{"id":18,"date":"2007-07-29T00:00:06","date_gmt":"2007-07-29T04:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/?p=18"},"modified":"2022-11-29T11:31:35","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T16:31:35","slug":"mathematics-of-hunger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/articles\/mathematics-of-hunger\/","title":{"rendered":"Mathematics of Hunger"},"content":{"rendered":"

A<\/strong><\/span>s a rule, Captain Mia Wells did not accept slaves or animals as cargo onboard the Phoenix. Her conscience would not accept the former and her nose would not tolerate the latter. However, she had been assured by her contact Alphonso \u201cBricks\u201d Brixton that these slugs would not pose any problems and frankly the Phoenix had needed the cash for new hyperdrive coils. Of course, Bricks conveniently forgot to mention that these slugs could eat three times their body weight in a single night and had to be constantly monitored. \u201cThe next time we see Bricks, remind me to let you punch him one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lanky, dark-skinned man grinned. He enjoyed using his fists, especially if he had cause. \u201cSure thing, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019m the Captain, why am I on slug feeding duty, Styles?\u201d<\/p>\n

He rolled his eyes. \u201cAh, there\u2019s only four of us on this here ship, Captain. Mouse is working on that air filtration problem and you asked Johnny to recheck the course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia grunted and then filled her bucket with a load of shredded lettuce. \u201cAlright, open the feed chute. And be careful to not let\u2019em bite you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles held up his bandaged hand wryly. \u201cI learned my lesson last time, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were six clear plexiglas containers in the cargo hold of the Phoenix. Each of them was four meters in length and two meters in width. Styles banged his fist upon the lid several times to knock down several slugs that had been resting under it. He checked the container and then unlocked the lid and opened the feeding chute. Mia dumped the lettuce into the container and then quickly stepped away. Styles slammed the lid and quickly relocked it.<\/p>\n

He peered through the plexiglas at the slugs. They were savagely chewing on the lettuce. \u201cI just don\u2019t see the percentage in shipping these little buggers all this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia refilled her bucket. \u201cI didn\u2019t ask and you shouldn\u2019t be too curious either. Chavez is paying us well and he likes to get his money\u2019s worth.\u201d Of course, she didn\u2019t need to mention that Chavez was an infamous gangster with holdings across three systems. \u201cAs far as we are concerned, each of those little bastards is worth ten times their weight in gold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe they taste good? Some of those planets on the rim are hurting for meat. I bet they breed quickly and they don\u2019t too look fussy about what they eat. Could be full of protein.\u201d Styles served many functions onboard the Phoenix, but the one closest to his heart was chef. \u201cMaybe I could cook one of them for the crew?\u201d<\/p>\n

The slugs were half a meter in length and moved swiftly in the containers like snakes. They were dark brown with a bone white plate on their backs and strange eye-stalks that seemed almost sentient. \u201cFor all we know, they are poisonous. And besides, we get paid per slug.\u201d She glanced at her chef unconsciously licking his lips. \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles shrugged his shoulders. \u201cAw, alright. I was just curious. Someone had to pay the gengineers a hefty price to get them to cook up something like that. This sort of thing doesn\u2019t come cheap, ya know. And you know nothing like this ever came off Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles had some experiences with bio-modification during the war. He knew first hand what could be done. Mia was determined to make a profit on this trip and shook her head. \u201cLook, we\u2019ve had a rough time of it lately. I just want an easy job where none of us get shot, stabbed, or have something creepy try to eat us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Style raised his eyebrow and silently held up his bandaged hand. Mia put her hands on her hips. \u201cThat was your fault for trying to pet them!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were told they were vegetarians.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we were told not to try to touch them either, brain drain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles opened his mouth to reply, but the comlink cut him off. It was their pilot, Johnny Wang. \u201cCaptain, we have a distress signal coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Traveling via hyperspace was the only way to travel from system to system. Communications were limited due to the physics of traveling faster than light in a higher dimension. If a ship\u2019s systems crashed while on a run, it could be years before anyone noticed the distress signal. \u201cI\u2019m on my way. See if you can get a fix on the signal.\u201d<\/p>\n

