So Jolo did as Barthelme instructed and ate his fed green. And there at the bottom of the tray under the green stuff was a note:
There's going to be an inquisition. Be careful who you trust. The man in black is a snake. I fear for your life. Can you still handle a gun? You always hated that green. It worries me that you eat it now. I'll do what I can to help. Eat this note. It should taste better than that other stuff.
Jolo laid his head on the soft white Federation pillow. He knew that his old self had known the chief for many years, but his new self had only known the him for a few days. Even so, he felt like he could trust the man.
Computer, he thought, give me everything you’ve got on Federation inquisition protocol.
Instantly, several pages of text popped up as if on screen in his mind. Just before reading he looked over at the Fed in black. I wonder if running computer queries in my head is against Federation protocol? he thought.
He'd gotten used to the idea that the computer was embedded in his mind somehow. He didn't think the Federation had that sort of technology so it must've been done by his captors. But who had him? Obviously the BG, he thought.
There were too many questions and too few answers and now he couldn't talk freely with the one man he actually trusted.
He read the computer synopsis of Federation inquisition protocol and it scared him. An inquisition bypassed all usual Federation laws protecting citizens and was mainly used during war for war criminals and “alien acquisitions,” which meant any person, human or not, that was deemed a potential threat to the Federation. Basically, the inquisition would decide if someone was guilty of a crime or if a person could stay in Federation space. One vote each from the Federation president, the head of the BG, the current head of the merchant class, and one final vote from the Federation military alliance, usually the acting admiral, decided the fate of the accused. Persons found guilty were either sent to the edge of Federation space or killed.
Jolo wondered whether he was better off in the escape pod.
Computer, who is the acting admiral of the military? he thought.
Silas Filcher, came the reply.
The name sounded familiar to Jolo. And then he remembered. Filcher was number two on his boat. So maybe I'll get one vote, he thought.
Right before bed he always thought about the girl.
Computer, search for Jaylen Voss.
No data, came the reply. As always.
Inquisition
Federation Home Word: Sol.
Federation Hall of Justice.
Jolo didn't have to wait long for the Inquisition. Exactly one day after he saw Barthelme, he was dragged off to the Federation Hall of Justice adjacent to the Federation Plaza. They dressed him in an orange jumpsuit with the requisite prisoner’s collar as if he were a criminal.
He was escorted by Federation military police, the man in the black suit following close behind. They led him into a large hall and he stood in the middle. It was like a large circular sports arena and he was the star of the show. The merchant class was there with their fine robes, shiny rings, puffy fat cheeks, and looking like they couldn't wait for lunch.
The president was there with his staff, as was the military. One large section was empty, which Jolo figured was reserved for the Bakanhe Grana. It wasn't long before a long procession of black-robed, metallic BG filed into the hall. At first Jolo thought they were in battle armor but then he realized, they were the BG, the living part of them nothing more than a large worm encased in an alacyte chest plate. There were 20 or so warriors followed by the Emperor himself. He was larger than the rest and wore a long black cape. None of them had eyes, just red slits that housed their ocular receptors. Their arms and limbs were purely mechanical. But they moved with elegance and grace, as if they were made of living tissue instead of alacyte segments and actuators.
Jolo stared out into the crowd and wondered who his friends were. Did he have any? He searched for Barthelme and found him in the middle of the military section. He caught his eye and could see that the older man was strained.
Once everyone was settled down, the president stood up and addressed the crowd. "Thank you all for coming, especially on such short notice.” And then the president nodded towards the merchants, and then to the military, and finally to the BG. He placed his hands on his forehead and welcomed them in their language: "Kirekureta arangrada, Grana sama."
“We are here today to discuss several important matters concerning our new alliance and the health and safety of the Federation. Our hard fought peace has finally been achieved with the gracious help of the BG,” said the president, again bowing deeply towards the emperor with a smile. And then he nodded in the direction of the blue-uniformed military section, “And, of course, with the help of the Federation military.”
“First up for discussion is the small matter of the alien acquisition which defied Federation regulation by landing on Duval without proper authorization. An offense of this magnitude usually results in immediate eradication, but the wise Captain Barthelme decided to allow the offending ship the right to land. We shall decide today whether this action was born out of judicious counsel or merely just an error by a relatively new captain of the Federation.”
At this point one of the military contingent yelled out, “The man in the ship is not an alien acquisition, he is one of us. He is Jolo Vargas!”
The whole room erupted in argument and the president held both hands up. "And that is exactly what we shall decide today. Whether this man is who
