Freedom Saga 1: Heaven's Light (23 page)

Brian stood at
the center of the hall the High Council met in. Standing next to him was
Jabril. In the room behind them Shiken Ka and Lumiar Wavecrest waited. The
leaders of the races seeking Brian’s conviction were the Malcovin and Ick-Tckt.
Those who supported him were led by the Kalaidian and Shandi delegations. For
several hours the Malcovin leader, a red feathered birdman named Creko, railed
against Brian and his actions and questioned the evidence the sojourners had
brought back with them. Many of the delegations questioned his sanity during
the diatribe.

“To end my
argument I’ll ask all of you a question,” Creko said. “What is this freedom the
Terran speaks of so fondly?” He waved his feathered hands maddeningly. “Freedom
is defined as autonomy. It’s freedom of action. To be free is to be allowed to
act as we desire. It’s a dangerous thing to allow everyone the right to do what
they desire. Our wants are different and values as well. If freedom is being
allowed to do what one desires then I say forget it. Such a world is devoid of
law, order, and society. Given freedom people will descend into anarchy. We’re
left in a world where everyone is against everyone else. Such a world none of
us want. If the Terran wants chaos then let him find it the afterlife!” Creko
stared at Brian on the platform below him before sitting down.

Lord Kris of
Mylor delegation stepped forward. “The majority advocate has spoken,” the
exoskeleton covered feline looked to Brian, “Brian Peterson will be given a
chance to speak before us.”

Brian nodded at
Jabril before speaking. “Eleven years ago I was taken from my world by force. When
I wanted to return I was told it was against your laws. I respect those laws in
many ways, but not in all. But before I say any more on the subject I’d like to
explain what I mean by freedom.”

“Please
proceed,” Lord Kris instructed.

“Freedom isn’t
simply autonomy. If all freedom is consists of physical action then it is
anarchy. That’s not what I mean when I’m speaking of freedom. The ideal I’m
speaking of comes not from actions alone, nor monetary flexibility, but the
freedom of the mind. When the mind is free of prejudice, free of injustice,
free of violence, and free of tyranny, a being is truly free. We must look past
the wall of ignorance and see the truth. All of us seek happiness. As long as
we continue searching for it we’ll eventually reach an understanding. And
through this understanding we’ll bring an end to conflict. We must end the
cycle of sorrow and the cycle of vengeance. We must end a world where dreams
are crushed and exchanged for nightmares. Only when the world of war comes
crashing down can we finally see it as it should be. All of us want a world where
people can live in peace. Heaven’s Light was formed to build the bridge to the
future. It was built change the world. I want to thank you for giving me the
chance to explain what I mean by freedom.”

Many of the supportive
races cheered as he stepped back and allowed to Jabril step forward.

“A decade ago my
home world was on the verge of collapse,” she said. “But in a few days this man
standing beside me changed that. Brian came to Kalaidia and freed its people.
But not the shallow freedom Creko seems so fascinated with. He freed our souls,
our minds, and gave us a vision for the future. Until that day we survived, but
none of us lived. Our dreams were destroyed by the system. The will of the few
stamped out the hope in everyone else. Such a world many of us raged against. Even
if Brian had not come our voice would’ve been heard. But because he came our
emotions were tempered. We moved forward not because of rage, but because of
reason. He saved us from ourselves. Such a thing can’t come from one whose
heart is filled with evil intent.”

The opposing
races booed but were drowned out by the cheers of the supporters. Shiken Ka
slithered forth on the platform and stood next to Brian.

“We warred,”
Shiken said. “The people of Kalaidia and Shandi warred for generations. Our
hate for one another could never be tempered. Like the people of Kalaidia, the
Shandi were blinded to the possibility of a different world. We were right and
our enemy was wrong. That was all there was to it. Then I was betrayed by those
I trusted.” He glared at the Ick-Tckt delegation. “I was filled with despair
and felt lost. That was until I met him. Brian ordered his Kalaidian troops to
lend aid to my people. He didn’t hesitate to do so because he had no
preconceived notion regarding the Shandi. We were people in his eyes. And
though we were enemies we were equals. I was inspired by this lone man lost
amongst us.” Shiken held up his scarred hand. “I swore an oath as his brother
that day. You can curse his words as much as you like, but those words have
changed us forever. Brian brought the people of Shandi and Kalaidia together.
Peace now exists where war once thrived. If that’s the crime he is guilty of,
then I wish all of us were guilty. This man is not a criminal; he’s a hero to
be praised.”

Another round of
boos were drowned out by the cheers. The only delegation speaking amongst themselves
at the moment were the Odairans. Lumiar walked to the center of the platform
and stood beside Brian.

