By: James Finkle
Prologue: Awaiting Judgment
I sit now in the coldness of a cell waiting for the Lacunian council to
show up to pass their judgment. The road to this situation was more convoluted
than I had ever expected my life would be, despite having been abducted off of
my home planet as a child and growing up to become a notorious inter-dimensional
bounty hunter.
The alien face of the leader of the council appeared in front of me, a
holographic representation of the Lacunian who had control over my future. Its
psi-speak was transmitted over a comm to the cell in which I resided.
“Leonnardo Alexander Craft. You stand accused of numerous crimes, including
murder, resisting of arrest, assault of a Lacunian, exposing class three
life-forms to advanced technology, and intrusion into a restricted dimension.
You have given us your testimony, as have all of the surviving others involved
in this case. The council has passed judgment. You have been found guilty on all
charges.”
I stood, no longer containing my rage. “This is ridiculous! I told you
already about how I was framed! And I told you why I had to do what I did! I
saved the whole universe!”
“Silence! We have heard your testimony and we have passed our judgment.
You are sentenced to eternity in the stasis containment cells. Standby for
escort and transit. That will be all.”
So this would be how it ends. I had uncovered one of the greatest
conspiracies in the history of the modern universe and saved the universe itself
from a horror beyond comprehension. And the only thanks I would get for it would
be to have my body suspended for all of time as my mind dwindled into insanity.
And all those I had saved, all those I had loved, would age and die. But they
wouldn’t believe me. They couldn’t. They refused to accept how close they
came to destruction; how I was their only savior when to them I am the lowest
scum. But you will believe me, won’t you?