{"id":2708,"date":"2024-09-07T16:19:44","date_gmt":"2024-09-07T23:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2708"},"modified":"2024-09-07T16:19:44","modified_gmt":"2024-09-07T23:19:44","slug":"final-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2024\/09\/07\/final-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Final Appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Your character wants something very badly \u2014 will they get it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is little in life more disappointing than having the target of your desire snatched from your grasp at the last moment. Alex knew that feeling all too well. The third time was not<\/em> the charm, as the saying would have one believe; neither were the fourth, fifth or sixth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex smoothed her jumpsuit. It was a copy of the ones worn by everyone else around her, made smaller and shaped to fit her. The cool grey of the jumpsuit clashed with her warm, golden-brown skin, reddish brown hair, and bright brown eyes, but she\u2019d gotten used to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you okay, little one?\u201d The querent wore a matching jumpsuit, though half a meter taller, with six sleeves that decreased in size from the top pair to the bottom, heavily sloped shoulders, and a collar that would look at home on an alpaca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The creature that filled out the jumpsuit had pale blue skin under a thick layer of grey-white vellus hair. Large, oval, compound eyes reflected the light from the windows like a finely cut gem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t call me that anymore, Gerla.\u201d Alex crossed her arms in an exaggerated huff. \u201cI\u2019m an adult now. I don\u2019t know for sure, but I\u2019d guess I\u2019m twenty-one or two in Earth years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, but I\u2019m still bigger than you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot fair. I\u2019m tall for a human, especially a human woman, but you\u2019ll always be taller.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll always be older as well.\u201d Gerla petted Alex\u2019s hair with one of their top hands. \u201cYou\u2019ll always be the baby that was dropped off with me by the scout mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBaby nothing. I was seven and tending a flock of sheep by myself.\u201d Alex sighed. \u201cI guess I should be grateful that they brought me here instead of straight to the labs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost as grateful as I am,\u201d Gerla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex hugged the creature. \u201cQuit being so sweet, Gerla. I\u2019m trying to be mad at you for calling me little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can be mad at me after<\/em> the hearing. We\u2019ll have time for it then.\u201d Gerla moved one compound eye close to Alex\u2019s face and the nictitating membrane closed and opened over it. Alex recognized it as always coming before a serious question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy are you still trying?\u201d the creature asked. \u201cWhat do you hope to gain? Freedom to return to your home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex shook her head. \u201cThis is<\/em> my home \u2014 here with you, and all my friends. I can\u2019t even remember what my mother or father looked like, or the name of the hills where we lived.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex stepped back from Gerla and spread her arms. \u201cWhat do you see when you look at me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI see Alex\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she cut them off, \u201cwhen you really<\/em> look at me. You see a human, the only one on this planet. At least the courts have finally decided I\u2019m sapient, after completing all the normal schooling a thoran child would receive and learning all<\/em> the official languages of Sular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStill not a citizen, though. Still an orphan, as they won\u2019t let you legally adopt me.\u201d She dropped her arms to her sides and a hardness overtook her face. \u201cThis is my last chance. The final appeal. I\u2019ve overcome every obstacle they\u2019ve thrown in my way, just for them to find new, inventive ways of denying me this last, simple thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA finding from the court means nothing,\u201d Gerla said. \u201cIt also doesn\u2019t matter that we share no DNA, you are my progeny, and I am your progenitor. Forever\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd always,\u201d Alex finished. \u201cBut this is important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gerla put an arm around Alex\u2019s shoulders. \u201cI\u2019m behind you all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex nodded and checked the time on the wall display. \u201cWe\u2019re up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heavy white doors opened with a soft hiss and Alex marched into the courtroom, head held high. She stood at the tall bench which reached her armpits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bailiff brought over a small step for her, so she would be tall enough to talk into the microphone and she accepted it with a polite smile. Unlike the other appeals as she worked her way up in the system, this courtroom was packed with spectators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a steady murmur that spread through the crowd as she entered and continued until the bell of court rang and brought them all to their feet. The judges entered and sat at their bench, above the courtroom where they looked down on the proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bell rang again, and the spectators sat. The attorney for the state tilted their head towards Alex and slowly closed and opened their nictitating membranes. Alex returned the silent greeting as best she could with a head tilt and slow blink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lead judge spoke. \u201cWe are gathered to hear the case of Alex, semi-sapient specimen, petitioning for Sulari citizenship. Is that correct?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state\u2019s attorney made no move to correct the judge, so Alex herself did. \u201cYour honors, the District of Corima court declared me fully sapient and capable of entering into legal contracts over four revolutions ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cState\u2019s attorney, is this correct?\u201d one of the other judges asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is, your honors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou would do well to keep your motions up to date. Seeing that this appeal was filed two revolutions ago, the state had ample time to update their position.\u201d The lead judge flipped papers with their lowest, smallest hands, while their upper hands formed the pose for a query.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiven that the State\u2019s initial position was based on the plaintiff\u2019s status as a semi-sapient, am I to take it that your arguments are all based on that as well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, your honors. Our arguments are valid regardless of the findings of the lower court on plaintiff\u2019s sapience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVery well. The court will hear the plaintiff\u2019s arguments first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four judges looked toward the plaintiff\u2019s bench, and the one closest to that end raised their upper hands in query. \u201cAre we to understand that you are representing yourself? Here? In the highest court in the land?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am, your honors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you would indulge us, why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex tilted her head. \u201cThe reasoning for that will be become clear in my arguments, your honors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVery well. Proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would first like to say that, contrary to the State\u2019s fears, I do not plan on attempting to return to the planet of my origin and providing advanced technology to a savage world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObjection! Assumption of motive,\u201d the state\u2019s attorney called out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSustained,\u201d the head judge said. \u201cPlease stick to the facts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex smiled. \u201cI call your attention to plaintiff\u2019s evidence items one through four. These are the rejection letters for my adoption from the Enclave, City, District, and State. In every one of them, the stated reason is that I may, and I quote, \u2018Return to the planet of origin and provide that savage world with advanced technology.