When Crenellations, Inc was cleared, Supra Harpeth posted guards and attached a special magnetic lock to the front door. “What do you say we look this place over when we have fresh minds?” Harpeth asked.
“What do you say we turn this over to the Federation? R2D2 will be interested in taking this place apart.”
“What’s an Arty Deetoo?” the supra asked.
“The Federation’s research and development team. I don’t know who else could dismantle that place without destroying everything on this block.”
“I’d like to collect evidence to support the charges I’m going to file against the Crenellians.” Harpeth wasn’t playing. Rivka knew that their support of the terrorist made them guilty as if they had planted the bombs themselves.
“We’re going to let the Federation retain custody of them. And actually, as soon as possible, I’ll take them with me. I expect that I’ll be sent to Crenellia anyway in order to talk about this and the Crenellian role in the galaxy. If their involvement were to become common knowledge, they would become pariahs. They can serve a purpose, but not in the weapons bazaar.”
“I’d like to prosecute them, Magistrate.” Harpeth crossed his arms and clenched his jaw.
“Of course, you would. Things have been going so well, Supra. I’d hate to see that spoiled. Deal with Shnobhauer as you wish, but have the Crenellians meet me at my ship as soon as possible. Bring the dead one and the broken one, too. We’ll take them home in disgrace.”
Harpeth huffed once before nodding. “As you wish.” He waited for the Magistrate and her people to board the law enforcement van and move away before he left the crime scene. Two cars and four officers were on guard, and would remain on guard until the Federation relieved them.
The city’s lights sparkled, a welcoming visual treat for anyone who took the time to look. When the city’s inhabitants awoke the next morning, they’d go about their lives, never knowing what cesspool had lurked beneath. The alien population would know about the capture of the perp, although it would be a while before they returned to openly moving about within the city.
Fear had been planted, and like a mighty oak, it would remain steadfast against the winds of change.
“First one is always the hardest. I’ll never forget mine,” Red said, trying to console Jayita.
“Nor mine,” Lindy added. Hers was far more recent, but she had been as prepared for it as one could be.
“But the difference between yours and everyone else’s is that yours was self-defense. What would they have done if they had gotten to Ankh? Evil people do evil things, and it takes good people doing bad things to stop them. It may not make you feel any better right now, but that’s what our line of work is all about. We’re not here to coddle those who have lost their way. Ours is to kick their asses so hard they never see the light of day again. Sometimes it hurts us as much as it hurts them. May we never stop caring so much that it doesn’t hurt.”
Rivka poured a round of drinks for the four of them. Ankh didn’t drink, but he didn’t leave while they did.
“Here’s to keeping the peace.” Rivka clinked the glass in Jay’s hand.
The young woman finally looked up. She studied the faces of the four people around her. Determination. Justice. Freedom. The law. “I guess I could have worse company,” Jay quipped.
“You gave me the finger!” Rivka smiled.
“And you damn near ripped that finger off.”
“Damn straight.” Rivka threw back her shot and held out the glass for a second round.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Magistrate, but law enforcement has arrived with the Crenellian prisoners.”
“Ankh? Are you okay with us transporting them to Crenellia?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?” Ankh asked innocently.
“Because they called you a traitor and said you were shunned.”
“Did you believe that?”
Rivka met Ankh’s unblinking gaze. “Not in the least.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Chaz, open the door and let’s bring them aboard,” Rivka requested.
Lindy took Red’s railgun and headed for the cabinet they considered to be their armory. She locked the weapons inside while Red cracked his knuckles and looked intimidating. The four uninjured Crenellians carried the body bag containing their dead compatriot. The fifth alien limped heavily, using a cane to keep from falling over. Rivka made them put the body by the main hatch before they shuffled to the rec room.
“Sit here,” she ordered them. Because of their shackles, they were unable to climb into the human-sized chairs. “On the floor, then. It’s padded.” Once in place, they sat rigidly, unmoving and not making eye contact.
