his neck and then a fairly good profile view of the layers of skin and how deep to implant the chip.
The doctor inspected the drawing and then Skip’s neck. The prisoner was very educated to know how skin layers grew. The doctor rubbed some alcohol, then local anesthetic/analgesic on Skip’s neck. He took a small scalpel without any hesitation, cut the skin and then – glancing at the diagram – slid the disk into Skip’s neck. He put recognizable butterfly suture tape across the wound. He reattached the bandage. Skip saw his flight suit in the corner and pointed at it.
The doctor realized that the prisoner wanted his suit but the doctor held up his hands and motioned he had to stop Skip from getting it.
Skip sighed and mimicked reaching into a pocket and pulling out something, tearing off the top and putting it on his neck.
The doctor relented – went over to the suit – reached into a pocket, pulled out a silver packet, and brought it back to the prisoner.
Skip said, “Thank you,” patted his chest and said, “Skip.” He then pointed his open hand at the doctor.
The doctor look puzzled a moment and then patted his chest and said “LeCharmal.”
Skip said, “Nice to meet you Doctor LeCharmal,” Skip said in English. Skip then proceeded to strip off the gauze bandage on his neck, tear open the silver packet, and slap it against his neck. The QuikClot and QuikHeal gave Skip instant relief. Skip handed the empty silver plastic packet back to the doctor.
The doctor examined the fine drawing and printing on the sides of the packet. This was advanced medicine. The packet was not metal – something else. The illustrations on the packet were clear even though the wording was totally indecipherable. The hands tearing open the packet in the illustration all had four fingers and a thumb. The fingers were long and thin. He realized this being was not from this world.
Skip drew a drawing of a wound on the paper tablet and pointed to the silver packet. He drew a square over the wound and pantomimed the time span of one day. He then drew a sketch of the neck with no wound.
The doctor got it, looked amazed and held out his left hand with his index finger raised.
Skip figured it was like a thumbs up – okay. Cool – one non-enemy.
****
Blind Justice
Skip awoke in the infirmary early the next morning to see three large locals coming to get him. They clapped legs irons on him as well as a hand chain and led him to what was a waiting van. They locked him inside and drove for quite a while without talking to him. They took him into an imposing building. He was escorted to a room and taken before what could only be a judge – this must be a courtroom. The escorts placed him centered in the room – standing below the judge’s podium.
The judge looked down at Skip and looked through the pile of papers. It was unusual for an Assistant Commandant to prosecute a case – what was his name? LeBeeb…that’s it, he thought. This man is a desperate criminal but could have been a model – he was so handsome. Oh well – best get on with it. “Who brings this person before us today?”
“Assistant Commandant LeBeeb your magnificence,” said LeBeeb.
“What are his crimes?” asked the judge even though he had a list in front of him.
LeBeeb thrust his chest out and preened. “Entering restricted space, failing to heed lawful commands, destroying a Prath interdiction cruiser causing five deaths, landing without authorization, consorting with criminals, smuggling contraband, resisting arrest, and failing to cooperate with lawful interrogation,” said LeBeeb, obviously proud of his list.
The judge was impressed. “How say you prisoner?” the judge said looking at Skip.
Skip looked around
The doctor inspected the drawing and then Skip’s neck. The prisoner was very educated to know how skin layers grew. The doctor rubbed some alcohol, then local anesthetic/analgesic on Skip’s neck. He took a small scalpel without any hesitation, cut the skin and then – glancing at the diagram – slid the disk into Skip’s neck. He put recognizable butterfly suture tape across the wound. He reattached the bandage. Skip saw his flight suit in the corner and pointed at it.
The doctor realized that the prisoner wanted his suit but the doctor held up his hands and motioned he had to stop Skip from getting it.
Skip sighed and mimicked reaching into a pocket and pulling out something, tearing off the top and putting it on his neck.
The doctor relented – went over to the suit – reached into a pocket, pulled out a silver packet, and brought it back to the prisoner.
Skip said, “Thank you,” patted his chest and said, “Skip.” He then pointed his open hand at the doctor.
The doctor look puzzled a moment and then patted his chest and said “LeCharmal.”
Skip said, “Nice to meet you Doctor LeCharmal,” Skip said in English. Skip then proceeded to strip off the gauze bandage on his neck, tear open the silver packet, and slap it against his neck. The QuikClot and QuikHeal gave Skip instant relief. Skip handed the empty silver plastic packet back to the doctor.
The doctor examined the fine drawing and printing on the sides of the packet. This was advanced medicine. The packet was not metal – something else. The illustrations on the packet were clear even though the wording was totally indecipherable. The hands tearing open the packet in the illustration all had four fingers and a thumb. The fingers were long and thin. He realized this being was not from this world.
Skip drew a drawing of a wound on the paper tablet and pointed to the silver packet. He drew a square over the wound and pantomimed the time span of one day. He then drew a sketch of the neck with no wound.
The doctor got it, looked amazed and held out his left hand with his index finger raised.
Skip figured it was like a thumbs up – okay. Cool – one non-enemy.
****
Blind Justice
Skip awoke in the infirmary early the next morning to see three large locals coming to get him. They clapped legs irons on him as well as a hand chain and led him to what was a waiting van. They locked him inside and drove for quite a while without talking to him. They took him into an imposing building. He was escorted to a room and taken before what could only be a judge – this must be a courtroom. The escorts placed him centered in the room – standing below the judge’s podium.
The judge looked down at Skip and looked through the pile of papers. It was unusual for an Assistant Commandant to prosecute a case – what was his name? LeBeeb…that’s it, he thought. This man is a desperate criminal but could have been a model – he was so handsome. Oh well – best get on with it. “Who brings this person before us today?”
“Assistant Commandant LeBeeb your magnificence,” said LeBeeb.
“What are his crimes?” asked the judge even though he had a list in front of him.
LeBeeb thrust his chest out and preened. “Entering restricted space, failing to heed lawful commands, destroying a Prath interdiction cruiser causing five deaths, landing without authorization, consorting with criminals, smuggling contraband, resisting arrest, and failing to cooperate with lawful interrogation,” said LeBeeb, obviously proud of his list.
The judge was impressed. “How say you prisoner?” the judge said looking at Skip.
Skip looked around