Price of Freedom

by Craig Martelle

  Felicity leaned back in her overstuffed chair behind her oversized desk. Daniel stood in front of the desk with a man dressed like a prison inmate. An armed security guard stood behind the pair.

  “I’d like to introduce Brice. He’s one of the few who isn’t incapacitated by the sight of a woman.”

  “Good morning, Brice.” Felicity knew why they were there, but wanted to wait until the man spoke.

  “Good morning, ma’am,” he said in a soft voice, looking at the desktop. “My name is ‘Bo-ah-Rice,’ but I like the way you pronounce it.”

  Daniel looked surprised.

  “‘Brice’ it is. What can I help you with?”

  “We are eating the rations from our ships, but those will run out soon. We will need food if we are to survive, but as our captors, it is yours to decide if we live or die.”

  Felicity smiled pleasantly, draping her blonde hair behind one ear. “That’s not how we do business. You were freed from your oppression by the Direct Action Branch, but you are now under my protection and I’m the senior civilian authority in these parts. Your lives are not in jeopardy,” Felicity drawled slowly as he leaned forward on her desk.

  “The food?” the man asked.

  “Already ordered. A freighter should arrive within the next few days. They will also be carrying a great stock of spacesuits. We need your people to help us build a functioning shipyard where we can repair or upgrade any vessel which visits. That work is very important to us, and every worker will be paid in Federation credits. The workforce will have quarters on this station with access to all that we have here—restaurants, shops, recreation, people.”

  “How will the females be apportioned? Surely there aren’t enough to go around?”

  “I’m sorry. I saw your lips moving and heard some words come out, but none of them made any sense to me,” Felicity replied in a low and dangerous voice.

  The man stuttered, but stopped before he said anything else.

  “From what I hear, the entity known as ‘Ten’ picked a select few for breeding, and they remained behind on Home World. Everyone else was put to work and prevented from interacting with women in any way,” Daniel offered.

  “This is the truth,” Brice confirmed.

  “Holy shit.” Felicity covered her mouth with one hand at her verbal transgression. “I’ve been around those vagrants and mongrels for too long...” Felicity shook her head and sighed before continuing, “What was that? You don’t ever get to see women?”

  “The first women we have seen have been those from the Bad Company. You are the first woman I’ve ever talked to. May I touch your hair?”

  “No. You may not touch my hair. We need someone to train eleven hundred men in how to treat women, appropriate social skills…” Felicity’s eyes crossed as she pondered the inconceivable. “I have it—it has to be me.”

  Daniel shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and the guard looked nervous.

  “What’s your name back there?” Felicity asked.

  The guard pointed to himself, and Felicity nodded.

  “There are those who call me ‘Tim,’” he replied ominously.

  “As long as one of those was your mother I’ll accept that. Tim, I’m going to make you my liaison to our guests. He’s not to touch my hair or any other part of me or other any woman on this station. Then we’ll need to set up a way to talk with these people. By the way, what do you call yourselves?”

  Brice wore a blank expression.

  “Hello?” Felicity stared at the man.

  “Nothing,” he finally replied.

  “That won’t do. How should we identify you? Because we surely are not going to call you ‘the captives.’ You are free to become contributing members of our society. The only choice you won’t have is to return to the fold on Home World. I suspect that once Terry Henry and his gang get done with it, there won’t be anything to go back to anyway.”

  All three men stood uncomfortably before Felicity’s desk.

  “Fine. Tim, take Brice for a walk around the station. Introduce him to some people, like the shipyard manager and as many of the foremen as you can find. Let’s see how we can temper our approach and bring an army of good workers on board.”

  Tim nodded politely and ushered Brice out. Daniel waited. Felicity rolled her finger at him. Out with it.

  “If we don’t get a resupply on food within the next couple days we’ll have to start rationing.” His forehead wrinkled in concern.

