Friday, July 1, 2005: 11:25 UTC
Luna, Port Oldridge, HIM quarters
"Mattie, I was honored when you nominated me to be on the Heir's List, but now that they're actually voting on it today, I'm having second thoughts. I don't want your job. Raising Mary is more than enough work," Barbara Grayson said. Although now that Miss Mary Elizabeth, who was playfully bouncing on Mattie's knee, was fully potty trained, life had been getting slightly easier.
"Ride 'em cowgirl!" Mattie said to the smiling child. To Babs, she replied flatly, "Anyone who wants this job shouldn't be allowed to have it." After a few more bounces, Mattie lifted up the child to return her to her mother. "Arthur says he'll be back sometime this month, but since Connie removed herself from the succession, that leaves only Fleur Delacour available. I'd like to climb into my med tank and get my neck loosened up." Among other things.
"That's understandable. If you're in the tank and Fleur goes down and Arthur isn't here... That'd give the Assembly an excuse to seize power. Hate to say it, but you should probably just wait until Arthur comes back before taking any tank time. He's going to be in charge if you're on the shelf after you get married. He might as well get in some practice before that."
"You're right, but he would hate that so much," Mattie observed. "I still want you on the list though. I should have at least three defined Heirs and I've only got two right now."
"Unfortunately, being one of your heirs puts me in a very public place and interferes with my other activities. All my other activities. The required security alone..."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You and Dick do a lot of good for Gotham and Blüdhaven. I think you could do even more up here and for more than just Earth. You would have to change how you operate. I think you can handle it."
"Ha ha," Babs deadpanned. "Seriously, do you think they'll approve me? I swear, there are times the more you want something, they more they resist, just to be pains about it, not because they actually disagree with you."
"I don't see why not. You're more closely related to me than Connie is right now. You're smart and your heart is in the right place. The eidetic memory doesn't hurt either. I trust you to do the job without it going to your head. The MAs with their heads on straight should see that too." Crystal entered the living room and tapped her wrist twice. "Gotta go. Time for the monthly press conference. You're vote is scheduled for 13:00 or so. They may have questions for you or they may just vote. Don't let yourself get sandbagged."
.oOo.
"All rise!" Information Minister Matt Hagen, disguised as simple functionary, told the waiting reporters as Mattie approached the podium.
"Welcome everyone, please be seated. There was no draft drawing this morning. Due to the attack on Camp Katherine last month, we are revamping our intake and training processes and revising our equipment so that no similar attack can be used against us. This will be far easier to implement if we are not actively training new troops concurrently. Volunteers scheduled to begin training this month will be deferred to September as we are not sure the new procedures and equipment will be available by August 1st. Please note that this does not affect recruits of the Solar Guard or those who have been approved for alternate service. Mr. Ullage, you have first question."
Larry Ullage of the Detroit Free Press asked, "Your Majesty, video from the attack on Camp Katherine shows a battlesuit very similar to the one that fought Superman two years ago when the rogue Luthor clone abandoned the Presidency. Have you contacted Lex Luthor and LexCorp about this?"
"We have not heard directly from Mr. Luthor, but a spokeswoman from LexCorp has denied any connection between them and the suit seen at Camp Katherine. Ms. Lang?"
Lana tossed a quick smirk at her friend and rival Lois Lane. "Your Majesty, any word on the identity and status of the woman observed entering the suit before it left?"
"She was identified as Private Second Class Alexis Olsen, but further investigation was unable to verify her identity. What information we did find was contradictory or simply false. For example, her alleged address belongs to James Olson, photographer for The Daily Planet and someone I believe you know personally. She was gravely injured before being captured by the Justice League and they are treating her with my blessings. If is unknown if she'll survive at this time."
"Ms. Lynde, isn't it?" Mattie asked of a tall, fit, sharply dressed woman.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Jessica Lynde, UK Style. Sorry, but I'm asking about the how the wedding plans are going."
"They are progressing adequately. Arthur has invited some people from off planet to attend our wedding, as did I. Those invitations were sent out first as they have the farthest to go. The family and friends invitations are being sent out this week. As this is also an Imperial event as well as a personal one, the invitations to select members of the Imperial government will follow as will invitations to select press organizations to send representatives."
It was the first time that Mattie had admitted that her wedding was more than a private event. The assorted newsies took note, with several of them wondering if they were 'select'.
Friday, July 1, 2005: 13:12 UTC
Luna, Port Oldridge, Imperial Assembly
'Some days this job is like herding cats,' Legislative Manager Ranjit Lakshmaniah thought as he cleared his throat into the microphone to get the attention of the Assembly. "Next on the agenda: the addition of Barbara Grayson to the Imperial Heirs list. Mrs. Grayson is present to answer questions.
"The Crown recognizes Lacey Gavin of Terra."
The elderly representative, whose territory consisted of parts of India and most of what was considered 'Oceana', asked, "You seem to be a nice young woman. Could you rule the Terran Empire and why would you want to?"
Barbara smiled. She'd turned 45 that year and while in very good shape for her age, no longer considered herself a young woman. "Ma'am, I was first approached as a possible candidate for the Heir's list back in January and discussed it with Her Majesty and the other Heirs. The consensus was that the job of ruling the Terran Empire should go to someone who could do the job, but not to anyone who actually wanted the job. It's too important to be a goal.
"Her Majesty believes I can do the job. She is also thoroughly aware that I don't want it. I make no claims about my ability to be Empress of the Terran Empire. But I promise, if needed, I will do the very best job that I can."
Other MAs asked about her background, her education, her relationship with HIM. Barbara told the truth where she could and skirted the truth where she had to. Eventually, the vote was called. The vote was close until the Crown used its 15% vote in Assembly in her favor. It was't something Mattie used often. She considered the succession too important to leave in political hands, Mattie both wanted and needed Barbara on the list.
Monday, July 4, 2005: 07:18 UTC
Epsilon Eridani III, "Hierro" Island, Tallah
"Miss Ciametto, you're the last one in. Once you and Ms. Sorge are done, we should be able to go home."
"Arthur, before I go in, I wanted to ask you a question," Isabel said.
"Sure," Arthur said, expecting another cosmetic surgery request. After Caroline Crawford opened the door, most of the others had made small requests. Miss Blackwood got her ears done. Ada Middleberg had just wanted to make sure the ACL surgery she'd had after an old soccer injury was holding up. It had. Lucie Dugommier was getting a little liposuction. Jana Sorge was getting her cheekbones 'softened'.
"Are you hiring?" she asked.
Not what Arthur was expecting. "For what? The ship has some wants and some needs, personnel-wise, but... aren't you an accountant?"
She was, among other things. "What's wrong with being an accountant?"
"Nothing. If I wasn't a wizard, I'd probably be an accounting major myself right now. It's just... we don't really need one." The ship's computer kept track of inventory, income, payroll and expenses as well or better than any human could.
"The job I was looking for was 'cook', but I could do accounting stuff for you as well."
Arthur rubbed his chin in thought. She could cook, no question about it. But cooking was species specific and he and Mike were the only human crew on board at the moment. But after things got settled, he planned to hire a human crew to learn from his galactics for both the Tallah and the other ship, if he managed to actually get it. "That's an interesting offer Miss Ciametto."
"You can call me Isabel. I don't bite. Unless provoked."
Arthur snorted out a laugh. "My answer is 'not now'. I want to get everyone back to Earth first. The way I rigged it, re-enslaving you under ICC rules and then manumitting you, should prevent the abo from messing with you. If Mattie isn't a complete and total hypocrite, you should also be safe from the Empire. Once we're all safe, I might have a spot for you. But I'm assuming all of you have lives you'd like to get back to and I'm going to give you that chance. After that, we can see."
Isabel nodded in agreement and Arthur turned her over to Louie for treatment.
Wednesday, July 6, 2005: 09:33 UTC
Epsilon Eridani III, Eridani City.
The client was a pink-white humanoid, of what type, the lawyer wasn't certain. Thanagarian or Rannian most likely. Although he might be a Terran. He'd indirectly done some work for a Terran company, Nos Scisco Investments, that had suddenly popped up on the planet and just as quickly disappeared.
"The lawyer in my Admiralty case suggested you when I had a question about Interstellar Commerce Code rules on slaves." T'cha, at least on EEIII, were very prickly about non-T'cha using their names or even being assigned nicknames by non-T'cha. Which is why while knowing full well the name of the Tallah's security officer, Arthur never used it. It would be gauche.
'Admiralty? Those cases involve assets worth tons... tens of tons... more... This person isn't acting like someone with that sort of wealth, but he clearly must have it,' the salmon pink T'cha thought. "My consultation rate is 100 grams tungsten per galactic standard hour,"
"For that price, you'd better be worth it," the humanoid stated flatly before he unlocked a carry pouch and withdrew two heavy coins and set them on the desk. The built in scanner verified what his own eyes had told him. 200 grams pure tungsten. It wasn't surprising that the client could afford the fee. It was unusual that he carried it as cash without any signs of worry. They weren't that far from the starport, which could be a dangerous place for anyone not visibly armed.
