The metallic fittings did not add to the austere nature of the courtroom. Two judges sat behind a grey desk where only computer terminals, half empty glasses of water and a transparent globe between them were visible. Unlike his reptilian compatriot, the judge to the left was a human male but one who felt no empathy towards the prisoner. If the woman broke the law she deserved the punishment listed for the crime.

Justice Horace Kilmorton, secretly proud of his nickname by both sides of the judiciary of Horseface Kill 'em All, glanced up at the young woman in the dock and frowned. She stared back directly into his eyes and held his gaze.

He coughed and looked at his screen. "Ralina Olfsten, formally of 21st century Earth, my colleague and myself have come to a decision. To the crime of murder, altering space-time for personal profit and fifteen lesser charges as documented, you have been found guilty. Before I pass sentence, do you wish to make a statement?"

The young woman's voice was resolute without one sign of nervousness. "I do not recognise the authority of this court and will recommend to the interworld tribunal that it is disbanded and corrupt officials such as yourself are brought to justice before a fair and humane authority." She swallowed to show the first indication of any emotion. "Perhaps humane is the incorrect word. Humans of this world are anything but."

Kilmorton's face darkened and anger replaced the leer. If this was an interrogation, the girl would be dragged away and whipped for such disrespect. He glanced sideways at Judge Xanj, that liberal fool who, unfortunately had considerable authority in their hierarchy, and swallowed his pride. Finally he smiled, a smile without one milligram of warmth.

"You will be recommending nothing, Madam, nor will your final statement be preserved. Like your ashes, it will be purged from all records. You are sentenced to death by incineration with your ashes cast to the wind. A crime as horrendous as yours deserves no appeal and, indeed, you will not have one."

The judge reached his gloved hand towards a black button inside the globe. One touch and Olfsten would be instantly electrocuted and vaporised. He purposely set the controls to work slowly so she would feel the agony she deserved. A pile of white ash would be all that remained after her screams died from the courtroom. He glanced up expecting to see that last look of terror in her eyes but there was none.

Damn the woman! This had never happened to him before. He shook his head, for now he could see not one but three women in the dock. A tall blonde human and a shorter but equally attractive brunette accompanied Olfsten who smiled and raised her hand in a wave.

There was a whoosh and the three women disappeared. He had not touched the button! Without even attempting to hide his fury he slammed his fist down on it. The dock flashed orange and turned to smoke that was sucked out an extraction vent. There were, however, no woman's screams or any trace of a burning flesh smell.

A court clerk carried a brush and flat shovel across to the dock. It was his traditional duty to sweep the ashes up into a tiny black bag, pull a string to close the top and deliver it back to the judge. The man stopped stared and, with his face burning in embarrassment, turned to Kilmorton.

His voice shook in fear. "There are none, Your Worship."

"No what?" the judge retorted.

"No ashes, Your Worship."

"I saw the two with her, Horace," Judge Xanj, the reptilian judge whispered with his hand cupped to the side of his mouth. "Even with the most sophisticated containment fields activated, her colleagues arrived and rescued her. They left before you could execute her."

Justice Horace Kilmorton stared at his fellow judge before turning back to the court clerk. "If you say one word about this to a living soul I'll have your tongue surgically removed and banish your family and yourself to a slave planet. You have five minutes to find some ashes and place them in your bag."

"Will the ashes from the lounge fireplace be sufficient, Your Worship?" The man's lips trembled.

"Get them!" Kilmorton hissed. He turned to his colleague. "I respectfully suggest..."

Judge Xanj held up his hand. "I shall say nothing, Horace but be warned, I think that young woman's family will be seeking your hide in the not too distant future."

"Her family?"

Xanj nodded solemnly. "Remember the seven prophecies, Horace? 'And throughout the realms, three female humans of breeding years shall revenge the souls of the corrupt and deliver the intelligent cosmos into righteousness.' The second prophecy..."

"I know them all," Kilmorton interrupted. "They are but superstitions from ignorant worlds and not worth the time it takes to repeat them."

"Are they?" the alien judge queried.

Justice Horace Kilmorton nodded but could not prevent a shudder of ice from floating up his spine. He had rejected the old religion forty years before but in his minds-eye he could still see his father on that fateful winter's night he had left his childhood home for the last time.

"You will reject the real truths at your peril, Horace," his father had said. "It is not myself or the family that you reject but yourself, My Son. One day your fate will be decided by your own actions. If you reject everything I have taught you I can help you no more."

Just perhaps, that moment had arrived.