  “I know, Daniel, but the first one should arrive in time and deliver enough to get us by until our big shipments hit. With this kind of manpower we might have to get our own gate, because the freighters are limited to traveling with the big warships. My husband is working on something so even little ships will be able to gate. That could solve our problems, and these are some big problems,” Felicity drawled.

  “Isn’t Keeg Station supposed to be a secret, and that’s why there’s no gate? If all the freighters can make their own gates and have our coordinates, we won’t be much of a secret.” Daniel didn’t have an answer. He only saw problems for the foreseeable future.

  “When you have a big dance people will come, no matter whether they’re invited or not. I’ll talk to our benefactor in the Bad Company and see what we can do.”

  Daniel frowned and nodded. “I can’t give them the armor they need and we can’t feed them. We’re not much of a support team.”

  He started to walk out of the office.

  “We’re doing better than that,” she replied. “We’re doing everything we've been asked to do, and then some. They’ve more than doubled our manpower. We need more space as well as more supplies, and they are sending us more. We are doing okay, and the sky is the limit for Keeg Station.”

  Daniel didn’t stop walking. He understood that it meant more work for everyone, and more work wasn’t necessarily good.

  Felicity keyed her comm system. “Sue, can you come to my office? There’s an administrative problem that I need your help with. And if you have that delightful hunk of man candy with you, bring him, too.”

  The Director of Keeg Station leaned back in her comfortable chair, steepled her fingers before her, and tried to think through the logistics problems that would soon plague her station. She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer for relief before anyone else realized the coming stampede of issues.

  ***

  “Ted. We need drones that we can drop within the atmosphere to conduct aerial reconnaissance. Do the the reconnaissance, the recce so we don’t put anyone at unnecessary risk,” Terry explained as he took care not to touch anything in Ted’s laboratory.

  “I’m working on something. Come back later.” Ted turned away, but Terry moved until he was in Ted’s way.

  “There is no later, Ted. We’re embarking soon, and you’re coming with us.”

  “I have work to do here,” Ted replied matter-of-factly.

  “‘Miniaturized Etheric power source.’ Does that ring a bell? We need you to evaluate it and then download the technology, including any raw materials we might need that are unique to Benitus Seven.”

  Ted’s eyes unfocused, and Terry took that as a sign that Ted was contemplating what he could do with such an engineering marvel. When Ted blinked, he moved to his bench and started tinkering.

  “Well?” TH asked.

  “Well what?” Ted replied.

  “Pack your trash. We’re going aboard the War Axe,” Terry declared.

  “Why?” Ted stopped tinkering and looked skeptically at the colonel.

  “Because we can’t get to Benitus without taking the ship.”

  “Why would I need to go to Benitus? Go beat up those devil things and then bring the Beniton technology back here. It’s not that hard. I thought you were smarter. Space has made you dumb.”

  Terry threw his head back and stared at the ceiling with a stunned mullet expression, then exhaled loudly.

  He clenched his fists as he tried to get it across. �
��Ted. You’re going with us. Period. Bring Plato and your toys. I will send a squad from Kim’s platoon to carry you and your stuff to the shuttle. You have one hour.”

  “But I’m not going.”

  “Ted!” Terry leaned forward, ready to scream in frustration. “Did you not hear anything I’ve said the past fifteen minutes?”

  “Not really. I think I’ve solved a transceiver integration problem. See? Look at this…”

  Terry walked away.

  “In one hour, you will be on that shuttle. Conscious or unconscious is your choice. You can run, but you can’t hide.”

  Terry stopped and accessed his comm chip. Kimber, can you detail a few of your people to help Ted get ready for our next deployment?

  I anticipated as much so I had one squad report early. They’ll be on their way momentarily from the hangar bay.

  He thinks he’s not going, so tell them to ignore anything he says. They should carry him if they have to.

  I get you—Ted is coming no matter what. Do you think it would help if I came along?

