The recording finished playing with a click. Sunry's glare was sharper than Darth Bandon's. The innocent, desperate act fell away into a bitter sneer. The interrogation room chilled my skin and the white walls added to Sunry's clinical expression. I stood in front of him at the table and leaned over the datapad.

"Explain."

The old soldier shook his head. Said nothing. This silence caused a wave of hot anger to boil in my stomach. I punched the table, vibrating the datapad.

"Explain!"

Sunry flinched. "Where did you get that?"

"Who cares where I got it? This is clear evidence that you killed Elassa."

"Okay? So?"

Oh, I wanted to strangle him.

"Do you realize what type of mess you put us in?" I hissed. "People will die without that kolto. The Selkath—"

"Are cowards." The old soldier smirked, dark eyes sparkling under the blue lights. "So what? I killed a Sith. Don't act like the moral authority here. You kill Sith every day in this war. You've seen how they are. They are evil. Monsters. And Elassa deserved it. The fact that the Selkath can't see this evil…well, I refuse to play their games."

I felt a chill course through my veins at those remorseless words. He didn't care. Didn't care that his selfish actions were going to kill innocents.

My entire body shook.

"But I don't kill them in their sleep."

"How else was I supposed to kill a dark Jedi? You're young. Strong. Capable. I can't kill the way you can anymore."

I sneered. "Why did you do it?"

"Wha—because she's a Sith—"

"No. You were having an affair with a Sith for weeks. You didn't just kill Elassa because she was a Sith."

The old soldier leaned back and rubbed his wrinkled face with his bound hands.

"But I didn't think I was having an affair with a Sith." He looked back up at me. "She propositioned me a few months ago. At first, I thought she was just a prostitute, but...I don't know. I think she became…fond of me. We talked about so many things. I told her some things that I didn't even tell Elora. About the war. About…all of my regrets about that war. And this war. Eventually, she stopped asking for payment. It felt like…love.

"What a fool I was. I asked if she wanted to run away with me to Coruscant. That's when Elassa revealed to me that she was a Sith. All of the secrets we talked about under the sheets. The Sith knew. Inside, I was furious. I told her that…I forgave her. But I didn't. Not really.

"I told Wann about what happened. I figured…he'd have some spies fix my mistake. But he told me that I had to 'take care of it.' That night, when I met with the Ambassador, he told me I needed to stop putting it off. I had to see Elassa one last time. It was a hint to…to take care of the problem. Myself.

"I think some twisted part of me loved Elassa. But she was a Sith. The woman I loved wasn't real. She used me." He sighed. "So, yes, I killed her. I had no choice."

My mind felt heavy after hearing that long tale. I let out a shaky breath.

"She admitted everything to you and you killed her for it."

"I know. Strange. Sith aren't that sentimental usually. It's a good thing she did. Otherwise..."

"Ambassador Wann told you to kill her?"

"Yes." Sunry shrugged. "How could I refuse? I was following orders—"

A dark rush of the Force split the air. Sunry slammed into the wall with that power. The table and chairs clattered to the ground with him. I squeezed my hand and the old soldier shouted in pain of the pressure. He tried to crawl away yet I held him in place. A chill rippled down my spine. I walked around the fallen furniture, keeping the old man locked in place on the floor.

"G-Guards—!"

His mouth was closed with another burst of the Force.

"They can't hear you." My fist tightened. "The room is soundproof."

"You harm me, Jedi, and your Order will know all about it."

"You say a word," I said, "and your trial won't last long."

"Ha. Sure."

"Do you want to test me?" I squeezed his left leg tight. Sunry groaned in pain. "You didn't tell Ambassador Wann anything. Why do I think that? Because while he is incompetent, he is also a coward. He wouldn't risk letting an elderly idiot like you kill a dark Jedi yourself!" Sunry's expression twisted. Fear clawed the air. "No more lies. You killed Elassa not because you were ordered to. You killed her because you wanted to."

"Alright!" Sunry croaked out. "Alright! I...she told me there—then! That night. I wanted to divorce Elora. Elope with Elassa at Coruscant. She told me that she was a Sith and I...I had to kill her! All the things I told her..."

Ah.

I thought back to when Elassa tried to make me fight her in that cantina. It was a classic Sith manipulation tactic. They tried to push all the right buttons to make their victims attack first. Not that it excused Sunry's actions. That was also why there was a recording device. Elassa intended to get the proof then instigate a fight with Sunry. The Republic must have cleaned up the scene and discovered it.

"What did you tell her?" Sunry laughed again. I squeezed and his laughter stopped. "Tell me, or I'll tell the Selkath everything."

"You won't do that. You know what will happen if I'm proclaimed guilty. The Selkath will cut the Republic's kolto production. You can't let me lose."

"Really?" I smirked. "Then why did Wann abandon you? Why has he not tried harder to prove your innocence?"

"He…" Sunry sighed. Loudly. "Obviously he didn't want to appear like he was involved."

"Madam Takaon was involved," I said. "She asked someone to plant that pin on Elassa to 'frame' you. How did she know that Elassa was going to die that night?"

"I…" Sunry sucked in a pained breath. "Takaon…tried to frame me?"

I tilted my head. "Yes?"

"No...why? Of course. If anyone knew about Elassa, it would be the Echani." He shook his head. "Erina Takaon is a paranoid woman. A powerful, paranoid woman. Did you know she controls almost all of the SSF? Bribes them to erase camera footage...takes camera footage for blackmail...cleans up crime scenes. She didn't like it when I announced my retirement. Why? She couldn't watch me on Alderaan."

"Where, exactly, are you going with this? Why is Takaon trying to set you up?"

He sighed. "How about a deal, Jedi? You get my acquittal, and I'll tell you all the things Ambassador Wann has been hiding from you."

"Thanks, I'll just ask him myself."

"Good luck. Wann is a stubborn bastard. You'll never get anything out of him—especially when the information I have would threaten his position with the Senate. Not even torture would convince him. Oh, and Jolee told me about...what was it? The Star Map? You won't be able to get it without my help. Believe me. I know things." The old soldier chuckled. "Oh, Jolee is going to hate me after this."

"As he should. After all, you're asking me to prove you innocent when you're not."

"Ah, yes, you would prefer if I was innocent, wouldn't you? Well, things don't always work out the way you want them to, son."

I relaxed my grip on him through the Force. He sat up with a wince then stood. He shuffled to the fallen chair before he picked it up and sat with a long sigh. I stood over him and crossed my arms.

