I move to dismiss her, but Rafe catches my arm.
"Ask," he says.
"The galaxy is watching this trial closely. A human who was elevated to professional status, now accused of terrorism. What does this mean for the Ascendant Alliance’s human employment initiatives?"
"It means," Rafe says, "that humans, like all sentient beings, are capable of both good and bad choices. Madame Eve’s actions, if proven, represent individual failure, not species-wide inability."
"Yet you're here supporting her?"
"We're here to see justice done," Rafe says. "Nothing more."
She smiles, knowing there's more. "And if she's convicted? Will the Ascendant Alliance continue employing humans?"
"That remains to be seen."
The reporter leaves, but others take her place. By the time the trial begins, we've given a dozen interviews, each carefully crafted to position us as reasonable employers betrayed by a single bad actor.
Then they bring her in.
Eve enters in restraints that make my blood burn. But it's not the neural shackles or the energy chains that gut me. It's what they've done to her.
She's naked.
Completely, utterly naked before the packed courtroom. And her skin bears the marks of "processing," the decontamination chemicals leaving raw patches, and the neural probe points still visible on her temples. They've shaved sections of her hair for the brain scans, leaving her looking violated and vulnerable.
Oh, my beautiful sinner, what have they done to you?
"Standard procedure for terrorist suspects," someone behind us says. "Can't risk hidden weapons or communication devices."
But I know better. This is about humiliation. About reminding everyone that humans, no matter how elevated, are still considered animals by most of the galaxy.
Eve keeps her chin up as they position her in the defendant's sphere. The energy field holds her in place, arms slightly spread, completely exposed to the hundreds of eyes examining her. Some with disgust, some with pity, and far too many with sexualhunger.
Beside me, Rafe's hands clench into fists. "They're making an example of her."
"Of course they are." I force my voice to remain steady. "The question is whether we can turn that to our advantage."
The Chief Arbiter enters, a Sextari whose six arms allow him to manipulate multiple legal interfaces simultaneously. His compound eyes survey the courtroom before settling on Eve.
"Eve Eden, formerly of Earth, currently employed by the Ascendant Alliance, you stand accused of conspiracy with the terrorist organization Terra Ka, sabotage of legal detention systems, trafficking in sentient beings, and violation of the Interspecies Security Act. How do you plead?"
Eve's voice carries clearly through the amplifiers. "Not guilty."
A ripple of surprise passes through the court. Most expected her to confess and to throw herself on the court's mercy.
I know better, though. Eve considers herself not guilty because she believes the whole human pet system is flawed.
"Very well. Prosecutor, present your evidence."
What follows is damning. Security footage of Eve meeting with known terrorists. Medical files. Communication logs. DNA evidence at breach points.
Through it all, Eve stands naked in the sphere, maintaining dignity despite everything. When they show footage of her passing information to Gael, she doesn't flinch. When they detail how she hid Ash's pregnancy, she shows no shame.
"The defendant was questioned under neural verification," the prosecutor, an Octopod whose tentacles writhe with satisfaction, continues. "She refused to reveal Terra Ka locations or operative names, even under maximum legal compulsion."
They show footage of her interrogation. Eve convulsing as the neural probes are activated, her screaming as they dug through her memories, but she never broke. Never gave them the location of Haven. Never betrayed Terra Ka.
Our Eve is so brave,I think proudly.
