Special Pickup - Chapter 5: House Arrest
08 Jun 2016LordPsymon
Previous chapterSpecial Pickup - Chapter 5: House Arrest
---Arungu - Asteroid Cluster---
Fiona and I were sitting in the living area of Rattlesnake, searching the area for a place to repair the ship and find a magistrate. My datapad was linked up to the galaxy map within the ship’s systems.
“What about there?” I said, sipping my coffee as I pointed to the Garoju star system, a mere 10.5 lightyears away - a single jump in Rattlesnake. “They’re bound to have a magistrate, and I can get the ship repaired ready to bring you home once your name is cleared.”
Fiona peered at the datapad. “Sounds good. Will those bandits be able to follow us?”
I turned to her with a look of confidence. “No, they should be long gone by now. Even if they did follow us, they would be stupid to try and attack us again in a highly populated system like that.”
Fiona sighed. “Okay. Let’s get going. I can’t wait to get this over with and go home.”
“I bet. I’ll go get us flying.”
I stood up and headed toward the cockpit, then fired up the ship ready to take us to Verrier Orbital in Garoju.
---Garoju - Verrier Orbital---
We dropped from supercruise and the station of Verrier Orbital and the lights of the station glittered in the black silhouette as the nearby planet obscured the light of the star. Fiona was relaxing back in the living area of the ship.
“Hey Fiona, better buckle up back there, we’re on approach to the station.” I said over the comms. “Verrier Orbital, this is Rattlesnake. Care to reserve a slot for us to dock at?”
Fiona entered the cockpit and sat down on the copilot’s seat then strapped herself in.
“Rattlesnake, you are clear to approach. Please proceed to landing pad 44. Approach with care, as there is heavy traffic in the area today.”
There was a slight clunk as Rattlesnake touched down onto the docking pad, and we were immediately lowered into the hangar.
“Well, we’re here. Let’s go get you some new clothes then see this magistrate.” I said.
“I like the sound of that, let’s go,” Fiona replied with a light smile.
We spent a couple of hours browsing around the commercial district of the station, checking out various clothing outlets. I sat outside a store while Fiona went in and had a look at what was on sale. About half an hour passed and she came out in a white, semi-formal long sleeved shirt and some dark dress pants.
“Well, how do I look?” She said, turning around.
Wow. You look… Amazing.
“You look… Nice. Very smart indeed.” I stumbled.
“Fit for a magistrate’s office now?”
“Oh yes. Definitely!”
“Excellent! Shall we?”
I stood up and signalled her to walk first.
“Lead the way, Fiona.”
---Verrier Orbital - Magistrate’s Office---
“Fiona Giornata and Simon Datura, the Magistrate will see you now,” a middle aged woman instructed.
So, that’s your last name huh?
The magistrate office was a mostly dull white colour all around, with a grey carpet on the floor. The woman lead us toward a double wooden door with a small name plaque, Adrianus Denter - Imperial Magistrate etched in brass lettering. The woman opened the door revealing a medium size room, with polished wooden walls and two bookcases on the back walls spaced apart with enough space to fit the desk in between which sat a few feet forward from the wall. The magistrate sat at his desk, scribbling down a few notes onto some paper on his desk. He wore the standard judge’s wig and black robe as well as a small pair of spectacles.
“Welcome, please take a seat. I won’t be a moment.”
Fiona and I nervously sat down on the two chairs placed in front of the Magistrate’s desk.
“Now, as I understand it, Miss Giornata, you are here to plead your case to be released from Imperial servitude, citing contract expiry and demise of your former owner. Is this correct?”
Fiona responded nervously. “Yes, your honour.”
The Magistrate turned to me. I swallowed as he pushed his spectacles up his nose.
“And Simon, I understand that you wish to turn in evidence to support Fiona’s case, as well as report a man by the name of Caius Bisley for conspiring to illegally obtain an Imperial slave, formerly under contract to a Viceroy Fink. Is this correct?”
“Yes, your honour.” I responded.
“And do you understand the seriousness of your accusations, Mr. Datura? Bisley is a high ranking naval officer. The consequences for a false accusation could be quite severe.”
