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lifted off a small but heavily armed crew of Centauri based on Titan, Jupiter’s largest moon, four weeks ago. In theory, this transmitter created and dispersed human life signs, especially Earth life signs, from infinity. Micah’s people learned that it accomplished this by creating a complex buffer signal around a scanned region. That’s almost as bad as legalese, kiddo. In plain English the transmitter created and snuffed out Earth DNA and its findings couldn’t be disproven in a lab, courtroom or on a battlefield. So Micah and the other insurgency leaders believed that the Centauri were using the transmitter after engagements with the Core to manufacture false casualty readings, no matter how minor the squabble. In essence the Centauri were killing two very large birds with what amounted to slinging a pebble at them: The Centauri military fed their propaganda back home with grand tales of their conquest, while slandering her people’s will to fight. Trinity’s associates wished to use the device to ignite her people’s faltering spirit.

  We’ll be back on our feet, though, and not a minute too soon.

  Trinity learned in the next few hours of history that ultimately she’d fail in her mission here. The breech in the timeline erupted, expanded, and as a result, the Dominant Universe suffered a holocaust, with this and several thousands of other recessive sister universes following suit. The surviving scientist working with them called it The Windows Effect, or Windows.

  I call it damned scary.

  “No.” Trinity said as a result, stepping off of the turbolift. I have to follow a straight and narrow course, no matter the personal cost. A shocked Jonas rewarded her insolence with a sharp but discreet dart of his elbow into her side. The shooter rearmed his rifle with a satisfied smirk, and his comrades followed his lead in a chorus of sound, a ballet of movement. Amadeus raised his mangled hand up for peace, but the stressful mask which had lifted, if only momentarily, shrouded his face once again.

  “I fail to understand you reasoning, Trinity.” He said. “I thought we came to a mutual agreement that unilateral cooperation in this matter was essential to the continued security of innocent Earthers living on this station as well as planet side. Was I mistaken?”

  It’s time to be an attorney one last time, kiddo, present your closing argument as if your life depended on it, because it might. Trinity said, “Minutes ago, you told me that you believed the Earthers in this sector to be innocent of this crime against Alpha Centauri.”

  “I did.”

  “Well, begging your pardon, Governor, I’m positive you requested and did not order me back to Earth. If it is just a request, if I truly have a choice here, then I respectfully decline. I’m a simple servant, a pious and passionate one, but a servant nonetheless. You don’t need my assistance or validation to guarantee my people’s continued safety and treatment during the continuation of this investigation.”

  “Trinity, how long has your daughter been missing?” Amadeus asked. She wasn’t sure whether she was taken more aback by the abrupt change of subject or the subject matter the governor chose to question her on.

  You’re such an insufferable bastard. “Solaris died two years ago when your people attacked the Eastern Seaboard Alliance with smart bombs, squashing an uprising at several food processing centers near the ruins of Philadelphia. Thousands of Earthers were slaughtered. Why?”

  “You’ve been misinformed on both accounts, my dear. First, the weapons fire was initiated to keep order against a raging mob. Secondly, there were thousands of your people there that morning, you and your daughter included, but the official death toll stood at only 98.”

  “We were there,” Trinity found herself nodding. “We were starving. Everyone there was. The Centauri had promised to feed all who had come, but the containers of food were contaminated.” I believe it was all a ruse to flush out some unsuspecting insurgents from their hiding places. And I refuse to believe that Solaris survived the bombardment after the few survivors like me and my uncle who were rounded up and brought here to work the mines. Micah spared as many people as he could for reconnaissance, searching the area immediately surrounding the center for days after. Neither Trinity’s then 13 year old daughter, nor Solaris’ remains were ever found.

  She wasn’t found because she’s dead. Trinity refused to picture any scenario of Solaris living through the blast, only trying to survive down there. She didn’t want to think about her daughter hiding from Centauri death squads . . . or worse, running from gangs of dehumanized men trying to rape—

  “I was just reminded by Solaris memory that I haven’t seen my own daughter now in over three months.” He said.

