[The Lone Gunslinger, Chapter 12, Trial, Part II] [Previously on The Lone Gunslinger] "Very well then," says the Judge. "I find the bound-orphan, Errol of Brocal's farm, guilty as charged and sentence him to seventy-five years hard labor under the guardianship of Mr. and Mrs. Brocal. Bailiff, take the prisoner into custody." My mouth drops open, and I turn my head to stare at Moro, he is just sitting there doing nothing. I hear movement behind me and turn around. Jaco has his hand on his Talon Dagger, but the other Ravens are holding him down, and their hands are over his mouth. I've been betrayed. No bound-orphan ever escapes. [And now, The Lone Gunslinger, Part II] I think I'm in shock. I can't move. The Bailiff is walking over to the table, and I'll be taken away and probably be dead before dark. No... the man will take his time. I'm going to die a horrible death, and Simon never even bothered to come defend me. "Very good, hatchling," whispers Moro. "Perhaps you have learned to be a Raven." Moro is watching me. He thinks I'm not moving because I'm being a good Raven; a Raven is still, a Raven is quiet... and when a Raven strikes it is without fear or mercy. I'm not being still because I'm a good Raven, I'm paralyzed from shock. When does the strike without fear or mercy come? Moro smiles at me and nods, then stands and holds his hand up to stop the Bailiff. I can't see what good that will do; I've been convicted. "Your Honor, on page fifty-three of the brief I gave you is an appeal to the Imperial Court," says Moro. "I am now enacting that appeal." "Appeal denied," the Judge says and laughs. "I've had enough of this..." "Denied?" a booming voice interrupts the Judge. The voice is familiar; I've heard it before and it shakes me out of my shock. I turn around and look. A broad shouldered and barrel-chested young man is standing at the back row of the gallery. The Ravens were hiding him. "You are certainly confused, since when does a local Magistrate have the authority to deny a request for an Imperial appeal?" It's the Marshall General. The Marshall walks to the center aisle, and a... something stands up... I think it might be an amphibian in a dark blue suit; I've never seen an amphibian before. "All kneel for his Highness Prince Justice," announces the Amphibian. Every Raven kneels, and it's no easy task in the narrow benches of the gallery. Moro kneels as well and pulls me down with him. I watch the Marshall General walk up the aisle, and his confidence and poise is so commanding even the prosecutor falls on his knees. "You have no authority here Imperial, our planet declared open rebellion against the Empire," screams the Judge. "Your planet declared rebellion against the false Emperor Wolf, and allegiance to the true Emperor, Emperor Sionnach, whom I represent," says the Marshall General. "And I will not tolerate corrupt Judges." "How dare you," shouts the Judge. The Marshall General is nearly at the stairs to the Judge's big desk. "Do you deny being Mr. Brocal's cousin, or having accepted a large bribe to convict Errol," says the Marshall General throwing some papers at the Judge, "and I will get to the bottom of where the Brocal's got such a large sum of money from." I assume the papers are proof of a bribe, but that isn't what's important. What I saw next I'm sure I will never see again, I don't think anyone else expected to see it either. The Marshall General climbs the steps to the Judge's big desk, and for some reason the Judge holds his ground instead of running like any sane man would facing someone of the physical stature of the Marshall General. The Marshall General grabs the screaming Judge and lifts him over his head with those massive, powerful arms and throws him over the front of the big desk. The Judge lands with a sickening thud and crack of something breaking. The Judge's head is bent at an odd angle; the Judge doesn't move again. "Bailiff, drag that away, I don't want to see it again," orders the Marshall General. The Bailiff scrambles to obey. "And Bailiff," says the Marshall. "I don't ever want to see you again either." "Be seated," says the amphibian after the Marshall sits down at the big desk. I glance back at Jaco; he's taking his seat and sits as meek as a mouse. I think we've both learned something, and maybe it's even harder for Jaco to understand. The Ravens promised to defend me, and they kept their promise, they set this whole thing up to expose that corrupt Judge. I think about all the other bound-orphans I have known, all the orphans that have suffered under the lash, and died under the lash, and even now, all the orphans serving life sentences as slaves all across the planet because of that Judge and other corrupt Judges like him. Prince Justice has served a quick and violent frontier justice in the names of all the suffering orphans. I watch the Bailiff dragging the Judge's body away; he got exactly what he deserved. There is Justice after all and that Justice is sitting right there at the big desk. I think the Marshall could ask me