Jessica Lynn Medina - Silence in the Echo

C old water trickled down Averys neck as she stared at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. Her eyes shimmered, a vibrant gold that she would never get used to. She barely recognized herself.

Grabbing a towel from the neatly folded stack, she dried her face, not wasting another glance at herself. The others were waiting for her. She supposed she was lucky she had been spared these few moments alone at all.

Avery sighed, smoothing the sleek black dress over the front of her thighs. She couldnt hide in a bathroom forever, and her public appearances werent over for the day. There were still media interviews to give before heading back through the Gate to Echo. Earth wasnt where she belonged anymore.

She touched a keypad on the wall, and the door slid open to an empty hallway beyond, its curving walls accentuated by white lighting that lined the floor. As she headed for the court antechamber, her heels clicked on the floor, echoing around her in a rhythmic staccato.

As soon as Avery emerged from the archway, Petra looked up, leaning casually against a pale marble wall that extended up at least a hundred feet to meet a domed ceiling that widened out over the entire chamber. Grigg and Nova spoke quietly to one another, their bodies alert. Krez stood a few steps away, muscled arms crossed over his wide chest. They were well away from the crowds in the room but still uncomfortable in the Earthen capitol building.

Krezs brown gaze slid to Avery as she approached and she looked away, focusing on the wide wall of windows that encompassed the far exterior wall to the gargantuan gray doors that opened and closed with every new entry or exit.

Are you ready? Petra asked, her voice clipped.

As Ill ever be. Avery cleared her throat and smiled at them reassuringly. Being on Earth, in the heart of the capital, the seat of the Federation itself, was difficult for herfor all of them. Just glad our role in this thing is over. For the most part, anyway.

You did great, Nova said calmly, a smile warming her face. Her blonde hair trailed over her shoulder as she tilted her head. Had them eating out of the palm of your hand.

Petra grunted. You shouldnt have had to testify in the first place. The Earthen legal system is asinine. We gave them all the incriminating evidence they should ever need.

Youre not wrong, Grigg agreed. I dont get why humans are so into this whole drama-of-the-trial thing. Feels pretty disingenuous if all theyre looking for are the facts.

Humans dont exactly have telepathic leaders who can ensure the validity of testimonies. Due process is a basic right, Avery reasoned. She lowered her voice before continuing, her eyes flickering to the officials milling about the domed chamber. Sound carried easily, and she wondered for a moment if that was the purpose of the rooms design. If parading me and Finn around will help when it comes to the confidence vote, then Im willing to do whatever it takes. I just hope that what I said was enough. Klein cant stay in power. Not after what shes done.

The charges will go through, Nova assured her. Your statements are already trending in the feeds.

Avery frowned. What? I didnt realize they were streaming the coverage. That was just what she neededmore attention. Maybe Grigg was right about it being too much.

Everyone knew Avery, on both worlds. They knew her story and recognized her face, whether she was on Earth or across the universe on Echo. She could get around in public fairly comfortably unless someone saw her eyesthen her anonymity went out the window. Avery never thought she would be longing for the days of lower-level invisibility. She and Gran had possessed little in the way of money or status, but the simplicity of that life had been easier.

Grigg nudged a muscled shoulder into Avery. Well, theyll have to listen to you now that youre a real celebrity. I wonder how jealous Finn is gonna be after this whole thing. He waggled his eyebrows at Nova.

Petra rolled her eyes, turning away.

Nova grinned. Id love to see the look on his face when he watches your final statements. You sounded like a real politician up there.

Krez was quiet. He never said much of anything these days. Not that he did beforebut it was worse now, after what had happened to him. To them both. Avery wouldnt allow herself to dwell on the reason for his silence. She never did.

I wonder how hes doing with the registrations, Avery said softly, her gaze drifting upward, where an expansive mural of the night sky covered the arched ceiling. As though she might see Finns ship somewhere amid the painted stars. He was back on Echo, leading the efforts to help the humans that remained on the planet after the Federation agreed to withdraw its militia. Once their crew had exposed Minister Kleins duplicity, the Earthen government and its High Council were eager to pause hostilities while a formal investigation was held. It seemed Klein had a few enemies, even among humans.

If there werent a block on comms through the Gate, we could ask him ourselves. Grigg waved his wristport at them.

How sweet. Nova slapped a hand on his arm, smacking against the brown leather. Hell be thrilled to hear how much you missed him, too.

Funny, Grigg drawled, making a face at her.

Avery bit her lip, holding back a smile. If Grigg missed Finn, he wasnt the only one. They hadnt seen him in weeks.

Before this trip, Finn had already returned to Earth for nearly a month in a bid to drum up support for Kleins indictment. And then Avery was called to testify just as he was needed back on Echo to help with human refugee coordination. The entire operation to help the humans left on the Reange planet had been Finns idea to begin with, and he was eager to lead the process. Their new positions kept them both busy. Averys chest ached.

In a few hours, she would finally get to see him again. It couldnt come soon enough.

Lying about him during interviews had been difficult. After a lengthy discussion with the Elders, Avery and Finn had decided to keep their relationship a secret, fully hidden from the public eye. The hope was that doing so would grant credulity to their individual testimonies. Not to mention that a relationship between a human and a Reange would only stir up controversy.

Species tensions had never been more of an issue on Earth than they had become after Averys rise to fame. The incriminating vids that Avery and Finn released of what the Federation had done on Kleins orders only fanned the flames of unrest spreading throughout Earths cities. Many humans had always been wary of Reangesor Natives, as they were called on Earthbut proof of the unique powers that some Reanges possessed had frightened some of the population. It didnt matter that the Federation had been testing on innocent lives, only that those lives were different from humanity. And that difference was something to be feared.

But if the public was focused on a conflict between humans and Reanges, it would draw attention away from Kleins crimes. And that Avery wouldnt allow. So it was worth the small bit of compromise to keep her relationship with Finn a secret. At least until after the trial.

Avery had no intention of hiding anything after Klein was fully barred from power. She was ready for change on both planets, even if she had to force her way toward realizing progress. Achieving lasting peace between the worlds would require facing the violence that had been used to divide them for decades. Not to mention pruning the leaders who had brought the two worlds to that culmination of bloodshed in the first place.