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The Suns That Were Stolen [Complete]

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McBeef™ McBeef™ Find all posts by this user Meow meow im a cat Posts:3,503 Joined:Dec 2013 Character:your mum Linkshell:RAVEN Server:Balmung Reputation: 806 Timezone:UTC-8 RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] | #6 09-29-2015, 11:58 PM The courtroom. A Flame Marshal and a number of lieutenants were seated at the bench. The clerk was present, though the bailiff had yet to enter with the accused. The chamber, as spacious as it might have seemed, was conspicuously NOT empty. Kanaria was present, seated in the front row… and behind her, lining the benches, were a significant number of enlisted men. Evangeline waited at the defendant’s table, already spreading out paperwork. Dressed in a suit and tie, for once the Elezen looked almost respectable as she waited for her client to be lead in. The man seated at the prosecutor’s table was dressed in full regalia. The lieutenant seemed very put off by the Elezen woman. He fidgeted endlessly until, at last, Sergeant Melkire was led in. Evangeline gave the prosecutor a wink before she stood and pulled out a chair for the Hyur, “Sergeant, how nice of you to join us. I almost thought you had decided to take a nap instead.” “I’d need a good cushion for that, I tired o’ nappin’ on stone moons ago.” He eyed the prosecutor as he sat down… then cursed under his breath. To Eva, he whispered, “Thal’s Balls, that’s Lieutenant Dieter.” She lowered her voice and leaned over, “Oh? Is he famous?” “For bein’ a pompous arse, aye. Don’t know if he’s any good, Kanaria managed t’win over a tribunal with him arguin’ the other end.” “Hmmmph.” Evangeline grinned, “You forget I’m from Ishgard, we invented pompousness. We’ll see how good he is.” She coughed, “I was able to find your man, by the way. Hopefully his testimony will be a boon, not a bane.” Osric grunted his agreement as the lieutenant stood. “Sers, I would like to move that Miss Primrose be dismissed from this courtroom. The lady is on record for numerous counts of disturbing the peace, which to my knowledge are the least of her offenses. Why, I am not even certain that she is a certified barrister! Do not permit this trial to devolve into a farce.” Evangeline rose primly, “Objection, Your Honors. The gentleman of the prosecution is not observing proper courtroom protocol.” She cleared her throat, “This is not a barroom, Ser, and the way to make yourself known is not by shouting.” She gave him a weak smile, “Perhaps it is not I who is turning this farcical.” She bowed to the judges, sat back down, and leaned over to Osric, “Judges eat shite like that up.” The lieutenants on the bench quietly hid their smiles behind hands and folders as the Marshal leaned forward and cleared her throat. “Objection sustained. Motion to dismiss is, well, dismissed. If you would be so kind, Lieutenant.” Osric turned wide eyes on Evangeline. “Is… is this normal?” Evangeline stuck her tongue out at the Lieutenant, using a folder to block the view of the judges. “A courtroom is like a dance floor, Sergeant. Everything must be done at the proper time, with the proper beat.” She adjusted the documents, “They will use any stumble to judge you, so it’s important to keep up with the waltz.” She steepled her fingers, “If we can keep the Lieutenant on the wrong foot, our chances simply get better.” Dieter cleared his own throat. “Very… very well.” The man stepped out from behind his table and all but paced across the room, lugging his portly frame with him. “To cut straight to the point: Chief Flame Sergeant Melkire stands accused of three counts of murder, assassinations all. Merchant-Nobles Rezhenne, Quillburn, and Mumuqaru are no longer with us.... and we owe that loss of life to the defendant. Sergeant Melkire is known to be possessed of a rather… rebellious… nature. Such is made evident by his service record. His enrollment into the Immortal Flames was irregular.  