Jaded Read Free Page B

a slow and painful death would be preferable but that is not in my contract, unfortunately.”
    Jayd could see instances where he had performed his duty for the quick death and where he had wished that he could use a little more time. He killed with his hands, shorting out the neural synapses and dropping the guilty to the floor.
    To be polite, she asked, “What is your technique?”
    “Neural shock. It works on all species and is highly effective at ending lives quickly.”
    “Why didn’t you opt into the Guardian project?”
    “My world didn’t have a Guardian base. It was executioner training or joining the family law firm.”
    Jayd laughed at the options. “That is quite the disparity in choice.”
    “Well, I was afraid that I would short out the opposing council, so execution and security became my focus. I trained at the imperial court.”
    He was telling her things that she could find out by checking his files, but it was nice that he was willing to share.
    Truanic unbuckled and checked their projected path as if by old habit.
    Jayd asked, “You firmly in control, Harry?”
    “As always, Judge. I will sound the jump signal a minute before I shift you.”
    “Thanks, Harry.”
    Jayd got up and headed to the galley. She called out, “Come with me if you want a more detailed tour.”
    She heard him move and felt him looming behind her. “You have seen the crew quarters, but here is the galley and the lounge.”
    It was strange, but she could swear that she was able to smell the heat from his body. Jayd felt a blush creep up her cheeks and kept herself facing forward. The images of her backside were in his mind and very hard to ignore.
    “How did you receive your training, if I may ask, Jayd?”
    “It was a logical progression. I left my world under the volunteer act, but I had already been disqualified from the project. Nyal wanted me, so I was sent for immediate training as a Minder, but it became obvious that my talents lay in the legal sector. It involved a lot of legal training, but I managed. The rules here are not that different from my home. The main lav is to your left.”
    It was quite spacious for a lav on board a short-range shuttle, but a judge had a certain dignity to uphold. Jayd also had a lav adjoining her quarters but that was her perk.
    They passed through the private area of the ship and she paused. “Now, we enter the courtroom. Any other ship it would be the hold, but here, it has another purpose.”
    Truanic passed her. “This is spectacular. Does the entire hold open?”
    “It does. It splits right down the centre and folds open like beetle wings. If we need to, Harry can have it snapped shut in under a minute.”
    He explored the galleries built into either side of the ship. “How many viewers?”
    “Viewers? None. Those are for witnesses and the others are for the defense and prosecution.” She smiled. “No one watches an imperium judge in action. There isn’t anything to see.”
    “Ah. Right.”
    She did a quick search of his mind and found dozens of trials but none with an imperium judge. She was his first.
    Chuckling, she stepped onto her podium and took her seat. “Would you like me to walk you through the protocol?”
    “Please. It would be helpful. I was briefed, but I find that the thought of actually being involved on this level is rather overwhelming.”
    “Tomorrow when you rise, after your morning meal, you will put on the concealer. It will cloak you in darkness from head to toe. Practice moving around in it as it can be a little disorienting.”
    “I have worn one before to perform my duties. I understand.” He smiled and nodded as he paced out the edges of the room.
    “Good. I will be wait in chambers, Harry will open the back of the ship and the courtroom will fill. There is usually one or two eager souls who want to get an image of the judge for the news reports, so we remain in concealers the entire time, even on com reports, we use concealers and