"So you have aided and abetted enemies of the state of Rhienland..."
"Objection, your honour," Templeman rose. "Doctor Tesh is a doctor, he has to treat any and all he comes into contact with, trying to besmirch his reputation on the grounds that he provided medical treatment to enemies of the state is... well frankly stupid, your honour..."
The judge banged the hammer, scowling. "Both of you had best start behaving, and stop turning my court room into some kind of Kindergarten! Objection sustained... Mister Prosecutor, you will kindly stay on focus with your questions. Mister Templeman, you will refrain from calling the prosecutor stupid..."
"Of course your honour," Templeman said. "There is never a need to state the obvious..."
The Prosecutor glared at him, seething, turning around his mouth worked, trying to remember his next question.
"Have.. have you ever..." he coughed. "Your honour... a moment..."
He returned to his table and picked up a glass of water. Templeman's tactic to throw him off of his game having worked.
He turned a moment later, "Doctor Tesh. Do you actually know the defendant well? Did you know him before he was a pirate? do you actually know anything about his personal situation? Mister Templeman makes the observation that being in an economic crisis is sufficient grounds to become a pirate... but by that logic, shouldn't we all be pirates? I mean, shouldn't we all claim poverty as a defense for murder, theft, and other crimes?"
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"Sir, I know nothing about Christian Naggar," began Dr. Tesh, "I have never seen him before this trial. Before this trial, I knew only that he had a daughter from whom I delivered his grandchild only a few days ago, a daughter who is guilty of nothing more than making a mistake in becoming a single mother at the age of nineteen."
He took a breath and continued, "As to your question of shouldn't we all be criminals. According to the Rheinland government, I am a criminal because I was born and raised on planet Los Angelos in Liberty space and rest assured, Mr. Prosecutor, I am in no state of economic crisis. You will have to ask one of these pirates that question for yourself. I am a medical doctor, not a psychiatrist."
"No further questions," the prosecutor sank into his chair, scowling.
"Mister Templeman?" The judge asked.
"Nothing further with this witness, your honour," Templeman rose, still holding his portfolio open. looking up over the rims of his glasses.
"Then you may step down, Doctor Tesh. Next witness, Mister Templeman?"
"Yes," Templeman said, setting the portfolio down. "Since this case is about the Naggar family, and the issue of his daughter. I'd like to call Doreen Naggar to the stand... with the court's indulgence, through the use of live holographic communications since she is with a newborn, unwell and unfit to travel."
The Judge nodded, "Of course. Also we should ensure plenty of intervals for Ms. Naggar to rest during testimony. I've been a mother three times, and let me tell you both," she rested her hands on the bench before her. "I will not tolerate either of you causing her any kind of stress. Am I clear, gentlemen?"
"Clear," the prosecutor snarled.
"Clear like that thin ice I'm skating on," Templeman flashed a smile. "The defense calls Doreen Naggar to the stand..." he turns as the lights dimmed and the holographic projectors whirred to life, creating the holographic vision of the missing daughter of Christian Naggar.
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Dr. Tesh then left the stand to take his seat. On his way, he gently nodded to the man who had entered the room with the young lady who returned the nod with a finger to his lips. Dr. Tesh then quietly sat down.
A small framed but pretty young lady then appeared, dressed as well as can be expected for a mother who is constantly caring and breast feeding as needed her newborn son. For now, he sleeps in his crib while she sits while she awaits her questioning. Still, she looks tired but is pleasing to the eye after the long, hot shower she so desperately needed.
Through her projections, she sees her father sitting in his suit at which point emotion overtakes her.
Through her tears, she just mutters, "Daddy," to which she becomes inconsolable. "I......am so.....sorry," she blurts through her anguish. Next to her, a Kusari man in a doctor's robe tries to console her, giving her tissues.
"Excuse me," he says. While she cries, Jason's eyes well up behind the defendant's table at the sight of his sister while Christian himself does all he can to control himself. He just says to the image of his daughter with a shaky voice, "It's OK, Doreen. It's OK."
After several minutes, she finds her control. Wiping her eyes dry, she apologizes to the court. "I'm sorry, your honor. This hasn't been easy."
Templeman, a father himself, stood slowly. Offering a reassuring smile as he rested a hand on young Jason's shoulder. Taking a moment to look at Doreen, the judge and the jury.
He came out to the floor and, again, rested his hand on his breastbone. "Thank you for being here Ms. Naggar, if you need a rest, or anything... let us know." he cleared his throat as he stood there, choosing his first question with care.
"Can you tell us what it was like growing up with your father?" he asked softly.
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Doreen pulled herself together and wiped her nose one last time. Her eyes were still red and her face damp but she pushed on.
"In the beginning, it was wonderful," she explained in her soft voice, "he had a good job at Alster Shipyard and was home each night for dinner. But, over time, he was one of many who were let go and work was impossible to find."
She sniffled and continued, "He turned to the government after his unemployment ran out and when we lost the house, well, we all found ourselves with nowhere to go. That's when things got bad, really bad. He was considered too old to join the Rheinland military and they had nothing to offer. Then he met some man who offered him what no one else could. Honestly, I don't think Daddy would have taken his offer is he knew then what he knew now. He was a proud man, an honest man........."
