her muscles unlock from the tenseness in which she had been holding herself。 〃Will the accused Lars Dahl be seated in the witness chair？〃
Lars gave her hand a final squeeze； smiled with a cocky wink at her； rose； and look the seat。 The Bailiff attached the arm cuffs and stepped back。
〃You are charged with the willful abduction of Heptite Guild member Killashandra Ree； malicious invasion of the individual's right to Privacy； felonious assault； premeditated interference with her contractual obligation to her Guild； placing her in physical jeopardy as to shelter and sustenance； deprivation of independent decision and freedom of movement； and fraudulent representation for purposes of extortion。 How do you plead； Lars Dahl？〃 The voice managed to convey an undertone of regretful passion； and an invitation to confide and confess。 Highly sensitized to every nuance。 Killashandra wondered if； by some bizarre freak； the Judicial Branch might actually be guilty of a subtle use of subliminal manipulation in that persuasive voice。
〃Not guilty on all counts；〃 Lars answered quietly； and firmly； as he had rehearsed。
And； Killashandra reassured herself； he was not； by the very wordage that Trag and Olav had cleverly employed。
〃You may testify on your own behalf。〃 The request was issued in a stern； unpromising tone。
Although Killashandra listened avidly to every word Lars said in rebuttal and in explanation； tried to analyze the terse questions put to him by the Judicial Monitor； she was never able to recall the next few hours in much detail。
He was pletely candid； as he had to be； to discharge the accusations。 He explained how Elder Ampris； superior to Lars Dahl； student in the Conservatory and as a ruling Elder of the Optherian Council； had approached him； citing the dilemma about Killashandra's true identity and the request to wound her； resolving the quandary。 His reward was the promise of reconsidering Lars's position。 The point that Lars had been coerced to perform a personally distasteful act by an established superior was accepted by the Court。 To the charge that the abduction was premeditated； Lars explained that he had e upon the victim unexpectedly in an unprotected environment and acted spontaneously。 He had； it was true； rendered her unconscious but without malice。 She had not even suffered a bruise。 She had been carefully conveyed to a place of security； with tools and instructions to provide daily food and shelter； so that she had been in no physical jeopardy。 As she had left the premises of her own volition； she obviously had not been denied independence of decision and movement。 He had not fraudulently represented himself as her rescuer for she had not required rescue； and she had requested his continued presence as a safeguard against further physical violence from any source on Optheria。 He had not premeditated any interference on her contractual obligation to her Guild for he had not only assisted her in repairing the damaged manual； her preemptive assignment； but he had also provided her with conclusive evidence to resolve the secondary assignment。 He therefore restated his innocence。
After Lars gave his testimony； Killashandra was called to the chair and had to exercise the greatest degree of control to suppress signs of the stress she felt。 It didn't help to know that the sensitive psych equipment would record even the most minute tremors and uncertainties of its subject。 That was its function and the results which the Monitor then analyzed against the psychological profile of each witness。 Objectively she was pleased that her voice didn't quaver as she supported Lars's testimony on each count； managing to publicly absolve him from felonious assault as he was； in fact； acting even when he abducted her in her best interests； contractually and personally。 She kept her answers concise and unemotional。 Subjectively she had never been so terrified of any experience。 And the equipment would record that as well。
Trag and Olav had their turns in the witness chair。 Each time the subliminal manipulation was mentioned； there was a significant pause in the flow of questions； though there was no hint of how this information was being received and analyzed by the Judicial Monitor； since； in point of law； this part of everyone's testimony was irrelevant to the case at hand。
When Olav resumed his seat between Trag and Lars； the Bailiff approached the screen。 They could all see the activity of the terminal but the pattern of its flashing lights disclosed nothing。 Killashandra； holding Lars's hand； jumped an inch above her chair when the contralto voice began its summation。
〃With the exception of felonious assault； the charges against the accused； Lars Dahl； are dismissed。〃 Killashandra swallowed。 〃Criminal intent is not apparent but disciplinary action is required by law。 Lars Dahl； you are remanded into the custody of the Judicial Branch； pending disposition of the disciplinary action。 You are further remanded for examination of the charge of subliminal manipulation against the Elders of Optheria。 Olav Dahl； you are seconded to assist these investigations； which have now been initiated。 Trag Morfane； Killashandra Ree； have you anything to add to your recorded testimonies on the charge of subliminal manipulation by the Elders of Optheria？〃
Having already been as candid as possible； neither crystal singer could expand on the information already on record。 And Killashandra did not quite understand the matter of disciplinary action for Lars and the remand orders。
〃Then this session of the Grand Felony Court of Regulus Sector Federation is closed。〃 The traditional crack of wood against wood ended the hearing。
Perplexed by the legal formulas； Killashandra turned to Lars and his father。
〃Are you free； or what？〃 she demanded。
〃I'm not quite sure；〃 Lars said with a nervous laugh。 〃It can't mean much。 Everything else was dismissed； wasn't it？〃 He looked to Olav and was sobered by his father's solemn expression。
〃He has been remanded；〃 the Bailiff explained kindly； taking Lars by the arm。 〃I interpret the judgment to mean that the Court has dismissed all charges but Lars Dahl's physical assault on you in the matter of your abduction。 Disciplinary action is always short term。 On the second remand charge； the Court requires further discussion of the allegations about the use of subliminal conditioning by the Optherian government。 If these are proved correct； then it is likely that the disciplinary action will be suspended。 I can give you hard copy of the precedents involved； indeed of the entire trial； if you wish。〃 When Lars nodded a perplexed affirmation； 〃Then I shall program them for your quarters。 If you gentlemen will e with me？〃
A panel at the back of the seating area opened and it was toward this that Funadormi gestured Lars and his father。
〃e with you？〃 Lars cried； trying to break from the Bailiff's grip。
Shock and surprise briefly immobilized Killashandra and before she could make a move to reach Lars； the Bailiff； securely holding her lover； had him nearly to the open door。
〃Wait！ Please wait！〃 she screamed； falling over the chairs in her haste。
〃You two have been dismissed。 Justice has been served！ Arrangements for your transport have been made and the ground vehicle programmed to take you to the appropriate site。〃
〃But … Lars！〃 Killashandra's cry of protest was made to the immense back of the Bailiff which was disappearing through the aperture； totally eclipsing Lars。 Olav hurried anxiously after； adding his protests。 〃Lars Dahl！〃 she screamed； every fear alerted to his unexpected departure。 The panel closed with a final thuck just as Killashandra reached it。
〃Justice has been served？〃 she shrieked； beating the wall with impotent fists。 〃What justice？ What justice？ LARS DAHL！ Couldn't they let us say good…bye？ Is that justice？〃 She wheeled on Trag who was trying to silence her tactless accusations。 〃You and your fool…proof verbiage。 They've charged him after all。 I want to know why and what does disciplinary action mean for a man who's put himself on the line for a whole benighted fardling useless planet？〃
〃Killashandra Ree；〃 and both crystal singers turned in astonishmen