"So, what are you going to do now that you know the truth?" Sunry asked, raising a white brow. "Will you turn in the datapad? Or will you destroy it?"

I laughed once. "I'm not doing anything. You're confessing."

"No way. If I confess I'm looking at twenty years in prison. That and there is no way I'm putting the Republic's supply of kolto in danger."

"You did that when you murdered Elassa," I hissed.

Sunry flinched. "T-The way I see it, helping me helps you three-fold. You get the information you need, the Star Map, and you save the Republic's kolto supply. If you turn me in, the Republic will lose the war for sure. Are you going to send all those thousands, millions—like on Taris—to their deaths, just for your sense of 'justice?' Your sense of 'honor?' If I were you, I would pretend that little recording didn't exist."

I didn't have a choice, did I? Sunry knew I had no choice. I had to prove a guilty man innocent. A guilty man who had no remorse for his crime. Not only for his crime but for his blatant irresponsibility—risking thousands, millions of lives for...what? Vengeance? What had been the point?

I loathed him. Despised him. Despised Wann. Despised Takaon. Despised myself for being forced into a corner. Despised this entire situation.

Another dark surge rippled through the Force. Sunry flinched as I grabbed his left leg using the Force again. But, instead of throwing him against the wall this time…

Crack!

"Agh!"

The old man slid out of his chair to the ground. He held his broken leg with both hands. His panting was interrupted by the sound of my heavy boots as I walked away. I collected the datapad and pressed the button to the comm.

"Someone get a medic." Sunry's glare pierced the air. If he had the Force, he would have choked me with that look. I smirked back. "My client tripped. Old war wounds were acting up."

The door hissed open and I marched away without looking back at the whimpering old soldier.

Bastila, Mission, and Jolee hadn't spoken or moved for a while, still trying to process what I just told them. We sat in my room for the sake of secrecy as we discussed the case. HK-47 stared at us quietly in the corner. The gray clouds hid the setting sun from view.

"So…" Mission interrupted the silence. "What are we going to do?"

I picked up the datapad I left sitting on the bed. Then, I focused on it. Jolee shot to his feet with his hand raised. Before the datapad left my hand, the old man had grabbed it using the Force. I stood, glaring at the stolen datapad.

"Wha—give that back!"

He smirked. "Why? What will you do to it, hmm?"

I stormed up to him, intending to yank it from his grip. Yet Jolee was faster. He slapped me in the face with the back of that datapad. I stumbled, surprised that the old man attacked me, and rubbed my chin.

Mission gasped. "Jolee!"

HK-47 blinked on.

"Observation: The decrepit meatbag has assaulted your person, Master. Query: May I shoot to kill?"

We all ignored the droid.

Bastila walked up to my side and placed a hand on my shoulder. I felt a loose tooth with my tongue and the copper taste of blood in my mouth. I spat out the blood and glared at the old man.

I grabbed Jolee by the front of his robe with the Force, but Bastila shouted at us before I could return the favor.

"There is no need for violence!" I released the old man. He sneered back at me. Bastila stood between us, disappointment showing in her eyes and in the bond. "Jolee, give him back the datapad."

"No way!" He waved the datapad at me. "We need this if he's going to show it in court tomorrow."

"Are you insane?" My voice raised, peaking. "If I do that, they will immediately proclaim Sunry guilty. We will have no way to get the Star Map."

"How do you know for sure? Sunry could be lying about this 'information.' He already lied to you. And the Selkath could still help us get your stupid Map."

"Please. In what galaxy? The Selkath only seem to care about themselves. At this rate, it'll be decades before we get the Star Map. And the Sith will have won by then!"

"Sunry is guilty!" Jolee's wrinkled face tightened as he shouted that at me. "Don't you dare defend him."

"If I don't, people will die!"

"Ah, and there it is! You're going to let a murderer go free for the 'greater good.' Ho, ho, how did I see this coming?"

"Oh, come on!" I shouted. "You're overreacting, old man. Why would I sacrifice hundreds if not thousands of lives to damn one man? A man who killed a Sith, by the way. We should be congratulating him!"

"It doesn't matter what Sunry did. It's about integrity. Honor."

"Honor doesn't save lives. It's a fool's prize." The old man sneered after I said that. I frowned. "And integrity…what about integrity to your allies, huh? Why aren't you defending Sunry? He's your friend."

His eyes grew dark along with his expression.

"Yeah. Well. I had a lot of allies. Friends," he muttered, smirking with a bitter shine in his eyes. "Most of them became Sith."

Jolee strode closer and, while I was slightly taller than him, it felt like he was towering over me. "You say honor doesn't save lives. Sure. But how long will it take before your lack of honor wears you down and turns you into the very thing you despise? What other crimes will you excuse to advance your cause for 'the greater good?' Will you be excusing your own crimes eventually? Someday, you will have so many excuses for the injustices you commit that you will forget about the lives you wished to save in the first place."

My mouth gaped and I struggled to come up with a rebuttal. I tried to mentally ask Bastila for help, but she appeared just as shocked.

"Sunry doesn't deserve to die," I said, crossing my arms. "The Selkath will execute him. No one deserves an execution."

He laughed once without humor. "When I was young, oh when I was young, I believed that too. We all deserve a second chance, they said. Not even criminals deserve death, they said. Blah, blah, blah. Kriff that. Sometimes people don't deserve another chance. If they don't want forgiveness, if they don't want to change, then they'll only be taking advantage of your mercy—"

"Jolee." Bastila finally snapped out of her blank stare. It turned into one filled with determination. "That isn't true. Everyone deserves a second chance. Sometimes it takes mercy for people to even know that they can seek redemption."

The old man snorted. "Another one of the Council's aphorisms. Do you ever run out of those?" He shook his head, sending a sneer at Bastila. "Sunry killed that woman without a lick of remorse. And from what I heard just now, he doesn't even think he did anything wrong. The Sunry I knew is gone already. Dead."

"Please." Bastila held out her hand. "Wes is right. We need to destroy the evidence. Otherwise…otherwise, those we saved at Uyter will die. The mission...everything would have been in vain."

The old man narrowed his eyes. Mission nervously looked at me, completely at a loss. After a minute of this deadly staredown, Jolee muttered low, underneath his breath.

"Should have stayed in the kriffing jungle…" He shoved the datapad into Bastila's hand. "You do whatever you think you need to. Just don't come running to me when everything falls apart. Because all I'm going to say is…'told you.'"

