Chapter 18 - Court Battle
4:50 pm
Judge Tungstos' beard was an impressive specimen. A big, bushy mass of fluff that seemed to have a life of its own, shaking and vibrating each time the man opened his mouth. Machias knew it was disrespectful to stare, but right now he was glad for every distraction his mind could come up with.
Yes, he was nervous. Very, very nervous. No shame in admitting it - silently that is.
"Considering how rushed this trial is, there's probably no need to ask," Judge Tungstos grumbled. "I'll do it anyway: did the prosecution and defense conduct a discovery?"
"No, your honor," his Lordship answered.
"So I'll have to assume there's evidence and witness statements collected by the defense and prosecution which the other side isn't aware of?"
Machias swallowed. "Yes, your honor. That is very likely."
Judge Tungstos regarded him and Jusis with a stern look. "Then let me speak frankly as long as court isn't yet in session: I want a clean and fair trial. No hoodwinking or subversive strategies. If I see either side using their information advantage to needlessly prolong the proceedings for spectacle or humiliation, you'll be held in contempt of court faster than you can shout 'objection'. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, your honor," both of them replied.
"Good. As long as you understand." The judge rolled his shoulders. "Defense counsel Regnitz, special counsel Albarea, I'll go ahead then. Don't be late."
The moment the man was out of earshot, the tension in the antechamber relaxed, albeit only a little.
His Lordship folded his arms. "Truth be told, I don't know what to make of him."
"He seems pretty okay," Fie commented in her apathetic tone. Machias agreed. Judge Werner Tungstos was a commoner who clawed himself into a role usually reserved for nobles. Something he did almost two decades before Chancellor Osborne came to power, though Machias was too distracted to voice his opinion. Between his stomach feeling like an active warzone and the fact that Fie looked really, really pretty, he didn't trust anything coming out of his mouth. Emma did tell him about the makeover she performed on that incorrigible tomboy, but he never expected the transformation to be this thorough.
It felt like this was the first time he really saw her as a girl and it totally threw him off-balance, never mind that in about ten minutes, he was going to represent Erebonia's ace prosecutor in the hallowed halls of one of the Empire's Supreme Court.
He was so, so going to die. Either from embarrassment or shame or guilt or whatever the emotion was called, which hung over his head like an executioner's ax.
"Are you feeling okay, Machias?" Emma asked worriedly.
He adjusted his tie to give his shaking fingers something to do. "I'm okay." He tried to take deep breaths, all the while the antechamber seemed to trap him from all sides. "I'll be fine. I'll be fine."
"You don't look fine to me," Fie said. Seemed like her wardrobe change did nothing about her bluntness.
"Fie, please," Emma chided. "Give him a little space."
The petite girl stared at him for a few seconds. "Got it. Sorry, Machias." She turned to Jusis. "We going?"
His Lordship regarded him with a strange expression. It was an expression Machias had never seen on him, something he couldn't make heads nor tails of. But before his mind could focus on it, Jusis' face turned back to its usual mien of aggravating haughtiness, as if that moment of weakness was just a mirage.
"Yes, Fie. Time is wasting."
Machias watched the prosecution leave the room. It felt like whiplash to think of his fellow cadets like that, but in the end it wasn't more ridiculous than him ending up on the defense bench.
He felt Emma's gentle touch on his forearm. "Is there really nothing I can do for you, Machias?"
"You already did plenty." He tried to smile at her, but his teeth felt as if they were glued together. "Right now I wished you could substitute for me."
Emma tilted her head. "I don't have the necessary qualification."
Machias chuckled weakly. "You didn't let this hold you back during court preparation. You know as much about the case as I." He scratched his head. "N-not that you should really take up my responsibility." He balled his fists. "This is my fight."
"As long as you believe in yourself, Machias, everything will be alright," she said softly, her voice caressing him like silk, its gentleness reminiscent of Elsa. "Besides, I don't do well standing in the spotlight."
Could've fooled him with looks like hers. Just like Fie, Emma had dressed for the occasion, wearing an elegant blazer-skirt combination which accentuated her figure. He turned away lest he stared, though it was a good thing he was too nervous to blurt out his inappropriate thoughts at random.
Suddenly, she stood in front of him, the crystall-clear blueness of her eyes close enough for him to drown inside. Machias felt more than saw her graceful fingers adjusting his tie and shirt collar all the while he felt his mouth dry up.
"And there. All done! You look very sharp now, Machias."
