“Third. All contracts involving humans must include a verifiable exit condition enforceable by the Court, not by employers, trainers, or intermediaries.
“These are not radical measures. They are corrective ones.”
I pause, letting the silence stretch for impact.
“Some of you will say this destabilizes existing markets. That it threatens tradition. That it invites unrest. But what destabilizes markets is inconsistency. What invites unrest is hypocrisy. You cannot declare a species sentient and then allow their bodies to circulate as luxury goods because the paperwork predates your conscience.”
I turn slightly, addressing the central tribunal.
“The Ascendant Alliance will comply with whatever ruling this Court issues. We always have. But let me be precise. If this vote fails, if you choose to preserve the contradiction rather than resolve it, then you are not regulating exploitation. You are endorsing it. This vote does not ask you to dismantle the system today. It asks you to stop pretending the system is coherent. Humans are not a special case. They are simply the most visible ones. So I have one question for this Court today, do you intend to govern the future you announced, or continue profiting from the past you refuse to end?”
Whispers ripple through the audience. On the upper level, the Matriarchs of House Serath observe in silence until Zira rises. Her purple Reima Two gown flows like molten glass as she takes her place to address the representatives of the IGC. “Director Rafe speaks of contradictions,” she says, “but forgets his own. The Celestial Spire built its fortune sellinghuman obedienceas entertainment. Now he asks this court to declare those same creatures equals as IGC citizens, even if they may not be sentient or want to be equals. Which is it, Sovereign? Product or partner?”
Murmurs of assent ripple through the chamber.
“It is both,” I answer. “Value and will have never been mutually exclusive. Only inconvenient. The Ascendant Alliance profited from obedience, yes—but it was that same obedience that built the bridge to understanding and equality now. The Ascendant Alliance hires humans legally across the galaxy, and they work by choice.”
Zira tilts her head, amused. “And what you callchoice—does it kneel when you speak?”
“Sometimes,” I reply evenly, “but not always and therein lies the difference.”
The tribunal’s Chief Arbiter, a six-armed Sextari, taps the ceremonial staff. “Director Rafe petitions forConditional Personhood Clause 47-E.Opposition?”
Zira steps closer to the railing. “House Serath will not oppose reform—if reform profits civilization. But freedom cannot be a loophole for indulgence. We must investigate the Sovereign’s personal motives.”
The Chief Arbiter gestures, and a hologram flares to life beside her:Eve Eden’s file,redacted and classified. At her gesture, a hologram ignites beside the tribunal dais. It resolves into a rotating legal dossier, its layers peeling back in sequence.
SUBJECT:EDEN, EVE
SPECIES:HUMAN
STATUS AT HIRE:VOLUNTARY CONTRACTED EMPLOYEE
EMPLOYER:ASCENDANT ALLIANCE
CURRENT CLASSIFICATION:PROPERTY (PROVISIONAL)
