01 - You Have Been Judged

Ages - Age of Expansion - Judge, Jury, & Executioner

    Rivka Anoa has a gift and a galactic mandate. She's a lawyer accused of a murder she did commit. She stands ready to accept her fate, even though her victim was a murderer. A second chance appears. Become more than a lawyer. Be one who judges and punishes the guilty. Could she look herself in the mirror after meting out justice? She's about to find out. Rivka heads to space to be the Judge, Jury, & Executioner. Criminals have nowhere to go.

Introduction:Meet Rivka Anoa

Prologue

Char and Terry are about to sign the papers to obtain a franchise for an All Guns Blazing Bar on Onyz Station. The legality of all of this will be handled by Rivka Aboa, an intern, recommended by Nathan Lowell as "something that's more than meets the eye". He has nicknamed her the "Queen's Barrister". Rivka takes them to the Bar for an inspection before they sign the papers, and they all meet a group (nine) of the Bad Company's crew, who were letting off steam. Char and Terry handle them, sending them back to the War Ax, because they had behaved badly. Terry and Char then inspect, and are happy with what they find. They all sign the franchise papers, and Rivka became a Barrister.

Chapter One

Rivka awakens from her hangover, to find a bloody knife in her hand, and a body by her feet. She remembers. She saw herself follow him. He’d led her into an alley where he’d confronted her; asked her if she knew what it was like to make love to a winner. The rage had taken over. The knife was his. He had tried to defend himself with it. And failed. Her mind raced. Actus reus, the act of committing the crime, had been completed. Mens rea, her mental state, was irrelevant. Prima facie, “on the face of it,” as the Latin would describe, she was guilty as sin. When the authorities came, she’d stay silent. The burden of proof was on them. They had stunned her, and locked her up. She awakened in a cell, a Federation holding cell, gray and cramped and silent, in the intergalactic quarter, which meant they were taking her into space—which was well outside the norm for an open-and-shut case. Custer came in and told her that she was to see the High Chancellor Maybe she would be allowed to live. Who knew?

Chapter Two

Three guards take her to see the High Chancellor, who asks her about her actions. She admits to killing the man, but knows, in her mind, he was guilty. “You hear things in your mind, you say? Feelings and thoughts?” “No. I mean, yes, High Chancellor. It hasn’t happened before, at least not as intensely as this. And not proper thoughts, in the sense of words and sentences. More like random emotions and images.” She struggled to find the words. “I can feel each distinct individual and sense their emotions, but it all blurs together. It’s such a storm I can hardly tell one person from the next, let alone pick out what they are thinking. The High Chancellor discusses the disbanding of the Queen’s Rangers. “The Queen’s Rangers were deemed a hazard and a liability to Federation integrity. They were too obvious a violation of the universal accountability we hope to maintain over our constituency. There were numerous complaints. Talk of convictions made without the law, of action without oversight and nonexistent consequences. The title ‘Rangers,’ it seems, spoke far too much of vigilantes in the night.” The Queen’s Rangers had acted completely without oversight and left in their wake both chaos and peace, a storm of bureaucratic destruction which had been torturous for Rivka’s branch to remedy. “And the Rangers were punished accordingly, High Chancellor?” Of course. She should have seen it coming. “No.” He smiled unnervingly. “The Rangers themselves claimed they enacted ‘Justice without the twisting of the law,’ so we changed their names. We formally disbanded them, retrained them, and reassigned those people. They are now called ‘Magistrates.’” She was taken back to a different cell. When she finally fell asleep, it was to the constant thrum of Rangers stealing through the night wearing the robes of a Magistrate.