"Th-thanks..." he managed to press out. Luckily, his voice didn't crack.
"Shall we go?" Emma had her hands folded in front of her, looking the very picture of a demure lady.
"Yeah, let's go."
The moment they entered the courtroom it seemed to swallow him whole. The murmurs of the spectators swelled like rising seawater, a seemingly harmless prelude to an all-consuming flood. Machias' eyes darted around, trying and failing to take everything in at once: rows over rows of people who blurred into an indistinct crowd, their seating separated into two tiers with regularly clothed spectators on the ground and nobles in luxurious attire watching from above the balustrades.
Machias felt the bile rising up his throat. There really was no clearer expression for the Empire's sickness than this.
A calming wave washed over his mind, serene and earthen, carrying with it the unmistakable touch of a combat link. Clarity and calmness engulfed him, impressions so opposite of what he usually associated with the ARCUS, namely the frenzied, frenetic energy during battle.
He turned to Emma only to be met with her gentle, beautiful smile. So combat links could be used for things beside combat? While Machias tried to channel as much gratitude as possible through the mental connection, he remembered Instructor Sara's hellish dance lessons. Yeah, really should've thought of this earlier. Besides, a trial was also a form of battle; only instead of bullets, arts and the mighty swing of swords, it was about arguments, evidence and reasoning.
When Machias finally arrived at the defense bench with Prosecutor Freising already present, he was once again reminded that no matter how inexperienced he was, this was the kind of battlefield he belonged to. Just as Laura and Fie reveled in the midst of violence, a commoner making his stand at a key political institution had been his calling since that fateful day when his cousin died. Since that day when he saw his father kick his efforts into high gear.
"You can do this," he heard his client whisper. Machias nodded back and once again basked in the sensation of the ARCUS link. He wasn't alone. The place he was standing now was a culmination of many people supporting him, pushing him forward. This may only be the first of many steps toward his destination in life, but it was palpable progress. He summoned courage from deep inside him, straightened his back, so he could face the trial with resolve... and it was in that moment when he saw a very familiar, pretty girl sitting in the public gallery, with short blonde hair and the bluest eyes he knew. The moment they made eye contact, she waved her hand, her tender smile just as charming as he was used to in class.
Machias felt his throat dry up again like a shriveling piece of fruit. What in Aidios' name was Rosine doing here? And Jonathan? Kilgor? Benjamin? As he let his eyes wander over the right side of the public gallery, he realized with growing horror that his entire law course from Thors were attending this trial. Then the revelation hit him like a brick: this was the third day of their field study, meaning the Thors law course was attending seminars at the Aulic Council. Didn't he ask Rosine for her notes because he anticipated how Class VII's special operations wouldn't give him any time to attend those seminars himself?
"In the name of his Imperial Majesty Emperor Eugent III, I hereby declare this court to be in session." Judge Tungstos' voice rang across the room like a gigantic bell, heralding the beginning of the trial. "I would also like to extend my greetings to Marquis Hyarms for gracing us with his presence."
Machias was still petrified at the thought of standing in court while his peers were watching. He was so going to die.
"I now call upon the counsels for the prosecution and defense to declare their willingness to proceed."
Jusis Albarea looked stiffer than usual. "The prosecution stands ready."
With a momentous effort Machias teared his eyes away from the familiar faces in the audience. "The defense..." his breath was shaky, "i-is ready."
"Helena Freising," Judge Tungstos called out, "you stand accused of murder. A grave matter indeed, complicated by the fact that you are also an esteemed member of the judiciary."
Prosecutor Freising performed a bow. "It is with great shame I find myself in this position, your honor."
"But despite that, you look to be in good spirits. I take it that you plead not guilty?"
His client glanced at him. "Yes, your honor. I plead not guilty and I will entrust my defense to this young, promising man at my side."
This public endorsement, the sheer confidence Prosecutor Freising projected. Machias clung to the warm sensations these words evoked like a drowning man clutching at a wooden plank. Meanwhile, the murmurs inside the courtroom became louder, allowing him to make out some words.
Aren't they too young?
What are these striplings supposed to do here?
That must be Albarea's bastard, right?
Machias blinked owlishly. Wait. Jusis, a bastard? He'd never heard of this before. And didn't that mean he had a commo...?
Judge Tungstos cleared his throat and shortly after, the whispers abated. "Your mind looks set, so I won't further question your decision, Lady Freising. As such, I would ask the prosecution, represented by special counsel Jusis Albarea, to give their opening statement."
