Varick cringed. He had lied to her. He couldn’t tell her their affair had been discovered. She would have argued with the councilman, which might’ve cost him his life. He thought it better to end their relationship with the lie that he had practiced. She didn’t even blink. She smiled and sighed as she broke it off with him. He loved her so much his heart burst with it, but he had meant nothing to her.
After Anna left his room the previous night, Varick stared into space for a while, too overcome with pain to move. Then he ordered a pitcher of the strongest Dahrelian ale and he proceeded to get as drunk as possible. He fell into an exhausted sleep in the early hours of the morning
Now everything hurt, and he didn’t know whether he’d drank too much or not enough. From his viewpoint at the rear of the bridge, he could see over the heads of the crew gathered there. Many of them weren’t even on duty. They had come out to see the moment when they would enter their own galaxy with their beloved Vadana.
What hurt the most was that Anna looked radiant. She exchanged her usual purple dress for one of sky blue—a shade that matched her eyes. Her loose chestnut waves flowed down past her shoulders. She smiled and clasped hands with everyone as they came to her. Studying her, his chest filled with such longing, it took his breath away.
Anna glanced up, and met his gaze. Her smile fled, and her eyes transformed into blue ice. She turned her back to him, and went on shaking hands. It was too much for him. How could she be angry with him now after what she’d said last night? He ordered two of his guards to stay with her, and he fled the control room.
Varick went to the elevator and punched the buttons. He waited for it to descend. Half a dozen more crewmembers filed out, headed to the control room. He got in and pressed the code for the atrium. He needed some distance from everyone else.
When Varick arrived, he strode to the edge and peered out at the blackness. He usually found comfort here, but everywhere he set his eyes had a memory of her. It made him want to scream in frustration and anguish.
He held onto the banister that circled the atrium. He clutched it, like a rope extended to a drowning man. Restlessness made him shift from foot to foot. He would find no peace here. Not anymore. It occurred to him that he might just need to work off his emotions instead. He headed to the elevators to go to the training rooms.
Halfway across the floor, the ship gave a gasping shudder. The lights extinguished. Varick cursed several times over. He went to the comm panel and called Captain Fayn, but he got no response. His uneasiness grew as he tried to call engineering and his Guard’s quarters, but no one replied.
The comms were dead. He went to the elevator and pushed the call button several times, but the buttons wouldn’t light up. An unfamiliar, rasping voice boomed through every comm panel in the ship
“Attention delinquent inhabitants of this vessel. This is Commander Vok of the Star Alliance. We have seized control of this ship under the Star Alliance Treaty, Subsection 11, Article 28. This vessel stands accused of landing on a planet that has not yet been officially contacted by any alliance or federation. In accordance with all known treaties and intergalactic agreements, the inhabitants of this vessel are to be imprisoned and tried for this crime in an open court on my command carrier.”
“No.” Varick screamed at the offending comm panel.
Varick flushed with rage. He had to get to Anna. He never should have left her side
Varick ran for the stairs. He skipped over three or four steps for every one he took. His heart pounded in his ears, and all of his thoughts bled away. He needed to find her. When he arrived at the deck for the control room, he barreled out of the stairwell door and into chaos.
The Star Alliance police were already there, dressed in full, armored body gear. A cunning and unyielding reptilian species made up the entire police force. Their elongated helmets covered their long snouts, and armor their scaled skin.
They were herding the crew out of the control room and toward the elevators, guns pointed and ready. Two of his guardsmen battled three Star Alliance police, using their electric swords to deflect the blasts from the guns. Varick drew his sword. Two Star Alliance officers dragged Anna from the control room, while she screamed at them to let go of her.
“Anna.” he shouted.
He ran forward. Her head snapped up, and their eyes met, her expression full of terror. It sent shockwaves of fear and anger through him. Varick crashed into an officer standing in his way, throwing him aside. He swiped the legs out from under two policemen who crossed his path. Then he approached the two wrestling with Anna, ready to kill them both.
Before his sword could even come near them, something touched his leg. White-hot electricity coursed through every limb causing instant and complete agony. Letting out a strangled cry, he fell forward onto his knees. Anna screamed his name as he succumbed to blackness
~ * ~
“I shouldn’t have left her side. Oman warned me that I shouldn’t let anyone harm her. Why was I not there?” Varick paced the tiny cell he shared with Councilman Meroca.
“It is not useful to continue berating yourself for something that is already done and over with. You must concentrate on the present.”
“If I had been there, I could have gotten her out. She would’ve been safe with me.”
The councilman let out an exasperated sigh. This had been the subject of their conversation for well over a standard hour. Meroca folded his arms as he seated himself on the cot set up in the corner of their cell. “Then why weren’t you there? Are you not always to be by her side?”
He paused as anguish swept over his body in a hot wave. “I am not strong enough to be beside her now. The pain is too great.”
The councilman winced and shifted on the cot, which bent and wobbled under his weight. “This pain will pass.”
Varick pounded the wall with his fists until the unforgiving metal won. He dropped onto his own cot. It trembled under him.
