Justice
By Kurun t’Gath
Translated from the Kashlanin
(99.3% accuracy)
© 2026 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  morgdl


Ten.


One thought caused me some [disquiet], notably that Yifan g’Zherin may have murdered himself.

Suicide is not unknown among the People, but it is very uncommon. There had never been a case of [bodily self-desecration] on Grevchak, or within the planetary system. But there had been incidents in which a Person had killed themselves; there had been a notable case seventy-six years ago on Mōvāsch where a building supervisor suffering from unresolved depression had purposefully disabled all safety devices before she jumped from a roof.

Despite the relative rarity of suicide, it was something that I could not overlook. I asserted my authority as a criminal inspector and set up an inquiry into the family members’ military records, with [emphasis] on their assessed and actual specializations. Using the same authority, I also placed an inquiry with Rekkadh’s medical system as to whether they had a recent file on Yifan-sir’s physical or mental health. The usual motivations for suicide appeared to be lacking.

Based on the interviews I had conducted so far, I doubted that Yifan had committed suicide. His personal life appeared to be a contented one apart from his disputes with Yezhef following Veridh’s birth. I decided that I would ask about his [state of mind] in my second set of interviews.

I also decided to ask about any [hobbies] each family member pursued. People find many avenues for physical and mental exercise throughout their lives.

My [personal access device] alerted me to an incoming message, and I accepted the call. “T’Gath.”

It was the male crime scene technician. “Captain-Inspector, we have presented g’Zherin-ma’am with our search order, and she has given us permission to enter.”

“Very good. Execute the order and inform me if anything is found.”

“Yes, Sir.”


***


Yifan Dhavar’s medical records revealed that he had broken both right femurs and had several internal injuries in a fall from a cliff face he had been climbing at age nineteen. He had received regeneration therapy to repair his injuries before becoming a member of the Support branch of Combined Services. His assessments had shown an aptitude for clerical and medical service, with minor aptitudes in education; he had a secondary position as an unarmed combat instructor, albeit at a basic level. His evaluations showed that he enjoyed teaching, which explained his career after the military.

His mental health assessments throughout his service showed that he was a well-adjusted Person. There had been no reason for him to have a mental health examination after coming to Rekkadh.

He had met Vikan g’Zherin at a party, and after two years they met Kinan p’Durdh. The three began premarital counseling and compatibility periods and married after they had all retired from the military. Yifan-sir [sired] two children [in-blood], a son and a daughter.

Vikan g’Zherin was the third daughter of her birth parents; she was born into a [group family] with three mothers and three fathers. I suppose that it explained her apparent desire to have three husbands. No notable medical issues as a child; her assessments for military service were largely the inverse of Yifan-sir’s, medical and clerical. She trained as a medical technician, and then nurse. As with Yifan-sir, she had no assessable mental health issues.

Regarding her reported infertility after Veridh-young-madam’s birth, she had invoked [family-secrecy] on the cause. I inferred that she wished to shield Yezhef-sir from any embarrassment or opprobrium, possibly in the interest of family solidarity.

Veridh would be leaving the planet for military induction in a [handful] of days. Although I had the authority to delay her departure, I wanted to solve this quickly.

Much would depend upon the results of the search and the second set of interviews.




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