Episode XXIV:
Court of the damned, Court of the blessed.
 

 David stood, slowly at first. The court was large, several bay windows sent light shining across a marble floor. There was a large, raised platform at one end of the court, four judges sat, half obscured by the large gray desk, and their black robes. The large podium had a single symbol engraved in it, the sigil of the GTVA.
 The judges were Human and Vasudan, two Human and two Vasudan. On the floor, a smaller podium stood, its metallic gray color reflected up off the polished floor. Beside the stand were two desks, a group of officials sat nervously in one, while Dove sat at the second desk. Behind a barrier, a thousand people sat all waiting to hear what the witness’ had to say. At the end of the crowd were two large doors, brown, and made from an oak derivative.
 David stood silently, he gave Dove a sad look, but Dove shook his head. David stepped down from the stand and opened a small door in the barrier; he stepped through the opening and sat down. Kate looked over at David, but he didn’t look back.
One of the judges stood, she surveyed the crowed, and her eyes rested on Dove. “Richard Ganamede, of the Neo-Terran Front. Stand.” Dove obeyed slowly. The judge began again. “You have been charge with Treason, Murder, and a total disregard for life. Is there anything you wish to say in your defense.” The judge said, sitting back down into her chair, which was hidden somewhere behind the podium.
Dove turned slowly, he looked down at Kate and then began to speak. “I am not going to stand here and pretend that what I did, back then, never happened.” Dove said slowly, he looked down at Kate, but no one could be sure if he was talking to her, or the court. “I cannot atone for my crimes, there can be no atonement for what I did.” Dove stepped around the desk and approached the podium; he looked up at the assembled judges. “When I was captured during the NTF rebellion, I saw Humans and Vasudans fighting together, and it ripped me apart. Samuel Morrison changed me, forever.” The judges exchanged weary glances.
 The central judge began to speak again. “Mr. Ganamede we have herd the testimony of your shipmates and-”
 Dove cut her off. “It is not enough.” Dove said quietly. The judge fell back into her chair; Dove had guessed what she was about to say.
 “Exactly.” The judge said.
Dove nodded slowly. “I know. It can never be enough.” Dove turned back to the crowed. “I sealed my fate when I joined the NTF, and there is no reason to try and stop it. But I do have one last thing to say.” Dove looked down at his hands. “Down on that small planet, the man I killed, Sirus….” Dove trailed off for a moment. He closed his eyes. “His name in full was Sirus Ganamede, my Brother.” The crowd exploded in an array of chatter.
The judge stood quickly. “Silence.” She began. “Silence!” She yelled, the crowed calmed down.
Dove turned back to the judges. “I did not kill him, he killed himself, and I died with him. No sentence you could give could ease me.” Dove walked through total silence, the air seamed to push at him, as if the planet itself had decided that Dove should say something else. Dove pushed through the silence and sat back down behind his bench.
The door opened quickly and a young officer rushed in. He walked briskly past the lines of people and stepped out unto the floor. He climbed the steps that led up to the judges and whispered into the ear of the central judge.
“Here?!” She said quietly. The officer nodded. Suddenly the two large doors of the courtroom were smashed open, and in walked an angry Vasudan Emperor. Konshu walked quickly up through the courtroom. The crowd was hushed silent as the Emperor made his way through their ranks. Hushed voices whispered in the crowd. Konshu stopped as he reached the barricade. He turned and looked at Kate, and then back up at the judges.
“I am Emperor Konshu the Second, leader for the Vasudan People. I have no service number, I have no military ranking, I simply am. I approach this court as a citizen of the Galactic Terran Vasudan Alliance, and I understand, and accept anything that might arise from what I am about to say.” Konshu opened the barrier and stepped out unto the floor, he never looked at Dove, as he moved he continued to look up at the judges. “How can you sit up there, up there so high and mighty, and look down on this man?” Konshu said motioning at Dove, his head never moved. “We who accepted the NTF Base in our space. We allowed them to exist, and you would try this man for that? For existence?” Konshu said, anger rippled across his face, and in his alien voice. The barker spewed the usual monotone voice, but everyone could hear the anger, and the pity in Konshu’s voice.
The central judge rocked back and forth nervously in her chair. “Emperor Konshu, for you can never lose that title, you damn this court for inactivity, an inactivity which even yourself signed.” The Judge said.
Konshu nodded slowly. “I know that. I signed the paper. But non-of us understood what we were saying. It’s all right and good to believe that if you leave it alone; the rash will go away. But it spreads. We thought we were safe, we thought wrong.” Konshu began to pace the room. “To quote an Ancient Earth Singer, ‘Hate destroys the soul of anyone who tries to teach it’.” Konshu turned, and looked down at Dove. “This man’s soul was destroyed, once, but now…” Konshu gave a small laugh. “…Now he is more honorable, more worthy, then us.” Konshu spun on his heals and threw an angry hand up at the judges. “We have no right to judge him, if anyone should be on trial, it should be us. And the verdict is guilty.” Konshu turned slowly, lowering his arm. He headed for the barrier, but was stopped as the judge spoke out.
“Emperor Konshu, you have herd the testimony of the others, you have brought nothing new to this case.” The judge fell back into her chair. “Normally we would consult the collective Admirals of the GTVA, for such a matter as this. But I have no reason to do this. Rise.” Dove stood slowly. David, Kate, Ridow, and Vo’rant stood up together. “The verdict is not-guilty.” The crowed exploded. Konshu smiled. David let out a deep breath, and almost fell down. The loud sound of a gavel quieted the crowed. “You have never been guilty, and it was not this courts purpose to prove otherwise.”
 Konshu gasped, he stepped towards the bench. “Then this was all…”
David interrupted “…A Damned show trial.”
The judge smiled at that. “Yes, Admiral Archer. But a required one. Today, several NTF conspirators were arrested; those conspirators were members of the GTVA Security Council. But we share in their crimes, we all do. Only you and your destroyer are exempt. We cannot pay for our crimes, but we might be able to help. Step to the bench admiral.” David pushed past Kate and stepped out into the isle. Konshu nodded slowly with a slight understanding. He had known all along, and it almost made David laugh.
As David reached the bench, the large doors opened at the back of the courtroom, and in strolled a guard in a heavy black uniform. He had with him a silver briefcase. David turned and watched the guard approach. Slowly, the Guard stopped in front of David, he reached out and opened the case. Holding it in two hands, he offered the contents of the case to David.
“My god…” David began.
The judge smiled. “The service records the Black Sparrows, their names, ships, insignias, rank, and history fully restored. As well, the restoration of the full flight records, including all previously mentioned, the flight records of Captain Samuel Morrison, and Captain Tak’eye Vo’tion.” The judge came forward in her seat. “Courtesy of the GTVI.” David took up the records in trembling hands. But there was something left in the box; he pulled out the small disk. The judge nodded slowly. “Yes, your orders as Admiral of the GTD Requiem.” David smiled. “As for you.” The judge turned to Dove. “You will receive a field promotion to Lt. Commander and you will join, officially, the Black Sparrows Squadron, under the command of Captain Catherine Norrow. Long live the Second Black Sparrows. Court adjourned.” The gavel hit the podium three times. And the judges stood, and walked away.
Kate, and Vo’rant rushed out to Dove. Ridow didn’t care; he jumped right over the barrier, and landed next to his comrade.
“Black Sparrow 4?” He asked quickly. Dove began to laugh. “Well at least you’re not meditating anymore.” Dove nodded slowly.
Vo’rant stepped up. “Of course, as my official wingman, you will have to perform your tasks better then before.” Vo’rant smiled.
Dove nodded. “I will try Captain.”
Kate stepped up. “Welcome back.” She said simply.
“Thank you.” Dove said slowly.
Konshu walked over; he looked down at Dove. “Come, Terra’s Vasudan Ace.” The five of them turned and left the courtroom. David sat down and began to read over the reports, he wasn’t sure if what he was looking for, but he had to look.