Ankh sauntered in. He looked at the chair that loomed over his fellows. Rivka picked him up and set him in place.
“It is not Crenellia’s place to arm terrorists and cause civil wars. I was in one, and only later did I see the terrible cost that was on my head, on our heads. You should be ashamed of yourselves.” Ankh’s voice was even, but a vein began to throb in his skinny neck.
“Who should be ashamed?”
Rivka couldn’t tell which of the five had spoken. They didn’t move their mouths much when they talked.
“Enough!” Rivka told them. “Prisoners don’t have the right to speak on board my ship.” She glared at them until she was sure they weren’t going to talk again.
Hamlet appeared in the corridor and stretched, showing his claws and fangs before sauntering toward the aliens. He rubbed his face on one, and then the next. They shied away from the cat as if he were poisonous. He didn’t care.
He was a cat. The more they tried to lean away, the more he wanted to climb on them. After he had tormented them all, Jay scooped him up and headed toward her cabin. Lindy and Red took seats in the recliners. “We’ll watch them, Magistrate. I expect you have a report to write.”
“I do.” Rivka moved toward the bridge. “Chaz, take us to Crenellia, best possible speed.”
Peacekeeper remained on station according to the instructions from Crenellian traffic control. The armaments and defensive systems between the planet and orbit were more than Rivka wanted to tangle with. It was a technological demonstration and a visible portfolio for any buyers with deep pockets.
Four hours they waited. Rivka had fallen asleep when Chaz alerted her. “We’re being guided in, Magistrate on a one-time-use travel corridor. They warn us not to stray from the designated path or risk instant destruction.”
“Then don’t stray.” Rivka yawned.
“I shan’t,” Chaz confirmed. The ship spiraled downward until it descended onto a remote parking apron on the far side of the spaceport. After it landed, they waited.
“Do you think they’ll send a car?” Rivka asked aloud, not expecting an answer.
“We could just kick them out and go,” Red suggested.
“That’s not a bad idea.” Rivka scratched her chin, wondering if the prisoners were uncomfortable. They’d been on the floor for a long time.
“That’s a horrible idea!” Lindy stood, giving Red a dirty look. “They’re in our care, so we have to take care of them.”
“They’ll be taken care of. I’ll be with them.”
Red jumped up and ran to the weapons locker. He hauled out the railguns and handheld weapons. He and Lindy armored up and prepared to go.
“We may not need the full package.” Rivka pointed to herself and her usual Magistrate garb.
“Maybe we take the mech this time?”
“I have no intention of making you or this ship an impact crater because we incited the Crenellians. I wonder how many weapons they have pointed at us right now?”
“All of them?” Ankh ventured.
“Maybe you should stay with the ship.”
Ankh looked at her as he usually did. She couldn’t tell if he was confused, belligerent, or simply questioning her statement.
“Fine. You can come.”
&nbs
p; “Is Crenellia a signatory of the Federation?”
“Not yet,” Rivka said slowly.
“Then what the hell are we doing here? What if they try to arrest us? I’m not getting hauled off to prison by a mob of tiny big-heads.”
“Since the Federation is in active negotiations with Crenellia, we do have recognized diplomatic status. Don’t worry, Gulliver, I won’t let them haul you away.” She kneeled in the middle of the sitting group. “Get up. It’s time to go.”
Red mashed the button, and the hatch opened. Temperatures were mild. Rivka waited for the group to pick up the body bag and shuffle out. Rivka looked behind her, expecting to see Ankh. Jay was there, holding his hand. She looked curiously at the body bag.
“Terrorists have a way of ending up dead,” Lindy said pleasantly, slapping Jay on the back. “Fuck those guys.”
Jay smirked, her eyebrows furrowed.
Lindy shrugged. “It’s how I feel. What do you say we dump this trash and go home? I’m ready for some private time with my man.”
