Not surprisingly, the prisoners adapted to shipboard life quickly. The ship was large and was quite similar in layout to the mine's renovations. Nearly everyone on board missed that fact, except for a select few. The big alien and his crew, the three avian women, the three guards that had chosen to come along, and Peggy. Noma didn't care where she lived, as long as I was nearby.

“How long have you been planning this?” Peggy asked me after a week of being on the ship and she had successfully scheduled activities for the prisoners in place of their normal mining shifts.

“About two and a half years.” I said and she stared at me in surprise, as did the captain and bridge crew of the ship. “I started small, of course. I knew I could weasel some things into practice at the mine eventually, then when I was sentenced to isolation and the administrator took a liking to me, well... after that, I had the means to do what I wanted and put everything in place.”

“You've been planning to break out of prison the entire time you were there.” Peggy said and shook her head. “When were you going to tell me you were leaving?”

I reached out and took her hand. “As soon as I knew the jig was up and the administrator called for help to fight against me, I told you immediately.”

“That's not what I meant.” Peggy said.

“I was planning to stay there for another three years.” I said and her eyes widened in surprise. “I had it all planned out, too.” I chuckled. “That had to change almost at the last minute; but, thanks to your help, we managed it all.”

Peggy sighed. “It's too bad we lost that first shuttle to this ship defending itself.”

“That was an acceptable loss, considering we had twenty-five shuttles full of people.” I said. What I didn't tell her was that the first shuttle had the eagerest group to take over the ship before the rest of us arrived, that way they would be in charge and my shuttle would have been the one to have an 'accident'. I just happened to arrange their accident first. “The rest of us made it.”

Peggy looked at the captain of the ship and then back to me. “Hunter, why didn't you let them go to the planet's surface?”

“There's no AI on this ship to help run it.” I said, honestly. “It's the same reason I didn't let the shuttle pilots go, either. We need them to survive.”

“But...”

“I gave them my word that they would be unharmed and I would let them go... with the ship... once we were delivered to our destination.” I said. “I've warned everyone that if any of our hostages come to harm, they will suffer the same penalties as if they attacked the administrator.”

Peggy sighed. “I guess that would be the only thing that would deter them.”

“It's okay, Peggy.” I gave her hand a squeeze. “I'm watching them all.”

Peggy gave me a disbelieving look, so I pointed to the monitor behind me.

“Eighteen people are on the main deck and are watching the large screen and my favorite show. I haven't seen the episode myself and it's killing me to listen to it without sharing it with Hailey and the others.”

Peggy looked at the monitor and then at my face. “How can you see the show? It's not on the monitor.”

“I'm not looking at the monitor.” I said and pointed down at the floor. “I can see the large screen.”

Peggy knew the layout of the ship now and she looked down at the floor and them back at my face. “I still can't believe that you can see through walls that well.”

“I'm tempted to tell you what you have on your cabin nightstand; but, I don't want you to slap me again.” I said and she took in a sharp breath. “I truly admire your devotion.”

Peggy blushed, even though she was over fifty, and she pulled her hand out of my grasp. “Keep your eyes out of my room.”

“I have to check on my favorite person every now and then.” I said and her blush deepened. “I don't want you to think it's an intrusion, so I only check during the day when you're working and I watch the hallway when you're not.”

Peggy wasn't sure how to respond to me watching her all the time.

“It's not all the time, since there's too many people within my detection range to focus solely on you.” I said. “It's okay, though. Even if I can't watch you all the time, I'm thinking about you.”

Peggy took in a breath and let it out. “I... I think I need to go lay down.”

“You've been working hard all week, so I'll let everyone know you're off until tomorrow.” I said and gave her a quick hug. “See you in the morning.”

Peggy nodded and left the bridge. I watched her until she entered her room and she looked up at me. She gave me a little wave and I spoke to her with Presence.

“I'll keep a watch on the hallway for you.” I said.

Peggy nodded and closed the door. After a minute, the door opened and she waved at me.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Nothing.” Peggy said and shut the door.

I guess I passed whatever test that was. I thought with a smile and kept watch on everyone.

