by P H Campbell
"Have you read the treaty?" Seren asked Cinder.
"No, not any more than I cared about," Cinder shook her head. "My kids have special dispensation, just like anyone who wanted to leave the Botany Bay. They were all given Shade citizenship and provided housing and contacts for jobs for credits or barter. The Twins got in under the same deal, only, well, they're not from the Botany Bay.
"Other than that, I never really knew what would happen. I sort of had my hands full at the time."
"You folks need a place to stay, right?" Seren asked.
"They promised us a planet of our own," Torian pointed out. "We have a society created in a prison. We're not ready for UGW interference, or, apparently, Shade duplicity. We just want a place to settle."
"What about your habitat?" Seren asked. "Is it big enough for everyone?"
"Yeah, once the administrative staff was, well, spaced," Torian smiled tightly. The one thing about the Methonian Disgrace few talked about – no one complicit in the plot survived.
"So, you have a place, for now, at least, right?" Seren asked.
"We're still forced to keep thousands of us working for the Shade to pay the orbital fees," Torian pointed out. "If any of them screw up, they end up here."
"How many of your people are incarcerated here?" Seren asked, trying to get a feel for the magnitude of the problem.
"At last count, about eighty-two thousand," Torian replied.
That was a large problem in Seren's book. She needed to narrow down the reasons, though.
"Any of them because they deserved it?" she asked.
"Probably half," Torian candidly admitted. Seren began to appreciate Torian's candor. For all that she wasn't Human, she seemed to relate well to others who were.
"I see here that you're supposed to have a Seeder ship for colonization," Seren pointed out. "Did you get that?"
"Not yet," Torian replied. "The Shade has it. We have to pay customs and import fees on it before we can take possession."
"How long will that take?" Seren wondered.
"With two hundred thousand of us working to get the credits we need to get it out of customs, about three hundred years," Torian replied bitterly. Then admitted, "Well, thirty years, but it seems like longer."
"Do you folks plan to be part of the Shade alliance?" Seren wondered.
"That's not something I plan on doing, but it's up to everyone, and some seem to think this is all fair, so I'm not the one making that decision," Torian told her.
"From what you said, there aren't going to be any decisions made here anyhow," Seren mentioned, still reading.
"So, why are we talking about this?" Cinder realized that if the three weren't going to come to some understanding, this whole talk was pointless.
"Because I asked to butt in," Seren pointedly stated. She handed the pad back to the Methman and said, "Thanks for clearing up the situation. If I'm being kidnapped, I want to know why."
"So, this was all an exercise in curiosity?" Torian looked at Seren with a surprised, and displeased, expression.
"No, not at all," Seren denied. "You need a negotiator. I needed to know the situation if I'm going to negotiate for you."
Torian's' expression changed to one of confusion.
"Wait, we have a leader," Torian insisted.
"Good, it's always nice to know who's paying you," Seren nodded. "After all you folks need someone who can be objective enough to see both sides and still know when you're being fucked over before signing on the dotted line."
"I didn't agree to this," Torian reminded her.
"It's your choice, of course, but think carefully about that choice," Seren suggested.
"What's there to think about?" Torian inquired, so turned around she wasn't sure what Seren was suggesting.
"That a back-woods, lost colony representative like me can tell the Shade what she wants, and get it," Seren replied.
"Well, not exactly the sun, moon and stars," Cinder amended, "but she's not that wrong."
"Can you get us a planet?" Torian asked.
"I dunno," Seren admitted. "Are there any other habitable planets in my system?" She directed the question at Looie.
"One, but it's a lot like this one," Looie admitted. "Cold, not hospitable, hard to live on."
"Which is ours to do with as we want, right?" Seren asked Cinder.
"It's your system," Cinder replied. "I guess it's your stuff to give away, if you want to."
"Give away isn't what I had in mind, but I'm sure we can work something out, if the Shade isn't going to do right by you," Seren replied. "And Cinder, the Shade is being an asshat about this."