His Lordship performed a picture-perfect bow, because of course he would. "As you wish, your honor." Jusis spread his arms across the prosecution's bench. "On the 24th of April 2:40 p.m, a double incident broke out in the hallowed halls of the Remiferian Embassy. First, there was a fire at the archives which destroyed about a third of the documents stored within. This was followed by another crime even more heinous: a murder." He made a dramatic pause, allowing the whispers to swell again. Then, just before the noise in the public gallery became too intrusive, Jusis' voice cut through the chatter like an icy blade.
"The victim was an imperial army veteran who worked as a clerk at Albion General Store. He also volunteered for menial work at the Aulic Council's prosecution office. One Joseph Sagitarus."
"If I may, special counsel," Judge Tungstos cut in, "but did I hear correctly? Both crimes were committed on Remiferian soil?"
"Astutely noted, your honor, though only technically, the details of which will be expounded upon later. Nevertheless, through a series of... lucky coincidences, a formal request for judicial assistance was agreed upon between the Aulic Council and Ambassador Hylefias of Remiferia, who acts on a freshly arrived missive by none other than Prince Albert Bartholomeus." Here his Lordship performed another bow toward the gallery, directing it at the Remiferian delegation.
Judge Tungstos nodded. "Then it would be remiss of me not to extend my heartfelt greeting to our honored visitors from the Principality. May the trial shed light on this most sordid affair and let it be recompense for our Empire's negligence."
Jusis stretched out his hand and in a blink-and-miss-it moment, Fie had already placed a scroll into his open palm. Machias narrowed his eyes. Were these two also using an ARCUS link? He wasn't aware they could form one in the first place.
"To return to matters at hand, the prosecution has collected ample evidence to show that the accused, one Helena Freising, is the perpetrator of both arson and first degree murder, while also putting our decades long relation with the Principality of Remiferia in jeopardy. A relation nurtured and valued greatly by his Imperial Majesty."
First degree murder? Machias was sure there wasn't sufficient evidence to claim this. Was this a beginner's mistake? If yes, he could use the rope his Lordship provided to let him hang himself. Meanwhile, Werner Tungstos was using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, all the while chaos was erupting across the public gallery. Machias didn't envy the judge. To ensure maximum impartiality it was common practice for them to go into a trial as uninformed as possible. He had been so embroiled in the details of the investigation that it didn't occur to him how extremely irregular this case was - that is, until his Lordship laid it out in his precis.
Jusis unfolded the scroll. "The prosecution would like to submit two items into evidence: an orbal pistol belonging to the defendant, which I believe to be the murder weapon as well as a combat orbment which is the most likely cause of the fire." Fie took out two plastic bags with the aforementioned items and placed them on the prosecution's bench.
"The court accepts these objects into evidence," Judge Tungstos declared.
"Furthermore, the prosecution will now call upon its first witness and asks Julia don Gilfaeth to take the stand."
Machias had met this woman several times in the course of the field study, but her appearance never failed to be striking. The audience stilled as she made her way to the witness stand, the clacking of her heels echoing ominously throughout the courtroom. The moment she took the stand, it struck him again how tall she was.
"Among the members of the Aulic Council," Jusis began, "Julia don Gilfaeth is a well known entity. I will introduce her nonetheless: she is a Remiferian medical expert who has served for five years as chief physician of Veteran Affairs. She is a graduate of the Albert-Rupricht-University in Ardent, with a triple specialization in dermatology, cardiology and trauma surgery. Served for three years in the medical corps of Remiferia's national defense force followed by a twelve year residency at Emeria General Hospital. She was then recruited to become a medical liaison between the Remiferian Embassy here in Saint-Arkh and it's Supreme Court."
Judge Tungstos leaned forward slightly. "Given all the accolades you just showered on Lady Gilfaeth, am I right to assume that you want her accepted as an expert witness?"
"That is correct, your honor."
"The court grants the prosecution's request."
This was... Machias wasn't sure what to make of this. His Lordship could've simply submitted an autopsy report as evidence. Why this whole spectacle of establishing an expert witness?
"Very well." Jusis nodded sharply. "Then, witness, please tell the court the results of the autopsy you performed on the victim's body."