to jump off a cliff right now, and I'd happily leap over the edge. I remember the Marshall saying he was going to do something about the bound-orphan situation. Well, I think I've seen the beginning of the end to orphan slavery. The Marshall has just sent a very clear message that will spread. I wish I could be on the Marshall's team to help free the orphans, in fact, that's exactly what I want to do, more than anything. I'm going to ask the Marshall General if I can join the fight to free the orphan slaves of this world. "Wipe your eyes, hatchling," whispers Moro. "The hard part is over, you did well." I realize I'm crying and wipe my eyes. "That's why you didn't tell me and Jaco anything," I whisper. "Everything we did today had to look real or they would have known they were being set-up." Moro nods. "Shh, you're still on trial, but it will be a fair trial now." "Bring the witnesses in," orders the Marshall. The main door bangs open and I turn to look. At least a dozen Gunslingers march into the Court Room followed by some civilians I don't know. Simon is at the head of the procession limping slightly. Simon was here the whole time, hiding outside to lure the corrupt Judge into a false sense of safety. The Prosecutor stands quickly as the witnesses are finding seats. "My Lord, the prosecution would like to drop the charges against Errol of Brocal's farm," says the Prosecutor. "A little late for that," says the Marshall. "We already have a conviction to deal with, all you can do is sit there while we determine who is guilty. I think there may be a few more convictions today before this is over." The Marshall is staring at the Brocal’s; they haven't moved once and are sitting white as a ghost as they watch their careful plans crumble. "Defense Council, would you care to call your first witness?" the Marshall says opening the proceedings. Moro stands. "I call Reana of House Raven." One of the Ravens that came in with the Gunslingers stands and walks towards the Marshall’s big desk. While the Raven is making her way up front I hear the slight jingle of metal and turn around to look at Jaco, and smile. Jaco is playing with the silverware and teacup Mrs. Brocal threw away. Jaco likes to play with shiny things when he is nervous, and he looks at me and grins weakly. "Sorry, they were just lying there, I thought you didn't want them anymore," whispers Jaco. Simon is sitting in the same row as Jaco and notices me turned around and looks at Jaco. I notice... I don't know... surprise? Simon stares at the teacup and then gets up and moves down to sit next to Jaco. "Is there a problem, Errol?" I hear my name and spin back around in my chair; the Marshall is staring at me. "No, Sir." "Do not mistake my friendly and easy-going nature today to assume you can disrupt my Court," the Marshall scolds me. "Yes, Sir." Moro is looking at me too and narrows his eyes and then turns to witness who is now sitting in a chair next to the big desk. "Reana, have you ever taken a contract with a Gunslinger Maurine?" asks Moro. "Yes," says the Raven "Tell us about the contract," says Moro. "It was nearly seventeen years ago; I was approached by Gunslinger Maurine to help her escape from the Lone Gunslinger Base with her infant child and to help her find a place she could hide." "What was the state of Gunslinger Maurine's mind?" asks Moro. "Objection, the witness is not a psychologist," the Prosecutor stands and announces. Moro walks over to our table and picks up a piece of paper. "My Lord, Reana holds a degree in human psychology from Raunu University," says Moro. "Objection over-ruled," declares the Marshall. "The witness may answer the question." "I believed she may have been suffering from the early stages of Tarin Syndrome; she was acting paranoid, depressed, and erratic," says Reana. "She was not being held prisoner and could have left of her own free-will at any time." "And yet you accepted the contract?" asks Moro. "I did, but I did not accept payment. Tarin Syndrome has no cure, and I felt removing her from the stressful environment aggravating her symptoms could give her a few more years with the child." "Do you understand that interfering in human affairs with regard to the mentally ill is a crime under Darian law?" asks Moro. "I do. I will surrender myself peacefully," says Reana. "For the good of all Daraians, and Humans." "Where did you take Gunslinger Maurine and the infant?" asks Moro. "I found a couple that owned a quiet farm on Tarous Minor that agreed to take her and the infant," says Reana. A horrible feeling crawls into my gut at what the Raven just said. I didn't know what this witness had to do with me or my case...but... "Is that infant child in this Court today?" asks Moro. "He is," the Raven points at me. "Errol." I feel sick, my head is spinning, I can't see... I never knew my mother's name. I think I slipped off my chair and... I feel so ill and want to throw up. Then Simon is there, he's holding me. "I'm sorry, son," says Simon. "I never understood how ill your mother was, and