patrol ship?” the judge asked.
“No…those missiles find the nearest target if they lose their target lock. This man’s ship ran away when the patrol ship tried to destroy it. It’s own missiles targeted their own ship,” LeEck said. “I saw no drugs or weapons inside the ship. The ship said they were on a test flight and needed a place to land because they were had very little food and air.”
“They were short of food and air coming from Xale?” commented the judge.
“I think they are not from Xale your magnificence. They are not from our solar system,” said LeEck.
“Where are they from then? Did the ship tell you? Wait? How did you talk to this ship? Do you expect me to believe that this ‘ship’ was able to talk with you?”
“The ship is learning our language but could show me recorded video and it refused to tell me where it was from when I asked,” LeEck said.
“Why wouldn’t it tell you? Was it really talking to you or just playing back sophisticated recordings? Could this be some big trick – Is it your supposition that the reason this man is not answering my questions is because he doesn’t speak our language?” asked the judge. “I don’t believe it.”
“The ship said it wasn’t sure it wanted me to know where it came from – since their arrival here had been very…unwelcoming…was its words,” said LeEck.
The judge leaned forward, looked down at Skip – who needed to go to the bathroom by this time, and wasn’t sure what was going on around him. “By law,” pontificated the judge – “you have heard the case against you and evidence for your defense. How do you plead?” The judge asked and waited the allotted time period. “The law is pretty clear – if the subject decides not to plead – he is guilty. It is within my discretion to reduce the maximum sentence after the testimony of Professor LeEck so I will do so.”
The judge banged his equivalent of a gavel and said, “Guilty! Ten years. I am being super lenient young man. Court dismissed. Commandant. Where are you taking me to lunch? This was a lot trickier than you suggested. Let’s go. Bailiff. Please take the prisoner to begin his sentence. Whew. You said this was a tricky case and you were right – a talking ship…indeed.”
BACK IN BUMWEET
Robert was pretty sure these guys were the local mafia and he’d end up on the wrong end of the law no matter what he did here. He had to maintain some semblance of control or they’d run over him. He needed more information and he needed the ability to speak their language. He thought he’d made a half-ass friend with LeSlur – the guy was sure smart and tough. The government seemed aggressive and inflexible – just like on Earth. He’d have to do something to get back with his ship. At least they had given him his own room. He freshened up and tried to reach Cassandra.
“Cassandra. Can you hear me?” he spoke softly.
“Yes Robert. You must be in a higher elevation because your signal is much stronger now than even thirty minutes ago.”
“Where are you?” he asked.
“I am in the LsPlay Enforcement Center about two hundred kilometers south of your position. They tried to get inside me but I’ve kept them out for a while. I think Skip was just wounded. I’ve been monitoring all I can on any broadcast bands and tapping into the communications system, same system we are using. I don’t have enough to blackmail all the government officials here…yet. I am learning the language. It helps to remember every word and hear their educational broadcasts. Get a tutor – I will listen in and help you. The ‘criminals’ you are with would make more money from inventions you can come up with more than drugs. They seem to be quasi-criminals – remainders of some of the big money elites. By the way – your big drug is caffeine.”
“Really. Damn – I may have a hard time getting a cup of
“No…those missiles find the nearest target if they lose their target lock. This man’s ship ran away when the patrol ship tried to destroy it. It’s own missiles targeted their own ship,” LeEck said. “I saw no drugs or weapons inside the ship. The ship said they were on a test flight and needed a place to land because they were had very little food and air.”
“They were short of food and air coming from Xale?” commented the judge.
“I think they are not from Xale your magnificence. They are not from our solar system,” said LeEck.
“Where are they from then? Did the ship tell you? Wait? How did you talk to this ship? Do you expect me to believe that this ‘ship’ was able to talk with you?”
“The ship is learning our language but could show me recorded video and it refused to tell me where it was from when I asked,” LeEck said.
“Why wouldn’t it tell you? Was it really talking to you or just playing back sophisticated recordings? Could this be some big trick – Is it your supposition that the reason this man is not answering my questions is because he doesn’t speak our language?” asked the judge. “I don’t believe it.”
“The ship said it wasn’t sure it wanted me to know where it came from – since their arrival here had been very…unwelcoming…was its words,” said LeEck.
The judge leaned forward, looked down at Skip – who needed to go to the bathroom by this time, and wasn’t sure what was going on around him. “By law,” pontificated the judge – “you have heard the case against you and evidence for your defense. How do you plead?” The judge asked and waited the allotted time period. “The law is pretty clear – if the subject decides not to plead – he is guilty. It is within my discretion to reduce the maximum sentence after the testimony of Professor LeEck so I will do so.”
The judge banged his equivalent of a gavel and said, “Guilty! Ten years. I am being super lenient young man. Court dismissed. Commandant. Where are you taking me to lunch? This was a lot trickier than you suggested. Let’s go. Bailiff. Please take the prisoner to begin his sentence. Whew. You said this was a tricky case and you were right – a talking ship…indeed.”
BACK IN BUMWEET
Robert was pretty sure these guys were the local mafia and he’d end up on the wrong end of the law no matter what he did here. He had to maintain some semblance of control or they’d run over him. He needed more information and he needed the ability to speak their language. He thought he’d made a half-ass friend with LeSlur – the guy was sure smart and tough. The government seemed aggressive and inflexible – just like on Earth. He’d have to do something to get back with his ship. At least they had given him his own room. He freshened up and tried to reach Cassandra.
“Cassandra. Can you hear me?” he spoke softly.
“Yes Robert. You must be in a higher elevation because your signal is much stronger now than even thirty minutes ago.”
“Where are you?” he asked.
“I am in the LsPlay Enforcement Center about two hundred kilometers south of your position. They tried to get inside me but I’ve kept them out for a while. I think Skip was just wounded. I’ve been monitoring all I can on any broadcast bands and tapping into the communications system, same system we are using. I don’t have enough to blackmail all the government officials here…yet. I am learning the language. It helps to remember every word and hear their educational broadcasts. Get a tutor – I will listen in and help you. The ‘criminals’ you are with would make more money from inventions you can come up with more than drugs. They seem to be quasi-criminals – remainders of some of the big money elites. By the way – your big drug is caffeine.”
“Really. Damn – I may have a hard time getting a cup of
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