Jury by Viola Grace

Chapter One
     
     
    Bex watched the match from behind the scenes, analyzing Crowly’s moves and making notes. A trainer could only do so much good before the trainee had to fly on their own.
    Crowly took a few brutal slices to the forearms, but since she had four spares, it only made her angrier.
    A roar of disbelief from the crowd celebrated Crowly’s win. Six month earlier, Crowly had been a chronic loser that only won when she was unable to control her emotions. Now, she was a calculating fighter that used her speed as an advantage and who showed off excellent gymnastic skills in the ring. She was a fighter worth watching.
    Trainer Kalfo came to watch the match with her. “You have done wonders with her.”
    “It has taken a great deal of effort. She is stubborn.”
    “I hear you have a meeting with the matron.” Kalfo spoke softly.
    Bex nodded. “I do. Now, in fact.”
    She turned away from her fighter being finally cheered in the arena and headed for the offices. The matron was not a patient woman; in fact, Bex had a lot of doubts about her being female at all.
    Lithe and nearly featureless, the matron of the Garlov Arena sat behind her desk.
    “Your skills as a trainer have gained notice. Over the last three years, all eight of your charges have made it into the top-ten rankings. Those kind of results get noticed.”
    “Thank you, Matron.”
    “Oh, it wasn’t me who noticed. The men’s side has a champion who has recently begun to slip in the rankings. They have tried everything, but he just won’t budge. You are an option that they haven’t tried yet.”
    Bex was confused. “Matron?”
    “You are going to be assigned to work with the champion, so gather your things. The transfer is immediate. Go.”
    Bex blinked. “But Crowly needs more work. She was still dropping her shoulder during the first half.”
    “Her next trainer is on the way up from the lower league. It will be a learning experience for both of them. Crowly became champion with this win, so it will be up to her to keep that title.”
    Bex leaned forward. “But—”
    “But nothing. You are reassigned. Now go and pack. The transfer guard will be there within the hour.” The matron returned her attention to the computer in front of her.
    Bex was dismissed.
     
    She sat in her room with her two bags next to her. This was the one part of being in the imperium that she hated. Her life was never in her own hands, but it was what she had chosen. In leaving earth, she had agreed to go where the Alliance felt she would best serve the purposes of her species. The first two thousand Volunteers were fodder for testing to destruction.
    The trade of a hundred humans into Nyal space had been a quiet exchange, but Bex had to admit that she felt at home in the confines of the arena. She had met dozens of species, seen hundreds more, but she had the wall of organization to back herself against.
    With an anchor point behind her, Bex knew what the rules were and how to use them to her advantage. Unfortunately, those rules also kept her obeying the organization that she was now part of. If they wanted her to switch to the men’s side, she would go.
    The chime at the door brought her mind out of its trip through the logic of why she should go along peacefully. It was a struggle every time she was forced into a new direction.
    She got to her feet and opened the door. Two internal transport guards were waiting for her. “I will get my bags.”
    She returned and picked them up, joining the guards in the hallway. The room was as empty now as when she had moved in, as if there was nothing left to prove that she had existed at all.
    They began the walk down the hall with a steady march that sent the blockages in their path to the side. No one got in the way of transport guards. They were neurotoxic.
    The route was not leading directly to the men’s area. “Where are we headed?”
    One of the guards looked at her through four of its nine eyes. “You need to