"Old man—"

My protest was cut off when Jolee stormed out of my room. We all let out a sigh, one of frustration, one of annoyance, and one of sadness. Guess which was mine?

Bastila raised the datapad. Intending to destroy it like I wanted to. But before she could throw it to the ground using the Force, I grabbed her wrist. She looked up at me with a raised brow.

"What are you doing?"

I took the datapad and considered it for a long time.

"Better not destroy it yet," I said. "It might be useful…"

My mind flashed back to what happened in the Sith base. When I killed that torturer. Then to the Czerka patrol. I killed them all without thinking about it. Without "mercy." What right did Sunry have to get away with putting people at risk like that? He was no different than Czerka, the Sith... He didn't deserve to live either.

I placed the datapad in my bag.

There had to be a way to screw over Sunry and help the people of the Republic. Had to. Yet, deep down I knew it was a wishful dream on my part.

That night, I spent time toiling away, reviewing my notes and court procedure holodocs. Now that I knew the truth, it was easier to come up with a plan. No, a lie. If the witnesses said exactly what I predicted them to say and if Griff came through with his confession...it was possible. Yet, there were too many factors. Too many things that could go wrong. This is why even though it was late, I couldn't sleep.

First, the party. I grabbed the datapad that had the camera footage of the party. Yes, I could rely on Griff's confession due to him being an absolute coward, but it was always good to have a backup plan just in case. I scrubbed the footage, looking for any sign of blue. I watched Jolee run about the room floor, Sunry chatting with all the local dignitaries, there was a flash of me leading Bastila through the dancing crowd, Mission stealing a glass of wine, yet…

I sat back on the couch. Shocked.

Gone. Disappeared. Griff wasn't in the footage at all. Someone tampered with the evidence.

Takaon. Of course. She has every reason to make sure that the stolen pin didn't get back to her. Why did she want to pin a murder on Sunry? How did she know Elassa was going to die that night? All questions I couldn't answer without more information. Which meant I had to rely on Griff's confession. Currently, my plan to prove Sunry innocent hinged on that stupid Hero's Cross. If Griff fell through…if he didn't confess…then I was screwed.

Maybe an hour later, I knocked on Carth's door. He opened that door with a glare, pissed when I told him I needed help with something. I'd obviously woke him up from his "beauty sleep." Fortunately, he agreed to come with me anyway. Next, Bastila. She opened the door immediately after I knocked. It wasn't hard to convince her, of course. Nor Mission, who jumped at the opportunity to do something "fun." I didn't bother Canderous because he was still recovering physically (despite his griping) and Juhani who was recovering mentally. Or Jolee because who cared.

So, with Carth, Bastila, and Mission in tow, I told them that I needed to put on a mock trial—with Gil as the defendant (that was Mission's idea). After all, I couldn't just read about court procedures. That was boring. It would stick in my mind better if I practiced.

Oh, and Gil's crime? Eating too many ration bars.

Bastila huffed about "taking this seriously" as I played up the theatrics. Shouting objections to Mission (who played the prosecutor). There was no way Gil could eat five bars in sixty seconds! And, of course, Mission demonstrated by letting the gizka munch on five she suspiciously kept on hand. It took him sixty seconds. Flat.

There was one more complaint from the peanut gallery before I broke character.

"I'm just having fun, sunshine. Rather do that than sulk over the fact that the person I have to defend is kriffing guilty. And if the Selkath don't acquit him—so long kolto! So long Star Map!"

"Wait, what?!" Carth shouted, sitting up from the couch he'd been half-sleeping on.

I tilted my head. "Um, you didn't hear?"

"No!"

"Ah, right you must be out of the loop again."

Bastila proceeded to tell him everything that happened. Including Sunry's confession. I made sure to fill in all of the important details. Like…how much of a sham this trial was going to be. "So, you see, that's why I'm not 'taking this seriously.' Because no one takes anything seriously. Ever."

Mission pumped a fist.

"Yeah!"

The pilot sighed, rubbing his face. "Why does no one tell me anything?"

"I don't know, Orangy. Maybe it's a 'you' problem," I said, rubbing my stubbled chin with a smile.

Carth snorted. "I'm not taking that advice from a chronic alcoholic."

"Hey, I'm not an alcoholic!" They all gave me a suspicious look. Well...they were actually looking at the glass in my hand that was filled with ale that I got from a bottle I procured from the casino downstairs. Some ale of which I just splashed on myself. I was on my third drink? I put it down on the bedside table with a wince. "No, this just helps me focus." Now they were looking at me. I groaned, more warmth spread over my face. "Okay, maybe I am a little tipsy. How does that make me an alcoholic, exactly?"

"You really shouldn't be drinking like this before an important trial," Bastila scolded. "Too much is at stake here. If anything, your mind needs to be clear."

My heart beat hard against my chest. Important trial. Too much at stake. People will die without kolto. I need to succeed. If I don't, they will die. Their deaths will be my fault if I fail. I shook my head. Force. I eyed the glass and crossed my arms to still the shaking. And closed my eyes in thought. Deep thought. Until I came to a conclusion.

I picked up the glass and finished it.

"My mind is clear now." I smacked my lips. "Crystal."

"Please, listen to Bastila," Carth muttered. "And me. You're going to regret this in the morning."

"Yeah, Chunks…" Mission said, frowning. "You don't want to throw up all over the place, do yah?"

I narrowed my eyes at the young Twi'lek. Then growled. "Fine!" I placed the empty glass and half-filled bottle on the floor. Hidden. So I could grab it when they weren't paying attention. "What is this—an intervention? So annoying..."

"We're annoying?" Carth muttered.

"There's nothing wrong with having a drink or two, Orangy."

"You didn't just have a drink or two!" Bastila hissed. "More like four!"

"You're keeping count?"

"Yes, and who knows how much you drank before you came knocking on our doors, waking us all up. It's almost midnight! How are you not unconscious yet?!"

I shrugged. "You could have ignored me and gone back to sleep, sunshine."

She sighed. "Well, I wasn't actually sleeping since I could sense a major disturbance in the Force. You are highly stressed and you're drinking like this to curtail this stress. But I can still sense it. It isn't going away."

Right. The bond. The stupid bond.

Why did I drag them in here again?

I snorted. "Stressed? Me?"

"She's right, you know," Carth said. "I get it—having to defend a guilty man in court is a lot of responsibility to shoulder. Especially when innocent lives are at risk. But you can't just drink away your problems—"

"I know what I'm doing." My voice was stoic, terse. I relaxed my shoulders and let a grin replace my sneer. "I have this in the bag, don't sweat your little pessimistic heads over it. This is just me having some fun before I get bored out of my mind tomorrow."

