And thus, the epic plot begins.
Part Thirteen - Trial and punishment
Holy city of High Charity, Council Chambers, 9th Age of Reclamation.
"Sorran
Mahaf'ee, you stand as the accused. Do you understand why you are
here?" the Prophet taking precedence over the trial spoke, and Sorran's
mouth dried. This was it; he was on trial. Sorran remembered visiting
such an event involving a Kig-Yar who had spilt the blood of an Elite a
few years ago. It had not bode well for the defendant.
To make matters worse, the Prophet motoring the hearing was none other than the High Prophet of Truth. Truth!
He had been a ruthless conciliator before he had ascended to the seat
of power, and even now still enjoyed dallying in the occasional trail.
Finally, Sorran found his voice.
"I understand, noble Prophet."
the disgraced Sangheili Minor murmured, bowing his head. The
councillors started talking amongst themselves. Brutes hung in the dark
recesses of the chamber; looking bloodthirsty.
"And do you plead
guilty or not, to the accusation that but three days ago, upon the
human planet of Eridanus II, you slew a Jiralhanae in cold blood to
protect the life of a human?" Truth demanded, a sly smile on his face. Sorran frowned.
"A human child--" he began to protest, before being interrupted by the High Prophet.
"Be silent!" Truth shrieked, anger displaying across his face. "Do you confess to the crime?"
There was a pause, as Sorran lifted his head up and stared Truth in the eyes.
"I do."
The
hall burst into a wave of commotion, the Sangheili Councillors on one
side, and the Prophet Councillors on the other. Sorran stared at the
two groups appealingly, but could not read their emotions. They were,
after all, politicians.
"And you confess in knowing that the
ultimate punishment, should the council so decide it, is death?" Truth
whispered, leaning forward in his chair, bony fingertips tapping
against each other. He is truly enjoying my suffering! Sorran
realised, suddenly feeling a surge of anger towards this Prophet who
would be so quick as to condemn him. At the back of the hall, a voice
cried out angrily; that of a Brute's.
"This should not be a
decision of the council! This Sangheili spilled Jiralhanae blood! I
demand his death!" the Brute cried out, striding forward to wear Sorran
stood. Five Honour Guard moved before him before the raging Jiralhanae
could do so however. This heartened Sorran, to know that the Sangheili
at least placed the value of his life over that of a mongrel Brutes.
Sorran then started at the Jiralhanae. He was tall, with grey hair, and
a large wave of white hair upon his head. Upon his back was strapped a
stone hammer as tall as Sorran. The Brute looked as if he were about to
disembowel Sorran at a moments notice.
"Tartarus; you know the
Jiralhanae are not permitted to approach the inner circle of the
council chamber." Truth chastised, but with no real anger in his voice.
Indeed, Sorran may have been imagining things, but he could have sworn
he saw the Prophet give a secretive nod to the Brute. "As it is, you
may remain; such is the uniqueness of the situation."
So this was the Chieftain of the Brutes.
Sorran thought, looking with speculation at Tartarus as he nodded, and
took a seat next to a Sangheili Councillor, who looked appalled.
"Do
you have anything to say in your defence, Sangheili?" Truth asked of
Sorran, who was taken aback slightly. He hesitated before nodding.
"I
do. I and the Stealth Operative Ahkrin were searching a human residency
when we heard a crash at the door. Together, we raised our rifles in
anticipation of a squad of humans, only to find it was a Brute named
Hestaphus, who claimed to have been ordered by a the Chieftain of the
Brutes to scour the nearby houses." at this Tartarus' expression showed
surprise, as if he didn't remember giving such a command. The Council
noticed it, and he quickly masked it with one of faked understanding.
"I
remember giving such an order." the Chieftain of the Brutes called out,
and Sorran glared at him. Liar! Still, Sorran had no way of proving
otherwise, so he continued with his recount of the events.
"As
it was, I invited the Brute to join us. After finding nothing of import
in the downstairs area, we preceded upstairs. I and the Jiralhanae
Hestaphus searched what I can assume to have been a bedroom, and I
noticed a stirring behind a curtain. Wary, I approached said curtain,
and drew it back, only to have a knife embed itself in my leg. The only
factor which stayed my wrath was that I saw the assailant was but a
small child. My honour would not allow me to kill such a helpless
creature, and I ordered the Brute, as is my right as Sangheili, to
leave the child alone."
Sorran took a deep breath, looking at Truth, who motioned him to go on wearily.
"However,
Hestaphus seemed unable to comply with this order, and seized the child
by the neck, despite my commands to leave him. From thereon, the Brute
was guilty of committing insubordination, an act which, under sector
nine of the Writ, is an execution-able offence. I merely carried out
the law our forefathers imposed."
