Slave Trade

by Craig Martelle

  “You keep Floyd company!” Jay minced no words. Ankh turned his head and glanced at her but didn’t say anything. The wombat tottered to him and nuzzled his arm. Jay pointed at him. “Pet her.”

  Ankh mechanically stroked the fur on her head.

  “Don’t you feel better and happier?” Jay asked with a smile.

  “No,” Ankh replied simply, but he didn’t stop petting Floyd.

  “We will go to the main slave market, and from there, work our way up until we meet with the governor-general.” Rivka noted the distaste on the faces of her team. “It’s as fun as watching child porn to build a case against a scumbag.”

  “Have you had to do that?” Lindy wondered.

  “Thank the gods, no, but it wouldn’t get that far. I’d look into his mind and know in an instant which way he needed to die.”

  “I think you’re serious,” Red said. Rivka raised one eyebrow. “You’re going to see some horrible shit from these people. How can we help keep you sane?”

  “That could be the best question you’ve ever asked, Red. How indeed? I think the best thing is to not touch anyone who might not be involved in the illegal stuff, so the initial plan is to not touch anyone with my bare hands. Run blocker for me so no one gets too close.”

  “Done,” Red and Lindy declared together.

  “Jay. I need you to stay strong. This is the twilight of the slave trade. If Lance Reynolds is successful at bringing this planet into the Federation, the very last of the legal slave planets will be gone. We will break out the brooms and sweep the bad guys into the dustbins of history. We know there will be some who think themselves superior and won’t let go. We’ll fix them when the time is right, but for now, non-Corranites can get licensed to transport captured sentient cargo. With a license, they are protected inside this system. Regardless, some species are illegal to be slaves. Yollins are on that list, and so are humans. If we find one of those, we can request an immediate release.”

  “I sense a ‘but’ coming,” Red interrupted.

  “But,” Rivka continued, “we have to get the release before we can detain the slaver and free the victim.”

  “Does that go for anyone who deserves to be freed?”

  “They all deserve to be set free, but no. Only those on the sanctioned list are eligible to get a release.”

  Ankh, Lindy, Red, and Jay shared looks. Ankh closed his eyes, and three datapads buzzed.

  “You guys aren’t betting again, are you?” Rivka asked.

  Chapter Three

  “We have been granted a priority clearance,” Chaz relayed. The ship maneuvered between heavy haulers, freighters, yachts, and passenger ships.

  “You’re going to get us killed, Chaz!” Red exclaimed.

  “Why don’t you hail one of the freighters that’s only carrying cargo? We can piggyback and move them to the front of the line. Then we’ll have one friend, at least.”

  “Traffic Control has not approved that plan,” the ship’s AI warned.

  “We’ll squawk our beacon. They won’t know the difference.” Rivka shrugged.

  “They won’t know the difference between a corvette and a freighter ripping through their atmosphere?” Chaz grumbled.

  “Was he nicer when he was less evolved?” Jay asked.

  “Much nicer,” Lindy replied.

  “The Tombo Queen is pleased with your proposal and accepts your offer. They are moving out of line to meet us.”

  A massive ship lumbered through space. A yacht tried to hold its ground, but soon realized that the freighter was coming regardless of their presence. They darted aside at the last instant, clearing the way for the Queen. Chaz expertly maneuvered Peacekeeper to roll in on top of the larger ship, then set it down and engaged the clamps.

  “We’re along for the ride,” Chaz told them.

  “Thank you. When we hit the ground, we’ll need you two in full gear. Jay and I will wear body armor, but we won’t be armed.”

  Red handed the Magistrate the neutron pulse weapon affectionately known as “Reaper.” “You mean you won’t appear to be armed.”

  “Sometimes there are such subtle nuances in the law,” Rivka said. “And other times, there’s brute force. I don’t have the immunity here that I do on a Federation planet, but as long as the negotiations with Reynolds are ongoing, I have some protection. Make sure I don’t need it.”