J<\/strong><\/span>ohnny Wang sat in the pilot\u2019s seat running his station through a search query of the sensor data. Mia slid into the co-pilot\u2019s station. Styles lurched over them. \u201cWhat do we have Johnny?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

Wang tapped a couple of buttons and transferred the distress call to the speakers. \u201cBzz. . .This is cargo hauler Lucky Lady. Our engines are down. Can\u2019t defold into normal space due to bad hypercoils. Request assistance. We have a keg of beer if anyone can help us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wang cut the transmission. \u201cIt just repeats itself after that. I can\u2019t raise them on the com-link. Don\u2019t know how long it\u2019s been going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou run that ID?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

Wang scowled. \u201cI can\u2019t find it in any of the Fed registries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, that don\u2019t mean anything,\u201d Styles said. \u201cHell, half of the smugglers in the galaxy change their ships names all of the time. If the Captain didn\u2019t love the ship\u2019s name so much, we\u2019d be doing the same thing. Besides, free beer is free beer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Phoenix had been a surplus cargo merchant marine frigate rusting in the surplus stockyards five years ago. She had survived the Colonial Wars, much like Mia had, damaged, mostly intact, and decommissioned. Mia renamed the ship after her old squadron during the Colonial Wars against Earth. It seemed the best way to honor her dead friends. \u201cHow far away is she?\u201d<\/p>\n

Wang checked his instruments. \u201cWe have a lock, Captain. I\u2019d estimate we\u2019re just an hour away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia flipped a switch to activate the ship wide com-link. \u201cMouse, we need you in the bridge.\u201d Mouse was the ship\u2019s mechanic and she was very good at her job.<\/p>\n

She activated the ship\u2019s sensors and sent out a large ping to seek out local ships. It was more difficult to scan for ships in hyperspace. Styles leaned over her shoulder. \u201cYou think it\u2019s a trap, Captain?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s awfully convenient that they were right in our path. Best to be careful. Run a weapons check and then suit up for action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles grinned and then left the cockpit. A short Chinese girl with wild blue hair wormed her way past the large man. He tussled her hair as he passed. She swatted him away. \u201cWhat do ya need, Captain?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found a damaged ship that might have survivors. We\u2019re going to dock with them and take a look.\u201d Mia didn\u2019t mention that if there weren\u2019t any survivors, they could salvage for supplies and parts. \u201cSuit up and make sure you come armed. There\u2019s no sense in coming unprepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mouse grinned, excited for the chance to do a job off ship. \u201cReally? That\u2019s great, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia scowled. \u201cYou are now my shadow, you understand? No games. This could be dangerous. You sneak off by yourself, I will tan your hide!\u201d<\/p>\n

Mouse rolled her eyes. \u201cYes, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d The captain patted her on the back. \u201cGet going. We\u2019re going to need you soon. I\u2019m going to run through the scenarios with Johnny.\u201d<\/p>\n

T<\/strong><\/span>he Lucky Lady appeared on the scanners approximately three kilometers off the Phoenix\u2019s port bow. Wang scanned the Lucky Lady and forwarded the readings to Mouse. \u201cCaptain, she\u2019s in real bad shape. Her engine manifold looks cracked. That really can\u2019t be faked. Not if you want to fly again soon enough. I doubt we have the parts to repair it. Looks like most of their power grid is unstable. She must be running out of life support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia adjusted her scope inside of the starboard gunnery turret. She didn\u2019t often look for trouble, but the reverse was rarely true. \u201cMouse, can you tell what caused the damage?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mouse scowled. \u201cMaybe there was a micro-crack in the engine block? It\u2019s hard to say, Captain. Any mechanic worth the name would have noticed it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we can tow her into port. Doesn\u2019t look like it\u2019s a trap. Styles, you see anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles checked his scope in the port gunnery turret. \u201cJust a handsome, nubian god saying hello. Oh wait, that\u2019s my reflection.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStyles!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll clear here, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia logged out of her station. \u201cOk guys, meet me in the docking port. Johnny, any word from the Lucky Lady?\u201d<\/p>\n

