The Shadow War
Prologue
“Today is a historic moment, as the trial of Tirion Pachek, aka ‘The Ghost’, is a unique one in many ways. It is the first trial under the new Terran government, the first trial inside the newly christened seat of that government, the Terran Space Station, and the first time ever that charges have been pressed against a transgen. We now go live to the Terran Space Station, as the trial is underway.”
***
“Will the accused rise?”
The biggest known courtroom was built as an amphitheatre, allowing everyone a clear view of the spectacle of justice on the stage. However, nearly all of the eight hundred spectators craned their necks as Pachek got up.
He was dressed in a snow white, single piece suit with wide sleeves and trousers that seemed to flow around his body like an icy sea. A single rough, black rope was his belt, and his long hair – as white as his suit – was tied together behind is head in a pony tail. There were plain platinum rings around his throat, wrists and ankles, though they had no real ornamental purpose. They were inhibitors, a newly developed device that prevented transgens from using their powers. Any possible side effects had not yet been researched, but if the look on Pachek’s face was any indication, he would easily kill nine hundred people, if that could remove the rings; seeing as how they were also a light form of neural inhibitors, however, nine hundred deaths would do squat. And he had no quarrel with these people, nor had he ever done.
“Tirion Alexis Pachek, you are charged with crimes against humanity and with the highest form of treason imaginable, treason against mankind itself.” The judge didn’t yell, he did not even raise his voice in the slightest, but the words chilled Tirion to the bone. “How do you plea?”
“Not guilty, your honour.”
It was a lie and he knew it, but these people owed him a chance to explain himself, to try and repent.
But it still hurt.
“I can assure you that mister Pachek is completely sane and fully responsible for what he did. However horrible his deeds may have been, though, he is a rational and emphatic man and I urge you to refrain from making any judgement until you have heard the entire story.”
“Thank you, doctor Janes.”
“Do not approach this matter with emotion, however easy it may seem.”
“Thank you, doctor Janes.”
“He deserves a rational trial, not some vulgar travesty of…”
“Doctor! That’s enough!”
Tirion only barely managed to refrain from smiling. He had taken an instant like to the psychiatrist the moment he had met him.
***
“I can assure you that I am mentally quite stable.”
“Oh, I know. I knew that even before I was appointed to do this.”
“How so?”
“Your actions belie too much rationality and even some compassion. I can’t say I wasn’t angry with you, but I have come to understand what you did, though I do not fully agree.”
“That, doctor Janes, is all I can ask. I know what I have done was horrible, but I felt it was necessary for the survival of mankind.”
“As I said, I don’t agree, but that’s what’s so great about our world now, isn’t it. We can all disagree.”
There was a moment of silence while Tirion got a cigarette out of his inner pocket.
“But how did you come to it?” the psychiatrist asked, holding out a light.
Tirion snorted. “A bad childhood, my dear shrink.”
He inhaled deeply and let the smoke escape slowly through his mouth and nose, but Janes said nothing.
“Do I have to tell you about it now?”
“If you please.”
“Very well.”
He took another pull from his cigarette and sipped from his coffee before exhaling.
“As I’m sure you know, I was raised in the
“Why not?”
“I’ve had history classes.”
To be continued...
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