Out of instinct, Niko tried lifting a hand to wipe the blood out of his eyes but of course with the cuffs that was impossible. His wrists had been chained to the table in front of him to prevent him from escaping, or fighting back. There were two men, both agents of the Morality Enforcement Coalition, standing at his sides. The knob on the door began to turn and Niko dreaded thinking about who might be entering. The two agents with him now weren't very chatty but at least they didn't hit him.

When the door opened, Niko recognized the man on the other side. Everyone in Yorgistov knew Yuri Kusneska. Even if they didn't recognize his deflated and withered face, they recognized the symbol of authority that adorned his neck. A red silk scarf stitched with gold thread, the mark of the highest office in the town council, the proxy leader who was sent by the capital and spoke with the voice of the republic and President Braska. It was also the most brightly colored garment Niko had ever seen and he had always coveted it.

"Mister Kusneska." Niko smiled even though it hurt his face. "How nice of you to drop in like this. I must be quite the high profile prisoner indeed if you'll be overseeing my trial yourself. I figured graffiti would be a councilor's jurisdiction, or maybe even just one of the mine overseers. Not that I did it, of course."

"The son of my first councilor is accused of defaming official republic propaganda, this is a sensitive case and I'm hear to ensure it runs smoothly."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Niko managed to maintain a stoic expression, even though Yuri's words hit him like a fist to the chest. The weight of Niko's secrets had always been difficult to bear but he was sure that he'd been diligent enough to keep them secret.

The old man smiled. He tossed a folder down on the table between them before pulling up a chair opposite Niko. He reached forward and opened the folder, then fanned out a series of photos for Niko to see. They were all pictures of posters depicting images of President Braska with make up and dresses painted on them. Niko hoped he had successfully hidden his grin from Yuri. "Who ever did this was very talented," Niko said. "It's a shame such creativity is immoral and deviant."

"Don't play dumb, Niko. We know it was you, a loyal citizen reported you."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm loyal to President Braska, and the republic of Borrylea."

"Yes, well, that's what we're here to determine."

"So, if you're gonna oversee my trial, who'll be my witnesses?"

Yuri leafed through some papers, silently reading with an expression that told Niko nothing of what was happening inside that narrow skull. "We will get to that in good time. First I must ask you why you would commit such a heinous crime against the republic? You know that when I find you guilty you'll be relocated to a Patriot Camp, or worse."

Niko couldn't help but consider Yuri's word's carefully. "I didn't do it," he said, knowing it wouldn't do any good.

"There's no sense in denying it, I've got two witnesses who will come in here in a moment and they will confirm that you're a criminal."

"Only two, huh?"

"It's all I need." Yuri nodded to one of the MEC agents standing over Niko and the agent left the room. "First, I'll be calling on Leo Sirminov, son of Abram Sirminov the first councilor of the town of Yorgistov." The agent returned with another man and showed him to a chair next to the proxy. Yuri smiled at Leo but while most people would smile to let someone know that everything was okay, the Proxy of Yorgistov only smiled to reinforce his authority. It was a cold, unnatural expression on the man's wrinkled old face. "Good evening, Leo, thank you for joining us today."

Leo nodded to Yuri. "When the republic calls me, I answer."

"That's good." Yuri's smile grew more sinister. "Now, how do you know the accused?"

"He's my brother. You know that"

"So you've spent quite a bit of time with him?"

Leo shrugged. "I was sixteen when Niko was born, I'd been working in the mines for nine years by then, I didn't have much time for children."

"A sentiment you have held your entire life. You were arranged to marry at twenty years old but you backed out." Yuri fiddled with the tail end of his scarf and Niko, trying to ignore the proceedings, couldn't help but wonder how the scarlet silk felt between the old man's fingers. He had always been intrigued by such luxurious looking fabrics. "

"I did."

"Most Borrylean men would be disowned by their families for committing such a grievous act."

"My father is a hard but fair man. He punished me appropriately."

"Why did you back out of your marriage deal?"

Niko saw his brother's eyes shift out of focus. Leo didn't like talking about his failed marriage arrangement, Niko knew that, but he had never learned why. "I did not want to have children." It didn't feel like an entirely real answer. It was almost as if the secret Leo was really hiding were a planet and the one he'd revealed was orbiting around it like a moon.

"But these are the responsibilities of a man of the republic. You marry, you have children, you teach them our ways."

"I am married now, and I have children."

"So, would you say at twenty years old you did not feel prepared for those responsibilities?"

"No, I suppose I didn't."

"Tell me what Niko was like when he was growing up." This sort of rapid fire, back and forth questioning was common during a trial. If it seemed like Leo was trying not to answer the real questions, Yuri would come closer to revealing Leo's own dark secrets, putting Niko's brother in the perilous position of confessing or turning on him.

"He was a good boy. Our mother was too old when he was born, it made her ill so our sisters cared for him. They taught him as well as they could, kept him in line for the most part."

"Did he ever do anything he wasn't supposed to?"

Leo took a deep breath but he didn't say anything.

"Tell me how you met your wife?"

"She was married to a friend."

"A friend who died five years ago, correct? I believe his name was Ivan Koslov?"

"Correct." Niko could see that Leo was trying to hide an old emotional wound. Even after five years he was sure Leo was still burning with loss over his friend.

"You must have been very close to Ivan to commit to caring for his widow and child."

Leo just stared forward with cold eyes.

"You would describe your relationship with this deceased friend as close, wouldn't you?"

"Yes." Leo nodded. "We were mining brothers. A man in your position may not appreciate the importance of that relationship, having never been in the mines before."

"I believe he died when a mine shaft collapsed, didn't he?"

"We were trapped together. He made me promise to make sure Eva and their son would be safe and comfortable. Life as a widow is not easy. After he died, I was stuck with his body for four days before the rescue team reached me."

"And there were no other casualties, were there?"

"No."

"Because the two of you were alone in a shaft that had been deemed as dangerous and was sealed off."

"Yes."

"Did the accused ever get into trouble growing up?"

Leo finally looked at Niko. Niko knew that his brother didn't want to incriminate him but there was nothing to be done. Yuri clearly had some sort of leverage in this situation, he knew something that Leo didn't want to own up to. "Niko was a... creative child."

"In what way?"

"He liked to draw, on almost everything really. Of course our father discouraged him and he eventually grew out of it."

"On almost everything, you say? So the accused has a history of vandalizing things that aren't his?"

"I didn't say--"

"Why were you and Ivan Koslov alone in a shaft that was off limits that day?"

"I... we..."

"Have you ever performed a deviant or immoral act against the republic?"

"No!"

"So then, would you say that the accused has a history of vandalizing?"

The muscles in Leo's jaw were bulging. He looked at Yuri and slowly nodded. "Yes, I suppose I would say that but--"

"Very good, thank you, you may go." Leo stood up but before he could leave Yuri added, "Perhaps we will speak later about the circumstances surrounding your marriage?"

"I don't think there is much more to discuss."

"Oh, I do. It all seems so terribly interesting."

Leo's jaw muscles clenched again as one of the MEC agents led him out of the room.