The comlink buzzed. \u201cShe\u2019s still running silent, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s possible they can\u2019t receive our transmissions,\u201d Mouse interjected.<\/p>\n

\u201cProceed with the forced docking procedure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wang maneuvered the Phoenix into a docking course with the Lucky Lady while they climbed into their EVA suits and checked their weapons. Due to the lack of stabilizing thrusters, the Lucky Lady was spiraling wildly so Wang had to match the speed of the turn. The ships bumped into each other as the docking clamps connected. The crew had to steady themselves against the bulkhead. \u201cGood job, Wang!\u201d Styles replied sarcastically.<\/p>\n

The comlink buzzed. \u201cSorry guys, the trajectory of this ship is crazy. We\u2019re secure for now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia gestured to the airlock. \u201cOk Mouse, see if you can sleaze our way inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing, Captain.\u201d Mouse pulled several tools from her belt, pried open a panel, and started working. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be too hard. Most of the power is out on the ship so really all I need to do is jimmy the locks. We\u2019ll have to open the hatches manually.\u201d<\/p>\n

The locks on the hatch popped and then disengaged. Mouse grinned and gestured to Styles. He turned the wheel and opened the hatch. Mia leveled her pistol, uncertain as to the general reaction the crew of the Lucky Lady might provide. Mouse checked the meter on her EVA suit. \u201cIt looks like they have an atmosphere, but it\u2019s a bit stale. Should be breathable. Want me to pump some of our excess oxygen into the ship?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood thinking, but make sure we lock the hatch behind us. Styles, you see anything?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

Styles had already secured the airlock from the other side. He kept his rife leveled at the hallway leading into the Lucky Lady. \u201cDead as a cemetery, Captain. Can I take off my helmet to sniff around?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia shrugged. \u201cIt looks safe enough to open the visor, but I don\u2019t recommend taking off the helmet. With our luck, this old bird will have a hull breech.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles lifted the visor and sniffed the air. \u201cSomething\u2019s not right, Captain. Something\u2019s stinks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia lifted her visor and tried to catch what Styles smelled. \u201cI don\u2019t smell anything. If it becomes strong enough to identify, let me know.\u201d Styles had been augmented during the Colonial Wars. It wasn\u2019t something he liked discussing, but he wasn\u2019t often wrong when it came to smells. \u201cIf there was something wrong, the crew might have tried to hide out in the cargo hold. It\u2019s the safest place on an old bucket like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an old Delta class hailer. My uncle had one of these before the war. I can lead us there.\u201d Mia nodded her approval and then Styles took point. Mouse followed gingerly. Mia took up the rear, careful for an ambush.<\/p>\n

Half way to the cargo hold, Styles held up his hand for them to wait. \u201cI hear footsteps over the next bend,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

Mia nodded and then cupped her hands. She decided that the direct approach would be the best. \u201cHello! We heard your distress call!\u201d<\/p>\n

A gray haired, slovenly man leaned over the wall to take a peek. \u201cIdentify yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia nodded to Styles. He aimed his rifle towards the floor and waved. \u201cI\u2019m Captain Mia Wells of the Phoenix. We heard your distress call. You guys didn\u2019t answer any hails.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old man sighed, clearly relieved. \u201cAw thank the stars. We didn\u2019t think anyone would ever hear us.\u201d He turned the corner, wiped his hands on his overalls, and then offered his hand to Mia. \u201cThe name is George Rivers. I run this piece of garbage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia accepted the handshake and grinned. \u201cThis is Styles and Mouse.\u201d<\/p>\n

