Page 52 of Breaking Point
Devar put his hand on her wrist.
Luciana shut up unhappily.
Travers, though, did not ignore her.She gave Luciana a small smile.“I wish it were possible for the authorities on this ship to judge for themselves the truth of matters like this.Yet we are constrained, for good reasons, to only considering the proofs that are available.”
“All the proof you have says I did it,” Devar said.He didn’t sound angry or resentful.
“While there is no evidence that says you did not,” Travers added.“There is not even room for reasonable doubt.The evidence is solid and indisputable.Right from the start, we looked for more evidence.And we have not stopped that search, especially in light of your claims of innocence.Despite that search, nothing that even suggested you might not be the culprit has ever appeared.We must form our decisions and actions upon that, not what our hearts or minds or hopes might tell us.Do you see?”
Luciana let out a shaky breath.
“I have understood this from the start,” Devar said.
Luciana sighed.“I understand,” she said.“I hate it, but I understand.”
“So,” Travers said.“There is a compromise that might be made, here, that will let us step around talk of mutiny and execution.”
Luciana was trembling.It built in her middle and spread out to her limbs.She put her hands beneath the table so that Travers would not spot the shaking.“We’re listening,” she said as calmly as she could.
“Very closely,” Devar added.
Travers smiled.“I’m sure.”She tapped the pad in front of her.“As you have…as the evidence declares that you are responsible for the loss of thirty-five lives aboard the Endurance, it seems appropriate that you work to replace those lives.”
Luciana shook her head.“I don’t understand.”
“I have spent…hours, now, speaking to the head of the accouchement institute.I have obtained their agreement on this.In the end, Johanson was quite happy about the idea.”
“You’re kidding,” Devar said, his tone flat with disbelief.
Accouchement?What?Luciana was mystified.“Pretend that, unlike my son, I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”
“It’s an unexpected idea,” Travers admitted.
“They want to give me a child,” Devar said.“Which I raise, to make up for the lives that were lost.”
Luciana sat back, stunned.
Devar looked at Travers.“What are the conditions?”
“Very good,” Travers said.“Thereareconditions.”She looked down at the pad.“You are barred from coding for the rest of your life.”
“Yes, yes, that’s obvious.What else?”
“Devar…” Luciana murmured, and touched the back of his hand in warning.
He drew in a breath.Let it out.“Sorry.Please continue.”And he gave Travers one of his warmest smiles.“It often feels as though I am sixty seconds ahead of everyone else’s thought processes in a conversation.It becomes…frustrating.”
Luciana stared at Devar, astonished.She had never heard him apologize like that, before.
Travers smiled back at him.“And not coding…not keeping your mind occupied…that doesn’t bother you?”
“There are other ways to stay occupied,” Devar said.His eyes narrowed.“Unless I am to do nothingbutcare for the child?”
“That is the next condition,” Travers said.“You will stay in the quarters you are assigned, or that the other parent provides.You’ll receive a small stipend, so the other parent is not penalized.You will be monitored and tracked and all your activities treated with suspicion.We are free to inspect any computers you use, and to investigate your affairs whenever we feel the need.”
Luciana sat forward.“The other parent.Can it be Caelen Williams?”
Travers hesitated.
