Fic: Solid Skies, Chapter 7
Jul. 6th, 2009 01:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
veldeiaTitle: Solid Skies
Author: Veldeia
Series: Sequel to Hollow World
Fandom: Doctor Who
Warnings: WIP
Characters/Pairings: 10th Doctor, Martha Jones, OCs. Gen.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: If you've seen it on TV, it isn't mine.
Summary: After surviving one big cave, the Doctor, Martha and a caving team from the Sixties find themselves in even more trouble on a planet full of caves.
7. The Halls of Justice
"What's going to happen tomorrow?" Brian asked Jess, breaking the silence that had lasted for some time after they'd finished talking about the Plague.
"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest," Jess answered. "It's been a long time since I left this planet, and I was hardly an expert on law back then. I guess that since our case is a crime against the entire planet-state, we'll be facing the Fifteen."
"Who's that?" Grant asked.
"They're... Sort of the jury, the judge and the prosecution, all in one. A highly esteemed group of the wise and learned. They're the highest court on the planet," Jess explained.
"What about the defence, then?" the Doctor said. "Do we just speak for ourselves?"
"We have the right to a spokesperson - I think they'd be called a defence lawyer on Earth. I've already asked my sister to find us one."
Jess didn't have much else to say on the subject, so they really couldn't do anything to prepare for the trial. All they could do was wait. Eventually, the humans decided to try and sleep.
According to Jess, Khiandria didn't have as clear a distinction between day and night as most other worlds, which wasn't surprising, considering what the place was like. Apparently, Khiandrians only needed a few hours of sleep, and although the "day", or the first half of a cycle, was generally more active than the other half, the city never really slept. All shops and restaurants were always open.
Night or not, Martha slept fitfully because of the strange surroundings and the nagging uncertainty of what the future held for them. She kept dreaming about Earth, about wide blue skies with wispy white clouds, wild moors, deep forests, and seemingly boundless oceans.
They only knew that "morning" had arrived when a guard showed up at the door. After a breakfast of tea and green porridge, which had a distinct taste of basil, of all things, they were marched to the Halls of Justice. The place was only a few blocks away from their prison.
In the huge entrance hall, decorated with stalagmites and stalactites bigger than any Martha had ever seen, they were met by two women. One of them could only be Jess's sister - aside from her curly, shoulder-length hair, they were almost identical. The other woman was bald, and there was something regal about her, the chiseled features of her face, and the way she stood, her head held high. To Martha's surprise, the guards allowed them to approach. Jess's sister walked straight to Jess, and grabbed her in a tight hug.
"Oh, how glad I am to see you! I only wish it were in different circumstances. Everyone, meet Khel, my big sister," Jess announced, beaming.
"Pleased to meet you all," Khel said, her smile mirroring Jess's. "And this is Neir," she motioned at the other woman. "An acquaintance of mine, and an experienced spokesperson. She's promised to help you on this case."
Jess walked over to Neir, and placed her hands on Neir's shoulders. Neir returned the gesture. Apparently, it was the Khiandrian equivalent to a handshake.
"We'll need all the help we can get. Thank you very much for coming," Jess said.
"You've got half a tenth before the first session begins," the guards informed them, and lead them to a space that felt like a conference room to Martha, with a long table and lots of chairs. Khel, who had no official purpose, wasn't allowed to stay with them.
Neir the spokesperson sat down at the end of the table, crossing her hands in front of her. "Now, we do not have much time, and I assume you don't know much. That doesn't matter, yet. The first session is mostly a ceremonial situation, an official reading of charges. The Fifteen have decided to make the entire trial a closed one due to the threat of extremist attacks, so you don't need to worry about spectators. Of course, it's broadcast all across the planet, but that's none of your concern. You're better off not thinking about it at all."
Martha found herself growing nervous as Neir spoke, even though the spokesperson was clearly trying to be reassuring. It just served to remind Martha how little she knew of what was going on here. What if they did something wrong?
