Josephine replied, "I have been a nurse for seven years. I left Earth to seek redemption for a mistake I made six years ago. I was a nurse in the alien experimental labs, where Ohber and others were taken after they had been kidnapped. It was my job to care for them after the scientists did their experiments. I have carried the guilt for my part in it for all these years. When I learned that aliens were seeking a medical professional to care for their sick as they readied a planet for their species, I volunteered. I felt it would be penance for what I had done."
King Siefer confronted her, "What did you do? Did you torture our knights?"
Before Josephine could answer, Valeri surprised everyone by speaking up. "I know it's not my place to answer that, but I can vouch for Josephine. She tortured no one. The nurses gave pain medication, cleaned and dressed wounds, and provided food for the captives. They had no knowledge of the kidnappings. Ohber will tell you the same if you ask. On Earth, they were exonerated of wrongdoing. It is Josephine's kind heart that punishes her. She felt she should have seen what I did, but she wasn't aware of some of the paperwork I had access to."
"Thank you for speaking up in my defense," Josephine replied. "I still should have listened to the aliens and not seen them as lesser beings. For that, I am truly ashamed."
The king stated, "It is a mistake that can easily be forgiven. We all have looked upon other species and thought them less intelligent. It is a downfall we all must rectify. How did you come to know the Pura? Had you been involved with their kind before?"
"No, I overheard some doctors talking about their request for medical aid. I asked them where to get more information. They sent me to a computer website that is set up for interplanetary cooperation. I found the request and applied. I never spoke with or saw a Pura until the day I landed on the planet."
The council inquired, "Did you swear loyalty to them or in any way aid them in fighting our knights?"
Josephine answered, "I swore loyalty to no one at first. I didn't know that the planet belonged to Milisaria until I spoke with Urim. I went to him to negotiate for peace after he accidentally cut some of the Pura. At that time, I had no idea of the viciousness Ixia would later display. Once I discovered the truth, I gave my loyalty to Urim and Milisaria. It was to them that I gave information and aid, not the Pura."
The king spoke once more. "Urim said that you went with the Pura willingly to save the wounded knights. Is that correct, and did you ask them to send Urim to rescue you?"
"That is correct. When Ixia found me in the infirmary, some of the wounded knights tried to protect me. The android killed them. Ixia made it clear he would kill the rest if I didn't go with him quietly. Too many were already dead. My life meant little when weighed against theirs." She took a deep breath and continued, "No, I didn't ask them to send Urim for me. In fact, I wanted him to take the survivors and leave. Ixia was setting a trap. He believed the knights would try to rescue me. He even tied me up and had an android use a laser to slash my back, so I would scream and draw Urim to the camp. I tried to hold back, but it was impossible."
"Alexis has reported those injuries to us. Some of the knights have cuts as well. The dead were sliced into pieces by these lasers. Urim had some of them on the ship. We have studied them and will make some of our own. We cannot be caught in a situation where the enemy has weapons we have no match for. It is our duty to gain more technology and not be left behind. Otherwise, this species will perish. The days of using only a mighty Milisarian sword are over. We will still carry them proudly as a part of our heritage, but add more deadly weapons to our arsenals,” King Siefer stated.
The council added, "Thank you for your frank honesty. We will discuss your request. In the meantime, you are to work here in the capital. You may aid in the lab, the school, or the communications center. You can eat and socialize in the main room outside these doors. However, you cannot speak to Urim. If you see him in the common area, do not approach him. It would be detrimental to you both if you disobey. You may join the Milisarians for today's meal. Go in peace."
