"Nicol's innocent."

The words came as a shout. Every head in the room turned to stare at me, but my eyes were on one person only. Rau Le Creuset stood on the stage next to the prosecutor, and I saw him smile slightly and adjust his mask. I may be wrong, but for a second there I got the feeling that he knew that I was right. Maybe he knew all along, but just didn't care. Bastard.

Staring right at him, I took a deep breath and added, "And I have proof." I could hear gasps from around the room.

"Yzak Joule," Le Creuset spoke from up on the stage. "you'd better have a good reason for interrupting an important criminal prosecution trial. If you don't, then do not expect to escape punishment for this insolence. Keep that in mind."

My eyes caught Dearka's from across the room. I had to buy more time for our plan to work. We knew that if we just handed the recording device over to Le Creuset, he would probably just disregard it, because he would rather falsely accuse someone than admit that he had let the traitors escape. We had to make sure that it was heard.

"However," Le Creuset added, "if indeed you do have proof, please share it. If it does indeed prove Nicol Amalfi's innocence, as you claim, then it is impertinent that we see it." The prosecutor opened his mouth as if to protest this breach of protocol, but Le Creuset silenced him with a wave of his hand. The prosecutor looked irritated. I'm guessing that people bursting into the room mid-trial to share new evidence doesn't normally happen in a trial. I glanced back over at Dearka. He shook his head, meaning not ready yet.

I began to speak, "Nicol is not responsible for the bomb on the shooting range, nor is he responsible for the downloading and leaking of classified documents to the Earth Forces. This facility was infiltrated by three Earth Forces agents, and they framed him."

Le Creuset smiled. "And just who are these three agents, and where are they now?" he asked.

"The three traitors were Shani Andras, Clotho Buer and Orga Sabnak." People's yes widened when I mentioned their names. Now came the harder part, explaining how we let them get away. "As for where they are now, they are probably halfway to Earth by now, in Zakus that they stole from the hangar. We tried to stop them leaving, but they escaped before we could prevent them." I ignored everybody's shocked faces and focused on the masked figure on the stage.

"I see," said Le Creuset. "so if we check the computer logs for the hangar, it will show that the last people to access it were those three?"

I shook my head. "No, sir. I'm guessing that they used Nicol's ID card to open the door."

He smiled wider. "So then you have no proof that they entered they hangar at all. Anyone could have gotten their hands on Nicol's ID card." This made me furious. So the fact that anyone could have used Nicol's ID card was enough to dismiss the real culprits, but not enough to prove that anyone could have framed Nicol? Knowing that it would do no good, I swallowed my anger as Le Creuset continued. "And no one else was in the hangar, so no one can be called as a witness. This 'proof' of yours seems a little weak. I'm sorry, but I will have to dismiss your claims." He motioned to one of the guards at the door. "Take him outside and keep him in custody until this trial is concluded."

I could see that Dearka was almost ready. The guards began to advance on me, and all I could think was not good. But then, Le Creuset seemed to realise something.

"Stop," he commanded the guards, and then turned back to me. "You said 'they escaped before we could prevent them'. Are you saying there was someone else with you?"

I nodded. "Yes, sir. Dearka Elsman." I could see Dearka standing at the computer that controlled the systems of the hall. Just a little longer, I thought.

"And where is Elsman now? Conveniently absent, and unable back up your claim?" Le Creuset asked, another of his smiles curving his face.

I caught Dearka's eyes and he nodded, meaning ready. Now it was my turn to smile back. "He's right behind you." When Le Creuset turned around in confusion, I yelled, "Now Dearka!" Le Creuset glared at him, but Dearka only grinned back as he pressed the final button on the computer keyboard. All of a sudden, the recording began to play through the loudspeakers of the hall.

"They've really got no idea, have they?" Shani's voice was easily recognisable even on the bad quality recording. "They're all so stupid. Falling right into our trap. They still think that Amalfi did it."

Gasps and murmurs went around the crowds of the hall, as they realised that I was telling the truth. Le Creuset looked furious at Dearka for this unauthorised interruption, but Dearka was just smiling. For the first time since entering the room, I looked at Nicol. He no longer looked so defeated, he looked like he had regained hope. He stared back at me then, and mouthed the words thank you. Whatever. I didn't do it for him, I did it because I couldn't let those traitors get away with what they did. Nicol was now sitting up straight in his chair, and even handcuffed, he finally looked happy. I saw him turn to look at one of the entrances, and his eyes widened in surprise. I followed his gaze, and felt my own eyes widen in surprise too.

Athrun stood leaning against the wall by the entrance. Judging by what he was wearing, I guessed that he had come straight from the infirmary. That guy was resourceful, I had to give him that. Rusty had told me about Athrun's last escape from the infirmary, and I assume that after that they would have kept him under lockdown and supervision. How he managed to get here I had no idea, but I suddenly found myself laughing at the shocked and confused expressions of the guards. I was surprised to realise that I didn't hate Athrun quite as much anymore.

The recording ended with the sound of the Zakus flying off, and the murmurs rose to shouts. Le Creuset tried to calm down the masses of people in the hall, but he couldn't stop people shouting. 'Release him!' some people cried, while others yelled 'death to all traitors!' in reference to Shani, Orga and Clotho.

Finally, Le Creuset had no choice but to walk over and take off Nicol's handcuffs. The prosecutor looked as if he might try and stop him, because releasing the subject on trial would no doubt be against the laws of the trial, but he realised it was pointless and sat back in his chair, defeated. Nicol's relieved and smiling face was the polar opposite of Le Creuset's irritated expression. Soon everybody would know that he let the real traitors escape while he falsely accused the son of Yuri Amalfi. I don't that will go over very well with his superiors.

For the first time since this ordeal started, I was sure that everything would work itself out in the end. For now though, I was just content to know that Dearka and I had got it right.