"Gladly." The tall woman folded her arms, her demeanor cool and collected. "Cause of death was a single shot through the head from an orbal pistol resulting in severe brain trauma. Death was in all likelihood instantaneous due to the bullet path destroying the brain stem, leading to the immediate cessation of cardiac and respiratory functions. There were also two irregularities of note: the bullet shot passed through the entirety of the victim's head with a clear exit wound. In addition, there was almost no bleeding despite lack of cauterization or any kind of clotting agent the bullet could've been laced with. Finally, time of death is estimated to be between 2 and 2:30 pm judging by the onset of rigor mortis at eyelids and musculi masticatorii during first examination."
"The court thanks the witness for this succinct summation. Now, does the counsel of defense wish to perform a cross-examination?"
Machias tensed his body. "Of course, your honor." He directed his attention at Dr Gilfaeth. There was no way he was going to call her reliability into question. At this point, the complexity of the murder's MO hadn't been laid out yet, so her input was crucial. Furthermore, Machias doubted he could poke holes into her testimony. This woman oozed competency from her every pore.
"Dr Gilfaeth, when you gave the court your estimation of the time of death, did you take into account that the victim's body was subjected to a higher than average degree of ambient temperature due to the fire in the archives?"
"Yes I did. It required me to question several embassy guards to get a clear timeline. Something the prosecution will no doubt expound upon with its next witnesses."
"Did the victim suffer any additional wounds due to the fire?"
"First degree burns at left wrist, arm and shoulder. I judge them to be inconsequential to the case at hand."
This was about as little as he could draw out of her. "The defense has no further questions."
Tungstos looked at him in incredulity. "Are you sure this is all you intend to ask, defense counsel?"
"Yes, your honor." No doubt the judge was wondering why he didn't inquire about the lack of bleeding.
"In that case, the prosecution wants to assert its own right to questions the witness."
Machias furrowed his brows as he watched Jusis focus on Dr Gilfaeth. He had a bad feeling about this.
"Witness, one of the irregularities you noted is the fact that the bullet passed through the entire head of the victim." He raised the plastic bag with Prosecutor Freising's pistol for the whole court to see. "Is this a common occurrence with the kind of pistol belonging to the defendant?"
"Objection!" Machias cried out. "While the witnesses' medical credentials are beyond reproach, opining about the specific effects of orbal firearms is outside her established expertise."
A smug smile hushed over Jusis' lips. "Did it escape the defense's memory that the witness served for three years in Remiferia's national defense force and that she is also a certified coroner?"
"No, it didn't escape my memory." Machias folded his arms. "Dr Gilfaeth served in the military from 1184 until 1187, a period of stability and peace in Remiferia, meaning that she didn't see any real combat. Therefore, the defense asserts, she lacks the necessary breadth of experience to evaluate interaction of a specific firearm and resulting head trauma with the kind of depth the prosecution no doubt seeks to pursue."
His Lordship uttered a condescending sigh. "Witness, how many bullet wounds have you treated during the course of your career?"
She looked to the side as if deep in thought. "I operated on 445 cases during my residency at Emeria General Hospital and Veteran Affairs with 53 cases being head trauma. Furthermore, I have performed 267 autopsies, sometimes involving multiple gunshot wounds, since my assignment at the Aulic Council's forensic lab."
"Which, I might add," Jusis flicked his finger against a document for emphasis, "is all recorded in Dr Gilfaeth dossier belonging to this Supreme Court."
"Objection overruled!" Judge Tungstos called out. "The prosecution is allowed to continue its line of questioning."
Machias clenched his teeth but held his silence.
"The firearm belonging to Prosecutor Freising looks like a Reinford Hengst model, PK49 with no modifications. Is that correct?"
Jusis nodded sharply. "Yes, witness. The bullets are standard 0.79 caliber."
Dr Gilfaeth tilted her head. "Considering the Hengst's widespread use, I've encountered... 97 cases of bullet wounds inflicted by this particular model. As such, I can state with a high degree of confidence that a clean shot-through is exceedingly rare. Even more so when the bullet is pitted against the toughness of the human skull. For a scenario like this to happen, the weapon needs to be discharged point-blank and it also must be adjusted to its highest force setting."
"Thank you for your cooperation." Jusis gave the physician a nod of acknowledgment. "Now, the prosecution would like to point the court's attention to two things..." He raised a document with a plastic bag attached to it. In his other hand was another set of document Machias knew very well. "This is a ballistics report matching the bullet that felled the victim with the defendant's orbal pistol. Then there is an affidavit written by an embassy guard present at the moment of the crime."