Bastila sat on the bed as if she just aged twenty years and leaned on her knees. A wash of fatigue interrupted the mania from my tipsy state. I frowned.

Once Gil was declared innocent, we moved on to a mock version of tomorrow's trial. I forced Bastila to stand in as the witnesses while Carth acted (reluctantly) as the tribunal. Most of the cross-examination went smoothly. Until…

"Griff, buddy, pal." I bent at the waist so that Bastila was at eye level. I then pat her shoulder, my face warm. Her small nose scrunched. I smirked. Laughed. Giggled. Heh. "I'm not going to take it easy on you just because you're sexy now, kinrath pup."

She rolled her eyes with a huff. But I could sense her heart fluttering. Ah, so does she like being called sexy? Or…kinrath pup?

Carth grabbed the bottle from my hand.

"Okay, enough. This is getting ridiculous."

Oh, whoops, forgot to hide it under the table again. I stumbled back after Carth stole the bottle and only the Force stopped me from falling flat on my face. Instead of the floor, I parked my rear on the bed next to Bastila. The entire room started…twisting…I leaned on my knees and focused on the ground so that I didn't throw up.

"Ugh…"

"Um, he's drunk, isn't he…?" Mission muttered to Carth.

There was a faint swish as if someone shook a nearly empty bottle.

"Yes," he replied. "Definitely."

"Shouldn't we stop? I don't think he'll remember much anymore…"

Pfft, as if. I ignored their little chat and chuckled, evilly, at Sexy Griff.

"Go on, tell the court what you did. We're waiting."

Bastila narrowed her eyes. Then, she smirked.

"What do you mean?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Bas," I whispered. "Tell the court you planted the pin. Come on. You were there."

"What pin?"

Oh, ho! She was being obtuse. Sexy! I chuckled to myself. Ha. I was drunk, wasn't I?

"Griff." I shook my head with a tut. "Griff, Griff, Griff. Don't make this difficult. I have ways of getting you to talk." I raised a brow, my eyes could barely focus on Bastila's flushed face. I let out a hot breath over her lips. Her eyes fluttered. "Many ways."

"That's it." Carth's scratchy voice stabbed pain into my skull. "I've had enough of this. I'm tired and I would rather blast my brains than watch this idiot continue to make a fool of himself."

He stormed off.

"Aw, where are you running off to, Orangy!"

"Mission, Bastila, come on."

Mission stood from the couch and shot me a worried look. Bastila left my side and also stared down at me with equal concern. Oh, Force, I hated it. I waved a hand at them, but when I did the room started to twist again.

I stumbled past them to the fresher. Fortunately, it was a false alarm, yet nausea clawed at my stomach as I leaned over the sink. I turned on the faucets and splashed cold water on my face—hopefully, to snap myself back.

Nerves. Doubt. Can't fail. They'll die if I fail.

Voices rang outside the fresher over the sound of the running water. The door swished open and closed. Phew. Good—they left. Why did I drag them here anyway? All they did was complain. I shut off the faucets and stared at my reflection. The Force felt stretched in this drunken state. Distant.

And there I was. Alone.

Something warm touched my shoulder. I flinched—shocked since I hadn't expected anyone to still be there. Bastila's gray eyes met mine—I blinked as I tried and failed to meet her gaze. She rubbed my shoulder with a sigh.

"Come on—you need to rest."

I dipped my head. Partially to hide my face, partially to not look at hers. But she could sense my embarrassment. No doubt. And I could sense…compassion. Pity.

I hated it.

With a clumsy first step and with Bastila holding my arm, I walked out of the fresher without falling. The room still twisted and pain pounded behind my eyes. Light. Too bright. I waved a hand. When the lights didn't shut off, Bastila used the Force herself to dim the lights in the room. The stars blanketed the opposite wall. Framing us in stars.

My body collided with the bed. Face planted in the mattress. My groan was muffled. At least the room stopped twisting. Yet I still felt this gnawing anxiety. Anxiety Bastila sensed—no doubt. Oh, Force, I hated it. I wasn't supposed to have doubts. And when I had doubts, no one was supposed to know about them. Otherwise what I doubted could happen would happen. This...damn bond.

I expected her to leave once I'd collapsed…but…

Belt. Boots.

With another groan, I undid my belt and threw it with my lightsaber in a random direction. I then sat back up. In the darkness, it was hard to see my boots, so I fumbled like a child with the laces. Oh, kriff, I really looked like an absolute idiot now.

After a minute of this struggle, Bastila's shadow bent.

"Here—"

I snatched then squeezed her hand before she reached for my laces. She looked up at me, gray eyes meeting mine in the dark. Her face…her soft face…some of the anxiety drifted away as I stared into her eyes. Hypnotized. Eventually, she pushed my hand aside. A couple of seconds later, she pulled off my boot and started untying the next one.

Oh, I hated it.

When she finished, she sat next to me on the bed for some reason. I looked away, my clouded, drunk mind still swirling.

Eventually, she sighed. "You can't even ask for help with the simplest of things, can you?"

I turned to her, mumbling. "Woulda untied them…'ventually."

"Eventually? You weren't even close."

"Ah, is this your program…definition of help? I thought you were…were done with that bantha—"

"Why do you do this to yourself?" My smirk fell. Her serious face tightened. "You tell me that I should open up. Then you turn around and refuse to open up yourself. Do you know how hypocritical that is? If…if you want me to be upfront with you…then I want you to be upfront with me. Because I can tell that you're trying to suppress your own pain. And I can't stand it."

Pain. It flooded my body. Once she mentioned it, it was hard to ignore. I looked past her eyes. To her lips. She pursed those lips. In the haze, I felt my body inch closer. Closer. Till I was only a breath away from her. Just being near her…all of this pain went away just being next to her. I wanted her. Needed her. Need her...to make the pain go away.

I held the back of her head with my hand. Pushing her face into mine. Kissing her. Sloppy. Clumsy. She jolted in surprise, yet gradually, she righted my face with a gentle hand and kissed me back. When she fully reciprocated, I slipped my tongue into her mouth. She cringed and pushed at my chest.

I flinched away.

"Ah, kriff, s-sorry."

What the hell is wrong with me?

I bent over and rubbed my face. Mostly to banish the embarrassment. Probably tasted the ale...I really shouldn't have had this much to drink. Someone blast me already. I was left in this torturous silence for far too long.

