Chapter 9: Departure

“This is kidnapping!” Bautista replied. “I demand my lawyer.”

“Kidnapping?” Stone asked him. “And what do you call what happened to those kids?”

“I ... I swear I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

It had been well over an hour. Stone, Shira, Ioren, English, and the captive Bautista were on their way to the first level. Ahead was the main elevator that led up to the UHN Lifen. Fellow crewmen were still handling the last of the cargo containers, scanning them for anything that may appear to be unusual. Chef Bransen and Chief Elimiano visually inspected the food packs, checking for any form of tampering. Foot traffic was picking up as more and more people were walking to and fro. While it was still some distance from the elevator, it was enough to show that day-to-day events were rising. Enlai and Dariea, two known armed marines of the ship, were ready to receive the acquired prisoner. Among some of the other crew members helping out with the transfer were Girsha’lar and two engineers. They were focused on inspecting the tools and additional replacement parts before loading them up to the main elevator.

Shira was focused on the small disk-like device in her hand. Javier’s face was displayed on the 3D imager as he spoke to the captain. They were still half a minute’s walk from the elevator.

“I still can’t believe it,” Javier said to Shira. “Itrean children being shipped off to God knows where.”

“It is no surprise at this point,” Shira calmly explained. “As the alliance continues between the UWA and the Itreans, so does the criminal underworld. Access to new equipment, people, and resources all increase exponentially.”

“Yeah, but children? Why?”

“A plethora of reasons. According to the testimonies of some of the children who were well enough to speak, their parents gave them up willingly. They were sold off to be transferred to others who would pay a huge sum of money to have them. Many of them claimed they were to be given to loving parents, but that is highly unlikely.”

“They just gave them up?”

“They were Golarren. You already know the definition of what they are. You are already aware that in Itrean society, those born with defects are sometimes eliminated by their parents or the society that encourages it. In T’rintar society, the aspects are nearly the same, but there are laws to prevent abortions based on the conditions of how the child will be based on those ... defects. It is a societal taboo to be a Golarren, to be born with disabilities or ‘defects.’”

“Because it’s so rare...” Javier shook his head.

“Yes.”

The five individuals reached Enlai and Dariea. With a heave, Stone tossed the handcuffed Bautista to them.

“Bag him!” Stone sternly ordered the two as they grabbed the prisoner. “Bring him to the detention room and keep him in there. This man isn’t to leave unless ordered by me or the Captain. Is that clear!?”

“Aye, Master Sergeant,” Enlai replied.

“I want two posted guards at his door at all times!” Stone gave a firm look at Shira before crossing his arms.

“What were they trying to do with them?” Javier wondered.

“It varies,” Shira answered. “Besides Bautista’s fetishes or the other humans with similar desires, in Itrean society, there is a small but steady demand for Golarren meat. While usually disclosed, Itrean cults sometimes practiced their dark arts by sacrificing and even devouring them. It’s even possible for the other enemy clans to make a trade to have them, to use them for their own various means. I would guarantee you that none of the Golarren would have had a future if we didn’t secure them.”

Ioren closed her eyes at the very heart of the discussion. The very concept brought horrid images to her mind, past memories of her childhood. She did her best to try to block it out.

“Disgusting...,” Javier cringed. “We can try to contact the T’rintar clan and notify them of what happened ... find the parents of these children.”

“That would not warrant much of a response,” Shira explained. “While an investigation can be made of those who gave up their offspring, Itrean parents are not likely to part with them unless there is a good reason for them to do so. With the Golarren, the T’rintar clan’s disposition towards their rights and welfare is superficial at best. The parents would just as likely reject them as they already did before. Little to no action would be made against them.”

“Pure hate...,” Javier sighed. “Well ... I’m thankful that you found them, at least. How is their welfare?”

“Doctor English gave them early treatment, with the oldest being inside the container for well over a month. Malnourishment was their common ailment. They’ve been transferred to the station hospital for further evaluation.”

“And the psychological trauma is one thing that will be very difficult to heal. The question is what will happen to them after that.”

