Usually Malcolm Reilly found his job to be relatively stress-free. The man had originally had a career in politics in the state of Washington, before his daughter was biomodded in a ‘prank’ by one of her classmates. Moving to space to protect her, he’d found that helping to build a new society was, for the most part, almost a working retirement compared to the political arenas he was used to.
Then a day like today came along, and he felt like he was back in Olympia again.
“So. Minor damage to one docking bay, one droid and an android injured, and one man received an emergency biomod.” Leaning back in his chair, Malcolm considered the ceiling of his office. “In that sense at least, I suppose we got off lucky. If any of them broke out heavier weaponry, or they’d been somewhere deeper in the dome when it kicked off...“ Shrugging, the mayor leaned forward. “If it was just four J. Random Fen getting in a fight, people would comment on ‘kids these days’ and maybe question how long it took security to get there - which is a problem we’ll need to talk about later,” he noted.
On the other side of the table, Lisa Hayes nodded slightly, acknowledging the point. “But the Professor isn’t just J. Random Fen.”
Malcolm scowled. “And while they don’t play it up, it seems that Captain Wood and his Astromech aren’t either.” The woman across from him blinked in confusion, and he laughed bitterly. “Quite a few people look at their ship and think Warsie, right? Turns out they’re both Australian citizens. Void Shipping is based on Earth. And neither of them hold faction status elsewhere.”
“... oh crap,” Lisa muttered, and Malcolm’s smile grew even more amused.
“Ohhh yes. I’ve already gotten an email from Rob Donaldson in Port Luna. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has already called him to ask some rather angry questions. You can guess the type, I’m sure,” he added dryly, standing up. Stepping over to a side table, he poured himself a glass of water. “There’s nothing else from Earth yet, but I expect the involvement of the Professor will get the EUs attention. The French always find screaming about him to be good for their polls,” he muttered, before drinking.
Considering that, Lisa sighed. “And Fenspace?”
Putting the glass back down, Malcolm rolled his eyes. “Fenspace is being Fenspace. Running around, arms flailing like Kermit the Frog until they can calm down and think.” Lisa didn’t quite suppress a giggle at that, and the mayor gave her an amused smile, although it faded quickly. “Going by the various emails my secretary is digging through, it’s about what you’d expect. People siding with the Professor because Science and it’s all Captain Wood’s fault for getting in the way, people suddenly deciding all Mads are crazy murder machines that will cut up people for Science and someone needs to do something, and all the variations between the two.” Sighing, he dropped back into his chair. “No matter how we deal with it, there’s going to be headaches,” he grumbled.
The office door opened, revealing a slim, petite woman nearly buried in a brown duster, a gold Sheriff's star pinned to the front. Removing her stetson to reveal bright red hair and fox ears, she gave the room an irritated look. “I’ve got the Professor strapped down in a secure medical ward, and Glear is nowhere near him,” Sheriff Katherine Roberts announced. “Captain Wood and the Void Eagle have an extra protective detail just in case, and my vacation is utterly ruined, just so you know.”
Malcolm met her glare with an amused smirk. “You didn’t have to come back. That’s why you have deputies,” he pointed out.
“Like fun I’m leaving this mess in their laps,” Kate shot back, dropping into a chair. “Everyone’s going to be watching this. We’ve got to do it right, and you know Bradley’s nowhere near ready to talk to real reporters.” The foxgirl looked around the office again and frowned. “So, where’s Antilles? I’d have thought this would have knocked him out of his ‘I’m just a simple businessman’ routine,” she mused.
“Oh, it has,” Lisa replied. “At a guess, I’d say he’s not getting involved until he’s good and calmed down.” Kate snorted, but the militiawoman shook her head, expression very serious. “No Katie, he’s right to. He was so angry before he shifted back to male.”
Frowning, Katie started to reply, paused, considered that, then paled slightly. “Oh. I… I did not know he could do that,” she admitted.
“I could have gone the rest of my life without knowing it,” Lisa agreed. “He’ll weigh in on the debate later, but I think it best we gave him time to catch his breath.”
Nodding in agreement, Kate leaned back in her chair. “Can’t argue with that. Anyway, we’re not really going to make progress until the Professor wakes up, which, going by what I understand about his biology, could be tomorrow, could be Tuesday. I want a professional to take a look at both him and Glear. Once we know their actual mental state, then I’ll consider a list of charges to present you with,” she told Malcolm.
Rubbing at his beard thoughtfully, the mayor raised an eyebrow. “You’re looking at the angle of their being mentally impaired already?”
The Vixen shrugged. “I think it’s possible. I mean, hell, we all know the guys reputation, and Glear was a bit quicker to start stabbing then I’d have expected from someone with her experience. Hell, if she was as willing to pop the blades a few years back, Paris would have a lot less pretentious assholes,” she added dryly.
Wincing, Malcolm gave her a warning look. “Please don’t say that to the reporters.”
“Hey, I’m a bitch, I’m not stupid,” she replied, before turning serious again. “I’ve been looking at all the video on the way in. Captain Wood had every legal right to tell the Professor to go suck vacuum, and frankly, I figure he had the moral right too. He only broke out the lethal weapons after Glear had already cut him at least once, and his Slapstick weapons were taken out. Even then, he was only shooting to wound at best, and based off an idea Athena confirmed came from her and Romanova, he was still going for a non-lethal takedown.” Running a hand through her hair, she sighed and shrugged. “If we wanted to, we could throw the book at the Professor and his minions.”
“With all of the system watching,” Lisa sighed, closing her eyes and imagining the media frenzy.
“Fuck ‘em,” the Sheriff replied bluntly. “This is a local matter, even if it involves visitors getting into trouble on our turf. If they want to watch, then they get a demonstration that we’ve got our legal system put together better than some others out here.” Smirking, she crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. “But if I’m right, this might not make it to trial at all. Rather than punishment, we might just be able to make things a little better for everyone.”