  “I know you’re not looking for sympathy—“

  “I’m sure Trinity isn’t aware of The Awakening, sir.” Jonas interrupted her.

  “No,” She shook her head, composing herself once again. “I can’t say that I have heard of the term. Explain it to me, Jonas.”

  “Once Centauri military personnel reach the senior ranks like Governor Amadeus has, often their minor children are enrolled in The Awakening—the state’s military accelerated education program. Besides being taught advanced History, Science, and Mathematics, and Centauri Literature, these children are given a heavy dose of instruction in military protocol.”

  “Meaning,”

  “Meaning, after an extended stay, each child is left with a permanent understanding of the pressures their parents face while they serve.”

  Do they have the governor’s daughter? “Is she a good student?”

  Yes. “She’ll be ushered into her initial classes any day now.”

  I didn’t want to believe we had this type of bond, Jonas. I don’t want to believe I can almost read your thoughts like we’re family . . . or lovers. Trinity knew the news of the explosion couldn’t have gone over well back home. Is that poor girl going to be mistreated? “She must be looking forward to returning home after her term concludes.”

  Yes. It’s probably already begun. “No.” Jonas shook his head twice, the magistrate’s equivalent of shouting. And the torture will continue until this investigation is concluded admonishing Amadeus completely in some important Centauri eyes back home.

  Trinity wanted to see a lie or exaggeration planted on either man’s face but she couldn’t find any. Jonas appeared stoic as always, but uncomfortable. Amadeus looked miserable. The governor had to know that Jonas understood Centauri culture. She wasn’t sure how much Amadeus thought that she grasped what was being translated right underneath his nose.

  Jonas said, “Your daughter’s orientation begins immediately. The coming semester could prove challenging, could it not, Governor?”

  Amadeus recovered from his stupor long enough to nod. “Yes, her studies could prove challenging indeed, Magistrate Jonas.” Duty forced him to focus on the task straight in front of him. He was all solder, as if the conversation about their offspring had never taken place. “I’m on a rather tight schedule, Trinity. Will you reconsider my offer and assist the magistrate in putting this matter to rest?”

  Amadeus’ daughter is an innocent in all of this, Centauri or not. She doesn’t deserve whatever these parasites are planning to do with her. Still, I want you to remember, governor, how my people haven’t deserved to be displaced from their homes, tormented, and killed either.

  “NO.” SHE SURPRISED herself by saying definitively. “As I said before, you don’t need my help, Governor.”

  “You’re correct, I don’t.” Amadeus said with an edge of bitterness in his voice. He turned to Jonas. “After you’ve taken this woman back to the pungent little corner you found her, let the official log show that you will be disembarking with the specialized team I’ve assembled alone. Now, leave me, all of you.”

  Stepping back into the turbolift, Trinity said, “I have your word that no innocent Earther will suffer because of the stance I’ve taken here today.”

  Governor Amadeus raised all four of his good fingers of his right hand and smiled through his bloodstained teeth.

  “No innocents shall be harm
ed, Trinity of Philadelphia. You have my word as an officer Alpha Centauri, and the love we share for both of our absent children.”

  TWO LUNAR HOURS later, the first Earther to die kicked and thrashed about, praying for his god to spare him, but a lone shot to his temple by a Centauri ended his life before he could receive his god’s answer.

  The next to die was an old man who Trinity remembered from her childhood on the streets back home. You knew my uncle. The man flashed a toothless smile, held both of his chins erect even through the tears flowing in the corners of his bulging eyes. Two sentries shoved him to the spot where the shooter and Amadeus stood planted in front of hundreds of traumatized Earthers.

  The shooter measured his weapon against the Earther’s head, the old man clutched at his suddenly failing heart, and Trinity and several others screamed as the old man collapsed after the trigger was pulled then released. Her uncle’s friend’s battered skull settled finally in a pool of the previous man’s blood, his lifeless, wondrous gaze fixed on Trinity at his end.

  “No!” Trinity’s scream rose the loudest. “You gave me your word that no innocents would be harmed! You gave me your word on your love of your own daughter!”

  When the governor found the owner’s voice, he flashed what had become an all too familiar feigned look of surprise