Chapter Three

She awakened again, and was to a motorized waiting cart, to a transport hanger. They took her to a tiny intraorbital shuttle, nothing more than a cockpit and a single passenger’s seat into which she was manacled, facing aft. She was taken to a small room on board a ship. The door slid smoothly open, and a man walked in. A soldier, Rivka judged, taking in the toned lines of his body and the hardness of his face. His barrister’s uniform was crisp and well-cut. You’re not a barrister,” Rivka told him evenly. You’re a Ranger.” He raised a finger to his lips. “We don’t say that word anymore, Barrister. Nobody does, and one day we hope it will be forgotten. There are two possible outcomes here. One is completely in my control. The other is outside it.” “If you wish to keep your position as Queen’s Barrister, you will join us. You will learn how to handle yourself in a fight, and how to use a variety of weapons.” He chuckled ever so slightly. “You’ll become the sort of person I’m guessing your type usually curses as the spawn of chaos. When you see the filth that’s out there you’ll understand why we need proper killers, not just anointed executioners.” “Option two. You face your fate as a prisoner of the Federation, convicted of capital murder. You and I part ways. Your life becomes little more than a document in our legal system, ferried from one desk to the next until the right authority finds an excuse to stamp it out. “If you choose to join there will be a test, of course, but I think you will pass. You’ll have to interrogate three prisoners to show us how you think. You’ll determine the veracity of the charges against them, and enact the appropriate punishment. “Let’s get those tests done, Barrister.” He extended a calloused hand. “And then I’ll welcome you to the team. If you’re still with us, that is.”

Chapter Four

Grainger offered her clothes – a dress and a Magistrate’s jacket. She opened the door to find the corridor beyond empty. “What the hell?” “Is everything I do going to be some kind of test?” “Maybe. Maybe not. Not as far as you know, anyway.” “Will I see any materials regarding these cases before I interview the suspects?” “No written materials, just a verbal brief. Here’s your brief, counselor. Perp number one is accused of capital theft of a piece of artwork. There is a datapad you can access to ask specific questions regarding procedural issues and such, but your focus must be on the perp. “The second case involves assault and battery. Open and closed case since the man has confessed.” Rivka held up one finger to interrupt the briefing. “Not so open and shut. I will be the final arbiter of Justice in his case.” “The third case is capital murder. A Yollin. There’s video,” Grainger ended abruptly. “Here we are. Good luck. If you need anything… Well, don’t need anything. This is your test, not mine.” Three interrogations. Three separate determinations of Justice, and then deliver the appropriate punishment. He opened the door and a man within hastily rose from behind the table. He couldn’t stand up straight because of his shackles. Grainger touched Rivka’s arm, stopping her. She turned to find a key dangling between his fingers. “Your call about removing the shackles before, after, or never.” “I took it,” the man admitted softly. “Didn’t think it were worth that much. No way, Jose!” he blurted. His eyes were wild, like a trapped animal’s. She looked at him without blinking, making him think she was peering into his soul. She successfully and correctly judged him guilty of a misdemeanor only, and indicted the owner of the painting for insurance fraud.

Chapter Five

Rivka investigates the second case, extreme anger and a beating, and sentenced the man to anger management classes, rehab, and probation. Basically innocent, and helping him. A shackled two-legged Yollin appeared in the doorway. He was taller than her and had a carapace. Mandibles extended from the sides of his head. Rivka grabbed his wrist, was almost overwhelmed by the evil in him, and killed him. She passed.

