The magistrate for the Jora Cartuum gave her brown pants and top a disapproving frown. “You know why I’m here.”
“Yeah.” She shoved the tablet against his chest and kept walking. The man never broke stride. After seeing the JoJo give her another negative glance, Maurra grunted. “Forgive me for not being in uniform. Are you going to add that to my list of charges?”
They walked to the tram that would take them directly to the judicial section of headquarters. The man kept close to her. He wasn’t taking any precautions in the event she tried to escape. The idea was almost funny considering all the chances she’d had up until now to get away.
“Pull in your claws, Maurra. I’m on your side, remember?”
“Yeah. Must really gall you to have to represent me.”
“Shove it, Maurra. A strong word of caution. Don’t try to deliberately piss off the Cartuum.”
“Or what?” She stopped abruptly and whirled around to face him. “What can they do to me that they haven’t already decided to do? Two of those charges are bogus, yet I can’t refute them.”
“The vids clearly back every charge,” Dreeson argued.
“Grot shit! I did not kill those Kronners. I negated them, yes, but it was Tramer Vol Brod who blew up the ship and killed them! And as for that idiotic noncompliance issue…” The anger had been seething inside her ever since she had awakened on Ellinod and discovered Safan’s fate. Since then it had steadily grown in heat and combustibility until she could barely contain her rage. Dreeson must have noticed she was close to the melting point and visibly reined back.
“Tramer Vol Brod?” he repeated.
“Didn’t the magistrates wonder who was responsible for kidnapping me?”
“We assumed it was the Kronners,” Dreeson admitted. “Right after we received the first feed, we dispatched a liaison to Kronnaria to effect your release.”
She rolled her eyes. “I bet you accomplished a lot with that tactic.”
Dreeson shrugged. They had resumed their walk to the tram and were now waiting for its arrival. “They repeatedly denied involvement until we showed them the vid.”
“After which they repeatedly denied having hatched the scheme in the first place.” Sighing loudly, she tucked an errant bit of hair over her ear. To her shock, a tear dropped onto the back of her hand.
The tram arrived, and they took the front compartment. Once the door closed behind them, she collapsed on one of the seats. Dreeson chose to remain standing and hold onto a balance pole. A couple of minutes passed in silence. She watched the view from the window change as they left the space center and headed into the city.
“You’re exhausted. It’s a miracle you survived.”
She glanced up at the man. “Well, it’s nice to see your powers of observation are still as astute as ever.”
“That’s why you haven’t tried to escape before now.”
“Wow. And observant too.”
Dreeson gave a little growl of irritation. “Gods damn it! I’m not the enemy, Maurra! I saw what they made you do! I know how difficult it must have been—”
She turned on him with renewed fire. “You know nothing about what it was like, so don’t try to placate me! You weren’t there. You didn’t have to endure…” She swallowed, afraid to go on. “The only reason you’re here is because you and the others are just itching to condemn what I did because you want the integrity of the Jora Cartuum to remain spotless. You want to prove to the galactic councils that even a JoJo isn’t above punishment for breaking the law. Well, that’s all fine and good, Dreeson. I’ll take my pills for breaking the law—the one law! But not for the other shit, do you hear me? And I want you to promise me that Tramer Vol Brod will be held accountable for everything he did.”
She stared up at him and waited, daring him, needing to see how far he was willing to commit himself and how much he’d sold his soul to the Cartuum.
“We used to be friends once.” We used to be lovers, back before I got a promotion and you enlisted in the magistrate program in a fit of jealousy. Watching me being fucked by the Ellinod must have sickened you more than anyone else who watched. “I’m not asking for absolution, Dree. I just want the other two charges dismissed.”
She had no idea her voice had trailed off until Dreeson raised his eyebrows. “And what? What else did you want to say?”
“Only that I have no lingering guilt over what I did. What I was forced to do.”
It was as if an immense weight was suddenly lifted from her shoulders. Yes, she was guilty of fornication. But no, she wasn’t the least bit sorry for doing it. She wanted Dreeson to be the first to know the truth. The council of magistrates would find out next. And eventually, hopefully, Safan would somehow learn of her confession.
I’m not ashamed of what I did with you. Of what we did. Neither will I forget it.
The sun broke over the horizon. Its orange rays struck the tram’s windows, turning them into sheets of gold as the vehicle slowed to enter the access area of the magistrate court. Within the hour she would discover what her fate would be and what her future would hold. Yet, for some reason, she felt no fear.
In fact, she felt wonderfully…free.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dreeson escorted her to her apartment so that she could clean up before presenting herself to the Cartuum for sentencing. Standing in front of the mirror, she stared long and hard at the image there. She looked damn good in the JoJo uniform. The emblazoned crest on the front of her jerkin resembled the ball of psion energy when it formed on her forehead. In the morning sunlight, it almost looked alive. The only thing missing was her pistol, which had been converted into so much space dust when the Kronner ship exploded.
Grimacing at the thought of what was to come, she left the apartment and rejoined Dreeson, who was waiting for her outside. The time for petty sniping at each other was long over. She didn’t know whether the man had volunteered to be her guard cum escort, or if he’d been assigned to it. Either way it didn’t matter. It would be a comfort to have him beside her when the final ruling came down.
