Chapter 12: Leaving Ori Major

The next morning we awoke in our hotel suite feeling only a little tired. On the way back from Gorn’s we’d each taken a de-intoxicant that cleared our heads by the time we got back to our suite.

Jem was first out of bed and on her feet, “Crew, I’d like this to be our last day on the planet. We have delivered the pirates and our business is about done here. I will feel safer when we are back aboard Ship.”

“Captain, before we leave I would like to arrange for re-provisioning and see my parents one last time,” said Koluna.

“Good idea. Find out if Ship needs anything specific. Take Laine with you to assist. Can you have your business completed by this evening?” asked Jem.

“I will be ready,” replied Koluna.

“Brian, what is on your schedule today?” asked Jem.

“I need to meet with a lawyer, and then a reporter to do an interview,” I said as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. I still had a mild headache.

“Good, then I will tag along with you. We will be in two groups, which should make it easier for our security detail,” said Jem.

Jem dragged me into a shower and we washed the sleep out of us. We put on some fresh clothes.

Jem explained our plans for the day to our security detail while I got us both some coffee. We sat out on the balcony of our suite and enjoyed our drink.

“Do you know what the lawyer wants to talk to you about?” asked Jem.

“Not really. I do not fully understand Ori customs,” I replied.

Koluna and Laine left to visit her parents’ suite across the hall, to arrange a day of shopping. I was glad not to be involved this time. I knew what it was like from our previous visit to Ori Major.

I called up Salas the reporter and arranged a meeting for the interview in the afternoon. She was all too happy to do an interview, and she gave us details of where to go.

When the time was about due, we left with our security detail to the lawyer’s office.

At the lawyer’s office we were invited into a meeting room. Our detail checked the room before positioning guards within and outside. Inside the room was an elderly Ori and Mina, Quon’s sister.

The elderly Ori greeted us, “Hello my name is Alnua. I have been retained by the estate of the late commander Quon. I am glad you could meet with me today. I believe you know Mina.”

“I am Brian and this is my captain, Jem,” I said.

“Please take a seat and if you don’t mind I need to confirm your identity,” he took a hand-held scanner and waved it over my arm to check my ID chip.

“The late commander Quon had no direct heirs. According to Ori laws his estate is to be divided among living close Ori family members. Here that is you and Mina,” said the lawyer. Wow, they take this family thing seriously!

“Brian, the scan of your ID chip shows you are an Ori citizen and entitled to a share of the estate. The late commander lived frugally and invested his earnings over his lifetime, perhaps to prepare for a well-earned retirement. His government pension is added into the estate. He owned no properties. So this is his total estate,” he then passed out tablets to Mina and I showing the financial details.

This was too much for me. I only met Quon in person a few days previous. Now I get to take half his estate away from his sister???

I pushed back from the table, “I need none of this. It doesn’t seem right.”

Mina looked at me, “Brian, you are family, to my late brother and me. In our custom it is an insult to refuse this.”

“But Mina I will leave soon. I do not know when I will return, or even if I will ever return. I cannot take it with me. It does no good for me to have it.”

Jem raised her hand, “Excuse me, but can Brian assign Mina to invest his share, on his behalf?”

I looked to Jem. So did the lawyer. Mina smiled. “Captain, your suggestion makes good sense and is possible. I can prepare the documents immediately, if that is what Brian wishes.”

“It is what I wish. And if I do not return, because of death or otherwise, I wish Mina to inherit my share,” I said.

Mina spoke up, “Brian, you are my only living family. If I die, all my estate will go to you.”

I looked to the lawyer, “Alnua, please prepare whatever legal documents are needed for all this. I need to be away soon. Mina, why don’t you invest in a farm or a business or something. Hire others to do the work, just make it something that your late brother would approve of.”

“Yes, I can do that,” she said. Jem smiled at me.

The lawyer prepared the documents, and we quickly signed them. Jem and the lawyer witnessed everything. It was all complete before lunchtime.

After that we left the lawyer’s office with Mina. She insisted on taking us out for a nice lunch. It was spicy but filling.

After lunch, our next appointment was with the reporter. Our security detail took us directly to their offices and studio. I had not followed the press since we had arrived; I was too busy trying to stay alive. We were surprised to see crowds of beings in front of the press offices.

Our security detail made calls, and we were taken around to a side entrance. There were fewer beings there and less chance for an attack. We made it inside after their due diligence.

“Pleased to see you again Brian and Jem,” said the reporter.

“Salas, what are all the beings doing out front? We have been under attack almost every day of our visit. I did not expect you to announce our arrival here today. You make it hard for our security detail to keep us safe,” I said. I was upset with her actions.

She looked surprised, “Those are all your supporters. They have learned about your efforts for the Ori and the attacks you suffered because of it. Many of them are missing loved ones because of the pirate attacks. They are here to thank you.”

I turned to the head of our security detail, “Did you know about this?”

“No commander sir, I did not.”

“How do we handle this? Should we withdraw?” I asked. Salas was looking worried.

“Some of them travelled a long way for the chance to see you. They mean you no harm,” she pleaded.

“We are uncertain all the pirates have been captured. A crowd is a good cover for an attack. These Ori citizens are at risk of being harmed,” I replied. Salas was close to tears now.

“I can call for more squads, blanket the area and the studio,” offered the head of our security detail.

“Please do that. It is too late to cancel. These beings have already suffered from the pirates, I don’t want to see them suffer any more,” I said.

Within half an hour they had a tight lockdown. It was a credit to the security forces that they moved quickly to secure the area. It was a credit to the beings in the crowd that they moved quietly into the audience area of a large studio. When it was ready, we were brought out onto a stage to be interviewed.

As we came out the audience cheered loudly. I did not feel good to receive their praise. My motives for killing pirates were not that pure. But as a good Tian I kept that to myself.

We took our seats and waited for the crowd to calm down. I did not know how much they knew of our story, and I wondered how to begin.

Salas helped by summarizing events. The fate of the Opolu Naa and the subsequent destruction of the pirates was common knowledge.

I stood and faced the audience. “How many of you here today lost loved ones aboard the Opolu Naa?” I asked. Many beings rose or put up their hand. The number surprised me. It is not the ones who died, but those they left behind...