Fratricide

by Craig Martelle

  The doors to the courtroom opened, and the guests started to file out. Rivka hurried to the bench to catch Wyatt before he left. “Dinner on my ship?” she asked.

  He looked at the cube in his hand before shaking his head. “I need to get back, which means Grainger needs to get his ship ready to go.”

  Grainger caught the hint. “On my way, High Chancellor. Meet you there.”

  Red and Lindy waited by the door. The mob and the reporters were drifting away.

  Jay helped Ankh through the tight groups chatting animatedly.

  “Thank you, High Chancellor,” Rivka said. “For shielding me from the dangers of politics and bureaucracy.”

  “I’m sure you’ll still get your fair share, especially if you’re going to be worshipped as the savior of all AIs.”

  “That’s a strong word. I know what they said, but I’m sure that’s not what they mean.”

  “It’s exactly what they mean.” Wyatt smiled and reached across the bench to shake hands with the Magistrate, then filed out, Bluto’s cube clutched tightly to his breast.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Federation Border Station 13 – Under Construction

  Rivka stood alone at the front of the courtroom. She turned to take in the immensity of it all. She’d been lost in the case and had missed the sights and sounds of the proceedings. The room smelled faintly of sweat and bad food. She wondered how she’d missed something so obvious.

  The dock was empty. She ran her hand along it. The power was off. There was nothing inside to shield. A simple device, but all that was necessary to hold a serial killer.

  The cameras were being dismantled. No one was paying attention to Rivka; they were lost in their own conversations and to their own thoughts. She was quickly returning to the anonymity of doing legal work, and that was what she preferred. She made eye contact with Red and Lindy, twirling her finger in the air to signal that it was time to go.

  She threw her Magistrate’s jacket over one shoulder and strode briskly through the courtroom and into the corridor. They continued unmolested for a short distance before an Angobar appeared from a side passage. His pistol was aimed at Rivka’s head.

  “One move and she dies!” he declared. Red snarled, an animalistic growl from deep in his throat. Rivka looked around for Jay, but she and Ankh were nowhere to be seen. Lindy’s weapon was nestled in its holster, close, but too far away. They hadn’t brought the shoulder-fired railguns to court, only handheld weapons.

  “The case is done. There’s nothing you can do now to change any of it,” Rivka said, making sure not to make any hand gestures or motions that could trigger the one holding the weapon. He was aiming at her head. She wasn’t sure she could survive a headshot from what looked to be a large caliber weapon.

  “I can end you for bringing this zoo to our system. We used to be peaceful, and now? We are slaves to the Federation! We’ll produce your food and be your pleasure planet. You need to leave us alone!”

  Rivka was confused. So many Angobar workers were happy to have the opportunity to work in space. Others were happy to have an increase in their food orders. For the first time in the planet’s history, they had a middle class, hiring worker aliens to help expand their fields and installing more robotic systems to maximize crop yields.

  “I think you might be in the minority,” Rivka countered. “And your government agreed to all of this before the Federation brought the first construction ship.”

  “Bullshit!” the Angobar shouted, spit flying from his mouth. The whites of his eyes showed all around the pupils. He was fanatical. He could have been on drugs, too. Rivka couldn’t tell. The Angobar she’d talked to were emotional. Easy to rage, easy to talk down. She held out her hands, seeking calm, but he stabbed the end of the barrel at her.

  She turned into a statue, her free hand halfway up. He leaned back a shade and sighed.

  That was the opening Red needed. In less than an eyeblink, the big bodyguard lunged forward and ripped the pistol from the Angobar’s hand, caught him by the throat, and slammed him so hard into the wall, his head crunched. He crumpled to the deck, unconscious but alive.

  Zack and Oz appeared. The super was instantly on the comm, calling for his security team. They were still with the High Chancellor, but one could be spared. The Ixtali was on his way.

  The super and administrator looked like they wanted to apologize, their eyes darting between the Angobar on the deck and Rivka watching. Her expression was one of pity.

  “Get this station built. Make sure you franchise an All Guns Blazing, and then we’ll be back. If you’re still here, I’ll buy you a beer.”