Chapter Six

She had become a Magistrate. Beyond a barrister, more than one who argued the law. She was judge, jury, and executioner, and she’d already carried out her first execution with extreme prejudice. She awoke early again, dressed in a better-fitting wardrobe, including her Magistrate’s jacket (she liked the feel of it), and headed out the door to learn more about the station that would apparently be her training ground. Time to meet Grainger. Inside the room, she found a cross between a weight room and a dojo. “Get dressed. It’s workout time. If we don’t train in here, we won’t be ready for what’s out there. You have to be smarter, faster, and stronger than any person or creature you come up against. And most of the time, criminals run in gangs. You get to fight the whole fucking mob of them.” Grainger showed her his scars. “A gang that got the smart idea that we were vulnerable to silver, so they silver-plated all their shit.” “Are you?” “Yes. Silver cuts through the nanocytes that course through our blood. Hurts like a motherfucker and leaves one hell of a mark. You’ll get yours once the nanos are in place. Silver. Avoid that shit at all costs. Anyone carrying a silver weapon? That’s cause for arrest and on-the-spot judgment.” “Why silver?” “Some things just are. We don’t need to know why, just that they are, and then we flex our existence to reality instead of hoping reality changes.” She and Grainger have a slight tussle, ending in Grainger dropping her to the deck with one punch, which sent her to the pod-doc. The AI started to work its magic. It sampled her DNA and started to program the nanocytes to make Rivka’s body stronger and heal itself faster; help her do all the things she could do already, but orders of magnitude better. “Did she want to be taller?” “Sure. Plus her up a little. ” The Magistrate reached the door spoke over his shoulder. “Give her something fantastic to change how she sees herself. Maybe the eyes. Give her eyes like no one else’s.” The technician browsed the database. Then there they were, simple yet exotic: a golden-blue hazel with oversized irises. He input the settings for those, and also added a greatly improved ability to see in the dark. “Pretty eyes that are functional, although they are like someone else’s. They’ll never find out about Midnight Sass.” Grainger wants to hire Vered as a bodyguard for Rivka, until she gets up to speed with her own training. It’ll probably be a month before she goes out on her own. Between now and then you’ll partake of all the physical training she does, and you’ll watch out for her while she’s on this station. There’s probably going to be a bit more hands-on than you would expect. As Magistrates we not only defend clients, we mete out Justice. You’ll need to worry about getting killed. As of right now, you need to bring your “A” game.” “That’s the only game I got, Mister.”

Chapter Seven

Rivka meet Red, her personal bodyguard. Because you need to focus on the law. He’ll make sure no one sneaks up behind you.” Get it into your head that the entire law-breaking universe is better off if you’re dead.” Rivka started working out, lifting weights (snapped a tendon), then sparring. Gave her her daily schedule. AMs, physical. Afternoons, legal. Red watched her too closely as she changed, so Grainger laid him out. “I’m training both of you. He needs to watch for threats, no matter how much skin you flash. You two will be working closely together. He has his job, and that’s to protect you; nothing more. He’ll be a good member of your team. “ We aren’t sending Magistrates to the frontier with a gun and a prayer. You’re going to get a state-of-the-art combat ship with an Entity Intelligence, an EI.”

Chapter Eight

Rivka passed her final test of the training, “Don’t bluff a bluffer.” Grainger clasped his hands together and bowed deeply. “That, grasshopper, is your final test. Into the universe with you. Go forth and do great things in the name of Justice. Your chariot to the gods awaits.” Her new Corvette, Federation Corvette Seven Seven Four. Rivka goes to Doctor Toofakre to have a chipped tooth repaired, one level down. Looked too normal to be a dentist, but she let him fix her tooth, anyway. Was shown her new ship, and her EI, Charles Woodworth the Third, Chaz.” And Rivka decided the cat would stay. Meets cat, hasn’t named him yet. Grainger tells Chaz,” “Chaz, take her to the Intripas System, best possible speed.” Will start work in about thirty minutes.

Chapter Nine

Rivka was being sent to handle a misdemeanor by a governor’s daughter. “Since this is the first case and my chance to prove myself, I’ll treat it just like anything else. Meets Governor Flikansador. Instructs him as to protocol (I’m forwarding a list. Bring each to an interrogation room sealed from all outside intrusion and keep them isolated until I call for them.” “I expect you’ll keep us appraised while the process is ongoing.” “I will not. You will find out the adjudication at the same time as everyone else–when I make it public, and not before. When you called in the Federation to resolve your personal problems you handed all authority to us, and to me in particular. Magistrate Anoa out.” Red led her off the ship, through the airlock, and onto the space station of the Intripas System. Meets with Governor Flikansador, wife Flutterby Flikansador, and Superintendent Thidney, who directed her to the interview room. All persons were sitting along a wall outside the room. First thing upon entering room was to disable all four cameras. Governor interviewed first (acts of vandalism to shops reported, admitted to by daughter). Interviewed Governor, then sent for daughter, Jayita. Pink hair, cocky attitude. Rivka sat her down forcefully, then asked her why. Jayita said, “ I saw no other way to escape. That’s all there is, so take me away.”

