>>5203613"It's why I wanted to to ask you. You're a skintalker, and yet you agreed to wearing the collar and want to solve the case. Why?"
"Simple. I do this so I can give meaning to my voice."
"To...give meaning to my...voice?" Lisa repeated, puzzled by such an expression.
Sathriel nodded, resolute in her answer. "In the country I lived in, legal laws were strict, cultrual norms even stricter. It was in many ways, a scary place to live in for girls like me. The only way to gain an edge in such an environment was to either marry into power, be born in power, work and study and achieve power. I was a quiet girl who wanted to make things fair and just for everyone, but many of the people I talked to would often laugh or ignore me, and tell me that my voice doesn't matter. So I decided to work hard and fight to reach a place where my voice did matter. Thinking back, what I went through scares me even today. But despite my fear, I went with my decision to fight to make my voice matter."
"In the courtroom they have a saying: 'Evidence is everything'. It means that any statement or claim must be backed by tangible evidence. To me, it means that anything that I say must be backed by my actions to prove that statement true. Far too often I have witnessed people say things up front only to later find out that they have gone back on their word."
"Thus, in the face of this crime that tilts the scale towards injustice in my eyes. I have sworn bring true JUSTICE to this case, even if I'm deprived of my skintalking powers. This is what it means to have a meaningful voice. To have your thoughts and intents be announced and backed by tangible action."
Lisa was silent as she digested Sathriel's response. "I wish I had that kind of courage."
Sathriel for her part smiled. "No need to wish for courage. You simply need to act on your true feelings no matter how frightened you are."
"Good luck on holding the trial."
Sathriel waved Lisa goodbye as the little Cactus-armed girl left to join Officer Grizzie. The moment Lisa's back was turned, Sathriel frowned. Something was about Lisa's claims struck her as odd. The back of the Arbiter's spine pulsed as a mote of gold light traveled down into the ground from the base of her neck as Sathriel used The Spine to establish a private channel with her constructs.
[Solomon, Yan Wong. Please include Lisa as part of the witness list to testify for the trial.]
[No problem.]
[My thoughts are the same as brother Solomon's, though I do have to ask: For what reason?]
[No concrete evidence, this is based on a woman's intuition. There is something about that girl that feels out of place, and I would like the two of you to expose that hidden contradiction in court. Can you do that?]
[...We'll come up with something.]
The connection soon cut and Sathriel got up from her seat. The appointed hour draws near, and a Judge needs a court...
(cont.)
