The room was large with dark red walls. Thin lines of blue ran through the corners and to the large bench at the center of the room. Five people sat there. The first was an old woman wearing a dark green and silver neque. The somewhat-younger man beside her had yellow and silver. The person in the center wore solid red. The woman at the other end had blue and white, and the final man had blue and purple. I recognized the green and silver to be the same color as the colors of Settlement Mirah.

    The wall that had opened allowed entry into a small, sectioned off area. A bar, similar to that of Earth courtrooms, blocked it from the rest of the room. After our entry the wall slid shut and granted privacy. The woman in blue and white blinked slowly. "I had heard there were only three of this group." Her thoughts matched. Though I wasn't pleased with the thoughts coming from the man beside her. He was obviously convinced that we were imposters.

    "I received a message from Mayor Spencer that the number had changed," said the woman in green and silver softly. "Please identify yourselves."

   Captain Thorn answered first. "Captain Silk Thorn of the Patriot I reporting to the summons."

    I lifted a hand. "First Officer Genevieve Autumn of the Patriot I."

    The rest of the crew responded in kind. The man in red leaned his hand on his chin, bored. "You claim to be the crew of the Patriot I, a myth," said the man flatly. "Aren't they told to be immortals or something similar?"

   "We are," said Captain Thorn firmly. "I understand this was a summons to prove our identities?"

    "You've got that right," snorted the man in blue and purple. "You're imposters. The Patriot I doesn't exist. And your fallacy has cost a HyperZipline vessel and the press's madness."

    "I'm sure you've seen the pictures and footage of our ship," I replied evenly. "With all due respect, Justices, how do you explain that?"

    "Convincing hologram." He waved me off.

   Officer Peterson cleared his throat. "This Court is running off of the original coding and database of the Pioneer, correct?"

   The woman at the end nodded. Peterson continued, "That coding was put together by the original workers on Earth in the 2020s. In that coding, you will find a verification code to each of our names. Nowhere but on Earth or the Patriot are the matching codes available. We each know our own code. Only the crew of the Patriot I can know."

   The woman raised her eyebrows and looked down at her tablet. "I'll work on finding those."

   "Don't bother," the other woman snapped. "The Patriot doesn't exist. You won't find them."

   "And why do you think so?" Officer Byrne finally spoke up. Her slanted eyes had narrowed in thought. "What do you know of our ship?"

   The woman snorted. "It's a bedtime story to warn us that Earth's history is too dangerous to touch on. A crew disappears into the depths of space because they were frozen in chambers? The legend goes that they are awake in that ship and frozen, tortured souls that have been stuck there for five centuries. Others may believe that the crew is supposed to be heroes and defenders of humanity, but no one who has been alive that long could be sane."

   "Then how about we clarify some things?" Captain Thorn suggested.

   "Clarify what? Like how you're supposed to be real?" The woman leaned her chin on her hand. "Do tell."

   "We took off from Earth with the Pioneer," he started without missing a beat. "And we experienced a power failure. As we were cryogenically-frozen, the ship was programmed to put us first and slowed down our speed. Gradually the ship lowered the speed to preserve our lives and we fell behind. Two hundred and forty-nine years later, we arrived. The ship initiated the program to wake us up. However, the power was still low, so it only awoke First Officer Autumn."

   I sensed the mantle get passed over to me and grimaced, but continued. "Long story short, we've been searching for how to awaken our whole crew. I used the HyperZipline to try and find the power source we need on Earth. Besides that, we are very real. We fell behind and the story of our departure turned into fairy tales. We have merely arrived late."

   The woman at the end suddenly said, "Omega-twenty-six-red."

   Captain Thorn responded immediately, "Alpha-green-seventeen."

   The man beside the woman in blue glanced over, blinking. "What?"

   "That's the verification code I found in the database," the woman in green responded. "He got it back right away. That's Captain Silk Thorn. I've got his whole file here. In the marines as a high-ranking officer and discharged?" Captain Thorn's face didn't change, but all of us looked his way suddenly. Discharged?

   "You're kidding me," said the man in red. He pulled up the same tab. I smiled wryly as he read aloud, "Zeta-scarlet-four-thirty-four." My thoughts pulled away from the previous statement.