  With one last glance at the unconscious Angobar, she walked away, Red leading her back to the gantry and Wyatt Earp. Lindy followed but kept turning back to see who was behind them, as well as watching for any lurkers.

  Once inside the ship, Lindy secured the airlock. “By all that’s holy, lock us away from the madness out there!”

  “Can we declare this mission over yet?” Red asked.

  “Case. And yes, I think we’re all done. I can start looking for the next one.” A smile spread slowly across her face. She started to do the butter-churn and sang her next words. “No blood. I’m in the money. No blood for money!”

  “All hands to the bridge,” Rivka ordered using the ship’s intercom. She sat comfortably in the captain’s chair and watched the screens showing ship after ship dart away. Some with Gate drives took small fleets with them as they helped their fellows. Others lined up at the system Gate and shot through when an opening presented itself.

  “War Axe to Wyatt Earp.” Terry Henry’s voice came through loud and clear.

  “Go for Rivka,” the Magistrate said in her coolest voice.

  “Is that you, Magistrate?” Terry and Char appeared on the main screen. “I thought you might have been possessed by a Skrima.”

  Rivka lost her smile. “Why do I even try?”

  “Because it’s your job as my lawyer to entertain me. I wanted to let you know that we’re heading back to home base. It’s been good, and it’s been real, but it hasn’t been real good.”

  “I guess that’s supposed to mean something…” Rivka let the thought hang.

  “It means TH is reverting to his youth. I need to put him back into the Pod-doc and tune him up.”

  “I heard an ‘or else’ in there,” Terry said, looking sideways at his better half.

  “Or else I might trade you in on a newer model,” Char deadpanned.

  Rivka opened her mouth but the screen blanked before returning to the tactical display.

  “I think we just witnessed what passes for foreplay,” Red offered. Rivka grimaced. Lindy slapped Red’s bare shoulder. He was wearing a tank top. He’d been in the gym throwing iron around.

  “Thanks for saving me back there. I thought he might shoot.” Rivka wiped her brow dramatically.

  “I thought Red might let him just to draw blood. His was the next line on the odds. He would have cleaned up if you hadn’t.” Lindy crossed her arms as Red tried to look innocent. “But his professional reputation is already battered, bruised, rusted, and crusted because of how many times we’ve all been injured.”

  Rivka smiled. “But we’re not dead. Kudos to Red for us not being dead. A little worse for the wear, but still getting up in the morning. I salute you.”

  Red relaxed. Lindy slid an arm around his waist, and they slipped to the side. The rest of the crew filled the bridge. Clodagh and Alant. Aurora, Ryleigh, and Kennedy. Jay ambled up, lugging a sleeping Floyd.

  “You could have left her,” Rivka suggested.

  Jay shook her head. “No, I really couldn’t,” she replied sheepishly and looked adoringly at the snoring wombat. “Has anyone seen Wenceslaus lately?”

  “He’s back in engineering keeping Ankh company.”

  “I’m sure Ankh loves that.”

  “For some reason, he tolerates the big orange fluffball.” Clodagh shrugged. The ways of
Crenellians were not hers. She accepted what was without question.

  “Chaz, are you here?”

  “Yes, Magistrate!” The AI’s youthful avatar appeared on the main screen and waved to the crew.

  “Our first case together, everyone!” Rivka stated. “It was a shade different from our usual in that there wasn’t much running,” she glanced at Red, “but no one was injured. Maybe that’s the new precedent to put us on track.

  “We go up against some of the worst criminals the galaxy has to offer, so we knowingly put ourselves in their gunsights. There’s nothing they’d like better than to take the law off their tail. If they get to us, there is no one else, so it’s critical that we stay frosty at all times. You’re not paranoid. There are people trying to kill us.

  “And that’s my best sales pitch to keep you all here as my crew. I don’t want any surprises or misunderstandings when lasers scorch the hull and plasma bursts before our eyes.”

  Kennedy raised her hand. Rivka smiled at her. “You don’t have to raise your hand. We’re all friends here. Just say what’s on your mind.”

