"The khisondhanna session of the Murgo Complex Case has begun. Ambassador Seldavia, would you please question the Senior exile Carmen Sandiego, concerning her conduct beginning September 1986, ending with and including the circumstances surrounding her capture on January 9, 1997."

Seldavia rose. "Ah...yes. Er, Miss Sandiego, would you please face the Council."

Carmen raised her head and did so, with an expression of wide-eyed terror and foreboding.

Seldavia continued. "Now, my apologies to you, but my first question is going to be a bit of a shocker; but I'll assure you that from the most part it'll all be downhill from there..."

"Just ask the question, Ambassador," came Mata's curt order.

"Uh, right. My first question is, is 'Carmen Sandiego' your real name?"

The Juniors all looked at each other in puzzlement. They had never thought that her name had ever been anything different. As for the Seniors, they were nearly as confused; they knew that was probably not the name she was born with, but what did her name have to do with anything? As for Carmen, her fixed stare of dread clearly said that she knew what was coming.

"Answer the question," Mata snapped, when Carmen didn't speak.

Carmen's gaze fell. "No," she whispered.

"Louder, so the Council can hear you."

Carmen raised her head. "No!"

Seldavia nodded. "Now then, can you tell us your real name, the name you were given when you were born?"

Carmen shuddered, and shut her eyes. "Karlena LeVrai."

Suddenly the Seniors rose in an uproar. "Karlena LeVrai!" they cried. "Karlena LeVrai! Catherine's daughter! The lost daughter of Catherine LeVrai!"

Mata banged on the table for order. The Juniors looked at each other. None, save Ivy, had ever heard of Catherine LeVrai.

Seldavia handed a file to Mata. "Let the record show that Karlena LeVrai is the daughter of Johnathan and Catherine LeVrai, and that Catherine worked seven years for the Agency before she was murdered, in a case that was never solved.

"Now," she said, turning to Carmen, "did you witness this murder?"

"Yes," came the answer. There were several gasps and mutters from various areas of the room. All but the most seasoned Ethnic Relations or Epidemical Crimes agents found witness to a murder reasonably disturbing.

"Do you know the name of the man who committed this murder?"

Carmen swallowed hard. "His name..." Her voice faltered, but after a few moments it came back barely loud enough to hear. "His name is Muerganne Giovanni."

This time the Seniors exploded. They started gesturing wildly as they shouted in Donnekahshaie, pointing to Carmen and then to each other. Carmen slumped forward momentarily, and then forced herself to stand up straight. The Juniors stared silently in puzzlement, wondering who this person could be that could send the Seniors in such a frenzy. Mata banged on the table again.

"Did you ever encounter this Muerganne after the murder?" Seldavia continued, when the noise had died down.

"Yes."

"When?"

"During the Case of the Crystal Chandelier."

"You're sure it was the same man that killed your parents?"

"Yes."

Seldavia nodded. "Now, to the best of your ability, I want you to tell the Council what happened--from your point of view and in your own words--in the Case of the Crystal Chandelier. I also want you to tell the Council what action you took afterward and why, and also why you were in that abandoned building where you were captured a few months ago. Can you do that?"

A violent tremor ran through the young woman's body. Her knuckles were white from gripping the platform, and she swayed like a sailor cast adrift in a storm. She looked up, staring unseeing at the Council. Then she nodded.

"Then you may proceed."

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