"We aren't known for altruism," Cinder had to admit. "If the letter isn't specified, the spirit isn't a guide."
"So by your lights, this is all good and right," Seren stated more than asked.
"It's probably because the UGW is being an asshat," Looie mentioned. "I think the problem is how they're doing an end around our territories and annexing systems that haven't even been populated. They don't even have Seeders built for them. It'll be a decade or more before they get anyone out there."
"And there are people here who can go now, if the Shade stop being asshats," Seren nodded. "Who found those planets?"
"The UGW did," Cinder admitted. "No one in the Shade does anything unless they're paid."
"And we didn't make it clear we don't operate that way, and didn't negotiate that," Torian stated. "We don't have the resources to get out on our own. The UGW held up its end of the bargain. And now, because the Shade didn't hold up its end of the bargain…"
"Technically they did," Cinder pointed out. "You just didn't negotiate from a position of understanding."
"The UGW negotiated for us," Torian argued.
"Did they?" Seren asked. "Did you folks approve of that?"
"You mean, like formally?" Torian asked. She had to think about it. "I'm not sure."
"Ritika spent a lot of time talking with Lyle," Looie mentioned. "Lyle negotiated with the UGW at first, on behalf of the UGW, under Shade law, but mostly it was just to get the groundwork for the formal negotiations put into place."
"Who represented the Fusions?" Seren wondered, having learned the term the Humonians and Methmen used for their collective hybrid species.
"I don't know," Torian admitted.
"When you find out, let me know who they were," Seren suggested. "From the sound of things, the Shade are pissed with the UGW, but don't want to antagonize the situation by telling the Fusions why they're not getting their planet in a timely manner. If I was to guess, I'd say the Shade is having a bad time getting everything put in order, even though they've had ten years to do it. Seeder ships are expensive, yes?"
"It broke the bank," Cinder admitted. "The Shade was basically broke after the treaty. I never got my full commission for the contract, but I always got what I asked for from them."
"Seriously?" Looie was shocked by what her mother told her. "You mean, Ash and I aren't wealthy, too?"
"No, your antics go through my channels, and you get what you want because I said it's what I want," Cinder told them. "The Shade bit off a huge chunk all at once, and really, I suppose we thought things would go better. A few million more people, well, that wouldn't have been a problem, except they weren't really suited for our society, and they wanted nothing to do with the UGW."
"Why not?" Seren wanted to know.
"The Methonians are pretty much in bed with the humans in running the place," Torian explained. "We were told we were outcasts and shit and the sins of our fathers and stuff. I mean, if you grow up with it, it makes sense."
"I can relate to cultural influences impacting perception," Seren agreed.
"A lot of people still think that, even if the UGW was falling all over itself to try to make things up to us," Torian continued. "So there's a hatred of the Methonians…"
"Even though all the Methonians who knew about the lie were purged," Cinder added.
"… plus a
big distrust of the UGW," Torian concluded, not contradicting Cinder's addition.
"I see," Seren nodded. "If you can, get word to your people to send someone who can negotiate for them. I'd really not want to see anyone killed here."
Torian glanced back at the human who was helping them. He nodded and scurried out.
"For what it's worth, anyhow," Torian sighed. "We're still going through with this plan."
"I don't think you need to, once your people know to contact me," Seren replied.
"What do you mean?" Torian asked.
"I think we can offer a solution to your problem," Seren told her.
"Oh?" Cinder and Torian echoed each other.
"Well, sure," Seren shrugged. "I'm told our system has enough value to talk about a tiny amount of that going to mitigate your situation. The question is whether we can twist the UGW's arm into giving up a planet for the Fusions."
"The mineral assay alone suggests that's possible," Looie mentioned.
"Would that planet in your system be on the table?" Torian wondered.
"Of course," Seren replied.
"What's in it for you?" Cinder asked Seren.
"We'd have neighbors who need a home, who know the technology, who can advise us in dealing with the Shade, and even the UGW," Seren replied.