She turned away, not wanting for anyone to see her again. The buzz of the courtroom filled the air.
In the back, the well dressed man sat stone faced as did the lady next to him. She quietly turned and whispered to him, "Damn, Doc, just damn." He only nodded in agreement.
Templeman nodded his head, waiting for the buzz to die down.
"An proud and honest man, turned to a life of crime..." he walked back to the table. "I have here, defence exhibit C written testimonies of fifty people that worked directly with Mister Naggar at Alster shipyards, all of them supporting Ms. Naggar's testimony. Also..." he picked up another stack of files. "I have Defence Exhibit D which are performance reviews and personnel files for Mister Naggar showing, while not exceptionally gifted, that he was a dedicated and hard working employee."
"Objection," the prosecutor rose. "Does Mister Templeman really expect us to take, on face value, these documents in lieu of testimony?"
Templeman shrugged, "I could call all fifty employees to the stand, if it would indulge opposing counsel's curiosity... however, since I don't think any of us want to waste the court's time with endless hours of repetitive deposition... I'd like to make a motion that the court accept that Mister Naggar was a model employee prior to the events leading up to his act of desperation."
"Counselor?" the Judge asked, looking at the prosecutor.
The prosecutor shrugged, "We'll take them as read, on the condition that it be noted that the performance before his life of crime could be taken as further proof that he was a dedicated and model pirate when he decided to break the law... to which he has already plead guilty."
"So noted," the Judge banged the gavel. "Please return to your questions."
"Thank you, your honour," Templeman turned back to Ms. Naggar. "It can't have been easy once things strated to go wrong, could you describe for us, the events that led up to your father's act of desperation?"
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Doreen nodded, "I will try. I will tell what I can."
She took a drink of water and cleared her throat, "I don't remember the exact time line of how or when things took place but I do remember, as I said, the dreadful day way we found ourselves without a home and spending every night in a homeless shelter on Hamburg or with friends, many of those friends former co-workers. To help, I took a job as a waitress but it did little to help with the debt."
She sighed, "I don't remember the name of the man Daddy met. He didn't tell us who he was or what they were discussing. I only remember him telling us that it was the only opportunity before him, that if he told us too much that we may all be in danger."
She looked slightly toward the floor after another sigh, "I trusted him, Mom trusted him and for what it's worth, I still do."
She wiped her nose and continued, "Then he disappeared. He said that he had found a job but it required that he work far from home. When credits started getting wired to us on a regular basis and sometimes in larger amounts, Mom was able to get us an apartment. It wasn't a lot but it was something. He only came home twice due to his work but he seemed proud of whatever he was doing, even if he couldn't tell us exactly what he was doing. We didn't care so much as we were living somewhat comfortably again."
She started getting emotional, "But, I wanted to know where he was, what he was doing. I missed my Daddy. I needed to know........"
She started crying again, the memories and guilt of her own actions overtaking her.
"I..............I...........am so............sorry,............Daddy."
She then stood up and turned away from the camera, trying to collect herself.
"A short recess," The Judge announced, banging the gavel, turning to the court clerk. "Turn the holoemitter off please." She collected her things and made her way to chambers. "Court resumes in ten minutes."
Templeman took a deep breath and watched as the Jury was ushered out of the chamber, returning to his seat and shuffling papers. He set them down and leaned closer to Christian Naggar.
"I am not sure how the prosecution's case went, but your admission of guilty is going to weigh us down like an anchor. I need a list of victims, maybe people you treated fairly when you did what you had to do... that might remember you as fair and decent? Failing that..." he glanced at Jason. "We might have to put one of you two on the stand... and no offence Christian, the jury isn't going to respond well to your testimony. Your son, however, is the best bet you have to convey your side of the story. Jurys like wide eyed kids... But to be clear, if I can avoid this I will, I don't want either of you up there facing his..." he nodded to the prosecutor, "cross examination."
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Christian was visibly upset and shaken at what his daughter had been going through. Jason was fairing no better having watching his older sister go through first the trials and tribulations of being a new, young, single mother. He could only look up to Mr. Templeman and beg of him in a soft, innocent voice, "Please, Sir, save my father. Save my sister."
Christian himself, realizing how much trouble he was now in, said nothing. He did, however, scratch down a few names of people who may be able to vouch for him. Where they were now he had no clue. He also had no desire to testify.
During the recess, Dr. Tesh quietly made his way out of the courtroom for a bathroom break. Outside the door, he met the man dressed in robes and the woman he was with who was getting some dirty looks from the Rheinland guards nearby. She countered them with smiles and finger waves.
Dr. Tesh and the man spoke quietly so that no one else could here them.
"I'm surprised to see you here, John," he said.
John smiled, "I'm here in a show of support," he said in his slight drawl, "I just don't want people knowing who I am if possible. It's nice to my people do well without my constant intervention."
He then noticed guards and police beginning to take a notice, "Now go!" he ordered and Dr. Tesh walked away. John and his escort returned to their seats. Dr. Tesh himself debated telling Mr. Templeman who he spoke to but for the time, elected not to.
Having pulled herself together, Doreen's image re-appeared, ready to testify.
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