Nova

by Lora E. Rasmussen

  Chuckling, Marcus grabbed her practically untouched plate and contentedly started digging in. “I’ll eat to that!”

  CHAPTER 8

  The speeding swirl of incredibly tall, sky–piercing and primarily snow and silver colored buildings swept through and blended with the very clouds, covering the entire visible expanse of land below. The sparkling, glass–constructed and obelisk–shaped structures jutted upward from the ground to support the innumerable, straight bridges of the capital city. With each obelisk acting as a conduit connecting the metropolis’s dozens of concentric and layered levels, altogether the whole resembled a vertical stack of massive wheels. The sun–blessed cityscape was truly breathtaking.

  Sigil. Both capital world and city of the Quorum as well as the most populous and diverse. As the black of space, dotted with literally thousands of visiting vessels of all descriptions and crewed by every known species, gave way to the bright azure of the planet’s atmosphere, rivers of fast rushing sky traffic were rapidly magnified. The traffic lines sped in sinuous, regulated routes to and fro across the city, from wheel to wheel and pinnacle to pinnacle. Only rarely could swaths of green be spied, areas of living biological plant mass protected in massive, mile–long glass covered bio–houses. From sky–approach, they resembled nothing more than splashes of viridian.

  Strange to realize, but as Avara took in the panorama before her from her cramped shuttle seat, she reflected that since becoming a Quorum Shield Operative some fifteen years ago, Sigil now felt more like home to her than any other planet, even the world of her birth. Of course, she never felt the sensation of home more strongly than when she was aboard the QS Excalibur. On her ship, with her crew and Squad; surrounded by people she would spend her life for even as they did the same not only for her, but much more importantly, for the greater well–being of the galaxy. For the very billions of sentients that went about their daily business below and above the transport she currently traveled in.

  Repressing a sigh, she stretched her back as best as she could, attempting to get more comfortable in her constricting full dress uniform and with that action, somehow push away the depressing thoughts that the last several days of Tribunal preparation and trial conjured. The week’s machinations rippled in her mind, forcing her to consider the reality of sacrifice and what it truly signifies. It was a meaning that only those who selflessly dedicate themselves to others, to the mission, can ever really comprehend. To her own relief, the thought didn’t spur a rush of bitterness in Avara’s heart, only a gentle bloom of poignancy.

  Despite the review of undeniable fact and data as well the testimony of several key individuals associated with the events, the Tribunal, officially underway since yesterday, was not going well for Vosaia Strategic Task Forces Agent K’llan Z’arr. Since it was a question of treason at the highest level against not only the Vosaia but much more significantly, the confederation of planets and systems that encompass Quorum membership, the proceedings were closed. The ruling body was officially comprised of only the two Delegates from each of the member races of the Quorum Systems, ten individuals in total. At least the proceedings weren’t being blasted by Vid all over the Net by every reporter with a pen on planet. It was a truth that would hold only until the records were unsealed after the Tribunal’s completion.

  A small grace for the woman whose career and life were now held in the balance.

  Though her culpability remained totally unproven, a particularly damning blow to Lieutenant Z’arr’s case was the fact that Quorum Intelligence was able to ascertain the day before yesterday that the Arca X Detonation research had indeed found itself in Karukai control. Meaning, the technology for a tenth level Arca was not only out in the wider world, but in decidedly hostile hands.

  A significant number of spies must have been on that one; wonder how many lived through their reconnoitering. The thought was a sobering one.

  The fact that the true traitors, Proconsul Far’allyn Tanad and STF Handler Nanzai C’lann were the most likely suspects to have sent the research to the Karukai Triarchy was being treated as immaterial. The likelihood that the data had been purloined even before events took place on Ophere, all in an effort to paint Z’arr as the guilty party, also didn’t seemed to matter to the Quorum.

  Additionally, much as Hadarr’s initial attitude had foreshadowed and Z’arr herself had predicted during her work with Marcus, the Vosaia Quorum Delegates and members of the Vosaia Consulate in particular seemed certain of guilt. Assertions of what such an act symbolized in the eyes of the Vosaia people seemed to be more central to debates than the threat that the Karukai represented.

