Special Pickup - Chapter 7: The Hearing
13 Jun 2016LordPsymon
Previous chapterSpecial Pickup - Chapter 7: The Hearing
---Verrier Orbital - Courthouse - Two Weeks Later---
“Do I look okay?” Fiona asked as she sat nervously beside me in the waiting room of the courthouse. She wore a semi-formal white sleeveless dress and had her hair up in a bun.
I looked toward her and smiled. “You look fantastic, Fiona. Like a law girl who really knows what she is doing.”
She turned to me with a nervous grin. “Thanks. I hope this goes well,” she said, fidgeting with her hands. I grabbed her hand and she let off a sigh. I felt her relax a little as our fingers locked together.
“It will, don’t worry.”
A middle aged woman, the same woman from the magistrate’s office, approached us. “Mr. Datura and Miss Giornata, please follow me into the courtroom. Your hearing with the Magistrate is to commence momentarily.”
We stood up with our hands still firmly linked together. The woman lead us through large wooden doors into a large courtroom, with stained marble columns all the way up to the ceiling, and the Garoju star shone through the tinted windows of the room. The Magistrate sat in a raised podium in the same black robes he wore back in his office.
“Welcome, Mr. Datura and Miss Giornata. Please step forward to the stand. The hearing shall commence immediately. I am Adrianus Denter, Magistrate of Garoju. Miss Giornata is pleading release from voluntary servitude, citing a termination of contract that was not honoured by Viceroy Fink.”
The Magistrate turned to look at me.
“Mr. Datura, the disk you supplied as evidence against Admiral Bisley and Viceroy Fink was very disturbing indeed…”
Bisley is an Admiral? Holy shit.
“...In particular, this recording, which we shall play momentarily, displays that he has had many contacts within criminal circles in the Pegasi sector.”
The Magistrate clicked a button.
Caius: I have discussed your predicament with my contact, and he agrees with your offer of credits.
Fink: What about the servant?
Caius: My contact required something… extra… for his trouble. She is a fine woman indeed. If you wish to proceed with this, I will inform my contact and we’ll arrange transport to Pegasi.
Fink: Pegasi?! Are you insane, Caius?!
Caius: Not at all. My contacts in Pegasi assure me that you will be granted safe harbour, for the right fee. The Chapterhouse would not be so foolish as to follow you into Pegasi.
Fink: Fine! Fine… Once I arrive in Cubeo, you had better be ready to assist with my relocation! I will make sure my minister here wires the payment as soon as we dock.
Caius: Of course. Once payment is confirmed, transport to the Pegasi sector will be arranged.
Fink: How do I know I can trust your contact?
Caius: Deggie is a man of his word, Fink. I have done business with him on many occasions.
The playback paused. The Magistrate turned to Fiona. “Miss Giornata, this evidence also makes it clear that Fink had no intentions of releasing you. The Senate has reviewed your terms of Servitude, and indeed you were meant to be released over a month and a half ago. If Fink were still alive, he would be facing charges of illegal slave trafficking. In light of this, and with the evidence submitted, the Senate has agreed that your freedom shall be granted, and all debt will be considered settled.”
A wide smile appeared on Fiona’s face. “Thank you, your honour.”
He turned back to me. “As for you, Mr. Datura…”
Oh, shit. Here we go.
“It is understood that you were not aware of what exactly you were getting involved with when agreeing to take on Admiral Bisley’s request. Details in the contract you submitted were vague, at best. Had you not submitted this contract with the evidence, you would potentially be receiving charges of conspiring to aid in trafficking. However, considering your ignorance…”
Well, excuse me!
“...and your role in assisting Miss Giornata here, there will be no charges placed against you.”
Well, that’s a relief.
