WARNING! This fanfic will contain explicit sex of an erotic sci-fi homosexual nature (USUK). It will also have graphic violence and swearing. You have been warned.
Starships
Chapter Four
By Pixiedust291
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Alfred didn't summon Arthur the next day, and he ate dried meat and drank cheap ale with his men. He told himself he was relieved. After all, that was what he wanted...right? Alfred was a criminal. It was absolutely ludicrous to consider him anything but. That was what his mind was telling him, at any rate. But as the moments with his crew labored by, his self-delusion began to wear thin. His men were a burden. Isolation and boredom made them restless and downright cantankerous. They bickered over cots, the showers, food, and especially the alcohol. Because he was their Captain they turned to him to resolve every issue. Mother of god, he had even had to settle a dispute over toilet paper. Arthur hated them for it. He only had so much patience. He found himself thinking a great deal about what Alfred had said. He couldn't help but wonder how much of it was true, and if it truly did make sense. Human emotions were often fickle and volatile.
He found Captain Vash sitting alone on one of the cots. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Arthur asked as he felt around before he sat down next to him.
"Got nothing better to do I suppose," Vash replied.
"Have you ever done business with pirates?"
He didn't answer for a long time. "Are you accusing me now too? I thought you were smarter then that." His voice was cold and sharp with anger.
"No, not about the security codes. I just meant in general." Arthur clarified. The question surprised him so much, Vash had to be able to tell his answer was genuine. He had been so busy thinking about what the American had said, he hadn't stopped to think about how his question might sound to Vash.
Again, the man didn't answer right away. "Sometimes," he said. Arthur was relieved to hear the anger gone from his voice. "Sometimes that is the only way, or should I say the cheapest way."
"Breaking the law is the only way?"
He sighed. "First of all, I'm clarifying here and now that I didn't betray anyone. I want that understood. But, there's a reason why Switzerland doesn't do much business with the main shipping industries. Life out here in space isn't civilized. I think you'll find that people can only be civilized when they share a common understanding or they are forced to do so because of space limitation. As far as everyone is concerned, space is like no-man's land on a battlefield."
"And you think that justifies thievery?"
"Think about it, Arthur. Most of the men out here are trying to make a living by shipping any and all goods between galaxies and quadrants. They move the stuff, but they get no share of it."
"So everyone steals?"
"Who's stealing from who?"
"The pirates-"
"I wasn't talking about the pirates."
"You mean the shippers then?"
"I mean everyone, especially the nobility and the privileged. The planets tie up all the resources. They set the market value. They control the supply. And if anybody dares protest, they send in their army to claim it for them. The thing is, a government can tie up anything. They could lie and say a commodity is limited of forbidden just to increase its sale value and its demand. As long as demand exists, so does market."
It was very close to what Alfred had been saying. "Low supply and high demand equals exponential price increase."
Vash made a sort of amused sound "It's only natural for someone to take advantage of the situation. By definition then, that person is an outlaw."
"So you think the pirates have a right to what they take?"
"No, but then I think no one has a right to it." Arthur felt the cot move "There are pirates, and then there are pirates. If you knew the things I know, you would see the galaxy very differently. If you had seen the things I have seen, you would not be so confused. The world is sometimes a lot simpler once you shovel through all the politics. I've seen men slaughtered like sheep. Women and children sold into slavery without a care. I knew a women who watched her husband and son be decapitated right before her eyes. The alien army they took turns with her, and she accepted it because they said if she cooperated then they would not touch her daughter. They never planned on touching the girl anyway. Virgins bring higher value in the markets. They left her to die and dragged the girl away. She was... only thirteen maybe." Vash's voice was so low Arthur could barely hear it. He coughed "But that was a long time ago."
There was no denying the change in his voice. The memory was more then just haunting, it was personal. "That is awful."
"Do not think that is an isolated incident either. Every year ships are attacked and their entire crew vanishes, never to be heard from again."
"If it is so common why do we not hear about it?"
"Because they don't care. Space is to huge to ever hope to regulate and monitor. Every planet takes care of themselves and turns a blind eye to the space in between. Military is used as nothing more then to gain more power." And to guard the son's of royalty. Arthur added dryly to himself. "They don't care what happens out here."
"But what about Prince Francis? He is supposed to-"
"You and I both know that man has absolutely no interest in tying himself to anyone. He may have favorites, but he is not the type to wed." there was a dark chuckle "If you're worried about a war don't be. Doesn't the king have several other sons?" Arthur paused. It was true. Francis did have two younger brothers.
"But... you're saying there are different kinds of pirates?"
"Yes. I have had the fortune to meet a few of them and not all of them are bloodthirsty savages like we are led to believe. Some are seriously just honest men."
Arthur was quiet for a moment before he whispered "Are these men..." he couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence.
"Do you think I know everything?" he answered irritatedly "The one thing I do know about pirates is that they are very territorial. They work specific shipping lanes."
"So, you are saying it is better to throw your lot in with a group you can trust rather then one you can not?"
"See." He chuckled "I knew you were smart."
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A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! Here are two chapters for you guys, three and four. New chapters will be uploaded every Friday/Saturday or per every ten reviews.