“Yes, your honour. I understand the implications of my accusations. I believe the evidence stored on this disk, recovered from the wreckage of the Tiberius, will support my claims and grant Fiona her freedom.”
The magistrate looked at me sternly. “And might I ask, just what you were doing on a derelict vessel owned by an Imperial Viceroy?”
“Your honour, fulfilling terms of a contract I had signed with Caius to investigate what happened to the missing ship and recover a belonging of his. A copy of the contract is included on this disk.”
“And were you aware of the fact that you were in fact, expected to recover a slave, Miss Giornata over here?”
“No, sir. Bisley did not detail what it is that I would be retrieving. Said it was none of my business.”
The Magistrate sat back, writing down notes as I finished speaking. “Very well. Do you swear under Her Majesty, Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval, that everything you have said is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”
“Yes, sir.”
I handed the Magistrate the disk in my possession. “I believe this is for you, sir.”
“Indeed, thank you Mr. Datura.”
The Magistrate turned to Fiona.
“Given that the holder of your contract is now deceased, and considering the fact that an Imperial slave who ran away from their master would not normally turn to a Magistrate, I believe that your case is likely to go in your favour. However, the Magistrate of Garoju will need to review the evidence submitted by Mr. Datura here and obtain record of your contract. We will then schedule a hearing before the Senate and form a final verdict.”
Fiona swallowed and sank back into her chair. “What does that mean in the meantime?”
“You will be placed in house arrest until the date of the hearing. Given your situation, however, you will be free to travel within a 5,000 light-second radius of the station, and accommodation will be provided during the time that you wait.”
Shit… Really?
“So… I won’t be able to go home?” She said, in a sullen tone.
“Unfortunately not. I sympathise with your situation Miss Giornata, but until we verify your contract with the senate, we require that you stay within the system.”
What the hell am I going to do about Caius then?
“As for you, Mr. Datura, you are free to go as you wish, however I would request that you do not venture too far out, should we require anything further from you. For the sake of Miss Giornata, it will make the process run more smoothly.”
“Yes, your honour. I’ll stick around for a while.”
---Outside the Magistrate’s Office---
We picked up a key card to the apartment provided by the Magistrate and walked out of the office in silence. Part of me wanted to go back inside and yell at the Magistrate, but I understood that there was not much more he could do at this time. We found a bench not far from the office and sat down. Fiona looked to the ground.
“This sucks, Simon. I just want to go home. It could be weeks until I get a hearing.” She said as a tear rolled down her face. I offered my hand for comfort, and she grabbed onto it.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I offered.
“Not right now, you’ve already done more than most people would have.”
There was a long pause. My mind was mulling over everything said inside the Magistrate’s office, as well as the contract with Caius Bisley. I came to a conclusion.
I have to go back to Cubeo and tell Caius where to shove his contract.
“Fiona?”
She looked up, “yes?”
“I need to go back to Cubeo for a bit.”
“Huh? What for?” She shot me a confused expression.
“Caius… I need to do something about this contract. If I don’t show up soon, he’s going to send someone out to find me.”
“What will you do?”
I looked off into the distance and let off a deep sigh. “I don’t know yet. I’ll try and negotiate... something with him. Get you off his radar somehow.”
Fiona took a couple of minutes to think about what I said.
I held her hand tighter. “I’ll come straight back, I promise.”
Her lips curved into a small smile. “Okay. It’s probably not a bad idea. But…” she paused.
“What is it?”
“I think it’s only fair that you help me find this apartment before you go.”
I returned her smile. “Okay, fair enough.”
We took a turbo lift which took us to a deck containing apartments. The lift stopped, revealing long, dimly lit corridors with several apartment entrances on either side of them. I checked the key card for her apartment number.
4-25
I pointed down a corridor labeled 4.
“Should be this way, apartment 25.” I said, as we walked down toward her apartment.
We stopped outside. The front door of the apartment was an electronic sliding door, with 25 crudely written on the door in black numbering. I swiped the card in the card reader and the door slowly slid open. Inside was small and fairly cramped, but looked like it could comfortably house two people. The apartment was pre furnished with white, sterile looking furniture, more closely resembling a cheap, but clean motel room rather than a long-term apartment. I placed Fiona’s bag of clothing and other tidbits on a coffee table beside me and looked around the place.
