One Who Examines turned and stared down at him. "Minutia makes up the Law."
Ng settled back in his chair and sighed. "Carry on, then."
"As we have not yet completed our business, I will." One Who Examines faced front, opened his mouth, and paused.
"Abetting the illegal system tap," Nawazinkah Huerzah prodded, perfectly deadpan.
"Yes. Also in the issuing of the order to fire on the armory that resulted in the destruction of the Heart of Stone and the deaths of ex-Lieutenant Mackenzie Cho, di'Berinango Dysun, di'Berinango Almon, Natalie Forester, Huirre…"
For a moment, it seemed he might continue with the Krai's full name. Krai family names were declarations of lineage and could go on for hours. Torin wasn't the only one relieved when he continued.
"… and the engineer, Krisk."
Colonel Salarji stepped forward, putting herself between Torin and the Tribunal. "The Confederation Marine Corps takes responsibility for those deaths as ex-Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr was acting on the Corps' behalf in keeping a sealed armory out of the hands of the criminally insane."
One Who Examines spread his hands, blunt claws clicking against the table. "And yet ex-Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr was not a member of the Confederation Marine Corps at the time."
"The Corps allows there is no such thing as an ex-Gunnery Sergeant."
Nawazinkah Huerzah's tongue flicked out, Ng covered his mouth, and One Who Examines sighed. "So I have heard. It is then the judgment of this Tribunal, particularly considering the extensive evidence presented by Presit a Tur durValintrisy, that all but the destruction of the Heart of Stone may be dismissed under the weight of extenuating circumstances. The destruction of the Heart of Stone is a matter for the Confederation Marine Corps to deal with as it, as a body, sees fit. This inquiry is complete."
Torin waited, standing at parade rest a pace behind the colonel's left shoulder as the Tribunal filed out. Then she waited a little longer as the colonel turned and stared, her eyes dark. Torin resisted the urge to reach out and touch the plastic stylus clipped to the side of the colonel's slate.
"Well, that's that," the colonel said at last "I'd advise you not miss any of your sessions with the Corps' psychologists. And not just for legal reasons."
"Yes, sir."
"Say the word, and the Commandant of the Corps will put you back in uniform."
"My regards to High Tekamal Louden, sir, but my vest is full."
Deep-green hair flicked forward as Colonel Salarji frowned, but after a long moment, she merely said, "Take care of yourself, Gunny."
"Thank you, sir."
Torin waited until she heard the hatch close behind the colonel before relaxing her position. She touched the place a casualty cylinder would rest in a combat vest and closed her eyes. She'd carry Doc out, but the others could go to Hell on their own.
Craig and Presit were waiting for her in the corridor.
Presit made high-pitched clicks as Torin moved into the circle of Craig's arms. Approval, disapproval-Torin neither knew nor cared. She hadn't exactly been under arrest while the Tribunal made its judgment, but with Craig under a separate judgment-that took about fifteen minutes to clear him of any responsibility-the Wardens had insisted they be kept apart.
All things considered, Torin figured she was entitled to a moment, so she buried her face in the curve between Craig's neck and shoulder, breathed in his familiar scent, and hung on tight.
"You okay?" His mouth against her hair, his voice was a soft burr of vibration she felt as much as heard.
"Got offered my old job back. Didn't take it," she added when he stiffened. "And the colonel warned me not to skip out on any therapy."
His laugh held a touch of bittersweet. They'd actually crossed a number of things off the we need to talk about this list during the five-day Susumi fold to the MidSector station. "That's one smart colonel."
"Are you two being done with the touching?" Presit snorted, poking Torin in the hip with a claw. "There are still being more documentation to be signing, and I are having better things to be doing than waiting around here to be acting as your witness. I are having awards to be winning."
When Torin turned, Presit had her muzzle raised, teeth very white against the black of her lips. "You got the interview with Big Bill."
"I are having the exclusive," Presit bragged as the three of them started down the corridor. By the time the Navy had reached Vrijheid, most of the pirates had scattered. William Ponner had refused to leave the station, his station, and had been taken. "He are being most cooperative and are being willing to identify those who are have been using his station."
"Fifteen percent of them, anyway," Craig said dryly.
"You are not being funny," she snapped. "Remember, I are having to be turning over to the Wardens everything Torin are having shot for me on the station…"
"It was an illegal camera."
"It are having been an illegal station!" Presit extended her protest all the way down to the station's financial office, covering the failures of media law, media ethics, and the personal failure of Sector Central News to defend genius.
"You sure about this?" Craig asked, thumb running along the inert plastic trim of the desk as the financial officer sent the final numbers to their slates.
Torin shook her head. She didn't know how Craig had got the idea she didn't want to be paid for risking her ass for the greater good. It was how she used to make a living after all. "I'm sure."
The mining cartels that had lost ore drones to the Vrijheid pirates had put together an obscenely large reward. Presit had skimmed a little off the top, but the rest was Torin and Craig's to divide as they saw fit.
"And you're sure that's all you want?" Torin asked the reporter, thumb over the screen.
"Any more," Presit sniffed, indicating that Torin should close the deal, "and I are being in danger of losing my status as being an objective observer."
"And you've already made close to this by licensing an interview you haven't shot yet," Craig pointed out.
"I are having to overpay staff," Presit told him, silvered claws glittering as she waved him off. "It are not like I are spending it all on manicures."
Craig added his thumbprint beside Torin's, then Presit added hers to the master file, and a sizable portion of the reward disappeared to cover bills already incurred.
"Easy come, easy go," Craig sighed as they stood.
"You think that was easy?" Torin snorted. Craig grinned, and they both let their fingers linger over the plastic switch cover as they left the office.
"You are letting me know the next time you are riding to the rescue," Presit said as they walked her to the first vertical. "I are being there."
Torin closed her hand around Craig's. "There won't be a next time."
Presit paused at the hatch, head cocked, Torin's reflection in her mirrored glasses. "Not like this, I are hoping for that, too. But…" She waited until a pair of Rakva exited, chattering about yeast cakes, then her ears flicked forward. "I are not doubting that there are being a next time of some kind. You two are not being destined for having a quiet life."
"You think Presit's right?"
"About us not being destined for a quiet life?" Torin shrugged. "I think precedent agrees with her. I'm not sure I do."
None of the verticals in Admin went all the way to the docking level, so they found one that descended as far as the atrium, shared one strap, and ignored the glances and giggles from rising office workers. Given that more rumors had been generated in verticals than in bars, they maintained a companionable silence until they flipped out into the three-story open area at the center of the station.