  “Sorry, but you’re the Magistrate! It’s my,” she waved her hand to take in Ryleigh and Aurora, “it’s our privilege to serve on your ship. I don’t understand the name, but maybe someday.”

  “Movie night!” Rivka declared. “But when we get back home. I wanted to make sure everyone was good with being available for the next case. It could take place anywhere from eight minutes to a month after we get back to Federation Border Station 7. What was the least amount of time we had?”

  “Zero. We hadn’t even docked before getting turned around.”

  “There was that. Bottom line is that you will have no control over your life, but Wyatt Earp has a lot of room. You’ll see my bodyguards, Lindy and Red, and that is what I wanted to announce. With the case being over, they will be getting married as soon as we get back. We’ll go from the ship straight to the observation deck. You’ll find that it’s been reserved and we have a blowout planned.”

  “We do?” Red asked.

  “We do,” Lindy confirmed. “The Magistrate has offered part of her winnings to make sure we have a first-class wedding.”

  “Today!” Rivka told them.

  “Hang on, now.” Red started to backpedal.

  “Today, today, today.” Jay started the chant, and the others joined in.

  “We don’t have a preacher.” Red was grasping at straws.

  “I’m officiating. You have a judge.”

  “A jury and an executioner, too,” Red muttered.

  “Cold feet, big man?” Lindy asked, running her fingers up his chest and along his neck.

  His expression softened when he looked at her. “No,” he answered with a smile. “I guess I’ll be getting your elbow in my ribs for the rest of our days. It seems to be working for Terry and Char.”

  Lindy chuckled. “Chaz, take us home before Mister Courageous changes his mind again, and Chaz, will you be our best man?”

  “Only if Ankh and Erasmus join me.”

  And Jay! Floyd said in a sleepy voice. And Floyd!

  “Of course, Floyd. You are all invited. Please join us on the Observation Deck of Station 7 immediately after our arrival. How long, Chaz?”

  “Thirty minutes.”

  “Enjoy your last half-hour of freedom, big man,” Rivka said. “But, I’m happy you trimmed back to normal size. We needed your speed to get out of that last one.”

  Red nodded. “My pleasure, Magistrate. Thanks for looking out for me. I better get cleaned up. I have a wedding to attend and a woman to make happy!”

  “You are such a man.” Lindy shook her head as people left the bridge. Rivka made eye contact with Clodagh and Alant.

  “Two for the price of one?” the Magistrate offered.

  “In due time,” Clodagh replied. Alant half-shrugged. “I’m off to the engine room. Can’t have any failures now. We don’t want to make the bride late for her wedding.”

  Federation Border Station 7

  The heavy frigate smoothly entered the largest of the hangar bays. It filled its parking space, adjusted, and settled to the deck. The hands working in the hangar bay clapped and cheered when the hatched popped and they caught sight of the Magistrate. Word had spread.

  So much for anonymity.

  Red moved into the hatchway, his suit seemingly out of place while looking appropriate at the same time. He scooped Ankh up with one arm and started jogging. The crew ran after him, and then Rivka carrying Floyd. Last out were Jay and Lindy, who was sporting a form-fitting wedding dress with a single train and a small veil. Lindy carried her shoes in her hand as she ran barefoot.

  The hands in the bay stopped mid-clap to watch the menagerie depart the ship. A single creature remained behind. The big orange cat put a single paw through the hatch before changing his mind and returning inside the ship.

  Through the station, up the stairwell, and onto the observation deck. A lone couple strolled peacefully through the garden-like atmosphere. When they realized what the others were there for, they made themselves scarce, disappearing down the stairs without a sound.

  To the side stood a bar. The refreshments were already in place, with a bartender and server from the All Guns Blazing working for double-time and a half as the catering team. They would have done it for free, but Rivka insisted. The dentist, Tyler Toofakre the Fifth, sipped a fruity drink at the bar. He saluted and moved to join the wedding party.