"What's wrong?" Her eyes wavered. Worry. It was written in her face and in the bond. "Please tell me what's wrong. I sense...anxiety. Fear. You were so…confident about this before. This is unlike you."

It was unlike me. Force—why was I like this? I'd faced worse before. Except…had I really? I'd never really been responsible for so many people's lives before. Not counting my crew's. How I did tomorrow…determined the fate of the Republic here on Manaan. Tomorrow…who knew what tomorrow could bring? I had a plan—sure—but one loose cog—Griff—could ruin all of it. It was an unstable leg to stand on. Just the thought of failure sent me into a drunken, shivering panic.

Pathetic.

"Everything is riding on this…" I mumbled. "This case. This trial. The mission. It's all on me. I wish it wasn't all on me. I shouldn't have volunteered myself to be Sunry's Arbiter. It was a mistake."

I sighed, laying back on the bed. Watching the white, pristine ceiling. All of my problems wouldn't exist if…if I hadn't felt bad for an old soldier. If I decided to leave him to his fate. If only Old Wes was still around. He wouldn't have bothered with all of this. We'd have the Star Map by now.

Bastila's shoulders fell. "If you didn't, Sunry would have lost and the kolto—"

"I know." I sighed. "I know. But I still wish…" I shook my head. "Now I have to acquit a murderer or people will die. All of the evidence is stacked against him. And how could the damn Republic let it get to this point? To a point where a stupid court trial will determine the fates of others?" I watched the ceiling in silence. Listening to the distant waves crashing into Ahto City. "They're supposed to protect people. Right?"

Bastila nodded. "Yes..."

"Sure, they aren't destroying planets like the Sith, but they may as well be. Ambassador Wann is hiding shit from us for political reasons. Wasting our time. And things like…Uyter could have been prevented. They choose their selfish desires over the people. Every time. Sunry really had to kriff a damn prostitute? And then to kill a Sith…when doing that risks losing an important resource? Then to turn around…and tell me to acquit him because he cares about the people. Because he doesn't want the Republic to fall. Are you kidding me? All of them are complete idiots."

I pounded a fist into the mattress and felt nauseous again despite laying down. I rubbed my warm face, calming.

There is no emotion, there is peace.

Funny.

I snorted. "If the Republic fails to protect the people, then they deserve to be wiped out by the Sith."

Bastila twisted, terror clawed at her chest as she looked down at me.

"You don't mean that. There are many good people in the Republic. Many have aided and protected the people. Soldiers like Carth. The Republic doesn't deserve to be destroyed because of a few corrupt politicians."

"A few corrupt politicians is enough. If they need a drunken mess like me to save them, they've already failed."

She didn't speak for a moment. There was a wave of...sadness. Then, she laid down next to me.

"So, you hate the Republic because of the burden they placed on your shoulders?"

I looked away from the ceiling and turned my head to give Bastila a bewildered look.

"Wha—I didn't say I hated the Republic. I hate the Sith. I just dislike the Republic. If anything I wish they were…better." I watched the ceiling again. "The Republic places a burden on everyone—not just me or you. Their Senate is like…one big rock. A rock that people like Carth chain themselves to. They think if they tug it around maybe someday it'll let them move. Yet some people are tugging it in the direction that leads off a cliff. Someday turns into never. They end up going nowhere because of that kriffing rock. Or they stop moving out of fatigue and end up falling off the cliff. If it was a pebble or…not there at all…" I let out a warm breath, a warm laugh. "Force, I really am drunk if I'm ranting about politics of all things. Probably making next to no sense."

"No, it…" Her voice was a whisper. And I felt an arm curl around mine. "It makes sense. Perfect sense." Her soft fingers weaved between my fingers. My hand consumed hers. "Except, they could move if you convinced everyone to go in the same direction, right?"

"That would never happen. Never in a million years. There will always be someone trying to pull you down that cliff. It's the way of the universe."

My eyelids drooped. A large heavy sensation weighed down my limbs. Fatigue. I sighed and slowly sat up so that I could slide under the covers. The room tilted as I moved. Warmth from both the sheets and my drunken state washed over me. Bastila sat at the edge of the bed after I settled. I laid an arm across my eyes to tame the nausea.

My words slurred. "I'd rather just...unchain myself..."

My mind drifted once again...this time the world was going to fade. Something shifted. Bastila's weight left the bed. I could sense her desire to leave—the anxiety returned.

Please don't leave me.

Ugh. I tossed onto my side with closed eyes. Stupid thought. I wasn't a needy child! Sleep. Rest. Maybe by tomorrow, this uncertainty will pass.

Unfortunately, she must have heard that drunken thought. I felt the covers move…and her body pressed into mine as she laid down next to me, back facing me. In the haze, I couldn't ignore the desire to…hug her close. Her arm and hand wrapped around mine again. Tight. Warmth. The anxiety was a memory now.

Who cares about tomorrow?

I awoke to a sharp knock at my door. Cold seeped into my body like a chasm. The warmth from Bastila was gone as if she hadn't even been there. Whether or not she had been, replacing her was…a headache. A massive headache.

Today was the trial. In a few hours, I would be defending Sunry in court.

Groaning, I stumbled to the door. Carth glared at me, though his glare was softer than usual.

"You have an hour."

Those were the only words he said before he stormed away down the hall again. Huh, who would have thought? A personal Carth alarm. Probably just as, if not more, annoying than a regular alarm.

Since I had to actually not look like a slob for once, I picked up the vest outfit from the party off the floor and smoothed out the wrinkles. My head still pounded after taking pain meds. This was all going to end in disaster, wasn't it? After an hour of showering and eating, I somehow regained my composure from last night's activities. I marched into the hotel lobby with my datapad—all of the evidence and my notes were stored within. Even the recording. Not that I would use it.

I walked outside and stopped in my tracks. Jolee pouted while sitting on the edge of the hotel's fountain. He raised a brow with crossed arms as if he had been waiting there for hours. Oh, great, don't tell me he was going to follow me. I resumed my walk, but it now turned into a stomp. I stopped before him and crossed my own arms.

"What do you want?"

Jolee's back cracked as he stood. "Every Arbiter needs an assistant, right? I read the rules. They allow it."

"I don't need your help."

I stormed past him towards the shuttles.

Of course, he followed.

"Look, kid, just because I think you're making a mistake here, it doesn't mean I'm just going to let you go along your merry way."

"Ah, so you're trying to sabotage me."

