Hee hee!

[maderr]

First off! The totally awesome and wicked cool stardance did Kidnapped fanart here. Go take a look! *loves stardance*

And now the chapitres. With epilogue to come once a beta appears to approve it. (and all three approved the chapters, so if there is a flaw - oh the doom that will rain down upon them XP).



Chapter Twenty-four


Planet 00000000 (Zero), Palace of Eternity


"You killed our parents," Jade said calmly.

Gory stepped aside as Pyotr guided Jade to join the others, forming a solid group against the dumbfounded Gory. He remained silent, unobtrusively thumbing a button on the remote hidden in the pocket of his formal black and silver robes, identical to those of Gory and Jade. "You're being preposterous."

"No, I'm not." He still spoke in a calm, almost idle tone. "Unfortunately, my plans have gone awry and I can't see you rot the way I would have liked. No thanks to my moronic brother and a man I mistakenly trusted," his cool eyes flicked briefly to Pyotr, who stared back and then looked away. Jade returned his gaze to Gory. "You killed mom and dad."

"Ridiculous. You're insane."

"I AM NOT INSANE!" Jade snarled, his calm façade dissolving. "You killed my parents, and then you had the nerve to hold me while I cried, while their bodies were wrapped up and hauled away like so much garbage. You held me and all the time you were the one who pulled the trigger! Don't try to tell me you didn't!"

Gory frowned, looking concerned. He turned to Pyotr, "Shouldn't we be getting to the inquiry? Surely these absurd accusations can wait. There's no call for this behavior - surely you agree?"

"Shut up," Cyan said before Pyotr could speak. "If you really are innocent, Gory, I'll be the first to silence Jade - and gladly. But if he's right, I want to know now."

Pyotr and the others remained silent, the only other people in the private hallway leading from the Chancellery offices to the court rooms and meeting halls.

Jade turned to sneer at his brother, "Finally deciding not to be a coward?"

"To hell with you, Jade." Cyan gazed stonily at his brother. "All I wanted was my quiet life. You’ve effectively ruined that - I just want to put an end to all of this and leave it behind me. That includes you."

"I won't be sorry to see you go."

"You're both crazy," Gory said as Jade finished speaking.

Jade glared at him hatefully. "I'm getting sick of people saying that about me. I'm not the bastard who killed my best friend and his wife and then pretended to comfort their sobbing child, and help the children cope, and then ever so gracefully accepted the promotion to High Chancellor."

"Absurd," Gory said, anger growing. "I don't understand why you keep saying such hateful things. Are you so upset about being caught at dabbling in magics research that you'd stoop to accusing me of murdering your parents?"

"Forget it, Cohen," Jade sneered. "By the time that inquiry ends, it will be perfectly obvious to all and sundry that you're just as guilty as I. Because I made damn good and sure that the money you 'donated' to 'charity' left a blazing trail, to show up in the accounts of the laboratory my darling brother no doubt helped them to find."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Gory said calmly. "Other than the fact that you're incriminating yourself quite thoroughly."

"I no longer care. All I want is to see you suffer, and if I've been thwarted this time, I will simply have to cut my losses. I have all the evidence I need to put you away - I just never wanted to use it."

"Che," Gory scoffed. "You're being absurd. You can't have evidence for something of which I'm not guilty."

"Oh, no? What would you say to the signed and witnessed confessions of all the assassins you hired to kill them?"

"Four signed and witnessed confessions from assassins? Now I'm convinced you're insane."

Cyan frowned, "Four? But there were only two."

"No…" Pyotr was looking at Gory with an odd look on his face. "Investigators learned that at least four gun men had been present in the area - two primary snipers and two back up. But IA never released that information. To anyone."

"You-" Cyan's face had gone green, but was rapidly turning red. "You son of a bitch!" He easily broke free of Einn's attempts to catch him, launching himself at the High Chancellor.

Jade smirked, "I guess he's good for something after all."

"This is ridiculous," Faller darted past the rest and grappled with the enraged Cyan and faltering Chancellor, cursing colorfully as he blocked swings and kicks much more deadly in intent than those he dealt with from the Guard.

Pyotr moved to help, dragging Gory away as Faller finally succeeded in stopping Cyan, pinning him to the ground. "Stop it."

"Fuck you. Let me up."

"No and no." Faller frowned, "Killing him won't do any good."

"I don't care!"

Jade sneered, "I thought you wanted me to just let it go."

