Page 136 of Border Control

With a single touch to his shoulder, the Voice makes the Parthiastock let go of Law-rah. She runs immediately to my side, throwing herself in my arms. She trembles, and I wrap myself around her to protect her as much as I am able.

The crowd falls silent, their eyes turning to the Voice as if magnetized.

The Voice fixes her gaze on Samara, then looks at me, her expression softening. “He did not fail, Prif.” Her words are gentle but leave no room for argument. “In fact, he’s under the greatest control of all, his own. Even under extreme pressure, even when Law-rah pleaded with him to cross a boundary he did not wish to cross, he held firm. 3D0M has demonstrated mastery over his behavior, even when his desires were in conflict with his orders.”

A faint hope stirs in my chest as I meet the Voice’s eyes. She’s choosing her words carefully, speaking not just to Samara but to everyone gathered, reshaping the crowd’s perception of the trial.

The murmurs in the audience grow softer, considering her words. The Voice casts my actions in a new light. I didn’t fail, I followed my own orders. I wasn’t mindlessly driven by emotion. I was in control

The Voice steps closer, extending her hands to the crowd. “Please, forgive the Prif,” she says. “She is trying so hard to keep us safe. All of us. That means testing the clones, to ensure that we remain protected. Her actions, though difficult to witness, are motivated by her duty to our people.”

‘That’s smart,’Law-rah notes.‘She’s painting Samara as a leader burdened by responsibility, someone who acts out of necessity rather than cruelty.’

The tension in the room continues to ebb, replaced by murmurs of understanding. Law-rah watches the Voice with something close to relief, gratitude. Her shoulders have eased slightly, and I can tell she feels the same faint hope I do.

“I agree,” more voices say. Females start coming into the center, lights flashing underneath their steps.

“Hi, Imaya,” Law-rah says, her fingers still twined with mine.

“Greetings, Laura.”

I drop my gaze. These are women of power, of status. Annoying them would no doubt worsen my situation.

A blonde woman moves to stand closest to Samara. Her eyes are sharp as she observes the scene, her gaze flicking to me, then to Law-rah, and back to Samara. She presses her lips together, as if she wants to say something but isn’t quite sure how to express it.

"Samara," she murmurs, voice soft but firm enough that even I can hear. "This… this may have gone too far. You’ve made your point. Perhaps now is the time to step back, to let the people process."

Prif Samara’s jaw tightens, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. She doesn’t respond, but I can tell her friend’s words have hit a nerve.

The Voice approaches her. "You should consider the optics, Samara," she murmurs, for only her to hear. "The females are watching every move you make, and this display walks a thin strand. If you push too hard, it could backfire. There’s already unease about how you’re handling the clones."

Another redhead, standing just behind her, nods in agreement, but her expression is more animated, eager even.She looks at Law-rah with bright eyes, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Perhaps this is the perfect moment to incorporate some of Earth’s legal principles," she suggests. "Concepts like ‘innocent until proven guilty’ and ‘burden of evidence.’ I think we should explore these further with you, Law-rah. Once you’ve recovered, of course.”

“It can only add legitimacy to the entire process,” Imaya says. “Females would welcome data-driven decisions."

The redhead presses on. "It would lend credibility to Olorian justice, wouldn’t it? Why not adopt these methods, especially for cases involving clones?"

Samara’s gaze narrows slightly, and I can tell she’s not delighted by the idea. But there’s a glimmer of consideration there, as though she’s weighing the possibility, testing its worth.

A spark in Imaya’s eyes borders on excitement, like she’s enjoying this whole twisted experiment. "Fascinating, truly fascinating," she says, her voice a breathless murmur. "The way she wielded the psychic power, with keen intent, it was all very instructive." Her eyes flick to me, assessing, cataloging.

“I never dreamed the Earth justice system would be so intense!” the redhead says.

I glance at Law-rah.‘Is this how trials on Earth usually proceed?’

The peal of her laughter rings in the vaults of my mind. It sounds like freedom.

But it’s not over yet. Our attention turns to the Prif, Samara taking in her friends’ opinions. For a long moment, she’s silent, rigid, her face an unreadable mask, especially when she stares out at the crowd. A glimmer of silver waits on the periphery. The All-Mother herself.

Finally, the Prif speaks, her voice carrying across the hall with the kind of authority only she can wield.

"Very well," Samara announces, her gaze sweeping across the room, capturing every eye. "I declare from henceforth a new justice system will be developed and applied to clones.”

A ripple goes through the crowd, a mixture of surprise, murmurs of approval, some lingering unease.

Samara raises a hand. “As you can see, the test demonstrated the clone’s unwavering obedience. Under our own definitions, he is not a danger.”