Nora

I never expected my first case to be an infamous Zoran killer.

My mouth hangs open as I stare blankly at my boss.

“T-Torin?” I stammer. “One of the Exon Four? Are you sure?”

“Very sure, miss Baker,” Samson Calloway says. He takes a deep breath and for a moment I fear the buttons on his crisp white shirt might pop. He shoves a thick manila folder my way. “These are the documents. Read them. Breathe them. Live them. You’re going to need to if you want to save this sorry son of a bitch.”

I flip open the folder. Torin’s intense, purple eyes catch my attention immediately. A shiver runs down my spine as I stare at his turquoise face. He’s a monster, a killer, a human-hater. At least, that’s what the news broadcasts say.

Now, it’s up to me to find the truth. I’ve been through law-school, I know what I should do, but now that I have this case-file in my hand, doubt grips my heart.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this, sir,” I say, pushing my shoulders back. “With all due respect, this is the case of the century. And he’s already been sentenced — what else is there that I can do?”

“He appealed his verdict, so the court appointed our firm, and I’m appointing you,” my boss gruffs.

“I still don’t know if I’m ready for this,” I whisper.

“Which is exactly why I’m giving you this case, my dear.”

My brow furrows. Slowly it dawns on me, like a cube of ice sliding down my shoulders. He’s not giving me this massive case because he thinks I can do a good job — quite the opposite. He’s giving me this case because he’s counting on me to screw it up!

“Why?” I ask, my pride wounded.

Samson Calloway leans back in his chair and throws his feet up on his mahogany table. He lights up a cigar while I remain in my seat, unmoving, waiting for an answer as my cheeks glow red with anger.

“Do you have any idea how bad it will look for our firm if we got this guy off the hook?”

“Yeah, we’ll look like a firm that does their job,” I say sarcastically. “Who can imagine, right?”

My boss scoffs at me as he blows a cloud of smoke my way. “This is the most hated man in the universe we’re talking about right now, Baker. No one wants to see him walk. The public is practically begging for his casket.”

“So you expect me to do nothing?” I huff.

“No, Baker. I expect you to do your best.”

His eyes flare up with anger, the words intended to cut me deep. He has Anikd all I need to know. This callous man doesn’t care about me, doesn’t value me. And I know exactly why.

“Is this because of the party?” I ask, my voice quivering with anger. At the last Christmas dance he laid his hand right on my ass. I removed it and reprimanded him right in front of his wife. She was not amused. Perhaps not the smartest thing to do if you want to move up the corporate ladder, but I studied too damn long to let old men like this treat me like a piece of meat. I want to be judged on my merits, on my own abilities, and not on how good my legs look in a pantyhose.

Even though they look mighty fine.

“Let sleeping dogs lie, Baker. Just do your job. Dismissed.”

I get up, steam coming out my ears, and grasp the folder from his desk. The moment my hand touches the doorknob he calls me back.

“Oh yeah, one more thing. I think you should talk to this man. See what he has to say.”

Fear crawls up my spine, and I whirl around.

“What do you mean?” I ask. “He’s already been sentenced. All I can do is read the case-files, see if they made any mistakes. That’s it.”

“No,” Samson says sternly. “I want the world to know our firm did our very best. That’s why I want you to interview him personally. There’s a ticket for you in the back of the folder.”

My hands tremble as I take a look. One direct flight to Blackgate with my name on it. Leaving first thing in the morning. The prison planet. The most inhospitable damn place in the entire universe. And I’m going there.

I start to regret calling my boss out in front of his wife more and more — but not enough that I wouldn’t do it again.

* * *

The entire subway-ride home the folder doesn’t leave my hands and my eyes don’t leave the page. I frantically scour every line, looking for a small mistake, a clerical error, anything that I could use… but so far, nothing comes up.

This was the trial of the century. Some of the best lawyers in the world worked on this, and they did their very best. And who am I? I’m just a rookie who didn’t kiss up to their boss…

However, I fully intend to prove my worth. Samson takes me for a fool. He thinks I’m just some fresh faced new graduate who will do nothing but screw up. I’ll show him! I’ll free Torin, and then I’ll quit. If I pull this off, there will be plenty of firms who will want to hire me.

