Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Five: Adam #26

Shana and Malika were already waiting in the hallway outside legal when Zeta arrived. They had Sophia with them. "Said I'd watch Malika during the hearing," Sophia said.

Zeta nodded at her. She smiled at Shana, who was looking pale, uncertain. Did she know what Legal had asked of Zeta?

Zeta gripped her shoulder. "It's going to be okay."

"Is it?" Shana asked.

Zeta felt terrified of the upcoming confrontation. But she reminded herself of what Sarasvat had said. It must be investigated to her satisfaction, not anyone else's. Be fierce, she whispered to herself. "Let's go."

The prosecution was already arguing with the judge as they entered. "This is highly unusual. I haven't even heard Diplomacy's report. How can I prepare my case?"

"Nor have I," the defender put in, though she seemed less concerned.

"It's okay," Zeta said. "I am ready to give it right now. It won't take long. And then if you need time to consider, we can recess, but I would see this done."

"And I," the judge said. "Go ahead."

Zeta spoke for less than five minutes. As she spoke the prosecutor's face grew darker and darker. When she finished the prosecutor sputtered, "What? That's it?"

The judge watched Zeta closely. "Prosecutor?"

She whirled on Zeta. "What about the original trial? What did the Information Bureau say about it? Can we see those videos?"

"I didn't ask," Zeta replied, schooling her face to be a mask.

The prosecutor spluttered. "Didn't ask?"

"It didn't seem pertinent to my investigation."

"And the father's legal situation? That wasn't pertinent either?"

"He didn't bring the child here," Zeta commented.

"I specifically asked—"

"Making the report is my prerogative," Zeta interrupted. "What you do with the report is yours." She met the judge's gaze. She echoed Princess Sarasvat. "Sometimes the questions we don't ask are as important as the ones we do."

The judge nodded. "Prosecution may advance their case now."

The prosecutor looked back and forth between the two of them, fuming. Without a detailed report she had nothing, no evidence to go on. "She brought the result of an illegal genetic experiment on board this station and presented it to a healer. She forced the healer to be accessory to that crime. And obviously at some past point, she must have performed the experiment. The result is here."

"And your evidence?" the defense asked.

There was one more murderous look at Zeta, and then the prosecutor sighed, defeated. "We have none. The one charge is all I bring."

"And I say," the defender spoke next, "the healer made her report. She is not an accessory."

"It could have damaged her reputation. Cost her job," the prosecutor maintained.

"If she didn't make a report. But a report was made."

There wasn't much to debate. "Thirty hours of compensation," the judge declared. "And in light of her childcare duties, not more than three hours shall be demanded on any day."

The prosecutor stormed out. The judge gave Zeta an appraising look and said, "Interesting."

Shana's eyes were wet with tears of relief. "Is that all? Thirty hours? By the Mother. You aren't going to get in trouble, are you?"

Zeta just shook her head. "No. I'll be fine. And I hope you'll consider staying on Shoshone."

"When Tiroka gets out . . ." Tiroka was her husband.

"Have him come," Zeta said. "And I've talked to a couple of the healers. They understand. If Malika has another episode, and zie will, Mother knows . . ."

"We won't get torn apart again." Shana held her arms out for Zeta, and Zeta went willing into the hug.

This is the end of Episode Five: Adam. I will start posting the next episode latter this week. Thanks for reading and I hope you are enjoying the story. 

Blurb for Episode Six: 

The day after Christmas, Jake King fights with his mom. He knows how hard it is for her, raising four kids with no help. But it's not like there are jobs in Caspar, Wyoming. Not for a young man like Jake, not that pay decent. What can he do? Two days later he finds himself in Bamako, Africa, part of the Consortium's African Administration. Is this the new reality? Commuter jobs halfway around the world?

Fox planned a relaxing vacation with Nara Suun in Southern Africa. But the fates seem to have other plans, he runs into the last person he wants to see, Gerald Klempke. The man he helped put into a Consortium Penal Colony for rape. Klempke says he wants to talk, wants to turn over a new leaf. But Fox isn't sure he trusts him, but what can he do?