FLASHBACK
Chiana wraps her arms around me from behind as I sink the drink.
"Forget them," she says sweetly in my ear.
I shake her arms off, rather more angrily than is necessary.
"Hey!" She snaps, looking annoyed.
"No," I say back, irritated but still turned on by her presence. "They've left because we were stupid."
Chiana glares at me.
END FLASHBACK
I just tried to sleep. I can't comprehend what they're accusing me of. Part of my brain is still saying I'm dreaming. More like nightmares. I keep waking up, and as the night comes it gets cold. I won't try asking for a blanket, they won't give me one. I'm a rapist. Supposedly. Oh God what have I done?
FLASHBACK
The ally is dark and full of rubbish. It stinks of something putrid, dead smelling. There's a struggle. Feet thrashing around in the rubbish. I'm holding someone against a wall. It scrapes painfully along my knuckles, as I fight with them. I slap them around the face.
"Hold still tralk!" It's my voice, but horribly slurred.
I grab the person's wrists and hold them above their head. I catch a glimpse of grey bobbed hair as I do.
END FLASHBACK
I run to the latrine and am violently sick. I keep retching until there is nothing left. I sag backwards and sit on the floor. Finally I drag myself to the tiny metal sink and splash my face then rinse my mouth out.
What have I done? What have I done?
I curl up in the corner of the cell and sit there shaking until dawn comes.
Three guards come to take me to the hearing. They've all got their hands on their batons and I think they want me to fight them. But I just hold out my wrists for the restraints and go quietly. If I've really done this I deserve what I get.
They fasten the restraints tighter than they need too and hustle me down the corridor, past other baying prisoners. They know what I'm here for and call me all the corresponding names. Some the translator microbes cope with, some they don't, which to be honest I'm glad about.
They finally lead me to the room where the hearing will take place. It's huge and looks like a courtroom. There's a balcony along one wall filled with people. This planet is mostly Sebaccean but there are a smattering of Nebari and other races. Most of the people look bored, like this is a day out, entertainment where nothing has happened yet.
I stare around; hoping against hope that maybe Aeryn or Chiana are here and they will say this was a terrible mistake. But they're not.
I look up at the head of the room. A man sits there, wearing a Peacekeeper uniform. Now I struggle against the guards. They haul me unceremoniously to my seat and chuck me down. A woman sits further along the bench. She's Sebbacean but not Aeryn so what does she matter?
"John Crichton?" The man says staring at me.
"Yes." I barely force the word out.
"I am Captain Tachit of Peacekeeper command, and I am in charge here. You understand that you are charged with rape?"
The crowd shifts eagerly.
I nod. I can't speak.
"Do you deny it?"
The woman stands up. "Sir, my client does not need to answer that until the trial."
The Captain nods and continues. "Do you realise Crichton that the penalty, should you be found guilty, is death?"
A cold shudder goes through my body.
He leans forwards with a reptilian smile on his face. "You already face charges for murder do you not?"
"No, that was an accident," my voice is small.
"Confess that and guilty or not you can avoid execution. You will be handed over to Crais…"
"No!" I jolt to my feet. "He'll kill me!"
"Guards." Tachit calmly gestures the guards over who start to drag me from the room. He looks to the woman. "Lawyer Hess, I ask you to restrain your client better in future. Trial will be tomorrow at noon. Take him away."
The woman nods and follows us from the room.