PREVIEW: Adino
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The LOST GENRE GUILD
Biblical Speculative Fiction
| V.B. Tenery's short story "Adino" can be found in Light at the Edge of Darkness along with 26 other stories of Biblical speculative fiction.
Read more about the author, V.B. Tenery |
“Adino, you bigot!”
“You’re not above the law!”
“. . . killed Stycus, one of his own, he did.”
A white-suited Peace Enforcer transferred Adino’s shackles from the ship wall to the pair
of guards at Adino’s sides. The bonds consisted of two thin gold wires connected to
bracelets on his wrists. He could pull them apart with one hard jerk, but the implosion
would blow him into the next millennium. Not his guards, not even his skivvies, just him.
Friends and foes lined the corridor as they led Adino to the cell block created for Peace
Force criminals. Fierce murmurs lashed out as he passed. Barnabus stood at the end of
the passage, his face grim. He would be the prosecution’s first witness.
They brought Adino to a wide circular cell with no walls. A force field surrounded a bed,
table, and chairs. Inside the force field’s edge, a metal enclosure contained the
bathroom, the only place he could escape the camera’s eye. The wall’s metallic surface
reflected a virtual screen and keypad that allowed him to order meals.
A woman, wearing the uniform of a Universal Court Attorney, waited in one of the
chairs. Without the severe spiked hairstyle, she might have been beautiful.
She stood and waited as the guards removed the shackles, then extended her hand. “I’m
Dorcas; I’ll represent you at trial.”
Adino enclosed her hand in his. “Do you have a first name, Dorcas?”
Her brow creased. “The court uses identification numbers, and our acquaintance will be
too short to bother with last names. Dorcas is my first name.”
“I’m sorry.”
The frost in her eyes made his ears tingle. “My grandmother selected it. Are you making
fun of my name?”
“No, I meant I’m sorry we won’t have time to become friends. I like it; Dorcas is a
Christian name. The Apostle Luke called her a disciple. The Christian significance could
be a roadblock in your career path.”
She shrugged. “I’m not worried.” She pulled a pen from her bag and summoned a screen
from the ceiling. With the pen she typed in the date, June 12, 2519, his name and ID
number. The screen blinked and revealed the charges against him. “Your trial begins day
after tomorrow. June 14th.”
S hock vibrated through Adino’s chest. “That soon? They take the right to a speedy
trial very serious, don’t they?”
She nodded. “The trial won’t last more than two days. The nine Universal Justices will
adjudicate your case. I had to forgo a jury trial. We couldn’t find thirteen unbiased
jurors.”
Dorcas returned to her seat. “I have to be honest with you. I don’t see how you can
beat this. I’ve seen the images. Clement will be counsel for the prosecution. He’s mean,
and he has a personal vendetta against PF Warriors. Something to do with the arrest of
his brother. The good news: I’ve always found Chief Justice Jarvick to be fair.
Adino winced. “And you think they’ll be fair? There’s not a Christian among the justices
and the prosecutor has a personal grudge against me!”
Dorcas’ eyes locked on his. “They may not be Christian, but they’re usually fair.” She
held up a small silver disk. “Do you know what this is?”
“You’re not above the law!”
“. . . killed Stycus, one of his own, he did.”
A white-suited Peace Enforcer transferred Adino’s shackles from the ship wall to the pair
of guards at Adino’s sides. The bonds consisted of two thin gold wires connected to
bracelets on his wrists. He could pull them apart with one hard jerk, but the implosion
would blow him into the next millennium. Not his guards, not even his skivvies, just him.
Friends and foes lined the corridor as they led Adino to the cell block created for Peace
Force criminals. Fierce murmurs lashed out as he passed. Barnabus stood at the end of
the passage, his face grim. He would be the prosecution’s first witness.
They brought Adino to a wide circular cell with no walls. A force field surrounded a bed,
table, and chairs. Inside the force field’s edge, a metal enclosure contained the
bathroom, the only place he could escape the camera’s eye. The wall’s metallic surface
reflected a virtual screen and keypad that allowed him to order meals.
A woman, wearing the uniform of a Universal Court Attorney, waited in one of the
chairs. Without the severe spiked hairstyle, she might have been beautiful.
She stood and waited as the guards removed the shackles, then extended her hand. “I’m
Dorcas; I’ll represent you at trial.”
Adino enclosed her hand in his. “Do you have a first name, Dorcas?”
Her brow creased. “The court uses identification numbers, and our acquaintance will be
too short to bother with last names. Dorcas is my first name.”
“I’m sorry.”
The frost in her eyes made his ears tingle. “My grandmother selected it. Are you making
fun of my name?”
“No, I meant I’m sorry we won’t have time to become friends. I like it; Dorcas is a
Christian name. The Apostle Luke called her a disciple. The Christian significance could
be a roadblock in your career path.”
She shrugged. “I’m not worried.” She pulled a pen from her bag and summoned a screen
from the ceiling. With the pen she typed in the date, June 12, 2519, his name and ID
number. The screen blinked and revealed the charges against him. “Your trial begins day
after tomorrow. June 14th.”
S hock vibrated through Adino’s chest. “That soon? They take the right to a speedy
trial very serious, don’t they?”
She nodded. “The trial won’t last more than two days. The nine Universal Justices will
adjudicate your case. I had to forgo a jury trial. We couldn’t find thirteen unbiased
jurors.”
Dorcas returned to her seat. “I have to be honest with you. I don’t see how you can
beat this. I’ve seen the images. Clement will be counsel for the prosecution. He’s mean,
and he has a personal vendetta against PF Warriors. Something to do with the arrest of
his brother. The good news: I’ve always found Chief Justice Jarvick to be fair.
Adino winced. “And you think they’ll be fair? There’s not a Christian among the justices
and the prosecutor has a personal grudge against me!”
Dorcas’ eyes locked on his. “They may not be Christian, but they’re usually fair.” She
held up a small silver disk. “Do you know what this is?”
The Lost Genre Guild's mission is to promote quality works of Biblical Speculative Fiction (spec-fic)
through its authors, fans; to endorse new releases that fit this criteria; and of course, to glorify Him.
through its authors, fans; to endorse new releases that fit this criteria; and of course, to glorify Him.
ADINO LEANED BACK BETWEEN his captors and expelled a sigh.
Even brave men aren’t immune to fear. Only a fool would fail to
be afraid in his predicament.
The Peace Force spacecraft slowed and hovered over the pad
outside the Universal Court. The shuttle swung around and then
docked at the harbor. Angry faces glared through the porthole.
Nothing less than Adino expected.
The airlock doors slid open with a hiss. Shouts from the crowd
outside pounded Adino’s ears.
Even brave men aren’t immune to fear. Only a fool would fail to
be afraid in his predicament.
The Peace Force spacecraft slowed and hovered over the pad
outside the Universal Court. The shuttle swung around and then
docked at the harbor. Angry faces glared through the porthole.
Nothing less than Adino expected.
The airlock doors slid open with a hiss. Shouts from the crowd
outside pounded Adino’s ears.
