Alana Khan [Khan - Devolose

Tawny

I officially call this tribunal to order, Captain Zar intones solemnly. A males life hangs in the balance.

Every male and female aboard are crammed onto the bridge of this ship. There are twelve females, all abducted from Earth in the last few months and thrown together with twelve alien males from different species. The males, most of whom were gladiator slaves, overthrew their masters and stole this vessel. Now theyre all on the run from their ruthless previous owners, the MarZan cartel.

Of course, that doesnt include Devolose and me. Five days ago we were rescued from our captivity in a dungeon on planet Emirus and brought to safety aboard this ship.

This tribunal is being conducted to convict Devolose of the crime of torturing and abusing me. He asked me, then forbade me, then begged me not to speak today. Fuck him. Ill talk if I want to.

Since none of us males know the first thing about legal proceedings, we will follow Earth protocol. Zar was a slave as far back as he can remember. Hes humanoid but looks feline, complete with fur, a tail, and facial features resembling a lion. He was voted captain after the rebellion and is presiding over this tribunal.

Maddie will be acting as...let me consult my notes, Counsel for the Defense. Savannah will be...Prosecuting. I dont need to remind you to treat these proceedings with respect. You will all be voting after the evidence has been presented. Proceed.

A former Marine on Earth, Savannahs a pretty brunette with blunt-cut shoulder-length hair. She has no formal legal training; I guess she just watched a lot of legal shows on TV. It doesnt matter, by the firm set of her jaw and the angry look in her eyes, shes not going to cut Devolose any slack.

She steps to the front of the bridge, which has floor-to-ceiling windows over about eighty percent of the bullet-shaped room. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Im here to present evidence today to convict Devolose of crimes so serious I am asking for the death penalty. I will only be calling two witnesses. I will not be calling the victim, Tawny, as weve deemed her too fragile to give testimony.

Anger flares as I ball my fists at my sides. I want to object, but I catch Devoloses quelling, almost imperceptible frown. Ill bide my timewait and see. I clamp my mouth shut, but I know everyone in the room can see me glower. Fragile my ass.

I call Tyree to the stand. Savannah motions to the roomy first mates swivel chair near the front of the room. He should be comfortable there; Im told hes the first mate. Hes a tall, muscular male wearing a loincloth. Hes handsome and very humanoid, with tan skin and elongated elf-like ears.

He and his human mate Grace were the people who rescued Devi and me. Well, they rescued methey didnt want to leave a fellow human in that awful dungeon. They only brought Devi along because I refused to leave planet Emirus without him.

First, I would like to enter as fact that Tyree has the capability to see into peoples minds. He exhibited this psychic ability when he helped coordinate our rebellion and crawled into our former captains mind to get him to disable our pain/kill collars. Does anyone dispute this fact?

Looking around the room, Savannah waits for an objection, but there is none. With his clairvoyance entered into evidence, Tyree, can you tell us what you know about Devoloses crimes?

Savannah steps away so that everyone can focus on Tyree. I have no idea what he saw in the emperors wicked mind, but first of all, I know it isnt going to be good for Devi, and second, I imagine its going to embarrass the shit out of me.

I snuck into the Emperor of Emirus mind to see what we were up against when I thought he meant to do Grace and me harm. Many things I saw there were shocking. I will say I am very glad that man is dead. He pauses and looks at his mate, Grace; shes blushing.

Im not sure everyone on board knows that Grace killed the emperor with a paring knife. She stabbed him until her arm was too tired to keep plunging the knife into his chest. I thank God every day she killed that motherfucker, and that I was lucky enough to watch the whole thing.

Tyree, can you share what you observed that is pertinent to why were here? Savannah prompts in her serious, prosecutorial tone.

I saw that man, he dramatically points at Devi as if hes seen a thousand episodes of Law and Order , beat Tawny repeatedly. I saw him hit and abuse her all over her body. Even her...sexual areas.

My face heats, and even though Im looking straight ahead at Devi, whos sitting in a chair toward the front windows a few feet from Tyree, I know every eye in the room is on me.

I saw him slap and punch as well as use whips. I saw many episodes, over lunar cycles if not annums . It occurred in the emperors bedroom as well as in the dungeon in the cell that devil, he points at Devolose again, shared with that poor female.

He indicates me as if there is any doubt who the poor female in this room is.

He was relentless. I saw the look on his face, heard him call her unspeakable nameshe enjoyed what he was doing. He swallows hard, too upset to continue as he rubs his fist against his bronzed chest.

Thank you. Savannah seems to take pity on him. That will be all.

He rises and returns to one of the small jumpseats ringing the rear of the room, five seats down from me. His mate Grace sits gently on his lap and lovingly slips her arm around the back of his neck.

I try to connect with Devis gaze, but his eyes are unfocused, jaw muscle leaping in his otherwise emotionless face. I know the human women all hate him for what they think he did to me. The fact that the markings on his face are like something out of a scarey movie doesnt help. His skin is black and red with fearsome black and white tribal markings.

Just observing him, youd think he was watching a boring movie, not on trial for his life. I sneak a peek at some of the others in the room. If looks could kill, Devi would be dead already. Im not feeling optimistic.

My heart is clenching. I dont want them to punish Devi for what he did. They all think I have Stockholm Syndrome. Theyre wrong.

I now call Dr. Drayke sun Omrun to the stand, Savannah says.

The blue-skinned doctor in his dark blue jumpsuit sits stiffly in the designated chair. Dr. Drayke, I understand you did a thorough examination on Tawny Britton, what were your findings?

Miss Tawny exhibited bruises and lacerations in every stage of healing. These findings are consistent with repeated, unrelenting abuse that went on regularly. He pauses and swallows as he wipes his palms on his thighs. I find myself mimicking that gesture to cope with my own anxiety.

I know what hes going to disclose next. Im embarrassed and angry that all this personal information about me has to be disclosed to every being on this ship. How will I ever be able to look any of them in the eye? All theyll ever think about when they see me is what hes going to say next.

There was...ample evidence of sadistic and repeated aggression against her...intimate areas. Both external and internal.

He glances at me, maybe a silent apology that he had to share that private information in such a public forum. Sorry doctor, apology not accepted. Ever hear of HIPAA? I wish I had psychic powers; Id use them to set this entire ship on fire. Fuck them all. Im not sure they care about me or my feelings. They just want to convict Devolose.

One final question, doctor, Savannah says as if its an afterthought. Uh oh, this cant be good.

Did you ask Miss Britton how she received these injuries?