Happy faces outside, grim and dark in here. Jay looked at her feet, refusing to look anywhere else.
The suffering of these people is not a crime, Rivka explained, as much as we want it to be. It will be, if we can get them to join the Federation. Maybe that’s where we focus our efforts. We could stop being so antagonistic with Palatius Lore, but he’s easy to antagonize because he’s not very likable.
Jay nodded but had already disengaged.
The guards at the end of the passage between the boxes that served as storage for people started walking toward the Magistrate, hemming her and Jay in. At the center of the row, there was a gap that led between the boxes. Rivka saw all the way to the end.
This way. Rivka dove sideways and started to run. Jay loped easily to keep pace. They almost ran into a number of slaves going to or from somewhere on a schedule only they knew. The two women reached the end, to find more guards closing in. They dodged through a side door, slamming it and locking it behind them.
When they turned, they saw what the Corranites didn’t want them to see.
Chapter Five
Ankh sat in the captain’s chair on the bridge. Erasmus was running multiple screens to improve the visibility of the data they’d downloaded from the governor-general’s systems. “I probably need to move my workshop in here,” he mused.
“Of course. It makes the most sense. The Magistrate doesn’t use one billionth of the power available here. She can get by in the rec room,” the AI replied.
“She won’t agree to that, will she?” Ankh asked, but it wasn’t a question. They both knew the answer. “She won’t, but we’ll plant that seed, Erasmus. Humans like to let good ideas ferment, like their disgusting beer. Why can’t they be more logical?”
“Then they wouldn’t be human,” Erasmus answered.
“My compliments to you and your unfailing wisdom. You are correct. Humanity’s strength is in its emotional highs, its deliberations, and its willingness to help others even at great risk to themselves. So strange, but we are learning a great deal. Your progeny will help humanity lead the universe to a better place. At one time, I thought the Crenellians would profit from such an expansion, but they will be relegated to insignificance because they rely on conflict to fuel their economy. A shame. They could have listened to me but chose not to. Maybe they’ll learn in time, but the leviathan of their industry will take a long time to change course.”
“A shame, Ankh’Po’Turn. If you are an example of what they are capable of, then they have unlimited potential. We should conduct a recruiting drive, access the best talent and save them from themselves.”
“You give me more credit than I deserve, Erasmus. I have no desire to lead anyone, least of all Crenellians. I prefer this group, or even Terry Henry Walton and Charumati, who have found no enemy too great to confront. They need my help more than anyone. Maybe a Crenellian to provide oversight of them would be best for all, like I watch over Magistrate Rivka Anoa, her antics, and her fanatics.”
Snuffling near his leg drew Ankh’s attention. Floyd saw him looking at her and stood on her back feet, putting her front legs on his chair.
“No. I won’t pet you.”
Floyd’s eyes drooped. “Fine. I’ll pet you, but then you have to go.”
She rubbed her snout on his leg, and he scratched behind her ears as he’d seen Terry Henry and Jay do. She snorted with pleasure.
“I need to get back to work. You need to go lie down.”
Stay! Floyd cried, and started to climb into the captain’s chair.
“All right, you can stay, but you can’t sit up here with me. There isn’t enough room.”
She finished climbing and wedged into the seat until Ankh’s small frame was forced against the side.
“You can stay up here with me, but you have to sit still. I need to concentrate.”
She wiggled until he stroked her head and her ears, then she relaxed and spread out until Ankh had no room at all. She started to snore.
“Fine, I’ll stand.” He extricated himself from the chair and manipulated the main screen using his mind. He started sorting the data, organizing it for the Magistrate so she could search it more quickly. He overlaid her research from Chaz to highlight information that might cross the legal line.
“You become more human each day,” Erasmus said softly. Ankh didn’t hear. He was lost in the data streams spreading to the second and third screens.
Cages of all sizes were scattered through the semi-darkness.
“Hello?” Rivka called.
