“What the witnesses have said is correct,” she began. “I did not have the Dotharian runes when I arrived upon this beautiful world. And yes, it is a violation of your laws, as I have since been made aware. But surely, a ruling body so powerful and expansive as the Dotharian Conglomerate has come across worlds on the outskirts of your territories where inhabitants also lack these markings. And I have to ask, do you treat them as criminals? Or do you offer to bring them into the fold, integrating them as allies rather than punishing them as enemies?”
“We do,” the overseer replied. “It is standard procedure for a world’s induction into the conglomerate.”
Maria’s lips creased slightly upward. “So, while it is the law, you are saying there are also exceptions for those who aren’t yet part of the conglomerate. If my world was close, it would fall under that classification. My people would not be viewed as criminals, is that correct?”
“It is.”
“Then I do not see how I should be treated any differently. I was living my life on my world and had never even heard of this one, let alone the Dotharian Conglomerate. But I was taken. Abducted by Raxxians against my will. You’ve heard the testimony of others as to my arrival here, but let me tell you, it was even worse than they describe. To be held as livestock aboard an alien ship? It was terrifying. Violating. And it was the first alien contact for my world.”
The overseer shook his head. “The laws are clear.”
“I understand, sir. But I was not marked by the traders who captured me. Why are they not punished?”
“You have heard from underlings. Employees. Followers, not leaders. You ask about punishment? The one in charge of that transport group is already in custody, and hewillbe.”
Maria felt her stomach flip. This was not good.
“Uh, okay. But you can see that I had nothing to do with any of those decisions. In fact, it wasn’t until they marked me to compete in the games that I had the runes, and I never had the opportunity to get them before then.”
“Yes, we’ve heard. Chancellor Vinchi graciously provided you with the required runes as soon as he acquired you to compete. He saved your life that day, though it was skirting the edges of legality. But while he has greater leeway due to his station, you do not. And your arrival matters not. You broke from his indenture, voiding the tenuous respite you received. This is law, and you violated it.” He turned slowly, looking over the assembled audience and the elites flanking him on either side. “The human has made her case. And she has been found guilty.”
A murmur washed over the crowd as bets were paid and new ones arranged.
“Therefore, for violation of one of the most sacred of Dotharian laws, the human is hereby sentenced to death, execution to be carried out at once.”
Now the crowd began to get loud. It was to be a public execution, and that verdict had just made several people a lot of money thanks to fairly long-shot odds given the woman’s origins. But the overseer was living up to his reputation, and as a result Maria’s life was to be forfeit.
“Wait, that’s it?” she asked in shock. “Just like that?”
“Yes, just like that,” the chancellor announced, turning to his guards. “Prepare for the execution!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Maria felt like she was going to be sick, her stomach churning, her mind racing as she realized she was facing her imminent demise. Strong hands grabbed her and held her still while other guards began setting up a separate platform upon which the execution would take place.
It could have been done before the trial, but the chancellor wanted to at least give the impression of a fair hearing. But from the conversation he’d had with the overseer beforehand, the outcome was an all but foregone conclusion.
There was a commotion in the crowd, however. A vocal outcry of support for the human. Her story had been one of abduction and oppression, and it had resonated with a lot of the commoners. But that was what the chancellor had hoped for. That made this punishment all the more effective in demonstrating the power he and the other elites had over the masses. Why they had to obey. After all, the five families had the ear of the Dotharian Conglomerate. The commoners simply had to live under their rules.
A shadow flashed across the arena floor and all eyes looked up in unison, shocked by the appearance of a small shipplummeting to the ground in the open space a hundred meters or so from the dais. It fell fast but stopped abruptly on a force cushion just inches from the ground. This wasn’t any ship, clearly. It was a military one with very advanced dampening tech, and it had just crashed the party in the most spectacular manner.
“Guards!” the chancellor shouted, his, as well as the other families’ forces swarming in front of them to protect their patrons.
The ship’s main hatch opened and a tall, imposing man with golden-tan skin and radiant tattoos strode out, an air of utter confidence about him.
“Heydar?” Maria gasped, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks on her. He was far away, but it sure as hell looked like him.
Whoever the man was, he was decked out in what looked like sleek combat attire, flexible armor plates blended into his clothing in a remarkable way that provided protection while not hindering movement. He raised his arm, pointing at the chancellor.
“You will stop this right?—”
“Fire!” Vinchi shouted.
Several guards opened fire, but the results were not what they expected.
“What the—” the lead guard uttered just before a return volley slammed into him, dropping him and the guards beside him in a flash.
Somehow, the intruder had deflected the incoming shots and replied in kind, though it seemed he had employed powerful stun blasts and not fatal ones.
