Chapter 129

  Talia stopped a few corridors from the administrative hub entrance. The station hummed around her, a constant low thrum of life and machinery that never quite faded into background noise. Species of every color, every shape, every size flowed through all the hallways, stores, across plazas, going about their lives, born and dying here without ever leaving.

  The Nexus was a humbling place, both structurally and in what it represented.

  She closed her eyes.

  Reality dropped away. The darkness behind her eyes gave way to warm hues from a crackling fireplace. The familiar sound of shelves rising around her, spiraling upward into shadows. Paper lanterns drifted between rows of books, casting a gentle gold across spines of every color and condition.

  Talia walked between the stacks, her steps lighter here than they ever were in reality. No uniform pulling at her shoulders. No masks, physical or otherwise. Just her, the quiet, and thousands upon thousands of books.

  She raised one hand.

  A tome lifted from a shelf, trailing faint light as it floated to her palm. Heavy and leather-bound, it was one of dozens of identical-looking volumes scattered across multiple shelves, each containing similar information.

  Galactic law.

  Talia flipped it open, pages turning in quick succession as her eyes tracked across text she’d already committed to memory. Station codes. Detention protocols. Rights of representation. She paused on a section covering legal advocacy, her lips quirking slightly.

  Of course Alexander had known she’d study this. The man had an irritating habit of assuming competence. It was flattering in a way. Also mildly annoying.

  Especially when he was right.

  “You have perfect recall. Which means you’re stalling.”

  The voice came from behind. Talia didn’t turn. She recognized the tone.

  “Just considering the best approach.”

  “Hmm.” Professor Talia’s heels clicked against the floor. “We can rule out violence. If Alexander had wanted to make a statement, he’d have gone himself.”

  “Which means we’re being diplomatic.”

  “But not too diplomatic.” A pause. “We need to represent Grimnir, after all.”

  “Agreed.”

  Anyone could act as legal representation under Nexus Station regulations. No formal certification was required. Just a declaration of intent and the detainee’s consent. Simple enough.

  She turned another page. Detention timeframes. Evidence requirements. Burden of proof standards.

  “Felix wouldn’t have done anything to warrant arrest.” Professor Talia’s voice was matter-of-fact. “Even as a witness to the original assault, they have no grounds to hold him this long.”

  “And there are cameras everywhere on this station.” Talia flipped to another section. “They’d have footage of the attack. They know it wasn’t Felix.”

  “Which means something else is at play.”

  “Something we don’t know about yet.”

  A pause.

  “Best to go in prepared for surprises, then.”

  The book snapped shut.

  Talia opened her eyes.

  Three heartbeats had passed.

  She resumed walking, the administrative hub entrance just ahead. The corridors widened as she approached. Locating the security office was easy enough. The Nexus had plenty of signage in Galactic Common, making it almost impossible to get lost within local reach.

  She pushed through the entrance.

  The security office sprawled before her like controlled chaos. Desks crammed into the available floor space, dividers creating narrow corridors between workstations. Screens flickered with data streams in languages she couldn’t read and colors that didn’t quite translate to human vision. The air carried a dozen different scents, none of them pleasant.

  Aliens everywhere. Some bipedal, some decidedly not. A few that defied easy categorization entirely.

  And no humans.

  Talia walked through the maze toward the front desk, her gait steady. Eyes tracked her passage, assessing her as just another face in a station of billions.

  The desk officer didn’t look up immediately. Four arms worked across multiple screens simultaneously, data scrolling past faster than most organics would be able to process. Their skin had a faint blue-grey tint, and their head featured what might have been sensory stalks or decorative crests. Hard to say.

  Talia waited.

  The officer’s attention shifted to her after several seconds. “Yes?”

  “I’m here as legal representation for a detainee.” Talia kept her Galactic Common crisp and clear. “Felix. He should be in holding or interrogation.”

  The officer’s fingers moved across one screen. Paused. Moved again. “No record under that designation.”

  “He’s a Syltharian. Check again.”

  The officer’s expression suggested this was both tedious and beneath them. They checked anyway, this time expanding the search parameters. “Felixaran. Purple Syltharian male. That the one?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you are his chosen representative?”

  “I am.”

  The officer leaned back slightly, running through what was clearly a memorized script. “You are aware that misrepresenting yourself as legal counsel when not authorized by the detainee constitutes a criminal offense under galactic law. You are also aware that providing false information in an official capacity carries penalties including detention and fines.”

  “I’m aware.”

  “Confirm your identity and species for the record.”

  “Talia Kim. Superhuman.”

  The officer froze for a moment, input something and waited before gesturing her toward a corridor on the left. “Section three, room twelve. I’ll escort you.”

  They rose from behind the desk and led her through the cramped office space. Other officers glanced up as they passed, then returned to their work. The corridor narrowed further, dim lighting casting everything in shades of grey and amber.

