"That would be disruptive, wouldn't it? But..."
"What? Don't be afraid to say anything to me. My feelings are very hard to hurt."
"Well – how do you do it? How do you work with... her kind? I mean, maybe it's easier for you, not being from Phaeton, but I can't help feeling... reviled. She... those creatures... they wallow in... sexuality. Even if you're not from my world, how can anyone debase herself that way?"
"They are a sad lot, aren't they? Not fit for anything else, really. And meant to be kept... within their limits."
"How old was the girl she murdered?"
"Twelve standard years. A baby. A whole life in front of her. I can't really blame the creature of course..."
"She has no concept of morality, does she? She's just... emotional reaction."
"Very true."
"Couldn't these tendencies be bred out of her race, though? I mean, I can see how, without careful planning, certain traits might reinforce themselves. They really can't be prevented without engineering, even in my own species. I don't mean to insult you, if you're not engineered, Captain. It's just that, without engineering, you don't know what you're getting. This girl is an example of the kind of sociopathic personality which often results from random breeding."
Metcalfe barely restrained his temper, which would have driven him to step round the corner. His non-engineered, Terran temper seethed to confront the ugliness that was being given voice. What Pallas had just said about Aer'La was what so many "concerned" physicians and counselors at the Academy had said about him. He desperately wished Harl had said it. He could easily have hated Harl and been done with it, but Pallas...
Pallas. How could so intelligent, sensitive, and, most importantly (to a twenty-one-year-old male) beautiful a woman say such things, not only about Aer'La in particular, but about all non-engineered humans? It was bigotry, pure and simple. A person capable of such feelings could easily distance herself from the injustice of Aer'La's situation. Such a person could certainly never really care about him. Nor could he care about her.
He was about to walk away when she called to him. He turned. She was standing right behind him. Apparently, while he was reigning in his anger, she had ended her conversation and dismissed Harl.
"I knew you were there, of course," she said. Her expression was tentative, as if she knew how angry he was, and feared he might become violent.
There's no 'as if' about it moron, Metcalfe reprimanded himself. She's the most powerful telepath on Phaeton. Of course she knows how angry you are.
"If you knew, then why did you say those things?" he demanded.
"They weren't meant to apply to you specifically. Don't personalize my –"
He cut her off. "I personalize everything, thank you very much. Because everything that happens in my life happens to me."
"I was merely pointing out – " she began with an even tone.
He was not calmed. "What? How much better you are than Aer'La? How well you're capable of analyzing her worth as a human being?"
"No. And she's not human, she's –"
"That's not the goddamn point!" He shouted. Then her startled expression caused him to lower his voice. "You've only met Aer'La a handful of times. I've worked with her for a year. None of the things you said about her are true. Even if they were, how dare you defend the idea that a beast like Harl could make her a slave?"
"I wasn't –"
"Do you even know what he did to her?"
"What?" she asked.
"None of your business!" Metcalfe spat.
"Well, of course, that's a logical chain of reasoning."
"Oh, why don't you just pull it out of my mind?" he said irritably.
"I already did, since you were being obtuse. So," she said thoughtfully, "Aer'La says Captain Harl is a rapist and a murderer."
"You say that like you don't believe it."
She shrugged. "He says she's the murderer, as I believe you heard. I suppose the two stories could be reconciled. They could both be guilty."
"How can you be so... so damned cold and analytical about it?"
"I've spent my life training to be this way."
"Well, congratulations then."
"It certainly allows me to accomplish more to resolve the situation than your bouts of primal rage. Did you know that your heart rate and blood pressure have increased by a factor of – ?"
"Who cares?"
"You should. It might affect your health, if you let your circulatory system rage out of control that way."
"And how the hell do you know that, anyway?"
"The data are in your mind. You just don't know how to read them. I do."
"Since you can read so much in so many minds, why can't you read whether or not Harl is lying about Aer'La being a murderer?"
"I can."
"And?"
She looked at him for too long a moment. "And I'm not ready to reveal that information."
