That wouldn't do.
No part of this scandal should land on her shoulders. Not any part of it. Not simply because it was bad politics, though it was, but because it wasn't her fault.
So she had to manage things. If she knew Veruna, he was crafting ways to blame her this moment. God only knew where the little cretin had slinked off to; his usual trail of slime was nowhere to be seen so Verity couldn't even gather context clues. But she was alone then as she stepped into the sun after leaving the courtroom. She took a pause at the top of the first set of steps, and the press surged up toward her, waving microphones and datapads and launching drones.
"Senator Stuyveris!" the first one to jam a microphone at her mouth called. "Did Lysander von Ascania escape Republic custody?"
"Senator, do authorities have any idea where he is?"
"Is he still on Naboo?"
Verity lifted a hand in a silent plea for quiet. "Ladies and gentlemen," she called as the press corps settled a little. "I'm perfectly happy to answer your questions, but please, let's be civilized. Now, you asked if von Ascania escaped Republic custody. The answer is, I don't know. I can confirm that his whereabouts are unknown and I believe he is no longer in Republic custody."
"So he has escaped?" the first reporter said.
"He is no longer in custody. How he came to be outside of Republic custody is not currently known to me."
"You mean he might have been released?"
"He might have. He might have escaped. I simply don't know. Believe me, I am considerably more unsatisfied with that answer than you are. Yes," Verity said, gesturing to another reporter.
"Do authorities think he is still on Naboo? Are Naboo's citizens in danger?"
Verity took a slow breath through her nose. "He has not been seen by security forces, as far as I am aware. A security alert has been issued and they will be looking for him and his attorney Astra Sadow and others known to have been in his company during today's events -- names I will not be able to confirm, before you ask -- at customs checkpoints, spaceports, and security checkpoints. I cannot stress this enough." Here, the Senator looked into the holocameras one after the next, as if speaking directly to the families huddled around their holonet receivers. "If you see him, report it to authorities. Do not -- under any circumstances -- attempt to apprehend him yourself. It is possible he is not acting under his own power, and anyone involved should be considered dangerous."
"Can you clarify?"
Verity hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly as she thought. What could she say? How far did she dare go with this? The last thing she wanted to do was expose what cards were and weren't in the Republic Intelligence Service's hands. She cleared her throat and leaned forward toward the datapad the journalist held out. "von Ascania's has spent time in Republic hands, and there are undoubtedly people within the Sith Covenant and their allies who will have questions about what he may have said, what he may have seen, and what Republic authority now know as a result. Before you ask, I will not be discussing the substance of any of his interrogations, interviews, or that side of the investigation."
"You mention his attorney, Ms. Sadow. Is she a person of interest?"
Verity half-smirked. "I for one am very interested in her, yes. As far as whether she is implicated in criminal activity -- the investigation is ongoing. It is not a crime to defend an alleged war criminal under Republic statute, but if the evidence establishes that she knowingly assisted whatever effort led to von Ascania's disappearance from Republic custody, I will see her prosecuted to the full extent allowable by law. And if she was unwillingly caught up in something she wanted no part in, I will see that she is offered all the protections to which she is entitled under the law. Yes, Ms. Montaire."
"Sources tell me that King Veruna interfered with the plea negotiations prior to von Ascania's disappearance. Can you confirm?"
Verity's eyebrows lifted marginally. The tightrope act began. "I wouldn't characterize His Majesty's involvement that way."
Montaire didn't give it up. Good for her. "How would you characterize it?"
"I wouldn't. But for the avoidance of doubt, allow me to be clear. At present I have no reason to believe that His Majesty was involved in von Ascania's disappearance. As far as I am concerned he behaved today with honor and uncommon bravery. As King of Naboo, the question of what he owes the Republic as far as answers about his motivations -- and the quintessential question about what he knew and when he knew it -- is somewhat dicey. I fully expect him to cooperate in the investigation without requiring a subpoena."
"And if he doesn't?"
"I doubt it will be necessary," Verity said before pivoting to another reporter. This one, Sinol Hersk, had been keeping his ear to the ground regarding the Senate Council of State; his name appeared on her call sheet at least three times a week, so she braced herself. "Sinol?"