“Well this looks… reasonable I guess.” I said half-mockingly.
“They’re a magistrate, Simon. They’ll give you the cheapest accommodation they can get away with, as long as it passes the area’s living standards.” Fiona responded.
“Well, I suppose it is better than a holding cell.”
I helped Fiona get settled in the apartment, then I made my way to the front door.
“Hey, you’re going to be alright on your own for a little bit, yeah?” I asked concerned.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’m a big girl. Perhaps I’ll find some work to keep me occupied while I wait for the hearing.”
“Alright, well I won’t be too long. Three days at the most.” I handed Fiona my datapad, revealing my contact details. “Contact me if you hear anything while I am gone okay?”
She copied down the details, then approached me and gave me a short, yet sweet hug. I returned the hug.
She looked at me with a look of concern. “I will. Fly safe out there will you? Don’t get into trouble.”
“I’ll try not to.”
---Verrier Orbital - Aboard Rattlesnake---
I sat back in the pilot’s seat, thinking about how to approach Caius. The man was a high-ranking naval officer. A corrupt one at that. Not someone you want to piss off.
Just return his advance credits, cancel the contract and be done… That’s all you have to do...
I started spooling up the thrusters.
...I hope.
While the engines warmed up, I sent off a message to Caius.
<Message to: Caius Bisley>
On my way to Chelomey. I need to discuss the contract
-S
<Incoming Message: Caius Bisley>
I will meet you near the docking bay when you arrive. I do hope you are bringing good news with you.
-Caius Bisley
---Cubeo - Chelomey Orbital---
“Ah, Datura! There you are.” Caius called out, as I exited the hangar toward the docking bay shuttle.
“How’d you know which docking bay I’d be at?” I curiously responded.
“I am a rather influential man, Datura. I merely need to ask, and traffic control will tell me who’s arriving, and to which docking bay. Now, I believe you wished to discuss the contract?”
I hesitated for a little bit. Say the wrong thing and you’re dead.
“Yeah… I haven’t got your cargo.”
Caius frowned. “What do you mean you don’t have my cargo?”
“I found the Tiberius. It was shot up. I retrieved the black box and your buddy, Fink bounced off my cockpit window as I rested.”
“Stop stalling, Datura. Get to the point.”
“I don’t deal in slaves, Caius. The deal is off.”
His frown began to intensify. “Come again Datura? I don’t believe I quite caught that.”
I returned the frown, standing my ground. “You heard me… I don’t deal in slaves.” I threw the credits he gave me to his feet. “Take your credits, and find someone else to run your little trafficking operation. We’re done here.”
I turned away to return to my ship when I heard a click. I turned around to see a gun pointed at my face.
“I’m sorry, Datura, but we are not done until I say we are. I’m going to give you two options - You can either leave now, finish the job that I sent you on, and bring me my cargo. Or else-” his frown turned into a menacing smile. “I suppose you would fit nicely in her place. A young man like you would fetch a rather nice price over in Pegasi.”
I scoffed, “didn’t go too well for the last people who tried that.”
Caius hit me on the cheek with the barrel of his gun. I staggered backward and raised my hand to my cheek to check for blood.
“I did not ask for your smarmy remarks, peasant! You’re treading on very dangerous ground right now. I will give you one last chance. Do as I request, or I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your short life rotting in the depths of the Pegasi sector!”
Without thinking, I took a swing at Caius, causing him to stagger and drop his gun. I took the opportunity and made a break for my ship. There was a loud bang and a sudden, searing pain in my upper arm. I ran up the entrance ramp of Rattlesnake and scrambled to close the entrance. The landing platform carried me out of the hangar and into the docking bay and I quickly boosted out of the mailslot into space.
Well… That could have gone better.
I plotted a course back to Garoju, then headed down to the living area to tend to my arm. The bullet had grazed my arm, causing blood to trickle down, leaving a red stain around the new hole in my shirt. I started cleaning the wound when my datapad beeped.
<Incoming Message: Caius Bisley>
I would sleep with one eye open from now on if I were you, Datura.
-Caius Bisley