Why was Rome interrogated? Part 2.

Yesterday, we examined part 1 of the first major plot hole regarding Rome's interrogation. Oronus had his answers from Rei. Why ask Rome the same questions? What purpose would it serve?

This scene from Part 3 of Rome's Revolution was originally designed way back when I thought the Overmind of Earth was behind the segregation and ultimate genocide of the Ibbrassati. It wasn't until later that I found out MASAL was behind it. I just thought it would be really cool for Rome to land, get hauled off to jail and potentially executed. Of course we know that Rei saves her by arguing on her behalf. Basically, he proved that Rome was just following orders and if the Overmind executed Rome, he'd have to execute every Vuduri on Earth.

But I don't think that's the answer. I don't think the Overmind ever had any intention of executing Rome. If he had, they would have shot her as she was exiting the Flying House. No, I think the plan was always to commute her sentence, send her off to Hawai'i and let MASAL track her down. After all, she was part of the Slayer program described in Rome's Evolution. I think Oronus just let Rei defend her so the story was more believable. Laying a better trap as it were.

So maybe Oronus interrogating Rome was just part of this ruse. The fact that Rome told a different story about Aason's death than Rei and Oronus ignored it supports this claim.

However, luckily for me (and you, the reader) was the fact that Estar and the Onsiras were listening in and the discrepancy caused the chain of events leading to MASAL's destruction.

One teaser. We haven't seen the last of MASAL. He makes a surprising reappearance in the upcoming novel The Milk Run which should be ready later this year.