from a primitive planet,” Mr. Piff recited.
Lissa looked nervously at the Mursi. Earth was almost certainly a primitive planet by space standards. Why, most of their populace still believed there was no such thing as space travel! Aliens were the things of bedtime stories and sci-fi movies.
“We just elected a World Government only a few months ago,” she admitted reluctantly, “But our constitution states that slavery is illegal on Earth. I’m pretty sure our President didn’t sell us to him,” she added doubtfully.
“Wait, you came from this planet? Earth?” The Patrol Captain sounded excited, or at least the bot’s translation made it seem so.
“Yeah,” Lissa answered slowly, “Does that matter?”
“Damn right it does!” Mr. Piff crowed excitedly, looking over his shoulder at his senior officer, “We’ve got them now, don’t we Captain!”
“What is it?” Shika demanded, “What does that mean?”
“Earth has long been considered a Protected Planet,” the Patrol Captain explained, “Per the laws of space, you were not to be contacted until Man had proved himself to be a civilized world—that is, until you had a World Government. Since that has now been formed, Captain Nask ought to have offered your people a chance to become GTC clientele. If he did not…”
“If he didn’t then we’re free!” Lissa interjected excitedly.
“More than that,” Mr. Piff added, “If you were kidnapped and denied the opportunity to join the galactic community, heavy fines will be levied against him. You could possibly claim his ship in compensation.”
“Whoa! You mean, we could own a space ship?” Lissa cried. She looked around at the cargo bay. This would make a great merchant vessel if they converted the cells to storage spaces. The glass hallway would be like a show room.
“I know how to sail,” she piped excitedly.
“Astral navigation is somewhat more complicated than ocean cruising, but the principles are the same in a ship such as this,” the Patrol Captain assured her, “Your Europan companion would certainly be an asset if you chose to take to the stars.”
“So octopi really can navigate?” Shiro inquired of the Captain, “I overheard the pirate explaining this.”
“Indeed, most are quite skilled at it,” Mr. Piff answered, “That one is rather young, I believe,” he peered into the water tank beside them and gave a polite nod to the octopus.
“Having arranged for his release from slavery you will likely find him a most willing crew member,” the Captain added wryly.
At just that moment, the top button on his lapel blinked and gave a short beep. He lifted it toward his mouth and spoke rapidly into it. The translator bot, ignoring this private conversation, was silent at Lissa’s left. The Captain listened, and when they were done he said, “There it is. You are indeed illegal slaves of Captain Arol Nask and I pronounce you freed by the laws of space.” He gave a formal bow in Lissa’s direction, having decided apparently that she, being the main spokesperson of their small group, was also its leader.
“Hurrah!” Stephanie squealed. She hugged Lissa in relief, “Let’s go home. I never want to fly again.”
“Or eat sushi,” Ash muttered.
Lissa heard a commotion from above. She needed no Translator to tell her Captain Nask was protesting at the top of his lungs. The five children followed the Patrol Captain as he climbed the rungs of the ladder up to the deck.
The assembled pirates were lashed to the foremast in various states of chagrin. Captain Nask had apparently been speaking separately to one of the officials, and as they watched he was dragged away from his crew.
An officer of the Patrol extended a plank out from the rail in solemn formality.Two others on either side of him saluted. Captain Nask was shoved between them, cursing loudly all the while. He stood on the edge of the plank, his eyes fixed in a glare of rage and fear at the officer who tended the rail.
“What’s happening?” Lissa asked Mr. Piff who had come to stand beside her.
“Captain Nask has been found guilty of illegal enslavement, theft, mayhem and firing on a licensed law enforcement ship. The penalty is execution by ejection,” Mr. Piff said solemnly.
“You’re going to execute him?” Lissa rounded on the shorter alien, horrified, “Just like that?”
“The evidence is incontrovertible,” If she was not mistaken, the alien looked rather surprised, “Would you have us wait until he does it again?”
Lissa stared numbly out across the deck toward the scene that was unfolding. He would have sold us. She reminded herself, Or made us into ground meat for some alien restaurant.
Yet the sight was truly horrifying. Captain Nask fought savagely, throwing his weight against the smaller Patrolmen who shoved him onward. He was on the plank now, fighting to go back. One meerkat zapped him with a prong that sizzled at one end. He fell to the ground with a thud, only to rouse instantly and swipe out at the creature. Three others pressed him back, wielding prongs of their own. At last he was up against the airlock. An officer barked an order and the other Patrolmen fell back. Nask snarled at them all, but remained where he was. A sort of desperation lit his features so starkly that Lissa could hardly bear it.
“Wait!” She cried, “Isn’t there some other way?”
“We are bound to follow the laws of the galaxy we inhabit,” Mr. Piff said. His face was stern, but Lissa could see pain in his eyes, as though the necessity of punishing the pirate wounded him.
Now Nask was within the airlock chamber. The officer pressed a button and the plank on which the pirate captain stood shot out until it extended beyond the transparent dome that held in the pressurized atmosphere of the ship. Lissa turned away. She saw Stephanie who had buried her face in Shika’s shoulder. The tribal girl was staring at the proceedings with wide eyes. Ash stood just beyond his sister, a tight grip on his spear and a vengeful gleam in his eyes. Lissa shuddered and averted her gaze.
“Thus is the end of Captain Arol Nask,” Mr. Piff whispered softly.
Lissa glanced at him. She wasn’t sure what emotion she felt exactly. The Captain had tried to sell her as an alien hors d’oeuvre, or whatever the space equivalent was. Yet, she had never seen anyone die before. Space Patrol seemed to execute justice with unnerving precision.
“We have heard further word,” The Patrol Captain touched her shoulder as she turned, meaning to retreat below.
“Your government appears to have not received any invitation to join the Galactic Trade Company. A message is being broadcast to the nearest Representative informing him of your new status and a visit should be forthcoming shortly.”
An Invitation
Bilderbus considered himself a fair man. He knew many called him cruel; some would say he was a ruthless man, but Mr. Bilderbus knew he really had others’ best interests at heart. And if his plans meant the demise of small children and lapdogs, well—the world was safer without so many people in it anyway. It was hard to control billions of people; Earth