  Room twelve had a reinforced door and a small window. The officer knocked once, then pushed it open partway. “Syltharian’s representation is here.”

  A voice responded from inside. Deep and measured. “Send them in.”

  The officer stepped aside. Talia walked through.

  The room was small. A table bolted to the floor. Three chairs, one on each side and one at the head. Felix sat in the chair facing the door, his purple skin catching the overhead light. His wings were folded tight against his back, twin tails resting against the chair legs.

  Two officers occupied the other chairs. One was tall, over two meters, with red skin and a build that suggested physical power. Humanoid enough that the comparison came easily. The other was smaller, barely reaching Talia’s shoulder if they stood. Scaled. A snout that came to a blunt point. Eyes positioned on either side of their head, forcing them to tilt slightly to keep Talia in view.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Talia didn’t acknowledge either of them yet.

  She moved to Felix’s side, crouching slightly to meet his gaze. “Are you alright?”

  Felix’s spiral pupils spun once, twice. His tails lashed behind him in quick succession before settling. “I’m fine.”

  “What have you told them so far?”

  “I answered their questions about the attack on Maya. The one that put her in a coma.” His musical voice was quiet but steady. “Nothing else.”

  “How long have they kept you here?”

  “Six hours. Maybe a bit more.”

  Talia’s expression didn’t change, but something hardened in her eyes. She straightened and turned to the officers.

  “Station code permits four hours for preliminary questioning without formal charges. You’ve held him for six. This stopped being questioning two hours ago.” She paused. “What are the charges?”

  The red-skinned officer leaned back in his chair. “We’re conducting an investigation.”

  “That’s not what I asked.” Talia kept her voice level. “What specific charges justify his detention?”

  The scaled officer answered. “We have questions about several incidents involving—”

  “Questions don’t constitute charges,” Talia interrupted. “Either charge him or this is unlawful detention.”

  The two officers exchanged glances.

  The red-skinned one spoke again, his tone more measured. “Felix was present during an assault on Officer Maya Laurent. She was severely injured while protecting him during an abduction attempt. She’s been in a coma for months.”

  “Protecting him,” Talia repeated. “Meaning he was the victim of an attack, not the perpetrator.”

  The scaled officer leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “He was there when she was injured. We need to understand—”

  “Your own records confirm he was kidnapped,” Talia said. “Are you suggesting the victim is responsible for his attempted-rescuer’s injuries?”

  “We need to understand the full circumstances,” the red officer said.

  “You have cameras throughout this station. I’m certain you have incident reports. What evidence links Felix to Officer Laurent’s injuries?”

  Silence stretched between them.

  The scaled officer’s snout twitched. “There’s also the incident at Medical Center Four.”

  “What incident?” Talia asked. “Be specific.”

  The red officer activated a display on the table, data scrolling in Galactic Common. “Felix visited Officer Laurent yesterday in her medical suite. Immediately following his arrival, her neural activity spiked dramatically. She’s showing signs of recovery after months of no neurological change.”

  “So you’re detaining him for visiting a friend?” Talia glanced at the display, then back at the officers.

  “The timing is highly suspicious,” the scaled officer insisted.

  “Suspicious isn’t illegal. What did he do that violates galactic law or station regulations?”

  The red officer spread his hands. “We need to determine what caused the sudden change—”

  “You need evidence before detention,” Talia said.

  “In cases involving unexplained medical phenomena—” the red officer began.

  “You’re describing a miracle, not a crime. If Officer Laurent is recovering, that’s something to celebrate.” Talia let the words hang for a moment. “Unless you’re claiming medical recovery is somehow criminal behavior.”

  The scaled officer’s claws tapped against the table surface. “We have protocols for unusual circumstances that require investigation—”

  “Show me the protocol that permits indefinite detention without charges.”

  Neither officer responded.

  Talia frowned. “You’ve held him for hours with no evidence of wrongdoing. No legal justification for continued detention. So I’ll ask again: are you charging him with a crime?”

  The officers looked at each other again. The scaled one’s head tilted sharply, frustration evident in the gesture. The red officer’s expression remained carefully neutral, but his fingers tapped once against the table.

  “We have surveillance footage,” the scaled officer said finally.

  The red officer’s hand moved across the display. The data scrolling across the screen changed, replaced by security camera recordings.

  The first clip showed Felix entering a medical suite, timestamp clearly visible. The second showed the same doorway from a different angle, a pair of aliens rushing into the room. The third showed a small black and white furred creature exiting the room. The final clip showed the creature shifting, form flowing and changing until Felix stood in Syltharian form once more.

  Felix’s tails went still against his chair legs. His pupils spun rapidly for several seconds before steadying.

  The scaled officer watched Talia’s face. “Explain that.”

  Talia watched the footage loop once more before responding. “He shapeshifted. And?”

  “He concealed… powers,” the red officer said carefully.

  “Privacy isn’t a crime. What statute requires ability disclosure?”