"Sabotage? No. I'll let you sabotage yourself. As I said many, many times already. I'm just here to watch."

"Watch what?" I stopped before I entered the bustling pathway. Jolee stopped with me and shoved hands into his pockets. "You keep saying that, but I still don't understand what you find so entertaining about me. I'm an alcoholic ex-smuggler who stumbled into this mission to save the galaxy by kriffing chance—I don't have a destiny or whatever. Go bother Bastila."

He studied my face again with that look. I was starting to see a pattern with those. The look he gave when he was about to—

"Hmmm...what's the best way for me to approach this?" He scratched his white beard. "Ah, perhaps it's time for a little story…"

"Hell no!" I shouted and pointed a finger at his face. "No! Not another one of your damn stories!"

I marched down the path to the shuttles. He was going to make me late. Perhaps that was his plan? Of course, the old man ignored me and jogged at my side. The surrounding pedestrians shot us with strange looks.

"You keep quiet there, you! I've had to put up with all your busy-body questions, haven't I?"

"Well, you wouldn't have to put up with my 'busy-body questions if you actually answered those damn questions!"

"There you go with that smart mouth of yours again. I do answer your questions, kid. You just don't listen."

"Because they're stupid unrelated stories!"

I climbed into the floating shuttle. I almost used the Force to close the door, but other people were swarming in. When I somehow stole a bench, I checked the datapad. Ten minutes. I had ten minutes to get to the courthouse. Cutting it close…

Jolee slammed his lithe form beside me with a long sigh.

"Too many damn people crowding the place…"

I huffed in frustration. "Why are you following me?"

"Dank ferrick, I already told you, kid, do you have Hutt slime in your ears? I'm coming as your Arbiter assistant." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, the story...you almost made me forget about it. Nice try, but I'm not that old just yet. Heh heh."

"Please, don't—"

"Alright, hmm...so, a young man sees a terribly venomous snake in his small village. Nervous, he watches the snake carefully until it leaves. The young man follows the snake into the forest. He clears the branches out of its path and helps it over obstacles. He even works to keep it fed. Even though the damn creature spits it out. Hmph. The nerve."

I sighed, rubbing my face. "How long is this story? I don't have time for this."

"Shh! Many nights pass and still the young man continues to follow the snake. He even follows it into the sands of the great desert. In the desert, the snake eventually grows hungry. It turns and bites the young man, its poison quickly working its way into his system. Finally curious, the snake looks at the boy as he lays dying and asks, 'Why were you foolish enough to follow me all the way out into the desert?' The boy looks back and replies, 'Did I follow you? I thought I was leading you away from everyone else…'" He trailed off, staring out at the sea. His serious, dark expression shifted into a large grin. "And then he died."

My expression fell. The anger and frustration disappeared. Replacing it was...dread.

"Am I supposed to be the snake?"

Jolee's wrinkled face slackened. He turned his head, warm eyes glistening.

"Well, now, that's what I wanted to see for myself."

I looked away from him. Down at my hands. They curled into fists. More dread. Enough to cause the soft presence of the bond to appear.

"Are you saying you followed us from Kashyyyk because you're frightened of me?"

Jolee, for once, remained silent. Then…

"The real question is whether or not I'm as frightened as I should be, isn't it?"

I lifted my pounding head. Jolee's eyes still twinkled with mischief. Yet in them now...I saw it. A strange, hidden fear. Not enough to show on his face, but it was there. And I didn't like it.

"I'm not a snake, I can assure you of that."

"Well, then...let's hope you're not the young man, either."

"Why are you afraid of me?" My voice cracked. "While, yes, I think you're absolutely annoying, I wouldn't do anything to harm you. Though...well, I may have threatened it on occasion—I wasn't being serious. Sorry."

Jolee let out a long, tired sigh. The water from Manaan's ocean sparkled with the dawn's light. Dark clouds built in the horizon. An oncoming storm.

"It's not my place to say...though, what I will say is there is no such thing as coincidence when it concerns the Force. You can deny it all you like, but you do have a destiny before you. This does not mean, however, that your future is already written. They are not the same thing. You have the choice of which direction you take your destiny in. I'm still...unsure where that destiny will take you. But so far it's not good." He shook his head. "Not good at all."

"Why? Do you think I'll fall to the dark side?" I huffed, clicking my tongue. "Of course you do. I didn't think you were judgemental like the Jedi Masters. Guess I was wrong."

Jolee cringed. "I'm not here to judge you or tell you which path to take. I'm here ready to offer you my help...should you ask for it. I do that because I think it's important. More important than remaining on Kashyyyk and pretending the galaxy doesn't exist. That's why I'm here. That's why I'm following you, now, to this damned trial. Because I want to help you, kid, despite how stubborn you may get about it."

My shoulders fell. Right, he was just existing on Kashyyyk, doing nothing while wars waged around him. It was how I was back before I became a Jedi. Ignoring the wars. Ignoring conflict. All I cared about as a smuggler was running away. Jolee and I weren't that different then, were we? Except he wasn't forced into this. He chose to follow me. He chose to act—unlike the Jedi who didn't send a single Master with us, forcing Bastila to shoulder all of this herself until the disaster with Koth. Even if Jolee just wanted to watch and wait for me to ask for help that I would never ask for...it was admirable. In a way.

I faced the old man with a smile. "You don't need to." I shook my head, looking back down. "You're just wasting your time."

"Hmph. So you always say, but it's my time to waste. Perhaps I can influence your decision, perhaps not...only time will tell, won't it?" The shuttle stopped. Jolee shot up. "Now, then...I've chatted enough for one lifetime. Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"

The reporters for the Manaan holofeed bustled near the grand staircase leading up into the Ahto City Courthouse. When they spotted Jolee and me, they shoved cameras and mics into my face. They recognized me as Sunry's Arbiter. I could tell the old man was annoyed by all the attention, so I walked as fast as I could towards the SSF speeder.

Sunry was led out—cuffed in the front due to his injured leg. He shot me a glare as I walked towards him with a large grin. Yes, he looked the part now. Weak, broken. How could an old man who broke a leg tripping kill a Sith like Elassa? The Selkath officers made a perimeter out of tape to prevent the press from getting too close. They left the defendant near the speeder, guarded by an officer.

Sunry's glare softened when he noticed my new assistant.

"Jolee…" he sighed. "I suppose you have something to say to me. Always were so opinionated."

Jolee crossed his arms. "Sunry...this is wrong, and you know it."

