Wanderer's Escape by Simon Goodson Page A

said grudgingly.  “It's a lot better than before.  I still don't trust them though and if there's a way to cause us problems they will.”  His lips quirked into a smile.  “So if something happens to you they'll be stuck in there forever?  Better make sure it doesn't, I can't guarantee to remember things like feeding them.”
    Jess frowned.  Something else he hadn't considered.  Then he shrugged his shoulders.
    “If it happens it happens.  I've got too much to worry about as it is.”
    “ I take it one of those worries is what to do with our prisoners?  You realise that you effectively have two choices.  Let them go or kill them.”
    Jess opened his mouth to protest but Matt held his hand up, carried on speaking.
    “Their crimes are pretty horrific.  If you take them anywhere they've operated their scams then they'll be killed.  Maybe after going through the courts but more likely spaced out the airlock by a mob – especially anywhere they've taken kids from.
    If we took them somewhere with an Imperial court then they'd be executed, almost certainly without a trial.  You saw what the Imperial ships were doing to them before we arrived on the scene.
    Some places you can take them they'd be freed in hours, if not sooner.  Pirate bases, independent stations.  I'm sure you don't want that.  You don't want them out there going back to their old ways, or even teaching others their tricks.
    So that leaves you trying to find a station where their actions mean they'll be locked up, hopefully for the rest of their lives.  If you turn them over and they only have to serve a few years then every action they take once they are out is your responsibility.  If you turn them over and they unexpectedly get the death penalty then you'll feel guilty because you chose to let them live yet directly led them to their deaths.
    It's a tough universe kid.  Dirty.  Vicious.  What the Empire doesn't screw up directly the rest of us screw up in fear of, or anger at, the Empire.  You're going to have to make the decision, and sometime soon.  We can't keep them on this ship forever.  The quickest, kindest solution may be to just space them.  Sedate them first if you like, so they don't know a thing about it.”
    Jess turned away, staring at the image of the prisoners on the wall.  They still slept.  He imagined himself handing them over to be executed, flushing them out of the airlock himself, seeing a mob beating them to death before the authorities could intervene.  Far worse though was the thought of them going back to their old ways.  Getting free and ripping families apart, selling children into slavery.
    With a heavy heart he turned towards the door.  As he reached it Matt called out, more softly this time.
    “ I'm sorry kid.  It's not fair to dump this on your shoulders but the ship has done just that.  You're in charge, you have the power to decide what happens to them.  You can come to Sal or I for advice, the girl too most probably, but in the end it's your decision.”
    The mention of Ali's name reminded Jess why he had visited.  It no longer seemed nearly so important, not after pondering whether or not to kill several people, but he was still totally confused by her behaviour.  Uncertain whether he couldn't wait to speak with her again or would rather she disappeared for a thousand years.
    “Matt... there was something else.  Not the ship or the prisoners.  Something I wanted to ask you for some advice on... it's about Ali...”
    For the first time since the operation Jess saw Matt smile.  Felt himself flushing.
    “Sal said you'd taken quite a shine to the girl,” Matt said.
    “ She's... well... I think she... that is...”
    “ Oh, you've got it bad all right,” Matt chuckled.  Then he turned sober.  “You were born a prisoner weren't you?  I can tell.  There's something different about most who are.  They seem more resigned to their fate.  Conditioned I guess.  Anyway, did you ever