When things finally settled down, Kalico turned back to the bar, only to find Soukup standing, good arm outstretched to the judges. “This is not a Corporate proceeding,” he bellowed. “It’s a circus performance. Worse, ex-Supervisor Aguila admits to culpability with regard to most of the charges. I demand under Title VII, Article XII, Section 15, that Kalico Aguila be remanded to my custody and returned to Solar System to face charges.”

Abibi appeared to be concentrating, obviously checking her implants.

Cinque beat her to it. “According to Section 15, the Board Appointment gives the Inspector General that right.” He glanced at the others. “In essence, no matter what we decide here, Section 15 allows him to appeal our decision to a higher authority.”

Kalico could see Abibi’s lips working, Tadeo Chin was nodding, an expression of resignation on his face.

“Then I can see no reason for us to continue here,” Abibi began. “According to the—”

“Not all of the evidence is in yet!” The voice carried from above, loud and strident.

Every head in the room craned to see the three people descending the stairs. A low muttering rose, people speculating.

Kalico crossed her arms, waiting as Dek, Kylee Simonov, and Falise Taglioni hit the bottom of the stairs. Dek looked to be as cocky as ever, but Falise was barely recognizable, her three colors of hair tumbling down her back in a mess, face sporting cuts; her lacerated hands—held out before her—were crisscrossed with purple dressing. She limped to boot.

The same with Kylee, though her wounds—but for the one on her cheek—weren’t as prominent.

“Who approaches the court?” Captain Abibi asked.

“Falise Taglioni. Daughter to Claudio and Malissa of Taglioni Tower, Transluna.” With her wounded hands, she made a gesture toward Soukup. “And that piece of walking shit is Suto Soukup. He’s the stinking coward who left Kylee, me, and his own First to die. Abandoned us in the forest at the mercy of mobbers, tooth flowers, and the roots.”

Dek stopped short, crossed his arms as he looked up at Abibi. “This bit of shit on my shoe pulled a pistol on poor Fenn Bogarten. Made him fly away when he knew Falise and Kylee were coming. Left Flute, who’d carried his sorry ass up the airtruck, behind as well. Those being the facts, what’s the penalty for leaving someone behind when you’re not in immediate danger of death?”

“Barring any mitigating circumstances, that could carry a death penalty,” Cinque replied after checking his notebook.

“Yeah,” Falise said softly. “That’s what I thought.”

Given how the woman’s hands looked, Kalico wasn’t sure how she did it, but Falise pulled the long blade from its scabbard on her hip. And though her expression was pain-wracked, she drove the big knife into Soukup’s chest. Right up to the hilt.

Chapter 78

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