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me.
    A touch to each guard’s shoulder sends a Taser-like shockwave through them, dropping them to the floor.
    Ethan’s distracted enough that he lets his finger relax on the trigger.
    Jax releases his hand from my grip and gives Ethan a similar but less debilitating shock. The gun clatters to the floor and Ethan keels over in pain.  
    Serves him right.  
    Jax touches his own restraint, which immediately unlocks. He shrugs it off and touches mine. Then he gets up and walks over to take his place.
    Seven Arbiters in total circle the table, each bathed in glimmering light.
    “What is the meaning of this, Samson?” Vienna asks Dr. Christo, false bravado showing in her voice. “You have no business here. This is a private council.”
    Jax breaks out in wholehearted laughter. “You foolish woman. Don’t forget your place.”
    Dr. Christo speaks next. “Vienna, dear. You had to know it was only a matter of time. The threats against Jackson simply accelerated the timetable. I fear that you have forgotten the natural order of things. We have left you and the SCI to your own devices long enough. You and your colleagues have simply crossed enough lines to require more oversight in your day to day activities.
    “Let me introduce you to my colleagues. You know Jackson, of course. To his right and then continuing around we have Eli Demason, Freida Driscoll, Jonah Oliver, Deena Karnik and Daniel Paxton. Eli leads the Arbiter Council and wishes to address you.”
    I’ve met Eli once before. He came to visit me while I was recuperating in the Cross Medical Facility in Heart. He looks ancient and frail but is sharp as a tack.  
    His voice booms throughout the room. “I’d like to discuss one of the most egregious of the SCI’s current activities first—and that would be the SCI’s efforts at their earthly Clean Slate Complexes to increase military personnel here.”
    Vienna boldly interrupts. “We have every right to protect ourselves from the threat of the Exilers, particularly as more and more Second Chancers defect and join their ranks.”
    Eli holds his hand up and physically shuts her mouth from a distance. Vienna looks like her lips are superglued together. I want to learn that trick. “Silence. Your current predicament is one of your own making. It will not be solved by upping the number of military personnel. And although we are bound to bring over those in need of a second chance from Earth, your current methods are despicable. View Exhibit A.”
    The wall behind Eli disappears, and the Arbiters step aside to give us a clear view of an SCI bus pulling up to a warehouse.
    Dozens of people get off the bus and are shepherded into a dark warehouse. They all look confused as to why they are there.
    The escorts leave and the doors are locked.
    I can see terror in their eyes.
    A bright light fills the warehouse…and then turns a deep, fiery red.  
    The people are being incinerated.
    Skin is melting off their bones.
    I scream, and Jax steps forward to lay a hand on my shoulder to calm me.
    Ethan looks surprised, but the rest know.  
    It’s clear that the Ten ordered this.  
    When all is said and done, the only thing left of all those people is dust.
    A machine descends from the ceiling to wipe away even that.
    I look around the table and memorize the face of each individual responsible for this act of mass murder.
    Eli speaks again. “Over fifty-thousand have perished this way to date. And more face the same fate every day. While our jurisdiction on Earth is limited, we have full jurisdiction over you here. So here’s what is going to happen…” He makes sure to look each member of the Ten in the eye.
    “First, the girl—Kira Donovan—will not be touched. She is under our protection.”
    The silver-haired Ten interjects. “I object. Kira has nothing to do with the Arbiters. She’s one of us and thus should be subject to our rules.”
    Eli zips the man’s mouth shut as he had Vienna’s. “She is under our