Or the whole world will hate me.

That’s also an option. A very likely one. This guy, this Zoran warrior, he’s not your average-run-of-the-mill criminal. Torin is the only convicted member of the Exon Four. All the others escaped custody and are still at large.

I still remember the news broadcasts. Every screen in the entire city was lit up with Federation News, the images burned into every retina on the planet. A sea of medical-ships headed towards Pazar… how long ago has it been? A few months? A year, tops? Time flies.

I re-read the introduction to remind myself of the case’s facts. Four Zorans attacked the space station of Pazar, seemingly without provocation. Dozens were killed. All four of them were arrested, but the three others were freed by their kin. In the wake of the attack, the Federation decided to ban all Zorans from Earth. Every single alien was forced to relocate to New Exon, their new home world.

Torin was the only one who stood trial for the attack. He claimed he had no idea what happened, Anikd he doesn’t remember a thing. Anikd he was innocent. His lawyers pleaded temporary insanity, but the judge threw the book at him.

Sentenced him to death.

And now… I’m this guy’s last and only hope.

I tear my eyes from the page and gaze out the window. Tall glass structures whiz on by. I think everyone deserves a fair trial — that’s why I became a lawyer. I believe in our system. However, reading some of these facts, seeing the photos… it makes me sick to my stomach. Can I be impartial?

I have to be. I can’t judge this man. Not yet. I’ll have to meet him… even though the thought alone makes my heart race.

The subway is buffeted by rain, thick drops gliding past the window, and it distracts me from my deep thoughts for a brief moment. It always seems to be raining here in Seattle. I hate it at times, but I think I’ll miss it real fast when I get to Blackgate.

The prison planet. Its name is enough to make people recoil and change the topic of conversation. No one wants to think about a planet encapsulated in darkness and filled with the universes most heinous criminals. It’s something people would rather forget. And I can’t say I blame them.

Only problem is… I’m headed there first thing in the morning.

Yay.

* * *

“So you’re going to see the alien, huh?”

The spaceship rumbles constantly. I can barely hear the pilot over the groaning metal and the deafening hum of the engine’s warp core. It’s more than enough to drive anyone insane. Luckily for me, I’ve got a meeting with a scary Zoran warrior looming over me, so I don’t have enough mental energy to let the sound bother me.

“You don’t feel like talking?”

I glance up from my files to see the pilot standing at my table. Burt Kingsley is his name. Nice guy, but a bit too nosy for my tastes.

“Sorry,” I say, though I don’t mean a single syllable of it. I gesture at the fort of folders that surround me. “Kind of busy.”

“Gotcha,” he says. “It’s just that I can’t imagine meeting him, you know? Aren’t you scared?”

“I guess,” I say.

That’s a total lie. I’m freaking terrified. But I can’t back out now. I didn’t bust my ass in law school for years, fought every teacher along the way, pulled all those all-nighters, canceled all those dates just to give up now.

I won’t let Samson Calloway win. I’ll prove him wrong. I’ll prove them all wrong.

“It’s part of my job,” I say, trying to appear casual. Relaxed. At ease.

Like meeting convicted murderers is just par for the course.

Burt sits down across from me and rifles through my files.

“Please don’t,” I try, but it’s too late. He’s already made a muck of things. “Don’t you have a ship to fly?”

“This old thing? Nah, it flies itself,” he grins. “So this is him, huh?”

He shoves the photograph of the tall, imposing, turquoise warrior towards me.

“Yep,” I say, glancing at the picture.

That’s him all right. I try damn hard to keep my cheeks from blushing. Quite unsuccessfully, I might add. It’s like his gaze pierces my very soul.

I’m a professional, damn it! Meeting my first client shouldn’t make me weak at the knees. Yet, every time I close my eyes, I see that intense gaze of his… and this is just a picture.

