Star Beings: Dawn

The trial

DJ hesitates before speaking. I hear a door creak open behind me.
"Ani?" "That's not my name and you know it, Elian." The cold in my voice shocks even me. But the kindness he's shown me in these past months... it angers and confuses me. Why? Why show someone who has hurt you and everyone you love time after time? Why would you show a monster even a scrap of kindness...
"Anaideia I- I can't. You're not the same person anymore, it feels... wrong. I can't even believe I'm saying that."
I stare at DJ in absolute disbelief.
"DJ, I have killed and or injured millions. I've destroyed lives, I've hurt you and the others time and time again... I was a horrible person. And you don't want to arrest me because you fucking feel bad? Just because I'm not the same personality-wise doesn't erase the atrocities I've committed. I don't give two shits if you've started to actually care about me. I don't care if you've begun to see me as a friend. I am a horrible person and I need to at the very least go on trial to give the families I've affected the closure they deserve."
DJ stares at me in stunned silence.
"Now teleport me out of here, or I'll do it myself and allow someone else to do your job. Maybe Hade. I wouldn't even mind the punches they'd throw in there, because I fucking deserve it!"
DJ pauses before grabbing my wrist.
"Elian, you can drive back right?" "Yeah. Yeah I can drive back alone."
Before we vanish, I get one last glance of Elian. He looks heartbroken. Maybe that's for the best. Maybe he'll stay away now.
DJ and I disappear in a flash of green lightning.

Once we got back, I was locked in an unused apartment. The only furniture is a sheetless bed and a small kitchen table.
It's a holding "cell" until the Star Beings figure out what to do with me.
My memories swirl around like a hurricane in my brain.
One in particular sticks out.

I burst into the house, almost yanking the door off its hinges.
A woman glances at my soldiers and I. She looks more annoyed than scared. That will change soon.
"Can I help you?" She says in a disinterested tone. "Where is she?" I growl. She grabs a cup from the cabinet above her head before turning to face me. "I don't know the "she" your talking about Miss Timor, so please..." she gestures to the dining table. "Elaborate."
I hesitantly take a seat. "Does the name Maxine Beckham ring any bells at all, Zahra Hassan?"
Zahra doesn't seem to care that I know her name.
"No." She says casually, taking her tea kettle off the fire.
"Really? I could have sworn I heard a rumor that she had taken refuge with you." Zahra pauses only for a moment. "Now, Miss Timor, I am not criticizing how you and yours run your operation," she pours the tea and adds two sugars in one fluid motion, "but rumors typically aren't the best to go off of, as they are usually filled with lies and deceit." She adds a small sprig of mint to the tea and then turns to face me, the steaming teacup in hand. "Tea?"

I excuse my battalion . Zahra and I sit at the table, one of us glaring and the other looking on calmly.
Something is off.
"You're not drinking your tea. It was very expensive, you know. I wouldn't want it to go to waste." I glance into my cup. A strange, iridescent, shimmer catches my eye. The pieces fall into place as I slowly look up at Hassan.
She stands, knowing her little game is over.
"I will ask you one more time, and I'd answer truthfully if you want to live; where. is. Maxine?"
The woman's face splits into a mischievous smile.
"Out of town."

She knocks my scorching hot cup of tea out of my hand and into my lap. I howl in pain, but manage to grab hold of her wrist.
"You little-"
A potted plant smashes against my skull, and Zahra jumps out of the window and into townsquare.
I limp outside, burnt and bleeding.
"Give me your gun!" I command one of my soldiers.
He hands it over, and I take aim.
Zahra scales a building, attempting to make her escape.
I wait until she reaches the top, until she can practically taste freedom. That's when I take my shot.
I watch Zahra Hassan fall and hit the ground with a dull thud, dead.
"Retrieve the body and give it to the family. We're not animals."