Free The Trials (The Red Trilogy Book 2) by Linda Nagata Page B

today?”
    Fong stands up. “Your Honor, the United States requests a brief eight oh two.”
    There’s a whisper of surprise from the spectators behind us. I turn to my uncle. He’s already scrawling on his legal pad: 802 = conference .
    “All right,” Monteiro says, though she does not look pleased. “Defense, any objection?”
    “No objection, ma’am.”
    “Then we will recess until seventeen thirty-five.”
    After the judge and court members have left, we are escorted to our usual conference room. I’ve been sitting down all day, so while we wait, I pace back and forth. Flynn is in the bathroom, and Harvey’s waiting to take her turn. Jaynie is standing in a corner, her arms crossed, eyeing the door. Nolan, Tuttle, and Moon are dispersed around the table.
    In a low voice, Tuttle says, “I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up when they brought Parker in. Ninety-threethousand people dead. I was scared somebody in the audience would try to kill him. Set off a bomb or something.”
    “Court security screens for weapons and explosives,” I say. “And after yesterday, they’re going to be extra vigilant.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    I reach the end of the room and start back, passing Jaynie. She’s still looking lean and muscular, despite the months spent cooped up in a tiny cell. My mind flashes back to Fort Dassari. I think about the way she looked fresh after a shower, wearing only panties and a thin T-shirt that didn’t hide much. And then I catch myself. What the fuck is wrong with me?
    Flynn steps out of the bathroom. She plops down at the table next to Moon and leans against his shoulder, heaving a dramatic sigh. “I can’t fuckin’ wait to go on leave.”
    “Permanent leave, probably,” Moon grumbles. He looks at me. “They’re going to kick us out of the army one way or another, aren’t they, LT? Whether we get found innocent or not?”
    I turn around again. “Yes.”
    “ Fuck ,” Flynn whispers, looking scared for the first time. “Even if we’re not guilty? How is that fair?”
    It’s not about fair and I don’t bother to answer, but Moon does.
    “Hey,” he says softly. “It’ll work out, one way or another.”
    I’m eyeing Jaynie again, thinking about what she looks like under her Class A’s. She scowls, and for a second I feel like a kid in trouble. But she’s not looking at me. She’s looking past me, at Flynn.
    I turn around to find Flynn cuddled in Moon’s arm, her upturned lips brushing his, like they’re a high school couple.
    Jaynie and Nolan explode simultaneously.
    “Private Flynn!”
    “Specialist Moon!”
    “On your feet, now!”
    Chair legs screech across the floor. Both Moon and Flynn look shocked as they jump to their feet, coming to attention, their shoulders squared and their gazes fixed straight ahead.
    My sergeants are responsible for immediate personnel issues, for which I am grateful because I am not in a good position to handle this one. I put on my standard-issue stonewall expression and hope no one will see through it, while Jaynie takes the floor. She steps around the table until she’s standing right beside Moon and Flynn. “You want to fuck each other?” she shouts. “Because that is some twisted shit. We are brothers- and sisters-in-arms here. Brothers and sisters! And brothers and sisters do not fuck each other! Is that understood ?”
    Harvey emerges from the bathroom, her lips parted in awe. The door to the hall opens at the same time and Master Sergeant Chudhuri looks in. Meanwhile, Flynn and Moon bark in unison, “Yes, sergeant!”
    Moon adds, in a tone of confusion, “It was an accident, sergeant.”
    “Accidents don’t happen in my squad, Moon.”
    Chudhuri withdraws, closing the door again.
    Poor Flynn is horrified. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” she whispers.
    “There’s nothing wrong with you,” I growl.
    “Lieutenant,” Jaynie snaps.
    “It’s not her fault!” I tap my head, but I don’t meet her eye. “It’s