Jusis put his arms behind his back, his posture ramrod straight. "As the court is no doubt aware, tracing a bullet back to a particular firearm using microscopic rifling analysis has a degree of uncertainty despite advances in science. Especially when dealing with commonly used weapons like the Reinford Hengst model."
Machias suppressed a self-derisive sigh. This was something he had learned mere hours earlier, when Prosecutor Freising pounded everything she considered case relevant into his head.
"And this analysis was made even more difficult because the bullet broke in two on impacting a wall, which at least opens up the possibility of a third party using the same weapon to commit the deed - as remote as such a chance is of course." Here the pompous ass looked over to him and actually smirked.
"Fortunately the affidavit of the embassy guard narrows down the possible scenarios, for he was the one who apprehended the defendant after finding her standing in the middle of a fire with a dead body at her feet. And according to his sworn testimony, the pistol belonging to Helena Freising both lacked a single bullet from full capacity and was also adjusted to the highest force setting at the moment of confiscation."
Once again, the public gallery started to chatter.
"The Albarea kid is pretty good," Prosecutor Freising almost purred.
Machias massaged his eyebrows. "Ma'am, need I remind you that he also seems dead set on leading you to the executioner's block?"
She shrugged which caused her flaming hair to undulate. "I can't help it given that I'd be the one standing over there usually. Considering how little time he had, it's downright impressive."
"Well, for a rank amateur, I guess he's doing reasonably well," he groused.
"This is not his first time performing inside a court room," Freising stated with absolute confidence.
"Are you..." Machias stopped himself.
"I think you shouldn't underestimate Jusis," Emma whispered softly.
He closed his eyes and sighed. Yeah, perhaps it was time to re-evaluate his presumptions - again, given that he was facing a competent noble inside a courtroom. A noble who also happened to be a bastard, if the peanut gallery was to be believed.
Nothing was ever easy, was it?
"This is all pretty enlightening, special counsel," Judge Tungstos spoke up, "but I have to wonder why you've used such a circuitous way to make your point that the bullet, which killed the victim, was fired from the defendant's gun. If you are in possession of an affidavit written by an embassy guard, one who caught the suspect at the moment of the crime no less, then all you had to establish was that no other person was in the vicinity of the crime scene, right? Or are there other suspects the court hasn't yet been informed of?"
His Lordship performed another one of his infuriatingly perfect bows. "At this point in time, the defendant is the only suspect the investigation has found. Nevertheless, the circuitous route is necessary because the sequence of this abominable deed contains a significant complication."
The Judge furrowed his brows. "And I guess the defense counsel is aware of this complication? I can't otherwise fathom its until now disturbing silence."
Machias stood to attention. "That is correct, your honor." He paused before adding: "The affidavit perused by the prosecution was drafted by yours truly."
"So despite the lack of discovery or the contentious political background between the defense and prosecution, it seems there was substantial cooperation during the investigation." Tungstos nodded in satisfaction. "Do go on then, special counsel."
"The prosecution would like to call the next witness. Dr Heribert Swift, please take the stand!"
Machias tensed his body. With this move they were approaching the divisive part of this case, for this was the man who made Alisa's orbal wave measurements admissible for court. He breathed in deeply just like he was taught. Here's where the true fight began.
"Heribert Swift is a graduate of the Roer Institute of Technology with a doctorate in orbal particle wave physics. He has two patents to his name and has published about a dozen papers in peer reviewed journals. After a successful career at the RIT, he then became the orbal science instructor at Forsetis Military Academy where he has been teaching for four years now."
"The court accepts Dr Heribert Swift as an expert witness."
His Lordship straightened his jacket. "During the murder investigation, there were two significant irregularities that couldn't be reconciled. The first was the lack of bleeding already mentioned by the previous witness. Second, the bullet which passed through the head of the victim was nowhere to be found in the Remiferian embassy archives."
The judge shook his head as if to remove invisible cobwebs. "But isn't the bullet right there with the ballistics report?"
"Yes, your honor. It wasn't found in the embassy though, but instead inside a warehouse for decommissioned equipment belonging to the Aulic Council, which is located 71 arge north-north-east from the... first crime scene."
"Goddess gracious! The first crime scene? Counsel, what is the meaning of this?"
"The two crimes in question, arson and murder, happened in two entirely different locations despite occurring in short succession. The sequence of events was as follows: the shot that killed Joseph Sagitarus transpired in the warehouse for decommissioned equipment. And due to it being a clean shot-through, the bullet ended up lodged inside one of the walls. Then, as the victim was bleeding out, an orbal art was cast utilizing spatial translocation, teleporting both the culprit and the victim right into the middle of the embassy archives. It was there the culprit cast another fire art, setting the surrounding documents ablaze." Jusis made a flourish to emphasize the end of his little speech and then focused on Dr Swift.