After putting the coins into his office safe, the T'cha set a timer and sad 'Your two hours begin now," as he started the timer.
"Are you familiar with the Realm of Abo?"
"Not particularly. Matriarchy, about 200 planets. A bit behind on computer technology, but up to galactic standards in most other areas." The smart systems in his office automatically started checking available databases for data on the Realm and discretely displayed key bits to the lawyer.
"Thirteen slaves belonging to Empress Clarissa of the Realm of Abo were stolen from the Terran Embassy on Abo. They were then re-enslaved under ICC rules and registered in the Slaver's Guild databases on Ladoria IV as such. What would their legal status be?"
"Being in the Terran Embassy at the time complicates things. You are a Terran, yes?"
"I am. The slaves were all Terrans as well."
"I was under the impression that Terrans didn't practice slavery, but I've seen evidence to the contrary as well."
"Officially, we do not. Unofficially, it's been known to happen."
"They're still slaves of course, but your question is obviously whose."
"Correct."
"While the Realm would claim them, that claim would not be upheld outside the Realm. Their re-enslavement, because it was registered outside the Realm's territory to an organization whose authority is recognized by the Realm, would be considered primary and thus they would belong to whomever re-enslaved them."
"That was my belief. But for their safety, they should not venture into the Realm's territory?"
"Certainly not," the T'cha said firmly. "They, and whoever captured them, should never enter the Realm again. It would then become an internal matter and the Realm's rules would apply."
"Also my belief. I'll need a citation showing the appropriate sections of the ICC and for the whatever law the Realm of Abo has that support this argument for my personal lawyer. She's not an expert in this area."
"I can send that data to your wrist comp, but there is one important caveat that needs considered first. Was whoever stole the slaves acting openly or by trickery.?"
"I'd say openly. The Terrans attempted to stop him as did the abo. What difference would it make?"
"An open attacker, one that risked his life to obtain the slaves, would have a much better claim than one that used some form of trickery like remote reprogramming of an enhanced slave or capture gas."
"What about the Terrans?"
"Your people fought a war after a particularly egregious slave raid against your homeworld. You won it convincingly, although I am not sure you know what to do with the planets you captured in the process."
A flash of annoyance crossed Arthur's face. He'd been there for the end of that particular war and as a Green Lantern, death was supposed to be an absolute last resort. He'd never considered any other option for King Da'nnage once he'd cast World Mage. If Ganthet had had a problem with that, Arthur was sure he'd have mentioned it. He hadn't which gave Arthur much to think about.
The T'cha continued, "As such, while normally they would have no standing, a treaty between The Terran Empire and the Realm of Abo could make it hazardous for those slaves or their captor to venture there."
"I'll have to see if such a treaty exists and what the terms of it might be."
"Furthermore..."
Thursday, July 7, 2005,: 13:25 EDT
Earth, Gotham City, Shiela Hawking's office.
"Arthur? I'm surprised to see you here," Shiela Hawking said to her occasional client as he stood in her doorway.
"Really or are you just saying that? I'm sure either you've figured out what I've been up to or Mattie's told you what she thinks I've been up to. In either case, my presence shouldn't be that much of a surprise." Arthur was in a grey pinstripe suit. Other than being young, he didn't look too out of place in the high priced legal firm's offices.
"May I remind you that attorney/client privilege only applies when we're alone, not where other attorneys and their staff can hear. Come inside."
After getting settled, the first thing Arthur did was complain. "I effing hate this town. In the 200 feet from where I landed in an alley to the front door of this building, I was attacked twice. Next time this city gets wrecked, don't bother rebuilding."
"You look all right."
"The first one ate a stun bomb and the second bunch got to hang upside down by their ankles for a bit while I informed them that I could have simply dropped them from a mile up instead. They also got to see me melt their guns and knives. I was tempted to keep a very nice Italian gravity knife for myself, but decided that wouldn't have been fair."
"Let me also remind you that attorney/client privilege has the crime-fraud exemption."
"That would be to further a crime, tort or fraud, correct? Not for something that has already occurred. Not that I think a crime has been committed. But I'm here to make sure."
"That is correct. What did you do?"
"I'm so tempted to ask what you think I've done."
"That would be pointless."
"Indeed it would. Whilst the Tallah was out and about, a Green Lantern brought 13 human slaves in through the airlock, including one Stephanie McDermott. I'm sure you recall when her Majesty and Lady St'laya discussed the fact that the charges against her were bogus. I myself was working on plans to rescue her. I was surprised by the other twelve, a mix of trade reps and embassy personnel."
"Why didn't you bring them straight to Earth?"
"Because they were legally the property of Empress Clarissa. As such, Her Majesty might have just given them back. As you know, for someone whose official stance is anti-slavery, she seems surprisingly tolerant of the practice when it suits her."
"Those people are agents, not slaves. As you well know."
"Before what happened to Eleanor Branstone, I could live with that. But she went from fake slave to real slave quite easily and nobody did a damn thing about it. She's not even on Windfall anymore. Somehow she got into the Imperial Army and sent off planet. I have no idea what happened to her. I've asked Mattie to check, but we're not in a place where we can communicate freely."
"Why not?"
"I do not wish to disobey a direct Imperial order. The more I talk to her right now, the more likely that is to happen. I don't want to abandon her, the Earth or my family. But if Her Majesty pushes too hard, and you know how hard she can push when she puts her mind to it, I won't have any other choice than leaving."
There were things Shiela wished she could say, but doing so would violate the attorney/client privilege she held with Mattie. "Very well. What did you do after you had them on board?"
"I re-enslaved the lot of them to break Clarissa's chain of custody. So I re-enslaved them, took them to a Slaver's Guild regional facility and re-registered them as belonging to the Tallah and made sure that fact was entered into the galactic database. After that, I manumitted all of them, much to S'ana's annoyance, then made sure that fact was entered into the same database."
"Well you only had thirty days to manumit them."
"That's Terran law. The Tallah is registered out of Epsilon Eridani III. If I'd registered them in my name, I would certainly have had to, but in the ship's name, that limitation doesn't apply. It's how I manage to keep S'ana on board despite the fact that she's officially a slave. Once that was done, I swung by Taia, or Taasbah A III if you prefer, and picked up a couple of med tanks. Which I paid for, including the export duties."
"We knew that. You're on thin ice there. That planet was officially embargoed by the Terran Empire at the time."
"Mattie was allowing humanitarian aid. That's what this was. So I skipped some paperwork. Big whoop." He didn't go into details that they both knew Imperial Intelligence had run that blockade during the war and afterwards for their own (and Mattie''s) benefit.
"Now you're using those tanks to remove those former slaves collars."
"Which I'm sure anyone with half a brain has guessed by now. I'd've been back months ago otherwise."
"You seem to be on fairly solid legal ground. Although I'm guessing the Green Lantern who took the slaves was you."
"You know Mattie's friend Amber. Looks like a Wookie? This one looked more like a Mon Calimari."
"A what?"
"Admiral Ackbar. 'It's a trap!'" Arthur quoted while mock-trembling.
"Oh, squid guy." She'd seen the trilogy, but wasn't that much of a fan.
"Yeah, him. I can bring you some pictures from the Tallah and I'm sure the Terran Embassy on Abo would have recorded something."
Sheila had seen the recording. Arthur clearly wanted plausible deniability about his actual presence on Abo although Sheila was sure he'd been there. "So what bothers you enough that you came to talk with me?
"If I bring them back, will Mattie just turn them back over to the Realm of Abo?"
"Mattie would never do that. Arthur, you know Mattie wouldn't do that."
"Mattie wouldn't," he agreed. "I'm not so sure about Her Majesty. I don't know if there's an accord between the Realm and the Empire over returning escaped or stolen slaves. In any sane jurisdiction, the ability to successfully kidnap someone and put a collar on them wouldn't mean you own them. But in most of the greater galaxy, it apparently does. So I used that to my advantage.
"I think I've arranged things so they can't be considered escaped slaves by reregistering them and manumitting them afterwards. Getting their collars off is just to backstop their status as free people. 'No collar' equals 'not a slave' most places. But an attorney with expertise in the Interstellar Commerce Code recommends that they never enter Abo territory for any reason.
"I know bringing them home is going to raise a stink. I can handle what might get thrown at me. But I'm not about to bring them home if they won't be reasonably safe here."
"What will you do if it isn't safe?"
