Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 06_ Vortex - Denning Troy [156]
He removed his hand from the box, then turned away without the second datachip—the one that showed the interior of the Bloodfin’s ComInt compartment during the entire Battle of Fondor.
All eyes were on Bwua’tu as he approached the witness stand again, his gaze fixed on the floor and his hands folded behind his back. Once he arrived, he took a moment to look around, as though inspecting the room for the first time, then addressed Pagorski.
“Would you please state your name and occupation for the record?”
Pagorski’s brow shot up—along with everybody else’s. “Sir?”
“Your name and occupation,” Bwua’tu said, growing testy. “We need it for the record.”
Pagorski glanced over at the judge, who did her best not to look confused as she said, “The witness will answer.”
“Lydea Pagorski,” she said. “I’m a junior lieutenant in the Imperial Navy.”
The courtroom was too empty for there to be a murmur, but the air grew still with astonishment, and Tahiri could see her own confusion mirrored in the eyes of everyone else in attendance.
“I see,” Bwua’tu said. “And in your capacity as a junior lieutenant, you do what, exactly? Fly starfighters?”
Again, Pagorski looked to the judge. This time Zudan raised a hand for the lieutenant to wait, then leaned over the bench and motioned Bwua’tu closer.
“Counsel will approach for a conference.”
“Bloah!” Sardon whispered. “The old nerf is trying to sabotage us!”
Tahiri shook her head. “No, it has to be something else,” she said. “Eramuth wouldn’t do that.”
“No? Look at him.”
Instead Tahiri looked toward the jury—and was surprised to find them looking not at Bwua’tu, but at her. To a being, their faces were filled with pity and patience, and in their eyes she found no judgment or condemnation, only sympathy and forbearance. And when the Askajian shot her a blubber-lipped smile, Tahiri understood exactly what Bwua’tu was doing.
The old Bothan was taking the blame for the scene that Sardon had caused, making it appear that it had been his senility instead of her ego that had caused the earlier disruption at the defense table.
“I can’t believe he would do that,” Tahiri said.
“Me either,” Sardon said. “It’s entirely unprofessional.”
Tahiri frowned at Sardon’s disapproving tone. It was obvious to her, at least, that Bwua’tu was sacrificing a reputation built up over a lifetime—a very long lifetime—to protect his client.
“What, exactly, do you find unprofessional?” Tahiri asked.
“That.” Sardon gestured toward the judge’s bench, where Bwua’tu was doing a very credible job of looking angry and bewildered. “Feigning incapacity so he can withdraw from the case.”
Tahiri shook her head. “I don’t think that’s what he’s doing.”
“Trust me, it is.” Sardon laid a scaly hand on Tahiri’s arm, and she felt herself growing serene as the Falleen flooded the air with calming pheromones. “But you have nothing to worry about, my friend. I’ve been preparing for a big case like this my whole life.”
Tahiri nodded. “I can see that.” She rose, then said, “Excuse me, Your Honor, but I’ve come to a difficult decision.”
Zudan motioned for Bwua’tu to be silent, then looked to Tahiri. “Yes?”
Tahiri caught Bwua’tu’s eye, and was not surprised to see him give her an encouraging nod.
She smiled back at him, then said, “I think I need to dismiss a defense counsel.”
A wave of relief flooded Zudan’s face. “I’m inclined to agree.” The judge’s gaze dropped back to Bwua’tu. “Please proceed.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.” Tahiri turned to Sardon, then said, “I’m sorry, Sardonne. You’re an excellent attorney, but I think Eramuth works better alone.”
Sardon’s eyes went wide with shock and outrage. Suddenly Tahiri’s serenity of a moment before began to develop a bitter, frightened edge as the Falleen exuded anxiety-producing pheromones in an effort to convince Tahiri that she was making a terrible mistake.
“Sardonne, I suggest you leave this table on your own two feet,” Tahiri whispered. “If I have to throw you over the bar, it’s going to look bad for a both of us.”
Sardon’s eyes narrowed in anger, but she retrieved her datapad