Page 94 of Stars on Fire

How dare he,she thought.How dare he dress like he’s going to a banquet? What he deserved was to be in sackcloth or prison stripes!

A tired-looking woman also inhabited the large room. She was slumped on a silk couch, and two other men sat at a large side table, their heads hanging morosely.

Five hulking Edenite guards stood in the room while Selene saw more soldiers patrolling the grounds outside the picture windows.

‘If it isn’t the True Prime?’ taunted the large man she’d once considered charming and wickedly funny.

‘Well, if it isn’t the treasonous ex-Minister of Defence, soon to be known simply as Prisoner X,’ Selene said icily.

Massimo’s swarthy face paled at her words.

She ignored the naked fear that snaked across his face. Crossing the gaudy room, Selene stopped before the large desk.

Rina stepped behind her, flanking Selene to the right, while Kainan paused beside her to the left. She welcomed their collective support, which helped to strengthen her cool and calm demeanour.

Selene handed her headset to Rina, keen to be free of any hindrance to her view. So she could see the emotion in Massimo’s eyes when she nailed him for his indiscretions and crimes.

‘Massimo Makori, on your feet. Would your co-conspirators also rise?’

The man stood before her and bent over his table, his hands spread on the surface, defiantly meeting her gaze. Whilst his three other guilty-looking companions kept their eyes to the floor.

‘Why you?’ Massimo whispered bitterly through dry lips.

Selene gave him a cold smile. ‘I specifically requested the Council to read these charges against you in person. In my capacity as an officer of the high court and the daughter of the man you murdered. They happily agreed.’

Massimo’s lips twisted.

Selene was undaunted. ‘Massimo Makori, the government and people of Dunia have found your actions in the last month constitute acts of high treason against our planet state,’ she announced coolly. ‘You deliberately conspired to cause harm or death to the one true Prime. You were also involved in assassinating the Prime, resulting in the death of the Prime. You mobilised war against the government and people of Dunia. You instigated non-Dunia citizens to carry out an armed invasion of the planet and the territory belonging to the people of Dunia. You are therefore charged with treason. As such, the crime of treason attracts the penalty of life imprisonment. Or if otherwise determined by the courts, the death penalty.’

Selene then turned to the three individuals. The woman swayed on her feet, and the two other men scrambled to support her. Selene ignored the histrionics.

‘Teresa Makori, legal partner of Massimo Makori, you have also been found complicit in the coup and treason. The pair of you, Emil M’Isov, former Minister of Strategic Planning and Mining and Marko M’Crolla, former undersecretary of Defence, have also been found to be co-conspirators in the coup and are also charged with treason. Your treasonous actions include assisting Massimo Makori in his bid to escape punishment for their crime. You are also charged with failure to give information to the Security Council regarding Massimo Makori, whom you knew willingly intended to commit the crime of treason. As well as conspiring to assassinate the Prime and assisting in the mobilised war and armed invasion of the planet and the territory belonging to the people of Dunia.’

Selene fell silent. The room, too, as the severity of the charges hit home with the accused.

Massimo piped up, his normally ebullient voice barely above a ragged whisper.

‘We were only acting for the good of Dunia,’ he said, throwing his hands out before him in a plea. ‘We only sought the wider export of xentium, which would enrich the planet, the armies, the entire population, even the Council.’

‘You could have advocated for all that without murder, assassinations and an invasion,’ Selene coldly said.

Massimo smiled in an attempt to charm her. ‘What if I pay for the harm caused? I’m not a rich man, but I can access funds and resources to help with any damages I’ve caused to any victim such as yourself.’

He suddenly reached under his desk. Kainan surged forward, sliding Selene behind him. A lethal laser rifle he’d unsheathed from his side was now trained on the ex-Minister.

Massimo threw one palm up. ‘Peace Edenite, I mean well.’

He used his other hand to withdraw a suitcase which he threw on the large desk.

It flipped open to reveal its contents.

Selene peered over Kainan’s shoulder and sighed. The briefcase held thick stacks of high denomination schill notes and clear plastic bags of diamonds, rubies and xentium pearls.

‘Not rich? I would beg to differ,’ Selene scoffed.

Massimo continued undeterred, desperate to plead his case. ‘This is just a portion of what I can offer you. It amounts to over 100 million schill, which can be divvied as damages amongst yourselves and maybe the greater Security Council. But, Selene, just allow my -,’ he stumbled, then started again. ‘Allow me to find safe passage out of Dunia, and we’ll never darken your shores again.’

Selene was beyond ropeable. She pushed past Kainan to confront her worst enemy. ‘You think I’m as corruptible as you are? You’ve lost your mind. Serving Dunia is the only honour I seek. My name, service and sacrifice will always be better than wealth. So fokk off with your bribes! All you deserve right now is a lifetime in jail and, if I’ve anything to do with it, a death sentence!’

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