"Simply do as the Fifteen say," Neir went on. "Speak if you're spoken to, otherwise remain silent. Stick to the truth. I'll signal you if what you're saying is deleterious."
Jess stood up, walked over to Neir, and said something to her in a whisper. Neir frowned at her, and stood up as well. The two Khiandrians withdrew to a corner of the room, to talk in very low voices.
"I wonder what they're up to," Grant said.
"Whatever it is, it clearly isn't our business," Brian snapped.
The hour passed surprisingly fast. Martha really didn't feel prepared when the guards opened the door to lead the defendants before the court. The courtroom, known as the Great Chamber of Justice, was every bit as impressive as the name suggested: a large, perfectly spherical room, with rows of benches circling the sides. At the moment, all rows except for the first one were empty. It was separated from the rest by a fence of tall stalagmites, which were carved into spirals, like a unicorn's horn. The first row was where the Fifteen sat. They were a solemn group, dressed in plain white gowns, ageless and androgynous.
In the middle of the room was the place of the defendants, which was a raised platform surrounded by pairs of rough, undecorated stalagmites and stalactites, like the jagged teeth of some huge monster. Even though courtrooms on Earth could be intimidating enough, this was on an entirely different scale. Standing on the platform made Martha feel like an animal in the zoo. She was glad that their trial was a closed one - she could only imagine how bad it would've been with all the benches filled with anti-alien Darks.
One of the Fifteen, a woman with her hair shaped into a stalagmite-like spike, stood up, and spread her arms. "We are the Fifteen, as are the Fifteen Pillars, the Fifteen Fangs in the Jaws of Justice. We are here to judge what is true, just and right," she declared in a ceremonial tone. When she stopped speaking, the hall was so silent that even a non-Khiandrian could've heard a pin drop.
The woman sat down, and another juror stood up to continue. The person was bald, and even when he or she began to speak, Martha couldn't decide whether they were a man or a woman. "We have heard many stories of what happened in the City of Lights yesterday. We have seen a considerable amount of evidence, and heard the accounts of Getl, daughter of Sarn, Head of Guard, Northwest District, City of Lights, and of T'ig, son of Sekh, of the City of Lights."
A third juror, a man with long, braided hair, went on. "We are here to discuss those events, and the related crimes of these six people: Jess, daughter of Jem, formerly of Chute Town, and the aliens Brian Ford, Grant Richardson, Joseph Stratton, Martha Jones and John Smith, also known as the Doctor, from planets whose governments we do not have diplomatic relations with. They are represented by the honourable spokesperson Neir, daughter of Nael, of Maze City North. Is there anything you wish to say before we begin?"
"Indeed there is, Honoured Ones," Neir said, her voice loud and clear. She was standing just outside the platform, and walked around it slowly as she spoke. "I would like to note that, as you said yourself, not all of those I speak for are Khiandrian. These five aliens know nothing of Khiandrian laws. They never even asked to be brought to this planet, but were brought here by Jess, daughter of Jem. Because of this, on her behalf, I suggest she should be held in full and complete responsibility for everything that has happened."
Her words seemed to raise a commotion amongst the Fifteen - they murmured, their stoical expressions faltered ever so slightly, and their heads turned as they exchanged glances. Martha saw the other humans and the Doctor look from Neir to Jess, clearly as confused as she was. Jess had a strange, defiant glint in her eyes, and Neir's thin lips were curved in the slightest of smiles. This must've been what they'd talked about in private. What were they up to?
A fourth member of the Fifteen stood up. "What you suggest could have serious consequences," he said, fixing Jess with his gaze. "Jess, daughter of Jem, do you truly wish to become the sole defendant in this case, as your spokesperson has proposed?"
Jess stood up, a very determined look on her face. "That is my wish, Honoured Ones," she declared.