*

It took us just over two months to reach the system I had designated for the drop off. None of the computers could come up with the system information and the pilot flew us blind into the proper orbit under my direction.

“It's all right.” I said in assurance. “There are ships waiting to reload your food stocks and supplies.”

“Oh, thank the Goddess.” One of the bridge crew said.

I chuckled. “Look, I know I commandeered you for this trip; but, I'm not a complete asshole. I've abused your skills for a while and I have no problem compensating you for the trouble.” I said. “You'll find you've received the standard pay, plus bonuses for duress in your accounts, when you get back to where you were supposed to go.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Are you serious?” The captain asked, completely shocked.

“What? Did you expect to do two months of work for free?” I asked. “Are you crazy?”

The captain and the crew stared at me.

“You should approve of the docking procedures while I go down to the shuttle bay and prepare for transport to the surface.” I said and left the bridge for the first time in two months. Everyone on the crew had been unnerved by my diligence at maintaining watch over the bridge crew for the entire journey. Even the prisoners had been weirded out by my apparent lack of sleep for the entire trip. I didn't bother telling them that all I really needed was a half-meditation state and I could sleep standing up and still watch over everyone at the same time.

Noma had visited me regularly and had no trouble accepting what I was doing. I had fed her Presence the entire time as well and she was more than happy to put off having sex until we settled down in my chosen system. Of course, by that time, she was completely ready to share with me intimately. It took quite a lot of willpower to get her to wait until we had reached the planet's surface and the shuttles had taken off.

A large pile of prefab living compartments had been dropped off in various areas on the pretty much uninhabited planet. I had arranged with the Bogorim Corporation for the delivery, as well as the ship resupply. They even accommodated my request for enough food and growing capacity for the rescued prisoners for three years. The ship that had dropped us off would have no record of the place when they jumped back into hyperspace, and that was best for everyone overall.

No one was hurt, no one was assaulted, and no one caused any trouble at all. I thought that was pretty much a miracle, considering some of the reasons a few of the rescued prisoners had been sent to prison in the first place. I had watched them all closely, and none of them had stepped out of line. Even the people we had held as prisoners for the trip didn't try to cause any trouble. That was amazing, in and of itself, and I thanked god and Black Laura for watching over us.

We all stood in what was going to be the town square and watched the shuttles take off, then we watched on a large display that I had mounted on one of the prefab buildings that the ships left as well. The ship we came on and the resupply ships jumped into hyperspace and the display changed to a nearby system's news program, then everyone turned to look at me.

“Hey, everyone! Welcome to Prison Planet 8113.”

“WHAT?!” Nearly everyone yelled.

“Ha ha! That's not what it's actually called.” I said. “We're going to be here for a while, though.”

“You asshole!” Someone yelled. “We had a full transport ship that could take us anywhere we wanted to go!”

“No, actually. That's not true.” I said and the potential riot died down. “If we had gone any further on the ship, it's systems would start breaking down and we would be dying off in droves.”

“But you resupplied it!” Someone else yelled.

“We didn't overhaul the environmental systems or even recharge the fresh air exchangers.” I said. “How long would we all survive in an enclosed system without fresh air?”

No one could answer until the three avian women stepped out of the crowd.

“We all would have died within a month if all we breathed was everyone's exhaled breath.” The first avian woman said.

“Correct, Honored Matron.” I said. “I did the best I could to prepare everyone for an escape and then I managed to get everyone out as quickly as possible and to a safe haven.”

Nearly everyone had startled faces as they stared at me.

“So, here we are. No Order. No guards. No mandates besides living our lives.” I said a little loudly. “What will you do with your newfound freedom? Will you kill your fellow escapees? Will you wither and die? Will you rise above your predicament and show the world... no, the universe... that you don't need anyone but yourselves?”

The prisoners gave each others looks and then looked back at me.

“Don't look at me. It's your choice.” I said. “If you want to know what I'm going to do, I'm going to do my best to build a life here that I can be proud of... and then I'm going to have sex with four of the fiercest women to ever exist.”

