Thoughts flashed through his mind at the speed of light, images strobing across her mind. She grunted and staggered away. Red caught her, quickly looking her over to see if she’d been physically injured.
“I’m sorry, Palatius, I must have had some bad Moonstokle Pie.” Rivka collected her thoughts and continued, “How are we to address the governor-general? Does he have a nomenclature that is preferred? We had very little time to prepare for this trip. General Reynolds wanted us here to provide input on the negotiations.” She touched his arm again. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
He recoiled from her second touch, but not before a series of images flashed before her eyes. This time she was ready and didn’t flinch.
“Call him ‘Governor-General’ no matter what he tells you to call him.”
“Thank you, Mister Lore. You’ve been very helpful,” Rivka purred.
Get some good intel, Magistrate? Red asked as he examined the security shacks, noting every nook and cranny behind which guards could hide and fire. He stopped and stood in front of the shack on his side, blocking the guards’ view of the Magistrate.
“Those plasma rifles?” Red asked the guard conversationally. Another guard waved the barrel of his weapon as a signal to keep moving.
Lindy blocked the other side but didn’t bother talking. She smiled at the guards, but they remained professional, watching the small entourage troop past and head into the compound as the gates opened and closed behind them. Red and Lindy hurried to catch up before they were locked out.
Palatius motioned for them to go in a side door rather than through the main entrance. Rivka used all of her self-discipline to keep from rolling her eyes.
Clown burger with an extra helping of monkey ass, she vented to the others.
Scrotum-lipped dong-spanker, Red offered.
Slave, Jay suggested. A slave to his way of life. The Federation is a threat. The Magistrate is the Federation, at least to him. I don’t think he’s a bad guy. At least he’s carrying out his duties.
Keep your eyes open, people, Rivka cautioned as they entered the tight space of a narrow corridor. Red and Lindy were bunched up behind the others. Looks like it’s showtime.
The hallway led to a large foyer adjoining main entrance. It was sealed shut, the plate welded across the gaps out of place compared to the quality of the doors. Palatius paid no attention as he walked into a room that looked more like a bar than an official meeting room of the planet’s senior official.
Chapter Four
A bar stood along one wall, tables were scattered throughout the room, and at one end, there was hardwood inlay on the walls.
Looks like a bar to me, Red said. I have some expertise in this area.
Palatius led them to a side table where a smartly-dressed Corranite was holding council with five individuals from five different cultures. Rivka’s eyes were drawn to the Yollin. What are you doing here? she wondered.
Palatius whispered in the Corranite’s ear, and he quickly wrapped his meeting, shaking hands with his guests before sending them on their way. When he approached, his presence commanded that Rivka and her team pay attention to him. His magnetism was the polar opposite of Palatius Lore’s. Where the latter repelled them, the former pulled them toward him. He smiled and reached out to take Rivka’s hand.
“I am Ignacio Mar, Governor-General of Corran. Please call me ‘Ignacio,’” he said warmly.
“Ignacio,” Rivka replied smoothly, not looking at Palatius. “I’m Magistrate Rivka Anoa. Please call me ‘Rivka.’ You have a beautiful city.”
She took his hand and was surprised to get no insight or images from his mind. She put a second hand on top of her handshake as she smiled back at the governor-general.
Still nothing.
“Thank you! We are proud of Amberly,” he replied enthusiastically. “You’ll have to excuse my official meeting area. We are undergoing remodeling. Please take a seat.”
Red and Lindy moved away to give the Magistrate and governor-general their privacy while also assuming tactically superior positions. Red studied the woodwork more intently before giving Rivka a wary eye.
Shrapnel scrapes and bullet holes that had been hastily repaired.
All is not as it seems, Red told them using the internal comm. Business as usual.
Rivka leaned forward in her chair, giving the governor-general her full attention.
“Lance tells me that you are here to explore Federation misdeeds,” Ignacio said, his voice as neutral and unreadable as his mind.
“I thought I was here to do a simple laws-and-policies check to better advise him regarding the negotiations. Sweeten the pot, as it may be, with what the Federation might provide that neither party realizes.”
The governor-general leaned back in his chair and laughed. “Nicely played, Magistrate. Your reputation precedes you.”
The team’s ears perked up at that. Rivka leaned over the table. Out of sight beneath the table, she held one of Ankh’s devices in her hand. Are you getting anything, Ankh? she asked.
Stand by, was Ankh’s noncommittal reply.
Governor-General Mar lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “You and your team have undoubtedly already discovered the damage to my residence. You’ve realized that there has been an attempt on my life, all because of the negotiations with the Federation. The power on Corran will not easily give up the Trade.”
“The Trade?”
“The Federation calls it sentient trafficking, but Corran sees it as labor capital. Everyone trades their skills for pay. Everyone.”
Rivka leaned back in her chair. “We had noticed, Ignacio, but thank you for sharing the truth.” The Magistrate didn’t elaborate. He only told them what they already knew. She didn’t need to share anything to reciprocate. She was young, but not that young.
“What’s your position, Magistrate?” The governor-general stopped playing the subtle game.