“I may offer a solution,” English said as he interjected into the conversation. “My apologies for the interruption, Captain, but if the Itrean parents refuse to take their children back, they can be sent to New Olympia. There, the children would have loving adopting parents willing to raise them in a good environment.”

“It’s always been true that New Olympia has been nicknamed the ‘Orphan Planet.’ Well, it’s a better idea than anything else. If Iztre found out about this, she would probably try to adopt them.”

“We do not have the resources to take care of so many offspring,” Shira stated. “The Doctor’s proposal is the more valid solution.”

Ioren did her quick nods. She heard the stories about New Olympia being a place of refuge for kids. It was the best idea so far presented that she didn’t mind it. Stone looked down at Ioren before he looked away.

“Watch out!” One of the engineers yelled at the top of her lungs.

Thunk! ... the four looked and saw that Bransen got hit in the noggin by a piece of debris. It was a hard piece of metal that impacted him hard.

“Await one moment,” Shira said as she closed her comms.

All work stopped. Shira, Stone, Ioren, and English looked into what had happened. The piece of metal looked like a belt buckle of some sort. The doctor headed over to Bransen to assess his injury. Girsha’lar walked over to tend to her husband but was just as confused as to what had happened as well. The impact on the man was hard but not enough to knock him out. Immediately, as the three looked at the chef, they saw the cause of it.

A man and two women stood at a distance from the cargo transfer. The civilians had an angered look. The woman’s arm had just pulled away as if she was the one that threw it. The man was holding up his arms in cheer.

“How does that feel, chef?” the woman yelled out with her Paloran accent. “Nothing like the punches you threw at your wife, ain’t it!?” She practically spit in the man’s direction.

Stone’s face grimaced. His teeth were barred. He had enough of the crap, enough of the sourness of the space station and its people. In an instant, he unholstered his gun and pointed it at the woman. The three reacted in surprise. However, Shira neatly grabbed Stone’s arm and lowered his firearm.

“YOU!” Girsha’lar yelled out to the three. “You! You did this to him. I’ll bite your fucking heads off!” She got into an attack stance, her finned tail practically ready to whip her forward.

“Stand down, Girsha’lar,” Shira gave the order. “Ioren, place our belt thrower under arrest.”

“Hmph...,” Stone grunted. “Ioren, cuffs.”

He tossed a set of handcuffs to Ioren that she caught. Stone followed close behind as they walked up to the three. The woman did not attempt to flee.

“What is this!?” the woman yelled back.

“Shut up!” Stone told her. “You’ve interfered with military operations.”

“And assaulted a member of my crew. Why is that?” Shira asked as her hands were wrapped behind her back. Ioren grabbed the woman’s wrist and pulled them behind her back. She began the process of cuffing her.

“He’s? What?” The woman reacted in surprise.

“Are you fucking deaf!?” Stone yelled at her. “Answer her question!”

The three people suddenly began to regret the course of action that they just instigated. The man began to fuss as the woman was locked up. A pair of military police were approaching. It was unknown if they saw the recent set of events.

“You let that wife-beater on your ship?” the man complained. “UHN is getting desperate for anything these days.”

“You have still failed to answer my question,” Shira calmly stated. “It was your intention to attack a member of my crew based on a person whom he interacted with who has no relation to you. Yes, or no?”

The appearance of the Shal’rein and the towering man was eating away at the three’s confidence. Finally, the man backed down, but the woman did not.

“Answer her!” Stone yelled at their faces.

“N ... No,” the captive said.

“You realize that by assaulting a member of my ship,” Shira explained. “That you have interfered with a sensitive UHN military operation. You’ve posed a danger to my crew and, ultimately, yourselves.”

“She didn’t know that he...” the other woman tried to defend her, but Stone snapped his fingers to shut her up.

“Is it your intention to continue serving a detriment to my ship and crew? Yes or no?” Shira asked her.

“No ... I’m s...” the cuffed woman said.

“Then that is all I need to hear.” Shira turned to the MPs as they stood next to the two groups. “Did you see what transpired?”

“I did,” one of the MPs said. “Do you plan on pressing charges?”

“Yes,” Shira said. “Assault on a member of my crew.”

“You heard her,” Stone added as he looked at the man and the other woman. “You two should also be tacked onto this as well.”