“This is the
first time I’ve had a chance to speak with the High Council since the Braiden
came as refugees,” Lumiar said. “For four years I’ve heard the conspiracy
theories the Malcovin and Ick-Tckt have led the discussion with and this is
what I have to say: If proof is what you seek then I dare you to enter their
territory. We’ll give you the directions to our homeworld, which is now little
more than a boiled over wasteland. Seven billion of my people lost their lives
that day. To call their deaths a hoax is the greatest insult you could ever
level. We may have survived, but only a tiny fraction of our people still live.
With our home destroyed the only one we could look to was Brian. He gave us
hope where none was. He saved a people from extinction. The Braiden will live
on not as a memory but as real people. In all the time I’ve known him he has
shone nothing but the greatest consideration. No one took the loss of our
homeworld more personally than he did. This is a man of great integrity and to
hear you besmirch his name fills me with anger. He and the crew of the Avoni
fought their way through hell and back to give the information you have to you.
They stopped along the way and helped a people doomed to death. Can any of you
understand? I doubt you do. And for that you should be thankful. The proof you
seek is right in front of you if only you looked. As for Brian, his actions
speak louder than your words. Where others would’ve looked away, he didn’t. He
and the sojourners gave everything to save us. For that we are eternally
grateful.”

The murmurs
filled the grand hall while Lord Kris came to the head once more. “We’ve now
heard the testimony of both sides. Let us take a recess to discuss the matters
further.”

Jabril and Brian
led the way for the four on the platform. In the waiting room they heard the
shouts and infighting amongst the races of the High Council.

“Thank you,”
Brian said.

“It’s no problem,”
Jabril said.

“We’re in your
debt after all,” Lumiar added.

“What brother
would I be to abandon you to these vultures of justice?” Shiken asked.

“Not much of
one,” Brian said with a smile. He looked to Jabril. “Do I get the chance to
speak anymore?”

“The defendant
is allowed a final plea and then a speech after sentencing,” Jabril explained.
“Are you planning something?”

“I’d like to
appeal to their reason one last time,” Brian said.

“A prayer to the
gods would be more helpful,” Lumiar said.

Shiken laughed.
“I must agree.”

Brian nodded. “Nonetheless,
I’ll give it a shot.”

Brian, Jabril,
Lumiar, and Shiken Ka stood before the High Council a few hours later.

“Brian Peterson,
how do you plead to the charges brought against you?” Lord Kris asked.

“Innocent on all
charges,” Brian answered.

“The plea is
innocent then,” the Mylor leader said.

“I’d like a
chance to address the council if it pleases you,” Brian said.

“Very well,” the
Mylor said. “You may speak.”

The hall was filled
with boos from the opposition once more. The cheers from the supporters echoed
back as the two sides fought it out for a few minutes. As the noise reached a
crescendo the Mylor leader banged the gavel. Silence came over the massive
chamber as Brian stood at the center of the platform. He nodded to Jabril
before addressing the High Council.

