“We were trying to save the universe,” the alien said. “I’ve been listening in on your communications. I heard your theory about a vast Liar conspiracy.” The alien let out a sound remarkably like a sigh. “You’re right, in a way, because there is a conspiracy. But you’re wrong about everything else. You think we’re hiding our secret mastery of the galaxy. In reality, we’re hiding something else. Something much worse.”

Chapter Fifteen

They took the Liar to the infirmary and strapped it down on an exam table. Binding an uncooperative Liar would have been a challenge, but their captive was docile as they tightened straps over its limbs.

Stephen sat at his desk nearby, while Ashok and Elena hung back by the door. Callie locked her boots to the floor right in front of the table and looked at the Liar.

“What are you planning to do to me?” it asked.

Callie grinned, showing all her teeth.

“I will not condone torture,” Stephen said. “As a doctor, I can’t.”

“No torture,” Callie said. “I’m still a sworn officer of the TNA, and the Authority doesn’t condone torture. Mostly because it doesn’t work, and can even be counter-productive. No, we’re here for a trial.”

“What?” the Liar squeaked.

“State your name,” Callie said.

“My name is pheromones and gestures, but when I need to communicate with humans, I go by Lantern. What do you mean, a trial?”

“You committed a crime in Trans-Neptunian Space. I’m a security officer for Meditreme Station, and out here, wherever here is, that makes me the highest local law representing the Authority. I am authorized, in extreme circumstances, to conduct trials in the field. Our ship’s computer is available to assist you, as your advocate. Would you like to consult in private with your advocate?”

The Liar’s bound tentacles wiggled like sine waves. “I do not recognize your authority over me.”

“You don’t believe in the law? That’s OK. The law believes in you. Whether you recognize my authority or not, we’ll still throw you out an airlock if you’re found guilty. Ship, what are the charges against… do you have a preferred pronoun, Lantern?”

“You can’t do this.”

“The accused states no preference–”

More thrashing, which suddenly subsided. “You may use ‘she’ and ‘her’.”

Callie nodded. “That’s better than ‘it’, huh? Helps us anthropomorphize you, right? Makes you seem like you’re one of us, so we’ll be more merciful. It’s worth a try. Ship, what are the charges against her?”

“Fifty thousand, one hundred and seventeen counts of premeditated murder. Destruction of TNA property valued in excess of one hundred billion lix. Piracy. Trespassing.”

“How many of those are capital crimes?”

“The murder and the piracy, captain. There are fifty thousand, one hundred and eighteen charges that potentially carry the death penalty.”

“We are not pirates,” Lantern said.