"Witness, testify to the court about the state of orbal energy residue at the embassy crime scene."
The science instructor flinched as he was called into action. His movements were jittery, though Machias couldn't fault him for that. "Well, the measurements taken for the room were really interesting, truth be told," he began. "There were orbal particle residue for fire and water arts, which is to be expected. Fire for causing the arson, the water used by the embassy guards to quench it. But despite that the orbal particles with the highest intensity indicated a space art being cast. And an extremely strong one at that, except the room didn't show any sign of such a destructive spell being evoked, because let me tell you, that would've obliterated the entire wing - at the very least."
"Thank you for opining on the matter witness," Jusis said. "The space art residue along with the other two irregularities guided the investigation toward the warehouse where the missing puzzle of this murder's MO were found. And now that the entire precis of the case has finally been presented, the prosecution would like to submit the following items into evidence: the autopsy report with an analysis of the victim's blood also found in the warehouse, three additional affidavits detailing the defendant's precise movements during the hour of the crime, the ballistics report already mentioned and finally documentation of the orbal particle readings on which Dr Swift just opined."
Judge Tungstos seemed overwhelmed and it took him several moments to find his words again. "The... the court accepts these items into evidence." He blinked several times. "Goddess gracious, what kind of investigation is this? The crime only happened yesterday and outside Erebonian borders no less, but within a single day a case of such complexity has been prepared for court - and with diplomatic complications smoothed out, it seems." With each sentence he spoke, there was a growing terror creeping up his face. "This kind of speed is unprecedented, even for the Aulic Council."
"Let me assure you, your honor, that each piece of evidence presented here has been obtained and authenticated with due diligence. I don't think it behooves me to waste the court's time by going into the details of the investigation, so I'll only state there were a lot of... fortunate coincidences in the course of inquiry."
Freising snorted. "The judge is correct to be flustered." She turned to him and Emma. "As I stated before, you kids are miracle workers. If you can display this kind of problem solving ability on a regular basis, Class VII would be an extremely potent weapon under the purview of any influential institution in Erebonia."
"I don't think we really did that much," Emma stammered.
The prosecutor raised a single eyebrow. "You should thank your lucky stars the Albarea kid's head is screwed on straight. By downplaying your group's role in this investigation, he deflected undue attention from you lot. With this many influential nobles sitting up there, it would've otherwise painted a big, fat target on all of you."
"Please ma'am, don't make me feel thankful for Jusis Albarea of all people," Machias said in a pained voice.
She chuckled. "Youthful rivalry at its finest. I guess boys will be boys."
"Does the counsel for the defense has anything to add?" Seemed like Judge Tungstos found his wits to officiate again.
"Not currently, your honor," Machias started, "but the defense does assert its right to cross-examine the witness."
"I see. Please proceed then."
Machias left the defense bench and stepped toward the witness while his heart pounded like a motorized jackhammer. The time to counterattack had finally arrived. "Dr Swift, you stated that the orbal residue found inside the archives indicated a powerful art being cast. In your expert opinion, how powerful are we talking about in terms of... energy expenditure?"
The man perked up at the inquiry. "Oh, that's... a fascinating question. If I were to give an estimate, I'd say about 9 megajoule."
"As the prosecution stated, two persons were teleported for a distance of 71 arge. With the weight of both persons together amounting to 136.9 curim, does this match the energy expenditure you just estimated for a spatial translocation art?"
Dr Swift took out a calculator. "Hmm, if I use this variable with the integer of the wave function... and then by applying the Goldstein formula..."
Machias allowed himself a little chuckle. Seemed like Emma used exactly the same mathematical approach when she calculated the maximum possible range of the teleportation art. Just as expected from his biggest academic rival. He felt another tug at their ARCUS link and tugged right back.
"About 8.89 megajoule. Fits pretty well."
Machias took out a diagram and forwarded it to the orbal scientist. "Then here is the quartz configuration of Helena Freising's combat orbment at the moment when the embassy guards confiscated it. Of course easily confirmed by the real combat orbment lying right there at the prosecution's bench. Now, witness, does this configuration allow such a powerful spatial translocation to be cast?"