    * * *
 
The large doors of the courthouse swung open, a thousand citizens crowded around the small courthouse, filling the streets in the capitol. Dove looked out across the crowd, and over on the roof of a building, beyond the crowd, the crowd that cried out for them, a single Vasudan stood, his hands clasped together. Dove looked out across the crowd, out towards that single Vasudan who stood above the crowd. The Vasudan raised his hands and released what he held inside. A single solitary Dove emerged. The majestic white bird exploded into the sky, it fluttered over the crowd. Dove turns to Vo’rant and the Vasudan nodded. The two of them turned and walked away from the crowd. Konshu waved to the crowd, and smiled happily to himself. Kate watched the two men leave, she didn’t know where they were going, but they seemed to know where they were headed. Kate turned around and headed back into the courthouse.

    * * *

The large doors to the courtroom opened easily. The large room was quiet, and empty. Except for David. David sat at the defendant’s table; he was hunched over the records. Kate began to walk up the isle; her boots made a loud clang with each step she took.  Then, Kate stopped quickly. She starred at David. She was closer now, almost at the barrier. David sat there, looking down at the reports, tears streaming down his face. She steadied herself on one of the benches. Kate pushed forward quickly, moved through the door in the barrier, and stepped up to David. She looked down at which report he was reading. It was David’s own. A strange, smiling face was looking up at Kate.
“I abandoned them.” David said slowly. “I gave up, damn it.” David said slowly. Kate shook her head.
“No you didn’t.” Kate looked up. And David’s head slowly rose. Samuel Morrison stepped away from the large doors. Sam gave a small laugh. “Don’t try to explain it, I’m not dead, and I’m not alive.” Sam breathed in slowly. He looked down at his own hands and stepped forward slowly. “Some kind of super-technology, something billions of years ahead of our own.” Sam said continuing forward. David stood slowly. Sam shook his head, and held out a hand. “You didn’t give up. There was no one left.” Sam said slowly.
“Listen to the man, David.” Stonefox said, he sat in the prosecutor’s chair. His legs reached out, and rested on the table. He Black Sparrows appeared out of nowhere, each telling him not to give up.
“There is still more to come. David, a power is coming, more destructive then a thousand Sathanas Class Jugernaughts. You must be ready.” Sam said slowly.
Vo’tion appeared slowly. “There is a war brewing, on the other side of time, and you will have to face it Kate.” Kate nodded slowly. “Be prepared.” Vo’tion continued. Sam smiled, and they disappeared.