“Alright,” the MP said. “And the other two?”

“Freedom of speech is still authorized,” Shira remarked. “I see no further acts need to be taken on these two. However, I will state to them that they should think carefully about the actions that they partake in and not be so easily influenced by the social media they seem to enjoy.”

“Let’s go,” the MP said. One of the police grabbed the cuffs from the woman. They began to haul her off.

“Fucking punks,” Stone grumbled as he turned away. “One born every minute.”

Shira turned to the elevator again. Ioren followed close behind Stone like a pet on a leash. The Shal’rein captain looked over at English. Bransen seemed ok from the item he was pelted with. Girsha’lar had an angered look on her snout as her large hand was on Bransen’s shoulder.

“Why are you standing there doing nothing!?” Stone yelled at the other crew. “Let’s get this shit moving!”

Everyone else nodded their heads and continued with their work. A beeping sound erupted from Shira’s communication device. She held it up and activated it. Javier’s face was displayed for her to see.

“Everything alright?” Javier asked her.

“Yes,” Shira replied. “A civilian attacked Bransen. He’s alright, but I’ve placed the attacker under arrest.”

“Ay Dios mio,” Javier shook his head. “It’s been one thing after another on this station. Are you alright?”

“I took two bullets on my tail fin,” Shira replied. “Otherwise, I’m undamaged, as are the rest of the team.”

“Nothing life-threatening, right?”

“No.”

The XO nodded his head. “I’ll have to read the rest of the report later. I just got a call from Captain Kaique and needed to pass the word to you. Looks like he’s been trying to get ahold of you. He wants to have a word with you and Stone in person. He ... doesn’t seem all too pleased that you’ve been shooting up his station.”

“Indeed,” Shira said. There was the slightest of agitation in her voice that Javier picked up.

“He’s on the top floor of this level, UHN command headquarters. I’ll let you at it.” Javier sighed. “Stay safe.”

Shira nodded her head lightly as the communication device shut down before putting it in her pocket.

“Stone, Ioren,” Shira called out to them.

“Yes?” Stone replied.

“The Captain of the station wishes to speak with us personally. Ioren, you will accompany us to UHN headquarters as well.”

Ioren did her quick nods. The master sergeant grumbled and seemed clearly annoyed. The three departed as they let the crew finish up with their work.

“So that’s what happened...,” Kaique said. The deep Paloran accent could be heard in his voice.

“Inexcusable!” Another man added. His lighter voice also gave the hint of the Paloran accent.

The command room was lavish at its best. It was moderate in size but adequate for a meeting. The UHN seal was neatly woven on the carpeted floor. The scented aroma of wood and cleaning fluids perforated the air. The UWA and the UHN flags were draped in wooden display boxes hung neatly on the walls. This was the typical room of a high-ranking officer. Besides the chair the captain sat in, no other chairs were available. Shira, Stone, and Ioren stood almost in parallel with one another. Their weapons were currently confiscated but were to be returned once they left the building.

Captain Kaique was a unique fellow, at least from Ioren’s point of view. He was the typical Paloran, having dark hair, a black mustache, and a somewhat pale or mixed complexion. He could have been considered somewhat charming. But, the interesting feature was that the adult stood at almost three feet tall. It was the first time she saw a little person up close, a human being so short in stature. However, he was the man that was in charge of the UHN facilities on the base. The rank insignia on his blue and red jumpsuit uniform said it all.

The other individual was the civilian leader of the station. The angry mayor, Guillermo, showed a frown on his face. He was well dressed in a black and white suit, carried the typical features of most Palorans, but was clean shaven. He was thin and had a whiny voice. He stood by Kaique’s desk like a giant statue, ready to cuss out any opposition that stood in his way.

Of course, Stone and Shira stood over the both of them...

“A secret mission to capture a criminal...,” Kaique remarked as he shifted on his large chair. “And now you’re asking permission for me to release him into your custody. Is that right?”

“That is correct,” Shira calmly replied. “We fought hard to secure this person.”

“No!” Guillermo said, waving his hand. “You come to our station, and I have two shooting incidents take place. In one day, I have over a dozen dead complaints by the station staff and populace. All because of you three!”