"No, I mean, what's in it for you?" Cinder reiterated, wondering what personal benefit Seren's side of things would get from that arrangement.
"Oh, well, that's secret for now, but I'll tell Torian, or whoever I negotiate with, what we expect and be sure to be clear about the terms," Seren promised. "I know we can work a deal. But we need to finish our tour before we can talk about it. So I'll need to talk to whoever responds to this mess here before anyone does anything lethal."
Torian was assessing Seren's speech.
"How do I know this isn't a trick?" she asked.
'I'm trying to do my best to get my happy ass, and my group who includes my best friend, my lover and a couple of my family out of this steaming pile of shit in one piece and prove that my tiny, backward, barely out of the Industrial Age level technology world has a place in the galaxy before the galaxy steals my people's legacy away from them,' Seren scolded her in no uncertain terms. 'I always work deals all sides agree to, and I'll make sure we keep ours.'
Mindspeech from a human wasn't supposed to be possible, so it came as something of a shock to Torian when she heard Seren's voice in her head.
"Ow," Looie complained.
"I'm new at it," Seren said apologetically to the Methman. "I'll get better."
"I hope so," Looie frowned.
"New at what?" Cinder asked.
"Mindspeech," Seren explained, without explaining.
Torian regarded the young woman from the backward planet with a renewed respect.
"I suppose it can't hurt to tell them about you," she decided. "It'll be up to them to decide if you're for real. We don't want anyone getting suddenly dead, either. But if you're not for real, we are going to be well and truly fucked."
"Anyone in your group here because they deserved to be here?" Seren asked.
"Define "deserve"," Torian chuckled.
"I'll leave that up to your discretion," Seren told her.
"In that case, no," Torian chuckled. "We're all here unjustly."
"What's the protocol for paying off a debt?" Seren asked Cinder.
"Anyone else can pay the debt, but then whoever it relieved of the debt has to pay it back to the person who paid for it," Cinder explained.
"And if they don't have any credits or coins or scripts or whatever it is you folks use for non-barter trade?" Seren wondered.
"They pay it back in barter, I supposed, or a life debt," Cinder replied, recalling her life debt to a certain Scoutship captain that had yet to be squared.
"So, it's negotiable," Seren confirmed.
"Oh, yeah," Cinder nodded. "Everything's negotiable, if you've got the leverage."
"Do I have leverage?" Seren grinned, knowing the answer.
When Cinder remained mute rather than confess the weakness the Shade had, Looie said, "You have a huge lever, Seren."
"There, you see?" Seren said to Torian. "We can cover it."
"Will this have anything to do with your decision of which side to join?" Cinder wondered.
"That's hard to say," Seren replied honestly. "I expect it'll play into it to some degree, but to what extent remains to be seen. I do know if we get killed here, it won't end well for the Shade."
"Good point," Cinder agreed.
CHAPTER 7
Ten days later, the "captives" were set free when their rescuers arrived. The "rescuers" weren't exactly bosom buddies, though. They included Shade-loyal mercenaries and one squad of UGW Ground Forces escorting a representative of the UGW to ensure that Treah was unharmed.
The prisoners surrendered without resistance. The ambush devices they had rigged had not gone off. Seren was with the others in the delegation, waiting with Torian, for the mercenaries to take her into custody and the others to "free them" officially. But Cinder recognized one of those who walked into the room.
"Lyle Dufour," Cinder smiled.
"Cinder, I heard you were here," Lyle smiled back. "Treah, it's good to see you again, too."
"You are no longer a Scout, Lyle?" Treah asked.
"I'm, well, sort of a trouble-shooter now," Lyle shook his head. "It's like the Scouts, only you don't get shot at as often." He looked at the group and asked Sasha, "I assume you're Seren?"
"I'm Sasha," she replied.
"I'm Seren," Seren spoke up. "I assume you're the storied Lyle Dufour?"
"Does my reputation precede me?" Lyle wondered.
