Ravens of Eternity

259 Skewed Justice, Pt Close to the end of the third cycle, Eva was transported by armored hopper to a stately-looking building only a few blocks away. The entire block itself was highly secure, and had multiple guards, drones, and turrets around its perimeter.

She noticed there were a few such blocks in this whole district.

The hopper landed gently on the building’s roof, and Eva was ushered inside quickly, under armed guard. They shuffled her down multiple levels and hallways until they arrived at one of the many smaller hearing rooms in the labyrinthine building.

There, her counsel Kellorine waited at one of the two lecterns standing in the center. The other lectern had a different attorney standing at it, which Eva presumed was her prosecutor.

In front of both lecterns was an officious-looking arbiter, who sat behind a high desk. She looked stern and unyielding from behind it.

Eva didn’t get a good feeling from looking at her.

Though she noted that all three of them were moderately dressed, and that they all seemed rather genial with each other. No doubt, they had worked with each other for years, if not decades. Their similar ages certainly seemed to suggest it.

One other thing they all shared were the tired-looking eyes.

The arbiter cleared her throat as Eva stepped up next to Kellorine.

.....

“Now that we’re all here,” she began, “let’s get this preliminary hearing out of the way. We have too much to accomplish today, so let’s try to keep this from going beyond ten minutes.”

Eva was immediately taken aback by the arbiter’s rushed attitude. It was as though her life hardly mattered at all. She was about to open her mouth to say something, but decided against it.

These three most likely went through this hundreds, if not thousands of times per week. There were too many people, and too many problems for them to deal with. She was simply one of many. Her personal plight mattered little compared to everyone else’s, combined.

And besides, it was as Kellorine said – they were here to enforce the law. They certainly were less concerned about comforting any aggrieved.

Although they called it justice, somehow it didn’t sit right with her. Eva had always believed that justice was about comforting the aggrieved, not following some emotionless code to its exact specification.

“I’ve read through the casedata in full,” continued the arbiter. “I personally find no reason to escalate to a higher court. Or to a jury. We have full physical and reconstructed evidence, as well as a direct confession. If neither of you have any arguments, I’ll be issuing the standard ten years of service.”

“The defense has an argument, your honor,” said Kellorine.

“The prosecution also has an argument to add,” said her opponent.

The arbiter immediately sighed in exasperation. She was hoping this would all move through quickly, but it turned out that both attorneys had the opposite in mind.

“Very well,” she said. “The prosecution may begin. Please provide the court with any arguments.”

“Thank you, your honor,” said the prosecutor. “If it may please the court, the People of the Federation requests that the sentence be doubled in this case.”

“That’s a tall request,” the arbiter replied. “This is merely a Class B Homicide. State your reasons, and try to be quick, yes?”

“Yes, your honor. The Federation puts forward that the defendant in this case is a refugee.”

“Objection, your honor,” Kellorine immediately interrupted. “We cannot discriminate against my client based on class or social status. Her being a refugee citizen does not itself cause her sentencing to increase or decrease.”

“This isn’t discrimination,” the prosecutor argued. “This is about physiology. As noted by the Grand Minister’s report from last year, refugees have been certified as having greatly enhanced physicality.

“The defendant had more than enough physical strength to overpower her captor. She had the capacity to knock him out, and restrain him. And yet she chose to kill the man instead. And in an incredibly brutal and cruel way.”

“I agree with your assessment,” said the arbiter. “Objection overruled. Continue your argument.”

“Because of the defendant’s strength,” said the prosecutor, “she also caused a great deal of pain for her victim. Medical scans show that her grip damaged his spinal vertebrae to the point that excruciating pain radiated out from damaged nerve clusters. Not only did he choke to death, but he did so while experiencing the worst pain of his life.”

The prosecutor gesticulated in the air, as though to help prove his point.

“This is clearly excessive force,” he continued, “and it is why the People of the Federation believe a doubled sentence is appropriate in this case.”

“Defense,” said the arbiter. “Do you have a counter argument?”

“We do, your honor,” said Kellorine. “None can deny that my client has the physical abilities of a refugee, as defined by the Grand Minister himself. However, we would also like to point out that my client was deeply medicated and barely coherent at the time of the incident.

“Her ability to perceive her surroundings was severely impaired, much less make proper judgements based on them. Equally important, her ability to control her strength was greatly reduced. These two combined made it impossible for her to simply subdue her captor. She was under duress, and reacted with a basic human response – to preserve herself.”

The arbiter leaned back in thought. Though she was initially impatient, she found a few interesting things of note in this case. They piqued her legal mind as she weighed the arguments against each other.

She tossed the ideas around for a few seconds, then nodded to everyone in front of her.

“I agree with both argument and counter-argument,” she finally said. “The charge shall remain a Class B, with the clause of Accidental Use of Excessive Force.”

“Thank you, your honor,” both attorneys replied.