   "Delta-York-two-five-point-three."

   He tapped in the keys and my file apparently appeared on his screen since he echoed, "First Officer Genevieve Autumn. You were in the Air Force?" He looked up, his eyes wide with shock. "And then the army. Dear God, this has to be impossible. This can't be real."

   "We already know that they are capable of hacking our database," said the woman sharply. "They used it to make us authorize the use of the HyperZipline. I fail to see how this is any different."

   The man in silver and yellow hadn't spoken yet. He lifted his head, his voice so soft that I hardly heard him. "These are the most protected files in this side of the universe. There's a log that states how often it has been accessed. These files have not been touched since the Pioneer's takeoff."

   "It could have been hacked—"

   "Cassana, I usually trust your judgment, but this time you are being unreasonable," said the woman in green and silver. "We have proof."

   "You're only saying that because your husband is the one who found these imposters!" Justice Cassana fired back. "Kal is a fool and you have believed him from the start about this group of hooligans." "I'd always thought she was the smarter one in the marriage."

   "How dare she suggest that I am swayed so easily!" The woman's face was carefully schooled into calm. "She has only been on this Court for three years and yet she acts like she is the elder." "Cassana, I highly suggest you watch your tongue when it comes to my husband," said the woman stiffly.

   The man in red pinched his nose. "I understand that the rivalry between you two is strong, but could you both please put it aside? Cassana, we are elected to be neutral. Valria, her opinion matters as much as yours. We are all equals."

   "Thank you, Flyx." The man in blue and purple cleared his throat. "I believe we should move for a vote. I have the feeling that each of us here has reached a decision."

   I shared a look with Captain Thorn. That quick of a decision did not bode well for us. Before we could do anything else, the man in red – Justice Flyx – stated, "If this motion is passed, you will all be arrested for false identities, hacking of the Court database, public disturbance, and damage of a hijacked HyperZipline vessel. If this motion fails, then all charges will be dropped and your identities will be solidified. You will assume the powers that the first Planetary Court set upon you. Now, all in favor of passing the motion?"

   Justice Cassana's hand went up. There was a brief moment of hesitation before the man in blue and purple beside her did the same. My heart tightened briefly as Justice Flyx hesitated, his hand wavering. Then he cleared his throat and stated, "For clarifying's sake, all in favor of denying the motion?"

   My eyebrows creased with worry. Since when was that a procedure on any court? Instead, Justice Valria and the man beside her lifted their hands. It was a straight tie, leaving Justice Flyx in the middle. Justice Cassana looked at him sharply. "Which is your vote, Flyx?" I felt the whole crew hold their breath. This was the moment. If the Planetary Court declared us criminals, I didn't know what we'd do from there. Seconds ticked by dangerously.

   His eyes finally shifted our way. "I suppose I must vote in favor of denying the—" There was a flash of yellow and his head snapped back. Justice Cassana screamed as he toppled back, landing solidly on the ground behind the desk. There were cries from both my crew and the Justices. I wrenched out my pistol and fired blindly at where I'd seen the zodiac shoot from.

   A black shape disappeared into the wall and my bullet embedded into it. My heart thundered and Officer Peterson yelped, "Who was that?"

   "Defend the Justices!" Captain Thorn snapped, glock grasped in his hands. "Byrne, check on Flyx—"

   "No way they can get that vote now," a voice chuckled in my ear. I froze, mind racing, as it continued. "Get the fighter and then the leader. They'll fall, just as planned." My head snapped over my shoulder and I saw a black shape emerge from the solid wall. Officer Decker didn't have time to move before yellow slammed into his chest and sent him flying. Officer Bird lifted the rifle and fired, but the shape disappeared again.

   I snarled and ran that direction. Whatever this was targeted the "fighter" – the Combat Officer – and now the next target was open. "Captain—"

   "I heard it!" He readied his gun, eyes narrowed. He pressed his fingers to Decker's throat and swore. "His pulse is weak, but there."

   Officers Peterson, Byrne, Edwards, and Bird surrounded the Justices. Justice Valria had her hand over her mouth and looked like she was going to throw up. "H-He's dead. Just – like that. What's happening?"