Arthur sighed heavily. "Sheila, I don't know. I'm hoping I don't have to find out. I'd have to get clever and God knows, nobody wants that. I mean, I've got the resources to support them for the rest of their lives. But what kind of life would that be? Permanently separated from family and humanity at large? That'd really suck. I'm not willing to take a chance on this. I need to know."
"Then you should talk to Mattie."
"I need to talk with Her Majesty, but I can't do that any place where Her Majesty has any authority over me or them. Her Majesty is too pragmatic. If she thinks it's best to hand them back over to the Realm, even if they'll be killed, she'll do it and you know she will. Pragmatism is her be-all end-all. Which is Her Majesty's worst or second worst... thing."
"What's fighting for first place?" Sheila asked.
"The fact that Her Majesty thinks I work for her, not with her. I retain the right, at any time, to tell Her Majesty to take a long walk off a short pier."
"So what, exactly, do you want me and my firm to do for you?"
"I need to know what the legal status of those women is." Arthur reached into an inside jacket pocket and pulled out a thick envelope. "These are the sections of the Interstellar Commerce Code that apply to the situation at hand and excerpts from the Realm's agreement with the Slaver's Guild that indicate that Guild rules on captured persons apply once they've been removed from the Realm unless the Realm declares war over it." Arthur hoped they didn't consider thirteen slaves as sufficient cause for war even if he hoped the Terran Empire did.
"Cross check any treaties we have with the Realm and the laws, such as they are, of the Terran Empire with this and give me your best opinion of these girls' safety. Talk to Her Majesty if you can."
"That might not be a good idea. While I can break privilege with your permission, if I break it with Mattie, it's completely gone. Also, I won't be able to do it in person. My surrogate is due soon. I'm not leaving Earth for a good long while."
A pleased look crossed Arthur's features. "Congratulations. I know you've been looking forward to that. I'm sure if you ask my mom, she'll give you all the advice you want. She'll talk your ears off if you let her. As for the other, I leave that to your judgment."
"Thank you, Arthur. How do I get in touch with you?"
"You can't. I'll check in before I leave my base." Arthur concentrated and a green copy appeared next to him. "I'll probably look like this," the image said.
Sheila nodded in acknowledgement. "I'll let the receptionist know."
Monday, July 11 2005: 19:15 UTC
Luna, JLA Watchtower
"He is coming around. His personalty is still integrating itself," J'onn J'onnz informed Con El.
"Yeah, but is he still crazy?" the 'new' Superman asked.
"That would depend on your definition of 'crazy'. Is he still a megalomaniacal narcissist? Almost certainly. Does that make him 'crazy'? It does not. I can touch his mind now, when previously I could not. I believe that means the insanity inducing aspects of the Lazarus Pit have receded. As for the pain he should be feeling, I believe we have successfully blocked those sensations. Between those two things, he should be rational once he regains consciousness."
"How much longer will that take?"
"Not long. Patience, Superman. Patience."
"Lex Luthor's eyes wandered open and slowly focused. Something was very wrong. He was suspended in some sort of liquid and couldn't feel anything, not even his own breathing or heartbeat. The last thing he could remember... He couldn't remember the last thing he remembered other than a vague feeling of triumph. Clearly a false sense of triumph considering his current state.
"Can you hear me Lex? Blink twice if you can hear me." That voice he recognized. It was his demi-clone who now wore the costume and name of his nemesis Superman. He blinked twice and saw the clone standing next to the Justice League's telepathic leader, The Martian Manhunter. Lex smiled, or thought he did.
"You were dead for a while and you're not doing much better now," the clone informed him.
Dead, and now alive but not in a new healthy body? Something had to have gone seriously wrong. The Lazarus pits repaired those it raised from the dead. A new cloned body, one that had had years to mature to avoid the problems caused by accelerated growth, should have been healthy. He'd once sold his soul to Neron in exchange for his health and it was Trickster of all people who'd got him out of that deal with his soul intact.
The martian asked, "With your permission, I can telepathically link us so that we can converse. Blink once for no, twice for yes."
Luthor blinked once, quite firmly.
"Understood Mr. Luthor. One moment please." The two of them left his field of vision for a moment and returned with a large monitor displaying a keyboard with dedicated buttons for YES, NO and OK.
'Superman' explained, "Look at the letters to type. It will be slow, but will have to do until we arrange for a neural interface to a speaker."
OK
YES
1234567890
1029384756
NO
Lex quickly got the hang of it.
THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
QUARTZ GLYPH JOB VEXED, CWM FINKS
MR. JOCK, TV QUIZ PHD, BAGS FEW LYNX
WHAT HAPPENED
"As Superman said, you were dead. Your warsuit took your corpse to a Lazarus Pit controlled by Lyssa Raatko. There was a battle. The warsuit entered the Pit in the process. There was an explosion. You were returned to life, but only partially healed while being fused with parts of your warsuit and slave collar."
OK
J'onn was impressed. He expected anger on Luthor's part, but he accepted his status without a quibble or a qualm.
FIX ME
"You are in a galtech medtank now. Unfortunately, it cannot heal you. We originally believed you were one of those who do not respond to regeneration techniques. We have since learned that is not the problem. Because your current body was cloned, altered with nanotechnology and fused with metal by what is best described as alchemy, there is no program that can be used to treat you."
MY NANOTECH CAN FIX ME
"A nanotech plague was released in Metropolis after you were sent off planet. It was contained at the cost of several dozen lives. Afterwards, LexCorp and several other corporations quietly shuttered their nanotech divisions. Recognizing the danger, T.O. Morrow and Anthony Ivo voluntarily surrendered their own nanotech facilities. Joining forces with Mister Terrific, they brought Earth into compliance with galactic standards barring self-replicating nanotechnology. There is no nanotech available of the type you require.
Those were three people that Lex admitted might be more intelligent than he was. Mot more driven. Not more ruthless. But possibly, just possibly, more intelligent.
FIX ME
Kon said, "Show him what he looks like."
J'onn pressed a few buttons the keyboard disappeared. A few keystrokes later, it presented something out of nightmare. Three arms, three and a half legs, male and female genitalia, small breasts on an otherwise masculine chest, all shot with green and purple metallic threads and larger chunks of white metal sticking out at random. He could still recognize his slave collar, now pitted and tarnished, its lights dark. The worst thing was that above that collar, he saw himself as his whole body should have been. Eyes bright, Nose straight, mouth firm and even looking several years younger than the last time he'd seen his true features.
Lex closed his eyes and hoped the alien and a half could figure it out. When he reopened them, he saw that they had. His body was gone from the screen. The keyboard was back.
FIX ME
"Do you know what a pod person is?" Kon asked.
Life as a full body cyborg was better than no life at all.
YES
"That's the best we can do right now. But that's not what were going to do."
FOOLISH BOY
FIX ME
"You're bitching a lot for somebody in a real piss poor bargaining position Lex. Making you a pod person gives you way too much freedom. With you, any freedom is too much."
YOU NEVER PROVED ANYTHIING
FIX ME
"No. We've decided... I've decided were going 'head in a jar' on you. At some point in the future, we may be able to clone you a new body from your head. Until then, I don't want you wandering off and getting into trouble. If you're lucky, I'll get you a monitored computer line to keep up on things. Maybe you can do some consulting work."
WELL PLAYED
THERE MAY BE HOPE FOR YOU YET
Tuesday, July 12, 2005: 01:14 UTC
Epsilon Eridani III, 'Hierro' Island, Tallah
Isabel knocked on the frame of Arthur's open office door to get his attention. "Miqueletta said you wanted to see me?" She was fresh from her post medtank shower, dressed in blue shorts, t-shirt and ship's slippers, which was pretty much the default ship's uniform.
"Yeah, Flora and Kas'dra are at the Guild Hall in Eridani City. Kas'dra is testing for promotion to Power and Drive Tech," Arthur replied as he closed files on his screen and turned his attention to his visitor.
"Huh?" Isabel replied, wondering what her question had to do with that answer.
"It's normally Flora who brings people down from the shower room. Miqueletta is our 'other systems' tech. She takes care of the communication gear, the life support units, the computers, that sort of stuff," Arthur explained.
Isabel looked even more confused. "We're not on the same page. What did you want to see me for?"
Arthur opened his mouth, closed it without speaking and frowned. "Sorry, Dum-dum here," he pointed at himself, "was answering the wrong question. I just wanted you to know that Ms. Sorge is still in the tank even though you went in three days after she did. Something minor I hope. I just wanted to let you know that we'll be leaving the day after she's out of the tank. You might want to start packing and let everyone else know."
"Any idea on when Jana will be done?"
"Louie says a couple standard days, so we're probably leaving four local days from now."
"I'll go spread the word."
.oOo.
A few minutes after Isabel left, Louie entered his office holding two collars. The one just removed from Isabel Ciametto and the one that had formerly encircled Lucie Dugommier's neck.