“My position is based on Federation law. Slavery is illegal. Trading in sentient species is illegal. Trading in labor where the workforce has a legitimate say in what jobs it accepts is where we’d like to see Corran go. We call them ‘headhunters’—People who match job seekers with those hiring. But businesses have to hire, not buy and sell. The labor force is responsible for their own food and accommodations as they look for jobs. It relieves some of the burden on the traders as the overhead costs drop, but the return on investment is reduced, although the investment itself is reduced because no one is paying anyone else to kidnap people in the middle of the night.”
The governor-general laughed again. “Yes, we have some of those shady types, but the licensed dealers do everything in the open, using contracts and treating their clients decently. I think we are far closer to what you describe than what the Federation mistakenly believes.”
“Help me see the truth, Governor-General. Let me see the areas I submitted as part of my original agenda. Let me go with a neutral third party, someone who is not biased one way or the other. If the change in process is something simple, let’s light this candle and enjoy the cake.”
“I don’t understand your metaphor. Is that a good thing?”
“Cake is always a good thing,” Rivka clarified, exhaling slowly in appreciation of the conversation’s change to something substantive without being trying.
“Then I will turn you back over to Palatius to escort you on the rest of your agenda.”
Rivka winced, and Ignacio raised one fibrous eyebrow.
“Is there a problem?”
“Mister Lore is a bit hostile to the Federation. I would prefer no escort, if possible.”
“That is out of the question,” the governor-general replied. “We have to ensure your safety. Give Palatius a chance, and you’ll find that he’s a good guy at heart.”
Rivka smiled. She’d seen enough of the escort’s heart to hold a significantly different view. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say?
&nbs
p; Is that what you saw in that guy’s head? He is the enemy? Red asked.
For now, keep a weapon trained on him, but we need him to help us get into the places on our agenda. It doesn’t sound like we have a choice as to his company. No conversations within earshot. No challenges to his authority. We’ll play nice until we get what we want.
Waiting for that moment when we get what we want, Red said.
Seconded, Lindy added.
The bottom line is, don’t be a dick to nice people, Jay suggested.
“Thank you for your time, Governor-General. I look forward to following up as part of a long and fruitful relationship between Corran and the Etheric Federation.”
“Nice to meet you too, Magistrate. If you find a conspiracy for a coup, I trust you’ll tell me?” He offered his hand, and Rivka gripped it firmly.
“Of course,” she lied, and put Ankh’s coin-sized device into her pocket.
Palatius didn’t say a single word from the time he led Rivka’s team from the governor-general’s residence until they reached the first location on the original agenda: the support facilities beside the main trade hall.
The security guards said the place was closed, but Palatius showed his credentials, which earned him a sharp salute and a guard with an electronic device and ring of keys to keep them company. He motioned for the group to follow before going through a series of doors, some unlocked using the device, others unlocked using the physical key.
Once inside, they found an efficiently humming supply chain. There were clothing stalls, equipment stalls, toiletries, and everything anyone could want for personal care. The constant motion of a small army of workers was a dizzying sight.
“I thought this place was closed?” Rivka asked pointedly.
“This supports the labor force through the use of that very labor. Three meals a day, a hot shower, a soft bed. Security. That never stops, but the customers and clients do not have access around the clock.”
“Thank you for the explanation. I’d like to watch for a little while and then talk with a few of the individuals down there.”
“What do you want to talk to them about?” Palatius wondered, giving her a sideways glance.
“Their lives, their opportunities, their history; the usual.” His silence was welcome. “How many different species do you have here at any point in time?”
He shrugged.
Rivka stopped talking and powered straight for the central area where most of the activity was taking place. She counted twenty different alien species and added more as she looked into the various stalls. “Impressive,” she mumbled. “Hey, you!”
A four-legged alien without arms was carrying a significant load on its back while a second alien, an extremely tall and thin humanoid, held the awkward bundle in place.
“I’d like to ask you a few questions,” she interrupted. The Magistrate didn’t bother showing them her credentials. They carried no weight on a non-Federation planet.
The four-legged alien snorted and whinnied. The universal translator delayed for a few moments before catching up.
“Can’t you see I’m busy and loaded down? Catch me when I have a lighter load,” the creature said.
“When will that be?” Rivka asked.
“The twelfth of never!” The four-legged creature pranced a few steps and flipped its head as it laughed at its own joke.
“That was a good one,” the tall alien remarked, slapping the load as they hurried away, still chuckling.
“Well-treated and in good spirits,” Palatius commented, and started walking away.
Rivka let him go and found an alien issuing toiletries for life-forms with teeth.
“Good afternoon. My name is Rivka. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? I’m here with the governor-general’s permission.” She waved in the general direction of Palatius Lore.
“Yes, mistress,” the meek female replied.
“Where are you from?” Rivka put her hand on the alien’s arm to best gauge the answer’s truth.
“From Rawfield, on the edge of the Corrhen Cluster. It’s a beautiful place. Have you ever been there?” she replied, perking up.
“I have not. I’ll have to visit. Why did you leave Rawfield?” The images that flashed into Rivka’s mind were of poverty and starvation. Too many people in a small cargo hold on a space freighter.