“I’m going to miss seeing you in the reds.” They walked the short distance back to the judicial building. She didn’t answer, preferring to remain silent as she mentally and emotionally dealt with the upcoming event.
Every step felt like she was walking a pathway to nowhere. If the triumvirate ruled on all three charges set up against her, she could face permanent imprisonment. If they threw away the two charges she was innocent of and settled on the third one…
“Straight up, Dree. What’s the worst that could happen to me?”
“Other than sending you to a prison moon for the remainder of your life? That kind of worst?”
“What’s the penalty for screwing an Ellinod?”
“Well…if you do manage to get them to drop the other two charges, I’d say you can pretty much plan on being stripped of your title and kicked out of the corp.”
She had expected as much. The magistrates were not known for leniency to one of their own. Even JoJos weren’t above the laws.
She snorted. For years she had kept a low profile, doing her job and helping to maintain the law. But now, in the space of a few short weeks, her face and her body were known throughout the galaxy. Guess my days of anonymity are at an end.
Around them, the walkways bustled with people. They were in the heart of Jora, in the main hub of activity for all JoJos. Some passed them, on their way to a new assignment. Others had just landed and were seeking rest before accepting new assignments. None of them, Maurra noticed, greeted her as they passed. Most kept their faces averted.
They all know. They’ve all seen the vids, and they’ve already pronounced their judgment on me regardless of the circumstances. In their eyes I’m no longer worthy to wear this uniform.
She and Dreeson entered the small lift, which took them up and over to the main judicial chambers. As they exited the tube, they were greeted by a small squadron of JoJos,
one of whom opened one of the large crystalline doors.
The inside the main chamber was packed. As she entered the large room, every eye shifted to her, and the place went totally silent. Maurra stood in stunned disbelief for several seconds as she stared at the number of people waiting to see what she would receive in retribution. Dreeson gave her arm a little nudge.
“Move on, Maurra. Let’s get this over with.”
Pressing her lips together, she continued toward the dais where the magistrates sat, their gazes also locked on her. When she reached the small podium that faced them, Dreeson gave her arm a squeeze and left her to take his place at the end of the row. The magistrates wasted no time getting started.
“Jurasu Roja Maurra, you have been brought here today to face a jury of your peers and to answer to the charges brought against you. Are you fully aware of those charges?”
She nodded. “Yes, Council. I am also aware that two of the charges are false, and I request that they be stricken from this hearing. I also request that any punishment considered because of the severity of those charges be removed from consideration.”
The three men glanced over at Dreeson, who nodded. The first magistrate, a man Maurra had never met, considered something on the table in front of him. She assumed it was a tablet.
“We are not above correcting those charges if you can prove them to be incorrect,” the man said. “We have been informed by your defense council that you were not personally responsible for the deaths of the Kronners. Is that correct?”
Dreeson must have debriefed them while she was getting ready.
“That is correct, your Graces. I did pulse the Kronners, but not enough to kill them. Tramer Vol Brod, who was responsible for kidnapping me and instigating this whole ordeal, managed to escape in a life pod moments before the Ellinod and I were able to make our escape. We were not far from the Kronner ship when it exploded.”
“Tramer Vol Brod.” The left magistrate made a notation on his tablet. “We will make note of the man as a person of interest.”
Which meant, in JoJo talk, there would be an all-points bulletin put out on him. Once he was found, he would be pulled in and questioned. And ultimately released. JoJo justice. They couldn’t convict a person solely on another person’s word, even if that other person was a JoJo. There had to be evidence. Hard, solid and irrefutable evidence.
The head magistrate frowned. “Why did you leave the ship? Why didn’t you take the Kronners prisoners?”
“I was unconscious, your Graces. The Kronners had placed a translation device on my spine. It caused severe pain and then unconsciousness whenever I tried to implement my psi powers, which is why I was initially unable to free myself and the Ellinod. I had to wait for the right opportunity to throw my powers at them in order to give us a chance to escape.”
The magistrate on the right leaned forward. “So you contend that you risked your life to save the Ellinod by using your powers against the Kronners?”
“Yes.”
Three identical orbs of light blue light instantly appeared on all three magistrates’ faces. Maurra looked to see a fourth orb coalescing on Dreeson’s forehead too. At that same moment she could feel them sensing her, trying to read her. It wasn’t until the magistrate on the left spoke that she felt her first jolt of fear.
“You say you were rendered unconscious after you overpowered the Kronners. Is that correct, Jurasu Roja Maurra?”
“Yes. The Ellinod carried me to the escape pod with him.”
“And the device on your back, it had a direct affect on how you used your powers, correct?”
“That’s true.”
“Then you don’t know for certain that you didn’t kill the Kronners, do you?”
Her stomach lurched. From the looks on their faces, they sensed her reaction.
“No. I don’t know for certain that I didn’t kill the Kronners.”
