He had come expecting to rule on the matter of war crimes, but now, this case threatened to become a decision on humanity. “I did not want to kill you,” Captain Adler said, staring at the stars as if addressing the universe itself, yet while speaking to no one at all. “But you were only an idea to me before, an abstraction that lived in my mind and called forth its appropriate response. I thought of your hand-grenades, of your bayonet, of your rifle; now I see your wife and your face and our fellowship. Forgive me, comrade. We always see it too late.” Was the Vorta that to those who stood accused? Or were the defendants that to him?

“A curious quote, Eleazar,” came the voice of Captain Elsie Drake, the younger sister of the prosecutor and the attache to Rear Admiral Grayson. Quietly, she’d let herself into the anteroom to let the hearing office know that everyone had returned from the lunch recess. “I gather not one of your own creation though?”

“No, most certainly not,” Captain Adler replied as he turned away from the window to face his young colleague. “It’s from a book, All Quiet on the Western Front, written about Earth many generations ago.” The vacant expression on her face told him that she knew not of the reference. “It was an attempt to dissect the greatest war the people of twentieth century Earth had ever known… and at this moment, it feels far too applicable.”

The young woman looked at him curiously. She wasn’t following.

“The Admiral, she asks the question of an enemy whose humanity she no longer sees,” Captain Alder explained. “And me, I do not have it in me to find that an entire species is not entitled to the same fundamental rights as you or I.”

“As the hearing officer for this case,” Captain Drake pointed out. “That is your prerogative.”

“But it’s not, Elsie,” Captain Adler shook his head. “My responsibility is to find based on the facts and the law. Nothing more, and nothing less. The Admiral raised an important, albeit repulsive question, one that, if this goes forward, I will be forced to answer.”

“And where is your head at now?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure,” Captain Adler admitted. “All this synthetic life stuff, it sort of came after my time as a litigator. Back then, we had only the Louvois ruling. Now, things are far more complex.” The law now extended to some synthetic life, such as those of Coppelius Station, but the Admiral also had a point that the Vorta had many traits more akin to the very synths that the law still considered to not have such protections.

Captain Drake did not envy the position the older man found himself in. “If it’s any solace, she offered, although the disappointment was evident in her eyes. “You may not even need to figure it out because first, my brother needs to actually prove his case, which, if I’m being fully honest, is not a foregone conclusion.”

“And, if I’m being candid, Elsie, that saddens me too,” Captain Adler replied regretfully as he set a hand on her shoulder. “Your brother has had a remarkable career, but this isn’t his finest performance. He seems desperate. Him and Reyes, they both do, but you see, the standard is not equal. Reyes must only demonstrate a measure of doubt, while he must prove his case beyond a doubt.”

Captain Drake frowned, although she wasn’t even sure specifically why. Was it on account of her brother? Or Reyes? Or both? “Is it odd,” she asked. “That I feel I will be disappointed no matter which way this case turns out?”

“No,” Captain Adler assured her. “It is an indication of that which makes you strong.” He meant it too. The young woman had impressed him through her thoughtful and impartial approach, even with her brother as a party to the case. “These people, they have suffered through so much. That suffering, it takes you to impossible places. But that is why we have the law. The law is impartial. It offers us a true north when our own compass goes wonky.” And as he said it, he remembered his truth. The law would lead him to the right place. The just place. Just as it always had.