"What? Wait!" the Doctor exclaimed. He had leaped to his feet, and Martha could see every eye in the hall turn towards him. Neir glared at him, shaking her head and gesturing with her hands that he should sit down.
"John Smith, also known as the Doctor, whose heritage and home are unknown to us - what do you have to say to the Fifteen?" said the previous speaker.
"Honoured Ones," the Doctor began, ignoring Neir's attempts to catch his attention. "I would note that as alien as I am, it was my ship that allowed us to enter the City of Lights, and that I willingly offered to give Jess a ride. Also, once we were here, I specifically asked her to show us around. Thus, I don't see how she could be accused of everything alone. These humans, they've just been hanging around, but me, I'm as involved as she is."
Martha stared at him, baffled. Of course, she didn't want Jess to take all the blame, either, but it had seemed to her that the Khiandrians had known what they were doing. The Doctor, on the other hand, was clearly just improvising.
"The Fifteen have heard the request of the alien known as the Doctor. We will now discuss these things amongst ourselves. You shall be summoned again once we have reached a conclusion."
For the time being, the defendants and their spokesperson were escorted back to the conference room.
"What do you think you're doing?" Martha hissed at the Doctor as soon as they were by themselves. "You want to land yourself in prison and leave the rest of us stuck here?"
"I'm more interested to hear what Jess thinks she's doing," he said, turning to look at the two Khiandrians. "Can you really take the blame for everything, just like that?"
"Not just like that. It's a very old thing we were taught about at school, and I remembered a similar case from when I was young. That's why I asked Neir about it," Jess said, without a hint of regret.
"And I approved, even though it's not exactly the most prudent course of action," Neir said. "You see, since the earliest days of our history, a mother has had the right to take the blame for her children. When Khiandria was a feudal monarchy, that right was extended so that someone of high status could do the same for their subordinates, and a form of those laws still exists. Now, since you're aliens, and Jess could be regarded as having higher status and being in charge of you, it's possible that they'll accept what we've proposed. Of course, with the current xenophobic atmosphere, that's far from certain, even though the Fifteen should be above such things."
"If it does work, what happens, then?" Brian asked, staring at Jess like he was afraid she'd disappear if he turned his gaze. "If you do get what you asked for, what happens to you - to us?"
Jess smiled warmly at Brian. "They'll accuse me of everything, charge me with breaking the quarantine laws, trespassing, possibly even treason. If I'm found guilty, they may go for the worst possible punishment: exile from the planet. For life."
"Oh," Martha said, finally realising why Jess had done what she'd done.
The Doctor raised his eyebrows at Jess. "So, you get exiled, and we get no punishment at all?"
"Not a bad deal, don't you think? I would miss Khiandria terribly, but it doesn't really feel like home anymore, anyway."
"You would leave behind all this," Grant gestured vaguely at the cave around them, "Just to protect us?"
"Oh, no. Of course not. I'd leave behind all this to stay together with Brian," Jess said.
"But it's a huge gamble," the Doctor remarked. "Even if you got what you asked for, they could send you to prison for life instead of exiling you."
"That's entirely possible, yes," Neir admitted.
"You trying to be all chivalrous definitely didn't help," Jess noted, glaring at the Doctor.
"If you had explained this to us in advance..." the Doctor began.
"Would you have let me do it, then?"
"Well... Most likely not. I'm all for people taking responsibility for their misdeeds, but no one should have to pay for something they didn't do."
"It's not quite so simple," Neir said, and launched into a complicated explanation of Khiandrian legal practices, traditions, and philosophy. The Doctor leaned towards her, asking a question every now and then, clearly eager to understand it all better.
It wasn't exactly exciting talk, complicated and full of strange legal terms, but still, Martha was a bit ashamed of herself when she found herself yawning, suddenly feeling all sleepy. It was only when she noticed that Neir was yawning, too, and Jess was nodding off, that Martha realised something wasn't quite right. Unfortunately, by that time, she was so overwhelmingly tired that before she managed to say anything, she slumped against the table, fast asleep.
