“You said there were two reasons,” Beulah’s eyes thanked Harnan, but she was sure she knew the next one, for Sesha had spoken of it before.
“As soon as the message reached the First Station, it was transmitted directly to the Alliance Counsel, who automatically registered charges and the accused must be alive to answer to them.” Ggentian didn’t look happy about that.
“But… the circumstances were all beyond her control,” Beulah argued. “Why try her for what she had to do with what was given?”
Head of the Inner Six, Melena walked in, in time to hear that and answered as she sat, weary just thinking about what was to come. “The laws of the Alliance are absolute, no matter your race, gender or position in society. When a law is broken there is no quarter given. That way other inhabitants will never try to commit the same or similar crime again. It has worked for over 4000 years now, so why should there be a precedent?”
“Has there ever been a problem such as this?” Beulah asked.
“No,” every voice in the room responded.
“These shopping trips have been going on for centuries,” Melena took up the tale again and noticed that Beulah had set her Gem, quietly, to record. Obviously to send a message to Florence. While her mind praised the woman, her heart sank to think they might take it away after the trial. “In ever-widening circles. The ships have evolved as the trips have; the greater the desire for items, the larger and better ships built. The models being used now are a hundred years old, and Sesha was going to change ships to a newer model only 20 years old, as First Position Pilot. But no matter the age of the ship, st every port they are supposed to gone over carefully by Company Engineers who live there to make sure nothing is the matter.”
“Then the company be in trouble too for missing this problem.”
“Yes. And every ship is being stopped or told to head for the nearest port immediately. If this one has this issue, it’s likely the others do as well. So yes, they will be on trial too. The Okeela race will have to appear as well,” Melena shook her head and sighed. “those dogs Sesha tamed and brought… they are distant progeny of the race, meaning your world was visited at a time when it was under quarantine. They are in trouble as well, they just don’t know it yet, and the Bahrain Bird People of the Roĵ’klar Forest – Sesha didn’t tell you of that, but the notes of your music is their language. So there is a lot more than just Sesha in trouble.”
“Oh, dear,” Beulah’s lips pinched. “What… kind of hope is there for Sesha?”
“No one knows. We know all Humans will stand for her, so will this crew,” Melena had to close her eyes a moment, assailed by guilt for the way she’d treated Sesha before this. But then, her Psych program in her Gem reminded her, Sesha had been a different Being then. And yes, Melena tended to harshness when none was needed.
“We just hope they’ll take all extenuating,”
“Heretofore unknown,”
“Never before experienced,”
“Circumstances,” despite it all there were smiles, “into full consideration.”
“And if not? What of Sesha, an’ us?”
“Asylum,” Ggentian leaned close and said slowly, clearly. “Asylum was asked for; no matter where, who or what is happening, the request for asylum cannot be denied. The Council will order a world, or section of one, found for you. You will be given every help to build lives in the way you wish, kept in constant touch with, sent all you need for living. You will still be wanted for your knowledge and experiences, and being as you all are refugees, your voice for Sesha will be heard if she is or not adjudged guilty. They can alter her memories to the story used and leave off what convicted her, if worse happens. She will live with all of you, a happy life, if you request it.”
“Good… because if she cannot, we will ask to be brought back, just put in a different spot where we can live out lives or move on. All this will be pointless if she is found guilty an’ we will have none of it.”
“Now that you know you’re the official Human Leader, you take the post seriously,” Melena patted her hand, smiling. “Florence will be proud of you. So will Sesh.”
“But for now,” Ggentian broke in, “we need to work to eradicate any disease from the rest of you. Tell me, Beulah… what do you know of illness?”
“Learned Physicians say Germs are the ‘seeds of a disease.’ We know cough, sneeze – in our language – pustules and such create and spread disease. Leaving person and animal filth to lie about and rot does also. There is a Dr. Edward Jenner, if he be still alive, who took the word ‘virus,’ which meant ‘venomous substance, poisonous,’ to also mean ‘agent that causes infectious disease.’ He devised a technique of preventing smallpox by injecting people with the cowpox virus by putting it under the skin. Florence an’ I did work with him some,” working her sleeve to her upper arm she showed a small, irregular dimple, “an’ we did receive a vaccinate also.”
“Good, you have knowledge. So you understand that all people carry germs and virus’s in them that can harm others.”
“I do. That ours can harm all those out here in the… galaxy,” it was still a new word, rolled slowly off the tongue, “and yours can harm us as well. So why did no one fall ill of diseases of which Florence and I would know nothing of?”
“Because Sesha had all her vaccinates which quelled rise of her diseases in any others. If the rescue had been ineffective and she stayed, she would have died soon of your diseases and a little while after, all you who were with Sesha would have become carriers of her sorts of disease. It’s what we call ‘mutation,’ ” carefully said. “Did any people or animals ever be born,” a chuckle swept the room, “with oddities that made them different but didn’t really cause harm, and they lived a fairly normal life?’ Beulah nodded. “Mutation is the process of being changed, as in nature. Certain plants with more leaves than they should have, a flower stem with two flowers from one bud. In you people, Sesha’s germs and virus’s would begin to change and become deadly to others you would just pass and eventually to yourselves.”