  The scaled officer straightened in his chair. “Undocumented superpower capabilities pose significant security risks to station operations—”

  “Show me the station code, or, more importantly, the galactic law that requires ability registration.”

  Silence.

  “You can’t,” Talia continued, “because it doesn’t exist. Possessing abilities isn’t illegal. So what crime are you alleging?”

  “Unauthorized biological manipulation,” the red officer tried. “Interfering with medical treatment—”

  “Speculation. Where’s your evidence he manipulated anything?”

  “The patient recovered immediately after his visit,” the scaled officer snapped.

  “Temporal correlation. Still not evidence of action.” Talia gestured at the display. “Did anyone witness him doing something to the patient? Any footage of him touching her? Administering treatment? Anything beyond simply entering the room?”

  The officers had nothing.

  “The footage shows him visiting,” Talia said. “Nothing more.”

  Both officers went quiet.

  Talia let the silence stretch for several seconds before continuing. “Let me summarize. You have footage of Felix visiting a friend. You have circumstantial evidence of medical recovery that could be natural remission. You have proof of his shapeshifting ability, which isn’t illegal. What you don’t have is evidence of any crime.”

  The scaled officer’s claws scraped against the table. “We know he did something—”

  “Belief isn’t evidence.”

  “The situation is complicated,” the red officer said carefully.

  “Uncomplicate it.”

  The scaled officer snarled. “Councillor Vrakken specifically requested that we—”

  “Follow proper investigative procedures,” the red officer cut in quickly.

  Too late.

  Talia went very still. “A Councillor requested his detention?”

  The red officer’s expression tightened. “Councillor Vrakken expressed interest in this case due to the unusual medical circumstances—”

  “Interest,” Talia repeated. “Or orders?”

  The scaled officer answered. “The Councillor has the authority to request a thorough investigation of matters affecting station security—”

  “But not to order detention without charges.” Talia’s voice dropped several degrees in temperature. “On what legal authority did Councillor Vrakken make this request?”

  “In matters of galactic security interest—” the red officer began.

  “Felix is a rescued trafficking victim.” Talia gestured at the display. “You’re holding him because a Councillor wants access to his abilities. It sounds like a second abduction attempt to me.”

  “It’s not like that,” the scaled officer insisted.

  “Then what is it like?” Talia asked. “Explain how this isn’t political detention.”

  The red officer raised one hand slightly, a calming gesture directed at his partner. “Councillor Vrakken believes that understanding Felix’s abilities could benefit medical research across the galaxy.”

  “He’s not a lab specimen. He’s a person with rights.”

  “In cases of unique biological capabilities, there is precedent for cooperative examination—” the scaled officer tried.

  “Voluntary. With. Consent.” Talia enunciated each word clearly. “You’re attempting involuntary detention for research purposes. Every moment you continue to hold him compounds the horrific legal violations you’ve already committed.”

  The officers looked at each other. Some silent communication passed between them.

  Talia waited.

  “Are you charging Felix with a crime?” she asked finally.

  The red officer’s hands rested flat on the table.

  “No,” he said quietly.

  “Then we’re leaving.” Talia gestured to Felix, who stood immediately.

  “The Councillor—” the scaled officer started.

  “Can file a formal request through proper channels,” Talia said. “Which Felix is free to decline.”

  She moved toward the door. Felix followed close behind, maneuvering around the table.

  Talia stopped at the threshold and turned back, anger slipping through the carefully controlled facade.

  “For the record: Felix is a member of Grimnir. We’re a supervillain organization. He’s under our protection.”

  Both officers tensed visibly. The scaled one’s claws flexed against the table surface.

  “The legal approach today was a courtesy,” Talia continued, her voice maintaining that same clinical precision. “If Councillor Vrakken makes another move against him, it won’t just be me he’ll be dealing with.”

  The scaled officer’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood. “Are you threatening a Galactic Councillor?”

  Talia met his eyes defiantly. “Yes.”

  Seconds passed in silence while she waited for them to dare. They didn’t.

  “Have a good day.”

  She walked out. Felix followed.

  They moved through the cramped office space. The front desk officer didn’t look up from their screens as they crossed toward the exit.

  They walked for several minutes before Felix spoke.

  “You threatened a Councillor.”

  “I provided information for informed decision-making,” Talia said.

  Felix was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry. I did not think to look for cameras, and now they have footage of me shapeshifting.”

  Talia turned to him without slowing her pace. “You have nothing to apologize for. We were keeping your secret for your sake. And none of us would ever stop you from helping your friend.”

  “What do we do?”

  “We’ll brief the others. Vrakken won’t stop with one attempt. People like that don’t back down when they don’t get what they want.”

  “And if he tries again?”

  Talia didn’t answer immediately. They turned a corner, moving deeper into the station.

  “Then we teach him what supervillains are,” she said finally. “And why they should fear Grimnir.”

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