Eva noted that the prosecutor seemed a little sullen that his argument didn’t have the full effect. She thought back to Kellorine’s assertion about the law and human nature, and wondered if the prosecutor saw her as some kind of animal.

“Does the prosecution have any further arguments?” asked the arbiter.

“Yes, your honor,” he replied. “The victim was also a decorated Naval doctor, ranked Commander. He had served for multiple tours under various admirals. All of whom spoke highly of him, and commended his service. Many mentioned that before his disappearance, he was in line for a promotion to Captain.

“The defendant’s actions have deprived the Federal Navy of a fine soldier and officer. And in doing so, endangered the Navy itself. She must be made to answer for this tragic and unnecessary loss.”

The arbiter turned towards Kellorine, eager to hear if they had a counter.

“Defense,” she said. “Do you have a rebuttal?”

“Yes, your honor,” said Kellorine. “The deceased may have once been a decorated Naval veteran, but he was also derelict in his duties. As the prosecution has pointed out – ‘before his disappearance’. The deceased had actually abandoned his post over one year ago, for reasons unclear, and was summarily dishonorably discharged as a result.”

Though Kellorine said that his reasons for leaving the service were unclear, Eva was absolutely certain it was because he was preparing to abduct her.

For example, his genetic suppressant. That surely didn’t come from just anywhere, especially considering it was tailored just for her. Commander Chase literally abandoned the Navy just to make her his slave.

“Since he was not a servicemember at the time of death,” continued Kellorine, “his merits have no bearing on the defendant’s sentence. And besides, any good deeds he had done in the past have been negated by his transformation into a vicious sexual predator.”

“Agreed,” said the arbiter. “The prosecution’s argument is rejected. Do you have any further arguments?”

“None, your honor.”

“Very well. Defense, please present your arguments.”

“Thank you, your honor,” said Kellorine. “I only have one. The defendant has most certainly performed the terrible crime of homicide – one that she is remorseful of. There is no denying that. She made a terrible choice that resulted in the death of a man.

“We must stress however that she would never have been in a position to make such a devastating choice had it not been for the deceased himself. If he is labeled as a victim, then so too must she.”

“Explain,” said the arbiter. “And be concise.”

“Yes, your honor. The defendant was taken against her will and sexually assaulted by the deceased. He drugged her body, stripped her bare, and molested her without restraint. The combination of the drugs, the fright, the anger, the confusion... It all culminated in her immediate need to stop his actions. Had she not done so, her fate would be far worse than it is now.

“The defense requests that her case be downgraded to a Class C Homicide, to reflect that she is equally a victim in this situation.”

“Prosecution,” said the arbiter. “Do you have a counter argument?”

“Only one your honor,” he replied. “I must first pose a question to the defense before I make it, however.”

“You may present it.”

“Will the defense please tell the court if the defendant has ever been intoxicated in her life.”

Eva was immediately incensed at the question. Of course she had been intoxicated! But that was like comparing apples to oranges. A glass of alcohol was far different from being injected with designer narcotics.

Still, she did her best to keep her cool, and tamped down her frustration.

Eva and Kellorine immediately exchanged a few whispers. After a moment, Kellorine straightened herself up and turned towards the arbiter.

“The defendant reveals that she has indeed been intoxicated before,” said Kellorine. “But only through legal intoxicants. We must also note that the drug that the deceased injected into the defendant was dozens of times more potent than any legal intoxicant available on the market.”

“The fact remains that the defendant has been intoxicated,” said the prosecutor. “And that means she knows how her body reacts, what her limits are, and what she can do. While her judgment was undeniably hampered, it cannot be in its entirety. She certainly had some control over herself.”

Kellorine immediately felt vexed by the prosecutor. He was clearly still arguing for his prior, defeated position, rather than against her own.

She felt Eva’s frustration rise as well, and put a hand on her shoulder to steady her.

“I will side with the defense on this one,” said the arbiter. “The combination of those assaults on the defendant’s mind and body quite obviously caused a temporary egress of rationale. The clause of Mutual Victimhood is added to the charge. You mentioned this was your only argument, yes?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“Then I am ready to serve judgment. The charge is now reduced to a Class C Homicide, with the additional clauses of Mutual Victimhood and Accidental Use of Excessive Force. The defendant is now required to only serve a maximum of five years instead of ten.”

“Thank you, your honor,” both attorneys told the arbiter.

Though Kellorine seemed to be celebrating her win, Eva could hardly see the joy in any of it. She was as sullen as the prosecutor. After all, she was still set to serve time, for the mere act of defending herself. The injustice of it all burned in her heart.

She realized that she might have been able to pull back her strength, and not killed him outright. But if he had recovered, or if she failed, then she would never have gotten the chance ever again.

Eva shivered at the thought. A future as anyone’s sexual slave was something she would never accept, and would fight against with every breath she had.

No matter what the courts, or what anyone said, she believed she had done the right thing. Chase died because he violated her, nothing more, and nothing less.

She was certain that he deserved to die, and that was the correct punishment for his sins.