“Your Graces.” Dreeson stepped forward and waited for permission to speak. The magistrates nodded for him to continue. “I wish to remind you that supposition is not allowed at a sentencing. To assume some of the Kronners may have been killed when Maurra used her powers is wrong and therefore should be stricken from the record. The Kronners are dead because another person killed them. Period. The ship was less than a day’s journey from its home world. Had the ship been left alone, the Kronners would have eventually been discovered and revived or in some other way rescued. You cannot place the burden of their deaths on Maurra’s head when you do not have actual proof.”
The threesome went into a huddle for immediate discussion. When they eventually broke, Maurra could feel a small sense of relief even before the head magistrate spoke.
“Point conceded, Joramansu Dreeson. The charge of murder is stricken.”
An enormous rush of relief surged through her. She could hope again. With the charge of murder removed, so was the chance of receiving the penalty of permanent incarceration and a possible death sentence.
“May I continue?” Dreeson continued. He received another nod. “The charge of noncompliance to orders is ridiculous. How can Maurra be accused of not returning to base when she was being held as a captive?”
“I can answer that,” the Magistrate named Tobian answered. “She was ordered back to Jora after completing her previous assignment. Instead, she chose to stay on Cura-Cura. Had she followed orders and caught the next flight out, she would not have been taken captive by the Kronners.”
Dreeson shot a look at Maurra, who slowly nodded. Yeah, they had her there. But at the time she’d been exhausted and had felt like she deserved a few hours to unwind. That’s why she’d skipped the last freighter and instead sought out a cold drink at the nearest bar.
The bar where she first saw Safan. The bar she had left, only to see him being attacked by the Kronners.
Fate.
Maurra conceded. “You are right, your Graces. I did disregard orders and choose to stay on Cura-Cura, which allowed the Kronners to follow through with their plans.”
The main magistrate grunted. “So the charge of disobedience stays. That leaves the charge of fornicating with an alien species. How do you plead?”
“Guilty,” she answered without hesitation.
“Very well. Jurasu Roja Maurra, are you ready for sentencing?”
“Yes, your Graces.”
The magistrate on the right cleared his throat. “Jurasu Roja Maurra, it is this council’s decision that your rights, title and distinction as a JoJo be permanently dissolved. Have you any words regarding this decision?”
There it was—short, succinct and bitter. She was no longer a JoJo.
“No, your Graces. I clearly understand.”
“Very well.” The middle magistrate gestured Dreeson over. “Joramansu Dreeson, please see to it that Maurra is removed from Jora base within the next twelve hours.”
“Yes, your Graces.”
Maurra started to turn to head out of the chamber when the magistrate interjected one more time.
“We cannot control what you do with your psi powers, Maurra, but remember this. They are a powerful weapon. Therefore, whenever you use them, they will be considered as such. You may not be able to enforce the laws, but you are still responsible for upholding them. So use your powers wisely.”
She nodded, unable to reply because of the heat flushing her face. Fighting back the tears, Maurra strode stiffly out of the hall with Dreeson in tow.
She was no longer a JoJo, and she had twelve hours to clear all of her things out of her apartment. Which meant she had to find a new place to live. A new world to live on. And a job.
When all of her life she had trained to be nothing but a JoJo, she now had to cultivate a new skill in a place where she could live in relative obscurity.
From here on out, life was going to be hell.
Chapter Twenty-Three
She needed a new last name.
“Safan. Maurra Safan.” It was the first name to pop into her head. The apar
tment manager nodded and jotted the information down in her book as she handed the room key over to Maurra. For sixty-six creds and a first and last name, anyone could rent a room in this ramshackle place for a month. It was as simple as that.
She was on Alintarus, a tiny planet in the Duro Chivvan system, and a short two-hour flight via shuttle pod from Jora. Although it was relatively close to Jora, Alintarus was, in many ways, a backward planet. Mainly agricultural, it had been settled by several humanoid species strictly for the purpose of growing produce on its nearly limitless land to sell to other worlds where others of their kind existed.
The largest city, or rather town, was Belunerr. An hour by rented slider found Maurra in Vi Worr, a tiny burg on the outskirts of one of the major crops. She easily found work as a reaper, helping in the fields. It would be manual labor, hard and tedious, but it had three things going for it. The inhabitants here were a peaceful species. She was in no danger of having to use her power and thus drawing attention to herself. There was no background check done on her, as the turnover rate for this kind of backbreaking job ran at almost ninety percent. And technology was at least two decades behind the norm, if not more. The vid monitors on this world were incapable of receiving transmissions from more advanced galaxies, which meant the chances were good no one here had seen the vids.
All she needed to do was keep a low profile, and life might be tolerable. Keyword being “might.”
Maurra dumped the last carton of supplies she’d brought with her on the floor and straightened up. She grimaced as she looked around the apartment that would be her home for the next…what? Days? Months? Years? It was barely two rooms. The bedroom was also the living area and kitchen.
She felt gritty, dirty, hot and sweaty. Alintarus was a subtropical planet, lush and green, with a rich soil similar in texture to coarse sand. Her blouse lay plastered to her skin. A window fan pumped barely cool air into the room. Otherwise there was nothing to break the heat from the midmorning sun.
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