"That was before I saw him," Cyan choked, eyes glittering with pain and rage. "Let me up!"

"No," Faller said again. He looked up at Einn, "Calm him down."

Einn frowned, "Cyan…"

"That is quite enough," Arkadii said as he appeared from behind the group. His eyes sought and found Pyotr. "You, I've decided, need to be locked up. It's the only way I'll get any peace." He shifted his attention to Gory, "You're in trouble. Quite a bit. I've half a mind to let young Alexander have at you." He looked at Faller and Einn, motioning to Cyan. "Take him out of here." Lastly, he looked to Jade. "Behave yourself from here on out or I'll see to it your sentence is worse than it would otherwise be."

"Sir…" Pyotr began.

"Shut up, Pyotr. I've got enough to deal with, I don't need you giving me more problems."

"You were just handed the person we've been trying to find for more than a decade. Shouldn't you be happy?"

"Happy?" Arkadii's eyebrows vanished into his hairline. "I’m about to force the resignation of three Lower Chancellor's, and at least one is facing arrest. My High Chancellor is guilty not only of illegal dealings but also of double murder. The elder Alexander will, by the end of the day, be on his way to Rehab and the younger has to be held down because otherwise he'll be arrested for murder. On top of all that, I'm losing my best - if most annoying - agent and the credibility of the IG is now officially at zero. If there's something for me to be happy about in all that, do let me know what it is Pyotr. Can you think of anything?"

"No, sir." Pyotr said quietly, looking away.

"Exactly." Arkadii motioned to the assembled, "Everyone get where they're supposed to be. I want this day over with and the sooner we begin the sooner we end." He didn't look back as he made his way back to the hall where the inquiry was to be held. As he left, Authorities in steel gray uniforms surged forward to take Gory and Jade into custody and escort them to the inquiry.

Faller waited until the group had vanished before relaxing his bruising hold on Cyan - who punched him as soon as he had the room to swing. But Faller only grunted in pain, accepting a hand up from Karmikel.

Cyan didn't look at any of them, merely glared darkly down the hallway the others had vanished down. He barely seemed to notice the arm Einn hesitantly wrapped around his shoulders. His fisted hands trembled at his sides, and he looked for a moment as if he might take after the departed figures - but then he simply folded into Einn, his sobs muffled by the Fornarian's heavy jacket.

Wordlessly Faller and Karmikel turned away to head for the primary hall, leaving Einn and Cyan alone.

*~*~*~*

The Grand Chancellor sat at the highest of three judgement seats over looking the grand-scale, black and gray Hall of Balance, the primary hall where all formal meetings were held - including important court sessions, high law debates, and inquiries involving high ranking officials. Under normal circumstances, the level below the Grand Chancellor was occupied by the High Chancellor, and below him the four Lower Chancellors. These five seats were glaringly empty, as all but one Lower Chancellor sat in the seats of the accused, and the remaining - Lower Chancellor Kavalerov - sat amongst the witnesses.

Proceedings began by calling in replacement judges to fill the empty seats. In case of death or some other serious circumstance, the positions of the Lower Chancellors could be filled by the First High Councilor of each Quadrant. But the seat of the High Chancellor remained empty, because the only ones fit to fill that position were themselves under Inquiry. The Grand Chancellor, normally just an observer, would this once serve to break any possible tie in judgment.

The Hall was glaringly quiet. No one spoke a word, not even to exchange theories and rumors regarding those under Inquiry. Before the benches at which the Grand Chancellor and stand-ins sat were four rows of chair in which sat those under Inquiry/ In the first row sat a quiet, stony line of four figures in formal black and silver. At one end sat Jade, black nails still but for the occasional twitch, before he recalled that tapping them against the armrest was not a good idea. Far opposite him, as far away as the two could get, sat Gory Cohen, looking pale and sick and resigned. Between them sat two Lower Chancellor's, both looking nearly as miserable as Gory. Behind that row was assembled a mass of scientists, pirates and a sullen looking Val.

To the right of the judgment benches, on a slightly raised dais, sat those who would serve as witnesses - Pyotr, Karmikel, Einn, Lorraine, and Jundel. Also assembled were those Draconis and their mates who had been held in the lab.

Opposite the witnesses was the rest of the primary members of the Infinitum Government - below each of the Lower Chancellors were the First and Second High Councilors, but as the First Councilors had taken the bench in lieu of the Chancellors, their four seats remained empty. In addition to the Second Councilors were the twelve Lower Councilors, completing the Primary Board of the Infinitum Government. The Secondary Board was aloft with the other approved guests.

