(Untitled)

[walk_ins]

Very early that morning, Chao comes to Simon's cell and drops off a bag along with breakfast. In the bag: a suit. The shoes are a little too small.

Next is River's cell. Chao looks at her for a minute, and sighs, and says, "Katy Mokhtarian." And leaves to find her, and five other female guards. It takes him a minute to round them up, but -- he's

Comments

[walk_ins]

The first thing: the discussion of kidnapping and child endangerment. The prosecution -- one of the barristers clearing his throat -- stands up and states that Simon Tam took his sister River from the Academy where she was involved in one of the top programs in the 'verse. He also states that by doing so, Dr. Tam endangered his sister, then still a minor, and induced the condition which led River Tam to join her brother in killing Alliance officials at St. Lucy's Hospital on Ariel, and to kill three men on Beaumonde herself, in the bar known as the Maidenhead.

"To begin with. The charges beginning with kidnapping. Unfortunately, the facility that housed the government academy in question was destroyed in the Saranac event, so all records are lost -- "

[walk_ins]

That's when Finnegan stands up and makes a motion to introduce evidence.

He isn't smiling.

The judge motions him forward; Finnegan holds out the records. River Tam's files, obtained from the Academy.

Vids of sessions with Dr. Benning Matthias. Vids of sessions with Dr. Sergio Lin. Vids of procedures. Complete medical records, from childhood through to her last examination before she left -- two days before.

Finnegan asks for a recess, with both counsel present, so that they can start looking at the contents of these files.

The judge grants it, and lets them both know that the final decision as to admissibility lies with him.

"Of course, your honor," says Finnegan, and he doesn't turn around to look at the Tams.

[bad_in_latin]

Mal has never watched anything on the Cortex more gorram intently than this. He only wishes the commscreens on the bridge were big enough for everyone that was crowded into the small space to see everything more clearly.

At first, he can't take his eyes off of Simon and River, who at least don't have any outward indications of physical injury. Except River's hair's too flat. Somehow this comes across to Mal as an affront.

"Unfortunately, the facility that housed the government academy in question was destroyed in the Saranac event, so all records are lost -- "

Mal's muscular buttocks, all records are lost.

Watching Simon's lawyer take the evidence up to the judge gives Mal a vindictive sort of glee, wishing that the cameras would show whether the prosecutor reacted to seeing this evidence exist.

Mal was disappointed, receiving no such reaction visible.

He hopes to have better luck later on in the proceeding, and refocuses his attention.

[simon_doctor]

Sitting behind the table with their backs to most of the cameras, Simon and River are very still.

As Finnegan approaches the judge's bench, River's shoulders hunch forward just slightly, and her hand lifts off the table, fingers twisting aimlessly. Simon's hand reaches for hers, and holds it; her hand relaxes and curls around his, and her back straightens again.

If either of them says anything, the cameras don't pick it up.