Jay blinked quickly, and Lindy winked at her.
“Damn.” Rivka motioned for everyone to keep moving. She felt like she was chaperoning a third-grade class to the aquarium.
Before they hit the bottom of the stairs, a shuttle flew in and landed not far from Peacekeeper’s stubby wing. First off was a human wearing a Federation pin.
“I’m Hans Sedolin, assistant to the lead negotiator.” The young man smiled broadly, nodding to Rivka and her group. “I’m sorry you had to wait. Getting clearance to go anywhere takes forever. You’d think the Crenellians would be more efficient, but sometimes they have to put the aliens in their place. Well, all the time, actually. No matter. We are at their main government building where their ruling council resides. That’s where these five are supposed to go. Climb aboard, and let’s see if we can make record time getting back.”
“Nice to meet you, Hans. I’m Magistrate Rivka Anoa. That’s Red, Lindy, Jay, and Ankh’Po’Turn. These are the ones who were running Crenellations, Inc. We’re giving them back to their government. If we’d left them on Collum Gate they would have been executed, so here we are.”
He ushered them onto the cramped shuttle. Rivka made the Crenellians stand while her team took the seats. Hans was granted immediate clearance, and he wasted no time taking off and zooming toward the city.
They’re starting to get nervous, Ankh told Rivka’s team.
How can you tell? Red wondered. Ankh gave him his best blank stare.
Are you thinking that their little operation on Collum Gate was unsanctioned? Relief washed over Rivka like spring rain. I thought we were going to have to fight your entire race.
Yes and no, Ankh replied.
Yes and no what?
Yes, I believe they were acting independently, and no, you won’t have to fight all Crenellians.
The shuttle approached a building that would be described as a megalith on any other planet—a monstrous structure with multiple landing pads dotting the rooftop. It was a massive rectangle, all black, windows indistinguishable from the structure. Hans landed the shuttle without the slightest bump and dropped the ramp. Red was first out, scanning the rooftop and neighboring landing pads for threats.
The building had turrets with weapons’ barrels protruding. Automated weapons systems—a Crenellian favorite.
Rivka joined Red.
“What do you think?”
“I think I’m ready for this one to be over, Magistrate.”
“We’re on the final leg. We’ll drag our carcasses over the finish line and collapse on the other side. But we’ve already won. No more diplomats died after our arrival.” The main government building dominated the landscape. The entire city spread before them—a great view with nothing to see. “A little color wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
Hans led the way, going slowly so the shackled Crenellians carrying the bag could keep up.
No one offered them a hand. You made your bed, now lie in it, they thought.
Once inside, they were met by an older human and a group of five Crenellians.
Rivka hurried forward and offered her hand. “General Reynolds, what are you doing out here?”
“I could ask you the same thing, Magistrate,” the General replied, smiling easily. “These fine folks are the Crenellian Leadership Council. They’re in charge of all things Crenellia. They were very interested to hear the story you told and voila! Here you are body-slamming this pack of scumbags. They’ll take them from here.”
One of the council tapped on a datapad, and a series of bots streamed forward. Each collected one of the prisoners, securing the shackles to a pad on which the prisoner stood. The bots flowed away.
“They didn’t plead for their lives,” Jay blurted.
“Jayita.” Lance Reynolds waved to her.
“They wouldn’t,” Ankh explained. “It is not our way. They were caught. They will be punished.”
“Does Crenellia have executions?”
“Of course not. That is barbaric. I thank you on behalf of my people for not letting them remain on Collum Gate where they would have been put to death. Our punishments are much worse. We have remote outposts.” Ankh’s whole body shook in the way his people did when they laughed.
Rivka thought he was having a seizure every time she saw it.
The council stepped forward and spoke as one. “We welcome the Federation’s assistance in finding these criminals and helping us bring them to justice. We hope that we can return the favor someday. And to you, Ankh’Po’Turn, you are welcome on Crenellia any day as a favored son who has faithfully carried the banner of our people into the bosom of the greatest power since the Kurtherians.”