George shook each of their hands in turn. Mouse paused and blanched. She stared at his wrist. \u201cCaptain!\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia followed Mouse\u2019s gaze and then quickly leveled her pistol to George\u2019s temple. Styles cocked his rifle and then took a position to defend the group if any other member of the Lucky Lady\u2019s crew happened upon them. \u201cWhy are we mugging the nice stranded person?\u201d Styles asked.<\/p>\n

Mouse stepped back, drawing her pistol from her belt. \u201cHe\u2019s wearing a slaver unit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles groaned. \u201cAw, I hate slavers! Can I pop him, Captain?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do that and anyone wearing a slave collar will suddenly have a really horrible day. That\u2019s how it works, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

George raised his hands. \u201cEverything we have is legal, Captain. You guys don\u2019t have to do this. I\u2019ll cut all of you in for a share. The mining crews are paying hard cash.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s the rest of your crew?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe slaves tried to mutiny. Attacked the crew when I was sleeping. Started a couple of fires. I sealed them all in the cargo hold.\u201d George trembled. \u201cPlease don\u2019t shoot me. I have plenty of cash.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCaptain, we have to help them. I was on a ship like this. Stuffed into the cargo hold. Barely able to breathe.\u201d She cocked her pistol. \u201cNo one should have to live like that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are my property, perfectly legal,\u201d George protested. \u201cYou can\u2019t free them. They\u2019d kill us all!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll kill you right now,\u201d Mouse said evenly.<\/p>\n

Mia blocked Mouse\u2019s pistol with her palm. \u201cCalm down, Mouse.\u201d She turned to George. \u201cTake off the slaver unit and encode it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

George sniveled. \u201cI can\u2019t do that unless we have a second one activated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, Captain. That\u2019s how they keep the slaves from slitting their throats,\u201d Mouse replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cStyles, secure this piece of garbage and make sure he can\u2019t activate the kill switch.\u201d Mia turned to Mouse and pulled her away from George. \u201cI need you here and now, Mouse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey do horrible things to the slaves, Captain.\u201d Mouse bit her lip, desperate not to cry. \u201cThey cram as many people into the holds as they can and barely give them enough food to survive. And there\u2019s nothing left to do but stare at each other, powerless, shamed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMouse! We need you on the job. We\u2019re going to try to help these people, but we need you to focus.\u201d Mia hugged Mouse. \u201cI know it\u2019s hard, but we need you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mouse sniffed. \u201cI never said thank you for buying me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, I didn\u2019t buy you. I just paid off the debt.\u201d Mia smiled wryly. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve been taking advantage of you ever since by paying you poorly and massively overworking you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles craned his neck towards his crewmates. George was on the floor prone with his hands bound together behind his back. Styles playfully put his knee in the center of George\u2019s back. \u201cCaptain, there has to be more crew still active. This loser here isn\u2019t man enough to take on a job like this unless he had plenty of hired guns.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the only one left. I promise. We can work something out. The slaves don\u2019t belong to me. I\u2019m just the delivery man. You guys do this, they\u2019ll send me to prison and put a collar on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia shrugged. \u201cStyles, if he doesn\u2019t talk. Cut him. Just don\u2019t kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d George cried.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ever skin a pig, George? You have to cut really fine so as to keep the meat fresh. I\u2019m good at it. Hey Captain, we\u2019re running low on meat anyway, how\u2019d you like the other white meat?\u201d Styles slipped his dagger out from his belt and slit George\u2019s grey overalls open to his bare flesh.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree guards in the lounge. All of them have slaver units. I promise!\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles groaned and stepped back from George. A thin stream of yellow liquid pooled around George\u2019s torso. \u201cThat\u2019s nasty!\u201d Styles cried. \u201cMan pissed himself and I didn\u2019t even get to cut him. What sort of slaver are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia rolled her eyes. \u201cHe\u2019s just a middleman. Someone willing to look away to make a profit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d do the same in my place, Captain. Please don\u2019t kill me,\u201d George pleaded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat depends on how this scenario is resolved.\u201d Mia turned to Mouse. \u201cWe\u2019re going to need you to watch him. Shoot him if he tries anything. And I want to stress the use of the word IF. Understand?\u201d Mouse nodded. Mia turned to Styles. \u201cWe have some hunting to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles and Mia quietly crept to the lounge near the cockpit. The three guards were playing cards and gulping large mugs of beer. Mia crawled across the hallway to catch them in a classic crossfire. She tapped the comlink twice to signal Styles. He replied in kind. Mia stood and aimed her pistols at the guards. Surprised, they scrambled for their weapons. Styles maneuvered behind them and aimed his rifle. \u201cHold it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Two of the guards dropped their weapons and raised their hands. The third went for his pistol. Mia pulled the trigger, unloading her clip into him. He dropped to the floor silently.    <\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t move if I were you,\u201d Styles said wryly. \u201cYou guys have made us late as it is and the Captain hates to be late.\u201d<\/p>\n