High above on the balconies overlooking the hall were those few who had been permitted to view the Inquiry - the Secondary Board, several Conis delegates, a smattering of Draconis, and a select few family members of those under inquiry. In a center seat with a perfect view of everything below, sat Cyan, pale faced and grim. And scattered everywhere throughout the Hall were Authorities in their austere steel gray uniforms, the only ones permitted weapons within the Palace of Eternity.

"Well," Arkadii's frigid voice boomed out, making more than a few people wince. "This is a fine disgrace you've thrown at the Infinitum," he glared down at the Chancellor's. "Lower Chancellors Sylvius Li and Raquesha Morvan, you are under heavy suspicious for participating in illegal genetics experimentation on Draconis and various other magics capable persons. Related to that, you are under suspicion for permitting the kidnapping and mistreatment of said Draconis and their "mates," abusing your authority and willfully permitting the maltreatment of citizens you swore to protect. What say you, Chancellors?"

"Falsely accused," Raquesha said levelly, staring boldly at the Grand Chancellor.

"Falsely accused," Sylvius echoed, though he would not look directly at anyone.

"Hmm…" Arkadii shifted his attention. "Lower Chancellor Jade Alexander - you are under heavy suspicion for the same - illegal experimentation, abuse of authority and neglect of your citizens. You also fall under heavy suspicion of conspiring to do your peers harms. What say you, Chancellor?"

"I confess to all," Jade said, sounding almost bored.

Whispers and cries of shock sounded from those assembled on the balcony, and even through the government officials on the floor. Only the group of witnesses and the Grand Chancellor did not seem terribly surprised by Jade's words.

Arkadii nodded, and moved on to the next official. "High Chancellor Gory Cohen, you stand guilty of participating in the same crimes. And due to recent events, you also stand accused," he paused, feeling the sudden wave of curiosity that rippled through the assembly, "Of assassinating the Lord and Lady Alexander." A beat of silence, before the balcony and even many on the floor went crazy. One of the Councilors filling in on the bench pounded his gavel for silence. "What say you, High Chancellor?" Arkadii asked coolly.

Gory was silent, frowning at everyone but not really seeing them.

"Do note, High Chancellor, that this is only an Inquiry. Confessing here will, by law, lighten your sentence and spare the people you've failed to serve the months it would take to conduct your trial. However, I am obliged to remind you that an inquiry is held because we lack sufficient evidence to go straight to trial."

"I understand the reasons for a trial, Grand Chancellor. I am, despite what my actions say, fully aware of the law and how it operates. And I confess to all of which I am accused."

The noise was deafening, and eventually officials gave up trying to quell it. Gradually the Authorities managed to silence the assembled, though it took them nearly half an hour to do it.

"Very well," Arkadii said once he could be heard. "High Chancellor Cohen, Lower Chancellors Li, Morvan and Alexander - you are all hereby suspended until further notice. You are banned from your offices in the Palace and will not enter the Palace except with my express permission and accompanied by an Authority. Alexander and Cohen - your confessions I will take now, before the assembly. Know that once you confess, your words cannot be rescinded. Is that understood?"

"Understood."

Arkadii motioned to the Authority nearest the bench, "Captain - have a few of your men removed Li and Morvan. I do not want to risk their interrupting the proceedings."

"May I ask a question, first?" Sylvius asked with a frown.

"I don't see why not - but I reserve the right to not answer it. Ask your question, Li. But be quick."

"Why is Chancellor Kavalerov not standing with us? Is it not the case that all Lower Chancellors are under suspicion for grievous misconduct?"

The Grand Chancellor permitted a brief smirk, gone almost before it was noticed. "Lower Chancellor Kavalerov is in trouble only for conducting an investigation without my express permission. And Internal Affairs agents do not undergo public inquiries - he will be dealt with accordingly in due course."

Yet again, the assembly was taken by surprise, though this time they quieted much sooner. "Escort them out, Captain."

Arkadii stared down at the suspects still seated behind the Chancellors. "The rest of you will be dealt with in due course. Note that what Cohen and Alexander say cannot be used against you in an inquiry. I also remind you that if you cooperate and confess here, your sentence will lightened. Now-" he motioned to a row of women who had sat off to the side with the assembled government officials on the floor. "Let's begin."