  “You’re talking to yourself, right?” Red asked. “You know me: seen but not heard.”

  “I do, Red. And you’re right, I’m talking to myself more than you guys.” She looked at Jay, who put on her innocent face.

  “It might be better if we don’t visit the slave pens,” Jay suggested meekly, looking down at the floor.

  “It might, but I don’t think that’s in the cards. We’re going to cut off their supply by taking out their legs. Reynolds is going to seal the deal and cut off their heads. There won’t be anything left when we’re done.”

  “And if Reynolds doesn’t seal the deal?” Red knew the answer before he asked the question.

  “Then we’ll need to get the hell out of town right quick.”

  Red turned to Lindy. “We need to have an egress plan in mind at all times, so use our internal comm to keep it up to the minute. And Jay, please don’t get adventurous. We will probably need you to make sure the way ahead is clear if we have to run for it. Ankh? You know we’ll be contacting you and asking for something bizarre, like hacking an auto-barista to hook us up with mochaccinos.”

  “What’s a mochaccino?” Ankh deadpanned.

  “Exactly. That’s why we need the system to flex to your indomitable will.”

  “You’re not getting one,” Ankh replied.

  “Seats, please,” Chaz requested. “We’ll be entering Corran’s atmosphere momentarily.”

  Rivka returned to the bridge, Ankh disappeared into his workshop again, and the others took seats in the rec room. Jay held Floyd in her arms and cooed into the wombat’s ear. She giggled as the turbulence started.

  Hamlet strolled out, getting tossed back and forth. He spread his legs wide and tried to balance. Lindy held out her arms and called to him. He worked his way close and she picked him up, holding the cat and petting him as the ship bounced and jerked.

  Rivka watched the view outside the ship as shown on the main screen. “What does ground transport look like?”

  “Most people in the city of Amberly use public transportation: high-speed monorails, people-movers, conveyors, and the like. Only executives and freight move on the limited streets. I have secured an automated aerovan, which should limit the delays.”

  “No drivers? Everything is automated?”

  “Yes. The Corranites maintain strict control over all movement in the city. Facial recognition secures every door, every vehicle, and every room. You will have to register when you first board the aerovan, and then you’ll be logged into their system.”

  “And all of that security is paid for by sentient trafficking.” Rivka blew out a heavy breath.

  “Very few slaves are mistreated, Magistrate and many, when given the choice of freedom, choose to continue their lives of servitude. Many begin their lives as servants under contract.”

  “Freedom means choosing what you want and living with the consequences of your decisions. Maybe those people were really given no choice, since the consequences of the alternative were too dire. Maybe their spirits were broken. Who knows the reason?

  “For right now, none of that matters. Sentient Trafficking is covered under Federation Law, Title 4, Section 1, Physical Crimes Against the Individual. We can find predecessor crimes in the act of securing the being, such as assault and battery, kidnapping, theft by deception, and others. Within the statute, we have the Sentient Trafficking sub-section, which relates to moving illegally detained persons. Illegal Detention can be added if other elements are proven. And none of that applies to the Corranites. For them to be complicit, they have to be operating without a license or trading u
ncleared persons, but those can be remedied post facto, as in buying a license or having a doc look at the person and medically clear them to be sold. We need the Corranites to lead us to their suppliers.”

  “We could look at the ship below us,” Chaz added.

  “Don’t tell me. You knew I didn’t want to help a slaver!” Rivka raged.

  “They had the four bodies hidden within their manifest. They are a cargo hauler first and foremost. This was a last-minute add, but I am very sorry that I missed it on my first pass, Magistrate.”

  “Ankh! Get into that ship and find out everything there is to know about the four slaves they’re carrying.” Rivka held tightly to the captain’s chair until Peacekeeper broke through the upper atmosphere. As soon as the turbulence cleared, she bolted from her seat and ran to the back of the ship. “Chaz, no one gets off the Queen until I say so.”

