The Cost of War (Part 6, Finale)
05 Oct 2016Jubei Himura
If I could hold back the rain, would you numb the pain?
'Cause I remember everything.
If I could help you forget, would you take my regrets?
'Cause I remember everything.
Remember Everything by Five Finger Death Punch
"Seal the doors!" Chancellor Blaine gave the command as soon as it was known that the bank roller for Drumpe was in the courtroom.
The courtroom's royal guards sprung into action, shutting every possible exitway. Inquisitors joined the guard, allowing full coverage with one royal guard and one inquisitor at every entrance and every window.
All of the people present got very nervous at the situation. Some tried unsuccessfully to leave while others just shouted their displeasure from their seats. Two out of the three patrons looked especially nervous and were visibly sweating. Eventually, everyone begrudgingly settled down. Hell, it's not like they have much of a choice.
"Continue Inquisitor Noxa." ordered the Chancellor.
"For your own reference, we are transmitting the relevant data to you now." Noxa reported. "After tracing account details in credit transfers and then matched them with multiple communications, we have found that Patron Marq Antius was the one who backed Drumpe's twisted ideas."
The courtroom erupted in jeers and boos, all directed right at the Patron. Before he could protest he was picked up and hauled to the center of the room.
I took my seat beside Edgar and leaned forward, genuinely interested in the outcome.
"Outrageous!" Antius bellowed. "How dare you?! I am an esteemed member of the Empire!"
"Quiet!" the Chancellor boomed after reading the damning documentation. "There is more than enough here to sentence you to death."
"What a crock," Antius pointed a chubby finger my way, "he's the one that's supposed to be on trial! For multiple murders no less!"
The Chancellor glared at the disgraced Patron but then looked at the crowd from the Union as if asking for direction. As if to give a response, the Union leader stood and nodded at Chancellor Blaine.
"Union members," the leader spoke clearly. "Shall we drop the charges directed at the Inquisitor, given all that we've seen today?"
The entire group of Union members stretched out their arms and gave a thumbs-up as they gave a unanimous "AYE!"
"And what of the Patron who backed the tyrant that started the war? Shall we add to his charges and watch justice happen?"
An angrier yet resounding "AYE!" boomed throughout the court.
"There is you answer Mr. Antius." Chancellor Blaine smiled.
"I- I request a trial by combat!" the Paton shouted in desperation.
"If I were you," the Chancellor said coldly. "I would reconsider. The Empire would choose Inquisitor Jubei as its champion. Knowing him, he'd be more than willing to deal out punishment against your champion and then you."
I smiled and cracked my knuckles, hoping he would go through with it. Almost nothing makes me happier than putting a pompous, rich, asshat-elitist in his place... physically.
"I humbly recede my request and throw myself upon the mercy of the Empire." he whimpered.
"I doubt there will be much for you." again the Chancellor spoke in a cold tone. He turned his head to me and waved his hand. "Inquisitors Noxa and Endincite, stay and present the evidence. Jubei is free to go. He and the rest of the inquisitors may leave."
* * * * * *
"...I'd like to see him try." I said half-joking, looking at the empty sake cup and nearly full bottle of Kōtei no Hyōtan.
"Goddammit Jubei!" Noxa started. "That's what pissed him off in the first place: that shit attitude of yours. You've been cleared of all charg-"
"Enough! Look, sorry Ok? I just... don't want to think about it. Besides," I paused to get off my chair and turn toward the door. "I can't change what's been done."
I threw a credit chip at the barkeep and left the bottle of expensive sake on the table. Bowing to Noxa, I turned and left the bar.
The 'streets' were damp with condensation, the moisture shined on the roads in the artificial dusk lighting. It was nineteen-hundred hours and I still had a couple of hours before I was to meet the security chief at the starport to get my Vulture, Tenken. I also needed some air to clear my head, as much as one can get 'fresh air' in a station.
Antius was tried and found guilty. His sentence was to have his and Drumpe's entire personal fortune put into a trust for the people of the union to use for the recovery of the system. The family of every casualty in the war were compensated with anywhere from double to quadruple of the lost family member's wage for their lifetime, plus benefits and pension. While the money wouldn't cover the loss of life, it would help the families of the deceased get back on their feet and not worry about financial issues.
I was thinking about this while walking through the middle of a park when I heard a woman's voice behind me. "Excuse me, Inquisitor Jubei...?"
Ah, Space-Christ.
"Yes?" I said as I turned to see who was asking.
To my surprise it was the woman who screamed at me for killing her husband Daniel. This time however there was no anger coming from her as she used her thin hand to brush away the blond hair that fell into her face.
"I- I wanted to apologize for yelling at you yesterday." she said sadly. "I was just so angry at losing my husband that I hadn't considered what the circumstances could be."
I stood there in silence, not knowing what to do or say. That's when I noticed that she was slightly out of breath from running. She must have been trying to catch up to me. A young girl and her little brother ran up behind the woman and stool by her side. The girl had to be around nine years old and the boy must have been about six. Both looked at me with cautious curiosity, undecided on whether I was a threat or not.
"I don't blame you. I know it's like to lose someone." I said, not wanting to say more.
"Anyway, I'm Karen." she said as she laid her and on her chest. "These are mine and Daniel's children: Chelsea and Michael"
"Um, Mister," the boy spoke up very bravely. "Mommy said that you sent Daddy to be with the stars."
"Daddy."
"Your mother speaks the truth." I said, trying to hide the wave of sadness that was coming over me.
"Michael! She also said that, uh, if that didn't happen then something really really bad would've happened to Daddy and he still wouldn't be coming home. He'd be hurting a lot." came the shy voice of the girl.
"Daddy, when are you coming home?"
I felt a stinging in my eyes as I felt the bottom of my eye patch start to get wet. They're so much like...
"Yes, and that's why we came to find you." Karen looked at her children and smiled sadly. "We wanted to tell you that we don't blame you."
"Yeah! We forgive you." Michael announced with a big smile.
I dropped to my knees, it was too much. The sadness and guilt crashed over me like a tidal wave and I could no longer keep it in.
This is wrong. I don't deserve their forgiveness!
As I knelt there on the ground weeping in guilt and self-loathing, two pairs of small arms wrapped around me and squeezed gently.
"It's ok," Chelsea spoke softly. "my dad wouldn't be angry. Please don't be sad."
"Yeah," sniffed Michael. "Daddy's happy the fighting's stopped."
"Thank you." I whispered. The thoughts of what these children had lost still haunted me. A life without a father is a difficult road to travel and possibly worse than the loss of what could be, was the loss of innocence.
Tears streamed down from my eyes uncontrollably as the children that I unknowingly sinned against held me in their small arms and comforted me.
"Don't cry Daddy, you're not a bad man."