PART TWO; POWs Rights
Standard Disclaimers
Thanks to JP for Betaing.
Dedicated to all of you who think that G5 should have more airtime; Here▓s a special mission for the Owl.
I spent the next week or so in getting to know my new friends better, that and exploring the surrounds of the lab complex. There was no fence or gate, nor was I stopped. No wonder, we were on an island.
The Labs were the only buildings upon the island, and the Staff and patients the only inhabitants. It must have been about ten miles from end to end, and eight wide. I climbed to the highest point one day and could see a few outer rocks, but no other landmasses. I got to like the place; the coast was rocky with a few bayed beaches, teeming with seabirds. Inland was mostly moor and pond, with scrubby birch forest in a few valleys. The trees were stunted and twisted by the wind. On the coast you could look out over some little valleys and see flat, lichened growth. The wind had trimmed the trees to match the contours of the ground exactly.
Of course one of the first items I wanted to get my hands upon was fishing equipment; No one fished. I was shocked to the very core of my being. Dr Wilmot had a supply flown in especially for her best guinea pig.
I settled down to fish.
---------------------------------------------
One day Delen. (Who was Dr Wilmot▓s errand runner and general dogsbody.) Came up to me. I was sat on the wall overlooking the main bay of the island. I had gathered mussels and was baiting up hooks for the days fishing.
⌠Your lawyers here.■ She did not elaborate.
"Lawyer? What do I want a lawyer for?" I asked, flummoxed.
Delen shook her head; "I don't know. I assume it's something to do with this matter of being in G Force?" I could see the curiosity in her eyes.
"I'd better see him then." I put down my line and followed her inside.
One of Dr Wilmot▓s silent aides ushered me into her second best office. (You know what I mean; the one with the wilting pot plant and cigarette burns on carpet and desk.) Inside a tall man was sat at the desk. He looked like any Earth lawyer.
I later on found he was one of the top lawyers of the Spectrans very extensive priesthood.
He introduced himself as Mr Degore and he was here to explain my legal situation to me, who was probably unfamiliar with Spectran law concerning people in my unfortunate position.
I thought this a bit pedantic. "I probably know more than you think." Of course I knew; Chief Anderson had briefed us on what to expect. Fortunately I had not experienced it...Yet.
"Sit down and explain just what your fussy Mentor taught you. I'm sure it's wrong."
So that was it, was it? I sat down.
Mr Degore eyed me shrewdly. "Well?" He prompted after an uncomfortable pause.
I did not know what to say to that.
"Scared? Well, there's nothing to be frightened of."
I was angry. "I'm not scared of being tortured! I'm G Force!" I thumped the desk with an ominous cracking of ply.
Mr Degore put a hand of my fist; I shook him off, glowering. "You won't be questioned because the Great Spirit thinks you know nothing of use to Him."
I settled back in my chair, momentarily defeated. So that was what the Blue Bastard thought of me? Well! "So I am to be put on trial, am I?"
"No not at all. Unless you make trouble. The Great One has pardoned you."
This was news to me; doesn't anyone bother to tell me anything? "So what is my exact status?" I asked. "I have no idea, this place is not a normal labour camp, nor does it appear to be a prison."
"This is a Nanotechnology research facility."
"I was told that.". (I had a feeling it was more than that, as I later did find out.)
"Were you told it is a civilian facility and not a military one?"
This was a surprise "no."
"As a G Force member you are not military personnel, are you?"
I was a little shocked. How had the Spectrans discovered that? But perhaps they had asked. It was not a secret after all. Or perhaps they had come to a conclusion based upon their own society; Zoltar and the Elite are all members of the priesthood. Also the most important scientific research is done neither by the military, businesses or universities here -its all religious.
"I thought not. Your status at the moment is POW. You have not caused any trouble here so effectively that means you are an off world slave, with all the rights of one."
I did not know my rights. "So you mean I can be bought and sold." I paused, "who is my owner anyway? I do hope it's not Zoltar." I would not have stood for that.
Mr Degore laughed. "You are a bit more fortunate than that. Technically you belong to the Luminous One. -Just like Zoltar. But in reality the head of this facility, Dr Wilmot, owns you." He paused. "Do you think your superior▓s back on earth will buy you back? But I heard GalSec have never ransomed captives."
I shook my head. "Not their policy. Doing so would make then look weak for treating with outlaw states." No idea of the misery that rule has caused. But if GalSec bought back captives then they would also be bound to ransom Spectran POWs. If we ever caught Zoltar it would look really brilliant if the Spirit bought him back.
(What has happened to Zoltar anyway? Last I heard of him he was in a coma too. But that must have been months ago.)
"The Empire is a very legitimate state."
"Not to President Kane its not." I was a little petty.
----------------------------------
I sat patiently while Mr Degore explained a lot of things. He showed me copies of my records, both of the Luminati and my normal slaves ones. He asked me if the details were right. I helped him correct some inaccuracies and added a little more information. (They did not know my eye colour; petty things like that.)
But I did not sign anything. I was very careful about that. Mr Degore prompted me, but I did not sign.
⌠When I know more.■ I told him and he nodded.
--------------------------
At long last I had a clearer picture of my fate.