  Never mind K’llan Z’arr’s actual guilt or innocence.

  It seemed the politics of image and position were achieving primacy over the pursuit of justice. Though Serros was confident that her old friend and mentor, Jamie Sweetwater, would see the glaring holes in any theory of intentional acts treason, based on the rest of the Delegates reactions thus far, the odds didn’t appear to be favorable. Serros wasn’t even certain of Sweetwater’s Human colleague, Delegate Ama Najem, a savvy yet hard woman, by all accounts.

  Of the two Vosaia Quorum Delegates, Lara’a Vonn and Jalana Errevorr, there appeared to be no room for doubt concerning their leanings: guilty. Also off great worry, the piscine Shiraneth seemed to be closely following the lead of their Vosaia neighbors, whether out of genuine sentiment or concern regarding their many economic and mutual defense agreements with the Vosaia, Avara couldn’t be sure. She suspected their motives were driven by more worldly concerns rather than the life and reputation of a single individual.

  Additionally, much as she had observed over the last few years in her crew member Lieutenant Belgrum Naxos, the Braxien Delegates also seemed to be leaning towards considerations of guilt, even if it was a culpability based solely on perceived incompetence rather than deliberate perpetration. It wasn’t shocking, given how hierarchical, strict, and success driven Braxien culture and society was. Only the two Zirgesh Quorum Delegates, Ishness Alkess and Todden Garn, appeared to be openly favoring a stance of innocence. Also not unexpected, Serros mused. The Zirgesh tended to be very much driven by gathered data and the logical application of deduction based on actually relevant information.

  How refreshing.

  Given the layout of sentiments and what would likely be coinciding votes, Avara felt a squeeze of icy fear when she considered Lieutenant Z’arr’s chances. She knew, in her heart and without reservation that K’llan Z’arr was not only innocent, but had been deliberately framed to shadow the true perpetrators of treason. Not only did Serros consider the outcome of a guilty verdict to be a gross and untenable slap in the face of juridical justice, on a personal level, she felt burdened by the weight of potential loss. There was something remarkable about Lieutenant Z’arr as an individual, a personal sentiment founded upon the inexplicable connection Avara felt with the Vosaia STF Agent.

  Teeth painfully clenched, Serros could feel her rage beginning to boil and then, with effort, cool into immutable determination, just as when wading battle. It was a comforting sensation for its welcome familiarity.

  “You ready, Captain? Today’s the big day in the hot seat, after all.”

  Serros turned to her Executive Officer and best friend sitting in the shuttle seat next to her, and tightly compressed her lips into what she knew was a harsh smile that he would understand immediately. “Yes, I am.”

  Marcus didn’t say a word as he regarded her, just quirked the corner of his mouth to communicate a resigned yet vaguely anticipatory expression Avara knew quite well: “Here we go again.”

  *

  The sky–car trip from the Paxen Naval Shuttle Dock to the Forum and the pyramidically designed glass and silver durexium constructed Quorum Consortium had been quick and uneventful. Marcus had been less than talkative for most of the jaunt, offering his quiet support, clearly knowing that she was internally preparing for what was to come. Avara certainly appreciated her EXO�
�s solid presence as they walked through the bustling out–grounds and then entered the building itself.

  The Consortium was a truly awe–inspiring marvel of architecture, fitting as the very heart of Quorum governance. Hundreds of sentients of all Quorum worlds as well as several non–Quorum systems bustled along the silver carpeted, polished black flooring of the Consortium’s wide corridors and arcades. Just as the two Human Nova Squad members, ambassadors, civil and military dignitaries, lawyers, Shield Operatives, Guild Representatives, and dozens of functionaries went about their business, all under the watchful gaze of black–clad and armed Sigil Peace Keepers of the Quorum member races.

  It took about thirty minutes for the two officers to finish running through security and reach the Paladex, the large, central council chamber where the Delegates heard requests, appeals, deliberated, then voted. It was in the Paladex that Delegates thrashed out potential solutions and proposals until a consensus was reached, and where they meted out Quorum law, policy, and procedure. It was also where the Quorum assembled a Tribunal in the relatively infrequent cases of High Treason.

