CHAPTER 3
COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENSE
Cardinal Eustis sat staring at the Doctor in a stunned silence. "Doctor, do you have any idea what you're saying?" he said at last. He had already dealt with one startling event before the Doctor came charging into his office with his extraordinary proposal.
"Of course I do. I've just said it," the Doctor replied seriously.
The Inquisitor shook his head. "No. I mean…"
"I know exactly what you mean, Eustis. Moreover, I know exactly what I'm saying. This was supposed to be an inquiry, but nobody involved seemed to be doing any inquiring," the Doctor pointed out sharply. "No one seems the least bit interested in knowing the why in all this."
The man behind the desk sighed heavily. He had noticed the same thing himself. "I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but I agree complete—" Eustis broke off and frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You astound me, Eustis."
"Why?"
The Doctor grinned. "Because you're a judge who's actually interested in learning the facts before rendering judgment."
"I shall take that as a compliment."
"It was meant as one." The Doctor sat down in a large easy chair and leaned back, stretching out his long legs. "Now for the bigger problem. Getting Jason to agree. The last time I saw him, I told him I never wanted to hear from him again. Then I go and turn up as the prosecution's star witness against him. Doesn't exactly make me number one on his hit parade, does it?"
Eustis gave him a slightly puzzled look. "Now I understand where his highness gets his unusual phraseology," he remarked. He sat back in his chair and studied the Doctor's set expression a moment. "I know this must be difficult for you, Doctor. You were friends a long time before all this, I believe."
"That's beside the point," the Doctor replied evasively. "It's the here and now I'm concerned with. Can you reassign defense council this late in the game?"
"Funny you should ask that…" Eustis said with a knowing smile. "Cardinal Shelby has just resigned as council for the defense."
"What? The day before he's supposed to—" The Doctor was incredulous. "Did he say why?"
Eustis shuffled through the papers on his desk, pulling out the resignation letter and scanning through it. "Let's see…Ah! He could not, in good conscience, continue—"
"In other words, he thinks he's guilty," the Doctor cut in sharply.
Eustis chose not to respond to this, saying instead, "I was preparing an order of continuance for his replacement when you, er, interrupted."
"Someone's already taken his place?" The Doctor was immediately suspicious, his eyes narrowing. "A member of the High Council, perhaps?"
"Cardinal Wythe has graciously volunteered," the Inquisitor replied, knowing the reaction this would provoke. He was not disappointed.
"Wythe!" Now the Doctor really was incredulous. "He's the one Jason tried to blame this conspiracy on in the first place. I can't see him agreeing to that."
"Nor I," Eustis agreed. He gave the Doctor a steady look. "You're sure you want to do this?"
"If the alternative is Cardinal Wythe, then yes. I'm sure."
"I'd better make it official." The Inquisitor turned and tapped the information into the computer terminal at the corner of his desk. He went on to fill out a document and affix a seal to the corner. "There. Now you'll be able to gain access to the holding area without being challenged," he said, handing the Doctor the document.
The Doctor barely looked at it, more interested in the answer to his next question. "Will I also be able to gain access to the Matrix archive?"
In another part of the massive space station, Prince Jason sat quietly in his specially designed prison cell. The large barred enclosure was in the center of an even larger room, a forcefield surrounding it on all sides. He was cross-legged on the bed, his back against the bars, his hands folded in his lap, and his eyes staring vacantly into space. Since his arrival at the station, this was how all who entered the room usually found him.
The door opened and Cardinal Eustis entered. He came and stood before the enclosure a moment, studying its silent occupant. "I believe you've already been informed of Cardinal Shelby's resignation," he said quietly.
"Yes," came the dull reply.
"Cardinal Wythe has generously volunteered to—"
Jason looked up sharply. "No!"
"Your highness, the availability of qualified persons is limited," Eustis said in a helpless tone. "I must designate council for you."
"Designate whoever you like," Jason replied coldly. "Just not Wythe."
"Is that your final word?"
"Yes." The Prince crossed his arms and sat back, staring at the floor again.
A ghost of a smile passed over Eustis' face. "Very well." He crossed to the door and waved a hand, beckoning to the Doctor to enter. They exchanged glances and then looked in the direction of the sulking Prince. "Good luck," the Inquisitor said quietly as he left.
Jason continued to stare at the floor. He heard Eustis leave, the door shutting behind him. A second man, his new defense council presumably, came and stood in front of the cell. He waited for the newcomer to issue forth the same florid tones as his previous council. When this did not happen, he sighed heavily.
"Well, aren't you going to say something?" he snapped impatiently as he looked up. Then his mouth dropped open in shock, his eyes growing wide as saucers.
"Hello, Jason," the Doctor said mildly.