"Why not?" asked Metcalfe. "If the murder charge is phony, then his only claim on Aer'La is that she's his property. And he's trying to pretend he's not a slaver. Proving that he's lying might just send him packing!"
Again her impassive gaze seemed to pierce through him as she considered her response. "Metcalfe, has it occurred to you that maybe Aer'La is lying?"
"No."
"Your confidence in her is that strong?"
"Yes."
She nodded. "I see."
And then she walked away, leaving Metcalfe alone and extremely confused.
* * *
"Investigation? I didn't authorize an investigation!"
Jan Atal sighed and poured himself his fifth cup of coffee for this shift. At this point, he would have preferred something with rum, but he was on duty. He refused to develop that particular filthy habit.
"I'm afraid you did, Georg," he said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs. He wanted to look as inappropriately comfortable as possible when his holo image reached Fournier's office. "At least, you informed me that the Varthans were sending 'an investigator.' That implies that there will, in fact, be an investigation."
"One day, Atal, your cleverness is going to be your undoing."
"Noted, Admiral."
"Well, at any rate, I assume Captain Harl has completed his... investigation?"
"If you call terrorizing an innocent child an investigation, yes. And he – naturally – came to the conclusion that Aer'La is the one he's looking for."
"Well, we knew that."
"So we did," Atal agreed. "What we did not know is that they're now claiming she's an escaped suspect in a murder investigation."
"So?" blurted Fournier. "You didn't expect them to come barging in, saying, 'hand over my fucking slave,' did you? Not everyone has your casual disrespect for political correctness."
"He's lying."
"Of course he's lying! Oh, really, Atal, you are such a child at times. I've explained to you what's at stake here. It's tragic for the girl, but we can't plunge worlds into recession and let millions starve to protect one person. The fact is, telling the truth about her background – whatever that is, for I'm sure she's a filthy liar as well – jeopardizes our economy as much as our simply refusing to cooperate would. Captain Harl's story is... expedient."
"It's bullshit."
Fournier sighed. "I assume that's another Terranism you've learned from your crew? And a vulgar one at that?"
"Only the best for you, Georg."
"Atal, you've been courting an insubordination charge since the day you came under my command. I warn you, I'm at my breaking point."
"I only need the rest of the day –"
"No, dammit! Over the course of the next twenty hours, the media could detonate this thing like a powder keg! If more than one story leaks out, public opinion will split. With the Qraitians at bay, we can't afford to weaken our public support base. We must act decisively to end this, before it becomes a discussion point for the masses!"
"So, right or wrong, yo
u'll just hand Aer'La over," said Atal, bitterly.
"In fact..." said Fournier slowly, "that's exactly what I'm going to do. Yes. I can see from your attitude that I can't trust you to handle the task. The Lead Arbiter is issuing a statement later today, announcing the Confederacy's new zero-tolerance policy for fugitive murderers and pirates. This will be an excellent opportunity to show the Admiralty enforcing that policy."
"Meaning what?" asked Atal, his mood sinking.
"Meaning," said Fournier, "that I will be bound for Titan as soon as I can arrange an emergency transport. I'm going to see to it that this thing is done right."
Metcalfe's Prayer Journal
Grrrr...
I don't suppose prayers should begin with 'Grrrr,' should they?
I'm just extremely disappointed. And frustrated. Extremely frustrated.
I'm disappointed to learn that Pallas, whom I... okay, whom I worshiped... could harbor such ugly thoughts about a friend of mine. And is it only because Aer'La's a friend of mine that I'm disappointed? Would I be okay with bigotry, if it didn't apply to someone I knew? I hope not. Please don't ever let me be that way.
Kaya says it's not bigotry. We had quite an argument about it, and she seemed bound and determined to defend Pallas, no matter what I said. I accused her of taking Pallas's side because she was a fellow inworlder. She said that was bigotry. Maybe it was.