"Ship Owner Morton, something I think you should see," she said.
"What is it Louie?"
"The metal of collars and slave belts can't be put through the recycling system so it has to be manually removed from the disposal unit during maintenance. While quire similar, this one, from Miss Ciametto, is not of abo manufacture. The computer and battery mounts are wrong."
"So she was collared by someone else?"
"It is possible that she was collared by the abo. I would not wager on that without receiving good odds."
Arthur knew Mattie liked to use 'fake' slaves to gather intelligence. Could Isabell have been one of those? He didn't think it likely. There was a certain somatotype normally used for that which Isabel didn't fit. Noelani would certain have.
"Do we still have all the collars we've removed?"
"There is a firm at the spaceport that accepts compressed matter scrap. I have not taken anything there since our arrival on this planet. We should still have them."
"Go find out. If so, bring them and Miqueletta to me at once."
"Right away, Ship Owner Morton."
.oOo.
Less than five minutes later, Louie retuned with the technician. She was an older woman, roughly Maggie Morton's age, who could have passed for human except for her blue-gray skin. Even then she could claim she suffered from argyria. She claimed she'd once been a great beauty and Arthur could still see traces of that. But after her youth faded, she'd 'apprenticed' herself to a technician, arranging to become his personal slave. and working to a position where what was between her ears was more important than what was between her legs. She was the last person from the ship's original crew except for S'ana.
"It is obvious if you know what to look for," Miqueletta explained as she held two chunks of slave collar in her hands. "As Louie said, the computer and battery mounts are wrong. They're too small. The internal computers used by the abo in their collars are larger, slower and less efficient than the ones used by say... Workforce. They barely reach minimum specs required by the Slaver's Guild. These two collars," she gestured with the ones in her hands, "while near identical externally, have those internal differences and lack the UV light sensitive maker's mark the others possess. Clearly they are of different manufacture."
"I am unable to tell who the other collar belonged to Ship Owner Morton. The tank would remove any trace DNA and I'm not sure which tank it came from," Louie added.
"Don't worry about that. It's either Noelani Kalawai'a or Nasreen Abu Khadra. Since Miss Abu Khadra is Miss Ciametto's roommate, she's my number one suspect."
"Why do you suspect Miss Kalawai'a?" Louie asked. Her biology was compatible with the fruits Noelani had discovered and was quite happy to add them to her diet. She was the closest thing to a friend the medtech had among the rescued women.
"Judging by what appears to be current galactic standards of beauty, Noelani tops the list. She'd look most like a slave to other slaves. Problem is, on Abo, most slaves are male."
After dismissing Miqueletta, Arthur thanked Louie for bringing him the information and told her there'd be a nice bonus in her next pay packet.
Thursday, July 14, 2005: 14:50 UTC
Epsilon Eridani III, 'Hierro Island', Tallah
"Ms. Sorge, how do you feel?" Louie asked of the woman feeling her own cheekbones.
"I appear to be in good health. That is what this machine is for, is it not?" the German woman asked in return.
"It is. Did you know you had a congenital heart defect?" Louie asked.
"Ja, ja. It was considered minor, not worth undergoing surgery to correct."
"The tank took care of it while your collar was being removed."
"Danke," Jana replied, which Louie's translator ship didn't understand but was clearly a positive response. The original mirror Arthur had jury rigged for Caroline had been replaced by a 'real' hand mirror which Jana used to examine her slightly altered face. She smiled, frowned and worked her jaw a bit, seeming happy with the results.
"You are the last person out of the tanks. Miss Ciametto finished two days ago. Please go with Flora to get a shower and then report to Ship Owner Morton.
.oOo.
"Herr Morton, my collar is removed, I approve of my new cheekbones and you even fixed that little hole in my heart I've been carrying around for 41 years. Danke."
"No problem, Ms. Sorge." It was odd, Ms. Sorge was the only one who insisted on MS everyone else was fine with Miss or at last didn't object to it. "There's a party on the beach to celebrate all the collars being off and they're waiting on you.. I will verify it's safe for us to go and if so, we'll leave tomorrow. Make sure you get a chance to pack anything you want to bring with you."
"Jawohl, Herr Morton."
Thursday, July 14, 2005: 15:47 EDT
Earth, Gotham City
Since he didn't try to disguise the fact he was coming from EEIII, Arthur made the run to Earth in a matter of minutes, arriving in Gotham sometime mid afternoon. Finding a different alley to land in, he made it to the building where Sheila worked without getting attacked. As he waited for the elevator, it dinged and Sheila Hawking rushed out of it, carrying her briefcase and a travel bag.
"My surrogate just went into labor, I need to get to the hospital!"
As soon as they got through the revolving door, Arthur changed into his Green Lantern costume and asked, "Which one?"
"Gotham General."
Arthur scooped up Sheila's muscular 62 kilos and told her to navigate. They arrived before her surrogate did.
.oOo.
One nice thing about being a Green Lantern that Arthur had learned is that people don't tend to argue with you. They might try to kill you, but short of that, they generally prefer not to engage at all. Thus no one shooed him away when he followed Sheila into the ER and later to the Maternity Ward.
Using his second sight, he took a look inside the young hispanic woman. Baby boy was head down, umbilical cord wasn't wrapped around anything and her cervix wasn't open yet, so she was still in the first stage of labor. Other details of 'Uncle Doc's' infamous Christmas puberty lecture came unbidden to Arthur's mind.
"She's fine, baby's fine," he assured Sheila.
"How do you know?" Sheila demanded. The baby was three days early. How was that 'fine'?
"You must really be out of it if you've forgotten I have x-ray vision."
Sheila massaged her forehead. "I'm stressed, alright! I'm very stressed."
Using his ring, Arthur projected in green what his second sight was seeing.
"Handy little gadget you've got there," the obstetrician observed..
"It slices, it dices, it makes Julienne fries," Arthur quipped.
The obstetrician said, "Ms. Hawking, if that's an accurate image, then this should be a textbook simple delivery."
"My mom's shortest labor was three hours, her longest almost two days. Has she given birth before?"
"Yes," Sheila replied. She had made sure her surrogate had had a successful pregnancy before hiring her.
"So eight to ten hours would be typical, right doctor?"
"Yes," the Doctor acknowledged. "What do they teach you people?" he inquired sharply.
"There's a story about that, but I can't tell it." That the baby in question was the son of 'Uncle Doc', was ironic beyond words.
"Green Lantern is right Ms. Hawking. This will take hours. Go to the cafeteria and try to relax. The nurse will give you a pager. If there's a problem or she dilates to 10 centimeters, we'll contact you. You won't miss the delivery."
Thus reassured, Sheila allowed herself to be led from the room.
.oOo.
"Are you all right?"
"No, I'm not all right. I'm nervous as hell. In eight to ten hours, according to you, I'm going to be a mother and I've never been that before. I'll be in my sixties by the time my baby is grown up. People will think I'm his grandmother."
"Please, you don't give a rat's ass about that. It sound's like you're looking for an excuse."
Sheila had the decency to look embarrassed. "Shawn never had children with his wife. She nearly died the one time they tried. He also refused to remarry after she died and yes, I did offer once."
Arthur thought about it for a moment then shrugged. If Tony Randall could marry and have two kids by his second wife, who was fifty years younger than he was, Sheila and Uncle Doc could do whatever they liked. "You're afraid to disappoint him."
Sheila merely nodded.
"I didn't know him well enough to even guess about that. But from what I know of you, I'm not worried about it. As much as I hate to use the word 'faith', have faith in yourself. You've got this. If you don't, you know you can ask for help and having the Queen of Space on speed dial is a very useful resource."
Sheila nodded again but finally started drinking her diet soda afterwards. "Thanks for the pep talk. I take it you're here because you're finally ready to bring everyone home."
"Yup."
"The Empire won't given them back. The Realm would have to be willing to go to war over it assuming they're all smart enough to stay out of the Realm or any of their embassies. But whatever you do, don't go back for the rest of them. One raid, you can get away with. Barely, because the Green Lantern who took them doesn't look like you. A series of raids... No one would believe you weren't doing them at Mattie's direction. It would be almost certain war."
"Thanks. I'm sure the bill will show up at House Morton eventually."
"It's for a good cause," Sheila replied.
"That much?"
Before Sheila could answer, his ring spoke. "To all Green Lanterns in all sectors. Romantic relationships between members of the Green Lantern Corp are now forbidden. All Green Lanterns in such relationships have one ring recharge period to decide which member of the relationship will resign from the Green Lantern Corps. Failure to comply will result in all such members being discharged from the Green Lantern Corps."
"Oh shit!" Arthur said earnestly.
Thursday, July 14: 2005: 20:41 UTC
Luna, Port Oldridge, HIM quarters.
