Free Earth Song: Twilight Serenade by Mark Wandrey Page A

only chance was to get into a suit or be spaced.” All the sets of dark eyes regarded him. “I’m sorry, if I had known it would have proved my innocence I would have allowed myself to die in space.”
    “This situation doesn’t call for sarcasm, human.”
    Aaron grunted. They looked so much like a cartoon squirrel from children’s animated shows, you’d think they’d have a sense of humor. “No, you are right. It calls for honesty and that is what I am offering.”
    “Is that all you have to offer?”
    Aaron turned at the new voice and saw another familiar Squeen, Quick Finder. He along with Strong Arm had been rescued by Minu from the Tanam during their failed attack on Serengeti some time ago. The Tanam had been upset at losing the pair of Squeen, referring to them as Gracktaag, a word their translators wouldn’t render into English.
    “I could offer you a somewhat worn jumpsuit.” Stares. Aaron sighed. “I would suspect you can try to ransom me back to the Chosen.” He didn’t add that he doubted Jacob would pay more than a handful of worn EPCs for his hide.
    “Ransom is not really our style,” Strong Arm said. “We like to deal of more tangibles.”
    “What’s more tangible than credits?”
    “Data or goods,” Quick Finder told him. “Because of our…political situation, credits are far less tangible.”
    Aaron considered that and found some validity there. Humanity had found it difficult to buy some things regardless of the price. Minu long suspected it was because the higher order species wanted to make sure the small types stayed in their places. There were species out in the galaxy that would be convinced to sell, if you had something yourself to offer that was unavailable to your buying partner. And that was when an idea occurred to him.
    “I think I can offer you something. But you’re going to have to get me in touch with my boss.”

 
     
    Chapter 10
     
    January 31st, 535 AE
    Ghost fleet, Deep Space, Galactic Frontier
     
    “Here we go,” Kal’at said and touched a control with a claw. Lilith floated nearby in the little control room crowded with a half dozen Beezer, Minu, and the Rasa technical expert besides herself. It was rather crowded, to say the least.
    Nothing happened for a long moment, and then a series of non-holographic screens began to display lines of script.
    “The main computer is coming on line,” Lilith told them.
    “Is the computer interpreter working?” Minu asked.
    Lilith had a holographic screen displayed from her own bots and was working with the script, a look of concentration on her face before she responded. “It is not perfect,” she said and then gestured to make the screen disappear, “but I think it will work.”
    As if on cue, and maybe it was, the work stations came to life one at a time. Pilot, engineering, life support, damage control, power management, and defenses all were now online. The Beezer manning each one acknowledged as they came alive. After a few minutes of system checks, Isook turned and proclaimed “Ibeen Alpha is operational.” And there was nods and cheers all around.
    “Pakata,” Minu said and the leader of the Beezer turned to her, “this ship is under your command as per the agreement we have signed.”
    “I understand,” he grumbled. “Isook, you are captain.”
    “I am honored!” Isook huffed back and have a slight zero-gravity bow. The two beings grasped powerful furry forearms and butted horns against each other. Minu grimaced. She knew it probably didn’t hurt them, but to her it looked painful.
    “You must remember,” Lilith instructed them, “these interpreter programs are stop-gap measures I have written with the help of the salvaged combat intelligence. The Ibeen were meant to have their own specialized artificial intelligence programs to operate them. This arrangement is similar to what records show was used to maneuver Ibeen within ports. It is not intended to operate them in space or combat.