JP MSNPC Lt. Cmdr. Aria Maddox & Lt. Cmdr. Skepus - Juris prudentia (pt 2)

[Davis, Joshua Lazarus]

(( Courtroom 407, Starfleet Judiciary Facility, Andoria ))

That was it. The final arguments had been presented, and the judge took a recess to decide the case. She returned to the bench, sitting upright.

Bailiff: All rise for the Honorable Judge Riva. 

Skepus moved to stand, but looked over at Aria to see if he could tell what she was thinking. He certainly hoped they had made a compelling case, but he needed her reassurance. In working together, he had not only been reminded of what he saw in her those years ago, but he saw more than he ever had. They had both grown, matured, and aged. While he had grown pompous and arrogant, she had grown thoughtful, level-headed, and kinder. Gone was the hot-headed twenty-something and instead there was a loveable, fully realized person. And him? Well, he was in shambles. Dashed upon the rocks and battered. Not broken, but certainly bruised.

Aria stood beside Skepus. When she had been working on the Rajel case, she was so angry at Skepus and he had seemed to go out of his way to tarnish her name. She had offered him the chance to try this case and was shocked when he asked her to help out. At first, they were at each other’s throats about everything, then, slowly they found their common ground. Now, she was quite sure how she felt. Aria trusted Skepus undoubtedly. For the first time in...ever, she saw Skepus. Not just the good parts, like a young girl in love, but the not so pretty too. But that was okay.

The judge gestured to the Bailiff.

Bailiff: This court finds Admiral Fraser guilty on all counts. He will be stripped of rank, dishonorably discharged, and sent to a rehabilitation center for treatment.

The judge nodded to the court, approving what the Bailiff had said. There was a murmur in the crowd, a mixture of mild surprise and relief. Fraser had few supporters in the audience. Even the defense lawyer wordlessly acknowledged them on the way out of the courtroom - lawyer-talk for “Well done!”

Skepus: We won?

Maddox: Yeah. I think we did?

Skepus: All counts?

Maddox: Yeah? How did that happen. He didn’t admit to anything and what he did give us was hypothetical.

Skepus: I guess we presented a clear case, and I’m sure his comportment in the courtroom didn’t win him any favor.

Maddox: I guess it was enough after all.

Aria was having a hard time comprehending this win, but she was very glad that former Admiral Fraser was done. He couldn’t hurt anyone else.

Skepus agreed as he grabbed his PADD off the table. It was reassuring to have a big win after such an embarrassing loss. And to go through all of the psychological screening to ensure he wasn’t going to risk this case. (Fortunately none of his unique tactics had come to light…)

As they walked side-by-side out of the courtroom, without looking over at her, he slipped his hand into hers, intertwining their fingers. He could feel her surprised non-reaction, but she soon clasped his hand back. 

The two of them walked down the corridor in silence, holding hands, looking straight ahead.

((TBC...))

Lt Commander Aria Maddox

Starfleet Legal

Defense Attorney

Simmed by

Lieutenant Ravenna Carter

Medical Officer

USS Constitution B

C239607RC0

Lieutenant Commander Skepus

Special Prosecutor

Starfleet

As simmed by

Lieutenant Lazarus Davis

Chief Science Officer

USS Constitution-B

C239510LD0

(he/him; player & character) 

“Tis true, ’tis pity, And pity ’tis, ’tis true—a foolish figure” - Polonius (Hamlet, 2.2.100-101)