8. Unknown Location
Author: Veldeia
Series: Sequel to Hollow World
Fandom: Doctor Who
Warnings: WIP
Characters/Pairings: 10th Doctor, Martha Jones, OCs. Gen.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: If you've seen it on TV, it isn't mine.
Summary: After surviving one big cave, the Doctor, Martha and a caving team from the Sixties find themselves in even more trouble on a planet full of caves.
7. The Halls of Justice
"What's going to happen tomorrow?" Brian asked Jess, breaking the silence that had lasted for some time after they'd finished talking about the Plague.
"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest," Jess answered. "It's been a long time since I left this planet, and I was hardly an expert on law back then. I guess that since our case is a crime against the entire planet-state, we'll be facing the Fifteen."
"Who's that?" Grant asked.
"They're... Sort of the jury, the judge and the prosecution, all in one. A highly esteemed group of the wise and learned. They're the highest court on the planet," Jess explained.
"What about the defence, then?" the Doctor said. "Do we just speak for ourselves?"
"We have the right to a spokesperson - I think they'd be called a defence lawyer on Earth. I've already asked my sister to find us one."
Jess didn't have much else to say on the subject, so they really couldn't do anything to prepare for the trial. All they could do was wait. Eventually, the humans decided to try and sleep.
According to Jess, Khiandria didn't have as clear a distinction between day and night as most other worlds, which wasn't surprising, considering what the place was like. Apparently, Khiandrians only needed a few hours of sleep, and although the "day", or the first half of a cycle, was generally more active than the other half, the city never really slept. All shops and restaurants were always open.
Night or not, Martha slept fitfully because of the strange surroundings and the nagging uncertainty of what the future held for them. She kept dreaming about Earth, about wide blue skies with wispy white clouds, wild moors, deep forests, and seemingly boundless oceans.
They only knew that "morning" had arrived when a guard showed up at the door. After a breakfast of tea and green porridge, which had a distinct taste of basil, of all things, they were marched to the Halls of Justice. The place was only a few blocks away from their prison.
In the huge entrance hall, decorated with stalagmites and stalactites bigger than any Martha had ever seen, they were met by two women. One of them could only be Jess's sister - aside from her curly, shoulder-length hair, they were almost identical. The other woman was bald, and there was something regal about her, the chiseled features of her face, and the way she stood, her head held high. To Martha's surprise, the guards allowed them to approach. Jess's sister walked straight to Jess, and grabbed her in a tight hug.
"Oh, how glad I am to see you! I only wish it were in different circumstances. Everyone, meet Khel, my big sister," Jess announced, beaming.
"Pleased to meet you all," Khel said, her smile mirroring Jess's. "And this is Neir," she motioned at the other woman. "An acquaintance of mine, and an experienced spokesperson. She's promised to help you on this case."
Jess walked over to Neir, and placed her hands on Neir's shoulders. Neir returned the gesture. Apparently, it was the Khiandrian equivalent to a handshake.
"We'll need all the help we can get. Thank you very much for coming," Jess said.
"You've got half a tenth before the first session begins," the guards informed them, and lead them to a space that felt like a conference room to Martha, with a long table and lots of chairs. Khel, who had no official purpose, wasn't allowed to stay with them.
Neir the spokesperson sat down at the end of the table, crossing her hands in front of her. "Now, we do not have much time, and I assume you don't know much. That doesn't matter, yet. The first session is mostly a ceremonial situation, an official reading of charges. The Fifteen have decided to make the entire trial a closed one due to the threat of extremist attacks, so you don't need to worry about spectators. Of course, it's broadcast all across the planet, but that's none of your concern. You're better off not thinking about it at all."
Martha found herself growing nervous as Neir spoke, even though the spokesperson was clearly trying to be reassuring. It just served to remind Martha how little she knew of what was going on here. What if they did something wrong?
