Page 45 of First

Jo’Nay stood tall beside her, his massive form radiating a quiet strength despite the manacles around his wrists. The bronze glow of his skin was muted under the artificial lighting, and his purple eyes—so often a source of comfort to her—were dark with unreadable emotion. Winn’s fingers tightened on his forearm, her silent plea for reassurance met with the faintest inclination of his head and comforting smile.

“We’re here,” the enforcer captain barked, his voice sharp as the hiss of the ship’s depressurizing airlock.

The massive doors slid open with a loud clank, revealing a stark, desolate landscape bathed in the dim light of a distant sun. The planet’s surface was barren, its reddish-brown soil stretching endlessly, broken only by the jagged silhouette of a domed structure in the distance.

The Council chamber, or so she’d beentold.

They were ushered down the ramp, the gravity of this alien world heavier than Earth’s, making Winn’s steps feel leaden. Her hand remained on Jo’Nay’s arm, her anchor amidst the oppressive silence of the enforcer’s escort. The group’s boots crunched against the gritty soil as they approached the domed building. Its exterior was an imposing combination of sleek metal and jagged stone, as if carved from the very planet itself. Winn felt dwarfed by its enormity, her human frame trembling slightly under its shadow.

Inside, the Council chamber was even more intimidating. The walls were lined with enormous, glowing panels that pulsed faintly, casting the room in hues of blue and green. High above, an intricate lattice of crystalline structures refracted light into sharp, shifting patterns across the chamber floor.

At the center was a circular dais surrounded by tiered seating, where the Council members waited, their forms cloaked in shadow. Surrounding the chamber were rows of seats filled with onlookers from various worlds, their murmurs a backdrop to the oppressive atmosphere. Camera drones hovered discreetly in the air, transmitting every moment of the proceedings across the Nine Galaxies.

Jo’Nay’s hand brushed hers briefly as they were led to the dais. It was a fleeting touch, but enough to steel her resolve. She would not falter, not when his fate—their fate—would soon be decided.

The enforcers stopped at the edge of the dais, forcing Jo’Nay to step forward. One of them pressed a control on his gauntlet, causing Jo’Nay’s manacles to emit a faint hum and snap more tightly together. Winn’s heart clenched at the sight of him bound, the Council’s attempt to strip his dignity with the weight of those restraints. And yet, they hadn’t stolen his dignity. It existed in every hard, powerful inch ofhim.

“Winn, human of Earth,” the captain’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She barely had time to react before another enforcer stepped toward her, asecond pair of manacles in hand. Her breath caught, panic surging as he reached for her wrists.

“No!” a voice cried out, startling everyone in the chamber. It wasn’t Winn’s. The protest came from one of the audience members. “She is with child,” the woman protested. “You will not shackle her.”

A murmur rippled through the chamber, low and resonant, like the distant roll of thunder. Winn’s gaze darted to Jo’Nay, whose eyes were locked on the Head Council. She saw the faintest flicker of relief in his expression.

“It is barbaric,” another person’s voice interjected, this one sharp and commanding. “We do not chain expectant mothers. Release her at once. It is the law.”

The enforcer captain hesitated, his hand tightening on the manacles. He glanced toward the Head Councilor. “Sire, it is standard procedure—”

A brief murmur broke out amongst the Councilors before the Head Councilor pounded a heavy black stone against the raised wooden bench. “It has been decided. The female creature is not to be shackled. We are, of course, fair in our processes.”

“Or trying to appear fair in front of the cameras,” Jo’Nay muttered in disgust.

The captain’s jaw tightened, but he relented, gesturing for the enforcers to step back. Winn exhaled shakily, her hands trembling as she folded them protectively over her belly. The murmurs in the chamber quieted as the Council settled, their gazes—though unseen—bearing down on her with palpable intensity.

“Jo’Nay of the Intergalactic Warriors, First of the Alpha Legion,” one of the Councilors began, his voice echoing through the chamber. “You stand accused of violating the sacred laws of Vetta, of dishonoring your oath as a warrior, and of endangering the balance of the Nine Galaxies.”

The words fell like hammer blows, each accusation striking Winn with its weight. She glanced at Jo’Nay, who stood motionless, his expression unreadable.

“You are charged with the following crimes.” The Councilor’s voice rang out. “First, you have taken a mate, aunion strictly forbidden by our laws.”

Winn’s cheeks flushed, anger bubbling beneath her fear. They spoke of love as if it were a crime, as if the bond she and Jo’Nay shared was something to be ashamedof.

“Second,” the Councilor continued, his accusations unwavering and tinged with pompous outrage. “You have fathered a child, further defying the natural order decreed by our creators. In addition, that child is a hybrid, in defiance of the genetic purity laws.”

Jo’Nay’s shoulders squared, his gaze unwavering as he faced the Council.

“Third,” the Councilor’s voice grew colder. “You have consumed unknown substances that have altered your genetic composition, circumventing the natural cycle of an Intergalactic Warrior’s life and death.”

Winn’s breath hitched.The apples. The miraculous fruit that had saved Jo’Nay, that had given them hope for a future together, was now being used as evidence against him. How could they possibly claim it circumvented the natural cycle of Jo’Nay’s life when that was precisely what they had done to him so he’d die at age four hundred? Though now that she thought about it, they hadn’t identified the apples as the cause for his reversion. Did they evenknow?

“And finally,” the Councilor’s voice sharpened to a blade’s edge, “you have willfully evaded your Final Flight, asacred rite that ensures the balance and harmony of our kind.”

The chamber fell silent, the weight of the accusations hanging heavy in the air. Winn’s pulse thundered in her ears as she gripped the fabric of her tunic, fighting the urge to shout, to protest the injustice of itall.

“How do you plead?” the Councilor demanded, their gaze piercing through the shadows.

Jo’Nay’s voice was steady as he replied, “I plead truth. The actions you describe, Ido not deny. But I challenge the belief that they are crimes.”

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the Council. Winn’s heart swelled with pride, even as fear clawed at her. Jo’Nay’s defiance was dangerous, but it was also a testament to his unyielding spirit, his refusal to bow to the oppressive laws that sought to dictate their lives.

---