After binding their hands and taking their weapons, they lead the guards back to Mouse and George. Styles connected them to a sturdy metal beam that enforced the bulkhead. \u201cThat should secure them, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMouse, can you get off one of their slaver bands and make it the primary circuit?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing, Captain. George will have to transfer the ownership.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles poked one of the guards with the barrel of his rifle. \u201cDon\u2019t give Mouse any problems.\u201d The guard nodded empathically in reply.<\/p>\n

Mouse unlocked the slaver bracelet from one of the guards and started resetting its protocols. \u201cCaptain, someone needs to wear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia didn\u2019t like the idea of wearing a slaver bracelet, but she didn\u2019t want to ask Styles or Mouse to wear it either. She pulled back her sleeve and extended her arm to Mouse. Mouse slipped the slaver unit over her arm and locked the clamps, binding it to her skin. \u201cOk, you are part of the work group. Now, you need George to transfer his permissions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I do, I want your word that you won\u2019t kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t, I promise you we won\u2019t kill you. I do promise that Styles will get plenty of time to practice his cutting skills on you.\u201d Mia half hoped that George didn\u2019t give up too easy. George almost immediately transferred permissions.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk Captain, let me set the parameters.\u201d Mouse tapped a few of the buttons on Mia\u2019s unit. The other units unlocked and dropped from their wrists. \u201cYou have the only working slaver unit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia glanced at the screen on the slaver unit. \u201cWe need to hurry. There\u2019s more than three hundred people in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

M<\/strong><\/span>ouse burned through the maglocks with her laser torch and Styles forced open the large double doors with a crowbar. A rush of toxic air washed over them. Styled coughed, covering his nose. \u201cThat was the smell! Blood, sweat, and other body functions I won\u2019t name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMouse, I need you to see if you can vent the air in there. Pump in some from the Phoenix if you have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

 \u201cI want to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will. I promise.\u201d Mia glanced into the dimly lit cargo hold. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to go in first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia closed the visor on her EVA suit and entered the cargo hold. The conditions were horrid and far worse than she had imagined. There were hundreds of emaciated people chained together in groups of twenty. Some of them were chained to bodies five days dead. They were dressed in tattered orange jumpsuits with thin metal slave collars. They slept on the floor, shared a communal toilet, and three faucets, only one of which still worked.  The slaves represented every known possible gender, race, age, or creed. They were the lost souls that fell through the economic cracks and couldn\u2019t afford to pay their debts. Mia had not seen such squalor and cruelty since the Colonial Wars. \u201cListen up! My name is Mia. We responded to the distress call. George is locked up. I\u2019m going to free you all, but I need a bit of cooperation, ok?\u201d<\/p>\n