Chapter Ten

“Jayita Flikansador, I’m charging you with Felony Misconduct and Making Terroristic Threats. You will be temporarily incarcerated on my ship while I collect more information.” All three went to ship, as that was the only way Red could guard her and take Jayita to ship as well. Governor thinks he might have to play the High Chancellor card. Rivka discovers that it was Flutterby who had led Jayita astray. Jayita would be coming with her, for whatever punishment she meted out.

Chapter Eleven

Rivka added Jayita (Jay) to her crew, giving her a new life. Grainger sends her back into the pod-doc. Faulty programming. “Add two more centimeters in height, improved hearing, and give her the full combat package.” A meeting of Magistrates is being called (five of them) to review new assignments. Grainger has a gift for her, a Magistrate’s Jacket. It belonged to Magistrate Felcario Renaldo Squitieri. He died in the line of duty.”

Chapter Twelve

Rivka meets the other Magistrates. (Are werewolves) “They call me ‘Cheese Blintz,’” a short man told her, flashing a broad grin. He laughed at Rivka’s curious expression. “Chi Siblinz is my real name, but these Neanderthals can’t seem to get that right.” Jael plays with names. Bustamove.” He was the same size as Grainger, with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. A thin scar showed white around the top of his head. He caught Rivka staring at it. “What’s your real name? I am not calling you ‘Bustamove.’” “Buster Crabbe. My parents named me after some ancient movie star, or so I’ve been told. And the scar? Don’t mess with the trilobites. They’ll cut you.” Jael calls Grainger Leibchen, and he admits his real name ids “Lieblen Schlongheim. Rivka logs onto notepad, joins meeting with “Access Granted to Rivka Anoa: Magistrate Case Files.” Five cases highlighted. Jael to take Torah 7, murders in a country where murders are legal. “We have an R2D2 research facility that the brass thinks has been penetrated, but they expect it’s an inside job. Someone needs to go play computer forensics until you find the meat sack behind it.” “Ooh, me! Pick me,” Buster exclaimed. “Pick me!” “Why do you want it? You hate computers.” “My EI has ascended. Philko is now fully intelligent, so he’ll do the heavy lifting. I want to see what kind of toys they’re working on, maybe get myself the newest model of a Jean Dukes Special pistol. You know they go to eleven.” Grainger chose him. Blood Trade, holdover from Earth. Entrepreneurs are kidnapping anyone who is enhanced—the more enhanced they are, the better it is—and then the scumbags are draining their blood to sell on the black market. Drinking enhanced blood boosts life and strength without having to go through a Pod-doc. Grainger chose this one. On Yoll. “Next up is a cozy murder mystery on Shaiboloa. The reason they’ve asked for our help is that it’s within the ruling circle. Ten of them went on a leadership retreat, but only nine returned. The location was secure, so it suggests one of the inner circle is the murderer.” Chi chose this one. Rivka got the last one: “It’s a trade dispute that could escalate into a war between neighboring systems. “Magistrates to the rescue as part of the Federation arbitration commitment.” (See Locations-Pretoria). Cat named Hamlet. By Jay.