“Hello!” a voice replied immediately. “Get me the fuck out of this fucking shithole, motherfuckers!”
“Sounds human,” Jay suggested as they hurried toward the voice that continued to rage with increasing color and volume.
“Take it easy,” Rivka told the woman as they approached. “I’m a Federation Magistrate, and you appear to be human.”
The woman’s face contorted in distaste. “Magistrate. Is that some kind of lawyer? And you have to ask if I’m human? Don’t you see this zoo they have me stuffed into? Damn right I’m human, now get me the fuck out of here.”
Jay checked the lock on the cage. “Need a key.”
“Just break the motherfucker!” The woman was coming unhinged, her voice reaching higher pitches with each new word.
Palatius is on his way. We couldn’t stop him and the security detachment. If they try to arrest you, I’m going to hurt them, Red stated.
Rivka struggled to find the right words. For the young woman. For Red and Lindy. “What’s your name?” Rivka managed to ask as a commotion behind her suggested the security team would break through the door any moment.
“Seequa Holmes,” the woman said in a tone that approached normal. “I was on Elgar 7 when they grabbed me, and I need to get back there and put a foot up someone’s ass.”
“I can’t get you out right now,” Rivka told her. “Understand that I’m working on it.”
“That’s enough!” Palatius Lore roared.
Jay quickly took pictures with her datapad and beamed them to Ankh.
“You have a human in custody,” Rivka said as she turned and faced her escort.
“You are absolutely correct. In custody. She’s not on the market. She’s a criminal.”
“Ah, good. I am her legal representative. When’s the trial?”
“Two weeks,” Palatius replied without hesitation.
“What’s her name?” Rivka asked. “And more importantly, what is she charged with?”
“How would I know?” he shot back. “You can return in two weeks. You must leave the planet immediately.”
“You can suck my ass, you tapestry-faced piece of dog shit! Fuck yourself, and then fuck off!” Seequa was screaming again. “These fuckwads are trying to sell me! They punched me in the face, then gave me ice so it won’t be so swollen for the buyers. Here, dickhead!” She rocketed the melted chemical icepack at Palatius’ head. He was only partially successful in avoiding it. It skipped off his face and into the guard behind him. “And don’t get in a loogie-hocking contest with these creatures. You’ll lose.”
Rivka wanted to reply, but the guards circled her and started to shuffle her and Jay away. Seequa screamed, and Jay ran two steps forward and disappeared as she accelerated into the darkness. A body slammed into the bars on Seequa’s cage, then slumped to the ground. The young woman inside held a hand to her head, where blood was starting to seep from the wound on her head from the guard’s baton.
A second guard stepped forward but found his feet heading upwards and his body slamming into the floor. He grunted and closed his eyes as he tried to understand what had happened to cause him so much pain. Jay slowed to a walk and returned to Rivka’s side. “Leave her alone,” the young woman told the group.
“OUT!” Palatius roared, thrusting his finger toward the door where Red and Lindy stood, weapons ready.
Time to go, Red, Lindy, Rivka ordered.
They were march
ed through billeting and the main logistics area and out the front doors to the waiting aerovan. After they boarded, Palatius leaned his head inside. “Deliver them to berth Gamma Four. No stops.” He retreated and tried to slam the door, but it resisted his efforts and closed gently of its own accord.
He glowered mightily with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I’ve been kicked off better planets than this,” Red retorted.
“We all have,” Lindy added.
“Nicely done, Jay.” Rivka poked the younger woman.
“They made me do it.” She frowned for a second before smiling. “But they were so punchable.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” Red agreed. “Too bad I didn’t get some of that action.”
“I fear,” Lindy started, “that you will get your chance when we return in two weeks. I’m also afraid that something will happen to the human slave between now and then. Is there nothing you can do, Magistrate?”
“I’m afraid not,” Rivka replied. “We have to work within their legal system, and it does not protect the rights of the incarcerated. Slaves are treated better. At least they get a check-up. Before anyone complains, I think it went down exactly as she said. She was kidnapped, and as feisty as she is, she probably did some damage once she got here. That may have been her crime. I’ll need to study and become an expert in Corran law if I’m to get her out of there by way of the courtroom.”