Their faces remained blank. \u201cCaptain, slavers pull this sort of prank all the time to see our faces.\u201d Mouse slipped into the cargo hold. \u201cIt\u2019s true. The Captain freed me once upon a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, here\u2019s the deal. I\u2019m going to need some volunteers. Some of you are going to go with Styles here and help him secure the ship and look for supplies. Some of you are going to go with Mouse and help her secure bunks on our ship. We\u2019re not designed for this many people, but we can make due until we find a place to drop you off. And, I\u2019ll need some of you to help me see to the dead. We\u2019re going to take off the collars and reset your biotags, but that is going to take some time. You guys understand?\u201d There were dozens of nods and acknowledgements. \u201cPlease don\u2019t attack my crew as it would make me cranky and I\u2019d have to blow your heads off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia pressed the button Mouse had programmed to trigger the release of the slave collars. The collars dropped to the deck plate quietly. The former slavers glance at each other suspicious, not daring to believe. A few clapped their hands. \u201cOk, we need ten people to follow Styles! Come on people! Let\u2019s get you out of this stink hole.\u201d Several cheered.<\/p>\n

Mia felt like she was in the militia. Mouse and Styles were her Sergeants and organized the mob of former slaves into a functioning organization of free people. Mouse and her crew organized a section of the Phoenix\u2019s Cargo Hold to serve as a dormitory. The Phoenix was stocked for a four man crew. Space was tight so they didn\u2019t carry a surplus of extra supplies. Still, Mouse and the others did their best to provide comfort and dignity. Several of the children were already smiling and watching the slugs climb the walls of the containers. Styles and his group searched the Lucky Lady for rogue crewmembers, supplies, and anything of value. Mia tried to take a head count and figure out who needed what. Dozens of the former slaves were ill and while Mia had experience patching bullet wounds, she knew little about sickness.<\/p>\n

Mia activated her comlink. \u201cOk guys, report.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles responded first. \u201cWe have a problem, Captain. The secondary cargo hold was filled with frozen chicken. The electrical fire melted everything. Everything went to pot days ago. If we tried to eat this stuff now, it would kill us. Not a whole lot in the way of food. I did find three kegs of beer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are we doing in the way of food? This is a lot of mouths to feed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I could stretch our reserves to five days. There\u2019s a lot of people. Six if you let me feed them George and the guards. The good news is that the Lucky Lady has a full tank of water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia glanced over to George, who was shivering. \u201cOnly if it comes to that. Mouse, how are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking good, Captain. Styles found a load of cardboard on the Lucky Lady and we\u2019re using it for bedpads. A lot of these people are healthy and now that they aren\u2019t being doped by the slave collars, they\u2019ve been mighty helpful. Could use a meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood point. Styles, pick a couple of helpers and get cracking. These people deserve a celebration. Make them a meal worthy of the name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWang, how are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so good, Captain. Can you come up to the cockpit?\u201d<\/p>\n

W<\/strong><\/span>ang was furiously scanning through his system registry. \u201cWhat\u2019s the damage, Johnny?\u201d<\/p>\n

Wang scowled. \u201cYou ordered me to find a course outside of the standard routes to avoid problems with the Feds. We\u2019re ten days away from any civilized place that we could take escaped slaves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only have food for five days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about places that we can\u2019t take escaped slaves? Are there any Fed patrols nearby?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot any published routes. And of course, if we did come across them, we\u2019d be arrested for stealing slaves and smuggling unlicensed genetically altered animals,\u201d Wang reported wryly. \u201cAnd there is Patterson Station nine days off, but somehow I don\u2019t think we want to go there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia nodded. Patterson Station was the stockyards where slavers bought and sold human lives in bulk. \u201cLikely where the Lucky Lady came from anyway. Do your best to get us the fastest route. I have a celebration to stop.\u201d Mia activated the comlink. \u201cMouse, Styles, I need you guys on the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n

M<\/strong><\/span>ouse and Styles entered the cockpit energetically discussing methods of improving the conditions of the former slaves. \u201cAnd so I figured that with the extra water, we could run showers for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m working on beer pancakes. It will be grand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to lock down the food. Nearest drop off is ten days away,\u201d Mia explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only have five days of food, Captain,\u201d Mouse protested.<\/p>\n

