"Ash wake up." Kate hissed and kicked his leg from the other side of the small cell. "You''re leaning toward the force field."


    He had fallen asleep sitting up again and had almost received the electric shock that came with touching front facing wall of their jail cell. He had learned that lesson several days ago when he attempted to reach his hand through it. The guard that brought them food and water was able to walk straight through and he knew it was probably some kind of gadget that allowed authorized personnel to pass but he had to try anyway. The shock knocked him out momentarily like a stun gun and he woke up on the cold floor with everyone standing over him.


    The cell was intended for two occupants judging by the single bunk bed and lack of space. There was a small sink against the opposite wall and a bench along the back wall with a hole cut out that served as the toilet. The crew all turned their backs when someone needed to use that, it was the only way to keep their dignity, given the situation they were in.


    "How long are they going to leave us in here like this? We didn''t do anything wrong." Jayden asked for the one hundredth time. Ash was learning that patience wasn''t his strength.


    "I don''t know. Kate doesn''t know. Mei doesn''t know. The foxes out there in the prison probably don''t know. All we can do is wait.


    "I know. Sorry. I just can''t stop thinking about Dottir. I need to know what''s happening. We can''t just sit in this cell."


    The lights on the ceiling flashed three times indicating that the occupants needed to sit on the bench on the back wall for the guard to enter. They complied and a Callidus that they had not seen before walked through the blurry energy wall.


    "You can understand me, yes?" It said with a feminine voice.


    "Yes, we can." Ash answered. He knew he was the spokesperson for better or worse. Kate and Jayden had no problem voicing their opinions when a decision needed to be made but when it came to speaking for the group, it was always Ash.


    "How?" She asked.


    "Charlie said something about a parasite being slipped into our food before we left. It passes on it''s knowledge of foreign languages so that we can have conversations and it can feed on our emotions."


    "Who is Charlie and how did he or she come into possession of Callidus technology. The parasite."


    "Charlie isn''t a person. Well, not really. She seems like a person when you talk to her but she is a program. An artificial intelligence. Listen, why are we in prison? Is it because we are aliens to you? We didn''t do anything wrong, we don''t mean you any harm."


    "I will ask the questions for now, Ash. So you call your ship AI Charlie then? Who gave you the parasite?" She asked again.


    "Our boss, Mr. Young. I don''t know how he got them, I didn''t even know about it until I spoke to your Captain Artesh and understood what he was saying. Charlie just explained it to me."


    "Very good. Our security personnel were attempting to search your ship. They are now trapped inside by this Charlie. She has demanded to see you and threatened to kill them by draining the oxygen from the entire vessel if we do not bring you. Help us to rescue them and things may go better for you in the long run."


    Ash had to work to keep the smile from his face as he responded. "Of course. Take us to them."


    <hr>


    Ash tried to shield his eyes from the bright sun of Callidium but his arms were restrained behind his back. They marched them out the the landing pad like criminals under guard and cuffed. The landing pad was the only thing that they had seen of the new alien world before being forced into their windowless cell. It was night time then and the temperature was comfortable but now Ash could see that he wasn''t suited to the bright light after being in space for so long. He stared down at the riveted metal of the pad until a strong grip on his shoulder stopped him. The Callidus guards backed up and pointed at the Solent.


    "Uh, okay. Charlie can you hear me?" Ash called out. There was no response but the cargo hatch began to lift and her voice boomed from the speakers inside.


    "Ash this may be my home but it seems to be populated by assholes." Charlie said. It was such a simple observation that it made him laugh.


    "Yeah Charlie, I''m not so sure about these folks. Listen, you need to let the security team out. If you hurt them, that will make things worse for us. We came here to find help, remember?"


    "I remember but I don''t think they''re going to help us. They said they''ve met humans before and they hate you."


    "I don''t know how that is possible dear, but you have to let them go so we can get to the bottom of it."


    "If I let them go, they have to let you go." She said.


    Ash turned around to look at the guards but was only met with cold stares. "Yeah that would be a good deal but I don''t think we can make a deal right now. Just let them go please. We can take care of ourselves."


    "No, not until they let you go. The security guys said that you have to have a hearing with their council or congress or something. When they bring you back, I''ll let them go. I will not harm them, I promise."


    Ash wasn''t expecting her to defy him. It threw him for a loop and he was visibly unsure of himself. The female Callidus that came to see him whispered into his ear. "You might not be able to come back." and stared into his eyes.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Charlie please. Let those officers go. You are making it worse for us." Ruo pleaded.


    "No, and you had better keep your mouth shut Mei. This doesn''t concern you. Ash if you are not able to come back, they will die. They don''t have a lot of water with them, they had better hurry up and let you go."


    "SHIT!" Ash yelled and the guards started to laugh. Shit must not have been a normal exclamation in their society. "I''m sorry, she''s not listening. How long until your council can speak to us?"


    "Congress, it''s our congress. They are an extremely important branch of our government and they do not take kindly to being hurried but as this is a matter of life and death, we will take you now." She replied.


    "Hey, what''s your name?" Ash asked.


    "Chiala, I am your representation. I need to know more before we can proceed. You need to tell me everything."


    <hr>


    Ash had explained everything as their driver grew more and more irritated at the traffic. He had learned that the city where they had landed was the capital city of The Republic of Caladia. The architecture was sleek with long angles that came to sharp points on the corners of the buildings. Many of them were colorful and welcoming but he could see on the vehicle''s GPS system that he was heading toward a gated compound in the distance. He could see guards with flashing lights patrolling around the outside of the perimeter and armed soldiers standing at the entrance.