“All which have been thoroughly explained,” Shira stated. “Under UHN authority, I have the right to claim Bautista as my prisoner.”

“That doesn’t give you the excuse to come in like a bunch of gung-ho mercenaries! I’ve filed formal complaints to the Paloran delegates about your arrival and performance. And on top of that ... you bring ‘him’...”

Guillermo gave a scowl towards Stone, who didn’t seem any more pleased to be there. Ioren looked at the situation with more curiosity than anything else. It almost reminded her of the time she and Stone stood before the Admirals on Oshun, but this seemed less formal. This was more of an informal questioning session than anything else.

Stone grimaced a little. His hands gripped hard against his crossed arms.

“Mayor Guillermo,” Shira calmly stated. “I work on behalf of the UHN, resolving matters and affairs that they need taken care of. We apprehended a suspect that is within all evidence, according to your laws, committed acts of child trafficking, human or otherwise.”

“Which should have been cleared through me!” the mayor thrusted his finger to his chest. “I would have had security down there instead of having a god-damn bloodbath that you made.”

“Hmph...,” Stone grunted.

“You do not have the resources to commit to such an action,” Shira continued. “It is also evident that any attempt to launch a raid would have led to casualties on your part or given the chances of the perpetrators to escape. I have provided the remedy to your dilemma in the inadequate resources and conditions of your territory.”

“You should be thanking us for doing your job for you,” Stone added. “Shira and I got shot today, and you don’t hear us complaining about it. But here you are whining like a little brat.”

“You bring this scoundrel onto my station, Captain!” Guillermo said with frustration. “I wouldn’t have believed it until I saw it. I know quite well what you did back in Oshun, how much you broke their laws. He’s nothing but a madman, Kaique.” He pointed at the master sergeant. “He should be arrested!”

Even Ioren frowned at the man for saying that. Stone’s anger was growing.

“Mayor,” Kaique countered. “Calm down. Stone is working under Captain Shira and is not currently employed by the UHN. I have no authority to place these people under arrest in areas that are past my jurisdiction or events that transpire in your levels of control. The discussion we’re having is over the release of Bautista or not.”

“Well then,” the mayor scolded as he walked up to Shira. “I don’t care who you are and what special ops crap that you do. You came to my station and broke the laws. You spread panic and terrorized my people. You shot up and wrecked the O2 recyclers in Level 4. Destroyed station property. Then, you arrest a man who has a clean record at my hospital. I’m not giving Bautista to you. He’s being tried here.”

“What trial?” Stone asked. “A slap in the wrist? Captain, he’s working with them.”

“How dare you accuse me!” Guillermo countered with spit shooting out of his mouth.

The master sergeant gave a mean look at him. “A spoiled rich boy paid off to look the other way. Those skeleton augments I see in you are top-of-the-line ... Quite expensive. Come and go from the station often? How many people do you work with off the grid, mayor?”

“Stone...,” Shira said. She didn’t look in his direction but merely said it to also keep him at bay.

“I got plenty to send in that complaint form, Stone,” the mayor continued. “I’ll have it so big that any colony will have every watchdog on you. You won’t as much breathe before the police come hounding you.”

“Mayor,” Kaique said. “This is my last warning to you. Shira and Stone were asked here under my request. Not yours. If I hear anything else that’s wasting my time like this, I’m kicking you out.”

Guillermo huffed as Stone remained quiet.

Admittedly, even Ioren felt like this mayor was just brazen or an outright fool. It was almost as if he was completely disconnected from the people that voted him in. Perhaps he was. None of the people on this station even looked like him or were adorned with the lavish clothes and jewelry he wore. At the same time, the lingering fight almost seemed meaningless to him. Did he truly not care what happened in the lower levels? Or was this merely a simple reactionary role that he played? It was becoming evident that she outright disliked this man. Her thoughts went to the children that were rescued today as she pulled out her tilon.

“Now then,” Kaique sighed. “My issues are dealing with a person on my station. True that Bautista deals in areas that are beyond my control, but I still have to investigate what’s happening. It’s quite clear that some severe criminal activities have been found in areas that you are supposed to be dealt with by you, mayor. Child trafficking alone is a serious charge.”