“It’s entirely possible,” Melena interrupted the speech before the doctor would get too carried away, “that when the signal would finally reach the Alliance and others come to get us, they might find a dead world, for no Human would have resistance to those diseases.”
“So what needs done now?”
“Except for Darren, Sarah and Nicodemus, all were already in TravelSleep when blood was taken to use for Sesha. Yours, as you know, was tainted by a nasty poison; you were lucky to not die sooner, Good Lady,” Beulah started to open her mouth but Ggentian shook his head so she quieted. “Our computers… made a record of all unknown organisms, and since we have an awake subject , we would like a fresh study.” And he explained what would be done and how.
Beulah agreed and they began. It was easy for her, fluids taken and they let her do the genital samples herself, with verbal instruction behind a privacy screen. She was ‘scanned’ as they called it finally, and allowed to dress and rejoin.
“Visit with Sesha a bit,” the group said, “then we’ll show you what we’ve learned and the next step.” With alacrity Beulah hurried over and kissed the unconscious woman’s cheek.
During the two months it took to reach the Main Dock on the planet Phenjam, a lot was accomplished. Nic, Darren and Sarah were awakened after their bodies were treated to keep disease from going both ways for Beulah wanted support on waking the ones who needed to go to the specialty hospital.
All adults agreed, and more were wakened to come; the two boys who’d had tuberculosis could benefit from further treatments; in fact, all the children needed something. The only two they knew who would refuse to go would be Ben and Ezra.
“While they have a few issues, I’m sure we can handle it,” Harnan smiled. “And we better wake them up… they’ve noticed there’s less of the con – group, I mean – to talk to.”
“So wake them,” Beulah smiled and right at that moment the boys walked in
only in the long nightshirts they usually wore on planet, grubbing at their eyes.
“I already did,” O’zelia smiled from her console at Dinah’s bed. They had not awakened her, but communicated through the link about the plan. She agreed, especially since her husband and many friends would be along. “Thought they’d want to say ‘see you soon,’ to their friends; we’ve 7 weeks till learning the schedule of trials an’ it is possible things may be delayed to finish renewing health and rejoining the main Refugee camp.” She was right, the boys did, even to walking onto the smaller ship, seeing the wonderful set-ups and leaving after all were back in TravelSleep again.
Sesha came out of her coma when there was two weeks till dock. Her first words were slurred, in her language until her cheek was patted and Beulah said “English, child,”
“Bee-lah,” she whispered as it was when laying close to dying, but the tiny smile twitching at the corner of her mouth said she knew what she was doing.
“How are you feeling, child?” her answering smile said she knew it too.
“Different,” Sesha cleared her throat as it was dry and Harnan handed Darren a funny looking bottle with a long, thin snout, bent in the middle.
“Tuck that in her mouth and squeeze gently,” Harnan murmured, so Darren did and Sesha gladly drank.
“Not like I did downstairs,” her voice was better, perkier and she smiled at the other three of her group. “My shoulder feels tightened,”
“That’s good, and I’m Doctor Ggentian,” the Being looked over at Sesha, his odd goggles showing whatever kind of eye shape was most comforting to the patient. Knowing his species, Sesha saw the eyes normal to his kind; sharp-pointed vertical ovals with a diamond shaped pupil. His pupils were orange, the rest black which meant he had the sharpest vision his species could have. “Tell me more,”
“My insides don’t hurt all the kr’eelin time,” to which Darren tapped a finger by her lips. “Fine, no bad words,” was the grumble. “I still feel weak but it doesn’t hurt to breathe anymore.”
“Good,” not looking at her but down, the Doctor was assessing her report with the scanner panel. “We replaced your insides entirely because of that poison, fixed your shoulder, patched up your back nicely but it’s a mess of scars anyway. Skin over the shot shoulder will be the same way. Otherwise a little time up and down, start some soft foods,” she groaned, “that taste good and you’ll be on your feet fully before we dock.” The only answer from that statement was silence.
Sesha got a visitor, though, later that day who first talked to Sesha, then Beulah, then both together. Finally they woke up the rest of the humans and met as a group in Medical for a talk with everyone, including the group at the Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital by holograms. It was almost as if they were really there!
“Our full name is Amnesty, Asylum and Acquittal Alliance. In short we’re referred to as the A Quad,”
“Having four A’s in thy name,” Rachel spoke up. “You can help us as we cry for asylum?”
“Absolutely. I have all the work done on the asylum, I just need the name of your leader to put in the appropriate places and that Being will put their signature on. Do you have such a person?”
“Beulah Allway,” Nic said quietly. And everyone else echoed her name, making her the Official Leader of the Group.
“Good. Then I’ll make explanation of what we’ve done so far, what’s in the… records… that Beulah will sign first, then each of you underneath. You here by Holo will sign too, it will be as real as if your physical forms were here. Sesh,” the tri-gendered animal/humanoid Being turned to look at the woman in a semi-elevated position, “you will keep quiet save for talk with your crew. Not a word about this, do you understand?”