“Join the Federation and help us help others,” Lance stated.
I’m sure the main sticking point in the negotiations is the arms trade, Rivka asserted.
Alas, ‘tis true. It’s their main export and their primary source of revenue. We can’t cover the shortfall, so we have to figure out how the arms trade can work within the Federation’s legal framework. It’s somewhat of a shitshow.
Somewhat, General?
He laughed. It’s a total shitshow, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Can you stay and help me with some of the legalese?
“Oh,” Rivka blurted aloud.
The General laughed even harder. “I’m kidding. Take your team home and get some R&R. That’s an order, Magistrate.”
“Yes, sir. You heard him, people. Saddle up!”
Rivka hugged the man who was the nominal head of the Federation, hundreds of planets strong and growing every day. She was one small piece in the big puzzle. So many teams like hers, overt and covert, risked their lives to keep the peace.
“Thanks, Rivka. And thank you all.” The General nodded and motioned for the council to lead on.
Rivka twirled her finger in the air. “Time to go home.”
Chapter Twenty
“I still have that bitch’s shirt!” Rivka said from her cabin.
“I’d like to see the law that says you can take the shirt from someone who caused your shirt to get ruined.” Red raised an eyebrow at his boss.
“That was an on-the-spot civil claim for damages. It was properly adjudicated,” Rivka held her head up as she made her proclamation.
“I’m sure it was. What’s on the docket next?”
“Take some time off, Red. Don’t go too far, because as soon as I can get a lead on one of your former employers, we’re leaving to go set things straight.”
Lindy and Red locked fingers.
“I made reservations at the honeymoon suite at the top of the station. It boasts a panoramic view of the stars.”
“Don’t you have to get married to be newlyweds?” Rivka looked from one face to the next. Red shrugged.
“Magistrates can marry people, can’t they?”
“Magistrates, boat captains, and concerned citizens who paid their money and took an online course—like a particular dentist
we all know.”
“We’re not getting married by a dentist!” Lindy declared.
“Aha! You are getting married.” Rivka threw the bitch’s shirt on the floor and stepped on it on her way to hug Lindy and Red.
“What do you say we skip the formalities and head straight to the honeymoon suite?” Red wondered, running a hand slowly over his bald head.
“Sounds good. See you when we see you.” The lovebirds hurried away before anyone could change their mind.
Ankh was in his lab working on a new piece of hardware. His night-vision goggles remained a fixture on his forehead. Jay sat by herself in the rec room with Hamlet in her lap. She absentmindedly stroked his fur to rhythmic purring.
“How are you doing, Jay?”
“Just killing time before my shift.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I work at the spa now. Evening clerk and general cleaning.”
“Do they know your hours aren’t going to be regular or even predictable? I need you with me. You’re a valuable member of our team.”
“I know all that, and I thank you for your kind words and hospitality. But I really like the spa, and by working there, if there is an opening, I can snag the time for almost nothing. I get paid and pay off my debt that much sooner. It’s a win-win.”
The End
Author Notes - Craig Martelle
September 1st, 2018
You are still reading! Thank you so much. It doesn’t get much better than that.
I think the Executioner series is my best-received series out of all of them that I’ve done. Thank you to you wonderful people for joining me. I really like this series, and enjoy writing it.
I’m getting a few questions regarding more backstory for some of the characters. We’ll reveal little bits and pieces with each new book in this series. One of the main questions surrounds the Rangers-turned-Magistrates. I’ve talked to Michael extensively about this. He numbered each of the Rangers in The Kurtherian Gambit, but the universe is a big place and they needed more reach, so there are secondary Rangers—those brought on board by the main Rangers and sent to the outer reaches to do what Rangers do. They were of sound character, but still the second string.
Judge, Jury, & Executioner Boxed Set Page 57