   "One more left," it whispered. I turned around just in time to see the black shape of a person appear. I fired without hesitation and three bullets slammed into the wall – through the figure. It was obviously a man, wearing some sort of black suit. He looked down and his thoughts swirled. "Stupid woman. Nothing can touch me." My lip curled and I located the toppled chair of Justice Flyx. Want to find out?

   Captain Thorn ducked the blast from the zodiac in the man's hands, backing up and firing his gun. The bullet narrowly missed me and the Captain's face darkened. He danced backwards and cocked his head, wrist held upwards to avoid another near-miss. "You're the same man that took an electron battery from my ship."

   I stumbled over my feet in shock. The figure froze as my mind raced. He's right. That guy just walked through a wall – exactly how our electron battery was stolen. This guy is either the same person or knows the other. And he's walked right to us.

   I grabbed the chair and heaved it up, slamming it against the ground. Another grunt and a smash later and two legs broke off. I hefted them and sneaked along the side of the desk. Captain Thorn's eyes didn't move from the figure as they circled slowly. If the figure was a proud wolf, Captain Thorn's movements were that of a stealthy panther. He moved fluidly, eyes locked onto his target. I sneaked closer and tightened my grip in the legs of the chair, the metal on the ends glinting in the light.

   "So you've clearly killed the Justice to stop them from denying the motion to make us criminals," continued Captain Thorn. "A lot of work on a group of ghosts, don't you think?"

   "You have no idea," hissed the man verbally and mentally. I stalked forward, crouched down and watching the figure. I flexed my elbows, inhaled, and swung both legs as hard as I could at the figure. The wood legs sailed right through it, but the metal tips connected with his side. He grunted and staggered. My eyes widened and I threw myself down before the blast connected with my body. It sent one of the legs flying out of my hands and Captain Thorn lunged for it.

   "Sekrite!" The man's thoughts spun. "Got to get it away from her!" He spun around and lifted the zodiac in his hands. "Drop it." I froze, eyes narrowed, and calculated my chances of dodging that blast at point-blank range. Then I tilted my head and curled my lip. "In case you were wondering, you messed up."

   "How so?" The man snorted. "I got exactly what I came for."

   He was meant to take down the fighter – unfortunately for him, every crew member was plenty capable. I didn't answer him and instead tilted my head. Captain Thorn's slam connected with the side of the man's head and sent him to the ground. I jammed the leg of the chair against the man's back and pressed it down, spitting with effort as he tried to shove me off. My feet scrabbled to get purchase.

   Captain Thorn hefted the leg and mused, "This looks important." And then he slammed the leg into the side of the man's gut. Something sparked and suddenly the man was solid beneath me. "No! Shit!" The man snarled and his fist slammed into my nose. My head snapped back and his wild kick sent me sprawling.

   "Bird, shoot him!" Captain Thorn commanded, but he wasn't strong enough to hold the man back. A hit from him sent Captain Thorn skidding away. Officer Bird aimed his weapon and fired. A bullet sunk into the man's thigh. Agony swept through his mind and I flinched. He fired desperately at Bird and Bird was sent flying into the wall. One of the Justices cried out and Edwards forced them down and out of sight.

   This man is quick. Military-trained. Strong. Shit, I'm the only one who can handle him when it comes to hand-to-hand. Without hesitation, I tackled him and we tumbled to the ground. Then we were rolling, fighting for control. Even with a shot leg, he was quick. I threw a leg over his hip and slammed my palm into the wound, making him cry out. His elbow hit my chin a second later and rattled my skull. He forced his way to the top and lifted the zodiac to my face, snarling. "If I can't get the Captain, she's the next best option!"

   I grabbed his wrist and strained to push it away, chest heaving with effort. We struggled for control. "First Officer!" Byrne cried, and I saw her throw something my way from the corner of my eye. The black hilt of the aquarius hit my side and I grabbed it, flicked the switch, and stabbed the energy blade into the man's wrist. He howled and I kicked him off, my gravity-assisted strength sending him flying. Before I could follow after him he hit his smoking side and vanished into the wall. Captain Thorn's bullet buried into the rock, but the man was gone.