His service has been irregular. And now we have good cause to believe that he has broken both the spirit and the letter of his oath by turning vigilante. Private Haruko Kokojo of the Brass Blades was the lead investigator on the case against the good sergeant, and has been kind enough to provide substantial evidence. I pray that Your Honors will come to accept that any and all proofs brought before you today -- be they solid, circumstantial, or otherwise -- paint a very clear picture: that Chief Flame Sergeant Melkire had these men assassinated, just as he would have assassinated their peer, Jameson Taeros. We have lost one too many sons of Ul’dah to this criminal-turned-soldier. Pray, let us keep that body count from rising any further.” With that, Dieter turned back to his table and seated himself. Evangeline spoke up. “May I make my opening statement now?” The Marshal blinked. “You may.” Evangeline stood, moving from the table and pacing back and forth for a moment. “The Lieutenant is not wrong.” She said finally, “The Sergeant’s career has been irregular. He is an irregular man, with an irregular career.” She turned to face the judges, “But are these not irregular times? When I was born, the Garleans were not on the continent, Ala Mhigo was free, and the Primals were but a distant memory. Dragons did not perch at our doorsteps, and armies did not nip at our borders. What man could live a regular life in such times, if he were to serve his city well?” She gestured to Osric, “The Sergeant is many things, a Soldier, a Leader, a Fighter. Even a Father.” She turned to the Lieutenant, “But what he is not, is a traitor to his city.” The elezen cleared her throat, “I contend to this court, that the evidence in this case will not point to Sergeant Osric Melkire as being guilty in this case, and more so!” She glared at the Lieutenant, “Will cast doubt on the motives of those who have even brought such spurious charges in front of this High court. The man accused is one with every chance to flee, to take a new life elsewhere, but he has remained to face this charge. Why?” She crossed her arms, “Because he is innocent, and he knows he has nothing to fear, so long as justice is served this day.” At that the Elezen moved back behind the table, “The Defense yields the floor.” Osric swallowed and fidgeted in his seat as Evangeline proclaimed his innocence. Dieter stood as the Marshall spoke, “The Plaintiff may move on to witnesses.” “Your Honors,” Dieter proclaimed, “I call Haruko Kokojo to the stand.” There was a noticeable commotion in the audience as the small woman was led in by a deputy. The accused tensed as his former subordinate took her seat, having not once made eye contact with the man she’s worked so hard to condemn. Evangeline leaned over, “Stop fidgeting.” She muttered, “And make her look you in the eye. Back straight. It’s hard to speak ill of someone with them staring calmly at you.” Osric ceased as Evangeline spoke, then complied. Haruko finally met his eyes from across the courtroom. There was pain in the little private’s gaze… pain, and anger. “Private,” Dieter began, “would you please state for the record when, where, how, and by whom you were brought onto the case? Oh, and please do not forget your full rank, title, and background,” he observed as he turned a sly grin on Primrose. “Not all of us can be trusted to have looked into your own service record, to have familiarized ourselves with all aspects of this case… nor can we blame anyone for a faulty memory.” Kokojo cleared her throat. “I am Private Haruko Kokojo, of the Brass Blades of the Lily. In truth, I was but recently a corporal of the Immortal Flames. That would have been a few moons ago, give or take. Prior to my transfer to the Blades of the Lily, I was working under Broken Nose. He assigned me to this case after he was notified that the Monetarist associates -- they were well known as friends to one another - were falling one by one to the handiwork of a singular assassin.” “And where, pray tell, did your invesigation lead?” “To a survivor, ser, a man by name of Gideon North. A valet, if I understand such matters correctly, who was once employed by Jameson Taeros.” “And what did this Gideon North tell you?” “I do not believe he cared to share much with me at all, not at first. That said, there were notable discrepancies between his testimony and the report he filed with the local station. I sought him out a second time. Further questioning revealed that his assailant was smaller than he, possessed of skill with fist and steel.” “Did Mister North identify this assailant?” “No, ser, he did not.” “Was this assailant identified over the course of your investigation?” “Yes, ser. I made it a point to delve into Gideon North’s recent activities. He revealed to me that he had, moons prior, made the acquaintance of an unusual Miqo’te male, by name of Yuko.” Haruko glanced away from Dieter to meet Osric’s eyes once more. “The name stood out. I’d heard it before, not a cycle past… when my former sergeant, the accused was led to the Hall gaols alongside one Blizzard Yuko after a failed assassination attempt on the sultana herself.” The mutterings of the audience suddenly rose in volume. Dieter turned to glare out over the crowd, which fell silent once more. “Did the descriptions of these two men match?” “Yes, ser. Gideon North described the male adequately. Short, white