Read Online Future Dreams by T.J. Mindancer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: T.J. Mindancer
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you have to judge.”
“But how could you not be afraid of her?” Jadic asked.
“She’s been cleansed.” Jame wondered why, in this particular case, that meant nothing. “That should be enough of a reason or have you suddenly stopped trusting the healers’ abilities to do their job?”
“Lesson number two,” Ingel said. “Always remember all the facts about a client or the defendants in a case. Don’t just focus on the most sensational facts that dominate the rumors. Now Jame has work to do, and I’m still expecting an essay on Scrytians’ General Laws from each of you tomorrow.”
With good-natured grumbles, the arbiters went to their rooms. Jame caught a beckoning nod from Ingel and followed her.
“Now that you’ve gotten past the first barricade, do you have an idea of how to argue her case?” Ingel asked after she settled behind her table and Jame collapsed into the visitors chair.
Jame gave her a sheepish look. “Not really. But I’m hoping that will come once I get to know Tigh a little better.”
“Allow me to give you a few suggestions,” Ingel said. “The usual arguments used for the Guards are not going to work in Tigh’s case, even if they’re just as valid. The Federation Council is wary of having Tigh the Terrible out in the world so the Tribunal is going to be a lot harder on her than the other Guards.”
“But it’s not fair,” Jame said. “It’s not her fault the enhancements made her a ruthless warrior. Besides, the Federation Council was more than happy with her when she was winning their major battles.”
“Unfortunately, she was little more than a volatile weapon and the most dangerous weapons are always destroyed after a war,” Ingel said. “You guessed that she misses being a warrior. That doesn’t necessarily mean the cleansing wasn’t successful, it just brought out some traits that had been dormant in Tigh before she was enhanced.”
“Is this one of Pendon’s theories?” Jame asked.
“Yes, it is,” Ingel said. “But it makes sense. There’s nothing of Tigh the Terrible in that confused and passive young woman I see roaming the corridors. It’s now on your shoulders to find out who Tigh is today and present that to the Tribunal.”
“I’ll do my best,” Jame said as the enormity of her task swept over her.
TIGH SAT ON the edge of the cot and stared at the neatly written and well-presented argument she held in her hand.
Jame, trying not to fidget, sat in her little chair in the corridor. Tigh proved to be a challenging client. She almost laughed at how much of an understatement that was. For one thing, Tigh never looked at her. For another thing, her method of communication was verbally spare but physically expressive. A simple shrug or lift of a hand could communicate as well as any word.
Jame spent much of their time together just deciphering the subtleties of this language of movement. She didn’t think Tigh was being deliberately uncooperative. Tigh was frightened and confused and, if Jame understood her body language, not entirely trusting of the rehabilitation process.
She knew she shouldn’t care about what Tigh thought of the document. Preparing arguments was, after all, a part of the job. But she was drawn to this enigmatic woman. More than she had ever been drawn to anyone. She wanted to get to know her, not say goodbye when the arbitration process was finished. She sighed and pushed down these unsettling thoughts.
Tigh laid the document on the cot, stood up, and shuffled to the window. She stared outside for several heartbeats.
“Why are you doing this?” Tigh asked without turning around.
Both surprised and delighted at the first full sentence from Tigh, Jame almost responded with what she had told Tigh during their first meeting. But something deep inside stopped her. “Because I want to.” She knew Tigh could sense she told the truth. That particular Guard enhancement seemed to resist cleansing.
Tigh turned around
“But how could you not be afraid of her?” Jadic asked.
“She’s been cleansed.” Jame wondered why, in this particular case, that meant nothing. “That should be enough of a reason or have you suddenly stopped trusting the healers’ abilities to do their job?”
“Lesson number two,” Ingel said. “Always remember all the facts about a client or the defendants in a case. Don’t just focus on the most sensational facts that dominate the rumors. Now Jame has work to do, and I’m still expecting an essay on Scrytians’ General Laws from each of you tomorrow.”
With good-natured grumbles, the arbiters went to their rooms. Jame caught a beckoning nod from Ingel and followed her.
“Now that you’ve gotten past the first barricade, do you have an idea of how to argue her case?” Ingel asked after she settled behind her table and Jame collapsed into the visitors chair.
Jame gave her a sheepish look. “Not really. But I’m hoping that will come once I get to know Tigh a little better.”
“Allow me to give you a few suggestions,” Ingel said. “The usual arguments used for the Guards are not going to work in Tigh’s case, even if they’re just as valid. The Federation Council is wary of having Tigh the Terrible out in the world so the Tribunal is going to be a lot harder on her than the other Guards.”
“But it’s not fair,” Jame said. “It’s not her fault the enhancements made her a ruthless warrior. Besides, the Federation Council was more than happy with her when she was winning their major battles.”
“Unfortunately, she was little more than a volatile weapon and the most dangerous weapons are always destroyed after a war,” Ingel said. “You guessed that she misses being a warrior. That doesn’t necessarily mean the cleansing wasn’t successful, it just brought out some traits that had been dormant in Tigh before she was enhanced.”
“Is this one of Pendon’s theories?” Jame asked.
“Yes, it is,” Ingel said. “But it makes sense. There’s nothing of Tigh the Terrible in that confused and passive young woman I see roaming the corridors. It’s now on your shoulders to find out who Tigh is today and present that to the Tribunal.”
“I’ll do my best,” Jame said as the enormity of her task swept over her.
TIGH SAT ON the edge of the cot and stared at the neatly written and well-presented argument she held in her hand.
Jame, trying not to fidget, sat in her little chair in the corridor. Tigh proved to be a challenging client. She almost laughed at how much of an understatement that was. For one thing, Tigh never looked at her. For another thing, her method of communication was verbally spare but physically expressive. A simple shrug or lift of a hand could communicate as well as any word.
Jame spent much of their time together just deciphering the subtleties of this language of movement. She didn’t think Tigh was being deliberately uncooperative. Tigh was frightened and confused and, if Jame understood her body language, not entirely trusting of the rehabilitation process.
She knew she shouldn’t care about what Tigh thought of the document. Preparing arguments was, after all, a part of the job. But she was drawn to this enigmatic woman. More than she had ever been drawn to anyone. She wanted to get to know her, not say goodbye when the arbitration process was finished. She sighed and pushed down these unsettling thoughts.
Tigh laid the document on the cot, stood up, and shuffled to the window. She stared outside for several heartbeats.
“Why are you doing this?” Tigh asked without turning around.
Both surprised and delighted at the first full sentence from Tigh, Jame almost responded with what she had told Tigh during their first meeting. But something deep inside stopped her. “Because I want to.” She knew Tigh could sense she told the truth. That particular Guard enhancement seemed to resist cleansing.
Tigh turned around
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