Chapter 15 (G'Kar)
G'Kar was ecstatic; his forces had single-handedly destroyed the Centauri resistance at Ragesh 3.
With hands stretched out wide, G'Kar walked down his ship's lowered hatch and took in a lungful of air. The Narns had reclaimed this world. Perfect, he thought.
Lined up in front of him, sixteen scruffy, overdressed Centauri kneeled. Caught straight away, they would meet their maker immediately. The rest would be found later. G'Kar was sure of that.
"G'Kar, today's a victorious day. We've managed to seize these Centauri scum and arranged the chamber for you." Na'Toth chimed in from a distance.
The sun shone high in the sky, encouraging an even more vivid smile from G'Kar. He clasped his hands together, turned on the spot and enthusiastically said, "Perfect, I always wanted to try the human court system." He projected his voice to the Narn group. "Have them taken to the court room."
G'Kar could barely contain his excitement; he was very fond of old human text about trials, especially the most recent one about a murderer sent to court and eventually executed. He found the whole law process amusing and wanted to adopt this behavior on Ragesh 3.
Then the cunning Narn had another idea; he turned and signaled to his companion. G'Kar felt a rush of sadistic pleasure, like adding salt to an open wound.
"Na'Toth, I want you to contact Londo Mollari." He chuckled. "I want him to witness the trial of his nephew. I'm sure he'll find it quite amusing."
Na'Toth didn't require any convincing. She made the appropriate salute and rushed off. Now G'Kar could concentrate on matters that really entertained him.
Perched high above the room in his ornate clothes, G'Kar scanned the room, which was to be his kangaroo court. He had made sure that the builders constructed the room correctly, right down to the hardback chairs for the audience to sit. He wanted it perfect.
Grinning, he spun the judge's hammer and made a few test bashes on its stump. "Off with his head. Off with his head," he chirped, getting ready for the day's events.
The room began to fill up with curious Narns, all clamoring to take a seat. A chosen few were hurried to the juror's chairs. The front row was reserved for the Centauri. Especially the Centauri. G'Kar could not believe how efficient and entertaining the whole thing was.
"This is not a trial! We didn't do anything!" one disgruntled Centauri roared.
"Quiet in my court!" G'Kar slammed his hammer. "Do that again and I will have you personally executed right now."
It took fifteen minutes for the room to fill up completely. Finally, G'Kar could start the proceedings.
"Could we have the first prisoner please?" G'Kar gestured towards the recorders. He wanted recordings for his personal pleasure later on.
"Your Honor," the defending Narn announced. His words carried a hint of hatred toward the Centauri prisoners, and he was awfully overdressed for the event. But G'Kar loved every moment. "My client, Gnore Holori is innocent of his charge and throws himself on the mercy of this court, safe in the knowledge that the great G'Kar will hear his claim."
Gnore Holori, a scruffy-looking Centauri—but then, they all look scruffy, G'Kar thought—reacted with outrage. "This is preposterous, hoo-" He was immediately gagged and bound by Narn heavies.
"I'll have order now..." G'Kar rumbled, then continued.
"Gnore Holori…I can see from this scroll that you're guilty of so many crimes against the Narn regime that I shan't be bothered to list them. The proof of your actions is around you." G'Kar gestured towards the mismatched Narns sitting in the audience with scarred faces and missing limbs. They all stood and cheered, knowing what was to come.
"With these facts in front of us, I'll take this matter to the..." G'Kar's eyes flickered to Na'Toth, who mouthed "jurors."
"Ha, that's the word I was looking for. Now then," G'Kar stood and extended his hand, "what's your verdict?"
Ninety percent of the jurors all shouted "guilty," with the rest spewing words like "hang the bastard " and "off with his head."
G'Kar raised his hands for the final sentence and felt a rush of excitement coursing through his veins. "Gnore Holori, you have been found guilty. Your sentence is death, to be executed as soon as possible by the worst possible means. May your maker forgive you."
At a swift wave of his hand, the heavy men dragged the struggling Centauri to the execution table inside the courtroom itself. A Narn in all his traditional clothing strolled towards the tied individual, and with a rough pull, he tore off the prisoner's head and held it high. The audience went wild.
G'Kar was on the edge of his seat with excitement. He wanted to proceed quickly to the next similar case –all of them were the same anyway- but a transmission came through on the hovering view screen.
"G'Kar, you sniveling excuse for a Narn. What is it that would cause you to interrupt my private time?"
At the sound of the familiar voice, G'Kar didn't bother to hide the growing grin on his face. "Londo Mollari…it's a pleasure to see you again. I would like to show you something."