  Rivka and her team huddled on the bridge. The freighter had landed, and they were awaiting clearance by Amberly Ground Control before departing. Tombo Queen wasn’t answering her hails, but with Ankh’s assistance, she suspected they’d be picking up soon.

  Rivka started to tap her foot. As she turned to Ankh, the screen came to life. “Peacekeeper, this is Tombo Queen. How can we assist you?”

  “Thank you for taking my call,” Rivka replied, using the old timers’ vernacular. “I’m Magistrate Rivka Anoa, and it’s been brought to my attention that you have illegally transported four sentient beings through Federation space for the purpose of selling them. Under my authority as Magistrate, I am seizing your vessel, your cargo, and your crew. You will remain locked down and on the ground until I have time to deal with you.”

  “Wait, wait!” the nasal voice pleaded. “We don’t have any sentient species aboard.”

  “Yourself included?” Rivka shot back. “You will stand by as I open the doors between their cell and the outer hatch. When they appear, I’ll ask them about it.”

  “Wait! My first officer has just informed me that there was a last-minute add to the manifest. I am appalled that my vessel, which has a perfect record, would be so sullied. I shall execute him immediately.”

  “You’ll do no such thing, unless you want me to bring you up on murder charges in addition to all the other charges you’ve racked up?”

  “How were you able to secure our doors?” the captain asked,

  “That’s probably a question your sentient cargo is asking. Here’s what you need to do: roll out the red carpet for your guests, Explain the misunderstanding. Treat them like royalty. And give them all your credits. Your ship and cargo are still impounded, and you, sir, are now a convicted felon. When I have the time to deal with you, I’ll look at your case from an appellate viewpoint.”

  Sounds of a struggle came over the connection, and they ended with a thud and the thump of a body hitting the floor. “This is the first officer. I have taken the captain into custody and will secure him until your arrival. Your orders will be fully complied with.”

  The line went dead.

  “You didn’t have to see into anyone’s mind or punch anyone in their ugly face,” Red remarked.

  “The day is looking up, my friends!” Rivka declared, and they headed for the hatch. “Chaz, detach us and find us a nice parking spot.”

  Peacekeeper’s clamps released with an audible clang and the ship’s thrusters lifted it gently, slipped sideways, and settled to the tarmac. Red was up front, hand hovering over the big red button. Jay was behind him, and Lindy waited for the Magistrate so the bodyguard could bring up the rear. She and Red were fully armed and armored, included helmets and face shields.

  “Do it,” Rivka ordered, and Red mashed the button. The door opened to a waning sun that still put out plenty of warmth. The planet was huge, much bigger than the norm, and the gravity was already weighing on them. The habitable areas of the planet were relatively small. More planet, less space. Fewer natural inhabitants.

  “Maybe that’s how they justify the slave trade,” Rivka said aloud, making her way into the open air. It was clean and fresh, and they all breathed deeply.

  Red moved down the ramp, looking for threats as he always did. The barrel of his railgun swung with his eyes. Red noted the individual at the bottom of the stairs and discounted him as a threat, but he blocked the male’s view of Rivka. Geared up, Red cut an imposing figure.

  “Who are you?” Red asked before the individual could speak.

  “I am Palatius Lore, representative of the governor-general. He will be pleased to host you at his official residence. Please follow me.”

  Red stepped aside at the bottom of the ramp.

  “I’m Magistrate Rivka Anoa. I was looking to visit the market first.”

  “That’s out of the question,” Palatius replied simply. “We are going to see the governor-general before anything else.”

  “Are you so used to taking people’s free will that you would do it to a Federation Magistrate?” Jayita asked. Rivka raised her hand to stop her, but it was too late.

  “You can always leave,” he said, motioning for them to go back up the ramp.

  “My apologies, Mister Lore. We would be more than happy to accept the governor-general’s hospitality. Please lead on.”

  We used to have a plan, Red said softly over the internal comm. This is the second quickest… No, make that the third quickest that our original plan has gone out the airlock.