Imagine the real thing.

I have.

“You aren’t actually going to free this guy, right?” Burt says, scrunching his face. “Look at his mug!”

“His mug is certainly something.”

“That’s a killer if I’ve ever seen one.”

“Have you?”

“Have I what?”

“Seen a killer?”

He points at the picture. “Right there I have!”

I shrug. “What if he’s innocent, though?”

Burt shakes his head. “That man ain’t innocent. You’ve seen the trial.”

“Well, I’m going to listen to his side,” I say. “See what he has to say. Someone has to.”

“Better you than me, miss. Better you than me.”

For once, we agree…

* * *

“Is that it?”

“That’s her alright. Blackgate. Gives me the creeps, this place.”

A massive black sphere hangs still in space. It seems even darker than the space surrounding it, which feels like it should be impossible, but apparently, it isn’t. I’m staring at the blackest darkness I have ever seen.

And we’re headed right for it.

My heart races as we pierce the black clouds, and after several tense moments, the surface appears — though you can barely see it at first.

Small lights glow upon the planet’s icy, jet-black surface in long lines. I couldn’t imagine a more inhospitable place.

The ship touches down with a heavy thud, one that I can feel resonate in my very bones. It feels ominous, like we’ve arrived in a special layer of hell. Burt doesn’t know how fast he has to unload me and all my stuff, like this place is cursed or something.

“Wait, aren’t you going to wait for me?” I ask.

“Here? Hell no,” he says. “I’m getting out of here as fast as I can.”

“How do I get back?”

“I’m sure the boys here can send out a signal. Someone will get you. Eventually.” He tips his cap at me. “Good luck!”

So much for chivalry. Burt darts back in his ship, and moments later he’s left the dock, and all I can see is a distant blip on the horizon through the glass window.

I turn around, pulling my bag up over my right shoulder, a box of papers balancing precariously on my left arm. How am I going to carry my suitcase like this?

“Let me get that,” a guard says as he takes the box out of my hands.

“Thank you,” I say. I run my hands down my black dress as I gaze up at the guard. His eyes are locked onto my long legs, and I suddenly feel self-conscious.

Perhaps I should have worn something a bit more… conservative. A tight black dress, stockings and high heels might fly at the law firm, but on a planet devoid of women?

Uhm… oops. I’ve been so absorbed with the case I didn’t give my wardrobe a second thought.

“Follow me,” the guard says. “Mr. Onyx is waiting for you.”

“The warden?” I say, surprised.

“Yes.”

“I don’t have an appointment with him.”

“He wants to see you all the same. Follow me.”

I know who the warden is, of course. Anik Onyx. The youngest of the Onyx dynasty, and so, the one who has the most to prove. Technically, being the warden of the biggest prison in the universe could be seen as a prestigious position but… this is a cold, bleak place. I don’t envy him in the slightest.

I struggle to keep up with the soldier’s quick pace. He leads me down a dark hallway, with small lights hanging over thirty feet away from each other, so there’s a little pocket of darkness between each light.

“You guys like it dark in here, huh?” I ask.

“The warden does,” the guard answers. “Saves money.”

We pass through several checkpoints and gates until we finally arrive at the warden’s office. The walls here are incredibly thick — feet long walls of steel, strong enough to resist a whole army. When the door closes behind me, it feels I’m being sealed into a vault.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting of Blackgate, but certainly not this. I haven’t seen a single inmate yet, only empty, dimly lit hallways and metal doors. Endless rows of metal doors.

“Welcome, Nora Baker. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

A gangly-looking man with short, tussled black hair is sitting behind a desk that’s three sizes too big for him.

“Anik Onyx,” I say. “Nice to meet you.”

“Please, sit,” he says, gesturing at a small chair. I sit down and place my suitcase at my side. I see the guard has left my box of folders by the door.

“I assume you know why I’m here, then,” I say.

“I do,” he says, rapping his fingers on the desk impatiently. “I do. And I cannot say it thrills me.”

“What do you mean?”