"You reference an investigation -- "
"Yes," Verity said. "Let me clarify first, if you will. I say investigation. I suspect there will be several. The local, on-the-ground investigation led by law enforcement here will include forensics, interviews, et cetera. I fully expect the Senate to investigate as well and I will lead the charge to ensure it is done properly. But I interrupted, please finish your question."
"The Senate investigation, then, seems like it would be an ideal venue for your Senate Council of State. You've been quiet about your intentions to stand for one of the elected Chair positions, but some of your colleagues have suggested drafting you for the Justice and Sentient Rights Committee chair."
"I didn't hear a question there. And I haven't been quiet, I've fairly consistently stated that I have no plans to run for an elected seat. I legislated the Council because I thought it was a good idea, not to give myself a platform. Did you want to ask a question?"
"Would you consider standing for a seat if it meant being able to run a proper investigation into today's events?"
Verity paused, and she felt as if the press corps leaned in. She hadn't expected the question, most notably because she hadn't had time to consider it. "I -- I would take soundings from my colleagues. I believe my perspective is valuable given that I can testify directly to what I witnessed, but it's equally likely that my proximity to events might be more hindrance than help. Jamur?"
"Where is the Judge?"
Verity cleared her throat. "I don't know. Judicial Security are trying to locate her presently."
"Was she kidnapped? Or did she leave on her own?"
"I don't know, Jamur. It's premature to draw a conclusion."
"Could she have ordered security to let von Ascania go? Or otherwise helped him escape?"
"Don't try to trap me into an inflammatory soundbite, Jamur, this isn't my first time at the rodeo. There is no evidence that I'm aware of that suggests either of those things. Last questions, now. Yes, Burnip?"
"When will the trial resume? Or will you try von Ascania in absentia?"
Verity wetted her lips. "Certainly not. That's not how we operate. As to when the trial will resume, I don't know when, or indeed, if it will. If von Ascania did indeed abscond, he is not likely to subject himself to jurisdiction again, and unless and until we establish and remediate whatever mechanism allowed him to leave Republic custody there is no way to be sure he will not repeat the trick."
"Will this change how Sith prisoners are detained and tried in future?"
"I suspect it will, but I couldn't say how at this early juncture." She looked around for another friendly face, but Ryleia Korbé stuck out in front. A Naboo native with a history on the royal beat. Well, she couldn't have avoided it forever. "Ms. Korbé."
"Senator, you were the lead prosecutor. Isn't this a personal failure?"
The crowd went a little quieter and Verity canted her head to one side as if she hadn't heard. "A personal failure? I don't see how. The prosecutor's office is not responsible for the physical custody of the defendant. It is responsible for securing a conviction through a judicial proceeding, which I am confident we would have been in a position to do if the trial had gone ahead."
"Will you commit to publication of the investigation's findings even if they implicate senior officials?"
"First day covering the Senate, Ms. Korbé?" This earned a round of chuckles from the press. "If it is within my power to publish the findings, I will publish them, whoever they implicate."
"Even you?"
"Especially me -- if only to see how I managed it." Varencourt stepped forward then, putting his arm in front of the microphones and murmuring something to Verity. Verity listened, then nodded and he lowered his hand. "That's all I have time for now. You are welcome to contact my office for further inquiries, and stay tuned for further developments."
"Senator! Should the public have confidence in the judiciary?"
"Is it true the King interceded because von Ascania is a member of the nobility?"
"Senator, will you resign?"
Verity didn't flinch, didn't turn as Varencourt led her down the stairs, parting the sea of press with his arm to guide her to the waiting car. Verity settled into the rear seat and Varencourt shut the door before hustling around to the other side. Verity locked eyes with Ryleia Korbé, who smirked enigmatically on the other side of the glass, before the Senator slid a pair of sunglasses on and turned to her Chief of Staff.
"If Veruna tries to hang me with this," she told Luc, her voice coldly furious, "Make sure he understands that we will share a scaffold. I don't intend to threaten him, but be sure he knows exactly how much of the record I am prepared to make public if he starts misbehaving. Backchannels, I think. I've raised his blood pressure enough for one day, and God knows he's raised mine."
