noah Matthews.”

  “After your brother threatened—”

  “Did Mr. Matthews not say, and I quote: ‘Any ship owned by Tsuchiya Galactic—whether registered to Sakura House or any of your shell corporations—will be boarded and confiscated or destroyed outright’?”

  “Oui.”

  “So, we were within the rules of engagement for corporate warfare specified by Mr. Matthews himself when we boarded your M-double-I vessel and took you, a hostile civilian, prisoner?”

  “Do you have a real question, or may I return to my cell and pray to all the Saints for Noah Matthews to crush you like a bug?”

  “I have one question. Only one, if you answer truthfully.”

  “Your Honor,” Tyler said, “he’s badgering his own witness.”

  The Judge shook his head “Overruled.”

  “But, Your Honor—”

  “Let it play, laddie. Even if you don’t like the music.”

  Kaito continued. “My question, Miss Cloutier, is whether you in fact know that Capitão Flávio Tavares was spying on the privateer star nation on behalf of the Matthews-Solorio Corporation?”

  “Oui.”

  “So, he was spying for M-double-I?”

  “I did not say he was. I said I knew if he was, or was not. And if you think I will collaborate with my enemies by babbling to a little shit like you, then you do not know the French.”

  “Wowzers,” Tyler murmured. “What a lady.”

  “What if I ask a few of my associates to administer mind-compliancy drugs, or perhaps cut your fingers off, one by one. Will you then tell this court what I want to know?”

  She spat on him.

  Judge Carman clacked his gavel. “There, there! No spitting. And you, Jappo-sand—no truth drugs, no torture. I got rules in this here court. Don’t mess with the witnesses.”

  “No need, Judge. I think the witness has already told us the truth,” Kaito said. “If Capitão Tavares were not an agent of M-double-I, Miss Cloutier would have condemned him as a traitor to her Corporation.”

  “Your Honor,” Tyler rose. “Request the witness be transferred to my custody. She has suffered enough.”

  “Well, war is hell, laddie. Request denied. Do you want to cross examine Ms. Frenchy?”

  “I have questions, yes. Give me a moment?”

  “A quick one.”

  Tyler huddled with the defense team. “Flávio, I need her to establish your guilt and the fact that Dad shit-canned your ass.”

  Tavares nodded. “Be merciful to her; show none to me.”

  “Yumiko, slip out when I start crossing. Wait for Kaito’s thugs outside. Take her to the Tadpole.” He added, “LFA.” Lethal Force Authorized.

  “Hai, Tyler-san.”

  Flávio handed her two small capsules. “Oxygenation.”

  Yumiko disappeared as Tyler approached his father’s Secretary.

  “Nicolette, how long have you known me?”

  “Since you were a toddler. You were the bad little boy.”

  Laughter rippled across the room. Good. Snicker along, pendejos.

  “And you’ve been my father’s Executive Assistant for how long?”

  “You can say secretary, Monsieur Tyler. I have worked for him these thirty-seven years.”

  “Do you feel you have gotten to know my father well?”

  “Extremely well.”

  “Were you ever lovers?”

  “C’est impossible! He loves only your mother, Bianca.”

  “Can my father be ruthless, sometimes brutally so?”

  “In business? Ah, oui. Sometimes, Monsieur Matthews is like the shark who swims into the school of tasty fish.”

  “Does he condone or support piracy?”

  “No, never.”

  “Does he approve of privateers?”

  “He has never issued letters of marque, like Monsieur Tsuchiya’s puppet government at New Osaka colony.”

  “Does my father accept goods or ships seized by—let’s use the gentler word—privateers?”

  “Never. I have seen him fly into the rage when he learned our Sedalia shipyards have been dealing in prize ships taken by pirates.”

  “What did he do?”

  “Monsieur Matthews fired everyone. Then he ordered them arrested and handed over to the Commonwealth for prosecution. I believe they languish in Burl Cain as we speak.”

  “So, is it safe to say, based on your thirty-seven years of experience as his closest assistant, that Tyler Noah Matthews III would neither employ nor hire anyone who seized merchant ships, sold the confiscated vessels on the Dark Market, or trafficked in slaves taken during such an attack?”

  “He would not. Never.” She looked at the gallery. “He will be your enemy until the last one of you putains d’animaux hangs.”

  Tyler looked to Suzie, who signaled air quotes and mouthed, “Fucking animals.”

  He chuckled. “Was Capitão Tavares employed by my father as a privateer?”

  “No.”

  “Was he employed in any other capacity?”

  “Oui.”

  “What capacity, Collette?”

  “He spied on the pirates and reported back to me.”

  The gallery grumbled loudly. Carman waved his blaster and quiet returned.

  “How long did he spy on other privateers?”

  “I do not know when it began. He became quite active this year.”

  “And did he provide useful information?”

  “This I do not know. I passed his messages along t
o your father, who took action through other departments.”

  “And why did my father put a bounty of one billion credits on the head of Flávio Tavares, dead or alive?”

  “Because the dog betrayed M-double-I and helped other pirates escape our fleet. I heard Monsieur Matthews curse him. He said the Capitão had been working for the pirates all along.”

  “To summarize. My father never deals in stolen goods or condones piracy, correct?”

  “Oui.”

  “He put a bounty on Tavares, because the Capitão betrayed M-double-I to the very people he was supposed to be spying upon for our company. Also correct?”

  She nodded solemnly. “He is the evil man. I know Bianca is fond of Monsieur Flávio, but he needs to die for what he did to the Family.”

  “No further questions, Your Honor.”

  “Anything on re-direct, Kaito-sand?”

  “I think we’ve heard enough to know the Capitão has friends in the Matthews organization who will lie to save his skin.”

  “Really? And how did we plant this matronly Mata Hari in your witness list, considering you dragged Ms. Cloutier to court in chains?”

  “Your father—”

  “All right, boys, that’s enough. The witness is excused. Court will recess until after lunch.” Judge Carman hammered the gavel and fled out the side entrance, past Groxbitz gleefully repairing the claxon blasted by His Honor.

  Twenty-Three

  In full Naca Jen mode, Julieta caught up with Tanis Zervos and her six Zenji bodyguards while they awaited a skimmer down the street from the courthouse. Closing to within ten meters of the knot of dog-men, she drew both blasters from ankle holsters and opened fire. Three Zenji went down with headshots, two others split left and right and returned fire with blast pikes. Staff weapons were notoriously hard to aim, and both blasts missed Julieta widely. She whirled like a ballerina and fired repeatedly with both weapons. Bright red arteriole blood squirted into the noonday sun. All her shots hit their targets. Both pikemen went down and the bleeding stopped.

  One Zenji remained, who suddenly realized what he faced. He pulled Tanis in front of him and slammed his sidearm against her head.