“This Zoran, this beast,”

“Torin,” I correct him. “My client’s name is Torin.”

“Whatever,” he says with a gesture. “This Zoran is one of our more… dangerous guests. You of all people should know what he’s capable of. I don’t believe any human contact is beneficial to him at this point. The jury has spoken. All that is left to do is carry out the sentence. You delay the inevitable, woman.”

“Our system has several safeguards, like the right to appeal,” I say. “Torin has that right and he is still free to use it.”

This answer far from satisfies the man. He mumbles something and pulls out a bottle of whiskey from underneath his desk.

“Want a glass?” he asks as he pours himself one.

I shake my head. No thank you.

“Look,” he sighs. “I know you are just here to do your job. And I have to do mine. The security of the facility is my top priority, do you understand? The people we’ve got here,” he says, gesturing all around him, “are here for a reason. They’re locked away. Forgotten. Don’t believe what they tell you. They will tell you anything for a chance to get out of here. And I mean anything, you understand? Don’t let yourself be manipulated.”

I fiddle in my seat. I don’t like it when men talk down to me like I’m a teenager. Yes, I’m not very tall. Sure, I may be young, compared to him. However, I’m here for a reason. I earned my place, damn it.

“With all due respect, I trust my own judgment,” I bite.

“All right,” he grins, though his eyes remain dead and empty. “All right. I hope your judgment is true. Not just for you, but for every human out there. Do you want to see the beast now? Am I keeping you? You seem eager to get out of here.”

“He has a name,” I say. “It’s Torin. I’d prefer it you use it.”

The black-haired man shrugs and takes another swig of whiskey.

“Yes, now would be a good a time as any to see my client, I suppose,” I say, rubbing my temples.

Anik taps a button on his desk and the massive vault-door opens once more. I breathe a little easier with that thing open — I’m not very claustrophobic, but I don’t want to be locked up anywhere with this creep. I excuse myself and follow the guard, who tells me to leave my suitcase and files behind. Reluctantly, I follow the command. He escorts me down a hall, and another, and then another. It’s impossible to keep track of my position — it’s like a damn maze in here.

“How do you know where we are?” I ask.

“I don’t,” he laughs. “All GPS. This facility covers half the damn planet.”

“What? How many people do you even have here?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“How do you get around?”

“You’re about to find out,” he gestures at a bullet-shaped pod that’s waiting for us behind the metal door. Its tracks lead straight into pitch black darkness. “After you.”

I get in slowly, my heels wobbling on the metal floor.

“Strap yourself in,” he says. “Trust me.”

The pod kicks off like a wild horse. It feels like an elephant is sitting down on my chest — I’m glad for the straps holding me in place! Every part of me hurts, and the sound is overwhelming.

“It gets easier!” the guard screams, and when he sees my scared face he laughs. His voice is barely audible over the screeching sound of the pod. “You don’t get used to it, but it gets easier!”

The bullet comes to a screeching halt and I nearly tumble out of my seat. If it weren’t for the seatbelts I would have smashed headfirst into the console. My hair is a mess, and I have to take a few deep breaths to steady myself. “How far have we traveled?” I ask once I find my bearings.

“A few hundred miles,” the guard shrugs. “Follow me.”

The size of this place is dazzling. It’s hard to imagine that behind every locked door there’s a soul, a person. So far this place reminds me more of a storage facility than a place fit for humans — or aliens.

The guard escorts me to a small visitation room. It’s cold, bleak, inhospitable, like everything else in here. I notice the chairs and table are welded to the floor.

“Be right back,” the man says. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“Trust me, I wasn’t planning on it.”

And just like that I’m completely alone, light-years from home, in a strange facility.

About to meet Torin. The infamous Torin.

I click with my pen on the table just to break the silence. My heart is racing, and I keep fiddling with my hair. The minutes tick on by.

And then the door opens, and my heart skips a beat.

He’s there.

The turquoise giant. The seven-foot-tall alien warrior.

And to my surprise he’s…

He’s naked.

Totally, completely, naked.