It was a nice, persuasive
speech, which Zharn and Ahkrin had run by him many times as he had been
taken to High Charity aboard a Phantom. Hopefully, it would hold. The
clamour in the hall began once again, this time seemingly incessant.
Truth grew wary and banged a mallet upon the podium he sat before.
"There
will be order in this council!" the High Prophet cried angrily, and the
crowd instantly fell silent, all eyes once again on Sorran.
"You
are not the Arbiter, Sangheili. You have no right to decide who lives,
and who dies in your forces. The matter should have been reported to
one of a higher echelon, rather than take matters into your own--"
Truth began to speak, and Sorran found to his horror that he couldn't
help but interrupt.
"Had I opted to do so, the child would have
already been dared, rendering my attempts at mercy moot." Sorran cut
in, and Truth's eyes flashed dangerously.
"And what of it? The
child was but a human, and Hestaphus was right to judge that it should
be killed." Truth demanded, and for the first time Sorran felt himself
falter. If the High Prophet of Truth himself deemed that the child
should have been killed, surely the council would be likewise
influenced.
Sorran looked around the hall once again. The
councillor's faces were blank, as always. At the back of the hall,
Sorran could make out the grim faces of Zharn and Ahkrin. Ahkrin had
his hand upon the Ultra's shoulder consolingly. That hit Sorran hard;
even his closest friends believed him doomed.
"Noble Prophet, it
was a grave mistake, one I shall not emulate again, I assure--" Sorran
began, before being shushed by a hand of Truth.
"Indeed, you
shall not emulate it again. Whether through being pardoned and learning
a lesson, or death; I do not know. However, know this: the Brutes are
pressing hard on this trial. They would consider a pardon a personal
offence. I advise the council to keep that in mind as they cast their
votes." Truth spoke, and Sorran spluttered in shock. The High Prophet
was influencing the decision of the council! Surely there was a law
against that?
"We shall hold a brief respite whilst the
council debilitate upon whether or not to have you executed. Enjoy
these last moments of freedom Sangheili minor, they could well be your
last. As always, I implore the council not the reveal their option to
others." Truth told the assembled jury, who nodded. As one, a series of
computer terminals appeared in front of each and every Councillor.
Sorran could only assume that each had two options upon them; one to
condemn Sorran, and one to have him spared.
Time trickled away
as many councillors took their time, for the first time displaying
emotion. Some looked down at Sorran with hate; others with compassion.
Some seemed to be indifferent. Eventually, the last of the council had
made their choice, and the terminals sunk back into the floor.
"Has
the council made their choice, free of all and any pressure, with their
free will?" Truth questioned, bringing up his own terminal. The council
looked amongst each other uncertainly, before nodding. "I now have the
results for this trial."
Sorran held his breath as Truth
studied the screen before him. Sorran could not see what displayed upon
it's holographic surface. To his surprise, Truth's eyebrows rose,
before his expression settled into one of frustration. Just as quickly
as it appeared however, it was vanished, replaced with a smug, almost
sly smile. Truth cleared his throat.
"Sorran Mahaf'ee; the
council of High Charity has decreed that you be put to death by
separation of the head. Guards, take the Heretic to the dungeons, where
he shall await his final hour." Truth declared, and the world turned to
ice. Sorran couldn't breath, his two hearts beating rapidly. Many of
the councillors were looking slightly confused at the result. Two of
the Honour Guard next to Sorran grimaced, and grabbed the condemned
Sangheili by the wrists. Sorran shook them off.
"I can walk by
myself." he said, marching away from the council, and Truth, with his
smug face. How Sorran longed to end that ***'s life; he was no
leader, he was a monster. The Honour Guards shrugged, and followed
after Sorran, keeping their weapons raised in the event the newly
branded Heretic attempted to escape.
"We're sorry for your
plight...Sorran." one of the two Honour Guards told the Sangheili
Minor, who scowled, saying nothing. Sorran turned to look at the
council one last time, saw Tartarus sneering, wearing a look of
satisfaction, and saw Zharn and Ahkrin staring with horror down at him.
Savara, his dear love, didn't even know of this trial, it had
happened so fast. It was of no matter, he would be dead soon enough.
Sorran but hoped that Zharn or Ahkrin would inform her of his fate.
Sorran wasn't ready to die; but it seemed he had no choice.
"This one has forgotten whether it's heatsink is over capacity. It wonders whether the criminal scum considers itself fortunate" ~ Blasto, the only Hanar Spectre.