  As a Tribunal represented a closed proceeding, the large chamber capable of housing over a thousand officials was mostly empty except for the Delegates, their Seconds, and the half a dozen or so key players to the case. Just as yesterday, the space where the ten would stand, the raised, half–moon shaped Paladex Balcony suspended some fifteen feet above the chamber floor, was lit in preparation. Below the Balcony were the two main “wings” of the Paladex, where attendees typically stood during a council session. In the exact center of the chamber was a long, elegant, silver–railed walkway and platform some five feet or so higher than the chamber’s wings. It was on that platform where those summoned to present to and petition the Quorum stood directly before the Delegates in the Balcony.

  The Paladex itself was located at the apex of the Consortium’s pyramid–peak and was constructed entirely of heavy sheets of slick glass banded with durexium. Along the walls, carefully regulated water trilled from high–flung fountains, the essential liquid floating down the incline of glass panes to discrete floor–based reservoirs. The sheets of water glittered like breathing crystal in the brilliant lances of golden sunlight that spilled into and pervaded the Paladex’s interior.

  Captain Serros and Commander Perez made their way to the left wing, just a few rows and a half a dozen steps behind where Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr stood next to her Advocate. Though her five–foot–nine, trim frame was straight to the point some would call stiff, Z’arr appeared calm. In her exactly tailored pale azure, white and black uniform, Lieutenant Z’arr looked every inch the decorated and respected member of the vaunted Vosaia Special Task Forces that she was. Her brilliant, sapphire colored hair was pulled tightly back, locks skillfully threaded into a thick braid and then coiled into a tight bun pinned to her skull. Three separate medals representing valor and exceptional service shone at her breast.

  A few moments after the Humans’ arrival, Lieutenant Z’arr turned her head to the left to respond to a comment issued by her Advocate, a Vosaia by the name of Quia Mirador that had been recommended to Serros by Jameson Sweetwater as a superb choice given the circumstances. Just for an instant, Serros and Z’arr locked gazes. Avara, mindful of the crucial necessity to appear entirely impartial to the attendees, many of whom were Vosaia and so able to pick up on even muted feelings, carefully locked emotion and expression. Yet still, she tried to gift a reassuring smile with her eyes for Z’arr alone. Z’arr stopped speaking to her Advocate for just a split second and her lips parted slightly, then she turned her head and attention fully toward the person who was representing her case.

  The moment broken, Avara cast her gaze elsewhere to see another Vosaia standing further left and a row up from her own position. She possessed long, dark blue hair and was dressed entirely in a fitted, sleek white shift that when added to her skin, made her look like living ice. Her beauty, especially the delicate symmetrical nose and arched cheekbones, bore a striking resemblance to Lieutenant Z’arr. Not surprising, since she was identified to Serros yesterday as being her mother, the famed and revered Vosaia Consul and Doctor, Ry’anlyar Z’arr.

  Also in attendance, Major Hadarr was dressed almost exactly at Lieutenant Z’arr yet her breast sported several more medals. Captain Serros caught Hadarr’s sharp gaze bolted in position, impassively regarding her. Avara offered an inclination of her head by way of a formal greeting to her fellow Shield Operative. The gesture was politely returned just as the bell–toned chime signaling the start of the Quorum session and Tribunal sounded, reverberating like a song through the glass walls of the chamber.

  “All in attendance hearken, for thus do we begin this meeting of the Quorum and Tribunal.” Ten voices, both male and female, low and high, spoke the ritual words as one that signaled the beginning of the session immediately after the Delegates ambulated onto the balcony from their private entrance. Each Quorum Delegate wore the elegant yet simple robes of her office: a stiff collared cassock of deep black trimmed in silver.

  “We are here today to begin our final day of presentation and deliberation.” The Vosaia Delegate Errevorr proclaimed.

  “We are also here today to reach a formal decision regarding the status of the Vosaia Strategic Task Forces Agent, Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr, whose condition and citizen–status we consider.” Added the mustard–yellow skinned male Braxien Quorum Delegate, Nerek Sonalen.

  “We shall commence with Advocate Betrand’s closing evidence presentation and statement and then turn to Advocate Mirador’s closing evidence presentation and statement.” Delegate Ney officially announced, his voice oddly echoing through the Voc Box he had to use to speak through his spherical and transparent nutro–helm.