Seren looked at the tall, older man. He seemed remarkably fit, relaxed, blond and likely would make a lot of women swoon. Looie was eyeing him with unconcealed lust. Ash was doing the same thing. She had the feeling the man had a history with all of Cinder's family. She'd heard enough about the episode in which he was involved to read between some lines there.
Having four hundred years of life experience came in handy in reading people.
"Yes," Seren grinned. "Will you be the contact to negotiate with the UGW, when that time comes?"
"Treah will probably be the rep in this," Lyle admitted. "I'm here to fix what I broke. Apparently, the Shade have been taking advantage of the Fusions…"
"Has the UGW been annexing systems for future colonization near their space?" Seren asked.
Lyle paused, considering his next words, "I'd have to check on that to be sure."
"That was your first lie," Seren replied with an even smile.
Lyle's smile grew tight.
"Don't fuck with her, Lyle," Ash recommended. "She can tell when someone's lying."
Lyle reconsidered his words and walked them back, "Okay, yes, they have, but to my knowledge, they're not deliberately prioritizing Shade space over others," Lyle walked that back. "The UGW is enormous, there's enormous pressure to colonize and a dearth of new planets to colonize on. So we're looking everywhere we can, which includes regions near Shade Alliance territory."
"Is there some bad blood between you and Treah?" Seren wondered.
"We had… some words," Treah admitted. "But I don't think we have any animosity."
"No, no animosity," Lyle agreed.
"Could you work together again?" Seren asked.
"Whose side will I be on?" Lyle wondered.
"We'll decide that later," Seren suggested. "But if you're here now to fix this mess, you're a little bit early, unless the Shade wants to do a deal that will not impact our decision of which side to join. It would be for our mutual benefit between us and the Fusions, if they're willing to negotiate with us."
"What negotiation would that entail?" Torian inquired, her arms in restraints.
"That'd be telling," Seren chided her. Seren turned to Cinder, "Can you negotiate a side deal for the Shade?"
"Depends on the deal," Cinder remarked.
"Can I have a few, what do you call them, minutes?, alone with Cinder and Torian?" Seren asked her "rescuers".
"That'd be kind of irregular," the chief mercenary in charge of the rescue squad noted.
"Do you know who I am?" Cinder asked.
"Yeah, I know you Cinder," the man sighed. "Okay, fine, if you three want to talk, do it in there, and knock when you want out."
The three women, with one still restrained, walked into the room. Five minutes later, they walked out.
"Take off her restraints," Cinder ordered.
"But…" the Mercenary Chief started to say. Cinder gave him a look. He sighed, "Fine…" and bent to comply with Cinder's order.
"What's going on?" Lyle wondered.
"I've bought her debt," Seren explained.
"And she's paying it back in full value?" Lyle asked.
"That kind of depends on how you define value, I suppose," Seren shrugged. "It works for our social sensibilities, though."
"The Shade is fine with it," Cinder told him. "Or will be, once I pass it along."
"What about Torian?" Looie asked. "Is she staying here?"
"No, she's coming with us," Seren told them.
"I'll have another room made up on the ship," Ash mentioned, knowing the modular design of the interior of her ship could be altered to accommodate more people. It was designed to hold hundreds of miners, after all, though it could operate with just a few.
The "deal" was strictly for Torian. Her merry band of saboteurs would remain behind to face whatever they faced. Seren had also worked in a deal to pay the debt for one Renlin G'tham, which wasn't exactly cheap, but from what she was told of the assay value of her home system's wealth, it wouldn't have impacted that total any more than the pocket change lost in a sofa cushion would impact the budget of a galactic-wide corporation.
Additionally, he was to be provided with credits to do what he wanted to do – at least as long as he spent wisely. It would be up to him to decide what he would do with the rest of his life.
Seren had a good idea what he would do, and as they processed the group through and got them ready to board the ship for the next destination, she received a call from him.
"Why did you buy my debt?" her former Guide asked.
"You didn't kill anyone," Seren replied. "You lied when you plead guilty to the charges. You were innocent."