  I didn’t want to ask, but since it sounds like you’re offering I think it would help a great deal. Get your Uncle Ted on board. Terry sighed in relief. He looked over his shoulder to find Ted completely embroiled within a holographic projection. Where was that Crenellian?

  Fitzroy can handle the platoon. I’m on my way, Kimber replied.

  And bring Ankh, if you can find him.

  Sheri’s Pride, Alien Ship of the Line in Orbit around Keeg Station

  “Everyone settle down!” one of the guards called. He had been working as a maintenance technician, but given the massive number of prisoners, he had been conscripted to work security on the captured ship. As long as the guards were all men, the human captives weren’t a problem.

  They had tried two female guards, but there was nearly a riot. A third of the men wanted to throw the women out the airlock, but the other two-thirds would have worshipped them as goddesses had Marcie Walton allowed it. She was in charge, but Kaeden’s was the official face of the Bad Company on the Sheri’s Pride even though he wasn’t aboard the ship. When they needed to speak to the captives, they transmitted to the screens that filled the largest space on the warship.

  All the captives would gather to watch, and following the briefings they would go about the mundane duties Plato assigned them. They each had their duty pad in a cargo pocket or their hand. The men from Home World never went anywhere without them.

  The screens came to life, and a blue-eyed blonde woman appeared. She smiled pleasantly, and looked from left to right as if she were looking at the crowd. In a way, she was. Their image was projected to her screen just as hers was projected to theirs.

  A couple of the men started yelling, but others encouraged them to shut up. There was a bit of a scrum before things settled down.

  “My name is Felicity, and I’m the Director of Keeg Station. Today I’ll be giving you your first lesson in etiquette. That is, how to assimilate into a culture with women, not just by your side, doing the same job you’re doing, but maybe in charge of you. How will you deal with that?”

  Felicity smiled and watched the men, who were sitting silently.

  They couldn’t see her clenching her fists off-screen

  “Since none of you seem to have the answer, I’ll give it to you: you treat them no differently. They are professionals with jobs to do, just like you, just like I’m doing now,” she drawled. She didn’t think her words were registering. “I know we may look different…”

  Felicity let the pause drag out as she focused her eyes like lasers. Each man thought she was looking at him.

  “Do you like my hair? No blonde hair where you come from? Do you want to touch it? Well, you can’t!” Felicity glared from the monitors on Sheri’s Pride for a moment, then straightened her clothes and leaned back. Her smile returned. “And that, gentlemen, is your lesson for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with more of the same.”

  The screen went dark, and the men sat there. The guards let them remain in place until the murmuring started.

  “Check your pads for your orders!” one of the guards yelled.

  Almost as one, the men pulled out their pads and the screens came to life. Once they saw their tasks, they got up and headed out.

  The guard’s comm system came to life. “Yes, sir,” the man replied, seeing that it was Kaeden.

  “What is your feeling on how they received their first lesson?” Kae asked without preamble.

  “I don’t know. They weren’t too responsive, but they live for their pads. Once they were told to check their maintenance orders they were instantly engaged.”

  “Thanks for the insight. Kaeden out.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Keeg Station

  “Nicely done, Felicity,” Sue told the station director. Timmons leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He pursed his lips, sucked them in, and pursed them a second time.

  Kaeden stood with his back to them as he looked out the window.

  “Stoic. That’s how I’d describe them,” Kae muttered.

  “But the guard said that they responded to their pads.” Sue joined Kae at the window. In the distance, they could see Sheri’s Pride along with the other ships that had been captured during the Alchon mission.

  “I may have to go over there in person,” Felicity drawled.

  “No, you don’t,” Sue cautioned, turning to look at the director. “You really don’t. Not until they’re housebroken, at the very least.”

  Kae chuckled to himself.

  “Remember way back when cell phones were the rage? If we can push messages to the pads until they are used to seeing women, it might be easier when they actually see women. We’ll play videos on how men should treat women. These guys can learn by watching others,” Timmons offered.

  “Who is going to make the videos?” Sue asked skeptically.