  Lindy pointed to a spot under a blooming fern. Rivka took her position. Red set Ankh down. He produced a small holoprojector and activated it. The avatars for both Erasmus and Chaz appeared. They stood with exquisite posture. Ankh remained next to Red. Jay and Floyd jockeyed for space next to Lindy, Jay finally surrendering to the wombat, who incessantly rubbed her body on the bride.

  Red coughed and tried to clear his throat. He seemed to be unable to speak.

  Lindy looked sideways at Rivka. “The shortest possible version, please,” she requested.

  “We’re here for the marriage between Vered and Lindy,” Rivka started.

  Lindy rolled her finger. Speed it up.

  “Do you?” Rivka asked Red.

  “I do,” he croaked.

  “Do you?” Rivka repeated.

  “I do,” Lindy replied in a clear voice.

  “By the powers invested in me by the Federation, I declare you to be a married couple. Kiss and love forever.”

  Lindy winked before jumping into Red’s arms.

  “Do they have beer? I think I’d like a beer,” Ankh said in his small voice.

  Jay took him by the hand. “Let’s go see.”

  Tyler gave Rivka a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before following Jay, Ankh, and Floyd to the bar and small buffet.

  Rivka remained riveted by the joy on the newlyweds’ faces. Her pocket buzzed.

  “You have got to be shitting me,” she said while pulling out her datapad. All eyes were on her. She held her hand in the air and twirled a finger. “Moving the meal and entertainment to Wyatt Earp. It appears we have a case that can’t wait.”

  Red and Lindy were attached at the hip as they walked slowly toward the bar. “Let me guess. Death. Mayhem. Theft. Extortion. Bad people doing bad things.”

  “Business as usual, Red. Saddle up.”

  The End

  Judge, Jury, & Executioner, Book 6

  If you like this book, please leave a review. This is a new series, so the only way I can decide whether to commit more time to it is by getting feedback from you, the readers. Your opinion matters to me. Continue or not? I have only so much time to craft new stories. Help me invest that time wisely. Plus, reviews buoy my spirits and stoke the fires of creativity.

  Don’t stop now! Keep turning the pages as Craig talks about his thoughts on this book and the overall project called the Age of Expansion.

  Your favorite legal eagle will return!

  Author Notes - Craig Martelle

  Writt
en July 6, 2019

  You are still reading! Thank you for staying on board until now. It doesn’t get much better than that.

  What is Fratricide about? Challenging our understanding, the things we accept because it’s always been that way. If those without equal standing finally get their day in court. I didn’t go into the full court case. That would have been boring. I know some readers wanted that, but I couldn’t do it. So many minor details that folks never see.

  Court isn’t Perry Mason. It’s a lot of paperwork and massive amounts of preparation and research. The trial is usually anticlimactic. I shortcutted all of that by putting Rivka on a rapid clock. You get to see how she sequesters herself to get into the right mental state to conduct the trial.

  I’m also a big fan of shared definitions. Too many times, people talk past each other. They don’t have a shared lexicon. Once they have the words in common, the rest is much easier. When people speak the same language and have a shared goal, the rest of the conversation flows.

  I also wanted to give the AIs who make so many good things happen in the Kurtherian Gambit Universe some prime time. They deserve to have their rights clarified.

  The names! Sometimes, I browse the internet to come up with one or two, more often than not, I ask you, the good fans, and others I name after people in my life. Boran Waldin, aka the Great Waldini, is named after Brian Walden, the man who helped me understand the safety profession. With his help, I prepared for and passed the test to earn my Certified Safety Professional (CSP) rating. It was the highest safety certification at the time and allowed me to move into a safety manager position. It didn’t hurt that I had a JD as well, but then oil prices tanked, and I got laid off. I lasted a whole three months in that position. Timing was bad, plus, I didn’t like it. All the responsibility and none of the authority.

  Brian lives and breathes safety. He cares about the frontline folks because he used to be one, a pipefitter. Then he earned his education and applied it back to the trade. Common sense and safety practices the workforce could embrace was how he ran things. People rarely got hurt on his watch because he had them prepared to work safely. When things didn’t make sense, he would move mountains to figure out why. And that’s the character I wanted to relay in this story. Thanks for everything, Brian. You are the Great Waldini.