"Simply do as the Fifteen say," Neir went on. "Speak if you're spoken to, otherwise remain silent. Stick to the truth. I'll signal you if what you're saying is deleterious."
Jess stood up, walked over to Neir, and said something to her in a whisper. Neir frowned at her, and stood up as well. The two Khiandrians withdrew to a corner of the room, to talk in very low voices.
"I wonder what they're up to," Grant said.
"Whatever it is, it clearly isn't our business," Brian snapped.
The hour passed surprisingly fast. Martha really didn't feel prepared when the guards opened the door to lead the defendants before the court. The courtroom, known as the Great Chamber of Justice, was every bit as impressive as the name suggested: a large, perfectly spherical room, with rows of benches circling the sides. At the moment, all rows except for the first one were empty. It was separated from the rest by a fence of tall stalagmites, which were carved into spirals, like a unicorn's horn. The first row was where the Fifteen sat. They were a solemn group, dressed in plain white gowns, ageless and androgynous.
In the middle of the room was the place of the defendants, which was a raised platform surrounded by pairs of rough, undecorated stalagmites and stalactites, like the jagged teeth of some huge monster. Even though courtrooms on Earth could be intimidating enough, this was on an entirely different scale. Standing on the platform made Martha feel like an animal in the zoo. She was glad that their trial was a closed one - she could only imagine how bad it would've been with all the benches filled with anti-alien Darks.
One of the Fifteen, a woman with her hair shaped into a stalagmite-like spike, stood up, and spread her arms. "We are the Fifteen, as are the Fifteen Pillars, the Fifteen Fangs in the Jaws of Justice. We are here to judge what is true, just and right," she declared in a ceremonial tone. When she stopped speaking, the hall was so silent that even a non-Khiandrian could've heard a pin drop.
The woman sat down, and another juror stood up to continue. The person was bald, and even when he or she began to speak, Martha couldn't decide whether they were a man or a woman. "We have heard many stories of what happened in the City of Lights yesterday. We have seen a considerable amount of evidence, and heard the accounts of Getl, daughter of Sarn, Head of Guard, Northwest District, City of Lights, and of T'ig, son of Sekh, of the City of Lights."
A third juror, a man with long, braided hair, went on. "We are here to discuss those events, and the related crimes of these six people: Jess, daughter of Jem, formerly of Chute Town, and the aliens Brian Ford, Grant Richardson, Joseph Stratton, Martha Jones and John Smith, also known as the Doctor, from planets whose governments we do not have diplomatic relations with. They are represented by the honourable spokesperson Neir, daughter of Nael, of Maze City North. Is there anything you wish to say before we begin?"
"Indeed there is, Honoured Ones," Neir said, her voice loud and clear. She was standing just outside the platform, and walked around it slowly as she spoke. "I would like to note that, as you said yourself, not all of those I speak for are Khiandrian. These five aliens know nothing of Khiandrian laws. They never even asked to be brought to this planet, but were brought here by Jess, daughter of Jem. Because of this, on her behalf, I suggest she should be held in full and complete responsibility for everything that has happened."
Her words seemed to raise a commotion amongst the Fifteen - they murmured, their stoical expressions faltered ever so slightly, and their heads turned as they exchanged glances. Martha saw the other humans and the Doctor look from Neir to Jess, clearly as confused as she was. Jess had a strange, defiant glint in her eyes, and Neir's thin lips were curved in the slightest of smiles. This must've been what they'd talked about in private. What were they up to?
A fourth member of the Fifteen stood up. "What you suggest could have serious consequences," he said, fixing Jess with his gaze. "Jess, daughter of Jem, do you truly wish to become the sole defendant in this case, as your spokesperson has proposed?"
Jess stood up, a very determined look on her face. "That is my wish, Honoured Ones," she declared.
"What? Wait!" the Doctor exclaimed. He had leaped to his feet, and Martha could see every eye in the hall turn towards him. Neir glared at him, shaking her head and gesturing with her hands that he should sit down.
