Lissa hesitated, and then gave a sort of half-curtsy bow in return, “Melissa Phelps,” she offered, “but everyone calls me Lissa.”
Shika stepped forward, followed by Ash. Lissa half turned and jerked her head at Stephanie, “This is my best friend Stephanie Wu, we were captured together. The taller girl there is Shika of the Mursi people of Earth, and her brother Ash,” she nodded toward the last boy, “That’s Shiro of the Kazakh people, and this is Lollipop.” She grinned at this last, patting the bright pink alien affectionately.
“A pleasure to meet you all,” Mr. Piff squeaked.
“So,” Lissa said hesitantly looking him up and down, “You guys are from outer space, right?”
Mr. Piff looked gravely at her, “Regulations forbid us from making First Contact beyond introductions with indigenous primitive races.”
“Um, okay,” Lissa was unsure what he meant exactly, but not wanting to piss off the large warrior rodent she tried again, “So, are you here to rescue us?” she asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.
Mr. Piff shuffled his feet now in an embarrassed sort of way, “Not exactly,” he said apologetically.
“But you’re definitely anti-slavery,” Lissa commented, trying to reassure herself.
“Space Patrol exists to ensure the ethical behavior of sentient species in the universe,” this voice came from the ladder as the Patrol Captain descended. Lissa scooted over in the tight corridor to give him room, and then gave a short bow of respect in his direction. It seemed the thing to do, with all the alien manners she had observed so far.
“Well, slavery is unethical,” she countered, prepared to debate the point.
“I agree with you,” the Captain rebutted calmly, “However the Galactic Trade Company which runs this sector does not consider slavery to be illegal so long as it conforms with certain regulations. We are bound to uphold the legal codes of the system in which we operate.”
“So you will allow us to be taken?” That was Shiro, his chin up in a regal tilt of his head, voice demanding.
“If you were seized legally, there is nothing I can do,” the strength of his sorrow dissipated Lissa’s affront.
“But if we were captured illegally?” she asked cleverly, scenting a loophole.
“Then you are free to go, and we will enforce the laws against kidnapping and piracy. Captain Nask would be spaced.”
“Spaced?” Stephanie asked, bewildered by the term. It was the first word she had spoken since they were captured, and Lissa reached out and gripped her friend’s hand tightly, grateful for the other girl’s presence.
“Shoved out an airlock without a mask or protection,” It was clear from his tone of voice that Mr. Piff was grimly delighted by the idea, “Instant but painful execution.”
“Wow, you guys don’t mess around,” Lissa muttered. Stephanie gave her hand a tight squeeze.
“How do we know if our enslavement was legal or not?” Ash wondered practically. He thumped his spear on the metal plates of the corridor floor to bring them back to the point.
“My men are checking on this right now,” the Patrol Captain assured them, “Judging by the resistance we met in boarding, it is highly likely you are not Captain Nask’s legal property.”
“And what qualifies as a legal capture of slaves?” Shiro’s question was almost philosophical, as though his interest were purely academic.
“In order to be legal, a slave must be either purchased with legal tender from a world government, or captured from a primitive planet,” Mr. Piff recited.
Lissa looked nervously at the Mursi. Earth was almost certainly a primitive planet by space standards. Why, most of their populace still believed there was no such thing as space travel! Aliens were the things of bedtime stories and sci-fi movies.
“We just elected a World Government only a few months ago,” she admitted reluctantly, “But our constitution states that slavery is illegal on Earth. I’m pretty sure our President didn’t sell us to him,” she added doubtfully.
“Wait, you came from this planet? Earth?” The Patrol Captain sounded excited, or at least the bot’s translation made it seem so.
“Yeah,” Lissa answered slowly, “Does that matter?”
“Damn right it does!” Mr. Piff crowed excitedly, looking over his shoulder at his senior officer, “We’ve got them now, don’t we Captain!”
“What is it?” Shika demanded, “What does that mean?”
“Earth has long been considered a Protected Planet,” the Patrol Captain explained, “Per the laws of space, you were not to be contacted until Man had proved himself to be a civilized world—that is, until you had a World Government. Since that has now been formed, Captain Nask ought to have offered your people a chance to become GTC clientele. If he did not…”
“If he didn’t then we’re free!” Lissa interjected excitedly.
“More than that,” Mr. Piff added, “If you were kidnapped and denied the opportunity to join the galactic community, heavy fines will be levied against him. You could possibly claim his ship in compensation.”
“Whoa! You mean, we could own a space ship?” Lissa cried. She looked around at the cargo bay. This would make a great merchant vessel if they converted the cells to storage spaces. The glass hallway would be like a show room.
“I know how to sail,” she piped excitedly.
“Astral navigation is somewhat more complicated than ocean cruising, but the principles are the same in a ship such as this,” the Patrol Captain assured her, “Your Europan companion would certainly be an asset if you chose to take to the stars.”
“So octopi really can navigate?” Shiro inquired of the Captain, “I overheard the pirate explaining this.”
“Indeed, most are quite skilled at it,” Mr. Piff answered, “That one is rather young, I believe,” he peered into the water tank beside them and gave a polite nod to the octopus.
“Having arranged for his release from slavery you will likely find him a most willing crew member,” the Captain added wryly.
At just that moment, the top button on his lapel blinked and gave a short beep. He lifted it toward his mouth and spoke rapidly into it. The translator bot, ignoring this private conversation, was silent at Lissa’s left. The Captain listened, and when they were done he said, “There it is. You are indeed illegal slaves of Captain Arol Nask and I pronounce you freed by the laws of space.” He gave a formal bow in Lissa’s direction, having decided apparently that she, being the main spokesperson of their small group, was also its leader.
“Hurrah!” Stephanie squealed. She hugged Lissa in relief, “Let’s go home. I never want to fly again.”
“Or eat sushi,” Ash muttered.
Lissa heard a commotion from above. She needed no Translator to tell her Captain Nask was protesting at the top of his lungs. The five children followed the Patrol Captain as he climbed the rungs of the ladder up to the deck.
The assembled pirates were lashed to the foremast in various states of chagrin. Captain Nask had apparently been speaking separately to one of the officials, and as they watched he was dragged away from his crew.
An officer of the Patrol extended a plank out from the rail in solemn formality.Two others on either side of him saluted. Captain Nask was shoved between them, cursing loudly all the while. He stood on the edge of the plank, his eyes fixed in a glare of rage and fear at the officer who tended the rail.
“What’s