“I would, however, recommend that you be a little more cautious when receiving contracts in the future. Failure to obtain all the details could land you in trouble if you are not careful.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“I think it is reasonable to advise you that Admiral Bisley has had his rank in the Navy stripped, and a warrant placed for his arrest. However, the Imperial Navy has not been able to contact him since relinquishing his status. It is likely that he has gone into hiding. With all that said, this hearing is adjourned. I wish you all the best, Miss Giornata.”
The Magistrate struck his gavel on a block in front of him, and Fiona and I exited the courtroom.
“I can’t believe it! I am finally free!” Fiona exclaimed, barely able to contain her excitement. We walked outside of the court to the streets of the station, and she turned to me and grabbed onto me, giving me the biggest hug yet. “I’m free, Simon!”
I held onto her, reflecting her happiness, though part of me felt a bit glum.
“I told you it’d go well. What’s the plan now, Fiona?”
She looked into my eyes, let out her hair and smiled further.
“I think we need to find a nice bar and go get shitfaced to celebrate. First drink’s on me!”
Well ain’t you got a mouth on you when you’re excited, I thought, laughing silently to myself.
I shook my head, “Nope. We’re celebrating your freedom here, so first drink is on me.”
“If you insist, flyboy.”
---Verrier Orbital - Entertainment District---
The bars in the entertainment district were laid side by side with a wide walkway cutting down the middle of the district like a street. The “street” was lit various different colours from the neon signs of the bars, and the muffled drum beats of music filled the air on top of the murmuring of the large crowd of people, mingling and chatting.
The first bar we stopped at was mostly empty, with a few patrons around, enjoying their beers. It was dimly lit and the music was quiet. We found a table and sat down, ordering our drinks from the bar beforehand. Fiona pursed her lips, swirling her drink around.
“This place is kinda…”
“...boring?” I finished.
“Yeah… I feel like it’s sucking the life out of me.”
We finished our drinks and moved on.
We strolled down the district, casually checking out the bars and clubs as we walked by.
“How about that one?” Fiona said, pointing to a red neon sign titled Stellar 7.
I peeked inside. The place had a mild red hue inside and it looked very tidy.
“Looks nice in there, let’s go.” I gestured Fiona to go first. “After you, Miss Giornata,” I said in the fanciest voice I could manage.
Fiona giggled. “You sound silly when you try to be fancy.”
“Well, I thought I’d try to fit in a little.”
Stellar 7 was moderately crowded, with plenty of room to move about. The patrons were mostly young, moderately wealthy people. Several booths with faux leather seats populated the outer walls, and the main bar lay at the center.
As we approached, an older gentleman in a waistcoat approached us behind the bar.
“Well, you two look like you’re in the mood for celebration. What can I get ya?”
I took a look at all the various liquor on display behind the bartender, pondering.
Fiona chimed in. “Well actually, we are in the mood for celebration, and I feel like something fancy. Surprise us, barkeep!”
“Fancy eh? How about I pull together what I call Crown Jewel? A generous blend of liquor and exotic fruits from around the Bubble.”
Fiona and I looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
“Make us a pitcher,” I requested, handing over credits.
“Right you are lad, be with ya in a jiffy.”
The man returned with a pitcher full of a strange coloured liquid and two glasses.
“Careful my friends, this one’ll knock your socks right off if you’re not careful.” He warned.
“Sounds perfect,” Fiona responded cheekily.
We found ourselves a booth and sat down. I poured the liquid into our glasses and took a swig. There was a strong, yet pleasant burning sensation, followed by a wave of sweetness that tingled at the very end.
I looked down at the glass. “Oh wow. Yeah, the barkeep wasn’t wrong about it knocking our socks off.”
Fiona then took a swig. Her face screwed up as the burning hit her, but then returned to a smile when the sweetness kicked in.
“Oh wow. This is good.”
I nodded.
We spent the next hour or so, slowly getting through the Crown Jewel, talking and laughing as the buzz from the drink slowly started to kick in. We got to the bottom of the pitcher and Fiona stood up, grabbing my arm.
