As the sunset and darkness swept across the campsite, the colonists began to gather round the fire. Cameron and Baines helped Danziger out of the med-tent and sat him on some crates. Shortly after Julia emerged from the med-tent and sat next to Danziger, on the opposite side of the camp than Alonzo, surprising many of those gathered. Yale emerged from one of the tents and approached Devon.
"They are both sound asleep." He said. Devon nodded in agreement and spoke to the colonists.
"Ok. If I can have everyone's attention please." The camp, which was already fairly subdued, fell into complete silence. "Everyone knows that we are here to discuss what to do with the man the Terrians are holding. At the end of this we need to have decided whether to let the Terrians return him to the mother or for us to come up with some other form of punishment. Any questions?"
"Are we discussing just his punishment, or are we going to take into account his crimes?" Magnus asked, "and will be just consider what happened here or what happened before?"
Not fully expecting this question Devon paused as she tried to think of an answer. Before she could Baines said, "It is just that we are effectively discussing the death penalty and while we know what happened here we don't know what happened to True and Julia." As he looked at Julia he trailed off.
"Does it make any difference?" Danziger asked. "He tried to kill Uly and he did kill one of his group. Surely that is enough."
"It's alright John." Julia said as she placed a hand on his arm. "They deserve to know." Yale and Devon exchanged surprised glances as Julia began,
"True was climbing some rocks and disappeared from sight. I went after her, but as the rain started the rocks got slippery and I fell, breaking my ankle. I was about to call for help when I felt a gun to my head. They took my gear and when they realised I couldn't walk they knocked me out. They must have carried me back to their camp as when I woke up True and myself were in a tent. One of the group, the scarred one seemed less stable and more threatening than the others. I wasn't sure how long we would stay safe. I couldn't walk so escape was out of the question for me, but True physically was fine. So we made the blankets we had look like a person and True snuck out to get help. Unfortunately they brought food to the tent soon afterwards and noticed that True wasn't there. They knew that visibility was too bad to find her, but wanted her back so they." Julia paused, "They decided to lash me, hoping I would call out and True would come back. When that failed Bruce, the one the Terrians is holding, ordered I was to be held and he re-broke my ankle." Turning to Danziger she said, tears in her eyes, "I am so sorry John. I didn't want to scare True, but the pain was too much and I cried out."
Danziger gripped Julia's hand and said, "You have nothing to be sorry for. You saved True, for that I owe you everything."
Julia remained quiet for a moment trying to regain some composure. Eventually she continued.
"When I woke up I was tied and blindfolded. I realised there was just one of them left at the camp, it was the scarred one again. We struggled for a while. Eventually I got a lucky blow and ran for it, until John and Walman found me."
As Julia finished the group sat in stunned silence, until Devon said, "Is that it?"
"Is that not enough Adair?" Danziger responded, his voice full of shock and anger.
"What? That is not what I meant. It is just the man the Terrians are holding, Bruce, led us to believe there was more to it."
"That is everything." Julia said.
Although Danziger knew from the state of Julia's clothes when they found her, a bit more had happened in that struggle, the fact it was the scarred man convinced him that whatever Bruce had said was a lie he said. "That is what you get for talking to psychopaths."
"Hang on. When did you speak to him?" Walman asked.
"We felt that he should be given a right to put forward a defence." Explained Yale, "So this morning we went to see him."
"We?" Cameron asked.
"Who are the latest members of the group to completely loose their minds?" Morgan asked.
"Myself, Alonzo and Bess." Yale answered.
Standing up Morgan said, "You took my wife to go and see a dangerous criminal. Are you nuts?" Turning to Bess he asked, "Why did you not tell me? What were you thinking Bess? I thought you of all people would know better."
"The Terrians ensured we were not in any danger." Replied Yale.
"Since when have we trusted the Terrians?" Morgan asked, still in a state of disbelief.
"Why did you not share your plans with the rest of us?" Asked Walman.
"Because they knew it was a stupid idea, which would not bring any good." Said Danziger.
Voices began to rise and heated exchanges followed until Cameron said loudly, "What is done is done. There is no point second guessing now." When the group had quietened he asked, "Did he have anything to say in his defence?"
"No." Said Bess. "More like the complete opposite."
"So perhaps we should move on?" Cameron suggested.
"Does anyone else have anything to say or ask before we put this to a vote?" Devon asked.
"Yes. What happens if we say no to the Terrians and at some later date he attacks them. Will we be held responsible?" Morgan asked still angry with Bess, Yale and Alonzo.
"That is a good question Morgan, maybe Alonzo can shed some light." Devon responded. When she got no reply she said again, "Alonzo?"
Snapping out of his private thoughts he said, "I don't know they were not exactly clear. But they did say that he would be released into our responsibility."
"So if we let him go and does something we will probably be punished?" Said Morgan.
"That is not necessarily a good enough reason to kill someone." Said Bess.
"Have you lost your mind?" Said Morgan, disbelieving his own ears. "Oh wait I forgot, you have already answered that one by going to see the psychopath this morning."
"We are not talking about locking someone up. We are talking about killing him. All I am saying is should we really base that on what he might do in the future?"
"Bess I don't want to sound harsh, but he was on this planet for a reason. Most likely because he is a penal colonist. That means he has been given a chance for redemption already, which he has spurned." Walman said.
"I know that, but back on the stations you would not sentence someone to death because they might commit a crime."
"Then focus on the crimes he has already committed, against us." Baines said.
"Need I remind you that we are not on the stations? Station law does not apply. Out here we need to survive." Morgan said.
As silence took over again Devon asked, "Anyone else?" Greeted by silence she said. "Ok. Do we want to do this my majority or unanimously? And by a show of hands or a secret ballot."
"I think you all know my views an what we should do to this son of a bitch, but I get that some of you might not feel easy signing his death warrant. So I reckon a majority vote, allowing, say up to five, abstained or no votes. Just raise your hands it will be easier and no one will thing less of you." Danziger said.
"Ok. Everyone happy with that?" Devon asked. Greeted with silent nods she said, "All those in favour of leaving him with the Terrians raise your hands." Danziger, Alonzo, Morgan and Walman instantaneously raised their hands. Soon Devon, Yale and Cameron followed them. Then Julia lifted her hand. Finally everyone's hand was raised.