He gazed around the cell, rubbing his hands over his face. It was little more than a metal closet. Electric bars and a metal door lined one side. Blank metal stared back from the other three sides. An area in the corner served as a space to wash and relieve oneself. The place smelled of acrid antiseptic, which gave him a headache.
Guards barked out orders to inmates further down the hall. Varick laid on the cot and stared at the ceiling. How was he going to get them out of this mess?
Two guards appeared at the door. Layers of metal scales strung together for a top, leather pants, and clunky black boots replaced their prior armored uniforms. The sleeveless tops revealed the brown scales along their massive arms. Their long noses protruded half a foot, lined with sharp teeth. Two pairs of black, emotionless eyes bore down on him and Councilman Meroca.
“The accused will rise,” they said in unison.
Varick and the councilman rose from their cots with great foreboding.
“We are taking you to the trial chamber for court,” one officer said. “Do not fight us, or you will meet your friend, the shock stick, once again.” The officer waved a small metal rod at Varick and laughed
If it was possible for these creatures to grin, Varick swore they did. He scowled at the officer as he unlocked the cell door. They shackled his and the Meroca’s wrists with brutal precision.
“You will move down the corridors as we direct you. One misstep, and you will find that the shock stick is not the only way we keep prisoners in line.” His black beady eyes lit up with an unnatural light. “Now move out of the cell and down the hall to the right.”
Varick and the councilman shuffled forward as directed. Ahead of them, two larger cells loomed. A number Guards of the Realm were in the cell closest to him, while the farthest held a number of the ships’ crew. Hands in cuffs, the guards escorted each and every crewman.
They streamed down the corridor in an orderly, single-file line. Varick craned his head to try to locate Anna, but she was nowhere in his line of sight. He spared a glance behind hi
m. The guard rapped him on the head with the shock stick
“Keep your head forward,” the guard commanded.
Varick gritted his teeth and gave up his search for the moment. The line inched forward, and he bit his own tongue with impatience. When he lumbered through the doorway to the courtroom, he found an expansive amphitheater. Stadium seating lined the semi-circular wall in front of him; hundreds of rows of seats from the top to the bottom.
In the center, in front of him, a platform extended from the wall. A man sat at a U-shaped stone desk atop the platform with hair the color of sand, and scrawny upper body. He surveyed his surroundings with an air of arrogant boredom.
Varick took in the room, and the guard at his elbow shoved him forward. In front, the ships’ crew filed into a large box. The box also had stadium levels, but no seats. Members of his crew and Guard stood, looking up at the bored man. A walkway extended from their box out into the room. At the end of the walkway, another platform and another stone desk rested parallel to the man and his desk.
He had the distinct impression this was a theatrical performance. Off-duty Star Police pushed in from the other doorways to take a seat in the courtroom. The box for the ships’ crew filled to capacity.
He scanned the crowd in front of him, hoping to catch a glimpse of Anna, to assure himself that she was unharmed. What he really needed was to speak to her, to tell her everything would be fine, but he doubted his guard would tolerate that for a second. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t find her anywhere.
“These proceedings will now begin,” the man on the platform announced. “I am Commander Vok of the Star Alliance. You are all here because you stand accused of landing your vessel on a planet that has not yet officially been contacted by any federation or alliance. Your leader must now come forward to represent you.”
Before Varick could move or even think, the crowd parted and Anna stepped forward
“I am their leader.”
Alarm shot through his veins
“No. I am in command of this vessel.” Varick shoved crewmen out of his way to get to her side.
He sucked in a horrified breath when white-hot electricity coursed up his arms from the handcuffs at his wrists. He cried out as it intensified until his whole body shuttered. Then it ended, and he struggled to keep tears of pain at bay. His guard yanked him into place
“Silence, you insolent fool. The Star Alliance is well aware that your people unwisely prefer a female ruler,” his guard growled.
Varick gasped for air, as Anna’s guard jerked her forward onto the walkway in the center of the room until she stood behind the stone desk.
Commander Vok raised an eyebrow. “Name?”
“Anna Cora, the 478th Vadana of Dahrel.”
“Anna Cora, you are the duly appointed representative of your people during this trial. I will assign you a counselor, to help you prepare and present your defense. You will have three days to prepare.”
“Honorable Commander Vok, I have no knowledge of Star Alliance laws, so please forgive my ignorance. To whom will I be presenting the case?”
“To me.” The commander stopped tapping on his computer terminal long enough to flick his eyes up at her
“What will happen to me and my people if we are found guilty or not guilty?”
The commander leaned forward in his seat. “If you are found not guilty, you will, of course, go free. If you are found guilty, Anna Cora, you will be executed and your people will be sent to the labor mines to live out the rest of their lives. Do you have any more questions?” His stern expression indicated that he would answer no more questions regardless of her answer.
Varick tensed. A death sentence. He left Anna’s side for his own selfish reasons, and now she faced a death sentence. He couldn’t let this happen. He couldn’t let her die
“No, Commander, I do not.” She took a half step away from the man
“Good. We do not tolerate lawlessness in the Star Alliance. Prepare your defense well.”