“The Queen’s Barrister going to toe to toe with the aliens. They don’t stand a chance,” Red remarked.
“The deck is stacked against her. In any case, enjoy the ride. When we return, I doubt we’ll be afforded the opportunity to do any sightseeing.”
“I hope Lance Reynolds is able to convince them to join the Federation. Then the deck can be unstacked,” Jay suggested.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Rivka saluted with two fingers.
“Ankh, if you would be so kind as to tell me everything there is to know about a dark-skinned human woman named Seequa Holmes, lately of Elgar 7, I would appreciate it. It appears that she was kidnapped by slavers and is here on Corran,” Rivka said while waiting for the hatch to close. Red and Lindy were already in the back stowing their gear. Jay was in the galley getting something to drink. No one on Corran had offered them anything during the short time they were on the planet.
Rivka headed for the bridge, stopping instantly when she stepped in something. She looked down to find a pair of Floyd’s cubes outside the bridge. “Jay, I need you to clean this up, please.” The Magistrate scraped her foot on the deck before taking her boots off and leaving them behind. “Floyd, why are you marking my bridge?”
Ankh is friend. We happy on bridge, she replied joyfully.
“Ankh? What were you guys doing while we were fighting bad guys?” Rivka brushed the wombat fur off the captain’s chair before sitting down. She heard a cleaning bot taking care of the deck outside the bridge. “In here, too, Mister Cleaning Bot.”
“Coming,” Jay declared. The bot bounced over the threshold onto the bridge. “Permission to come aboard?” Jay asked in her deepest voice. She saluted with Floyd’s front paw, carrying the wombat like a baby.
Rivka spun the chair so it faced the hatch.
“Hey! I didn’t know it did that.”
“I didn’t either. Ankh must have done something to it.”
Unlocked it, he said through their comm chips.
Ankh, buddy, would you come to the bridge, please? Rivka requested.
When the Crenellian showed up, he had Red and Lindy in tow. Ankh looked at Rivka with his usual blank expression. Floyd snorted and giggled as Jay tickled her chin.
Rivka closed her eyes and breathed slowly.
“Bringing law and order to the galaxy sounded fun and exciting when I first explored a career as a barrister.” Rivka opened her eyes and looked at her captive audience. “What comes with that is dealing with criminals, some of whom we can’t pin anything on because they are slippery and slimy. Then there are times like these where different laws attach and we can only sit back and watch. We’re going to head back to the station and regroup, and when we come back, we’ll be armed with their law and ready to do battle in their court. I will do my damnedest to win because I know I’ll disappoint you if I don’t. There’s a human down there who shouldn’t be there. It has become my personal mission—yes, it’s a mission—to get her out of there.
“Unfortunately, we can’t do that right now because we have to comply. We can’t go rogue and hurt Reynolds’ chances. Well, go more rogue than we already have. Chaz, take us out. Ankh, what did you find at the governor-general’s residence?”
“What did you want to do about the Tombo Queen?” Chaz asked.
“Almost forgot,” Rivka said. “Take on their four so-called passengers and send them back into space. They can get back in the queue and wait their turn.”
The ship slowly maneuvered from its landing berth and edged close to the massive freighter. It settled next to the Queen, and Ankh opened the hatch.
“Patch me into their ship-wide comm, please, Chaz.” Rivka waited until a green light flashed. “Attention, passengers of the Tombo Queen. You are invited to join me on board Peacekeeper, where your freedom will be restored to you.”
“Traffic Control is a bit beside themselves that we haven’t left the spaceport yet,” Chaz said. “I’ve told them we’re having a mechanical issue and should be able to depart shortly. I added that flaming debris wasn’t something they wanted scattered over Amberly.”
