Chadria cheerfully informed her passengers that there was as much again in subterranean levels as above ground； and some storage areas delved as much as a half a klick below Regulus's surface。 Monorail lines connected the sprawling offices with the residential centers thirty and forty klicks away； for most of the workers preferred the nearby valleys and the many amenities available there。 Regulus was a good post for everyone。
From a distance； the profile was awe inspiring。 The random pattern of rectangular extrusions above the mass of the plex was silhouetted against the light green early…morning sky。 Even Trag was impressed； a reaction which did nothing to assuage Killashandra's growing sense of doubt。 She inched as close to Lars as possible and felt him return the pressure in an answering need for tactile reassurance。 But he was nowhere near as tense as she was。 Perhaps she was just hypersensitive due to her recent ordeal。 As they approached； the building dominated the landscape to the exclusion of any other features on Chinneidigh Plain。 Skimmers could then be seen landing and taking off at the myriad entrances； each embellished with official symbols depicting the department housed within。
〃We re cleared to land at the Judicial Sector；〃 Chadria said； swinging about in her gimballed chair。 〃Don't look so worried。〃 She grinned up at the three。 〃They don't leave you hanging about here for weeks on end。 You'll know by midday。 It's anticipation that gets to you； and waiting！〃
Killashandra knew that Chadria meant to reassure them； for both brain and brawn partners had been excellent hosts； with stories scurrilous and amusing； and stocks of exotic foods and beverages in the scout ship's well…stocked larder to tempt every taste。 With exquisite tact； the others had left Killashandra and Lars to enjoy their own pany for the week in which the CS 914 hurtled from one corner of the sector to the Regulan planet at its center。 Courtesy； however； had dictated to both Lars and Killashandra that they join the others at mealtimes and for evening conversations； and the occasional rehearsals of Lars's defense against the warrant's charges。 Trag and Olav had begun a friendly petition over a tri…dimensional maze game which could last up to a day between well…matched players。 Chadria and Samel had teamed up against the two men in another contest； one of multiple…choice； which could be expanded to include Lars and Killashandra whenever they chose to play。
There was a strange dichotomy about that journey： the tug between learning more of each other's minds and sating their bodies and senses sufficiently to cushion the imminent parting。 On the final day； it was more than Killashandra or Lars could endure to make love： instead they sat close together； one pair of hands linked； playing the maze game with an intensity that bordered the irrational。
Now Chadria swung back to the screens as their progress to the landing site closed with the linear diagram Samel displayed on the situation screen。 Killashandra could not restrain the small gasp nor her instinct to clutch at Lars's hands as the two positions matched and the scout ship settled to the ground。
〃Here we are；〃 Samel said in a tactfully expressionless tone。 〃Ground transport is approaching。 Glad to have had you all aboard and I hope that Chadria and I will meet you again。〃
Chadria lifted her long frame from the chair； shaking hands with each one in turn； clasping Killashandra's with an encouraging smile and giving Lars an impish grin before she kissed his cheek in farewell。 〃Good luck； Lars Dahl！ You'll e out on top！ Feel it in my bones。〃
〃Me。 too；〃 Samel added； and opened the two lock doors。
Killashandra wished that she felt as positive。 Then； suddenly； there was no way to evade the inevitable。 They picked up their carisaks and filed out。 Trag and Olav took the lift down first； permitting Lars and Killashandra a few moments privacy。
Killashandra didn't know what she had expected but the ground transport was a four…seat skimmer； remote controlled； the purple…gold…and…blue emblem of the FSP Judiciary Branch unobtrusively marking the door panel。 She took in a deep breath。 Looking off to the massive tower of the entrance。 As she had done for several days； she repeated to herself that 〃justice would prevail；〃 that the much edited wording of the warrant would support their hopes。 And that the disclosure of subliminal conditioning would result in the swift dispatch of a revisionary force to overthrow the Elders' tyranny on Optheria。
But one Killashandra Ree； one…time resident of the planet Fuerte； barely four years a member of the Heptite Guild； had had no encounters at all with Galactic Justice； and feared it。 She had never heard or known anyone who had been either defendant or plaintiff at an FSP court。 Her ignorance rankled and her apprehension increased。
Silently the four settled into the skimmer and it puffed along on its short return journey。 It did not； as Killashandra half expected； stop at the imposing entrance。 It ducked into an aperture to one side； down a brightly lit subterranean tunnel； and came to a gentle stop at an unmarked platform。
There a man built on the most generous of scales； uniformed in the Judicial Livery； awaited them。 In a state of numbness； Killashandra emerged。
〃Killashandra Ree；〃 the man said； identifying her with a nod； not friendly but certainly not hostile。 〃Lars Dahl； Trag Morfane； and Olav Dahl。〃 He nodded politely as he identified each person。 〃My name is Funadormi； Bailiff for Court 256 to which this case is assigned。 Follow me。〃
〃I am Agent Dahl； number … 〃
〃I know；〃 the man said pleasantly enough。 〃Wele back from exile。 This way。〃 He stepped aside to allow them to enter the lift which had opened in the wall of the platform。 〃It won't take long。〃
Killashandra tried to convince herself that his manner was reassuring if his appearance was daunting。 He towered above them and both Lars and Trag were tall men。 Killashandra and Olav were not many millimeters shorter but she had never felt so diminished by sheer physical proportions。 The lift moved； stopped； and its door panel slid open to a corridor； stretching out in either direction； pierced by atriums with trees and other vegetation。 Gardens seemed an odd decorative feature of a Judicial building but did nothing to buoy Killashandra's spirits。 She rearranged her fierce grasp on Lars's fingers； hoping that Funadormi did not see it and that he did； to show this human representative of the Courts that Lars Dahl had her total support。
Funadormi gestured to the left and then halted their progress at the second door on the left； which bore the legend 〃Grand Felony Court 256。〃
Killashandra reeled against Lars Dahl； Trag behind him placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder； and Olav straightened his lean frame against the imminent testing of a scheme that had been entered rather lightheartedly。
Funadormi thumbed open the panel and entered。 It was not the sort of chamber Killashandra would have recognized as judicial。 She did recognize the psychological testing equipment for what it was； and the armbands on the chair beside it。 Fourteen fortable seats faced that chair and the wall screens and a terminal which bore the Judicial Seal。 A starred flag of the Federated Sentient Planets bearing the symbols indicating the nonhuman sentient species was displayed in the corner。
The door panel whooshed shut behind them and Funadormi indicated that they were to be seated。 He faced the screen； squared his shoulders； and began the proceedings。
〃Bailiff Funadormi in Grand Felony Court 256； in the presence of the accused； Lars Dahl； remanded citizen of the planet Optheria； the arresting citizen； Trag Morfane of the Heptite Guild； the alleged victim； Killashandra Ree； also of the Heptite Guild； and witness for the accused； Olav Dahl； Agent Number AS…4897/KTE； present at this sitting。 Accused is restrained under Federal Sentient Planet Warrant A…1090088…O…FSP55558976。 Permission to proceed。〃
〃Permission is granted；〃 replied a contralto voice； deep and oddly maternal； definitely reassuring。 Killashandra could feel her muscles unlock from the tenseness in which she had been holding her