Acrid smoke from dozens of small electrical fires filled the corridors of the cargo ship like a noxious winter morning fog.  Cabling, shaken loose from the walls by the attack, spat showers of blinding sparks across the floor.  Somewhere in the distance an alarm bell tolled a deep 'whoop whoop'.  Several teams from the Marauder had already moved in to secure the hull breaches created by her javelin harpoons.  Speedy repairs were imperative as both ships needed to be away before any passerby had time to respond to the distress beacon the cargo vessel had fired off earlier.

            Carefully Matt manoeuvred the laden pallet around the debris littering the corridor.  Terinu followed close behind with a second pallet.  They had been assigned to work with the docking gang stripping out all of the smaller items able to be handled manually.   Heavier stock would be transported across using runabout sleds.

            They walked through the catwalk tunnel connecting this section of the cargo ship to the Marauders forward entrance bay, careful to stick to the left wall so as to allow crewman heading back into the ruined ship to pass.  There was a bottle neck just inside the doors to the Marauder.  One of the pallets further ahead had overturned, spilling stolen booty all over the deck.   First Mate Brooks stood in the midst of it all, red faced and screaming insults and threats to the hapless men struggling to clear the mess.

            Matt parked his pallet and stepped back to stand with Terinu while they waited.

            “This lot’ll fill the holds,” said Matt.  “We’ll be heading back to the ‘Hole’ next.”

            Terinu shrugged.  “I guess.”

            Matt nodded at the remaining prisoners sitting under heavy guard on the far side of the bay.  The big man glowered with frustration as he held his daughter.  With two loaded pistols cocked ready and aimed for his head he didn’t dare retaliate.  The two vulpine, an older tawny coloured gent and a younger darker furred one, knelt side by side.  The older man was resting a hand on the younger ones shoulder.  He seemed to be speaking softly to him but the boys couldn’t hear what he said.  The younger one was nodding in response but his eyes were locked on the face of the dark haired girl, who, wrapped inside her father’s meaty arms, was looking back at him.

            “At least she didn’t kill them all,” said Matt.

            Terinu didn’t reply.  He watched the prisoners until the path was cleared.

            Someway ahead Brooks paused from his venomous tirade a moment to notice the boys.  He opened his mouth to call them across but stopped before the command left his lips.  A malicious smirk crept onto his face.  He chuckled and resumed abusing the unfortunate crewman nearest him.

            The sharp rapping on the door actually came as a relief.  Leeza sat up on her bed, where she had lain for the last hour fully dressed in the hope of catching a few moments of the sleep that had eluded her all night.  ‘Come in,’ she called as she picked up a half empty cup of what had been warm dresrill milk from the bed side table.  She headed to the small kitchenette in search of something stronger to fortify her.

            Rufus was standing in the entrance dressed in the official colours of gold and plum as befitted the Viscount of the house of Brushtail.  Beside him was a light furred female vulpine of middle years dressed in a smart gray suit and holding a brief case.  “Good morning Leeza,” greeted Rufus.  “How did you sleep?”

            Leeza shrugged as she programmed the beverage maker for coffee, extra strong.  “A cuppa’ ?” She asked.

            “Thank you but no,” Rufus waved a hand.  “We had one at the cafe just near the court house not long ago.  Leeza,” he turned to the female vulpine. “I’d like you to meet Regina Fieldmaster, a long time friend of my family and my most esteemed lawyer.  She arrived last evening.”

            “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Blake,” said Regina extending a welcoming hand.  “I am sorry about the delay in my arrival.  The evacuation of this sector has made obtaining interplanetary transport somewhat difficult.”

            “I understand,” replied Leeza shaking her hand.  “Thanks for coming.”

            “Regina and I stayed up for most of the night reviewing the case after she returned from the detention centre,” continued Rufus as Leeza retrieved her steaming cup from the dispenser.

            Leeza took a sip from her cup.  “How did it go?”

            Rufus gave Leeza an apologetic look and gestured at the couches.  They all took a seat.

            “I very much wish that the laws of this colony allowed for some leeway in the handling of court cases, particularly for off worlders,” began Regina.  “I spent a good deal of time during my journey here studying them and making enquires.  It seems here they have done away with much of the legal processes we take for granted on other worlds.  They’ve streamlined much of system in the quest for expediency but in doing so they may have violated some basic sentient rights.  Unfortunately their system of law has been mandated and approved by the United Gal Sapien Council on the basis of an individual colony’s right to free self determination.”

            “What are we up against?” asked Leeza.

            “Well for starters they’re not too fond of lawyers,” Regina gave a small self conscious smile.  “Accusers and defendants are expected to represent themselves except under special circumstances.”

            “Oh dear,” murmured Leeza.  In Terinu’s case that would be disastrous.

            “I have managed to submit a file of all the evidence and previous history that I could assertion for the Magistrate’s perusal but I’m afraid my official role here can be little more than that of an advisor. I’m sorry.’  She added as Leeza’s gaze dropped to study her cup.

            “Did you get an opportunity to talk to Terinu?” Leeza asked quietly.

            “I did,” said Regina.  “Three hours as it turned out.  Although I wouldn’t refer to it as talking exactly, the conversation was decidedly one sided.”

            Leeza felt the lead weight that had settled in her stomach drop a degree lower.  “Did he say anything at all?”

            “Nothing, I’m afraid,” Regina took a deep breath and straightened the cuffs on her sleeves.  “He looked at me when I entered his cell and I believe that was the only time he acknowledged my presence at all.  I spoke to him at some length.  I explained the legal system he would be facing, the gravity of the charges and what they meant in this society and the penalties involved.  I enquired after the conditions he was being kept under, if he had been subject to any misuse while imprisoned here and if he wanted to make an official complaint.  He made no response.  In fact I don’t think he moved one muscle the whole time I was in there.  Though I’m certain he was listening.”

            “Damn him,” Leeza rubbed a hand across her tired eyes and looked away.

            Rufus cleared his throat and nodded towards the door.  “The case starts in two hours.  We should go now if we’re to get a seat in the court room.”

            “What is the penalty?” Leeza interrupted tightly gripping her cup.  “If Teri is found guilty what does he face?”

            Regina swallowed uncomfortably.  “The justice on this planet can be quite... backward, I’m afraid.”

            “Just tell me.” said Leeza.

            Regina looked over at Rufus who nodded.  “The penalty for rape is a public flogging of fifty-one lashes and five years’ incarceration with hard labour.”

            For a moment Leeza said nothing.  She sipped her cup as the colour drained from her face.  “And you told Terinu this.”

            “Yes.”

            “And he didn’t make any response.”

            “He didn’t so much as flinch.”

            Leeza closed her eyes.  My god, Terinu, she thought, what the hell are you playing at?