Sesha just nodded, straight-faced and took the cup handed her. She was always thirsty lately, which tickled Harnan no end. Her cells were plumping out nicely now, her form about where it was at the time of the accident. If not for the scars to her shoulder and back, she would look that way as well for the insertion scar healed perfectly.
They talked for days, meeting other A Quad members who came in and would help represent the group and its request. All of adult status understood, even Ben and Ezra, who insisted on affixing their names even though parents signing covered them.
“We stand on our own an’ with the con – group,” Benjamin was firm. “Have been treated as adults since turning ten an’ we both be 13 now, having had that birthnight whilst asleep. Would have been moved into the men’s barracks then.” So they were allowed with no further protest.
Then it was Sesha’s turn, and much as Beulah wanted – along with many others – wanted to sit in, they were denied. So the Refugees readied – for arrival was in four more days – to prepare for what they would see. Melena took over for Sesha here as they would be closeted probably till then.
“Sesh will tell the… lawyers… the whole story including why she made the choices she did, when there were other ways she could have solved the problem. They’ll twist her words, ask the same thing in a number of ways and more. This whole affair rests on ‘the Circumstances extenuate the crime’ so she has to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt this was the only path open to her.”
“What does ‘beyond the shadow of a doubt’ mean?”
“She must prove at least 99% that her way was correct.”
“Oh,” and Beulah felt down, seriously.
The uproar was tremendous, just arriving at dock. Beulah, Nic, Darren and Sarah got to be with Sesha on the bridge as the ship was untethered and pushed into dock, and then Ben and Ezra bullied their way through the guards at the door and hurried to Sesha. There they watched, seeing an uncountable number of ships ringing the area, watching them. When they all went to the Bay doors where they usually unloaded goods, Sesha was met by a nervous set of Beings.
“We must take you into custody,” the largest one announced and held out a glowing ring. “Arms,” he ordered, and Sesha held them out, crossed at the wrist. The ring shrank around them snugly.
“No!” at least 50 voices rose, both crew and refugees. Then Beulah hushed them all with a gesture and stepped forward.
“Us too, then. Shackle us as well for we will not move from here unless treated the same as Sesha. So bind and place us in same, or let her go.”
The nervous Beings got worse; never in millennia had this office been more than name only! To have to actually perform such a duty was frightening… they made calls though, and right away. It wasn’t long before a screen floated over and a visage appeared and even though there were gasps, the group was prepared.
“I am eXi’lia-a, First Council Member. We have heard the words of the Refugees, so Seshaph’lariminium of the planet Nestram, do you hereby guarantee to not try and flee the planet for any reason?”
“I do, First Council Member.” She was dignified as she answered.
“Then I release you upon your own recognizance,” the Being said as the arm restraints were removed. “And to further ensure you will make no flight, the Humans shall be punished as you would be if you do flee.”
Sesha’s hand whipped up, palm bent over backwards as voices started to rise.
“These Humans all are refugees from the Third Planet in the Sol System where the ship broke down; you cannot hold them hostage to my movements!” She’d been warned the Council would try this, “By the very Laws of the Council, dated,” she spat out words that while they were translated, it was garbled, “and I quote, “Any sentient Beings from any planet in the Universe, in or out of the Alliance who request Asylum shall be treated with respect, dignity and full support before, during and even after determining the validity of the request. If denied, said Refugees shall be returned to the home planet in the area requested; if approved, full support shall be rendered while assisting said Refugees to find homes, work and teaching to ensure full integration into their new lives.” Based on that, First Council Member, you shall not place them in jeopardy.”
“A Quad
has prepared you well, Seshaph’lariminium. In which case all of you, crew of the Inner Six and all humans shall be given quarter at… what do Humans call a house where all may stay, usually paying for a room?”
“An Inn,” Beulah answered. “But we have no money to pay, nor credits, nor goods to trade.”
“Under the Law that is no matter. Smaller transports such as the ones that evacuated you from the planet of your origin shall take you to an Inn. There all your needs will be met by the Beings there; all other Beings will be kept at bay but there will be ones doing their best to see you. I beg their pardon right away as curiosity is inherent in all forebrained Beings. Which,” the Being’s visage began to fade, “often makes us wonder how we evolved so far without killing ourselves off first.”
“Our race too. And we give thee thanks, First Council Member.”
So everyone was settled; the building had been simplified for them but was still far and above anything ever known. They were overwhelmed and it took comfort from Sesha and the crew to calm them down. More changes were made to a simpler environment even until Beulah said to stop.
“We must make adjustments too,” was her explanation.
Five days later the trial began and it was horrendous.
27
“As your Holy Bible says,” Melena was leading them early into an arena, an area set apart only for them, “Let all things be done decently and in order. It’s a tenant of the Council.” There were comfortable chairs, an area for children to play with toys waiting for them, and a set of assistants who would fetch food and drink anytime it was asked for. “So they go to the beginning even though it will mix up the events that brings us all here.”
“Where be Sesha?” Beulah asked as the Congregation, including all the ones who had been sent to the specialty hospital filed in and found places. Delia had a seat she could change a number of ways for the convenience of her and her extremely tiny baby.
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