It was Thursday evening. Mattie didn't have any official events that night and after spending an hour or so reviewing reports and proposed legislation, had decided to see if there were any new movies that looked interesting enough to watch. March of the Penguins with Morgan Freeman narrating was considered, but she wanted something a little more fun. Unfortunately most recent 'fun' movies had sucked and she'd already seen Madagascar.
Then she and Crystal heard the same message that Arthur and every other Green Lantern heard. "It's not like Ganthet didn't warn us."
Crystal 'hmphed' and said, "Arthur calling in three... two... one..."
It was closer to a ten count when Mattie's ring chimed. "Must have been busy," Mattie mused before willing her ring to accept the contact.
"Hello, Arthur," she said calmly.
"We need to talk, now," he said.
"Crystal and I got the same message. She doesn't have anything to worry about."
"I wish I could say otherwise," Crystal muttered quietly. Steve had been gone for a long time. She was finally considering the possibility of moving on.
"I'll be landing in Port Oldridge any second. Be there soon," he said before disconnecting.
"He must have been nearby when he got the message," Mattie noted.
"Doing what?" Crystal asked.
"In general, something to do with the people he swiped from Abo. Specifically, no clue.'
"Why thank you Captain Obvious. I'd have never figured that out."
Mattie reminded herself to never say 'bite me' to a werewolf.
.oOo.
Arthur did the 'walk through walls' bit and entered Port Oldridge through the main dome at the Shepherd Memorial Sports Complex. As flying indoors was contraindicated, he hopped a tram and rode it as close as he could to the parts of Port Oldridge that were considered 'The Palace'. Between the security screening and the walking, it took almost fifteen minutes to reach Mattie's quarters and he resented every second of it.
Mattie and Crystal were waiting for him in the living room with 2LT Davis glaring at him from her chair, but not saying anything. After briefly kissing his fiancee, he sat down on the couch with her. Crystal posted herself by the entrance to the kitchen and Cyndi came in and offered him a cupcake from a tray. "Thank you Cyndi."
"Do you want privacy or are we good here?" Mattie asked, snagging a cupcake for herself and also thanking the house elf.
"If we're just talking rings, here is fine. If we're talking anything else, I'd like some privacy."
"All right. I've wanted an excuse to give this thing back for years. I've tried to give it back before. This looks like the perfect excuse to finally do it. Why shouldn't I?"
"You need it more. I'm expendable. You aren't."
'You are not expendable. Not to me," Mattie said firmly.
"Replaceable? Disposable?" Arthur offered only to see a frown develop on Mattie's face.
"Knock it off," Mattie ordered.
"Fine. Just trying to lighten this up. You asked me why you should keep your ring. Why should I keep mine?"
"You're actually using yours. Mine just stays on my finger. sits there and occasionally argues with me. Besides whatever you've been doing, you also used it to rescue that Co'aal scientist and you figured out that projection trick. You're getting better use out of yours."
"Yours has kept you alive. I can't think of a better use."
"That is selfish and selfless at the same time."
Arthur grunted and shrugged. "I'm still pissed the Guardians are doing this in the first place. I'm not hundreds of millions of years old, but I know a stupid idea when I hear one, even if I can see their logic."
"There's logic in this?"
"Oh sure. Logically, it makes perfect sense. Rings work on will power. Our rings do. But we know that yellow power rings, like Sinestro's, work on fear. Sure, they generate hard light constructs like ours do, but if they're generating something the target fears, it works better. Obviously, the Guardians fear emotions and see them as a distraction from focusing on pure will."
"Okay, I can see that. Since love is such a powerful emotion, they don't want it to interfere with their deputies, particularly by affecting two of them at once."
"Uh huh. There are people, like Shiva or Lobo, who fight just to fight. But most people I know fight harder when they're fighting for a purpose or a person. Somehow, the Guardians other than Ganthet missed this."
"I wonder how many other couples are sitting down and discussing this right now?"
"Even if it's just us, the answer is 'too many'."
"We still need to decide," Mattie pointed out.
"There are four options: I give up my ring, you give up your ring, we both give up our rings or we can share one ring."
"Of course you came up with an 'outside the box' option. It's so you."
"It's why you put up with me."
"Five options," Crystal said. "You two could always break up." Under the collected glare of Mattie and Arthur, she added, "I'm sure some pair of Green Lanterns somewhere will do that."
Ignoring her bodyguard's hopefully not serious suggestion, Mattie asked, "So how would this shared custody thing work?"
"We give your ring back to the Guardians. It's been wonky anyway. Then I take my ring and go finish up my project and come back. Once I do, you wear it unless one of us needs to leave Luna and would have a use for it."
"Gimme a 'such as'."
"Such as another Lantern needs help with a magic problem. Or there's an accident on a mining ship and they need evac before the Solar Guard can get there."
"That sounds... workable. Crystal, any comments?"
"I'd prefer convincing the Guardians they've made a mistake. Arthur's right, this has 'stupid idea' written all over it. That's not an option. I know Guardians have made mistakes before, but I don't think they'd admit it to us mere mortals. My next preference is for you to keep Arthur's ring. Yours is wonky. My primary goal is keeping you alive, sorry Arthur."
"No offense taken."
"Then comes ring sharing followed by Arthur keeping his ring." She wore a look best interpreted as 'If you want me to start lying to you, say so.'
Arthur piped up. "Something Ganthet said back on Aaeloh: 'There is more than one way to serve in the here and now and there will be even more ways in the future.' You guys hear anything that might apply to that?"
Mattie and Crystal both replied in the negative. Calling over to the Watchtower, they asked Kyle if he'd heard anything. Another negative, but he mentioned that Hal Jordan was somehow back from the dead and back to being a Green Lantern. That he was trying to 'find himself' and that if he asked for help to give it, but to otherwise leave him alone.
Mattie then tried to reach her friend, Amber of the Red Sparks Forest, the Green Lantern of sector 2820, but was unable to make contact. Not particularly worrisome, Green Lanterns were busy people.
"This isn't going to get easier if we put it off," Mattie said sadly before pulling her ring from her right ring finger. "Go back to Oa. Take the battery with you," she told it. The lantern drifted in from Mattie's bedroom, right through the door, then it and the ring left through the ceiling. Turning to Arthur, she asked, "How long until you're done?"
"Everything that needs to be done has been done. Right now my crew is celebrating that fact. We can leave come local morning if everyone is sober. Since the Tallah only pulls about 20 gees without strain, it'll take most of a day for traffic control and to get out to a safe jump distance."
"So you've been on an at least semi-civilized planet advanced enough to have traffic control."
"I have."
"Where?"
"I'd rather not say. I have further interests there that the Empress of the Terran Empire needn't concern herself with. Besides, you have far more important things to deal with."
"Oh really?"
"Sheila's surrogate went into labor before I came up. She and Sheila are at Gotham General and it's a tossup whether the baby will be born before or after local midnight."
"Way to bury the lede."
"She's fine, baby's fine. I looked."
"Perhaps I could go down and visit her... Oh wait! I don't have a ring anymore."
"You have a perfectly good bodyguard and me. I think we can handle getting you to Gotham."
"Miranda, are you up to playing hooky again?"
"Sure thing, Mattie," the football carrier replied.
"Again?" Arthur inquired.
"You have your secrets, I have mine." Mattie then stuck her tongue out at him.
.oOo.
After they reached the hospital, Sheila, Crystal, Mattie and 2LT Davis formed a knot of conversation to which Arthur was not invited. Possibly not even welcome. When he wandered off, none of them tried to stop him, or even noticed. Wandering up to the Maternity department, a little magic got him past locked doors. He wanted to check on the patient again.
He found her propped up in bed, nibbling ice chips and watching Judge Judy in her half of a semi-private room. "Who're you?" She asked suspiciously of the skinny kid in a nice light blue long-sleeved shirt, expensive looking black pants and well shined shoes.
"I'm a client of Ms. Hawking."
"You too? What you do? Wait, let me guess... Computer hacking?"
"I haven't needed criminal defense services from her yet. It's mostly contract stuff."
"You don't look old enough to have contract stuff. Me? She got me off on an assault charge, like for free. A public aid attorney would have had me up for five years, if I was lucky."
Arthur nodded in acknowledgment. "I'm young, but my life occasionally gets complex." With a thought his costume appeared and disappeared a moment later.
"Green Lanterns got lawyers?"
Arthur admitted, "Sometimes we need them Miss Santirios."
"Santrizos," she automatically corrected. "Marceda Santrizos. Most people call me Marcy."
"My apologies, Marcy."
"I knew Ms. Hawking was like... connected... but damn... she's got a Green Lantern for a client?"
"She's good at her job and I've never had any problems until she sends me the bill."
"Maybe I should thank you then, because you's helping her pay for me."
Arthur shrugged. He didn't see a real connection despite that possibility.