then I left on that mission, and when I got back she was gone." "I blamed you," I cry. "I thought you abandoned me." "Jaco never meant harm when he let you read that Raven report," says Simon rocking me. "The report didn't have Reana's statement and was incomplete." "Court adjourned for thirty-minutes," says the Marshall banging a hammer on the big bench. Simon lifts me up and sits me back on my chair. "I want to be alone," I say. Simon goes over and speaks with Moro while Jaco hesitantly edges over to me and sits at my feet. He's crying and poking me with the silverware. "I'm sorry," says Jaco. "Not your fault," I tell Jaco. We sit silently while everyone mills about; at least everyone is leaving us alone. The Marshall finally bangs his hammer again, and everyone takes their seat, except Jaco, he stays sitting at my feet. The Marshall glances at Jaco but doesn't say anything. Moro has Reana back at the witness chair, but he also has Simon in another witness chair on the other side. "Objection," says the Prosecutor. "The witness's previous statement has no validity, there is no proof that Gunslinger Maurine was ever at the Brocal's farm." "There is proof, My Lord," says Moro. "Over-ruled, present the evidence," says the Marshall. "Reana, did Gunslinger Maurine take any possessions with her when you helped her leave the Lone Gunslinger Base," asks Moro. "Yes, she was acting paranoid and insisted on taking several boxes of possessions," says Reana. "She said her mate had already stolen some of her possessions." "Gunslinger Simon, can you tell me about the morning you left on mission seventeen years ago," asks Moro. "I made a cup of coffee and was already out on the road walking to the Command Building when I realized I still had the coffee cup and a spoon in my hand," explains Simon. "I left the cup and spoon in my locker at the ready room. When I returned a month later, I took the cup and spoon back to my cabin, and my wife was gone, as was the matching silverware and cups." Moro walks over to Jaco and takes the silver and teacup from him and walks back over to Simon and shows him. "These were taken from the Brocal's farm," says Moro. "Do you recognize them?" "Yes, those are my wife's silverware and coffee cup," says Simon. "Objection," says the Prosecutor. "Even if they match, they could simply have purchased the same set." "I have an expert witness I sent for during the recess," says Moro. "Over-ruled," says the Marshall. "Call your witness." "Mr. Hendricks, would you come up here," says Moro. "My Lord, Mr. Hendricks is an expert antiquities historian. A thin man gets up from the gallery and comes up and stands next to the table I'm sitting at. Moro sets the silver and cup down, and the shock on the man's face is obvious. "Can you tell me anything about these?" asks Moro. The man carefully picks up the cup and inspects it and then sets it back down. "Sir, I would have to send for an expert in this field, and we would need more testing to be sure, but yes, I know this cup...the markings... the stamp on the bottom... there are only a few of these in museums on Kitsune. This cup and silver are over a thousand years old; they were the table settings from the old Children's Palace on Kitsune. "Gunslinger Simon, can you tell me how you and your wife would be in possession of such priceless artifacts?" asks Moro. "My wife and I are the descendants of Sionnach's Eighty," says Simon. "They had months to load supplies from the old Palace to the Battleships under the Palace that they used to escape during the Palace Coup that put Lord Wolf on the throne." Moro turns to the Brocal’s. "Do you two have an explanation as to how you would be in possession of such priceless artifacts... no? Thank you, Mr. Hendrick, you may return to the gallery." I reach out and take the teacup and hold it gently. I don't care where it's from; it was my mothers. "My Lord, you may want to send Simon and Errol out of the Court Room for the remainder of Reana's testimony," says Moro. "Simon?" asks the Marshall. "No, Sir, the boy and I both deserve to know, regardless of how bad it may be," says Simon. "Continue the questioning," orders the Marshall. I'm not sure I can take much more of this. I'm a little numb at everything that's happened so far, but I do want to know what happened to my mother. I feel Jaco scooting over and leaning against my leg and smile a little. I drop my hand down and put on his shoulder. I don't know what I did right to get such a good friend. "Reana, tell the Court what happened after you left Gunslinger Maurine with the Brocal's," says Moro continuing. "I was preparing my Dart Ship when Mrs. Brocal approached me, she wanted to purchase Ash," says Reana. "Tell the Court what Ash is," says Moro. "Ash is a slow poison, and a very painful way to die," explains Reana. "I figured there was a rival farmer they wanted to get rid of, it wasn't an unusual request to a Raven, humans often come to Ravens for poison or assassination contracts." "Did you sell Mrs. Brocal the Ash," asks Moro. "I