Styles nodded. \u201cI already started the big celebration meal. I can\u2019t stop it now. They\u2019d riot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia nodded. She had hoped that she had called Styles in time, but knew that it had been a longshot. \u201cConserve what you can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the slugs?\u201d Mouse asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cMouse, we can\u2019t feed them the slugs? Chavez would have my ass. We\u2019d be so far in debt that we\u2019d never get out,\u201d Mia explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you said you wouldn\u2019t hurt people just to make money,\u201d Mouse replied.<\/p>\n

Wang turned from his station. \u201cChavez isn\u2019t someone we want to piss off. He thinks he owes the Captain because she saved his life, but he wouldn\u2019t let something like this go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI served Chavez during the Colonial Wars back when he was a general. He\u2019s crafty. We don\u2019t want to mess with him,\u201d Styles said, concerned.<\/p>\n

Mia sighed. Mouse had a way to twisting her conscience. \u201cBesides, we have no idea if they are edible. They could be poison.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styles blushed. Mouse studied his face. \u201cStyles knows something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia turned to Styles. \u201cSomething you want to share?\u201d<\/p>\n

Styled groaned. \u201cAlright, look, I was Chavez\u2019s cook and bodyguard during the wars. One of my augmentations was my taste buds. They\u2019ve been enhanced.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can detect poison!\u201d Mouse said, clapping her hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell us?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys aren\u2019t supposed to know I have any augments. I can be hanged just for having them,\u201d Styles protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you didn\u2019t trust us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there is that,\u201d Styles admitted. \u201cI\u2019ve only been on board six months, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia paced the length of the cockpit. She could be a decent human being or she could avoid a crushing lifetime debt to an infamous gangster. Mouse tugged her shoulder. \u201cPlease, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sighed. \u201cOk, Styles, go do a taste test and report back to me. Mouse, run interference.\u201d<\/p>\n

S<\/strong><\/span>tyles and Mouse returned to the cargo hold. Styles attached his dagger to a large metal poll and speared one of the slugs. It coiled around the blade and hissed viciously. He quickly snatched it from the container and stepped back so Mouse could lock the container. He took the slug to the galley and chopped its head off and started to prepare a decent meal with saut\u00c3\u00a9ed mushroom and potatoes. Within minutes, the intoxicating aroma filled the galley. Styles cut a piece of the cooked flesh and took a bite. He surprised at the quality of the taste. He pondered a moment and then activated the comlink. \u201cCaptain, the slugs taste wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing wrong with them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot at all. In fact, there\u2019s a lot of protein and vitamins. It\u2019s like a booster shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia pondered that and slapped her forehead. In his own way, Chavez was still fighting the wars. The poor and the disfranchised colonies relied on the Feds for booster shots to avoid dying from the various plagues that spread on the rim worlds. Those booster shots came with government issued biotags that help track them anywhere they went. These slugs could provide independence to a lot of people. \u201cHow many would we need to eat to keep everyone alive?\u201d Mia asked.<\/p>\n

Styles bit his lip. \u201cNot exactly sure, Captain. At least half. And that\u2019s if I make a lot of soups and thin things out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSave as much as you can, but don\u2019t let anyone starve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wang nodded his approval. \u201cThat was a good thing you did, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just set back Chavez\u2019s plans to restart the Colonial Wars. He\u2019s going to be very angry at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wang shrugged and then grinned. \u201cMaybe, but I don\u2019t think he\u2019d respect you if you did anything else. And on the bright side, if he kills you, I inherit the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSlugs! I hate slugs!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is Mr. Andrew’s first story on SpaceWesterns.com<\/a>, but you can find further adventures of the crew of the Phoenix in two upcoming anthologies (yet to be named), as well as another story by him in the Frontier Cthulhu<\/a>\"\" anthology — ed. N.E. Lilly<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,5],"tags":[25,23],"media":[299],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1210,"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18\/revisions\/1210"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18"},{"taxonomy":"media","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spacewesterns.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?post=18"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}