Chapter Thirteen

Jay’s comment on the situation: . “They aren’t going to play nice.” “What do you mean?” Rivka leaned forward. “Everybody wants something, and all of them are willing to lie to get it. When you understand what they want, you’ll be able to shape your lies to counter theirs.” “Is that how you think?” “Everybody lies,” Jay affirmed softly. Rivka kept her focus on Jay. “What are you proposing?” “Nothing. Just keep your eyes open. Assume the words are lies, but watch what the body does. It can’t lie—unless the aliens don’t act like humans, but I’ve never seen that. Everyone, human and alien alike, gives their shit away.” “You are thinking of something. Do you want to be my eyes? Watch the aliens for tells and let me know when they aren’t being completely truthful? I can pin them down. What good is my authority if I don’t use it?” Planet hot, bright, and every non-human over nine feet tall. Delegate Maseer, Pretarian leader of group, Rhonali, Tinashi, Ngobo, and Sinraloo.” Water was a sacred liquid on the planet, and Rivka had ship move closer to building, so they could have a plentiful supply. Maseer suggests perhaps speaking separately about bringing water to the planet. They all go into building, to meet with Keome, and Rivka found that the Pretarians had not allowed the Keomes to greet them, but had made them wait inside a cold (to them) building. After all was quieted down, all sat, and meeting began.

Chapter Fourteen

Rivka repositioned them so that they were facing her rather than one another. All stood, as it was the only way they could see her. She started with the one point of the forty-eight they could agree on – the names of the planets. There was no agreement on point two, so Rivka went back to the ship to think. She determined that she needed to get Yus and Maseer alone, to talk with her. She did so, meeting with them in the bathroom. Maseer has building knowledge, as does Yus, to trade for goods. She found that Yus was deathly afraid of being killed by his own delegation, and that his Leaders would kill his family if he did not bring back a favorable treaty.

Chapter Fifteen

Again a meeting was avoided by both parties. Rivka found that the guards were spies and that the leaders were avoiding them, so Rivka forced one to occur, on her ship. Had to get coats for them – ship too cold. “Gentlemen. This is where the magic will happen. The spies who are listening to your every word have been removed from the equation. We can work in the peace and serenity of my ship.

Chapter Sixteen

The Pretarian and the Keome were head-down, jamming an entirely new treaty that Rivka would declare her work and force both parties to comply with while secretly knowing that the representatives had crafted a treaty together—something that was in their own best interests. They had reduced the number of points from forty-seven to ten, whittling away the incessant denigration that each society had demanded and focusing solely on what each society needed. The upper hand? Neither had that.

Rivka calls Grainger to tell him of the progress. “Both sides lied, and their treaty was a total pile of garbage. We’re rewriting it in its entirety. I expect to have signatures on it later today or first thing tomorrow.” “Everybody lies!” Grainger exclaimed. “That’s our first assumption whenever we talk to these people. I thought I hired a raging bull and methinks we have a naive school girl instead.” As they waited for food for the aliens (Turbid Pie - Insects), Hamlet appeared, and both aliens freaked out. One of the most dangerous animals in any system! ! Yus and Maseer both agree that they will not sign the treaty, as then they will both not be put in jail, that Rivka had written it all, and that as they had asked for the arbitration there was nothing they could do about it. Then they both ate their Turbid Pie. When they went back to the delegations with that news, all was in turmoil. Then the bomb exploded.

Chapter Seventeen

Yus was dead. It had happened in his delegation. A box had appeared under his hand. The conference room was wrecked, debris from the table scattered throughout and the walls painted with blood. Maseer was unconscious. Rivka kneeled by his side and watched a Pretarian she didn’t know wrap a brace around his neck. The alien glanced at her with angry eyes before returning to her work. The Pretarians brought stretchers to carry the five members of the Pretarian delegation. They had workers bandaging and helping the Keome, but they were going to be moved second. Miento, Yus’ secondary, was horribly injured. Sinraloo was barely scratched, yet had been carried out first. Rivka put him as suspect #1. All wounded are carried to an infirmary, where Keome are given only minimal care. Rivka ratifies the treaty as done and accepted, challenging the delegates to take her to court. It was less than 400 words. Rivka, Red and Jay start on their next project – finding out who had brought the bomb. They started with the meeting room, eliminating the electronic pads, etc., to leave whatever was left as the bomb. They had no luck, and wanted to go to the hospital, to see the wounded. They had to take a tube train to get there, were met by hostile populous, Red shooting off his shotgun to keep them away. They boarded train, went a way, got off and tried to find the hospital. No luck.

