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  Mike whispered, “I wish I was as powerful as they all fear I might be.”

  Luf said, “To alter it, he would have to take it out of my head. As you well know, that would cause my instant death. The medical implant is one of the most inviolate. I am not dead, therefore, I have not been tampered with.” He paused. There were no further interruptions. He said, “Very well, see for yourself.”

  Silence ensued for about fifteen seconds.

  Luf said, “Satisfied?”

  Many senators nodded their heads.

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Mulk said. Luf was escorted out.

  Xam said, “And now we must discover who among us attempted to kill the Earthling.”

  Silence in the chamber.

  Xam took his time turning a three hundred sixty degree circle, eyeing his assembled peers before he spoke. “The logic that needs to be followed and the questions that need to be asked are simple ones. Who had prior knowledge that the Earthling would be brought back on that ship? Who had access to the food on his ship? Who knew to keep the antibiotic out of his food? Who had the ability? It had to have been done from the very beginning. Therefore, it had to have been done by someone who knew the nature of the mission before they set off. Someone who could plant a confederate in the ship’s galley who would be able to oversee the Earthling’s meals before they even left. There are a finite number of people on an interstellar ship. The person or persons in charge of food handling and preparation need to be brought here. I have no doubt that it was done by an agent of one of us present in this chamber. When these people or this person is brought before us, we will know for sure. The police will be able to probe into his mind. Who else would have the money or the power to exert such influence except one of us? Who would have the knowledge that this Earthling needed to be stopped? And why would one of us want to stop him? There are obvious suspects in this room. I cast suspicion on Bex from security and Cark from the tangerine faction. Explain yourselves.”

  “He can just accuse without facts?” Mike asked.

  “He can voice speculation as fact,” Joe said, “and he can ask for explanations. Asking isn’t getting.” As always their conversation proceeded in whispers.

  Silence reigned as many of the senators looked to each other. After several minutes, Def, the head of the Sky Pirates rose.

  Crua screamed at him. “Only you would have the nerve to perpetrate such a crime.”

  Def said, “I do not kill those who are not as well off as the others of us. No, my guess is that you will be lucky to find the agents who perpetrated this crime. It is quite possible that they have long since been sent to some distant star system and are living on some lonely planet. Even more likely is that you will find whoever was in charge of the Earthling’s food dead, and their implants destroyed.”

  Xam said, “Their histories can be investigated. Everyone has a history. We will know who they were aligned with.”

  “Maybe,” Def said, “or maybe some of us cheat the system and have spies who are untraceable, or maybe all of us do, even the sainted Xam.”

  Mulk rose and was deferred to as usual. “What Def said is quite possible. Within minutes after I was told the news, an investigation into the obvious questions was begun. Every electronic service in the government has been turned to finding these people. Every police force on a viable planet is working on the case.”

  “Not if they’re allied with the faction who prompted the attempted murder,” Xam said.

  “Not so,” Def said. “To not cooperate would be to admit complicity. The security people of the conspirators will probably work the hardest and get the least done. I wouldn’t be surprised when and if the killer or killers are found, or more likely their dead bodies, it will be on an uninhabited moon in a star system open to everyone and not claimed by any economic faction.”

  Kas rose. “I think we are missing the point. Murder was attempted. Our own laws have been violated. It may not have been one of us here, but it is clear, there is a vast conspiracy going on. That some ones of us have knowledge the others of us do not.”

  Cark shouted, “He tried to escape.”

  “And that is not a crime for a prisoner,” Kas said, “only for those who helped him. The far greater crime is to attempt to murder an alien from an undeveloped world.”

  “Escaping is okay?” Mike asked.

  “You were in a unique position,” Joe said. “They’re right about the priority of the laws.”

  “Conspiracy to do what?” Xam asked.

  Ove entered the chamber. If there had been a sensation when Joe and Mike returned, it was as nothing compared to the chaos that ensued now.

  Ove walked with seeming élan through the frenzied throng to his seat.

  Mike asked, “Don’t the rich act more calmly than this mob?”

  Kenton said, “You are a possible threat to the riches of every person in this room. You represent a possible change in the very structure of our relationships with one another. It is not an exaggeration that financial empires may rise and fall on what you have in your head. Perhaps some star systems may be destroyed or at the least financially ruined. You’ve got a new weapon. The equivalent on your planet, I believe, is if only one country had the atomic bomb and was willing to use it indiscriminately. The difference here is, most of these men and women would have no compunction about using an atomic bomb any time they felt like it if they thought it would further their ends and make them more money.”

  “That’s appalling,” Mike said. “Capitalism without a conscience and aligned with horrific weapons of total destruction.”

  “Welcome to my world,” Joe said.

  “A balance of greed and a balance of weaponry has worked for eons,” Kenton said. “We shall all have to see what the world changes to, if anything. Fear is driving many of these people. Maybe there is nothing to fear.”

  Mike said, “I’m not interested in overturning your cosmos.”

  “What you are interested in is of little moment,” Kenton said.

  Mulk restored order. Ove spoke. “I cannot be punished for what I have done. The rules of this Senate forbid it. I will be heard no matter what others in this chamber may attempt.” He waited for complete silence before he continued. “There is no need to discuss what happened, save to say that my servant Vem, will not be executed. He is no longer on this planet.”

  “How is that possible?” Bex asked.

  “You may have decreed his death on space station ninety-three, but you exceeded your authority. You knew it then. You know it now. My followers at this moment are racing away with Vem to a planet well within my sphere of influence.”

