PART THREE
JASON'S SIDE

CHAPTER 23

DEFENSE: DAY TWO

Eustis arrived at his chambers first thing in the morning to find the Doctor already there and working diligently at the computer. "Good morning, Eustis," he said brightly as the Inquisitor entered.

"Doctor, may I ask what you're doing?" the Cardinal asked astringently.

"Research," came the succinct reply.

"Dare I ask what kind of research necessitated your breaking into my chambers?"

The Doctor gave him an injured look. "I didn't break in. One of your staff was kind enough to open the door for me."

Eustis scowled and made a mental note to have a strong word with his staff. Accepting defeat, he sighed and crossed to the desk. "And your research is…?"

"Cardinal Wythe's medical report, for a start," the Doctor replied, adding quickly, "I'm still trying to work out a timeline."

"I see."

The Doctor doubted that but kept this thought to himself. "Well, I must be off," he said, bounding to his feet. "I have to a few things to sort out before today's session begins."

The Cardinal glanced at the clock on his desk. "You don't have much time."

"Time, Cardinal, is exactly what I do have," the Doctor replied mysteriously as he vanished through the door.

The Doctor arrived at the courtroom only minutes before the session was due to start. He entered hurriedly via a side door and then stopped dead in his tracks. The gallery was packed. Now what? he wondered darkly as he took his place at the defense rostrum.

The Inquisitor entered, acknowledging the assemble observers and the opposing councils before taking a seat and calling the room to order. He then called for Jason to be brought in. Among the other issues the Doctor had resolved, he had managed to convince Eustis that the use of ankle chains was unnecessary. The manacles used on the Alterran's hands were more than enough to prevent him transmuting.

Jason had the same reaction as the Doctor when he saw the gallery packed with High Council members, stopping dead in his tracks.

The Doctor saw a panic-stricken expression come to his friend's face and shook his head warningly when the Alterran Prince looked over at him.

Reinhardt saw his prisoner stiffen visibly before he stopped dead. He followed his gaze, seeing the cause of his distress. "Are you alright, sir?" he said quietly.

Jason turned sharply to his escort and then closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath. "Not really, to be honest. I'm scared to death," he said in an equally quiet voice.

"Just take your time, sir." Reinhardt waited until the Prince composed himself before continuing to the prisoner's dock. He tried to ignore the disapproving murmurs from the gallery as he removed the restraints.

Eustis had to bang his gavel several times before the murmurs were silenced and the room was bought to order. "My Lord Fitzhugh," he said at last, "when we adjourned, you stated that you'd hold your questions until morning."

Fitzhugh inclined his head. "Thank you, my lord. But after careful consideration, I can't think of anything that can't wait until closing arguments."

"That's a bit premature, isn't it?" the Doctor rejoined sharply. "I haven't rested my case yet."

Fitzhugh blinked, exchanging a puzzled look with the Inquisitor. "I don't understand, Doctor. From what you said yesterday…"

"I said I'd shown the last section of my testimony. My own testimony," the Doctor corrected sharply. Realization dawned and he took in the assembled spectators, seeing them in a whole new light. "Now I understand. You all thought I was going to rest my case today, didn't you?" he said accusingly, his voice rising in pitch. "Then you could end this simple criminal trial and start another with all the allegations included, thus allowing you to execute Prince Jason without having to admit any culpability. Well, if that's what you're going to do, then do it!"

"Doctor…!" the horrified Jason said between his teeth. It was all well and good for the Doctor to challenge the High Council. He wasn't the one they were accusing of genocide. Nor was he the one who would be executed if things went wrong.

Jason had kept his voice low, but it had been unnecessary. The gallery had burst into a flurry of hushed conversations.

The Doctor stepped back but did not take his eyes from his astonished audience. "Quiet! I know what I'm doing," he said in a quiet yet firm voice.

The Prince could only reply with a small squeak of disbelief.

"We both know they were going to do it sooner or later. Best to get it over with," the Time Lord informed softly. "Now just—" He broke off before the words "trust me" passed his lips and turned sharply to Jason, a pleading look on his face.

Knowing exactly what he was thinking, the Prince's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare say it," he admonished.

While all this was going on, a member of the High Council directly behind Eustis had leaned forward, speaking quietly to him. They had a brief conversation before the Inquisitor finally turned back, tapping his gavel on the desk for silence. "Doctor, do I understand you correctly? You're requesting that all the allegations against Prince Jason, including those not incorporated at this time be made official?"

"I am," the Doctor said firmly. "And before my opponent raises any objection, I will agree to stipulate again to all evidence already presented by the prosecution."

A stunned silence followed.

Jason looked at the shocked faces of the assembled Time Lords and wondered if his own were a mirror image. He could feel his panic rising and had to concentrate to stay calm. Now it was his turn to wonder what he had gotten himself into when he agreed to allow the Doctor to act as his defense council.

"I have no objection to this, my lord," Fitzhugh injected quickly, "so long as the accused agrees that he will not enter a protest at a later date claiming he was inadequately represented."

"Indeed," Eustis replied frostily. He looked from one to another, his face darkening as he did so. "Well, my lord Fitzhugh, I do not agree. Not to any of this." He turned a baleful look in the direction of the assembled spectators. "This trial will continue in its present form until both sides have presented their evidence. Then and only then, will the decision be made as to whether further charges are warranted."

The gallery burst into another flurry of murmurs to which Eustis banged his gavel for order. It was obvious he was in no mood for any of this. "I will not be pressured into turning my court into a mockery of justice. We've had quite enough of that already."

"Wow," Jason said quietly, exchanging a look of astonishment with the Doctor, who was clearly impressed, his opinion of Eustis clicking up several notches at the same time. Few individuals dared openly defy the members of the High Council—other than himself of course.

"Now, Lord Fitzhugh," Eustis said in a no nonsense tone, "do you have any questions pertaining to yesterday's proceedings before the Doctor continues with the defense?"

The stunned prosecutor was standing with his mouth open. "Uh, no, my lord," he said at last.

"Then you may proceed, Doctor."