  “No one. We’ll let Smedley or Plato pick them.”

  “This station needs its own AI. We can’t always count on Smedley being here or Plato being available. My dear husband won’t like us volunteering his new girlfriend, Plato.” Felicity got up and joined the others at the window.

  Timmons continued to lean against the wall as he looked at the ceiling in concentration.

  “Smedley’s only an EI, but he’s pretty smart,” Kae said.

  “Smedley is as much an EI as you or me,” Timmons countered. “No, we need their help. I guess you better get a request to the Federation for an AI. Why wasn’t there one here before we arrived?”

  “No need, and then when you got here Smedley filled in. Then we got here and Ted is Ted, so he turned Plato loose on my unsuspecting station.”

  The comm unit buzzed on Felicity’s desk, and she reached back and grabbed it. “Speak of the devil,” she said before answering it. “It’s my husband. I don’t know if you’ve ever called me in the middle of the day before.”

  “They’re making me go, and I don’t want to,” Ted complained.

  Kae snorted at the window before covering his mouth and laughing into his hand. Sue slowly shook her head, and Timmons continued to stare at the ceiling.

  “I think it’s best you go, my dear. I’d love to come along, but integrating these new workers is taking far more effort than I had planned.” Felicity gave the others a thumbs-up.

  “But I don’t want to go. I want to talk with our kids. I’m close, Felicity—close to having a working model. Then someone will need to take the other transceivers to Earth…once we have the miniaturized Etheric power supplies, of course, but that’s a given. I just need to have everything ready for when they arrive.”

  “If you go along, you can work on the integration while TH and his people are clearing out those vile horned creatures. You’ll be able to finish sooner than if you waited here. You must go! I want to talk with our children.”

  There was a long delay before Ted spoke again. “Okay.”

  “One other thing, my husba
nd. We need an AI for the station. Do you have one lying around?”

  “AIs don’t lie around, Felicity, but Plato has stepchildren. Activate your access link and say, ‘I need you, Dionysus,’ then say the names and birthdates of our children followed by the date of our marriage. Plato’s stepchildren are already within the system, and Dionysus is ready to serve. Leave the others where they are, please. I have a different task for them.”

  Kae’s jaw fell and he looked at the comm device in disbelief.

  A single tear streamed down Felicity’s cheek. “I can’t wait for you to get home from your latest adventure, my love.” Felicity choked and could say no more.

  “Terry Henry Walton better not get me killed.” Ted clicked off. Felicity sobered instantly and glared at Kaeden.

  “You keep my husband safe!” she ordered. “And while you’re at it, you keep my daughter safe, too.”

  Kaeden hugged his mother-in-law. “Always. Well, as much as she’ll let me. I don’t see Ted going landside on Benitus Seven. He should be able to remain in his laboratory with Plato on the ship for the duration, doing Ted stuff.”

  Felicity held Kae for a few seconds longer. “I guess that means you will be leaving soon.”

  “Right now, as a matter of fact. Good luck training your boys,” Kae told her. Kae looked at Sue. “Coming?”

  Sue shook her head. “Timmons and I need to stay behind. There is so much to do with the shipyard! We need an engineer and another manager if we want to have any hope of integrating those people into our society, and more importantly into our workforce.”

  “Does the colonel know?” Kae asked as he headed for the door.

  “Not yet.”

  “You know how he likes surprises!” Kae walked briskly through the door on his way to the hangar bay.

  Felicity returned to her chair. “Well?”

  “Well what?” Sue replied.

  “Call TH and get it over with. Turn on the waterworks, and he’ll melt. He’s a quintessential man, so we can’t ever have him teach any of the classes to help this bunch socialize.” Felicity pointed at the window.

  “Is that what we’re going to call them? Everything with them is so vanilla, but they are creepy in person. A whole colony of creepy guys. Don’t ever ask me to go to that ship. I’ve been on one of them already, and that was plenty.”