Commander Vok hoisted himself out of his chair, and strode from the room. The courtroom erupted in laughter and chatter from the off-duty police. The ships’ crew waited as their audience exited. Anna surveyed her people. She performed a nod to them all, and a smile but he knew her well. Fear permeated every stiff movement she made.
She searched through the crowd until she met his eyes. His heart filled with longing. His last words to her had been a cruel lie. He’d give anything to take it back now.
The guard at his elbow yanked Varick forward. He proceeded out of the courtroom, looking at Anna over his shoulder
~ * ~
A man with short, brown hair and dark, tanned skin approached Anna on the courtroom walkway as Varick disappeared into the hall. Pain twisted in her chest. She wished she could talk to him. He would know what to say to bolster her spirits—to make her believe she could get them all out of this mess
The man, garbed in billowing black robes and pointed shoes, stopped a foot from her. His eyes were as yellow and alert as a cat’s. He smiled at her and his eyes softened to a pale butter. “Greetings, Vadana.” He bowed his head. “I am Councilor Illeel. I have been assigned to help you prepare for your defense.”
“Thank you, Councilor Illeel. I’m very grateful for your help. I know nothing about the Star Alliance. I didn’t even know they existed until they were dragging me from the ship.” She raised her shackled hands.
Councilor Illeel sent a sidelong glance to the guard at her elbow. “We should discuss this matter in your cell. We have much work to do between now and the trial. Please follow me.” Councilor Illeel headed for the door
Anna and her guard followed Councilor Illeel to the end of the walkway. As she passed the rest of the waiting ships’ crew and soldiers, many of them called out her name, encouraging thoughts, and prayers. She smiled at them and thanked them for their support. When she arrived at her cell, Hannah appeared right behind her. The guards left Hannah and Anna with Councilor Illeel.
“Are they really going to kill Anna?” Hannah pounced on Councilor Illeel as soon as the cell door clinked shut
“If you are found guilty—yes. Without hesitation.” The Councilor looked from Hannah to Anna
“That is barbaric.” Hannah pulled at her hair as she paced toward the wall.
“Hannah, you’re not making this any easier.” She sank down onto her cot
“It’s…it’s heinous. Why should they kill you when you weren’t even on the ship? We don’t even know what planet they’re talking about.” Hannah raised her hands in frustration
“No, I do know what planet they’re talking about. Earth.
“Councilor, they landed on Earth to try to find me. Over twenty-five years ago, our planetary system had a major catastrophe, and my parents escaped with me. Their escape pod landed on planet Earth. Our ship landed on Earth because they finally found my homing signal. They were trying to rescue me.”
“So you’re saying you weren’t even on board at the time the decision was made to land on Earth?” His yellow eyes flicked up to meet hers
“No. In fact, I didn’t even know that Dahrel existed. I didn’t know there were alien life forms capable of traveling outside the solar system. My parents raised me as an Earthling. The people on board the ship didn’t know that. They thought I was waiting with my parents for them to pick us up. They didn’t realize that my parents died before they could tell me the truth of my origins.”
“I see…” He paced the floor by Anna’s cot, his eyes glowing in the dim light. “So who was commanding the ship at the time it landed? I’ll need witnesses for their testimony.”
“Captain Fayn runs the ship. Protector Varick directed the search for me.” Anna folded her hands together in her lap.
“Excellent. I’ll interview them and get started on their case statements.” He grinned down at her.
“So do you think we have a shot of being found not guilty?” Hannah stopped pacing in the middle of room. She studie
d Councilor Illeel with new hope
“I can’t answer that. I haven’t worked with Commander Vok long enough to know his mind. However, I can tell you that Star Alliance law states that if a ship is on a rescue mission, then the laws against unvisited planet contact are null and void. In fact, that’s any federation or alliance’s law.”
“Do you think you can win the case, Councilor?” She clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking. Councilor Illeel covered her shoulder with a long-fingered hand. He imparted a reassuring squeeze and some of Anna’s anxiety slipped away.
“I’ve never lost a case. I’m not about to start trying.” He grinned, his eyes lighting up like neon signs.
She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Councilor. Thank you.” Anna shook his hand in both of hers.
Councilor Illeel bowed his head and called for the guard to let him out of the cell. His gaze lingered on her as he strode away. Once he left, Hannah threw herself down on her cot, but Anna rose to pace
“What’s got you so worked up?” Hannah asked. “Didn’t you hear him say what the laws were? We’ll be out of here in three days.”
“He didn’t say that. He sounded hopeful, but he’s supposed to sound hopeful. He doesn’t know what Commander Vok will decide.”
“What more can we do?”
Anna lowered her voice to a hushed whisper
“I don’t know, but we need to have some sort of plan B. In case things don’t go our way during the trial. I can’t let everyone end up in a labor camp.”
“Not to mention you’re due for the executioner’s block.”
Her shoulders slumped. This situation was impossible. “I wish I could talk to Varick for a few minutes. Just to speak with him. He would know what to do…he would know what to say to…” She held the tears in check. Hannah sighed and rose from her cot. She embraced Anna, and Anna hugged her fiercely in return. Anna swallowed past the longing and the pain that sat like a stone in her throat. “Hannah, we’ve got to come up with a plan.”
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