“Ms. Gardner," Captian Shez addressed his second in command, "before we get into this next system, I must insist that you do not- as Mr. Holbrook is fond of saying- do not "freak out" or "fly off the handle" if we are hailed by a non-federation vessel."
Sarah Gardner slowly turned her head to her captain, “I wont beat around the bush, Captain, are you legal?”
The captains scales clicked together as he shifted, “indeed, this is as legal as every other merchant group. This area is the sector of Mafew, the Outlaw Lord.”
Sarah snorted and couldn’t help the suckle that came after, “I’m sorry, Captain, I think my translator is acting up. Did you just say this outlaw is named ‘Mafew’?”
The captains Chameleon like eyes swiveled in her direction, “there is nothing funny, Ms.Gardner. There is a reason the federation looks the other way when he is involved.”
Sarah couldn’t help picturing the old villain stereotype where the bad guy is large and threatening, but has a squeaky or chipmunk like voice.
Still poorly holding back a laugh, she said, “no, to us humans, ‘Mafew’ sounds like ‘Mathew’ but said by child…or someone with a speech impediment.”
“Mmmm,” the captain didn’t know how to take this information. He again nervously eyed his co-captain.
The only reason she was here was due to last moment changes. This would be the first time she’d been out this far. He would have wanted many others first, before her, if only because breaking in a new person to “how things worked” was always such a chore.
It was also dangerous depending on the outlaws’ mood…
“You have never heard of the outlaw lord?” the captain inquired.
“Everyone has heard of him,” Sarah sighed, “I just had no idea he had such a stupid name.”
His scales shifted again, “I ask, with pressure, that you watch your words if he hails us.”
She rolled her eyes, “does he bother with every ship that crosses his front yard?”
“I wish to have all my…contingencies, in order.”
“OK, OK,” she nodded. She wasn’t stupid. She had, in fact, heard many stories about this famous federation outlaw. They were unbelievable and insane. No one knew what species he was unless you knew him personally, all because those who did know him refused to speak of it.
The rumor that “speak of the Devil” was made for this man was born from the reluctance everyone had to speak of him. They called him “outlaw Lord” or “The Monster”.
But now Sarah knew the man probably spared those rumors himself because his name was ridiculous!
“He doesn’t often contact those going threw his territories,” the Captain said, mostly to erasure himself, “but Baron seemed to get along with him last time…so he might-“
That was when the hail light flickered on and an image of a scrappy looking ship appeared out of the void.
()
“Gran!”
Sarahs jaw dropped and she couldn’t help what flew out of her mouth, “HE’S A CHILD?!”
Capitan Grans scales actually blanched and the spindly third arm- usually out of sight- came from his back and tried to shove his First mate out of view.
Sarah batted the hand away as Mafew- the undisputed Outlaw Lord- started to laugh.
He was a HUMAN, and not only that, but he COULD NOT be more than 20 years! Sarah was infuriated! All the fear the federation had for this person must be NONSENSE! A ruse to keep traders and others in line!
“It's fine, Gran,” he said, his broken teeth flashing. There was a latticework of scars on one side of his face which Sarah had no idea if it aged him or made him look younger!
“I was in the middle of briefing her as you came,” the Captain sighed as his scales slowly went back to normal.
“Sorry for the bad timing,” the boy smirked as his dark eyes moved to Sarah, “My name is Mafew, and you?”
He didn’t have a lisp, nor did his voice match what she had assumed.
“Ah, um, First Mate Gardner,” she said, still trying to swallow this joke of a pill.
“You look like you need a nap,” he said, his smirk growing.
“HAW?!”
“Please, Sir,” Gran sighed, “do not tease my crew like this, especially the NEW ones.”
Mafew cackled, “fine, but only for you. Where is Baron? Filk has news for him!”
“His wife went into labor as we were boarding,” Gran replied, “we left late as we had to-“
“HEY FILK!” he leaned back, calling off-screen, “Baron has a mate AND offspring before you!”
