Chapter 5 & 6 Intermission 4: Meeting with the Lawyer

[Ray of Meep]

Co-authored by: Ray of Meep (GM), Acewing13, Ikate Keda Studios, TheCountryWarrior

23XX A.D, twelve days after the raid on the warehouse

Silbern System, Stahl Belt, Nikolaus Otto dwarf-planetary system, Aboard Daheim One

Juan, Joan, and Eberhard had to wait in the bar room, for Ulrike and Beatrix to arrive with the lawyer. For the past few days while he was making the long journey through intersteller and interplanetary space, the Grau couple gathered information from the Lancers' co-workers, surveillance footage, and data from their own missions.

Now Eberhard sat next to the coffee table, mindlessly browsing on his data pad, occassionally feeling his still-healing nose. At least he could use both eyes now.

After a few more minutes, the group could hear several people talking and walking outside, before there was a light knock on the airlock, then Ulrike pushing it open. "We're back~" She greeted with a musical tone in her voice. Behind her was Bee and an unfamiliar stranger, who were holding hands.

"Guess I'll make the introductions," Beatrix said, smiling as she gestured to the newcomer. "This is Julian Cross, lawyer extraordinaire and my boyfriend."

Julian awkwardly waved at everyone, avoiding eye contact. "Um... Hi, everyone. Pleasure to finally meet you all," he said quietly, standing as if hiding behind his much smaller girlfriend. He was the picture perfect nerd, large glasses, dress t-shirt tucked into his khaki pants. He even had a pocket protector.

Joan stared, her jaw hanging just a little bit, then back at Beatrix. " 'e's my lawyah?" She asked.

Julian lowered his head. "Um, yes. That would... be correct," he said, adjusting his glasses. "I... am a family lawyer, and Trixie mentioned you needed one?" He half asked, almost unsure of himself. Though at the mentioning of the name Trixie, Joan went bright red and quickly looked away.

"Is 'e gonna call us Trixie dis 'ole time?" Joan asked.

"Heh. I hope not. We're not ALL Beatrix." Eberhard chuckled and whispered. "What's up? Some embarassing childhood memory?"

Joan went bright red at the mention of her mistake. "Naw! Was a simple mistake yeah," She muttered crossing her arms defensively.

Juan had of course sat beside Joan, and at the entrance of their new ally he looked over this man, and chcukled in his own head. Dude looked like a stereotype from like 200 years ago! Making note of Joan's red face, thinking on how to talk about that later, Juan reached a hand to Julian for a handshake, smiling warmly. "Thanks for the help man, you're a lifesaver."

"You can thank me once the case is won," Julian said as he firmly shook the offered hand. He let go rather quickly before asking, "Did you want to go over the details of the case now?"

"At least an overview." Ulrike pulled out a data pad and handed it to him. "I already talked to you about our organization on our way back. You'll find the specific details of every mission Joan has participated in, in the folders." She pointed to the Lancers. "Here are all our primary witnesses: Beatrix, Juan, Eberhard. Why don't you start talking to Joan first?"

"Uh, sure," he replied, taking the data pad and opening the files. "So, Joan. I read a copy of the original custody document last night, but I'd like to hear from you what events lead up to that. Specifically, why you kept custody of the kids in the first place."

Joan crossed her arms and frowned. "Da git wanted me ta drop me career like it was tryin ta bite me, in follow 'im ta da ovah side o' 'abited space ta open a pub," She said, letting out a sigh. "One, ah might add, dat failed miserably" She added. "Den 'e pushed fer custody, child support, da works. Ah jus' wanted mah dusties, in 'im gone. 'e drained ma bank account, left me in massive debt, in vanished," She finished simply.

"Not exactly best father material," Julian said, nodding as he kept his eyes on the datapad.

"Could say dat again..." Joan muttered, clearly still sour from all she had done recently.

"Sounds like the attack plan will be easy then," he said with a small smile, before continuing, "Now," he continued, looking up from the datapad, "what's this about an interrogation where you killed the subject?"

Joan's jaw dropped whe Julian mentioned that, and Joan quickly glared at Ulrike and Eberhard. "You said dat was an undahground mission!" She said panic clearly rising in her voice. "Dat interrogation is going ta be in da court case?!"