“And what’s she going to do with him, huh?” the mayor countered. “You know that he’s not going to receive a fair trial. No ... the UHN follows their own rules and misconduct. I won’t allow him to be transferred to these thugs. He stays here.”

“You have very little control over this, mayor,” Shira replied. “I suggest that you cooperate on this.”

“Ergh...”

“No, but I do,” Kaique replied. “Under UHN rules, the person with the highest rank can assert authority. The moment that Bautista’s boots reached my deck, I can secure him as my prisoner. Under this, I can override you, Captain Shira. Even if I don’t ... necessarily agree with the mayor, I can’t let special operations missions be carried out under my doorstep without my prior knowledge. I will have to ask that the man be surrendered back to my custody. I can assure the mayor that Bautista will receive a fair trial under my guidance as a UHN officer.”

Guillermo scuffed but said nothing more at the idea. Shira’s brow lifted a little bit. Ioren knew that Shira and Stone could only disclose so much information to Kaique, let alone with the mayor looming over his shoulder. Even with this mission being labeled as top secret, the station captain had the ability to exercise his rights. For now, at least from Ioren’s point of view, Kaique seemed trustworthy. Even at the very least, he seemed better than the mayor.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” Shira explained. “Bautista’s crimes exceed your current command authority to keep him here. I can also add the current crime report made just recently dealing with a member of my crew who was also assaulted by someone from this level. In the course of one day, I or somebody from my crew has been attacked on three different occasions.”

“Three attacks?” The mayor gawked at the statement.

“The most recent was a belt buckle thrown by media fanatics,” Stone added. “Enough to warrant as a deadly threat.”

“Now they’re making this up,” the mayor said. “Shira is just making up stories to garner your sympathy, Kaique. Making up stories so that you comply with her.”

“Evidence can be provided on all three separate occasions,” Shira replied. “Including the most recent police report, injury report, and harassment made by two individuals toward a member of my crew. It’s quite clear that you are losing control of the people on this station, Captain. Keeping Bautista here would only likely lead to him escaping either by external or internal means.”

“What is that supposed to mean!” the mayor waved his hand. “You’re accusing us of not providing enough security? Corruption? I have more than enough police watching the streets!”

“You mean the police that are in Galanthis’s brothel in the lowest level pounding every hooker on duty?” Stone countered. “Or how about some asshole leaving a sentry turret to kill us in Level 2? And oh, yeah, a UHN sentry turret at that!? What were the police doing then?”

“I picked my police by hand, Stone!”

“Yeah, under your payroll. Maybe a little handjob for you when no one’s looking. Got to get that bonus, right?”

Even Kaique’s patience was wearing out at this point. However, both the mayor and Stone’s patience toward each other was at the breaking point.

“What do I expect!?” the mayor countered. “What do I expect from the man who went on a killing spree on Oshun? Didn’t even get arrested for it. What do I expect from the person who brought his regiment to Palora? That’s right... ‘Avalanche.’ Got any more recruits to bury in the snow?”

The master sergeant’s blood was at the boiling point. He began to walk around Shira to confront the mayor in a standoff.

“Stone...,” Shira said.

“Stop...,” Kaique called out to the both of them.

Both calls by the captains weren’t enough. The final question was the last straw. Stone balled up his fists, ready to deck the mayor in the face. Ioren was undetermined if she should stop Stone from probably beating the man to death or joining with her mate in clawing the person to bits.

“You want to fight me!?” Stone challenged him. “DO IT!”

“Yeah, ‘Master Sergeant,’” Guillermo mocked him. “Had a daughter lose her future spouse thanks to that whole debacle that you made there ... or maybe on purpose.”

“That’s enough!” Kaique smacked his hand to the desk. “Stone, don’t give him what he wants. Mayor Guillermo, you are dismissed from this room.”

“Bah!” the mayor gawked.

“Meet me outside after this, mayor,” Stone said as his eyes narrowed and raised his fists as a form of challenge. “We can finish our talk.”