There was a roar deep within the other ship and Mafew laughed as he turned back to Gran, “we are going to have to send gifts!”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind,” Gran nodded.
A huge crash echoed on the other side of the screen. Mafew didn’t even wince.
“So, where ya headed?”
“Making a round, starting with Farga sector.”
Sarah shot a look at her captain. If this person was really an outlaw, why were they just telling him everything?! She knew Grans species wasn’t like the Morda's! He could lie!
“Mmmm,” Mafew turned slightly, reading something, “seems the conflict in the neighboring sector hasn’t expanded that way…yet. But if your round takes you past the Fifth Born sector, you will need an escort. They are at each other and don’t care who or what gets in their way.”
“I see,” Gran sighed, “I was hoping it would be over by this time.”
“No such luck,” Mafew shrugged with his hands up, “its gotten to a point even we’ve stopped trying to meddle. Now it's all about trying to contain the damage. I’ve given more ground in this one conflict than I have my whole life.”
“That bad?” Again Grans scales became a malted color, “but we are to be in Tarn Vector by-“
“Yyyeeeah, about Tarn,” Mafew shook his head, “Tarn is all but swallowed up. We send relief ships when we can, but the Jarks do a damned fantastic job keeping everyone out.”
“But-“ Sarah, who had been doing her best to remain calm, “but the Jarks are the ones who requested aid from the federation because their oppressors were taking it to a whole new level! Why would they do the same to others?”
Mafew stared at her and then laughed again.
“Gran, is she serious? Have I been away from humanity long enough I can’t tell a joke anymore?!”
Before Gran could reply she stood sharply and snapped, “I’m right here! You can ask me! And, no, I wasn’t joking!”
The most punchable sneer speared on his face, “Are you colony-born? Cause if so, their education is lacking.”
Fuming she clenched her teeth, “As a matter of fact, I’m from Earth-Prime! Which has NOTHING to do with this!”
“You mean everything is you’re asking stupid questions…or did you have one of THOSE instructors that claim there is no such thing?”
“PLEASE!” Gran shouted and then cleared his throat, “not with my ship.”
But Mafew still had the sneer on his face, “had Earth Primes education whithered away so completely that you are not even aware of its own past conflicts? AND within its own atmosphere!”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I am aware, but those happened so long ago that they ain’t RELEVANT!”
Curse this idiot for making her angry enough to slip in her speech and accent!
He sighed, making her want to hit him more, “no, not “relevant” in cause and effect, but in a lesson of how people behave. Do you think other worlders have no greed? Do you think everything is so black and white that an enslaved world wouldn’t JUMP at the chance to do the same to others? And, in most cases, they are more cruel than that of the original slavers! Humans are not the only race, or species, who suffer from ‘emotions’ and ‘vices’.”
If she hadn’t been so angry, she would have noticed her recent filling crack for how hard her teeth were grating against each other.
“What would someone who doesn’t even know how to pronounce his own NAME know about EARTH EDUCATION?!”
Gran actually let out a whimper.
“Tell you what,” he said, the smile all gone from his face and even voice, “I like Gran. So I’m going to let this slide so long as you get out of my sight right now.”
“TOUGH BALLS!” she snapped, flipping him off, at the same time Gran stood to physically escort her out of the room. She swore and tried to fight with Gran, but he wasn’t using his third arm this time, his thick and muscular arms won the argument on their own.
The door to the bridge shut and the panel flashed red, indicating that it had been locked.
She stamped her foot over and over again while screaming through her teeth.
The others on board watched with trepidation as they turned to go a different way. Even the other humans. Seeing their reaction didn’t help at all.
She had done EVERYTHING to be able to leave the Prime System and escalate herself to the upper echelons of this Trading Company. She’d even slipped laxatives in the food of those ahead of her for this trip!!
And this…BARELY NEW ADULT was going to ruin everything! Could he even be considered an adult?
She froze at that thought.