The answer came as fast as the shot of a pistol. "Beside the fact that there aren't enough space quartz set into the main orbment line to synchronize the necessary art in the first place, the maximum energy capacity in its current configuration only reaches 8.5 megajoule."
"Which means the defendant couldn't have cast the spatial translocation, leading to the inevitable conclusion that a third party was present at the scene of the murder." Machias made a flourish with his hand. "Something the prosecution has done its best to deny... until now."
"My, my." Jusis opened his arms while shaking his head, a cold smirk adorning his punchable face. "I fear the counsel for the defense is jumping to conclusions." Fie appeared at his Lordship's side again like a specter, placing a document in his open palm. "I have here a list of the surplus quartz that was also confiscated from the defendant. As is obvious for any tactical orbment user, beside the quartz set into the orbment itself, spare quartz is usually carried along to adapt the configuration depending on the situation."
Jusis turned toward Judge Tungstos. "The prosecution would like to submit this list and the defendant's orbment pouch into evidence."
"The court accepts."
The list was given to Dr Swift who glanced over it. He then looked back to both Machias and Jusis with a wry smile. "With these spare quartz taken into account, Miss Freising could both increase her orbment's energy capacity sufficiently as well as synthesize the necessary art."
"Objection!" Machias cried out. "Are we to believe the defendant - according to the prosecution - murdered her own bodyguard in cold blood while in the middle of a crucial visit to a foreign embassy, then used a high level art that most likely drained the entire energy reservoir of her orbment to teleport herself and her victim to the one place which incriminates her the most, instead of teleporting herself only?"
He started to pace. "The defense would also like to point out one little detail the prosecution omitted: while the blood of the victim was indeed found inside the warehouse, we are talking about traces because the blood had been wiped – with a simple mop that was found in an adjacent room. So if we were to accept the prosecution's version of events, my client would need to cast two spatial translocation arts in succession. The first to teleport the victim's body into the embassy. Then, she would have to mop the floor, put said mop into the adjacent room, followed by performing the second teleportation into the embassy. And finally, to add insult to injury, she even had the quickness of mind to change her orbment configuration to set everything on fire just so she can call attention to herself."
He spread his arms and turned around the court room, for the first time speaking to the people sitting in the public gallery. "If the defendant really is the culprit, then she must be the most inept culprit in the history of the Empire's judiciary. She had all the means to committ a perfect murder but instead used the same means to sabotage herself."
To his surprise, the audience reacted. Some polite applause from the upper balustrade, some occasional jeering, but also encouraging shouts and even laughter from the right side of the gallery where the Thors cadets sat.
"Order, Order, Order," Judge Tungstos shouted over the turmoil.
It was then that a slam thundered across the courtroom finally silencing the crowd.
"This commotion is unbefitting of the highest criminal court in our Empire." Jusis voice echoed throughout the hall and stifled the exited mood like a hailstorm extinguishing a candle. "It shouldn't bear repeating, but in a modern Erebonian court only one thing matters: Evidence. Appeals to emotion or common sense have no place here, though agitating the crowd is of course something Reformists just love to do." His Lordship stretched out his right arm and pointed straight at him. "As erratic and irrational as the defendant's behavior might be, the facts speak a clear language. If you want to contest this, use incontrovertible evidence to prove the accused didn't follow the actions laid out by the prosecution."
Machias balled his fists. He felt his blood pumping which conjured a deep, almost animalistic desire to chase down the winding and contorted facts around this case. So that pompous ass wanted incontrovertible evidence? Let him choke on that!
"I have another question, witness."
Dr Swift blinked owlishly. "Well yes, of course. Ask away, now that I'm here."
"You stated that with the surplus quartz taken into account, it is conceivable for my defendant to cast the spatial translocation. Am I correct to assume though that casting the teleportation would leave her tactical orbment almost devoid of energy, especially because the expenditure for the fire art also needs to be added?"
"Oh, yes, yes. Of course. That's only logical."
Machias turned to Jusis. "Then I have two questions for the prosecution. First, were any orbal energy capsules found among the personal effects of the defendant or anywhere around both crime scenes?"
His Lordship furrowed his brows. "Nothing of the sort. Is your line of questioning going somewhere?"
"You bet it does. Second question: what does affidavit number 12, expounding on Leif Snorrson's testimony, state at page number three, second paragraph, first sentence? And don't ignore the time stamp, please. "
Again, it was Fie who placed the document in front of Jusis who looked blindsided by her ghostly support for once. As his Lordship found the relevant passage, Machias observed with deep satisfaction how his air of superiority finally crumbled.
