errogation Suite
Alpha", the "In Use" light above it lit. "This is the one I normally
use," she said, ushering them into the office area. "The layout's
standard, but it's bigger than usual, and I have quite a bit of
experimental material, both equipment and drugs. This section's
normally used for Stage One, which rarely happens here; today is
unusual." She nodded in the direction of her desk, and the chair in
front of it which held a prisoner, flanked by Odeon and Bain. "He's
all yours, Ranger. Do you need anything special?"

"A chair would help, so I'm not standing over him; otherwise, no."

Cortin nodded; Bain left, returning moments later with a folding chair
he handed to Medart.

Medart positioned himself facing the prisoner and introduced himself,
then said, "Colonel Cortin has some doubts about your guilt, but since
you can't talk, she can't question you very well. I can read minds, so
I don't have that problem. Do you understand?"

The man nodded, but his attention was obviously on Cortin, not the
Ranger, and when Medart mind-touched him, all he could read was fear.
He turned to the Inquisitor. "He's so terrified his fear's acting like
a mind-shield, Colonel. I could get through, but not without hurting
him; is there anything you can do to calm him down?"

"That might be difficult," Cortin said. "I generally want my subjects
afraid of me; this is the first time I've had to calm one." She turned
her attention to the prisoner. "Kenneth Shelton, isn't it?"

The man nodded.

"I'm sure you've heard the usual rumors of my methods; it should be at
least a little reassuring that you're dressed and in this suite's
office, rather than hanging naked in my third-stage room."

The man nodded, mouthing, "Why?"

"Because, as Ranger Medart said, I have several reasons to wonder about
your guilt." She detailed them, ending with, "In particular, the fact
that you were muted, apparently to keep you from talking to me--which
is the only way I can rely on my truthsense for more than basics.
Since I knew the Imperials were coming, and that they had a method--not
this one, though it should be equally effective--which would insure
truthful, if non-verbal, responses, I used my prerogatives as High
King's Inquisitor to postpone your execution, and if my suspicions
prove well-founded . . . we'll see. Does that help?"

Shelton nodded, with Medart agreeing. "The fear's going, Colonel; his
primary emotion now is gr