The three avian women let out warbles of appreciation, hatred, and longing respectively, and Noma just moaned as she anticipated me overloading her with Presence. That made a lot of them laugh, including the women, and I waved at the surrounding prefab buildings.

“I've arranged for a town big enough for us all, so you can do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't involve crimes.” I said. “No murder, or you will be murdered. No rape, or you will be raped. No robbing, because what the fuck would you take that you don't already have?”

Nearly everyone laughed at that.

“I'm still the 'go to' guy, so you know what to do. I'm taking that building right there.” I pointed to the one closest to the center of the formation. “So, you'll all know where I am and where to find me.”

“How long do we have to stay here?” Someone asked.

“How long was your sentence?” I asked, even though I knew and still had a datapad with the info.

“Fifteen years for murder.” The guy said. “Counting one at the mine.”

“You've done eight years already, right?” I asked and he nodded. “Then forget the extra years. The death at the prison was caused by the prison. You've got two years left, so after that, you're free to go.”

Everyone looked at me like I was nuts.

“We're stranded here.” The guy said. “What makes you think we can leave when our sentences are up?”

“Who said we were stranded?” I asked with a smile and turned to the avian women. “In six months, guess who has a sentence ending.”

The second avian woman gasped. “No! I did... I've killed...”

“I honestly don't care.” I said. “A transport will arrive and you'll be shuttled up and sent home.”

The second avian woman looked at the first avian woman. “N-no, I... no, I won't leave.”

“You don't have a choice.” I said. “When your original sentence is up, you are out of here.”

Tears came to her eyes and she hugged the first avian woman tightly, who looked at me and nodded.

“You're all going to be shipped off when it's time.”

“Who put you in charge?” Someone asked.

“The old administrator inadvertently gave me access, so I guess I did it myself.” I said. “Once I did assume being in charge, have any of you suffered?”

I was met with a few disbelieving looks.

“Hey, I can't be held responsible for other people's stupidity.” I said. “I've always retaliated and never attacked first.”

They all had to reluctantly agree that it was true.

“Look, be good and don't screw this up. You'll all be out of here before you know it.” I said. “I'd tell you to trust me; but, it's better if you trust your own judgment. Everything's been better since I took over, hasn't it? Just keep going with that feeling and we'll all get through this.”

“Let them think about it.” Noma said and took my hand. “You promised to make love to me and knock me out.”

A few people laughed.

I smiled at her. “You could have waited until we were inside before...”

“You talk too much and I'm not waiting for you to convince them.” Noma said and dragged me over to the building I had pointed to. “Don't wait up!” She said loudly and pulled me inside and slammed the door shut.

*

“Now what do we do?” One of the men asked.

“We listen to him.” The big alien said. “He's done nothing but help us, even when we didn't think we needed it.” He said. “If he said we get off this planet when our original sentences are up, then that's what we should expect.”

“But we got life.” The woman on his crew said.

“Yeah.” One of the other guys said.

The big alien smiled. “You do realize he's unconventional, don't you?” He asked. “Do you really think he's going to let an unfair life sentence stand with one of them being the Aviatoma he's sleeping with?”

The others looked at him with surprise on their faces.

“No, he's going to decide when we can leave and that's that.” The big alien said. “He has all the power and we need to respect that.”

“But... why can't we just...”

“He has all the power.” The big alien said. “Either we do what he says, live our lives, or we die or are left here when he leaves.”

“What? How can he leave?” The woman asked. “He was sentenced to thirty years.”

The big alien smiled at her. “Do you really think he believes thirty years is fair for what he did?”

The woman had to think about that. “No, I guess he doesn't.”

“Then we can expect the same treatment.” The big alien said and then let out a loud laugh. “I can't wait to see what he decides I deserve.”

“You know what?” The woman smiled. “I can't wait, either.”

“Do you think we can go find a nice place to...” The guy beside her started to say.

“Shut up, bitch.” The woman said and grabbed him by the collar. “I'll tell you when we go and where we're living.”

“But...” He gave her a look that said volumes. “You know I want you badly.”

She gave him a look back that said he better know his place, then she smiled. “You're lucky I'm in a good mood.” She said and he grinned as she walked off and dragged him behind her.