keep traffic flowing more efficiently than
humans. They’re also more patient.”
He nodded. “Yeah. We use Snowflake
for the long hauls once we lock in a course. He does tricks for me, but he’s
really Mom’s interface.”
Laura filed that tidbit away as she
tried to refocus him on the trial. She placed a hand on his arm. “Do you know
what a grand jury is?”
“Why don’t you tell me? You have a
specific reason for asking, and I like the sound of your voice.”
Smooth . “They’re convened
for any capital or infamous crime. A prosecutor with ridiculous subpoena powers
will attempt to prove to a jury of twenty citizens that the US government has
enough evidence to try you for the possession and conspiracy to use banned weapons
of mass destruction. Any questions?”
“Did you have your hair tinted?”
Stu asked. “The brown highlights match your eyes.”
Or I adjusted my smart-glass contacts
to match my outfit . The comment flustered her. He noticed details and
complimented persistently. “I meant, questions about today’s hearing?”
“What’s so great about a subpoena?”
“He can demand information from
anyone about anything remotely relevant as long as he keeps it secret. The
process was d esigned to filter out
incompetent or malicious prosecution from local authorities. This apparatus has
successfully investigated organized crime and terrorism, but it has also been
used to perpetrate some of the worst witch hunts in history.”
“So
I plead the Fifth.”
“If
someone refuses to answer, they can be jailed for the duration of the grand
jury, which could be as long as eighteen months.”
Stu
shrugged. “I have nothing to hide and nothing but time.”
“Everybody
has secrets, Mr. Llewellyn. Guard yours well. Short, vague answers are best. If
you even appear to contradict yourself, they’ll stick you with perjury.”
“If
I get lost, you can whisper in my ear.” His voice was low and suggestive.
She
liked it. “Um … since you haven’t been charged yet, you don’t have the right to
an attorney. Due to the secrecy rules, we’re not allowed in, and you can’t talk
to people about the proceedings. In order to ask us something, you have to get
permission to come out into the hall and talk to us.”
“That
seems wrong. What’s our strategy?”
Laura
smiled. She led him into the secured and soundproofed waiting area where they
could be alone. “We have to bait them into doing our work. First we force them
to acknowledge you’re an ambassador from space.”
“Why
would they bother?” Stu asked, sitting in a chair with his feet propped up.
“To
raise the stakes on a weak hand.” She paced in her high heels as she counted
off possibilities. “Without concrete citizenship, they only have jurisdiction
over US crimes, and most of the alleged offenses happened over international
waters. If you’re a corporate construct, they can fine the company responsible
for fraud. If they show you’re a citizen of a country who signed the charter,
you’ll be charged with treason in that country. If you represent an opposing
country, they can claim you’re an enemy combatant, it’s an act of war, and they
get to hold you at a black site indefinitely. If you committed any crime using
Magi talents, you could face a tribunal of US talents. If they find evidence of
intent to commit genocide or crimes against humanity, you’ll never see the
light of day again, but the UN will have to try you.”
“Sounds
like a tightrope.”
“The
key for you is modesty. Deflect everything to a friendly witness. If they ask
about your talents, defer to the expertise of Dr. Maurier. If they ask about
your training, refer them to a military historian. Stress that you’re the
youngest member of the crew that no one confides in. Here’s a list of experts
we want them to interview. Can you memorize it?”
Stu
shrugged. “Shucks. I’m just a farmer who flies part time. You’d have to ask Dr.
Lena about my
humans. They’re also more patient.”
He nodded. “Yeah. We use Snowflake
for the long hauls once we lock in a course. He does tricks for me, but he’s
really Mom’s interface.”
Laura filed that tidbit away as she
tried to refocus him on the trial. She placed a hand on his arm. “Do you know
what a grand jury is?”
“Why don’t you tell me? You have a
specific reason for asking, and I like the sound of your voice.”
Smooth . “They’re convened
for any capital or infamous crime. A prosecutor with ridiculous subpoena powers
will attempt to prove to a jury of twenty citizens that the US government has
enough evidence to try you for the possession and conspiracy to use banned weapons
of mass destruction. Any questions?”
“Did you have your hair tinted?”
Stu asked. “The brown highlights match your eyes.”
Or I adjusted my smart-glass contacts
to match my outfit . The comment flustered her. He noticed details and
complimented persistently. “I meant, questions about today’s hearing?”
“What’s so great about a subpoena?”
“He can demand information from
anyone about anything remotely relevant as long as he keeps it secret. The
process was d esigned to filter out
incompetent or malicious prosecution from local authorities. This apparatus has
successfully investigated organized crime and terrorism, but it has also been
used to perpetrate some of the worst witch hunts in history.”
“So
I plead the Fifth.”
“If
someone refuses to answer, they can be jailed for the duration of the grand
jury, which could be as long as eighteen months.”
Stu
shrugged. “I have nothing to hide and nothing but time.”
“Everybody
has secrets, Mr. Llewellyn. Guard yours well. Short, vague answers are best. If
you even appear to contradict yourself, they’ll stick you with perjury.”
“If
I get lost, you can whisper in my ear.” His voice was low and suggestive.
She
liked it. “Um … since you haven’t been charged yet, you don’t have the right to
an attorney. Due to the secrecy rules, we’re not allowed in, and you can’t talk
to people about the proceedings. In order to ask us something, you have to get
permission to come out into the hall and talk to us.”
“That
seems wrong. What’s our strategy?”
Laura
smiled. She led him into the secured and soundproofed waiting area where they
could be alone. “We have to bait them into doing our work. First we force them
to acknowledge you’re an ambassador from space.”
“Why
would they bother?” Stu asked, sitting in a chair with his feet propped up.
“To
raise the stakes on a weak hand.” She paced in her high heels as she counted
off possibilities. “Without concrete citizenship, they only have jurisdiction
over US crimes, and most of the alleged offenses happened over international
waters. If you’re a corporate construct, they can fine the company responsible
for fraud. If they show you’re a citizen of a country who signed the charter,
you’ll be charged with treason in that country. If you represent an opposing
country, they can claim you’re an enemy combatant, it’s an act of war, and they
get to hold you at a black site indefinitely. If you committed any crime using
Magi talents, you could face a tribunal of US talents. If they find evidence of
intent to commit genocide or crimes against humanity, you’ll never see the
light of day again, but the UN will have to try you.”
“Sounds
like a tightrope.”
“The
key for you is modesty. Deflect everything to a friendly witness. If they ask
about your talents, defer to the expertise of Dr. Maurier. If they ask about
your training, refer them to a military historian. Stress that you’re the
youngest member of the crew that no one confides in. Here’s a list of experts
we want them to interview. Can you memorize it?”
Stu
shrugged. “Shucks. I’m just a farmer who flies part time. You’d have to ask Dr.
Lena about my
Similar Books
