"My son...He didn't realize what he was doing was harmful," Pauline exclaims. "He was reacting to Helene's outburst and her suicide. He's only a child. If you have to punish someone...Punish me. Ronnie loved his father. They did everything together. He misses his father. No different than how I'm sure the young childling misses his father. Little boys love their dads. Please. Have mercy on him. We didn't ask to be here. Don't hurt my son."

  Halyiis brow creases and he leans forward. Teresa holds in her breath and leans back as Scar also leans forward. The two males confer with each other in deep chitters and low growls. Teresa watches them with weary eyes. After all of the testimony and all of the tears, what will be the final decision?

  Silence settles over the tent as Elder Scar raises his large clawed hand into the air. Even the residents struggling to see the proceedings, at the tent's entryway, stop moving or talking.

  Scar climbs to his feet and peers at the surrounding crowd. His expression is blank, but Teresa can almost feel a ripple of anger coming off of his body. His back is straighter than almost seems natural, his mandibles and tusks are drawn tightly together, and his right hand flexes behind his back. Teresa's breath catches in her throat. What is to come may not be good.

  "This settlement has been a peaceful settlement for many cycles of a season," Scar begins, refusing to look at Ronnie or his mother. "Every soul here has strived to work and create a community we can all be proud of. A place we can call home. Since I have been elder...And even long before...There has never been a murder here. Such are the words of our trusted archiver Halyiis. We are not rogues. We do not kill our own. We are survivors. Many of us abandoned by our own kind. To commit murder on V'Daha...Is a transgression worthy of severe punishment. Even the attempt cannot be tolerated. No blood will be shed. Childling or not. To take blood would only encourage the taking of more blood. The childling and his mother are to be sent away from us. They will be given a wooden cart of supplies. In order to begin their new life elsewhere. Any who wish to accompany them may do so. You must be gone before sunset. This is how we purge evil and cruelty from our midst. Judgment has been spoken."

  Teresa stares at Scar's back in shock. Ronnie begins to bawl and presses his face into his mother's stomach. Pauline peers at Scar with wide eyes, her mouth agape. Elder Scar acknowledges neither of them. He strides confidently down the walkway and out of the council tent. Pauline rushes to Teresa as she climbs to her feet.

  "Please, Teresa. See if you can get him to change his mind. He seems to value your opinion. Please. We won't survive out there alone."

  "I can't change centuries of tradition, Pauline. This is how they have kept violence out of the settlement. I will talk to him. That is all I can do. Judgment has been rendered. And from what I can tell...Most are satisfied with it. I must say...I am satisfied with it. Your son nearly murdered Vor'taalnis. He surely would have, if Elder Scar and I had not heard Vor'taalnis' screams. I will ask for a shortened exile. But I make no promises."

  Teresa strolls past Pauline without another word. The other woman's face is a mask of bewilderment and fear. She had counted on Teresa to be her saving grace. Especially, after Teresa's subdued testimony hours before. Watching her only hope of salvation storm away is a terrible blow.

  -

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  -

  Elder Scar's Home/Rear of Temple Building

  Scar removes his adornments and accessories one at a time. He gazes at his reflection in a large mirror. Images of fierce battles are carved along the elaborately designed edges. The images were taken from the inside of Scorvo's transport vessel. Captured by Scar's mask interface and transcribed by Halyiis. They are relics of another time. Another life. A life Scar has not experienced for many cycles of a season.

  Scar touches the carvings on the mirror and bows his head. A soft knock on the metal door draws his attention. Teresa. More than likely, she has come to beg clemency for the exiled mother and childling. It will come to no avail. This is the way it must be.

  Crossing to the door, Scar draws it open. As he expected, Teresa stands on the other side. Her face is drawn tight with anger. Scar sighs and motions for her to come in. She enters the room and goes to stand near the bed, facing away from him. Scar closes the door and walks to her, placing both hands on her shoulders.

  "Do not be angry with me. This is the w--,"

  Before Scar can finish, Teresa spins to face him. She peers up into his sorrowful amber eyes.

  "I'm not angry with you. I'm angry with myself. I know I should feel some kind of way about this ruling. But, I don't. I want her to be punished. I want her to feel the loss I almost was forced to experience. My son...Ronnie almost murdered my son. I feel like such a vile person for thinking these things. After Mau-Nis did everything he could to save them. Oh...Nevermind."

  Teresa presses a fist to her mouth, trying to stem the tears welling up in her eyes. Scar cups her face with both hands and meets her gaze. Leaning forward, he kisses her softly.

  "The punishment is the most lenient I can give. Considering the crime. It must be known that such actions are not permitted in V'Daha."

  "I know," Teresa says.

  Scar offers Teresa another friendly smile and kisses her again.

  -

  -

  Seven Hours Later

  Ronnie's mother helps him climb onto the wooden cart. A large creature resembling a green and red ram with five legs is hitched to the front of the cart. Teresa has only visited the farm where the strange creatures are raised once. They share a name with Vildif, Scar's eldest childling.

  Powerful, mean and very smelly; the vildif are farmed far away from the settlement. However, they are the only beasts on V'Daha capable of pulling the overloaded cart. Of course, Teresa also understands that the beast will probably serve as meat for the weary travelers at a later time. Scar has done his best to be merciful.

  Teresa is surprised to see Consuelo stuffing her family's belongings into the cart as well. Dr. Boyd races toward the former Weyland orderly.

  "What are you doing, Consuelo? Are you going as well?"

  When Consuelo turns to Teresa, her eyes are swollen and red from crying.

  "I'm knowledgeable in medicine. Pauline may need someone along with medical expertise. The settlement really isn't for me, anyway. I don't belong here. Darcy has agreed to stay. She's in love with that young settlement leader. What's his name? Vildif? She'd never think of leaving. But I must. I hope you believe me when I tell you, Teresa...I never wanted to hurt you. I was as kind as they would allow me to be. If I had refused the duty, they would have found someone else equally as cruel as Meyer or even Dr. Wessinger. I felt it was better if I stayed. I tried to protect you."

  Hearing this for the second time, Teresa nearly breaks down. She draws Consuelo into a tight hug, fighting back tears.

  "Thank you, Consuelo," Teresa says, her cheek pressed into one side of the former Weyland orderly's face.

  Consuelo doesn't say a word, too afraid to burst into tears herself. She pats Teresa's back gently and separates from her. Going back to her packing, she acts as if Teresa is not there. Teresa moves swiftly away, tears flowing down her cheeks. Two women and two children alone in the V'Dahan wilderness. It would have been better if they'd perished on Station Thirteen.