"Damn, I swear I know you from somewhere. Are you famous? Besides being a Lantern?"
"I get that a lot, but I'm not anyone important." Arthur was occasionally surprised how little attention he got being a Green Lantern. In Columbus, it was known, as was his status as a wizard, but no one really seemed to care. Arthur suspected magic was involved, but the type and source was unknown. Something related to 'notice me not', but on a much larger scale.
"Ah... Ah... AH!"
"Are you all right?"
Marcy replied, "It's just a contraction. Not even a big one. Believe me, they get worse. A lot worse. 'Fore I'm done, I'll probably swear to kill all men everywhere and try to strangle Ms. Hawking."
"Have you considered an epidural?"
"That's after the epidural."
.oOo.
Breaking into the coffee klatch, Arthur asked Crystal if she could get Mattie and 2LT Davis back to the moon by herself. Assured that she could, Arthur filled them in on Miss Santrizos,' progress, she was starting to dilate, and kissed Mattie goodbye after saying he'd be back after the Tallah reached jumpspace.
Friday, July 15, 2005: 00:03 EDT
Earth, Gotham City. Gotham General Hospital, Delivery Room 2
"I'm telling you, the epidural didn't work!" Marcy yelled at the obstetrician.
"Too late now; you've crowned. I can see the baby's head," the doctor replied.
While relieved to know she was close, Marcy still said, "Get this kid outta me right now or I'm gonna tear off your-" what she planned to tear off was blocked by a 104 decibel incoherent scream. Despite the pain, she remembered to push as hard as she could.
"C'mon Marcy, one or two more contractions and the hard part will be over," Sheila said calmly. Or at least she faked it well.
"Madre de Dios. Why did I ever let you talk me into this?" The answer was 'money' but no one wanted to admit it.
Two contractions later, Shawn David Hawking entered the world. By the sound of it, he was ready to kick its ass.
Friday, July 15, 2005: 07:12 UTC
Epsilon Eridani III, 'Hierro' Island, Tallah
The navigator, Ruth, so named because the last three digits of her slave number were 104, which was Rutherfordium on the periodic chart, reported, "We are cleared to lift off and join the outbound queue above Eridani City Starport."
"Good," Arthur replied. "Security, status?"
"All crew are at their stations, all guests are in their cabins, cargo is secured and cargo manifests are accurate. All debts paid. Ship is ready to depart. Compound security is active. The watch service will take good care of it for the duration of their contract."
"For a kilo a month, they'd better. Captain M'taab, the bridge is yours. Contact me when we get to safe jump distance." Arthur got out of 'the comfy chair' and M'taab took his place.
"Ruth," he ordered, "take us up and set course for the Eridani City Starport."
"Aye, aye."
.oOo.
Epsilon Eridani was a young star, less than a billion years old. EEIII was a 'terraformed' planet, far too young to have developed an oxygen atmosphere on its own. The two astroid belts were unremarkable, mostly chondrites and stony rocks with occasional nickel-iron bodies. The local solar wind, many times more powerful than that of Sol, had thinned out the would be short period comets. A Jupiter sized gas giant, EEVI, between the asteroid belts was more than capable of slinging loose asteroids around the system, occasionally towards EEIII, which maintained active meteor defenses as a precaution.
As such, working active sensors and radar were more important in system than they were in many other systems. The Tallah's radar range was roughly 3 million kilometers, well above average. Slightly below the plane of the ecliptic (incoming traffic was above), the ship moved at a steady 20 gees out to the jump limit. Nothing dangerous had crossed their path yet, but Arthur did amuse himself by running sensor scans on the two lumps that got close enough to look at. Just dirt and rock.
Distance was one half acceleration times time squared. Being roughly 1.2 AU from the jump limit, and pulling 20 gees, it would take close to 12 hours to reach safe jump distance. The 10.5 light years to Sol would take less than an hour. Depending on how the drop from jumpspace went, they could arrive up to 5 AU off target or they could be just a handful of light seconds out from Earth. In the Tallah, it would take a day and a half to cover a 5 AU gap. In the Rocket J. Squirrel, with its subspace driver, it'd be no more than 11 hours. Depending on where they dropped out, Arthur decided he might just transfer the rescued women to the Rocky and take them down in it. Besides, a 50 ton shuttle was a lot easier to park than a 2500 ton cargo ship.
Arthur pulled up a book on his wristcomp but after 10 minutes found he couldn't get into it. Sighing, he shut it down, changed clothes and went to a double cabin that had been turned into an exercise room. There was a cost to every kilogram carried, so weights were simulated with resistance bands instead of heavy metal plates. The treadmill and rowing machine were made with lightweight, but strong, synthetic materials that Flora would have to work at in order to break.
Stephanie McDermott was jogging on the treadmill at a pretty good pace and Arthur thought about returning to his suite. He wasn't in the mood for company. But she seemed to be concentrating on her running, so Arthur sat down, slid his feet into the rower's stirrups and strapped them down tight. He set the tension to 'high' and the timer for twenty minutes. Grabbing the pull bar, he heaved back while pulling the bar to his chest. About three strokes in he found his rhythm and was soon rowing away on autopilot.
Eventually the timer dinged and he made a few slow strokes to cool down. Unstrapping his feet, he stood to wipe down the seat to find Stephanie looking at him intently.
"I'm sorry, did you want to use the rower?"
"No. I wanted to talk to you for a minute."
Arthur mentally shrugged. "Shoot."
"I don't know if I should thank you or not."
"For what?"
"I noticed that whatever food maker I went to, none of them would serve me alcohol. That wasn't the case for the others."
"They don't have a known alcohol problem. You do."
"Since you snatched me is the longest I've been sober since I started drinking at 13. After I passed the bar, I stopped... Dear Old Dad had my back and I could do whatever I wanted. Nothing mattered. Other people weren't... real, so it didn't matter what I did to them."
"Then Carrie Woo set you up and the abo showed you they were real."
"I honestly don't remember much about that. I remember a lot of pain and wanting even more. After I got out of the tank, I wanted to... retreat. I'd normally use alcohol for that and I couldn't get any. So for the last two months, I've had to deal with it myself. I think I am."
"You said 'am', not 'have' there. That's important. It's a process and you know you're still in it."
"What, like AA?" Stephanie asked sharply.
Arthur waved dismissively. "Oh, don't get me started on AA. It may work for some people, but it's too much like a religion and I have zero use for religion."
"Had me worried there for a second."
After a moment where neither spoke, Arthur asked, "Is there anything else?"
"Tomorrow, I'll be back on Earth and I have no idea what I'm going to do."
"It could be two days, but I'd expect forcibly attend a media circus."
Saturday, July 16, 2005 17:12 UTC
Luna, Port Oldridge, HIM office
As it was Saturday, Arthur decided to try House Wayne before trying the Palace. Entering the airlock to House Morton, he went through all three doors, down the shaft and the antechamber to the actual living quarters. "Anybody home?" he called, hoping that he'd catch Becky and/or Carson. No such luck. Carrying his lantern, he slipped out the front door and across the hall to House Wayne and knocked. The modified fidelius charm recognized him and opened the door just as Todd was reaching for it.
"Hey Arthur, figured it was you,"
"Figured right. Mattie here?"
"In the kitchen!" she called.
She wasn't for long. She, as well as Becky and Carson, all of them wearing aprons, traipsed into the living room. Arthur pulled off his ring, revealing he was dressed in cargo shorts and red, white & blue rugby shirt. "With this ring, I thee Lantern." Mattie played along and allowed him to slip it on her finger before kissing him. Becky and Carson came in for hugs after.
"We are baking cookies today. Mixed them up this morning and let the dough chill all day. I'm making chocolate chip, Carson is making sugar cookies and your sister is showing off by making almond cookies and oatmeal scotchies. We're saving some for us and sending the rest to Dick, Barbara and Mary. Since Babs has finally been added to the Heirs List, she and Mary will be moving to Luna. We're going to install a JLA transporter tube so Dick can commute from Blūdhaven. It'll be a dedicated circuit and won't cross-connect. And what have you been doing?"
"Taking thirteen enslaved humans, freeing them and running them through medtanks to get their collars off. They should be dropping into Sol space within the hour."
"A where, pray tell, did you get thirteen human slaves?"
"The Tallah was out and about whilst your truly was figuring out how to rescue Stephanie McDermott. Then a Green Lantern appeared at my airlock with her and twelve other human slaves."
"That was very nice of him."
"Green Lanterns are supposed to help one another."
"How, also pray tell, did he find the Tallah whilst you were out there?"
"I don't know about you, but I can detect a GL ring at 4 light years. Could detect. No ring now. I'm assuming range increases with practice and willpower. After all, I got a lot better at the projection bit from the first time I did it."