***
Then a day like today came along, and he felt like he was back in Olympia again.
“So. Minor damage to one docking bay, one droid and an android injured, and one man received an emergency biomod.” Leaning back in his chair, Malcolm considered the ceiling of his office. “In that sense at least, I suppose we got off lucky. If any of them broke out heavier weaponry, or they’d been somewhere deeper in the dome when it kicked off...“ Shrugging, the mayor leaned forward. “If it was just four J. Random Fen getting in a fight, people would comment on ‘kids these days’ and maybe question how long it took security to get there - which is a problem we’ll need to talk about later,” he noted.
On the other side of the table, Lisa Hayes nodded slightly, acknowledging the point. “But the Professor isn’t just J. Random Fen.”
Malcolm scowled. “And while they don’t play it up, it seems that Captain Wood and his Astromech aren’t either.” The woman across from him blinked in confusion, and he laughed bitterly. “Quite a few people look at their ship and think Warsie, right? Turns out they’re both Australian citizens. Void Shipping is based on Earth. And neither of them hold faction status elsewhere.”
“... oh crap,” Lisa muttered, and Malcolm’s smile grew even more amused.
“Ohhh yes. I’ve already gotten an email from Rob Donaldson in Port Luna. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has already called him to ask some rather angry questions. You can guess the type, I’m sure,” he added dryly, standing up. Stepping over to a side table, he poured himself a glass of water. “There’s nothing else from Earth yet, but I expect the involvement of the Professor will get the EUs attention. The French always find screaming about him to be good for their polls,” he muttered, before drinking.
Considering that, Lisa sighed. “And Fenspace?”
Putting the glass back down, Malcolm rolled his eyes. “Fenspace is being Fenspace. Running around, arms flailing like Kermit the Frog until they can calm down and think.” Lisa didn’t quite suppress a giggle at that, and the mayor gave her an amused smile, although it faded quickly. “Going by the various emails my secretary is digging through, it’s about what you’d expect. People siding with the Professor because Science and it’s all Captain Wood’s fault for getting in the way, people suddenly deciding all Mads are crazy murder machines that will cut up people for Science and someone needs to do something, and all the variations between the two.” Sighing, he dropped back into his chair. “No matter how we deal with it, there’s going to be headaches,” he grumbled.
The office door opened, revealing a slim, petite woman nearly buried in a brown duster, a gold Sheriff's star pinned to the front. Removing her stetson to reveal bright red hair and fox ears, she gave the room an irritated look. “I’ve got the Professor strapped down in a secure medical ward, and Glear is nowhere near him,” Sheriff Katherine Roberts announced. “Captain Wood and the Void Eagle have an extra protective detail just in case, and my vacation is utterly ruined, just so you know.”
Malcolm met her glare with an amused smirk. “You didn’t have to come back. That’s why you have deputies,” he pointed out.
“Like fun I’m leaving this mess in their laps,” Kate shot back, dropping into a chair. “Everyone’s going to be watching this. We’ve got to do it right, and you know Bradley’s nowhere near ready to talk to real reporters.” The foxgirl looked around the office again and frowned. “So, where’s Antilles? I’d have thought this would have knocked him out of his ‘I’m just a simple businessman’ routine,” she mused.
“Oh, it has,” Lisa replied. “At a guess, I’d say he’s not getting involved until he’s good and calmed down.” Kate snorted, but the militiawoman shook her head, expression very serious. “No Katie, he’s right to. He was so angry before he shifted back to male.”
Frowning, Katie started to reply, paused, considered that, then paled slightly. “Oh. I… I did not know he could do that,” she admitted.
“I could have gone the rest of my life without knowing it,” Lisa agreed. “He’ll weigh in on the debate later, but I think it best we gave him time to catch his breath.”
Nodding in agreement, Kate leaned back in her chair. “Can’t argue with that. Anyway, we’re not really going to make progress until the Professor wakes up, which, going by what I understand about his biology, could be tomorrow, could be Tuesday. I want a professional to take a look at both him and Glear. Once we know their actual mental state, then I’ll consider a list of charges to present you with,” she told Malcolm.
Rubbing at his beard thoughtfully, the mayor raised an eyebrow. “You’re looking at the angle of their being mentally impaired already?”
The Vixen shrugged. “I think it’s possible. I mean, hell, we all know the guys reputation, and Glear was a bit quicker to start stabbing then I’d have expected from someone with her experience. Hell, if she was as willing to pop the blades a few years back, Paris would have a lot less pretentious assholes,” she added dryly.
Wincing, Malcolm gave her a warning look. “Please don’t say that to the reporters.”
“Hey, I’m a bitch, I’m not stupid,” she replied, before turning serious again. “I’ve been looking at all the video on the way in. Captain Wood had every legal right to tell the Professor to go suck vacuum, and frankly, I figure he had the moral right too. He only broke out the lethal weapons after Glear had already cut him at least once, and his Slapstick weapons were taken out. Even then, he was only shooting to wound at best, and based off an idea Athena confirmed came from her and Romanova, he was still going for a non-lethal takedown.” Running a hand through her hair, she sighed and shrugged. “If we wanted to, we could throw the book at the Professor and his minions.”
“With all of the system watching,” Lisa sighed, closing her eyes and imagining the media frenzy.
“Fuck ‘em,” the Sheriff replied bluntly. “This is a local matter, even if it involves visitors getting into trouble on our turf. If they want to watch, then they get a demonstration that we’ve got our legal system put together better than some others out here.” Smirking, she crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. “But if I’m right, this might not make it to trial at all. Rather than punishment, we might just be able to make things a little better for everyone.”
***