“I’ve heard the
charges brought against me, and I can’t understand why. You charge me with
disturbing the peace. You charge me with piracy. You charge me with dissent and
lies. But the proof you brought forth is nothing but half-truths and lies.” He
banged his fist upon the podium. “I will set the record straight!” His voice
echoed throughout the station. “To the charge of disturbing the peace I answer
first. You’ve said Heaven’s Light is my personal military bent on conquering
the Confederation. The reason I helped in its creation wasn’t to conquer, but
to create a path towards peace. You say disturb, how can I disturb the peace if
there isn’t any!? If constant fighting and war is what you call peace, than the
concept of it must be cheap. It’s easy to have peace if it’s really war! The
only peace Heaven’s Light disturbs is the boot of the tyrant and the blade of
the conqueror. What we seek isn’t a false peace brought about through fear and
order. No, what we seek is a peace through understanding. All of us have seen the
horrors of war, hate, and avarice. The question I ask is why? Why is it we have
to fight when there are other solutions? Is it because we’ve lost hope in each
other? I wish I knew the answers, but alone I don’t. But there is something
I’ve learned. If those who wish for peace don’t protect themselves their
message will die with them. I’ve seen it happen. The Braiden lived in peace and
harmony. Theirs was a world without fear and war. If I could’ve lived amongst
them for a single lifetime my soul would be fulfilled. But like the flowers in
the field the bulldozers and landscapers came to rip them away. The Greys
destroyed them. Are you blind to the evidence we brought with us!? Are you
blind to the woman standing there?” He pointed to Lumiar. “Her people were
mercilessly destroyed and what you, the High Council are concerned with, is
whether or not a single human could be the end of your sense of order! Disturb
the peace, such an idiotic thing I answer with this. If the charge you bring is
fighting to end fighting, then I am guilty as charged. But as to the charge in
question, I can’t be guilty. For if what you define as peace is war then your
definition of the concept is flawed. Now I’ll move onto the charge of piracy. I
ask you, from whom did I plunder? And where did I do this? Never have I taken
what wasn’t mine. In my time amongst you I’ve served on the independent
Kalaidian vessel named the Avoni. During those years I served as an officer and
commander, but never did we commit piracy. The only thing we were guilty of was
selling our services as privateers and mercenaries. Under your own laws you
permit such service. If I, and by default the Avoni, are guilty of piracy, then
by the same token you must arrest half the Malcovin military. Their work as
mercenaries is used as a ruse for their government to commit acts of war and
genocide against those opposing them. I admit to work as a mercenary, but never
to piracy. And finally, the charge of promoting dissent and lies to the public.
To say I’ve never lied is a lie in itself, but that’s beside the point today.
The evidence we brought back is all the proof the public needs. We survived to
show the world why we must come together. We fought the Greys and won. The
Avoni’s survival became one of the greatest stories ever told to those living
in the Confederation. But we didn’t fight to come back heroes. We were
witnesses and victims to the evil of the universe. Our message is not a lie and
we won’t be silenced because the truth is inconvenient to you! We won’t be
erased! We came back to change the world! Because if it isn’t changed, if we do
nothing, everything we hold dear will be lost! I stand here, alone and possibly
without a homeworld to return to. Can you understand how it feels? In your eyes
I’m nothing but an inconvenient creature. But I have rights, rights surpassing
the idiocy you call law. If telling the people the truth is against your law
then I am guilty on all charges. The verdict is in your hands. I am at your
mercy. Now show the people what you truly want.”

Lord Kris banged
the gavel. “The High Council will now discuss the verdict behind closed doors.”

All of the
representatives left the room with murmuring filling the room. Jabril went to
Brian.

“That was
beautiful,” she said.

He stared into
lights above. “Even if this costs me everything I have no regrets. I lived a
short life, but a good one nonetheless. I can leave it content.”

“I hope it
doesn’t come to that,” Jabril said.

“I know,” he
said.

A long time
passed before the High Council filed back into the chamber. The Mylor leader
stood at the podium. “In the case of the charges against Brian Peterson, the
High Council finds him guilty on all charges. But given his history of
diplomacy and benevolence, we reduce the sentence of his charge from death to
life imprisonment. As he is a special case he’ll be detained in the prison
within this station.” The Mylor turned to Brian again. “If you wish to say one
last thing before detention you may say it now.”

Brian looked to
everyone in the room. “I tried reasoning with you and dying alone in a cell is
my fate. I can accept that. Since the day I was taken by the Greys my life has
been on borrowed time. But even though my voice will be silenced the fight I
started will not. The people will learn the truth. No king, no tyrant, no
despotic power will ever stop the song I’ve started. No matter what you try,
the song of liberty will never end. Where I fall another will take my place, and
even if it be a thousand years the people of Alden will be free.”

Cheers came from
the supporting races as Brian was led out of the chamber. Four Minan guards
checked his restraints before prodding for him to leave. He looked back at
Jabril, Lumiar, and Shiken Ka.

“Thanks,” he
said as he was forced away.

Brian walked
calmly down to the cell he was in before and stepped inside. As the restraints
fell to the ground the lead guard stopped the door from closing.

“If the will of
Mina was not kept by the Confederation we would join you,” he said.

Brian saluted
the bearman. “I know you would. I pray the four elements flow with each of
you.”

“And the same
for you,” the guard said before closing the door.

* *
*

Shiken Ka,
Jabril, and Lumiar headed to the meeting room between the Kalaidian and Shandi
delegations. The fighting inside the grand hall was getting worse while the
Odairans considered changing their vote.

“Their constant
bickering is grating on my nerves,” Jabril said. “They sound just like the
nobles when Brian told them the truth.”

“I long for the
days when I debated with the circles,” Lumiar said. “At least it was between
intelligent beings.”

Shiken laughed.
“Never in my days did I think you’d say that.”

Lumiar looked up
at the snakeman. “Patience is a great virtue amongst my people Lord Ka. But
like any virtue it can only be tested for so long.” She stared at the High
Council as if argued. “Has the lust for power blinded them so much?”

“Power is a
seductive thing,” Shiken said. “Even I craved it at one time. But now I know
there are things far more valuable.”

“Is there
anything we can do to change their minds?” Jabril asked.

Shiken looked at
the small rat people as they spoke amongst themselves on behalf of the Odairan
people. “If any of them see reason it’ll be the pacifists we mock so often.”