     * * *

 The sands at the NTF base in the Lyuten system swirled in strange clouds out across the desert. A body wrapped in medical-gauze was slowly lowered unto a conveyer belt. At one end the conveyer belt was a large metal cutter, a cutter powerful enough to turn a man into ashes in a matter of moments. At the other end of the conveyer stood Dove. He pulled the trench coat up around his collar; the new insignia of a Lt. Commander felt strange on his neck. The bit at him and the flaps of the coat rustled around his legs. Sand danced at his boots, and sound of wind rushed through his ears. No one stood watching the body roll down the conveyer. A worker watched the body move with boredom, his head drooping, he yawned slowly. As the body reached the cutter, the worker switched on the beams. The body moved in towards the lines of energy. They made a slow hum as they cut the air. The body crackled loudly as it was slowly eaten by the cutter. Ashes spewed as the cutter ripped the body to shreds. The ashes ran down into a hole in the earth, slowly, a few workers filled the hole with sand. When the body was finally destroyed the worker shut the machine off. He turned slowly and spat down into the large hole. Dove didn’t move a muscle. The worker walked away, and disappeared through the sand.
 Dove fell to his knees. The sand whisped around his dark uniform as he crashed into the dirt. Vo’rant walked up slowly, his large cloak flapping in the wind.
 “I killed Sirus.” Dove said slowly. “I liked Sirus.”
Vo’rant nodded slowly. “You were not incorrect to kill him.” Vo’rant said slowly. Sadness filled his voice.
 Dove shot up, standing quickly. “What would you know?” Dove started. “Have you killed a brother?”
 Vo’rant reached out and placed a sympathetic hand on Dove’s shoulder. “Yes, I have.” Dove turned and walked over to the large hole. E looked down and saw the black ashes of a hundred officers, men and women killed in the raid. Slowly, workers filled the hole with dirt. The two figures left the hole; they walked through the hallowed halls of the base, and eventually came out on the platform. Dove walked out across the platform; he looked over at the blackened spot where Richtoven had stood. His blackened legs still stood, now they had stopped burning.
 Dove pulled his sidearm out of his coat and began to fire. The bullets ricocheted off the robot’s legs. Sparks flew as bullets deflected off the metal. Vo’rant watched the sad sight. Eventually, Dove ran out of bullets, but he kept pulling the trigger. The click, click, click of the empty gun filled the empty void. Vo’rant stepped up and put a hand on the weapon, slowly, he pushed it down. Dove stopped firing.
 “It is over.” Vo’rant said slowly. Dove ripped the weapon from Vo’rant’s grasp. He pulled back, and with a mighty scream tossed the gun at the blackened legs. The gun hit one of the legs and a loud metal clang sounded. The weapon fell with a clang on the deck. Slowly, the leg tipped over, and crashed into the deck. “It is over.” Vo’rant said again.
 Dove nodded. “It is now.” Dove said slowly, the two pilots left the base behind.

     * * *
 Onboard the GTD Aristogoth
 “We are gathered here tonight, to pay tribute to Commander Arnold ‘Extinguisher’ Mann.” David said slowly. The small observation deck was filled with officers. Kate and Ridow stood in full dress uniforms, watching David. David stood looking down at the black, shiny coffin. The casket was covered by the flag of the GTVA, its symbol shone up at him. Admiral Dimitry and Admiral Dravus had been remitted of all crimes from their rescue attempt of the GTD Requiem. “To both the Pilot he was, and as the Doctor he became.” David reached down and touched the casket. “I saw many pilots come and go, but he was the best I ever saw.” David stepped back. “Goodbye my friend, May…” David choked up, and it took him a moment to clear his throat. “… May you live to see your home.” David reached down and picked the flag up off the coffin.
 “Tan-hut!” Dimitry yelled. The crowd snapped to attention. “Present Arms.” All the laser turrets of the Aristogoth turned slowly and snapped into position. Extinguisher’s coffin slowly lowered itself into the open hole in the deck. “Fire.” Dimitry said. All the guns fired together. The coffin seated into the deck and the door closed slowly. “Fire.” The guns fired again. Their loud bursts were felt throughout the room. A wing of Fighters flew past, an unmistakable hole in their formation, as they flew the missing man. “Fire.” Dimitry said again. The guns fired again. The coffin was shot from the ship, its glossy black coating floated out into space, it moved out towards the sun. Its red colour reflected up off the cockpit.
 “Goodbye my old friend. Goodbye.” And the coffin sank in towards the sun, and before too long, it was so far away, David could barley see it.

    To be continued…
 

Leader for the Shivans 3: Journey from Dunwitch Hill
Will continue next book!