"Ow." She caught at his hand as he tried to pull the piece of fabric off her forehead.

"Fine. I'll get a damp cloth and soak it free, you big baby."

Ignoring their audience-Ressk, at least was trying to look like he wasn't watching them-Craig limped across the cabin and opened the hatch to the head.

The young di'Taykan sitting on the closed toilet blinked pale eyes, yawned widely, and muttered, "It's about fukking time. Who the sanLi are you?"

Backing up a step, Craig closed the hatch again. Took a deep breath and turned toward the bunk. "Torin, why do we have a di'Taykan in the head?" "… and while it is true that you have gathered enough information that the Law.."

Years of practice allowed Torin to remain expressionless at the Warden's emphasis. If the Law hadn't been sitting on its furry ass, the pirates would have been dealt with and Craig would never have been taken.

"… has now moved forward and, working with the both branches of the military has all but eliminated this threat to peace and security in the sector of space shared by Vrijheid Station and, in point of fact, regained Vrijheid Station itself and prosecuted the one who created the false impression it had been destroyed…" One Who Examines the Facts and Draws Conclusions frowned. Torin suspected he'd gotten lost in his own rhetoric. He shifted slightly, highlights rippling across red-brown fur, and continued before the Niln sitting to his left could interrupt. "It is, however, undeniable that you, in the process of rescuing Civilian Salvage Operator Craig Ryder and preventing a certain criminal element from gaining control of a Marine armory, broke a number of Confederation laws. While the deaths of ex-Private Reerir, ex-Private Tirrik, and ex-Lieutenant Commander Doctor Christopher Stephens could be considered self-defense…"

"And have been judged to be self-defense," Colonel di'Gui Salarji pointed out.

One Who Examines shifted his gaze off Torin and onto the lawyer the Commandant of the Corps had assigned her back before the judgment began. "Yes," he agreed ponderously although, in all honestly, Torin had to admit that ponderously was the Dornagain default so she shouldn't read anything into it. "These three instances have been judged to be self-defense, but there remains the assault of the civilian di'Carnibi Nia, abetting the illegal system tap…"

The colonel snorted. "An illegal tap in order to bring down an illegal system."

"Breaking the law to assist the law is still breaking the law, Colonel," Nawazinkah Huerzah pointed out, inner eyelid flicking across both eyes. "If the end is permitted to justify the means, chaos results."

Lanh Ng, the first Human Warden, appointed to ensure Torin's species rights were represented during judgment and clearly less than thrilled by One Who Examines' need to recap the entire proceedings, seemed revitalized by Nawazinkah Huerzah's interruption. He straightened and said, "Look, the decision of the Tribunal's been made, so can we stop arguing about the minutia and get this over with?"

One Who Examines turned and stared down at him. "Minutia makes up the Law."

Ng settled back in his chair and sighed. "Carry on, then."

"As we have not yet completed our business, I will." One Who Examines faced front, opened his mouth, and paused.

"Abetting the illegal system tap," Nawazinkah Huerzah prodded, perfectly deadpan.

"Yes. Also in the issuing of the order to fire on the armory that resulted in the destruction of the Heart of Stone and the deaths of ex-Lieutenant Mackenzie Cho, di'Berinango Dysun, di'Berinango Almon, Natalie Forester, Huirre…"

For a moment, it seemed he might continue with the Krai's full name. Krai family names were declarations of lineage and could go on for hours. Torin wasn't the only one relieved when he continued.

"… and the engineer, Krisk."

Colonel Salarji stepped forward, putting herself between Torin and the Tribunal. "The Confederation Marine Corps takes responsibility for those deaths as ex-Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr was acting on the Corps' behalf in keeping a sealed armory out of the hands of the criminally insane."

One Who Examines spread his hands, blunt claws clicking against the table. "And yet ex-Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr was not a member of the Confederation Marine Corps at the time."

"The Corps allows there is no such thing as an ex-Gunnery Sergeant."

Nawazinkah Huerzah's tongue flicked out, Ng covered his mouth, and One Who Examines sighed. "So I have heard. It is then the judgment of this Tribunal, particularly considering the extensive evidence presented by Presit a Tur durValintrisy, that all but the destruction of the Heart of Stone may be dismissed under the weight of extenuating circumstances. The destruction of the Heart of Stone is a matter for the Confederation Marine Corps to deal with as it, as a body, sees fit. This inquiry is complete."

Torin waited, standing at parade rest a pace behind the colonel's left shoulder as the Tribunal filed out. Then she waited a little longer as the colonel turned and stared, her eyes dark. Torin resisted the urge to reach out and touch the plastic stylus clipped to the side of the colonel's slate.

"Well, that's that," the colonel said at last "I'd advise you not miss any of your sessions with the Corps' psychologists. And not just for legal reasons."

"Yes, sir."

"Say the word, and the Commandant of the Corps will put you back in uniform."

"My regards to High Tekamal Louden, sir, but my vest is full."

Deep-green hair flicked forward as Colonel Salarji frowned, but after a long moment, she merely said, "Take care of yourself, Gunny."

"Thank you, sir."

Torin waited until she heard the hatch close behind the colonel before relaxing her position. She touched the place a casualty cylinder would rest in a combat vest and closed her eyes. She'd carry Doc out, but the others could go to Hell on their own.

Craig and Presit were waiting for her in the corridor.

Presit made high-pitched clicks as Torin moved into the circle of Craig's arms. Approval, disapproval-Torin neither knew nor cared. She hadn't exactly been under arrest while the Tribunal made its judgment, but with Craig under a separate judgment-that took about fifteen minutes to clear him of any responsibility-the Wardens had insisted they be kept apart.

All things considered, Torin figured she was entitled to a moment, so she buried her face in the curve between Craig's neck and shoulder, breathed in his familiar scent, and hung on tight.

"You okay?" His mouth against her hair, his voice was a soft burr of vibration she felt as much as heard.

"Got offered my old job back. Didn't take it," she added when he stiffened. "And the colonel warned me not to skip out on any therapy."

His laugh held a touch of bittersweet. They'd actually crossed a number of things off the we need to talk about this list during the five-day Susumi fold to the MidSector station. "That's one smart colonel."

"Are you two being done with the touching?" Presit snorted, poking Torin in the hip with a claw. "There are still being more documentation to be signing, and I are having better things to be doing than waiting around here to be acting as your witness. I are having awards to be winning."

When Torin turned, Presit had her muzzle raised, teeth very white against the black of her lips. "You got the interview with Big Bill."

"I are having the exclusive," Presit bragged as the three of them started down the corridor. By the time the Navy had reached Vrijheid, most of the pirates had scattered. William Ponner had refused to leave the station, his station, and had been taken. "He are being most cooperative and are being willing to identify those who are have been using his station."

"Fifteen percent of them, anyway," Craig said dryly.