    The vehicle he was in looked like an armored truck with thick black body panels and tinted windows. Chiala had tried to put him at ease but he could feel the nervous energy building inside of him. One look in the third row of seats told him that Kate and Jayden were feeling the same way. Kate looked like she was about to vomit into Ruo''s lap.


    "Can you please just tell me what''s going on? I was honest with you. I answered every question. Why do you people hate us? We just got here!" Ash finally snapped.


    "Yes, you just got here, but you are not the first humans. You said you are from a place called Dottir? Where on Earth is that? Is it in North Amereeka? South Amereeka? The humans that came from North Amereeka are the most violent. They usually kill their victims instead of sending them out in the escape pods."


    "Dottir is our planet. We are not from Earth. We were always taught that Earth was destroyed but now we know what really happened. It was the Sharlah, and now they''re on Dottir too. We need help!" Ash yelled at her.


    "Wait. Dottir is a different planet? Why didn''t you say that?" She pulled out her notepad and started scribbling. Ash learned that while he could understand spoken language, the parasite could not translate from writing.


    "Yes. Dottir is here in the Andromeda galaxy. Earth is in the Milky galaxy. I forget the name. We didn''t even know any aliens, sorry but I don''t know what else to say, any aliens existed. I mean we thought that they did but we haven''t met any."


    "This changes everything." She said, jotting down more notes.


    The truck pulled up to the first guard post and was immediately waved through but the second guard asked the driver to present his papers. He did and was waved through to the parking lot around the back of the building. Everyone from the car was then searched, even the prisoners, and escorted to a large meeting room. The Callidus waiting there wore long colorful robes and each had a small file in front of them which probably contained the details of the situation, hastily prepared no doubt.


    "Lets begin quickly." The one in the middle said dryly. "Chiala, why have you brought three human pirates to us. This is a matter that could easily be handled in orbit. Did we not provide the funding for weapons last spring?"


    "Congress, these humans are not pirates. The claim to be from a world called Dottir that is here in the Andromeda galaxy. I cannot prove this but Captain Artesh, who intercepted them, said that their ship was quite different from anything that he has seen in the past. They also have tanned skin which would indicate exposure to natural light. They have been peaceful and cooperative, seeking only to ask for help from our people."


    "I see that they hyper jumped into restricted space. That is a crime, yes?"


    "That is a crime, but they claim to have trusted their AI to make the jump in an emergency." Chiala answered quickly. This was not her first time.


    The Callidus on the right side of the table said "Is that the AI that was just on the morning news broadcast? Is it still holding our security personnel hostage?"


    "It is, yes, it wants to see it''s crew released unharmed and it will release our people in return. It claims to have come home, but found that it''s world is inhabited by...assholes. I haven''t yet been able to find out if it indeed came from Callidium"


    The congress members did not seem to find the bluntness of Charlie endearing.


    "Which one is Ash?" The leader asked.


    "Here Congressman." Ash said and took a step forward. The guard in the room tensed and he stepped back here he was positioned.


    "Is this true? You come from a settled world in the Andromeda galaxy called Dottir?"


    "Yes, that is true. Our world has been invaded by the same species that destroyed Earth, the Sharlah. We are begging you, please help us." Ash said, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.


    "Ash do you know what your fellow humans have been doing since they arrived here in our galaxy?" He asked


    "No, I''m sorry. Until today, I didn''t know there were other humans. Can you please tell me?"


    "Of course. There are Callidus worlds in the Milky Way galaxy, and the leaders of those worlds are the reason that you exist. Thanks to our extensive intelligence network, we were able to predict the Sharlah invasion of Earth and we were able to hold a mass evacuation. Some of the ships that left Earth were generation ships that did not have cryo chambers where people could be frozen and then brought back after they arrived at their destination. Some did, but most did not. I assume your people were the lucky ones that did have cryo.


    Several generations of humans were born and died on the slower generation ships and throughout that time, they.. lost their way, both literally and figuratively. They lost their course to the world that you call Dottir and began to run out everything that they couldn''t produce on board. Materials to build replacement parts, clothing, weapons, medical supplies. All of it ran out.


    Rather than asking for help when they finally did come across settled systems and trade routes, they resorted to piracy. They killed the beings that they found and stole everything, including their ships. That is why you were treated the way that you were when Captain Artesh boarded your vessel. There is an entire pirate fleet now made up from stolen ships that are piloted mostly by humans though they have recruited others." He said in disgust.


    "Oh my god. Those poor people. Ours and the ones that were hurt and killed. I can''t imagine being raised on a starship that was never going to arrive at it''s destination. I can assure you, we are not pirates. Please have mercy." Ash got down on his knees and pleaded. He didn''t know if they would recognize the gesture but he needed to do something drastic.


    "Congressmen, it seems you already knew about the planet Dottir. Then you know that these humans are not like the others." Chiala interjected.


    "I knew about the effort to evacuate humans to our galaxy. my ancestors were involved in the planning as well as the financing. Until now, I thought that we had wasted fortunes just to bring more piracy to our trade routes. My predecessors must have agreed because the entire project was scrapped and sealed. It seems it was not a failure after all. Some of them did make it." He replied wistfully. "Ash, you and your crew may return to your ship but you are not cleared to take off."


    "Where would I take off to? Are you going to make us leave?" He rose back to his feet.


    "We must deliberate on the next course of action. Until then, you and your crew are confined to your ship. You had better hope that your AI releases our people."