G'Kar gestured with his hand and the camera turned to display the kneeling group of Centauri. As expected, Londo went ballistic. He roared through the screen, as if his words could release them. But the Narn raised his glass of water and took a sip.
"Londo, you can rant and rave all you like, but the…" He paused, remembering the human phrase. "The show must go on. I welcome you to watch. Especially this next person." His tone darkened.
"Could we have the next prisoner please?" he asked.
Then a Centauri dressed in fine clothing was dragged to the hastily constructed bench to stand for his crimes.
The same Narn that was supposed to defend all the Centauri, announced in his deep bellowing voice, "Your Honor, my client, Carn Mollari, is innocent of his charge and throws himself on the mercy of this court, safe in the knowledge that the great G'Kar will hear his claim."
"What's this?" Londo's clipped voice disturbed the silent room.
"Silence in my court!"
"What court? What the hell is going on, G'Kar, and why did your forces invade Ragesh 3? This is an act of war! What are you doing with my nephew?"
Questions flowed from the screen like an avalanche. G'Kar had heard enough. He moved the screen closer to himself and said some final words to Londo. "Your forces invaded this system hundreds of years ago. We simply took it back. Now your invaders are to stand trial for their despicable crimes. Including your nephew."
He deactivated the sound and pushed the hovering screen away from his elevated platform. He signaled for the trial to continue and murmured under his breath, "I must have a wig."
G'Kar sipped his water and unraveled a scroll that had detailed listings of events and crimes inside. He held it high and announced. "Carn Mollari, I see that you are the leader for this colony. Am I correct?"
Carn rose to his feet, but G'Kar gave a little nod, and his heavy men forced him to sit. He didn't want any Centauri standing. Oh, how he loved to see them suffer.
"I'm not the leader. I was assigned as head researcher on Ragesh 3. I have nothing to do with the colony or any deaths."
"That's not what my records show. They report that you have committed crimes against the Narn people. Slain innocent children and executed many fine Narns in the most unimaginable ways…so you plead innocent?" G'Kar grinned; he knew Londo could hear every word and his actions on the screen proved this. He felt a malicious pleasure, and his excitement grew. Yes, the humans have a fine justice system.
As expected, Carn Mollari pleaded innocent and the case dragged on with heightened excitement. One by one, Narn families of the 'so called' butchered, lined up and gave their horrendous accounts. G'Kar held his composure and tried not to show his excitement. His heart raced and his clothes seemed to tighten. He knew that executing Carn would enrage the Centauri to the point of war. But it was time for the Narns to show the Centauri what it was like to be invaded.
When the final witness climbed off the witness stand and hobbled over to the chairs, G'Kar finally spoke. "It seems your crimes are verified. However, I'm not allowed to decide if you're guilty or not. According to human laws, only the jury can decide."
G'Kar pointed a gloved finger. "Jury, what is your answer? Guilty or not guilty?"
Everyone stood and a torrent of words rushed around the room in a defining din, "Guilty!"
G'Kar raised his hands and prepared to deliver his sentence. The way the humans did it, the judges were supposed to go to their chambers and decide the punishment. But G'Kar had made his decision from the beginning and he loved the jury's verdict.
The courtroom went silent; everyone waited for his punishment. G'Kar stood and placed the scroll neatly on the table. He saw Londo staring through the hovering view screen. With his decision, which would start a war, firmly in his mind, he announced, "Carn Mollari, you have been found guilty of crimes against the Narn people. Your sentence is…to have your head removed from your body in the most horrendous way possible. Then it will then be displayed as a reminder to all Narns of the genocide the Centauri caused over the years… May your maker have mercy on your soul." He slammed a satisfying hit with the judge's hammer and placed it gently on the table. There, it was done!
G'Kar ordered the view screen sound to be activated –at low volume- and almost immediately Londo shouted obscene words. That only fuelled G'Kar's resolve. Inside he was on fire with delight. But he kept his composure.
After Carn was dragged to the bench and tied down, G'Kar stood and stared at the Centauri. He wiggled on the bench like a worm. G'Kar was so high up he could squash that insect under his foot.
At G'Kar nod, a huge burly Narn stepped out of the shadows, grabbed Carn's head and heaved with all his might.
Carn screamed, squealed and finally, the ripping of his throat indicated that the job was done. Jets of blood continued to spray all over the already bloody floor as the heavy Narn showed Londo his nephew's head.
Londo went red, shouted some obscene words with a pointed finger and finally threw a bottle at the screen, terminating the transmission. G'Kar felt like a hero to his people as he prepared the stage for the next Centauri. This was going to be a long…fun day.