"John Smith, also known as the Doctor, whose heritage and home are unknown to us - what do you have to say to the Fifteen?" said the previous speaker.
"Honoured Ones," the Doctor began, ignoring Neir's attempts to catch his attention. "I would note that as alien as I am, it was my ship that allowed us to enter the City of Lights, and that I willingly offered to give Jess a ride. Also, once we were here, I specifically asked her to show us around. Thus, I don't see how she could be accused of everything alone. These humans, they've just been hanging around, but me, I'm as involved as she is."
Martha stared at him, baffled. Of course, she didn't want Jess to take all the blame, either, but it had seemed to her that the Khiandrians had known what they were doing. The Doctor, on the other hand, was clearly just improvising.
"The Fifteen have heard the request of the alien known as the Doctor. We will now discuss these things amongst ourselves. You shall be summoned again once we have reached a conclusion."
For the time being, the defendants and their spokesperson were escorted back to the conference room.
"What do you think you're doing?" Martha hissed at the Doctor as soon as they were by themselves. "You want to land yourself in prison and leave the rest of us stuck here?"
"I'm more interested to hear what Jess thinks she's doing," he said, turning to look at the two Khiandrians. "Can you really take the blame for everything, just like that?"
"Not just like that. It's a very old thing we were taught about at school, and I remembered a similar case from when I was young. That's why I asked Neir about it," Jess said, without a hint of regret.
"And I approved, even though it's not exactly the most prudent course of action," Neir said. "You see, since the earliest days of our history, a mother has had the right to take the blame for her children. When Khiandria was a feudal monarchy, that right was extended so that someone of high status could do the same for their subordinates, and a form of those laws still exists. Now, since you're aliens, and Jess could be regarded as having higher status and being in charge of you, it's possible that they'll accept what we've proposed. Of course, with the current xenophobic atmosphere, that's far from certain, even though the Fifteen should be above such things."
"If it does work, what happens, then?" Brian asked, staring at Jess like he was afraid she'd disappear if he turned his gaze. "If you do get what you asked for, what happens to you - to us?"
Jess smiled warmly at Brian. "They'll accuse me of everything, charge me with breaking the quarantine laws, trespassing, possibly even treason. If I'm found guilty, they may go for the worst possible punishment: exile from the planet. For life."
"Oh," Martha said, finally realising why Jess had done what she'd done.
The Doctor raised his eyebrows at Jess. "So, you get exiled, and we get no punishment at all?"
"Not a bad deal, don't you think? I would miss Khiandria terribly, but it doesn't really feel like home anymore, anyway."
"You would leave behind all this," Grant gestured vaguely at the cave around them, "Just to protect us?"
"Oh, no. Of course not. I'd leave behind all this to stay together with Brian," Jess said.
"But it's a huge gamble," the Doctor remarked. "Even if you got what you asked for, they could send you to prison for life instead of exiling you."
"That's entirely possible, yes," Neir admitted.
"You trying to be all chivalrous definitely didn't help," Jess noted, glaring at the Doctor.
"If you had explained this to us in advance..." the Doctor began.
"Would you have let me do it, then?"
"Well... Most likely not. I'm all for people taking responsibility for their misdeeds, but no one should have to pay for something they didn't do."
"It's not quite so simple," Neir said, and launched into a complicated explanation of Khiandrian legal practices, traditions, and philosophy. The Doctor leaned towards her, asking a question every now and then, clearly eager to understand it all better.
It wasn't exactly exciting talk, complicated and full of strange legal terms, but still, Martha was a bit ashamed of herself when she found herself yawning, suddenly feeling all sleepy. It was only when she noticed that Neir was yawning, too, and Jess was nodding off, that Martha realised something wasn't quite right. Unfortunately, by that time, she was so overwhelmingly tired that before she managed to say anything, she slumped against the table, fast asleep.
8. Unknown Location