The mayor scowled as he stormed off. The door opened before he left the room. Stone still kept an angry look on his face before he returned to Shira’s side. Ioren relaxed, happy that Kaique’s course of action finally led to the mayor’s expulsion. Regardless, the station captain shook his head before he worked his way off his seat. In his short stature, he walked around the seemingly huge desk before looking up at Stone and Shira.

“At this rate, I would almost argue to keep Bautista to be tried on my station,” Kaique told the master sergeant. “You’re unhinged, Stone, and I’m beginning to wonder if you aren’t on some vendetta mission. I’m not going to pretend what you three faced down there was no cakewalk.” He began to pace around on his small magnetic boots. “There’s something that I don’t know about. Something that I should know that you’re not telling me. I want to know what it is.”

“Unfortunately, Captain,” Shira told him. “That is classified. Rest assured that Bautista’s value to us is far greater than you think. Justice will be served for him.”

Kaique shook his head. “That isn’t good enough. I looked at the evidence that you got on him. It’s ... disturbing, but it might not be enough to justify his conviction.”

“He is a pedophile and a child trafficker,” Stone said.

“And he’s also my problem to take care of. I don’t see the need to take off with people from my station unless I know what’s going on.”

“Are you a Golarren, Kaique?” Ioren’s tilon stated.

“A ... A what, now?” the short-statured man halted and gave a questioning look to the Italian woman. “Centurion Ioren, correct?”

She did her quick nods and continued to type. “Are you a Golarren?”

“What is a Golarren?” Kaique asked.

“The closest terms to our language,” Shira answered. “Outcasts. Those born with deformities and not accepted as ‘normal’ to society.”

“I ... well, no.”

“You are different than the other humans,” Ioren typed.

“Because I’m short? It’s called Dwarfism. Not many people like me. It’s a rare condition from birth.”

“But, there was a time your people considered you ... different?”

“Different...,” Kaique seemed to think about it. “Well ... yes. Yes, there was a time when people like me were paraded. Some called us freaks. Some looked over us, both literally and figuratively. Of course, that was a very long time ago.”

The captain remained patient, almost curious as to what Ioren was typing. She was doing her best to move her fingers as fast as possible, but thankfully, the unique form of communication from the Itrean was enough to garner any patience.

“You are fortunate,” Ioren typed. “Humans are open-minded because I am a Golarren. I was born from Yutilian and Aksren parents. I was born without vocal cords, so I let the tilon speak for me. To my people, I am a freak. I am shunned. If it weren’t for my mate, I would be alone.”

“I’m sorry,” Kaique said.

“Those children that we saved deserve more, Captain. That was our mission today: to save their lives and apprehend that man. Their parents lost all hope because my society shunned them for their deformed children. If it were what you say it were so very long ago, it would be likely that you would have been found in that container, with us pulling you out of that hell.”

The station captain nodded his head. “Yes, I suppose...”

“If it weren’t for my parents, I would have been terminated before I was even born. Others don’t see it that way. This station has become a place of rampant crime, a place that the Itreans see as a place of safe black-market trades because it’s not under the watchful eyes of the T’rintar clan. I don’t want revenge against Bautista. I want justice for those children and for them to have a good home. If he remains here, the very people who helped him become what he is will help him leave without punishment. It would be the opposite of a fair trial. Bautista must be given to us so we can sit down and analyze his crimes and reveal everything and everyone he ever worked for. I believe you are an honorable man. Please, let us leave with him in peace...”

Kaique tapped his boots as he seemed to really think about it. He returned to his chair, practically jumping onto it so he could sit in it and look at the three.

“It is as you say,” Kaique commented as he situated himself on the desk. “Valradena ... Valdivia ... When they first assigned me to this station, the CO’s called these stations the ‘Alcantrillas.’ The ‘Cesspools.’ Even they knew these places were hopeless. I control this level, but I dare not go down there.”

“Why is that?” Shira asked.

“Because it was the prior rules of the establishment and, as you said. I lack the resources to do much. You can blame Palora’s legal process on that one. They wanted to keep a separation of the UHN and civilians then so be it, but when the crime and corruption started to worm up, they just turned the other way.” Kaique finally relented. “Very well ... take your prize and get out before any more trouble comes in. One less scumbag I have to worry about.”