hair, possessed of a particular taste in apparel. That description is on record with the Immortal Flames as that of the same male who broke into the palace alongside Osric Melkire.” Evangeline could be seen writing notes as the testimony continued. “Was this man ever taken into custody during the course of your investigation?” “No, ser. He has eluded us to this very sun.” “Very well, Private, very well. Did you happen upon any further leads?” “Ser Coatleque Crofte, of Her Majesty’s Sultansworn, came to me one sun with a suggestion. She told me that if I wanted answers, I had best seek them out at the home of the Dauntless.” Dieter cleared his throat as he strode to his table and lifted a folder from it. “If I may, Your Honors, the relevant paperwork and personnel files identifying the Dauntless as, up until last sennight, a Grand Company unit under the Foreign Brigade of the Immortal Flames. If I may approach the bench?” The Marshal idly waved a hand before she answered, “You may.” Osric took a deep breath and plastered a smile on his face as he observed. He glanced at Evangeline for a brief moment. She reached under the table and gave his arm a squeeze, nodding slightly. As the judges reviewed the papers, the Marshall gave the prosecutor the go-ahead to proceed. Dieter turned back to Haruko. “Private, what did you find by pursuing this lead?” “Nothing at first. I was barred from entry by their doorman -- curiously, a distant relative of Lord Mumuqaru himself -- and told that I had to await word from the company’s lieutenant, one Mikh’a Korofi.” Haruko paused and glanced about. “May I have some water?” Dieter turned and opened his arms in Evangeline’s general direction, as if to ask whether she has any objections. Evangeline nodded, “By all means, who would I be to deprive one of Ul’dah’s defenders from sustenance?” She cleared her throat, “Such honest and straightforward testimony can only lead us to the truth, please Private, continue.” The bailiff signaled to one of his deputies, who in short order returned with a glass. Her thirst quenched, Haruko nodded. “Thank you.” “But of course," rumbled Dieter. "Private, did Mikh’a Korofi ever contact you?” “No, ser. The truth is that I did not once manage to have words with any of the company’s men or women. So I took initiative.” “What initiative did you take, Private?” “I went through records, ser. Had their mail searched. Looked through their books.” “Objection!” Evangeline raised her hands, “Were such acts undertaken legally? Evidence obtained by illegal means would be inadmissible…” “Objection sustained. Private, did you have warrants for such search and seizure?” “I did, Your Honor. I took my case to Broken Nose. Given that the investigation was seeking justice for the deaths of three innocent men, my request was granted. I took the warrants to Commander Swift himself, then to the company’s doorman. No officer stepped forward to object.” Dieter glanced at Evangeline once more. The Elezen nodded, “Thank you.” before seating herself. “What did you find in your search, Private?” “Fifty thousand gil, posted once a moon for nine straight moons to an abandoned address in Limsa Lominsa. To the accused’s mother, supposedly.” Osric schooled his face as best he could and stared at the defense’s table. “You have doubts regarding the intended recipient, Private?” “Leading the witness…” Evangeline muttered. Osric spared her a pleading glance. “I do.” “Who do you believe this coin was sent to?” Haruko looked straight at Osric. “The assassin responsible for the murders of Rezhenne, Quillburn, and Mumuqaru. Blizzard Yuko. Dieter turned to the bench, “No further questions, Your Honors,” then headed for his seat.

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The Suns That Were Stolen [Complete] - by Melkire - 09-09-2015, 10:14 PM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 09-11-2015, 02:20 PM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 09-27-2015, 12:06 AM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 09-28-2015, 09:04 AM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by McBeefâ„¢ - 09-28-2015, 01:06 PM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by McBeefâ„¢ - 09-29-2015, 11:58 PM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 10-06-2015, 01:53 PM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 10-14-2015, 08:03 AM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 11-14-2015, 08:34 PM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 11-22-2015, 04:38 AM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 11-27-2015, 04:58 AM RE: The Suns That Were Stolen [Story] - by Melkire - 12-12-2015, 04:13 PM

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