A timer dinged. Becky went to the kitchen to check the current batch. If they looked done, she'd put in the next.
"Well, the story sounds a bit thin, but it should hold," Mattie said seriously. "What now?"
"I think I should call your Aunt Lois and tell her something on the record for a change."
"Oh, she'll love that."
.oOo.
News spread quickly. A short blurb appeared on The Daily Planet's website listed as a 'breaking story'. Galaxy Broadcasting also picked it up and teased it in a news break promising more details on their nightly news broadcast. UTC was four hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time, so they'd have time to wait for developments.
"Think we should relocate to the Imperial Media Center?" Mattie asked.
"No," Arthur said firmly. "This is a 'me' story, not an Imperial story and it needs to stay a 'me' story. We don't want it looking like you authorized this, even though we both know people will say that."
"Got it."
Saturday, July 16, 2005: 17:58 UTC
Deep Space, 2.3 light years from Sol, Tallah
"This is Captain M'taab of the Independent Trading Vessel Tallah calling Sol Traffic control."
"This is Sol Traffic Control, go ahead Tallah."
"Have you instructions for us?"
"We do, Tallah. Set course for Starport Luna, you have been assigned to docking area A, slip 12.
There followed a short technical discussion of approach vectors as the Tallah continued Sol-ward.
.oOo.
"These are good," Todd said as he finished off his third oatmeal scotchie.
"I use extra vanilla and Arthur, bless his little black heart, has the real stuff, not the artificial kind," Becky explained. "I prefer to let the dough chill overnight, but Mattie has a thing tomorrow."
"Had a thing. I wasn't really looking forward to it anyway. This gives me an excuse to cancel."
"How we handling this?" Todd asked.
Arthur replied, "Depends on where they drop from jump space. If we get lucky, bring 'em in the Tallah directly. If we're almost lucky, put them aboard the Rocky and fly them here in that. If were not lucky, we can either wait for the Rocky or use the GL pack mule express."
"I gotta be bodyguard man,' Todd reminded him.
"I'll just give him the ring back. We're sharing, this is part of sharing," Mattie pointed out.
"Where is Crystal anyway?" Arthur asked.
"London. Taking a well earned day off," his fiancee replied.
.oOo.
Ruth said, "dropping out in three... two... one..."
The universe shifted and the Tallah found themselves lucky. Six light seconds directly above the Earth/Moon pair. M'taab felt this clearly indicated the Source looked upon the venture with favor. In his long career, arrivals this good happened maybe one time in ten. Traffic Control gave them a priority arrival vector. Fifty minutes at 20 gees to accelerate, coast for bit as the ship flipped over and another 50 minutes to decelerate would put them right in the landing corridor.
"Captain M'taab to our guests. We have arrived in the Sol System and will be landing at Starport Luna in less the two hours."
Despite the fact that a Class U starship had a volume in excess of 17,300 cubic meters, M'taab still heard a faint cheer echo through the ship.
As with all approaching starships, there were heavy weapons pointed at them all the way down. Disobeying Traffic Control was an excellent way of being demoted from sentient being to ionized plasma.
Saturday July 16, 2005: 20:15 UTC
Luna, Starport Luna, Landing Area A, Slip 12
Quite a crowd had gathered at the airlock. Mattie, Arthur, Todd and Becky had changed out of their casual clothes into nice, but not formal, outfits. Carson was back at House Morton being watched by Wilma. A new football carrier, one Arthur didn't recognize, had arrived at 18:00 for his shift and stood nearby along with two squads of Marines being used for security and crowd control. Also at the front was Edward McDermott. He was turned out in a dark suit looking patriarchal with his silvering hair and unconcerned expression. As always, a man in control of himself. He was the only relative present. None of the others had family on Luna.
Behind them was a medical inspection team. According to Arthur, none of his charges had had an infectious disease in the last 21 days, but they would collect samples anyway just to be on the safe side. Then came the press. Many of same people who covered the monthly press conferences were there with Lois Lane being a notable exception. She'd been on Earth at the time and while her husband could certainly have flown her up, there were appearances to keep. Behind them were curious civilians filling the corridor all the way back to the next intersection. The air circulation system was working overtime to provide sufficient 'fresh' air to the crowd. Last, barely in view of the airlock, were six abo: Ambassador Lady St'laya, Trade Minister Lady Sa'deep, 'Counselor' Br'sine (their First Spy and true Head of Mission) and all three members of their small embassy's security force. They'd been disarmed by the outer security cordon and were none too happy about it.
The airlock indicator went from red to yellow, meaning warm air was being pumped into the tunnel. It turned green thirty seconds later. This was followed by another indicator showing the far air lock door had opened. After a brief equalizing of pressure, that light turned green too.
Arthur, it being his show, strode forward and opened the hatch, paused dramatically and opened it wide.
Mike Bulstrode and the Tallah's security officer exited first, flanking the hatch. The T'cha's mouth tentacles twitching happily. Jackie Johnson was the first ex-slave through the hatch and the applause began. She blinked twice at the massed cameras and people then got out of the way for the petite Erma Russell. Though normally considered more 'cute' than 'sexy she positively basked in the attention as she smiled shyly.
As more women exited the airlock, the cheering got louder, reaching a crescendo when Noelani Kalawai'a showed herself. She received a few shouted marriage proposals as well as some rather unsavory requests. Even Chantal Araby's normally hostile countenance softened in response to the applause.
The women were all dressed in blue synthetic clothing, in styles of their own choosing. The older women were mostly conservative, while those with the figure for it showed off a bit. Each woman carried a blue satchel and in each satchel was one kilogram of tungsten, the normal grubstake granted to a newly freed slave.
Stephanie McDermott, in what could best be described as compression shorts and a halter top, was the last ex-slave out and she shuffled-hopped in the lunar gravity straight to her father.
Who clearly had no idea what to do.
He didn't hug her. He didn't greet her. His lack of reaction engendered one from his daughter. She said something Arthur couldn't hear over the crowd. Edward McDermott gestured to the cameras and said something that caused his daughter's eyes to narrow.
He never saw it coming. A right uppercut from the hip clicked his jaw shut and lofted him off his feet in the low gravity to end up sprawled on the floor. The crowd went silent.
"Father, I would like to thank you for putting me through law school. I would also like to thank you for getting me a position in the State Department. But I will not be your prop or your puppet. Not anymore." Turning to where Mattie stood, impressed by the speed and power of the blow, Stephanie added, "Your Majesty, if by chance I'm still considered employed by the State Department, please consider this to be my resignation. I've done a terrible job and don't deserve the post."
Mattie, put on the spot, replied, "If it is needed, considered it accepted, Miss McDermott. To you and your fellows... Welcome home." A smaller round of applause came and went.
Kas'dra, Ruth, and Louie had joined Arthur while the crowd had been distracted by Stephanie. Into the post applause lull, he said, "All right everyone! These women need to get checked out by the doctors and then I'm going to fill 'em full of real Earth food and I don't mean kale salads and rice cakes. Make a hole!" As he walked toward the crowd, his crew and the rescued women formed up behind him, the Marines formed up ahead of him, while Mattie, Todd and Becky joined him. A hole miraculously appeared.
The abo held their ground as the burbling crowd rearranged itself. When Arthur's party reached then, Br'sine, in a command voice, said "Crown Consort Morton, you seem to have picked up a few things that don't belong to you."
Arthur halted, bringing his procession to a halt as well. "Miss Br'sine, if your party would be so kind, please join us so we can discuss this like sentients." He waved to a spot on his left where Becky happened to be standing.
Star jumped in before her boss could answer. "That is a wonderful Idea, isn't Lady Sa'deep?"
"Yes Lady St'laya, a most wonderful idea," Lady Sa'deep replied before the two of them joined Arthur's party, essentially forcing the other four women to join them. The rescued slaves were not happy, but Arthur clearly had a plan. His plans had worked well enough so far... They didn't start swinging.
Turning to his right, he asked Mattie, "Do you think you could have Madame Tsien meet us?
"Sure. Exactly where are we going?"
"Once we get down under, I thought we'd head for the Luna Justice Center."
"It's Saturday evening. They're closed."
"You're the Queen of Space. You can open it."
"You are enjoying this way too much," Mattie stated before pulling out her cell phone. She needed to cal quickly, cell reception down under in Starport Luna was questionable at best .
Saturday July 16, 2005: 20:46 UTC
Luna, Starport Luna, Luna Justice Center, Courtroom 1
Arthur proved correct. Mattie had no trouble convincing the security on duty to open the building for her needs. In the largest Courtroom, the medics were examining the ex-slaves. Louie, the closest thing the Tallah had to a doctor, was there to explain any anomalies the medics found, if any.
Meanwhile, in courtroom three, the abo were speaking with Arthur.
"We want our Empress' property returned at once," Br'sine demanded.