“Come on, Simon. You gotta dance with me!” she said with a slight slur.
But I can’t dance!
“Must I? I am not… drunk enough to dance!” I replied.
“Bullshit, you so are. I heard you slur.”
“I’m not slurring… I’m speaking in cursive.” I chuckled lightly.
“Ha ha funny boy.” Fiona pulled me out of the booth and dragged me to the dance floor. “Just shut up and dance, silly.”
“But I’ll make an ass out of myself.”
Fiona held onto my arms, swaying her hips to the beat of the music.
“You were going to make an ass of yourself over at Nortes. Well now you can make an ass of yourself in front of me.” Her eyes met mine and she smiled warmly as I joined her in a dance.
Well, I guess I can’t argue with that logic.
I rolled my eyes playfully. “Fine, but if I embarrass the both of us, I’m blaming you.”
She pulled me in closer as we danced and looked up into my eyes. “Fair enough.”
Exhausted from dancing together for two… maybe three hours, with the occasional break to grab another drink, Fiona and I decided to call it a night. Somehow I had managed to not embarrass us both, and Fiona was the happiest I had seen her since I freed her from the stasis pod. I held on to Fiona’s hand as we staggered slowly down the street.
“So, where to now? The apartment?”
“The apartment is boring. Let’s go back to your ship,” she slurred slightly.
“Okay, but I ain’t flying anywhere. I’ve had way too much to drink.”
Fiona grinned, “That’s okay. I just wanna chill with you.”
---Hangar Bay - Outside Rattlesnake---
The shuttle approached my hangar bay and we walked toward my ship, carefully avoiding hazards. We stopped outside the entrance ramp and Fiona turned toward me, holding both of my hands.
“I can’t believe I’m finally free Simon. It’s really happening!” she remarked, her teeth almost glowing with the smile she had.
“I’m happy for you, really. You deserve it.” I sighed. I really was happy, but every minute that passed was a minute closer to me bringing her home and having to part ways.
“Why so glum?” she asked, concerned.
“Nothing just… I’ve gotten so used to having you around. It’s going to be weird after you go home.”
“It has been an adventure, and not once did I feel you pressuring me to do anything. You were great.”
“Yeah, well I just thought about how I was when I first got out. Didn’t trust anyone, always on edge. You went through alot - hopes of freedom crushed by that prick Fink, attacked, scooped up into a strange ship with a strange guy, attacked again, stuck in a space station for three or so weeks.”
She held my hand close to her. “Yeah but you went out of your way to help me. Not many would have done what you did.”
“Well… Yeah I mean… I couldn’t just leave you out there.” I paused for a short while, lost for words. “I feel like we’ve grown close as we got to know each other.”
Fiona smirked. “Well obviously, I mean did you see us on the dance floor?”
I chucked, but then hesitated, my face flushed. “Well… If there was... going to be anything between us… I want it to be on your terms, when you are ready.”
Fiona pulled me closer to her and ran her hand gently down my cheek, looking deeply into my eyes.
“Well I am ready, right now.”
She grabbed my collar and pulled me right up to her, giving me a deep and lengthy kiss. I surrendered to her kiss, wrapping my arms firmly around her waist.
Well holy damn.
She released me and looked back into my eyes. “That was on my terms.”
She followed up with another deep and lengthy kiss.
We staggered up the ramp and into the sleeping quarters. I threw off the blazer I was wearing and collapsed onto my bunk. I heard Fiona approach me slowly, then felt her poke my arm.
“Move over, flyboy. Make some room!”
I smirked. “What, you think I’m sharing tonight?”
She pushed me over, making enough room for her to join me. “Damn right you are.”
She laid her head on my chest, still in her dress, as I wrapped my arm around her, gently running my fingers through her long hair.
“You can keep doing that too, it feels nice,” she said softly, as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
I’m glad this whole job turned upside down. I thought as I closed my eyes, surrendering to the impending sleep.