Hostile Genus: An Epic Military Sci-Fi Series (Invasive Species Book 2) Ben Stevens (best contemporary novels txt) 📖

Miller said nothing. He could feel his massive metal-clad chest heaving with every breath. Damn him to hell.

“You’ve made your point, counselor,” To-Kan said, prompting several nods from the other council members. Wyntr pushed herself up into the air off the edge of the table and shouted in mimicry.

“Bang! Bang! You followed orders!”

“To-Kan, control that child!” Miller shouted. Wyntr flashed him a hurt look and disappeared under the table, burying her face in the elderly councilwoman’s lap.

“Miller…” Candice said from beside him, almost a whisper. “What’s going on with you?”

“Council, if I may continue on to the other charges?” Libis asked. Matiaba stared at Miller. The veteran could swear the former aide smirked, but when he looked again, the man’s face was as stoic as a statue.

“Yes, please. The next charge was…” To-Kan drifted off as she studied a paper in front of her with one hand while petting Wyntr’s hair with the other. “Torture.”

“Torture?” Libis repeated the word as a question.

“Yes. According to the reports given by Maya, Jon, Rene, Ratt, and Lucy, several victims of torture and experimentation were found in the Chairman’s pagoda.”

“The Chairman’s pagoda?” Libis asked, giving the room a knowing look.

“We don’ need ta hear da same round’bout story, Olsen,” Elena said, raising a scolding finger. “I knows dat he was in charge of findin’ doz gurls. I was there when he came to my place. I saw him take Lucy back den. I knows what kinda man he really is.”

“My client—”

“Libis, please,” Matiaba said, raising a hand in objection. “I would like to speak for myself on this matter. And the one to follow.”

Heads cocked, studying the former aide. Miller remained unimpressed. As far as he was concerned, this was all part of the man’s grand theater. He dared not object, however, for he knew he would, at this point, only be helping the weasel.

“Dearest Councilwoman Elena, please believe me when I tell you that I had no idea what Chairman Warbak was doing with those poor girls. I had my suspicions, but had to guard them very, very carefully. I’m sure you have all heard by now that Accoba Warbak was a telepath. He could shape Strange with the best of them. It was his power alone that gave the Ministers and Handlers their abilities to read minds and control those hellhounds they called Sniffers. Can you imagine working at his side? Being in intimate proximity to him day in and day out, whilst sheltering doubts, fears, and concerns? Ladies and gentlemen of the council, please hear me when I tell you that I lived in terror every day of my life, always afraid that today would be the day I thought the wrong thought about Warbak’s iron-fisted rule. I shudder at the memory. Apparently, he had been trying to perfect what would become those Spartans for some time. My heart breaks for the people he experimented on. I grieve for their suffering, and yet I am deeply ashamed to tell you that I stand here today, thankful and grateful I never knew the truth, the extent of his sickness. That I never accidentally stumbled across one of his ‘experiments’.” Matiaba made air quotes around this last word, and then paused, taking the time to make eye contact with everyone in the room again. His face was a kabuki mask of sorrow, and Miller burned, knowing that his peers were falling for it hook, line, and sinker. “I am thankful, because, if I had known, I fear there would’ve been no way for me to guard the sheer and utter revulsion for Warbak that I feel this very moment, just thinking about it. I beg your forgiveness, members of the council. I was a blissfully ignorant coward.”

For a minute, no one said anything. Everyone appeared to be in quiet reflection. Even Libis looked to be shaken and made no attempt to regain his position as mouthpiece for the accused.

“A sad story. But what about Lucy? I was ‘dere when you took ‘er,” Elena said.

“It’s true, Madam,” Matiaba said, looking directly at her. “I did take her away. I had been informed by her pimp at the time that she was sick and would die. I only meant to save her life. I had no idea what Warbak would do to her, or with her. I assure you, I meant no harm.”

Elena scoffed. “I wonder what Lucy would say to that. She told me that when you were her client you were particularly cruel and twisted.”

“I suppose I should be used to these attacks on my character by now, councilwoman, yet I assure you, they still hurt. It’s true that I am guilty of soliciting prostitution. As guilty as you are for promoting it, mamasan.”

Miller saw Elena flinch at that, but before she could counter-attack, Matiaba went off the offensive and returned to his sob story.

“My frequenting of your brothel is but one sin that I hope to atone for. But for the moment, I do not believe I’m on trial for seeking the company of working girls.”

“Girls is right,” Miller interrupted. “Lucy was just a child then. She told me what you used to do to her.” Looks of disgust replaced the sympathetic expressions on the council’s faces.

“Lies and hearsay. If that is how it must be, then for my client’s sake, I suggest we hear testimony from Lucy herself,” Libis quickly countered.

Miller bristled. He glanced around and caught Candice looking at him, concern written on her face.

Dammit, man. I just put myself in a corner.

“Lucy isn’t available,” Miller mumbled, almost too quiet for anyone to hear.

“I’m sorry?” Libis asked, cupping his hand to his ear, obviously for dramatic effect. “Could you please repeat that?”

“Lucy isn’t here, dammit!” Miller growled, frowning deeply.

“Here? As in Home?” Libis continued to press, almost gloating.

“That’s correct,” Miller admitted to the room. Several council members, the ones he wasn’t close to, looked to be somewhere between alarmed and confused. They turned