"You can have all of the opinions that you like, Jolee. I know what I did, but I also know what's at stake here."

"I...I can't approve of this." Jolee sighed. "However, if this is what the kid thinks is best...who am I to argue?"

Sunry faced me with a pained wince. "I'm glad you decided to see reason, Wes. If I'm convicted it could cause trouble for the Republic embassy here on Manaan." He smirked. "And none of us want that, now do we?"

If only I could break his other leg. Unfortunately, he still had to walk.

We slowly made our way up the steps. I was forced to be a crutch for the old soldier while Jolee followed at his other side. The press snapped holovids and photos as we traveled. Perfect. Now the people of Ahto City were on our side, hopefully. They now believed that Sunry was as crippled and weak as he made himself out to be.

Inside, there was a clinical chill like all the Selkath buildings had. We were led down winding halls towards the courtroom. There, I would prepare all of the evidence along with any remaining documents required by the judges. This headache was honestly worse than the hangover I had this morning.

The courtroom itself was smaller than I expected. Cameras were mounted on the walls, broadcasting to all of Ahto City (then, perhaps, to the Core Worlds). There were Selkath officers guarding all of the entrances. In the back, the doors hummed with energy shielding.

We were not the first ones there. A Sith dignitary wearing a dark cap sneered at me along with his assistant—a gray-suited woman with an even nastier sneer. Ah, the prosecution, no doubt. I ignored their looks and found my spot, a metal desk, at the left of the three podiums. Sunry sat in the chair guarded by many officers in the corner with a huff. Jolee stood at my side.

"What's the plan, kid?" he whispered.

I stopped reading the datapad to momentarily glance at the old man. Should I bother? Well, we had some time…

"There's one thing about this case that is in Sunry's favor," I whispered. "No one saw the murder. No one was in the room when the blaster bolt rang off."

Jolee hummed. "Yes, but kid, who else could have killed her? Sunry was the only one in the room."

"No." I raised a brow. "Elassa was there too."

The old man rubbed his chin, and a small smile curved his lips.

"Ah, I see."

The first judge entered the room—the head judge I spoke to at the start, Shelkar. I looked up from the datapad and, before Shelkar sat, I approached.

"Permission to approach the council?" He nodded. I shoved the datapad onto the podium. "I would like to put in a request to have this witness called to the stand."

Shelkar peered at the datapad then shook his head. "I'm sorry, Arbiter, the window for such requests can not be made during the trial."

"Trial hasn't started yet." I pointed. "The witness I've requested will be in court today."

Shelkar let out a blubbered sigh. "You're cutting it quite short, Arbiter, but since you are new at this, I will let this go just this once. I will accept your request."

My shoulders fell. Thank the Force. I wouldn't get many opportunities like this, of course. I turned to leave, but Shelkar called back to me. "Who is that?" He pointed to Jolee.

"Um…" I scratched the back of my head. "My assistant?"

Judge Shelkar made a blubbered sigh. "You are supposed to inform the tribunal of this, Arbiter. If you're adding a witness to the record, you better also include this assistant."

My gaze narrowed as I tried to stop myself from rolling my eyes. How much damn paperwork did these Selkath require?

"I'll get it done."

I rushed to my desk and pulled up the Selkath's documents on the datapad and started to fill out the form. Kriff, and I thought I was done filling out all of these. As I worked, there was a bustle behind me—they were letting in those that were allowed to witness the trial.

Jolee bumped my arm. "Looks like everybody's here."

I looked back into the seating area. Bastila, Carth, Mission, and—surprisingly—Juhani sat in the middle. Mission shot two raised thumbs at me, Carth appeared as if he was just as nervous about this as I was, Juhani sent me a single, serious nod, and Bastila...gave me a small smile in support. Somehow, their moral support along with that small smile was enough for a smile to grow on my face too.

Before I returned to face the front, I spotted all of the witnesses being led in by the SSF officers. Firith Me—the bartender. Gluupor—the annoying Rodian. Griff...was a given. Ambassador Roland Wann—there were a few extra officers leading him through. And, finally, Elora—Sunry's wife. Wait, she was a witness? Right, the Sith must have caught wind of the affair. They're probably going to use her to prove it. Redundant, since Sunry will no doubt admit it in court, but the Sith were known to go overboard.

As the witnesses were led in, there was a stir near the front doors. Erina Takaon walked in—behind her five Echani warriors guarded her rear, walking as if on water. Ah, of course she would want to witness this trial. We met each other's gaze once. She smiled, serenely, then walked to the bench right behind me.

Paranoia increased the pulse in my veins. The moral from before had vanished. Jolee must have noticed the stress lining my face.

"Hey, kid, don't worry. You got this."

I sighed. "I don't know. Feels like it's me against the galaxy right now."

"Must be a strange galaxy if it consists of a handful of stubborn Selkath."

I tried to suppress a smile at the old man's joke. I failed.

Speaking of those Selkath, the final two judges made an appearance. The SSF officer made the call and everyone in the courthouse stood up with a jostle. Judges Duula and Kota walked in, dressed in far more regal attire than the usual Selkath. Duula stomped impatiently to the podium and sat without waiting for the other two judges. Kota waved and gave what counted as a Selkath-smile to the crowd. One favored the public's opinion. The other despised it.

After the judges, two protocol droids shuffled in—the secretaries that would record this trial, no doubt. As they all got into place, my heart began to race.

I believe in you, Wes.

Bastila's voice melted within my mind. I didn't want it to fade.

The head of the Tribunal, Shelkar, tapped an iron gavel on a small bell. It rang across the courthouse.

"Let the record show that the trial of Gorlias Sunry vs. the Ahto City Authority has commenced. Presiding over the tribunal are I, Shelkar, and judges Duula and Kota. The Selkath Security Force has called in this trial to determine the culpability of Sunry in the death of the Sith known as Elassa Huros. Representing Sunry in his defense is a member of the Jedi Order—Padawan Wesley Gale. Acting as a prosecutor for the Ahto City Authority is an impartial observer from the Sith Empire—Diplomat Hars."

Pfft, impartial? Really? It was obvious the Sith's influence over the Selkath allowed them the opportunity to litigate as the prosecution themselves.

Judge Shelkar sat. The rest of the court followed, except for the defense and prosecutors who remained standing. The head of the tribunal waved.

"It is your job, Arbiter Gale, to provide proof that Sunry is indeed innocent of this crime. If you have an opening statement, the tribunal will hear it."