Anyway, Kaya said it was natural to distrust people who are different – a defense mechanism. Until you know what someone's about, being too free and easy with them could get you killed. I suppose there's some truth in that, but Pallas's obvious distaste for Aer'La didn't have much to do with physical danger. It sounded like it had a lot more to do with Phaetonian prudery, an attitude that all sexuality is backwards and dangerous.
Dangerous? Okay, maybe I see Kaya's argument about a defense mechanism. I still think it's bigoted to look at a whole race and say you disapprove of their way of life. And then to suggest that maybe they need to be "controlled." That's just too much like what a lot of inworlders have said about my own people.
And what was that "I see," foolishness when I said I believed Aer'La was innocent? What did that mean? Does she think Aer'La's guilty? Or not? There's something Pallas isn't telling me! What is she up to?
And why does my pulse still race when I'm near her, if her bigotry turns me off so much?
What's wrong with me?
Chapter Nine
Meet the Press
From the InterSpace discussion net...
OPINIONS | POLITICS | VARTHAN FREE SPACE
Topic: Titan's Refugee Bos'n
From MODERATOR - kilroy (kilroy.public.quintil)
Okay, be nice. Whom do you believe? The feral claims she was a slave and had to escape. Bigwigs like Jan Atal and Mors of Phaeton vouch for her. The Varthans claim she's an escaped murderer. Bigwigs like Secretary Fournier and all the Arbiters vouch for them. Where do all you little people weigh in?
From titanfan (Titanfan.customers.DH)
Pretty clear where the politico's heads are. When the Varthan slavers say jump, our elected officials say how high. I wonder how much of a bounty Fournier will collect for handing this girl over?
From bushytail (bushytail.ephemerals.rainbowone)
Wow, titanfan, can Jan Atal do anything wrong in your eyes? Why don't you just blow the guy? You think Fournier's on the take? Like Atal's clean. He's heir to one of the most shameless of the special interest cartels. The girl's his personal fuck toy, and he just wants to keep her in his bed. You should really be the first to want to see her go, tf. Then you can volunteer to wax his blaster for him!
FROM GUEST (NOBODY.CENTRALLIB.QUINTIL)
I'm confused. Didn't the Arbiters Council outlaw slavery in Varthan Freespace?
From titanfan (Titanfan.customers.DH)
Attn: Bushytail - As Rainbow One allows public dueling, my second and I have purchased tickets on the Douglas Comet Cruiser and are scheduled to arrive your spaceport Monday next. I have logged my challenge with your planet's public system, and booked firing range 12B at the spaceport. I prefer privately owned facilities, but am on deadline this month, and don't wish to spend more time on this unpleasantness than necessary. Please assure your family that I will kill you quickly and cleanly, and pay twice the customary survivors' benefit. I await your reply, and request to know if there are any prior claims. I would expect there is a long line of people waiting to kill you.
FROM MODERATOR - KILROY (KILROY.PUBLIC.QUINTIL)
Children, please! I am tempted to suspend discussions for a day, until you can all learn to be civil. Bushytail, please log an apology to Titanfan and get this fight over with. TF is right, you shouldn't have insulted it. I'd hate to lose your lively input to the group, and TF is reputed to be a very good shot.
FROM TERRASUCKS (TERRASUCKS.PUBLIC.QUINTIL)
Who cares what happens to the feral? They're almost as bad as the earth trash! Space 'em all!
FROM DATABASE-ADMINBOT
USER bushytail.ephemerals.rainbowone has dissolved its public identity. As this person no longer exists, legally, claims against it must be filed with its Escrow Trustee: Torne, Hernia, Lein & Snob, Ltd, Quintil Offices.
From bttmntz (bttmntz.nobody.nowhere)
It's a hoax! There is no Titan Feral! It's all an attempt to –
From HighpR
It's just frightening, that's what it is! Anyone could be a feral! The government needs to do something! What if – ?
"Five, can you turn that shit down?"