I was going to be kept under their POW laws until the end of the war. After that I would be free for manumission.
Provided, that is, I worked to pay for my medical treatment.
Nanotechnology does not come cheap; It had been calculated at ten years worth of my labour if I worked as a civilian shuttle pilot. (As the Great Spirit obviously intended me to become) or twenty years on any other job.
(This is according to the Luminati calculations, which I was sure were on the enthusiastic side. But then again, maybe not. I asked my friends about this and they told me that they were all studying to become Luminati themselves as payment. ⌠Clergy and not slaves?■ I said questioningly. ⌠You▓re not joining the Luminati, are you?■ Erik replied just as questioningly.)
What I didn▓t say to the smug Mr Degore was that I could not co-operate with the Spectrans.
GalSec have very tough laws concerning treasonable activities. Merely to be seen co-operating with the enemy counts as a chargeable offence. Chief Anderson lectured us on this some time after the war started. I was the only one of the team to pay attention. I am glad now I stayed awake. (Unlike Jason and Keyop.)
So I am now in a nightmarish dilemma.
If I do decide to work for Spectra, GalSec will charge me with treason.
If I don't work for Spectra. They won't release me, ever.
What do I do?
-
Actually Mr Degore did not tell me everything
Some things he left for someone else to tell me. Someone I knew, and trusted.
------------------------
Two days later I had another visitor.
It was a red letter day; The arrival of the monthly supply boat. Much to my surprise, I was not put under any special restraint during that event but was invited to go and help unload.
⌠The ship sails at 1830.■ Mr Tucker who was in charge of supplies told me. ⌠I want you to come to my office at seven.■ That was the only precaution they took against my possible escape.
I saw her as soon as I arrived at the jetty. She was talking to the bosun who was checking off bundles against a grimy notepad. Her hair was shaggy like my own and had lost its curl, but I knew her as soon as I saw its black colour. (Very rare upon Spectra.) ⌠Princess!■ I called and ran to her.
Startled, she turned around to be caught up in my huge bear hug. "Tiny!" She was weeping, "I thought you were dead!"
"I thought you were dead.■ I had had little hope for my sister when I heard that she was in the custody of the dreaded Luminati.
"The things I have gone though to save you."
She was right; on seeing just how badly I was injured she could have abandoned me and escaped. But I must have been breathing and so she did not give up hope.
We went to my cell, (now better appointed with cushions and blankets, but still bare.) ⌠She stays the night with you?■ Asked my masked keeper with his normal terseness.
I looked at Princess who nodded. ⌠Yes, I want to talk. I▓ll have supper sent down later, ok?■
We were locked in; Princess flopped down resignedly on the sleeping platform. I sat next to her, pushing aside some cushions.
Meanwhile Princess surreptously scanned the cell. Not seeing anything she slid her hand in mine and wrote SURVEY (Meaning were we being watched? ) on my palm. I shook my head. There were no obvious cameras or mikes. Nor during my stay had I seen any sign of monitoring. In fact, besides personal quarters and labs, the whole place seemed oddly unsecured.
⌠So just what has gone on this last six months?■ I asked. I was itching worse than the time Keyop put pepper in Marks Y fronts to know.
Princess shook her longer haired head. ⌠Long story.■
That was all I got out of her. My good and normally fearless sister was not her usual self; she was very subdued.
I was worried. What had been done to Princess? Had she been tortured? ⌠What is upsetting you?■
⌠Lots■ Princess was almost in tears.
I hugged her; ⌠Have you been hurt?■
She pulled down the scarf she was wearing to reveal a metal band.
⌠What is this?■ I asked though I already knew the answer.
⌠An explosive device; keeps me out of mischief.■ Princess replied in a small voice.
⌠No!■
⌠Yes, courtesy of Mala and the Mighty Spirit.■
⌠Not Those Two!■ Mala had a worse reputation than her brother...As for the Spirit... Now I knew why Princess was so subdued. I decided to say nothing more.
Was this what was in store for me?
---------------------------------------------------------------
We lay curled together, miserably sharing warmth, though my cell was, as ever, a pleasant temperature. I had made love to her earlier, not so much sex as a bedraggled natural continuation of our comforting. She still held herself to me, inert misery rather than genuine lust. Princesses face never changed; still an expression of hopelessness.
I call her my sister, and yes, she is all but in genes...But sometimes I don't feel very brotherly.
I can't get my head around that.
I petted her hair, trying to cheer her up just a little. "I'm fine Princess, healed up perfectly. I'm very thankful for your efforts in saving my life."
"Better that you had died, then I would have only ever had to take responsibility for myself alone."
"I'm glad I'm alive." I hugged her with one arm, reaching down with my free hand to gently touch her most sensitive places. She put on a resigned expression. "I won't pester you if you don't feel like it." Princess had been moodily indifferent to my hand.
She shook her head, "no matter." Princess sighed. "Death is preferable to this." She pulled at her ECU
"Death is forever, it is dark and cold and alone. We are together; we are in good health, both of us, even though I was dying. We are sheltered and fed. Nor are we being abused." I told her, "don't mourn for a glorious martyrdom."
"Tiny," she wailed, pressing her black haired head against my chest. "You don't realise what Mala has in store for you. You really don▓t."