  “Be careful, artist,” Bex warned.

  “Piffle,” Ove said. “Threaten someone who will take you seriously.”

  Bex said, “Others have underestimated me to their regret.”

  “Are you defying the power of this Senate?” Ove asked.

  “As much as you are.”

  “Did you order the Earthling murdered?” Ove asked.

  “No.”

  “You have attacked him three times. The first time was an unprovoked assault in his cell. You had an altercation with him before the meeting of the High Council, and you struck at him in this very chamber. Are not you yourself responsible for some of the actions the Earthling has taken?”

  “I am not answerable to you,” Bex said.

  “You are required to answer questions about your job function. For instance, why didn’t your security forces keep stricter control? It is your department of the government that was in charge of bringing the Earthling here. I assume that includes feeding him.”

  “Ships of the line are equipped with numerous kitchen help. What should have happened to the Earthling was a matter of regular habit. There should have been no problems. I do not need to justify my actions to you or this body.”

  “Yes, you do,” Ove said. “You are a high government official in charge of our star system’s defense. You are ultimately respon
sible for what happens to the Earthling.”

  Xam rose, “I was shocked at the reports that he attacked and attempted to kill the Earthling in his cell.”

  Crua said, “That is unjustifiable.”

  Bex said, “I had to know the extent of his threat to us. I will not defend my actions to you people. I have power and rights here as well.”

  Ove said, “You also have responsibilities.”

  “I have been in this Senate and in this position for thirty years,” Bex said. “I will not be called to task by you about what I am responsible for.”

  “Yes, you will,” Ove said. “You are not omnipotent. You are the equal of those who are here. You overstate your powers, as usual.”

  Bex’s voice was shrill. “You can be next.”

  Ove ignored the threat. “You lied to this body earlier when you said you weren’t aware of the extent Vov was a threat to us. You knew very well. I accuse you of knowing the threat, abetting the threat, and being part of an attempt to destroy all of us.”

  Bex laughed. “And your proof?”

  Ove began to orate at length, but after a short time, it was obvious even to Mike that Ove had no proof, just accusations and surmise. Mike happened to believe him, but he hated Bex and would believe anything bad anyone said against him. When Ove finished, Bex didn’t even bother to respond.

  Mike said to Kenton, “What I don’t get is, if you’ve had this fabulous government for millennia, how is everyone so afraid it could be gone in one poof of scientific magic from me?”

  “It has a whole lot more to do with irrational fear than with reality.”

  Mike said, “Another depressingly universal characteristic.” He turned his attention back to the debate.

  Xam was speaking. “We must make some decisions.”

  Bex said, “I do not demand another vote, but why don’t we do so to get the sense of the Senate. We have talked for hours. Perhaps there is a majority already, and we can get on with this.”

  Mulk rose, “A vote is called for.”

  Once again the delegates voted. Mulk read the results. “For exile for the two of them and all gay people in our part of the galaxy - four hundred seventy-three, for immediate execution - two hundred fifty-three, for freeing the prisoners completely - one hundred ten, for continued debate with all possibilities open - ninety-six, not voting - twenty-seven.” He finished with the results of those options that got less than ten votes. Mulk intoned, “Not a majority. The debate continues.”

  “It’s over,” Kenton said.

  “They didn’t get five hundred one,” Mike said.

  “The momentum has swung. You’re not going to die. They were close enough not to matter. Those in favor of exile are going to prevail.”

  “All the gay people in this part of the galaxy are going to be exiled?” Mike asked.

  “Yes,” Kenton said.

  “I don’t see how,” Mike said. “There must be millions, billions of people involved.”

  Kenton patted his arm. “There’s a lot of space and a lot of money involved. They’ll make it happen, and really, it doesn’t matter how. What matters is that it is going to be their decision. I’m sorry. I wish there was another solution that you would prefer. They will alter implants and enter into the sexual identity portion of people’s minds.”

  Mike snapped, “I thought that was forbidden.”

  “Not as much as gay people would like.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  They returned Mike to his perch on top of the mountain. Joe was with him. The first thing they did when they were alone was make mad, passionate, child-bearing love for hours. Two of the three moons rose and set before they stopped. Moments of rest between bouts of love were spent gazing at the spectacular view and worrying.

  That morning for the first time, it clouded up.

  Around lunch time, the stairs unfolded. Mulk rose with the stairs to the room. He was alone.

  Mike and Joe stood.

  A stool rose from the floor and Mulk sat on it. He gazed at the view and as he did so, rain began to pour down.

  Mike wondered if Mulk was controlling the weather.

  Mike asked, “What’s happened?”

  “A decision has been made.” Mulk drew a deep breath, folded his hands in his lap, and said, “You and Joe will be exiled along with every gay person who can be rounded up. They will be sent with you. Starting from this second, for every instant you object or fight or try to use the power you have, we will kill a thousand of the potential exiles. Potentially, you would be the cause of more deaths than any individual in recent galactic history.”

  Mike didn’t doubt him. He bowed his head. Joe remained silent as well.

  The rain poured down on his prison. His fate was decided.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Mark Zubro is the author of twenty-eight novels and five short stories. His book A Simple Suburban Murder won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men’s mystery. Alien Quest, his first book in a gay science fiction epic series and Pawn of Satan, his next book in his Paul Turner series, and his first young adult mystery, Safe, are just out. He spends his time reading, writing, napping, and eating chocolate.

  TRADEMARKS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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  MLR PRESS AUTHORS

  Featuring a roll call of some of the best writers of gay erotica and mysteries today!

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