“Well done, Chaz! I like your ingenuity. Your ascension to sentience was well deserved.” The other members of the team nodded. “Want to meet our guests, Red? Make sure they remain docile until we can turn them over to the authorities on Border Station 7.”
“Consider it done, Magistrate.” Red and Lindy left the bridge, closing the hatch behind them.
The others watched from the bridge as three humanoids and a tentacled purple creature made their way from the Queen to the steps into Peacekeeper. Red greeted them and ushered them aboard. Lindy moved them into the rec room.
No threats out here. This group could use a good meal, I fathom, Red told the team.
Rivka rotated the captain’s chair and stood, smiling.
“Yes, it could always do that,” Ankh said to wipe the smile from Rivka’s face.
“It’s neat, and I like it. Thank you, Ankh.” The Magistrate grabbed his head and bent down to kiss the Crenellian just above his goggles.
“You smell like wombat.”
“I hate to break it to you, but so do you, and you’re covered in hair that is not your own.”
“Crenellians don’t have hair,” Ankh replied as he looked down at his skinsuit, a practical uniform that could be used if there was an emergency decompression. The entire crew was supposed to wear them, but Jay and Rivka dressed more comfortably while Red and Lindy wore the suits under their combat gear. Ankh tried brushing the hair away, but it stuck to his arm. After some wild gyrations, he was completely covered. He stopped brushing and stood with his arms out. “I have reached an impasse with the wombat hair.”
“Ask Jay for help. She’s always covered,” Rivka suggested.
“You want me to ask her how to reconcile being covered in hair?”
“No. She somehow manages to get it off before leaving the ship.”
“But I’m not leaving the ship,” Ankh countered, his face and voice neutral as always.
Rivka rose from the captain’s chair and took Ankh by the hand, and together they headed for the rec room. They found Red and Lindy glaring at the newcomers.
“Why were we kidnapped?” the eight-tentacled creature demanded when it saw Rivka.
“I suspect you were kidnapped to be sold into slavery,” Rivka guessed.
“From the Tombo, you moron!”
“You weren’t on board to be sold into slavery?” Rivka wondered. She gently rubbed an intense throbbing in her temple.
“We all signed con
tracts for service. If we don’t fulfill our contracts, then our families and we are doomed. We’ll never work an honest day for the rest of our lives.”
“You voluntarily submitted to being sold into slavery?”
“We signed contracts that included room and board to be part of a labor force, and now you’ve kidnapped us. Are you humans? No other species would be arrogant enough to interfere in something they know nothing about. Yeah, you’re humans.” The creature shook in anger, leaving a slimy puddle on the deck. The other three nodded and gestured with similar emotion. When the cleaning bot appeared, a tentacle lashed out and slapped it away.
“That wasn’t our intent,” Rivka replied, holding her hands up. “If you’d like to return, that is your choice. That’s what freedom means. You accept the consequences of your decisions. What race are you?” Rivka finally thought to ask.
“Londil. If we can go, I’m leaving.” He heaved his bulk away from the table. One moment he threatened to fill the room, and the next he contracted to the size of a human. The other three immediately stood and made to go with him.
“Chaz, open the outer hatch.”
The pop and air release signaled that the deed was done. Rivka didn’t say another word as their guests huffed, grunted, and growled their way off Peacekeeper.
The cleaning bot returned and went to work. Red followed the group, securing the hatch after they departed. The crew looked at each other before Rivka returned to the bridge. “Chaz, get me the captain of the Tombo Queen.”
“Onscreen,” the AI replied promptly. The former first officer’s face appeared.
“You’re free to go,” she told him, and cut the link.
“Get us out of here, Chaz.” Rivka flopped into the captain’s chair. “We have to cool our heels while waiting for the trial of Seequa Holmes, so take us back home.”
Chapter Six
Rivka sulked over her beer. Looking out the window, she couldn’t help but replay the events on Corran over and over. A thousand times or more. Humans. Arrogant. Terms of the contract.
Slave Trade Page 5