"What on Luna are you talking about?" Arthur inquired with exaggerated innocence.
"The slaves Morton, the slaves."
Arthur could see the veins throbbing in the elderly woman's forehead. As well as elevated heartbeat. "Br'sine, please relax before you have an aneurysm," Arthur said calmly. Once she had, he continued, "Do you honestly think I would have brought these women here if I felt they were in any danger from the Realm of Abo?"
"You would not," Star answered.
"The ambassador is correct," Br'sine admitted. "Please explain why she is correct."
"After a Green Lantern dropped thirteen slaves off on my ship, including one that Ambassador St'laya had informed me was convicted on false charges, the first thing I did was re-collar them all, with the Tallah as their new owner. This had the side effect up updating the galtech standard ID chips implanted in their legs, just like the one in mine."
"The Tallah is registered to the Empire, by your laws, you could not legally do that," Br'sine declared.
"Incorrect. The Tallah is registered out of Epsilon Eridani III, a planet not aligned with the Terran Empire. Its slaving license is current and it has a Slaver's Guild approved collaring station on board. As much as I detest what it stands for, it's still a tool that I saw a potential use for when I won the ship in a game of tonton, so I kept it when I had the ship refurbished."
"No..." Br'sine said quietly.
"Oh? You've guessed the rest already?" Arthur asked. "How I registered them with the Slaver's Guild? Ladoria IV by the way; a couple of your freighters were in port at the time. How as owner of the Tallah, I manumitted them at significant cost to myself and then ran them through a med tank or three to remove all their collars?"
"I always knew you were clever Morton, I underestimated just how clever."
"I try to look as harmless as possible. It makes my life easier," he deadpanned.
"If you attempt to take any other human slaves in possession of the Realm..." She let the implied threat linger.
"Those? Actually, I was hoping that you'd just give those back." Behind him, Madame Tsien worried. He should just take the win and quit while he was ahead.
"We do not free slaves," Br'sine said coldly.
"You should try it sometime, you might like it. But I never asked you to free them, just give them back."
"Why would we do that?"
"Look at the economics. Which is more valuable, a handful of human slaves or mutual cooperation that benefits both our people? We humans have a saying, 'no harm, no foul'. Were the Realm to return the other slaves, unharmed, we could move past this to the good of all."
"Clearly trade is the better option," Lady Sa'deep said, mostly directing her comment to Br'sine. The Terran's skill at miniaturization alone was worth megatons.
"Empress Clarissa's honor is at stake!" she told Sa'deep.
"How?" Arthur asked. "How does doing a right thing for herself and her people harm her honor instead of enhancing it?"
"You seek to overturn thousands of years of tradition, human."
"Br'sine, please calm down. Your heart is racing and I don't want to guess what your blood pressure is right now. But let me tell you about traditions. Not all of them are good. Every so often, you need to examine them to see if they're still useful or not. Some of them, in my opinion, have never been useful. You might consider allowing your Empress to make her own decision."
Br'sine looked like she wanted to say something but didn't quite dare. Instead she asked, "You know we do not free slaves. How would we do this?"
"Put them on a ship, in good health, fly them to Eunomia and put them on any receiving dock. Declare them excess to need and leave. While we would officially be upset with you, we, or if necessary, I personally, would take it from there. Any other questions?"
Br'sine stood, as did Star and Sa'deep. "What has happened this day will be reported to Empress Clarissa. We shall see if you are still pleased with yourself once she responds." Arthur, Mattie and Madame Tsien stood in turn.
Br'sine and the Trade Minister left, but Star lagged behind. "Your Majesty, Arthur is a very unusual male. Quite useful. You should definitely keep him," she told Mattie.
"That's the plan Star," Mattie pleasantly replied.
"Arthur, given how upset Br'sine is, I may end up being recalled to Abo. If so..." Star reached out then grabbed Arthur by the head and neck before fiercely kissing him. "That is how it is done, is it not?"
Arthur didn't trust his voice and nodded instead. Star nodded back before she left.
"I'm not gay, but I'd hit that," Becky said to no one in particular.
.oOo.
The ex-slaves were medically cleared to no one's surprise and the State Department footed the bill for dinner. These were women who hadn't seen a fresh vegetable or real meat other than bacon for months, which not all of them could eat. They demolished everything.
Meanwhile, Madame Tsien was critiquing Arthur's performance. "For a horrible diplomat, you make an excellent diplomat," she began as she sipped a cup of 'red' tea.
"I checked ICC regs way before the slaves boarded the Tallah. My plan looked legal so I went for it. Later I checked with some lawyers to see how it interfaced with he Realm's legal code. It did, so I brought them here."
Mattie stated, "The structure their embassy is in is under heavy guard and the Abo! stores have been closed and locked down tight. Everyone knows they're freed saves, but very few know they were freed from the abo. It could get messy."
"Figured that. It's why I wanted to deal with the Realm tonight and not after hostilities started," Arthur said.
"You knew that dealing with the Realm couldn't wait and you were prepared," Madame Tsien said. "Excellent diplomacy."
Arthur scarfed a slice of meat and mushroom pizza. He'd missed real food too. "I had months to prepare. Would have been dumb of me to waste it."
"True. However, ask yourself if you pushed her too hard. I do not know the abo well enough to know if that was a serious threat or mere sable rattling. That said, we are nowhere near ready to engage in another war now, let alone one against a competent opponent. Not knowing that makes for horrible diplomacy."
"Which is why I tried to give them an out."
"Allowing someone to save face is normally excellent diplomacy," his former boss acknowledged. "Lady Star and Lady Sa'deep clearly were not aligned with their leader."
"It's Empress Clarissa we need to worry about."
Sunday, July 17, 2005: 00:12 UTC
Luna, Grimaldi Crater, House Wayne
As they prepared for bed, Mattie and Arthur discussed things important and not. Cyndi was on vacation, on Earth, having gone down in a stasis tube. Crystal was going to take another day or two off, which Mattie didn't begrudge her. She had a right to a life of her own which she'd put on pause when Steve died.
On the important list was Babs being added to the Heirs List. "Unfortunately, when they added her, they put her at the back of the line. So it's me, you, Fleur then her," Mattie said.
"That sucks. I know it'd happen come January, but I was hoping they'd put her in Connie's old slot for now. I've still got some things to take car of out there."
"If you do, you'll either take our ring or Todd. Preferably Todd, possibly both. But what kind of business are you talking about?"
"When I rescued Taxa and little K'ta, I rescued them off a speedster. Not much cargo capacity, but it's got a cruising speed of 45 light years an hour and subspace driver capable of pulling 225 gees. That's under 5 hours for a 1 AU trip and under three and a half hours to jump distance from Earth."
"So? Our fastest warships cruise at 55, can pull 700 gees in realspace and drop from jumpspace where we want, not were they feel like. We also have Rings."
"And they're warships, not civilian craft. Might be nice if we had a civilian legal craft with those capabilities."
"Maybe," Mattie admitted as she crawled into bed. "But what does that have to do with you going off planet?"
"After I caught it, the Co'aal were going to blow it up with eight slaves still aboard. Just to send a message to whoever owned it."
"Seems wasteful."
Arthur shrugged before climbing in bed with Mattie, who rolled to face him. "I thought so, so I filed an Admiralty claim on it. The real owners don't dare admit it belongs to them. They'd face treason charges. So I should be able to pick it up cheap."
"How cheap?"
"For 5% of assessed value, then I'd have to register it, which would be another 1.5%. It's worth 80 tons if it's worth a gram, so at least 5.2 tons plus court costs."
"You have that available? I know you spent a lot of cash to rescue our people."
"Don't worry about it. Picked up a couple tons of Rhenium while I was out there. I should be able to get 10 tons of tungsten for it depending on what prices are. If I need more money, I can get more."
"All right, but the reason I mentioned the succession is that I want to get my neck fixed and get the pharmacopoeia out of my guts. Which means while I'm getting that done, you'd be acting Emperor."
"Ugh."
Mattie snickered. "Now you know how I feel. I could do the pharma thing in an afternoon. We don't install an acting monarch just because I'm taking a nap. But the neck could take some time. Incision, cutting the bones apart without damaging the nerves underneath and then putting everything back together... Dr. Black says five to ten days, Somebody would have to cover for me if I'm out that long."
"Are you going to have a draft next month?"
"We don't know yet. I've got a meeting with General Von Hesse Tuesday morning to discuss it. My guess is 'no', but it's just a guess."
"I'm not going to draft people. I'd be a total hypocrite if I did. If you can live with that, you can schedule it anytime after my case is heard. If not, schedule it for a time where you won't be tanked on draft day."
"That's fair." Mattie pecked him on the cheek, rolled over and snuggled in. She was asleep in minutes. Arthur didn't sleep worth a damn.