Iokan looked up at the screen.
“We’re looking at a number of instances of genocide,” said Ovile. “I can’t go into specific cases.”
“That’s all we have time for,” said Jary Conel. “I’m sure you have many more questions but we have an appointment with the General Director at noon. There’ll be further announcements later in the day.”
Questions followed them as they went, and I switched off the screen.
“Well, that’s it. I do have a few words to say about how this affects you…”
“When did… they tell you?” asked Iokan.
“Yesterday. I’m sorry I couldn’t say anything earlier, but obviously this affects you all. The ICT would be happy to hear from any of you who would like a formal investigation launched—”
“What good’s that going to do me?” demanded Olivia. “Are they going to investigate my world? Are they going to ask why my species is dead? Of course they bloody aren’t. And you know why? It’s because you lot were late! If you hadn’t been so bloody scared of a couple of revenants I wouldn’t be the last one left! Who’s going to prosecute anyone about that?”
I took a breath; but this was an issue I’d foreseen. “That’s a good point. They’re still deciding whether or not they can deal with cases of negligence—”
“Like they’ll ever bloody do anything. How are they going to bring a prosecution against themselves?”
“I don’t know. As I said, they haven’t decided. Would you like to make the representation so they can at least consider it?”
“For all the good it’ll do…”
“Anyone else?” I asked.
Iokan spoke up. “I think… this is a very positive step… I think this will help… many of us to…”
“Do you need to use a pad?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I think… it will help us… to know who… and how… and why… it…” He pulled up his mask and gasped more oxygen.
“Just use a pad, for heaven’s sake,” said Liss. After a moment more of huffing, Iokan gave up and did so, transferring the words to the wall in letters half a metre high.
I think it will help us all if we knew who attacked our worlds. & how it was done and why. & that there is justice.
The words floated on the wall while the others read them. Kwame in particular seemed nervous. Olivia tutted in disgust.
Liss looked at Iokan. “Let me just ask one question.”
Of course.
“How exactly do you arrest an energy field?”
Iokan looked confused.
“Your Antewhatevers. What do you think’s going to happen to them?”
Iokan tapped at his pad. Antecessors not for prosecution. I provided info on people who attacked world previ
Liss cut in before he could finish typing. “Which crime do you think they’re going to deal with first? A few attacks or a genocide? They brought it up in the press conference! How are they not going to go after them?”
Iokan seemed hurt. I asked them not to.
“Do you think that’s going to matter? They’re not going to ask for your permission. They found a crime scene, they’ve got the go ahead to do something about it. Right?” She looked to me for support. Iokan did too.
“She’s right,” I said. “They can proceed by themselves if they have clear evidence of genocide.”
Why ask us then?
“You are the only witness. And what happened isn’t obvious. So they’ll need your help.”
“Hah. They might find out who actually did it instead of this antethingummy nonsense,” said Olivia.
I will refuse to co-operate.
“Won’t matter. They’ll go ahead anyway,” said Liss.
Iokan gave her a hard, angry look, and stabbed at his pad.
And will you volunteer to help?
“What?”
You have police status.
“Not on this world.”
Your enemies might be my world’s enemies. Why not volunteer?
“How the hell is that going to help?”
So you don’t want them found.
“What? Of course I want them found!”
Then why not help?
She was angry now, fumbling for words. “Because… because… I’m not a cop! I’d end up making a mess of it, what’s the point in that?”
Just saying you have your own reasons for doing nothing.
“Bullshit—” But Iokan was tapping away again.
It is valid choice. You should not be ashamed.
“Bullshit! I don’t — I mean, who apart from you doesn’t want the bad guys in prison?” She looked to the rest of the group. “Kwame? You want to see yourself put away, right?”
Kwame looked up, surprised and uncertain. “I do not know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“I have… learned many things. And other things are unsure. If… if I was the one then I should be punished.” He swallowed. “If I am guilty I will accept my punishment.”
“Okay…” said Liss, surprised by his reticence. “Anyone else?”
Pew looked about, then opened his mouth to speak. “I… I…”
“I do not require the assistance of the Interversal Criminal Tribunal,” said Katie, before Pew could finish.
“Well, no, you wouldn’t…” said Liss.
“The genocide in my universe was an act of war. War is not addressed by criminal investigators.”
“Actually, Katie, it would be if it were a war crime,” I said.
Her head jerked to one side. It took only a second for her to regain control. “It is also counterindicated by the lack of interversal interference.”
“They may want to investigate anyway, in order to rule that out.”
Her eyes twitched. “It is not possible to punish a whole species.” Pew tried to speak up again, but Katie was louder. “What could the punishment be? You do not even have a military!”
She fell silent, and stared ahead. We would have assumed this was one of her quirks, but for the way her mouth fell slack.
“Katie? Can you hear me? Katie?” I said. But she would not respond.
Seizing, wrote Iokan as I called for medical help.
Her jaw reset itself and she looked around, checking her surroundings.
“Katie? I think you just had a seizure. Can you hear me?”
“Yes. I am well. I—” Her back straightened and her head whipped back. She forced herself into a normal sitting position, trembling with the effort. “You… cannot punish… a whole… species…”
Tremors ran down her left side and her remaining arm. Words came from gritted teeth.
“Cannot! Kill! Them! All!”
She pitched forward onto the coffee table, scattering cups and the tissue box, thrashing wildly. The group leapt back and took cover as a single uncoordinated kick propelled Pew’s vacated chair across the room. Katie’s head slammed up and down as though driven by a piston, smashing into the coffee table, splitting it, and crashing her onto the floor in the ruins. Liss jumped in and did her best to hold Katie down, managing to keep her still long enough for the medics and security to arrive.
Katie’s limbs slackened as they administered a sedative. The spasms left her. Liss took a relieved breath.
“I have regained control. You may release me,” said Katie to Liss, who let go. Katie unfolded into a standing position with all her old precision. The sedative clearly had an effect, but would not last long before Katie metabolised it. I stepped forward over the debris.