\u2019 End quote.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state\u2019s attorney seemed to shrink. Alex knew how old those documents were, and as she\u2019d only found them after the last lost appeal \u2014 buried within the mountain of discovery her last attorney had largely ignored \u2014 was certain that they hadn\u2019t thought they would be brought up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhich brings me to the point of self-representation. Besides missing these documents in discovery, my previous attorney was too expensive to continue with. Having no rights as a citizen, I can\u2019t work to earn money. Being unable to support myself, I am, as an adult, still as reliant on Gerla, my state-appointed guardian, as I was a child.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex looked at each of the judges in turn as she spoke. \u201cI was brought here by a scouting party as a \u2018biological sample\u2019 eighteen revolutions ago. I did not come of my own volition, I did not volunteer, and I am not a refugee. I am, however, in every other sense, an orphan now. I don\u2019t remember much of my family on Earth or even Earth itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She took a deep breath. \u201cIf not for Gerla, I would likely have been dissected long ago. They taught me the languages of Sulari, how to read and write, and everything I needed to know to get by in thoran society, except for how to turn into a thoran.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She swallowed hard. \u201cIn the Sulari constitution, citizenship is offered to every person, no matter where born, by naturalization of twelve revolutions. I remind the court, I have been here for eighteen revolutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is arguable that when that was written, one-thousand, two-hundred-eighteen revolutions ago, \u2018person\u2019 meant only thoran. As of two-hundred-nine revolutions ago, though, that no longer holds true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis court, in the case of The Senate versus Senator Burla, found that any<\/em> sapient is entitled to the same protections offered to \u2018persons\u2019 in the constitution. If that truly is the case, why, historically, has that extended only to protection against abuse and not protection against disenfranchisement?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would like to also call your attention to the Sulari Book of the Law, volume four-hundred, Section thirty-four-eighty-two-point-nine, paragraph two. \u2018Pursuant to Galactic Trade Laws, Sular will make no law nor finding that is in violation of the Galactic Rights of Sapients, as ratified on the seventh day of revolution three-thousand-twelve.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Galactic Rights of Sapients, number eight, which has remained unchanged since then states, \u2018Any sapient who is unable to return to their home world or another world of their species, shall be considered stateless. No member state of the Galactic Trade may refuse citizenship to a stateless sapient on request.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe state has already made it clear that I cannot return to my home planet, and my species only has the one. As such, the quoted laws make the state\u2019s actions illegal and unconscionable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tears began to pool in her eyes. \u201cYour honors, I have no illusions about my position. In time, Gerla will grow old and feeble, no longer able to work. The state will provide for her retirement, but that retirement doesn\u2019t cover feeding, clothing, and housing me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFurther, that retirement is only the barest of essentials. Gerla has been a parent to me and taken care of me the majority of my life. I\u2019m just asking for the right to take care of them in their old age. As a citizen, and as their lawfully adopted progeny, I can do that. As a \u2018biological sample that happens to be sapient\u2019, I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex wiped her tears. \u201cThank you, your honors. Nothing more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019d done her best, taken her best shot. Now it was down to the state\u2019s attorney and the judges. Alex listened to the state\u2019s attorney hem and haw over reasons why she shouldn\u2019t be allowed citizenship. When it turned, inevitably, to travel to Earth with all the \u2018dangerous technology\u2019 of the thorans, she couldn\u2019t help but roll her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the state\u2019s attorney ran out of steam, and the judges left the chamber to discuss and make their decision. This was the part she hated the most, the waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wait was short, the judges returning in a matter of minutes. The lead judge said, \u201cI have some questions for the plaintiff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, your honor.\u201d Alex\u2019s heart fell. This didn\u2019t feel like it was going to be good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow many of your previous attorneys brought up the original rejection letters?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNone, your honor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd how many of them brought up the Sulari constitution \u2014 specifically, naturalization?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne, your honor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd did that one bring up The Senate versus Senator Burla?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, your honor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They tilted their head. \u201cAnd how many of your attorneys brought up the Galactic Rights of Sapients, and legal Section three-four-eight-two-point-nine, paragraph \u2014\u201d they flipped through their notes, \u201c\u2014 paragraph two?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNone, your honor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhere did you study law?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the law library of District of Corima. Gerla was kind enough to escort me there every spare moment for the last two revolutions so I could prepare for this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo formal schooling?\u201d one of the other judges asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, your honor. As a non-citizen, I\u2019m not entitled to free education, and on Gerla\u2019s salary there was no way we could afford it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lead judge took over again. \u201cIf given citizenship, you mentioned you want to work. What kind of work would you do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex shrugged. \u201cAnything. I\u2019ll tend livestock, scrub floors, anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They tilted their head again. \u201cHave you considered a career in law?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI, uh \u2014 not until this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judges whispered among themselves, then the bell rang again. The judges stood, and the spectators stood as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is the finding of this court that the plaintiff has neither the motive nor the means to return to their home planet. As such, the state has violated Sulari law, Section three-four-eight-two-point-nine. Plaintiff is awarded full citizenship immediately, and the rejection of the original adoption request is hereby overturned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lead judge raised their upper hands in query. \u201cIs your adoptive progenitor here today?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, your honor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the bailiffs will escort you to my office where I will be honored to perform your swearing-in ceremony and sign your adoption decree. As a citizen, I would highly recommend law school, and I hope to see you here again in the future, representing someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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