This request came from Carson, who sat one table away from Blaurich in the officers' commissary. It was one thing, after all, to surf the infonets during breakfast. Many people were prone to do so. Carson himself preferred to read Byron, Shelley, Eminem, or some other classic poetry, but people were entitled to their choice of material. The discussion groups, though, were so thoroughly annoying. Each contributor was represented by some holographic avatar it had chosen. ("It" being the pronoun of choice, as gender was not part of the public identity.) Most of these tended to be ridiculously caricaturized cartoon mammals or reptiles, with squeaky voices their owners thought were cute. With the volume at the level Five had set it, they were only vastly irritating. Besides, BushyTail's animated squirrel avatar kept leaping onto Carson's table and trying to steal his toast.
"You should try to stay informed, Carson. It behooves an officer –"
"There are going to be hooves up your ass, Sestus, if you don't stop lecturing everyone," said Kaya. "My hooves."
"Really, Atal," Blaurich drawled. "Your time with these ruffians has wreaked havoc with your manners." His eyes twinkled, "But anything you want to do with my backside is fine by me."
"Your levity is inappropriate, given current events, Mister Blaurich," said Cernaq.
"Why? Oh, yes, the feral."
"Her name is Aer'La," said Kaya coldly.
"It doesn't really matter what her name is, now does it? She'll soon be shipped off for trial by her own people. I'm quite confident, given her violent nature, that she's guilty –"
"Aer'La's not a murderer, Five," said Carson. "And you don't know anything about her, so why don't you shut up?"
"So, I'm to believe the creature's never killed anyone?"
"I didn't say that," said Carson. "But never without reason." He smiled coldly at Blaurich. "Your existence might be reason enough."
"I trust that I am not hearing my midshipmen... bickering?" a voice interrupted. It was Darby, who'd wandered up behind them.
"Why no, Captain," said Blaurich quickly. "In fact, we were discussing some news items that pertain to the Titan."
"Indeed?" asked Darby. "I'm afraid the Captain has had me rather busy. I haven't caught the news."
"Aer'La's all over it," said Kaya.
"Well, that's to be expected, isn't it?" asked Darby. He pulled up a chair and joined them at their table. Five also wandered over, afraid, no doubt, of missing an opportunity to shine ever brighter in the
Deputy Captain's eyes. "The thing we need to do," Darby went on, "is be sure that we take every opportunity to maintain our ship's stalwart reputation while the attention is on us."
"Which will make for many opportunities," observed Cernaq dryly, "since the media are already on board."
"Good point, Mister Cernaq." Darby looked suddenly alarmed. "Er... I trust... none of you have... spoken to them? Since the news broke?"
"I'm sure we haven't, sir," said Five. "Though I, myself, have had to turn down six interviews which were attempted via... private channels."
"Good for you, Mister Blaurich. We can't be too careful, especially since public opinion is so squarely directed against a nominal member of our crew."
"Actually," said Cernaq, "that may be changing."
"Eh?"
"It seems the Confederate Civil Liberties Fellowship –"
"That pack of trouble makers?" Darby interrupted.
"The very pack," agreed Cernaq. "They've filed a brief with the Arbiters' Council. The Confederate Charter guarantees that, in matters of interspace commerce and law, every reasonable effort shall be made to guarantee that due process of law is executed. A fair trial –"
"We can't force the Varthans to follow our trial practices! The Charter wasn't meant to interfere with the rights of sovereign worlds to deal with their citizens."
"Ah, but she's not a citizen," said Kaya.
Darby shook his head. "Those troublemakers are going to make the Varthans angry!"
"And after they bought those lovely sconces for the Arbiters' Hall," quipped Carson.
"Mister Carson," said Darby through his teeth, "you will learn in the course of your career that it doesn't do to insult or bully influential allies. Especially after the Arbiters' Council has taken such a firm stand against suspect who attempt to flee their planets' justice."
"Not so firm a stand, I'm afraid," said Cernaq.
"What?"
"The Arbiters' Council has... amended their statement in Aer'La's case. They insist she surrender herself, but they feel some attempt should be made to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted. They are, therefore, asking that Admiral Fournier pick one of his executive staff to accompany Aer'La to Varthan Freespace, and observe the proceedings."
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