"And now, that brilliance has cost us everything. The IGC will use her as an example to crack down on human employment galaxy-wide. The reforms we've been implementing—what we wanted to achieve?—”
“We haven’t lost everything. Not even close,” I interrupt. “This was a lost battle in a long war. And we’ll turn this disaster into opportunity.”
Lorian’s “too emotional to think clearly. “How?"
"By letting the IGC crucify Eve publicly while we position ourselves as the wronged parties who still believe in human potential. We'll denounce her actions while defending the principle of human elevation." I stand, my plan crystallizing. "And then, when she's convicted and facing execution, we'll offer an alternative."
"Private ownership."
"Complete and total. No more games, no more pretense of employment. She'll belong to us in every way the law allows to fulfill her sentence.” I meet his gaze. "And she'll accept because thealternative will probably be death, or a punishment so bad, it’s worse than death. She broke too many galactic laws for it to be anything else.”
"You're assuming she values survival over principle."
"I'm assuming she's human." I move to the window, looking down at the chaos below. "When faced with death, humans always choose life. It's what makes them so resilient. So dangerous. So..."
"Irresistible?" Lorian suggests.
I don't answer. I can't answer. Acknowledging what Eve means to me right now would make me too furious and heartbroken. "Start working on Jin Kol," I say instead. "Find his pressure points. Everyone has them. If he wants to bring down Eve, we won’t allow him to do it without suffering as well. I'll handle the public relations. We need to control the narrative before it spirals further."
“We are just two innocent businessmen…”
“Yes, it’s what the galaxy wants to see, so we will give it to them.”
We move with practiced efficiency, each playing our role in this new disaster. But as I make my way to the detention level, I can't shake the image of Eve in restraints. The way she looked at me. The way she said my name.
Like she was saying, goodbye.
Like she was saying, she was sorry.
Like she was saying, she loved me anyway despite what we had done to each other.
My credentials get me through the first three checkpoints, but at the fourth, an IGC guard blocks my path.
"No visitors by order of Tribune Jin Kol."
"I own this facility."
"And the prisoner is charged with crimes against the Intergalactic Court. No. Visitors." His hand moves to his weapon. "Sovereign."
I pull my jacket back, revealing my own weapon. “I think you’ll find I have the authority to see my employee.”
The IGC guard and I hold eye contact, and then he stands down and escorts me to Eve’s cell. I am not allowed in, but we are allowed to speak to each other.
"Audio only. Seven minutes,” the guard says.
I activate the connection, knowing it's being monitored. "Eve. Listen carefully. You're being charged with conspiracy, sabotage, and trafficking in sentient beings. The evidence is substantial. You need to understand—they may execute you for this."
For a second she just stares at me through the blue-tinted forcefield. Then, barely audible, she replies, "I know. But how can they say humans are ‘sentient beings’ when those same humans were being made to perform against their will?”
“They are referring to the one law that states humans are sentient and have the right to be galactic citizens?—”
She interrupts me. “It’s wrong and if your Court is just, then they won’t be able to try me as both a sentient and non-sentient being.”
I want to tell her that nothing is just in the galaxy, but I can’t. Everything is being monitored and anything we say now can be used against her. “You will get a fair galactic trial.”
She nods in a way that means that she understands not only will she not get a fair trial, but also in a way that says to me: I-don’t-regret-what-I-did.
I don’t know what to say. I never wanted to see her like this.