The stories about the Outlaw Lord were many and contradictory, yes, but the ONLY fact that didn’t change in each telling was how he’d been raised by Marg, the last true pirate.
So what did this fool know about Earth Prime…or even the colonies for that matter?! If rumors were to be believed, and Gran made it seem like they should be, then this guy wouldn’t know SQUAT!
She huffed, feeling much better about her knowledge and security that she knew more about the rude outlaw. Her security was dashed, however, as the captain came through the ships com informing everyone they were to receive a boarding party.
Sarah ran to the Out Deck and practically glued herself to the viewing window.
It was a few hours before the bay doors opened and sad excuse for a Travel Pod entered. The Capitan entered once the doors were shut and the atmosphere in the area had stabilized.
The Pods ramp crashed down, making her wince, and out came three figures.
Mafew was prominent as the other two were giants compared to him. He was, what, 5’6’’ at MOST?! And yet the other aliens flanked him like bodyguards.
The boy clasped hands with her captain and seemed to be in genuinely good humor. The others also shook the Captain's hand.
Then the large aliens got to work. They entered and exited their pod with many boxes and bags.
Confused, she watched as some others from the storage level of the ship walked onto the deck and behaved as if this was normal! They waved and chatted with the outlaws as if there was NOTHING wrong with this! They even waved at the Lord who struck up conversations with them. He pointed to the boxes and bags and the Storage workers nodded and one even laughed.
Were they…smuggling?!
Had she been removed so that her Capitan could set this up?! She had, before, thought very highly of her boss…but now…
Looking back at the Outlaws, she made eye contact with Mafew, who was no longer smiling. He then turned his head and spoke to the workers. They nodded and the one that had laughed was now crossing his heart and holding up a Boy Scout sign.
Did he just-
She had the second highest authority on this ship, so if she asked what was in the boxes, she had BETTER be told!
When they boarded again, right before the pods doors closed, Mafew caught her eye again and wiggled his fingers in a teasing goodbye wave. He was even smirking again!
Furious, she marched right to the men and women moving the outlaws supplies and demanded to look through them.
“No,” came Margaret's stern answer, “you are not allowed to look.”
“I am second-“
“Second, Ms. Gardner,” breathed one of the gelatinous aliens on the ship. He was holding the largest box, “the captain himself said no one was to look in these. Not us, or him. No one.”
“Are you guys fine with this” she asked, doing her best to regain momentum, “this is smuggling and could get us all in trouble.”
“…are you speaking mutiny?” Margaret raised an eyebrow, and then smiled turning to the man behind her, “don’t it sound like Mutiny to you Jake?”
The man, who had been all smiles and good cheer with the Outlaws, was one glowering at her.
“It does, but I honestly don’t think she’s aware of what she’s saying.”
AGAIN! WHY DID PEOPLE TALK LIKE SHE WASN’T THERE?!
“I just want to make sure it's not weapons or-“
“It is not,” Margaret laughed, “it's the same stuff every time, so -“
“HOW do you have so much trust in those lawbreakers?! He could switch it up and we could be-“
“Even if he did,” Jake rolled his eyes, “they all go to the same place, and the same people, and they’ve been checked out by the federation themselves. Everything is above board.”
“Is it true you nearly got us all killed by insulting the Lord?” the blob shuddered a bit, “I’m going to have to work off this extra tension from just hearing about it.”
“HE’S A BRAT!” Sarah stressed, “I don’t see why anyone takes him seriously!”
Jake snorted and then excused himself, passing the others with his load. Margaret shook her head.
“Look, Ma’am, you’ve just been promoted enough to see what we’ve been privy to for a long while. Before you jump into a Grathits nest with both feet, perhaps hold still and listen to those who know better~”
Then she left the blob following close behind.
She wanted to stomp her feet again, but instead, she simply told herself she’d wait and bide her time. NOT because Margarete told her to, but because once everything calmed down, she could sneak into the Storeroom and just look herself.