Chapter Eighteen

The three of them find themselves locked in a room carved out of rock, stripped of clothing and data pads, having been hit with stun guns and captured. Sinraloo allows them to go back to their ship, om the promise to depart. They get back, give Red IVs to bring him back to health, decide to go to Keome. Want to go to Keome, see if they hate the treaty/humans as much as the Pretarians did., then come back to administer justice. Gate to Keome, met by a delegation who thanked her for trying to help their people and deplored her treaty efforts. She put safety precautions in order (Blow them up, Chaz, if you lose touch with me !) and went with the delegation.

Chapter Nineteen

Red comes back to consciousness, and asks Chaz to patch him in to the conversations Rivka is having with the Keome. He does so, and hears Rivka accuse Governor Prikasor, the leader of the delegation who had just met her, of working with the Pretarians to bomb the meeting. Yus wife, who told her to talk to Klobis, who might know more of what went on. Rivka did so, using her talent at mind-reading to find that an image of Yutta jumped into Klobis’ mind. A willing martyr. He wanted nothing more than to keep Keome from falling under Pretarian power. Klobis handing over the components of the bomb. Klobis giving the order. Klobis talking with Sinraloo, plotting a backup in case Yutta failed. Leverage. Threaten the families. Hostages. Luxuries. Sometimes both. I, Magistrate Rivka Anoa have found you guilty of terrorism, conspiracy to commit murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, and the murder of Yus. Your plea is irrelevant. I sentence you to death for crimes against your people.” And she snapped his neck, and went back to Pretaria to do justice there.

Chapter Twenty

The Keome wanted to detain her for questioning, and had sent the entire Keome fleet to do so, outside the Gate, but after talking with the Governor, she was allowed to pass through the Gate, and she went back to Pretaria. Sinraloo and Yutta are the conspirators. Yutta pulled the trigger, but Sinraloo was the backup plan. They are both going to answer to me.” Will meet with Maseer at the hospital, clue him in. She was taken to a back entrance by a single guard. She was taken to where the injured were, and addressed Yutta, who told her she had no place there. “You have no place anywhere, Yutta. I, Magistrate Rivka Anoa, have found you guilty of terrorism, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and the murder of Yus.” Sinraloo comes back for a moment, and Maseer tells the guard to get him! Rivka chased him, and was attacked as she tried to follow him into a room. She overpowers him, and kills him.

Chapter Twenty-One

Rivka tells Maseer what a good person he is, and that she will miss him. Yus is dead, and Maseer is very sad about that, but Miento speaks up, and tells him he will have her around. The clothing/weapon/datapads, etc., that had been taken from them were returned, and Rivka returns to the ship, Ready to go home. Grainger tells her she is last in (ill pay for first round of drinks), Red goes into the pod-doc, to be ready for next time he’s needed. Grainger complimented her on a solution, and Buster appeared. They are in the bar, so they trade drinks, when Nathan Lowell videos, asking Rivka what she wants a bunch of tall aliens to do. “They could change light bulbs that us shorties can’t reach.!” No problem, canal-ways use a specialized labor force! “Good job, Magistrate. New cases have been transmitted, and the High Chancellor has been informed. Go forth and be excellent to each other. Lowell out.” The screen went blank. “I wouldn’t put those words into any more treaties,” Grainger advised slowly. “I won’t, although it’s not wrong.” Rivka nodded wide-eyed for emphasis. “And you call me strange!”

(The ship has still not been named!)