The trial of Dr. Aris Vane lasted three days.
Kaelen watched from the back of the longhouse. His chest was bandaged. His left arm hung at his side—not dead, but tired. The Harvesters were quiet. Recovering.
Vane sat in a chair at the center of the room. His hands were bound. His face was pale. The blue light in his eyes had faded, but not disappeared.
Helena stood as judge.
“Dr. Vane, you are charged with crimes against humanity. Experimentation on living subjects. Creation of weapons of mass destruction. Conspiracy to overthrow the Freehold government.”
Vane laughed.
“You're not a government. You're a collection of scavengers hiding in ruins.”
“And you're a monster.”
“I'm a scientist. I was trying to save the Accord. To save humanity.”
“By turning people into monsters?”
“By turn
