The Mirror: Matthew's Ship

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The shuttle that took off was guided to the dock of Natthew's ship. They were welcomed off with salutes and hard lined faces, although the welcome party was the only one that seemed so serious. Other Guards and pilots both on duty and off casual strode around, settled down, or chatted with fizzy drinks on their person. A bit came by with washing supplies, but was the unfortunate victim of a flying wrench. It's eye twitching, it keeled over and sparked, the culprit swearing and running over to make sure it was all right before quickly and with much care beginning to guide it to presumably someone who could fix it. The culprit's friend yelled something about reporting her dangerous antics to higher ups and harming a fellow member. The distraction was quickly interrupted by the all too serious escort leader. "Welcome." They all stood a little straighter when they spotted Inari. "Matthew and his guest, Hytar is waiting to see you in the office."

Esk snickered. "You don't wanna meet your double. He's a prick."

Hytar laughed.

Luka smiled softly. "No it's not, but how else do you think we communicate? If Captain Alistair would grant me access to his coms, we could have a small squadron meet us. If we continue to travel with Vestia, she should provide adequate camouflage till we're out of the system." She looked to Matthew. "What ARE you doing so deep into Terran space?"

That sounded sensible. A bit risky, but acceptable at least. "I suppose that's a reason to leave Vestia's collar on for a while longer," Asher said reluctantly.

"Preparing a blockade." Matthew pulled up another map with several points in the sol system and the surrounding ones, all within the Terran Empire. He pointed at the one nearest to their own dot. "One of their major ports for slave and android trading is near here. Several other freedom fighters and I are readying a calculated and well defendable blockade amongst a lot of them. We do keep comms for this, so you're welcome to use it."

"You're trying to cut off trading so close to the center of the Empire?" Asher looked impressed, and a bit worried. Matthew had said it was defendable, but even so, that was quite a risk they were taking. "Also androids are basically considered to be like slaves, not computers, here aren't they?" Could make it easier to get them freed, if they were considered to basically be alive, he thought.

Starr was just silently listening to them as she thought about the possibilities. "The dragons can help with this, it's time to pick side after all." She said quietly.

Stellan smiled oddly at Starr.

"Why make androids if you already have slaves?" Esk asked. "I mean, the crap they have them doing isn't really stuff that can't be done by organic servants right?"

"They can work in environments organics can't, and they don't require feeding.. or sleeping quarters, or anything except a plug to recharge. Makes them more economically viable long term." Stellan explained.

Luka nodded. "you don't need to make sure there's adequate air.. or water.. or sanitation. You can just throw them down a mine or whatever and not bother about anything other than the ore coming back out again." She looked disgusted.

"Terrans are assholes." Esk decided. "in both universes."

"They aren't even capable of directly disobeying," Asher said, nodding. "Very convenient." He looked at Starr, "I thought the star dragons here supported slavery. Would they be willing to help?"

"Precisely!" Matthew nodded excitedly at Asher. "The only way to stop a fire is nip it at its source! Since the Terran Empire has the most manufacturing and industry closest to home, this is where the bulk of the shipment comes from. If we can successfully blockade it, the economy will cripple and it'll be much easier to overthrow and reform."

He nodded again, turning to Starr. "The android is right. Your people have developed a reputation for hostility and use of slaves for scientific and economic advancement. You, in particular, have become famous. Or rather, infamous." He swept a hand towards the wall of wanted posters, pointing out hers in particular with a picture from some sort of hidden security camera. "Unlike Miss Heny and Mister Friedmann, you're wanted alive to be tried for crimes against the Galaxy... That's what happens when you force people into experiments against their wills." He smiled weakly and sympathetically.

Starr looked to the wall then stood, going over to study the paper with her on it curiously. "Yes, we do not think about slavery as anything, since it is everywhere. It took my mirror merging our minds to help me to see." She said softly then shook her head "She gave me empathy."

"So what happens now?" Esk asked abruptly.

"Will.. will you cash in her bounty?" Stellan asked, indicating the pictures and looking at each curiously.

"How'd you get some of these?" Esk asked, wandering over to get a closer look at a few.