I glanced down once at the statement I'd written down and memorized. Then, I let out a shaky breath and approached the three Selkath.

"Gorlias Sunry has been framed for the murder of Elassa Huros. I will prove to you that Elassa was in on a conspiracy to weaken the Republic and manipulate the Selkath's laws to their favor. The pristine nature of the crime scene, the convenient amount of evidence, and the mere fact that no one witnessed Sunry pulling the trigger point to the true culprit of this crime. Elassa herself." The people behind me began to stir. I paced to the right, trying to keep myself focused. "That night, Elassa knew she was going to die. Because she killed herself."

The Sith slammed the desk. "That is not possible. You—!"

"Order!" Judge Shelkath tapped the bell. "You bring up...claims that are difficult to prove given the state of the crime scene, Arbiter Gale. It remains to be seen if you will be able to prove your statement true."

I smirked. "You'll see by the end, your Honor."

I paced back to my place at the left and the Sith's prosecutor, Hars, stormed to the front. He gave his own opening statement.

"Sunry murdering Elassa is a given. There is proof, motive, and witnesses who, despite not witnessing the crime itself, place the old Republic soldier at the scene. No one else but Sunry could have murdered Elassa given the evidence. The Sith would like to seek the death penalty. Sunry will fry for what he—"

"Diplomat Hars," Judge Kota raised a webbed hand. "Do not be too overzealous in pressing your commission. The sentencing is decided by the tribunal upon a guilty verdict."

The Sith clicked his tongue with a sharp nod then rushed back to his desk. With all of the statements proclaimed, Judge Shelkar waved at the witness bench.

"The first matter of business is the presentation of a sworn testimony by a hired employee at the cantina joined with the inn. Firith Me, please take the stand."

Firith Me sauntered to the podium at the judges' right. Once there, he stated his name, occupation, swore to tell the truth to the Selkath's code of laws, and then told the court what he saw. It was a word-for-word retelling of what he told me a few days ago. He saw Sunry run out of the room after a blaster shot. He was running fast, quick.

Since the prosecution called this witness, I had the right to cross-examine. I chose to and walked up to Firith so that we were face to face.

"And you're sure that you saw Sunry run after the blaster shot?"

Firith Me nodded with a tired sigh. "Yes, for the hundredth time, yes."

"How fast are we talking?" I asked. "Fast for an old man? Fast for anyone…?"

"Fast, alright?"

"How?" I waved at Sunry. "Have you seen the defendant? He broke his own leg tripping."

"Objection!" The Sith shouted. "Argumentative and irrelevant to the case at hand!"

"Hmm, sustained." Judge Shelkar waved a webbed hand at me. "From what I understand, Arbiter, Sunry was not injured like this during the crime. Please stick to the facts of the case."

Yes, but now they were beginning to doubt Sunry could kill Elassa, weren't they? I sighed, taking the apparent loss, and changed gears.

"What did you do after you witnessed the accused leave?"

"Well, I…" Firith rubbed the back of his head. "I went to the room, of course, and when I saw that Elassa was dead I called the SSF."

"And what did you witness at the scene?"

Firith paused in thought. "I mean...a dead, naked woman. There wasn't much else."

"No blood?"

The Sith shouted. "Objection, your honors, these questions are irrelevant. We get the point."

"Overruled." Shelkath waved. "Witness, please answer the question."

"What?" Firith Me shook his head. "No. I didn't see any blood. Blaster bolts...don't really cause much bleeding..."

I tilted my head and eyed the Selkath. "That's odd given that Elassa was also stabbed thirty times after the shooting. Even a Miraluka could tell that she had been stabbed. Unless you were...not fully cognitive that night."

Firith Me's expression froze. "Um, excuse me?"

"You are a bartender. It was also a slow night, as you said. So it would make sense that you would sample some of the wares."

"Objection, again. Speculation. Argumentative."

"Sustained. Arbiter Gale, rephrase."

This damn Sith. I sighed. "How much did you have to drink that night, Firith?"

"N-None!" The bartender gripped the front of the podium. "I'm not allowed to drink on the job. I would be fired…" He paused. "Oh. Well. I'm out of a job anyway." He sighed. "Yes, I was drinking. A little. I only had two glasses of Tarisian ale."

"Two glasses…" The serious judge, Duula, muttered. "How does that affect a human's metabolism?"

"From what I've witnessed, Tarisian ale is very potent," Shelkar answered. "Even a glass could make a human stumble."

Firith huffed. "Yes, but I drink on the regular! I swear I know what I saw—!"

"I'm done with this cross-examination," I said, with a smirk. "It seems to me like this witness wasn't fully aware of his surroundings to be useful to this case."

"Hmm...yes," Judge Kota said, rubbing her gills. "It would seem so."

"No, objection!" the Sith shouted. "The witness was fully aware—"

"Know your place, diplomat! The cross-examination is over," Judge Duula said. "Let us hear your next witness testimony."

Gluupor stumbled through his testimony. So much so, a droid had to translate what he was saying. It was the same story he told me—he saw Sunry running out of the room but didn't hear the blaster shot. He mentioned that he did see Griff out in the hall, but I wasn't concerned with the blue Twi'lek learning this info now. He should just confess.

I did not cross-examine Gluupor. One, because he couldn't tell us anything relevant and two...he was so damn annoying.

Finally, Griff. The last of the witnesses that had been at the inn that night. The blue Twi'lek shuffled to the stand. The Sith prompted him to tell us what he witnessed. He glanced over at me, then at the Sith, then...into the crowd. At Mission.

I narrowed my eyes.

"I...I…" Griff twitched when he looked at me. "I...didn't see anything. Just...heard a blaster shot. That's it. Yes, I...I came out of my room. But I ran right back in once I saw the bartender run out of the room in a panic."

No.

This bastard. This Force-damned bastard!

"Liar." My breath ramped up. "Griff...you are a kriffing liar!"

"Silence!" Judge Shelkar glared at me. "The defense may not speak until it is their turn to cross-examine or if there is an objection."

"You—"

Something grabbed my shoulder. Jolee looked up at me with serious eyes then shook his head. I sighed and closed my eyes. Focusing on both calming myself and...the Force. The bond.

If Griff was going to make things difficult, well, I was going to make his life a living nightmare.

Ah...I wrote 10k words for this chapter...heh. I really wanted to include these character moments and get to the trial this time around (and I still had to cut this chapter in two...whelp).

Next time - the trial continues, conspiracies are revealed, and Griff continues to be an asshole :D.