  “Advocate Betrand, please step forward and begin your presentation.” The brown haired Human Delegate Nejem commanded.

  Betrand, a male Shiraneth with slick, iridescent blue–silver colored scales moved forward at a stately pace, climbing up the five steps to the presentation walkway then to its end. Placing sealed, synth–skin covered webbed hands on the Speakers railing, Betrand began to present the final arguments of his case to achieve a guilty ruling.

  As she listened to the Shiraneth drone on for the second day in a row, Avara had to admit to herself that he was an excellent choice for his role. Far from proving to be a distraction of gurgled intonation, his speech was clearly enhanced rather than hindered by the Voc Box which all Shiraneth were forced to use out of water. His words powerfully resonated through the chamber, and Bertrand’s cogent, yet carefully emotion–triggering arguments were delivered artfully. Phrases that wrapped around such terms as “tragic,” “certain,” “irrevocably,” “heart,” “freedom,” “betrayal,” and “duty” were seamlessly woven with data dressed as indisputable evidence.

  Cleverly, Betrand did not draw out his presentation but instead, after a well–tempoed and cool thirty minutes, ended by quietly entreating the ten Delegates of the Quorum to: “make the hard choice and protect the safety and self–determination of all free–thinking sentients. As such, I move for the stripping of all rank and for the life–long imprisonment of K’llan Z’arr.”

  Many of the Advocate’s expressed sentiments eerily coincided with her earlier thoughts when traveling to the planet for the Tribunal. Avara again fought the surge of anger she felt at erroneously applied emotion and fact. The only reaction that Serros could garner from Lieutenant Z’arr was a slight tightening of her shoulders.

  After Advocate Betrand returned to his post at the right wing, the chitin–plated Zirgesh Delegate Garnn announced in his high pitched voice “And now, Advocate Mirador, please step forward and commence with your presentation.”

  The elegant yet soberly attired Vosaia Advocate walked at an unhurried, stately pace to the Speaker’s Platform. Canting her head to one side and with her pale blue braid swinging with the motion, Mirador laced her fingertips together in front of her long body. The
Advocate then began her presentation with a recitation similar to Lieutenant Commander Adeline’s arguments to Goyan Hadarr, conveyed just days ago aboard the Excalibur. The Advocate’s presentation and evidence summation went far beyond Diana’s bare report, expanded upon and delivered with a panache and skill no less than Betrand’s had been. No matter which presentation point she was discussing, the Vosaia continually threaded the argument with the simple reality that there were too many quantifiable uncertainties and scant evidence to result in anything less than the legal definition of reasonable doubt.

  Finally, the moment that Avara had both not been looking forward to and yet conversely, eagerly anticipating, arrived twenty–five minutes later when Advocate Mirador announced: “August Delegates, I myself have little more to add to this presentation. I genuinely believe the identifiable facts loudly proclaim the very definition of reasonable doubt and thus, a verdict of not guilty. However, with the Delegates’ permission, there is another whom I would like to speak on behalf of Agent Z’arr. Quorum Strategic High Risk, Intelligence, and Enforcement Operative, Captain Avara Ceridwen Serros.”

  At the request, a low–keyed murmur flowed through the near–empty wings and the Delegates Balcony. Though not unheard of, it was unusual that a person would act as a presenter when not specifically called to speak by the Quorum to provide clarification or insight. After a moment, the pale haired Vosaia Delegate Vonn leaned forward and responded, “I do not see this as necessary, Advocate Mirador. This Quorum has already reviewed and discussed Captain Serros’s findings and recommendations.”

  Before the Advocate could respond, Jamie Sweetwater also leaned forward over the balcony’s silver rails and announced, “With respect, Delegate Vonn, I disagree. If Captain Serros, a Quorum Shield Operative, believes she can add anything to our deliberation, I strongly believe it’s worth our time to listen. As many here today owe their very lives to her actions in ending the threat of Operation Blackout, for which, Captain Serros was granted both the Terran Cross and the Forlvan Signet of Honor, simple courtesy dictates that we grant a few moments of our time.”