"I'm still debating it, admittedly." He told Stellan, unnaturally solemn for his usually peppy nature. He turned to Esk before smiling. "Every criminal has a bounty. These people are important political abusers or major figures in the slave trade. We track these people down, it's easier to stop the slave trade itself."

"Debating?" Starr asked and turned to look at Matthew with a frown then a sigh "I am not going back to what I was before, I can't now."

Esk shrugged. "Now Bounties I understand. " He studied the pictures.

"She and her double are practically one and the same now." Stellan looked to Starr.

"yeah it's wierd." Esk mumbled.

"Sir, if I may send word to the underground?" Luka asked. She was slightly wary about spending too long this close to the heart of the terran empire.

Hytar chuckled. "Don't worry my dear, you help ussss, perhapsss... perhapsss we never sssaw you. What do you think Matthew?"

"Even if you 'never saw me', I would still be on these papers." Starr pointed out with a frown.

"Well, i'm ssssure ssshould you prove your... change of heart my dear, csssertain... arrangements may be able to be made. " Hytar shrugged.

"I'm not sure it's wise to make deals with him." Esk cautioned.

Asher had been listening quietly. "If anyone finds out you two" he looked at Matthew and Hytar "spoke to Starr and let her go free, I assume there will be many questions, and possibly your reputations will be harmed. Similarly, I'd guess your parents wouldn't be pleased, Starr. How bad would the consequences be of the wrong people found out, exactly? Is it worth risking it to get the might of the star dragons to join the fight against slavery?"

"What I think," Matthew said slowly, sounding a lot more serious now than before, "is that it's best for you to issue a public statement. Renounce your former lifestyle on the subject and atone by pledging for the cause. No need to keep this meeting secretive. It'll just make us all look bad."

Hytar nodded. "Yesss, make a big fussss about dessstroying the tyranny of Heny'ssss rule, claim ressponssibility for freeing Vessstia and her prissssionerssss and it will go well toward your image. A new leaf, a new chapter. " He chuckled and sipped his drink. "sssome may not believe you have truely changed, but few will deny how ussseful the dragonssss would be assss aliessss in thissss fight. In the meantime, there are ssslavessss to rehome and misssplaced doublessss to be returned to where they came from. "

Stellan nodded slowly. "Such an alliance would be extremely powerful, the terrans would fall before you. " He smiled that odd smile of his. "Do you think you can convince the star dragon empire to join you princess?"

Starr gave a small smile at that question "It is not the dragon empire I must convince, but my parents." She said then shook her head a little "The other dragons will do as they say, no matter what it is." She thought about it a little more then nodded "I must talk to them soon and get this sorted out then I can make that public announcement."

"Do you think your parents will be willing to listen?" Asher asked. "They must have strong opinions about this, right?"

Starr looked to Asher again then shrugged "They will listen, our society has simply become accustomed to having servants to do our bidding. Most see it as their right, this will shake things up but I do not anticipate too much of a pushback. Most are like I was and just don't see the wrong."

Asher smiled softly. "That's a relief. I suppose that will make things much simpler to sort out."

Stellan shot the princess a funny look, what had she thought he meant? OF COURSE he meant her parents. Yeesh.
These people.

Esk watched Stellan, bemused by the flash of annoyance he caught in his double's eyes.
Ahh, so there it was, he felt a little better having finally gotten a glimpse of what the guy really was.

"Well standing around here isn't gonna save any slaves." Esk shrugged. He wanted outta here, Matthew's postulating was annoying and he didn't like the way his father's double kept smirking at him.

Asher smiled at Esk, then looked at Matthew, "He's right. Could someone from your crew possibly guide Starr and Luka to your coms, so they can contact their superiors?"

"Of course!" Matthew grinned, sending someone to escort the two women to the communication chambers. He then glanced over at the wall, tearing Starr's down for now. There were still several more littering the wall, including a large serpentine creature that Prime Matt2 considered a comrade back at home...

Luka nodded to the others and headed off with the escort to the com station. She'd send out a call to her comrades back home over a nice secure channel.

Starr tilted her head then pointed to the snake man "In the other universe you and this one are friends, interesting differences" She said then followed the other to the comms room