This was the difference between on-site investigation and absorbing information second hand.
"Special counsel, what does the passage state?" Judge Tungstos asked.
"It's... an inventory report of the defendant's confiscated belongings taken at the 24th of April 5:55 pm," Jusis pressed out through clenched teeth.
Machias folded his arms and allowed himself a little smirk. "And it states among other things that 'the suspect's combat orbment is at full energy capacity'."
"But..." Judge Tungstos blinked in confusion, "isn't that to be expected? Orbments automatically replenish their energy over time."
"Witness, given the defendant needs a total energy reservoir of over 9 megajoule for the prosecution's version of events to be true, how long does it take without outside interference for her tactical orbment to regenerate it's energy from nearly zero to full?"
Dr Swift was clearly enjoying himself now. "For a 4th generation Epstein XGF4 model, it would take... about six to seven hours under optimal conditions."
"Six to seven hours." The judge repeated the words as if tasting them. "But the inventory report was taken at 5:55 pm, while the crime happened around 2:30 pm... oh, OH!"
"In other words, the combat orbment had less than four hours to regenerate its energy - therefore we have here an irreconcilable contradiction." Machias turned to Judge Tungstos and rose his voice. "As such, the defense asserts that a third party was present at the site of the murder. And it was said third party who actually cast the teleportation art on both my defendant and the victim with the express purpose of framing her."
The public gallery broke out in heated arguments. Chatter, cries and shouts blended together into a cacophony of excited voices. Machias breathed in the atmosphere which had made a complete turnabout.
"Order! Order in the courtroom!" The judge took his gavel for the first time and swung it down hard. The imposing noise finally calmed the masses again. "Well, if I had any doubts the defense wasn't doing its job, they are now completely gone." He cleared his throat. "What is the opinion of the prosecution regarding this new development?"
Jusis adjusted his cravat. "The prosecution... concedes that its initial assertion was flawed. Nevertheless, the defense's circuitous reasoning doesn't amount to much more than frippery in the end." He leaned forward. "What if a third party cast the spatial translocation? It doesn't change a single thing. It was still the accused who fired the weapon to kill. It was still the accused who set fire to the archives. Despite all the fancy orbment theorizing we had to endure, these facts remain irrefutable."
Machias mimicked his rival's posture. "It seems the prosecution cannot do anything else but cling desperately to the how of the case all the while refusing to engage in the why. No wonder really, because despite all the evidence submitted to court, the special counsel utterly fails to establish one crucial element: motive. It bears emphasizing: the defendant's actions don't make a lick of sense. The entire sequence of events laid out by the evidence paint the picture of a person ruled by irrationality, no insanity. And while it might not count for much coming from me, I assure the court that I judge my client to be the picture of sanity."
"What is your opinion on the motive of the defendant then?" Judge Tungstos asked.
"I purport that there is none."
The judge eyed him critically. "There is always a motive, counsel for the defense."
Machias closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Finally, he had arrived at the true point of contention. At this junction there was nothing else to do but leap.
"I disagree, your honor. There is one particular scenario in which any person committing a crime could be said to possess no motive at all." He opened his eyes and tried to project all the confidence he could muster. "Namely when their free will has been robbed completely through external means. The defense asserts that Helena Freising had been subjected to a mind-manipulating art cast by a third party."
"By Aidios!" Judge Tungstos eyes popped out. "You want to go for an insanity plea?"
He gripped the edge of the bench until his knuckles turned white. "I do, your honor."
It was at this moment that the entrance to the courtroom opened, the wings of the doors creaking with age and weight. A procession of people stepped into the hall, among them Instructor Sara, Laura, Gaius, Rean, Alisa and Elliot. There were also two provincial officers present whom he didn't recognize and a beautiful woman with long, teal-colored hair. Machias then discovered another person who was placed in the middle of the group as if the others were guarding her. It was a girl who didn't look a day older than twelve. Her hair was a bright colored cyan and the grin on her face promised all the mischief in the world.
"What is the meaning of this, Bracer Sara Valestein?" Tungstos cried out. "Court is in session right now and I'm not in the habit of tolerating any disturbance."
Class VII's instructor faced the judge's scolding with her usual irreverence. "Hi, Werner... I mean, your honor. Sorry for barging in, buuut we've brought a key witness relevant to the ongoing trial. And I'm sure these two strapping, young men..." she gestured to both him and his Lordship, "are very eager to question her."