"Fortunately not." Ulrike shook her head. "That action was fully government sanctioned. I just included it for Julian to better understand your psychological profile."

 

[Ray of Meep]

"Oh jesus," Joan said, clutching her chest. "You damn near gave me an 'eart attack yous did!"

"Ah, my bad," Julian said, tapping the datapad. "Guess that leaves the big issue, your last...adventure. Did anyone ever press charges?"

"I used my contacts in law enforcement to get them to overlook the issue." Ulrike chimed in. "While they did kill some goons, the same goons were also carrying and moving around illegal arms. If their friends or family do try to press charges they'll have a hard leg to stand on."

"Huh," the newcomer said, pulling out his own datapad and pulling up the custody papers. "Don't really get what this guy is going on about then. Don't see how they can argue that Joan's a criminal if no charges were pressed."

"What I'm afraid of is any potential character flaw Tyler can exploit." Ulrike walked back behind the bar. "Do you drink beer?"

"Umm..." Julian started, "Off the clock, yes. Kind of a light weight though, so I hope you don't mind if I don't partake."

"He's much more fun drunk," Bee said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Trixie..." he said, looking up at the ceiling with a sigh.

"Heh. I understand. I'll just get you a cup of tea then." Ulrike smirked, pouring some hot water into a cup and dipped a tea packet into it. "Unfortunatley this German family doesn't have a nuanced take on tea. I hope this'll suffice." She remarked, putting the beverage in front of Julian.

"Don't particularly care myself, despite my upbringing," he said, holding the cup and relaxing.

Ulrike nodded. "Anyways. We can talk individually later." She walked back to the group. "Do any of you have concerns you want to discuss as a group?"

Juan raised his hand, speaking up. "Well with that scare assured, what do you think our chances are? I had a good feeling, but you're the actual lawyer here, your judgement is a bit more sound." He chuckled and shrugged. "And based in things like experience. You know, little things like that."

"At the moment?" Julian asked, looking at the ceiling as he collected his thoughts. "Honestly, I think we have a pretty good chance. Though I do always worry if there's a shoe that's ready to drop. Thought I found it when I saw the interrogation, but as long as it's kept under lock and key, should be fine." Looking over to Ulrike, he asked, "Do you know who the other lawyer is?"

"Some little birds say she's from the AU. Why Tyler hired a yankee, I have no idea." Ulrike shook her head. "How he got the money is even more of a mystery. Just weeks ago I was helping him find a job and a roof over his head. Well, beyond the roof this station already provides. His own roof."

"Curiouser and curiouser," the lawyer said, before taking a sip from his tea. "Guess I'll put some feelers out to see if I can find anything out. I'll know more about our chances when I know how good the opposition is."

"Ya kin put yer feelers out," Joan said, standing up. "Ah've gotta go panic a little more," She sighed, walking out.

"You're going to have to panic here, since there's another issue beyond whatever work you did for us." Ulrike crossed her arms. Eberhard slided in front of the doorway. "You're going to have to be honest with your financial situation."

Joan froze, before taking a deep breath. "Fine," She said, looking at Ulrike. "Ah'm in several million dollahs debt to da Daqin fer da surgeries needed tah keep me alive," She said, her eyes boring a hole into Ulrike. "In when ah took dis job, ah 'ad more money ta spend, in den dey said ah 'ad ta pay more," She said, crossing her arms. "So dat's da reason ah'm broke. Ya coudn't just leave dat to a fucking private conversation wif da lawyer?!" She asked, tears starting to run down her face. "SO dere ya go," She finished, storming out.

"Joan!" Ulrike called out, then growled. "Eberhard, maybe stop her?"

Eberhard pointed to his nose. "And get beaten to a pulp again? No thank you."

"Dammit..." Ulrike burried her face in her hands then looked up back at the group. "Well, there you have it. Arguably where most of Joan's problems are coming from until Tyler showed up. I've been trying to figure out where her salary's been going for months, and I wanted her to have a conversation about it here so we could help her as a group." She sighed. "Clearly I've miscalculated."

"Wait," Beatrix said, still processing what Joan had said, "She's in how much debt?"

"Her insides were basically all torn out. Replacing a kidney alone would've costed five hundred grand." Ulrike tapped her datapad to look at Joan's financial account. "She's five million in the hole."

Juan took a deep breath, and sighed. He stood up and went after Joan.