“I couldn’t afford to live there. Half my family left so the others could survive.”
“I’m sure they appreciate your sacrifice,” Rivka told the youngster from Rawfield. Images appeared showing an individual the Magistrate assumed was her father. Money changed hands, and four were led away in chains. “Can parents sell their children in your culture?”
The youngster looked alarmed but settled for shaking her head as she handed prepared packages across the counter to anyone who held out a hand, paw, or tentacle.
“I understand.” Rivka let go of the alien’s arm. “How are you holding up?”
“I haven’t seen my brother or sisters, but I’m treated well.” The youngster hesitated before raising her voice and pleading, “I need to get back to work.”
With a nod, Rivka hurried away.
Palatius had returned and was wearing a dark scowl. “There’s a difference between asking questions and interfering with the labor force while working.”
“You are correct, Palatius. My questions take priority over work that can be done anytime and, it appears, by any untrained labor, regardless of age.” Rivka closed on the escort. “Where are their quarters?”
He didn’t answer.
“Where do they stay when they’re not working?” Rivka’s voice was cool, but Palatius was unimpressed. He refused to acknowledge her question. “It appears that we have gotten off on the wrong foot, Mister Lore. Whatever is keeping you from doing your job of escorting us, talk to me so we can work it out. If you aren’t willing to help us, then we are at an impasse and will go our separate ways.”
“You are indeed correct, Magistrate.” He bowed slightly. “Please, follow me.”
He headed toward the door. Rivka winked at Red, but he shook his head.
We’re fucked, Red told them.
How so? We’re going to go see the slave billeting, the Magistrate replied.
It’s that way. Red pointed with the barrel of his railgun in the opposite direction. A sign over a wide doorway designated billeting beyond.
He can fuck off, Rivka replied, turning and making a hatchet arm toward the far door. Red lingered behind in case Palatius wanted to play hardball. Lindy moved to the front and led the way. Jay sidled up next to the Magistrate.
“I don’t like this,” Jay said. “They seem happy, but off.”
“We’re only scratching the surface. I figure when we see the dark underbelly, it will be foul.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come. I don’t want to see any dark underbelly. It doesn’t help that he is being such a jerk.”
I think he was one of those behind the coup attempt. I saw too much in his mind and haven’t had time to think about it yet. None of it was pleasant. Rivka switched to their internal comm because her suspicions didn’t need to be aired in public. I need you here with me. You ground me.
That’s a sweet thing to say. Jay smiled, but it quickly faded when she remembered the case they were on. What are we looking for?
The easy crime that gives us the authority to look deeper. The easiest are the ones that violate Corran law, like prohibited species or incarceration-style conditions, as in, we find someone in chains. I doubt that since they would be well hidden, but we’ll dig as deep as they allow us to. If we keep going where our buddy Palatius doesn’t want us to go, we’ll eventually get to the bottom of things, build the case, and see what needs to happen to interdict the trade.
Palatius is on his way, Magistrate, and he has company, Red reported.
Jay started to turn, but Rivka stopped her. “What we don’t know can’t hurt us, right?” she quipped. Lindy held open th
e door marked Billeting, and Jay & Rivka rushed through. Lindy blocked the door, her railgun resting easily in her hands.
Not far inside a dark corridor, the women ran across two guards. Rivka flashed her creds and stated, “Investigating a crime, no time to talk.” Holding Jay by the arm, they powered through the checkpoint into an area with crates that looked like shipping containers in neat rows, stacked three levels high with catwalks in between. No privacy going in or out, but complete privacy once inside since the boxes had no windows.
Armed guards stood at the ends of the catwalk on each level between each row.
How many do you count? Rivka asked.
Jay pointed a finger and counted under her breath. There are eighteen rows, three high, back to back, makes for one hundred eight on this end, and if I can see to the end, looks like seventy or eighty on a rough guess. That’s, let me see...
From seven thousand five hundred sixty to eight thousand six hundred forty, Ankh interjected after a long delay. There’s no technology in this area to exploit. They are using manual systems. You need to find their main data center.
Did you discover anything in the governor-general’s house? Rivka asked. And by the way, thank you for checking in. I forgot because of everything else going on.
Yes, Ankh answered.
Rivka and Jay waited, but he didn’t elaborate.
Yes to what? Rivka finally asked.
I found plenty at the governor-general’s house. You’ll have to review it to see if anything is a crime under Federation law.
It probably isn’t. A non-Federation planet’s internal affairs are their own business, no matter how much we may find their practices offensive. They can’t know we have that information.
The link went dead. Rivka rolled her eyes. Jay shrugged. “He is adorable in his own way, but he doesn’t relate to humans very well.”
“That’s an understatement.” A worker brushed them on his way past. Rivka motioned for Jay to follow and they entered the housing area, strolling slowly to catch glimpses of the interiors. Most doors were closed, but some were open.
Austere, to say the least. I was in solitary confinement at one time. These are little better than that, Rivka noted. This looks like a cell block.
Slave Trade Page 4