  Nobody give this knothead or the governor-general grief, please, Rivka fixed Jay with an unblinking glare. Jay tried to smile, but it fell flat. Red and Lindy were doing their respective guard things and didn’t respond.

  “Can you tell us about Amberly during our drive? It’s my first time here, and I have to compliment you on how lovely your city is!”

  “You have to compliment me? Were you expecting a trash heap? And I had nothing to do with how this city looks. The wisdom and artistry of those who built it are to be complimented.” He shook his head and threw his fibrous hands down. “Federation arrogance grows old.”

  Douchebag, Red said over the internal comm.

  Rivka smiled pleasantly, breathing Amberly’s clean air slowly and looking around as if she were on a stroll through a garden. “No matter. I’ll enjoy it at my leisure.”

  She studied their host, a creature who appeared to be made of coiled fibers, like a tightly woven rug. He didn’t appear to have skin, and it was disconcerting to look directly at the exposed musculature outside his body. He was humanoid, nature’s favorite style for sentient species. His face appeared to be tattooed, but that was the intricacy of the fibrous tissue covering it rather than external applications. They didn’t pass any other Corranites before they were hurried into a waiting aerovan. Once the team boarded, Palatius climbed in and ordered the vehicle to take them to the governor-general’s residence.

  The official escort stared out the window and kept his thoughts to himself.

  He seemed so nice when we first arrived, Jay offered. But then he showed his real feelings.

  Xenophobia? Lindy wondered. It seems like every race we run across hates change, even when it is for the better. They like what they like.

  Isn’t that true for all of us? The Federation must seem like a superdreadnought, come to wipe out their way of life, Rivka said.

  Their way of life is cruel, Jay replied.

  To us, yes. Rivka nodded. But we may find that it isn’t as bad as we’re thinking. I understand that sentient beings are bought and sold. That’s not right, but maybe they do it in a way that lets them retain their dignity.

  Fucking slavers. How are they going to do that? Red gritted his teeth and scowled.

  I’m just trying to make this easier. This is a beautiful place. It didn’t get that way through discord and hatred.

  Maybe lipstick and makeup keep it pretty on the outside, Jay suggested without elaborating. Everyone knew what she meant.

  I hope the governor-general isn’t a prick like this guy, Red added.

  We shall
see, Rivka replied.

  The governor-general’s compound was no different than any other military fortress. Red was first out of the aerovan and wouldn’t let Rivka get out.

  “What’s the holdup?” Palatius asked.

  “I don’t like how all the weapons are pointed at us. It’s my job to protect the Magistrate, and I won’t put her in front of those loaded guns.” Red pointed to guards standing in and on the two guardhouses that bracketed a double-gated entryway. Sandbags and heavy walls protected them as they aimed high-tech weaponry at the vehicle.

  “Let me out,” Palatius grumbled and joined Red outside the vehicle. “What do you expect when you show up built and armed like a tank?”

  “Fair point,” Red conceded, keeping his railgun pointed at the ground but refusing to step aside until the guards lowered their weapons. Palatius walked forward, motioning for them to relax. Those inside moved their weapons out of view, and the guards in the upper cupolas raised their barrels to point at the sky. “Are those plasma rifles?”

  Palatius ignored the big man. “Magistrate?”

  Rivka tapped Red on the shoulder, and he finally moved out of the way. Rivka took in the trees and surrounding forest in which the fortress had been built. Jay joined her.

  “Floyd would have loved the woods.” Jay ignored the Corranite guards.

  Lindy took a position on the far side, while Red remained on the near side. I’m uncomfortable with this, he told them.

  Is there anything we can do to make you more comfortable? At least they’re not pointing their weapons at us anymore, Rivka replied.

  At the very least. Our asses are hanging out here, and our escort hates our guts. Our plan went out the window within fifteen seconds, so what do you say, Magistrate? Business as usual?

  Lindy snickered before covering it with a cough. Jay smiled.

  Rivka decided it was time to deviate even farther. She joined Palatius and put a hand on his arm while asking him, “Are there many people here who are anti-Federation?”