"She is either remarkably strong-willed," the prosecutor concludes, "or remarkably stupid. Either way, she is undeniably guilty."
“She doesn’t know,” I say under my breath, and I see Rafe slightly nod. We tracked everything. Terra Ka never shared that information with her, and she never asked.
Eve's defender, a court-appointed Reima Two, who clearly wants this over quickly, offers weak rebuttals. Entrapment. Coercion. The confused mental state of a human thrust into galactic society.
"My client acted from misguided compassion," he says. "She saw suffering and sought to alleviate it, not understanding the broader implications of her actions. She is only human, and we can only expect so much. Look, she doesn’t even understand that she’s guilty.”
It's a pathetic argument, and everyone knows it. Especially since Eve’s IQ scores float above her head with the rest of her biometrics.
During a recess, I slip away to take Admiral Kai's call.
"Your father explained the situation," his voice crackles through the secure channel. "The Haven coordinates would indeed be valuable. But I need more. The neural technology you acquired from the Null Sector. I want exclusive access."
Fuck, that’s a high price to pay, but the alternative is watching Eve die for something we half-tricked her into. "Done," I say.
"Good. I'll make some calls. The death penalty is unlikely anyway; she's too high-profile and a lot of the trainers want to buy her. But I can ensure her sentencing will be favorable to your interests."
When I return, the closing arguments have begun. The prosecutor is demanding the maximum penalty for species betrayal, and the defender is begging for mercy based on human mental limitations.He’s such a fucking idiot, this guy.
Then the Chief Arbiter’s voice echoes through the courtroom, “The evidence is overwhelming. Eve Eden conspired with terrorists, endangered galactic security, and betrayed the trust placed in her by her progressive employers." His compound eyes turn to her. "However, this court recognizes extenuating circumstances."
My pulse quickens.
“Two years ago, the IGC formally recognized human sentience. Yet, centuries of legal precedent still classify humans as property in many jurisdictions. The defendant exists in a legal grey area—too aware to be blameless, buttoo human to be fully responsible, despite her high IQ." He manipulates his interfaces, pulling up sentencing guidelines. "Therefore, this court finds Eve Eden guilty on all charges. However, in recognition of her species' unique position and recent legal evolution, we offer alternatives to execution."
Eve sways slightly in the sphere but maintains her composure.
"Option one: seven years of hard labor on the mining moon Kel Minor. You will work alongside other convicted terrorists,contributing to galactic society through mineral extraction. The survival rate is approximately forty percent."
I know Kel Minor. A frozen hellscape where prisoners die of radiation exposure when they're not killed by fellow inmates. Our little Eve wouldn't last six months.
"Option two: seven years of indentured servitude to the wronged parties, in this case, the Ascendant Alliance, represented by Sovereign Director Rafe and Shadow Sovereign Lorian. You would surrender all personal rights, becoming legal property for the duration of your sentence. Your owners would have complete authority over your person, limited only by basic sentient rights protections."
The courtroom buzzes. It's exactly what we maneuvered for, but hearing it stated out loud makes it sound like… sexual slavery, given what everyone in the galaxy knows about the three of us through gossip.
"The choice is yours, Madame Eve. Seven years laboring in the mines, or seven years as the Sovereigns’ property. You have five minutes to decide."
The sphere releases her enough to speak freely. Eve looks up at us in the gallery, her brown eyes unreadable. Then she surveys the courtroom, the aliens who see her as less than nothing, the cameras broadcasting her humiliation across the galaxy, the system that promises freedom while keeping humans in chains.
"I need to consider my options," she says quietly.
But I see the truth in her posture. She's going to choose the mines. She's going to choose death over us. I can’t let that happen. I stand abruptly, ignoring protocol. "Your Honor, might the interested parties address the defendant?"
The Chief Arbiter's eyes swivel to me. "Unusual, but... permitted. You have two minutes."
I descend to the courtroom floor, Rafe beside me, still twisting his silver ring. Up close, I can see every mark they've left on her, everyindignity they've subjected her to, and still she stands there, magnificent.
"Eve," I say softly, pitching my voice for her alone despite the amplifiers making our conversation, not only public for the court, but for the galaxy. "I know you hate us right now. I know you think we betrayed you, but please, choose life."
"Life as your slave?" Her voice is hoarse from the interrogation.
"Seven years with us is survivable, but the mines are not."
"And after seven years?"
"Freedom," I promise. "True freedom, with resources, connections, and a future."
She looks between us, naked and exposed. "How can I trust you when I know you planned this? All of it."