did," says Reana. "Did you ever see Gunslinger Maurine again?" asks Moro. "Yes, it was six years later when Gunslinger Maurine contacted me," says Reana. "She wanted to transfer all her money to Errol's name so that he would be taken care of." "Did you?" asks Moro. "Yes, I met with Gunslinger Maurine at the Brocal's farm and assisted her with the transfer," says Reana. "What did you discover when you met with Gunslinger Maurine?" ask Moro. "The house reeked of Ash," says Reana. "Gunslinger Maurine was malnourished, dehydrated, eyes sunken, and the tips of her fingers were black. She was dying of Ash poisoning." Moro walks over and retrieves a piece of paper from the table and walks over to the Brocal's table and slams the paper down. "Errol's Birth Certificate," shouts Moro. "You murdered Gunslinger Maurine, but you couldn't get her money because she had transferred it to her son. Then when he was six years old you turned him over to the orphanage but never told them you had the Birth Certificate and knew where his father was. You waited the one year required to have him declared an abandoned orphan and purchased him back. You pressed him into servitude and have been siphoning off his inheritance since. The bank records clearly show you have stolen over half his inheritance." Moro turns around and faces the Marshall. "And this is why they want him back; they haven't finished stealing his money. Errol was never an abandoned orphan, he was kidnapped by the Brocal’s', and as such was never a runaway orphan. Defense rests." They murdered my mother. I look over at Simon, his face is bright red with anger, and then he's on his feet, his gun in his hand and pointing it at the Brocal’s'. "No, father!" I jump up. "That's the wrong way; it's what the Daraians have been trying to tell us. Our whole society lives under frontier justice, it might be legal for you to do it, but it's wrong. Frontier justice lets the Marshall easily get rid of a corrupt judge, or for..." "Careful, boy," warns the Marshall interrupting. "No, Sir, I won't be careful," I shout. "I'm not scolding you, I'm scolding the system. The Daraians aren't a lawless people, we are, we have to learn and do it right. They murdered my mother, and I want them to look into my eyes when they hang for it, but it has to be done right. There can't be any more corrupt trials like they tried to do to me." Simon looks at me for a long moment and then holsters his gun. "How did you become such a good man?" asks Simon fondly, his face returning to a normal color. "All charges against Errol are dismissed," the Marshall says banging his hammer. "Mr. and Mrs. Brocal, you are under arrest for the Murder of Gunslinger Maurine and the kidnapping of her son Errol." I walk over to Simon and Jaco follows, being oddly silent for a change. "Let's go home, boys," says Simon. I start to leave with Simon, but I see the little orphan boy that was with the Brocal’s sitting in a corner and head over to him. He looks like me... like I did so many years ago. I hold my hand out to the boy, and he takes my hand. "Are you my papa now?" asks the little boy. "No, I'm your big brother, come on," I say. I lead the little boy over to Simon. "Son, we can't," says Simon. "Father, I spent years slaving in those fields, looking up at the sky and praying someone would come save me, for you to come save me, but you didn't. We can't ever make up for the time lost, it's gone, forever. But, you can still save me." I push the little boy towards Simon. "Save me father," I say. "Are you my papa now?" the little boy holds his hand up to Simon. "Errol, we can't," says Simon. "Save me, father," I repeat. "Save me, don't let it happen again." "I had no son, and now I have three," Simon takes the little boy's hand. "What's your name, boy?" "Josh." "I'm your papa now, Josh, would you like that?" asks Simon. The little boy nods happily. We make it to the steps of the Court House outside before Moro catches up with us. "Gunslinger Simon, have you forgotten?" asks Moro. "Sorry, emotions of the moment, I was distracted, Errol feels I need another son," says Simon. "Anyway, yes, Ambassador Moro, you have convinced me, request approved." The other Ravens are all around Moro now and chatting excitedly. "Jaco, you are going with Moro," says Simon. "What? No, I go with Hero," argues Jaco. Tani grabs Jaco arm and pulls him away. "You'll see Keal again in a few days, this is what we've all been working towards, it's the last part of the plan." "What plan?" I shout. "Just tell us already?" "Don't worry, you two will be reunited in a few days, Chirp," says Moro. "Chirp? I'm not a hatchling anymore?" I ask. "You have graduated up," says Moro and then walks off with the rest of the Ravens to their mysterious plan. Simon grins at me. "Three sons?" says Simon. "You know, there's a reason why we usually only have one son, it can cause a fight. You do realize the eldest son gets the name of Simon. "Yea," I already know that… "Wait! What!" "That's right, Jaco's the eldest," says Simon. [End Part II]