“Well done,” I say when I finally see them.
Rafe nods. “Thank you. Human slavery has become a bitmoreillegal now—but, I have no doubt, as a reaction, it’ll become even moreprofitable, hidden, and contested. This was only one battle in the long war.”
“But it was our first public battle,” Zira says, “and now it’s made the conflict visible. And by doing so, more people will talk openly about it.”
“Hopefully, in a good way,” I say.
“You should have been in the courtroom. You were part of this too, Lorian,” Rafe says.
I don’t answer. Instead, I create a privacy bubble around us. “My time was better spent collectingthiswhile everyone was watching your show.” I tap my wrist console and bring up Eve’s confidential case summary. “Jin Kol argued to DOUBLE Eve’s sentence and to make an example of her before her sentencing. Listen to what he says about her.” I play the clip. A hologram ignites—clean, official, unmistakably real.
EVE EDEN — CONFIDENTIAL CASE SUMMARY
Status: Reclassified
Recommendation: Sentence Enhancement
Jin Kol’s voice is sharp. “No human should be allowed to dress in galactic women’s attire. No human should hold symbolic authority. The Ascendant Alliance blurred the galactic hierarchy by letting Eve Eden stand where she did. The liaison role was a mistake. Visibility like that creates entitlement, and humans may be sentient, but they aren’t that kind of sentient.”
“And then,” I say, “he sold this.” I open another document on my IC for our eyes only. “He sold the video of our conjugal visit and her whipping.”
“Seventeen times,” I say. “He sold her suffering for almost fifty thousand credits. And that is only what he logged. I told you it was womb-burner Jin Kol, all along.” I close the file and open a new one. “And now I also know exactly where he’s run to.”
REASSIGNMENT CONFIRMED
ARIEL STATION — IMPERIAL BORDER
I make eye contact with Rafe and Zira. “He’s been discreetly reassigned to Ariel Station, on the border of Imperialspace.”
“What are you going to do, Lorian?” Zira asks.
Rafe’s jaw tightens. “Lorian, we have what we want?—”
“No. You and Zira took care of half of what we want, the legalities. Now let me collect the other half, the blood payment Jin Kol owes us.”
“Lorian, Jin Kol isn’t worth it,” Zira says. “I know seeing this hurts you, but don’t let your emotions guide you now.”
“No, he isn’t worth it,” I agree. “But Eve is. We’ve put her through hell, and we can’t expect her to come back with us unless Jin Kol is dead, and preferably by my hand. It has to happen, or none of us will be able to move on.”
“This isn’t the Empire,” Zira says. “I don’t think Eve would want you to kill for her.”
“You don’t know our Eve,” I say.
Rafe searches my eyes. “If you must go.”
“I must.”
Rafe puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Be careful. Jin Kol is not a man who plays by the rules.”
“Thankfully, neither am I,” I say as I walk away.
The Nocturne’s Edgeis waiting for me. I board and head straight for the bridge.
Vo stands at the forward console.
“Ariel Station,” I say. “Maximum velocity. Go dark the moment we cross into the system’s space.”
He doesn’t question the order. “I’ve already plotted the jumps.” But Vo’s hands pause over the controls. “I have one question,” he says carefully.
