Solbidyum Wars Saga 4: Too Late for Earth Read Free Page A

on my arm.  I looked at her as she began to pantomime eating and pointing to me; and it wasn’t until then that I realized I was both hungry and thirsty.  “Yes, I would like something to eat… and something to drink.”  Jenira eagerly got up and hurried out of the room.
    “That young lady is really fixated on you Tibby.  Everyone is worried about her.  She hasn’t uttered a sound since Tanden was killed; and she frets over you constantly.”
    “Kala told me.  Honestly A’Lappe I have no idea how to deal with this situation.”
    “I can’t give you any direction there.  I hate to think what would have happened to her, had you died.  She had lost a lot of blood by the time they got her to the NEW ORLEANS .  Her wound was small, but an artery had been severed. We gave her a transfusion and treated the wound; that was all she needed and she was fine again in a few hours.”
    A’Lappe’s words echoed in my mind, as I realized just how selfish and foolish my actions had been in chasing after Shydak and the Brotherhood the way I did.  I was so steeped in rage that I never gave any real thought to how my death might impact others.
    “Whatever happened to Shydak?  Do we have any new information on him?”
    “We tracked him on our sensors for quite a distance.  Then we saw a larger ship arrive and rendezvous with him.  The ship turned and left the area, but their destination is unknown.”  As A’Lappe finished relating Shydak’s last known movements, Jenira returned with a tray of food and some juice in another of those strange cups with the nub-like attachment for drinking.  I tried to feed myself, but Jenira would have no part of it and insisted on spoon feeding me once more.
    “What’s the situation on the planet?” I asked between spoons full of food.
    “I think you will be pleased with what has been accomplished.  It seems your values and senses of right and wrong have been deeply ingrained in your team.  Padaran has been most amazing in what he has achieved by way of the Ruwallie Rasson.  In the meantime, Marranalis and Sokaia have been occupied with the androids and what’s left of the local government, setting up new laws and seeing to the fair and effective enforcement.  Prostitution is now a choice for women and men, and not one of slavery.  Child prostitution is illegal completely.  Unfortunately, the local economy and opportunities for businesses do not offer a lot of choices for women at the moment, so this has resulted in many women remaining engaged in prostitution just to make a living; but at least they have the chance to leave, if they find something else they can do. Of course, they are also able to keep the money they earn, so they can save it up and start their own businesses or go to school, if they wish.  The population in general seems rather pleased with what is happening, as the heavy hand of the Brotherhood and Ruwallie Rasson has been lifted.  The biggest surprise seems to be the way the Ruwallie Rasson are accepting the changes, though there still may be some grumblings among a few of them.”
    “I can’t wait to talk to everyone about what they’ve been doing.  To be honest I would not have expected these things to happen on Goo’Waddle this soon.”
    “You’ll get to talk to them in due time.  Goo’Waddle is still a rough planet and slavery is not yet eliminated; but the Ruwallie Rasson are delighted in making slaves of the Brotherhood that they have captured to replace the slaves they had to set free.  So, now the groundwork is laid for bringing a slow end to slavery here.”
    “How about the enslaved children?  What’s happening to them?”  I glanced toward, Jenira who seemed to be paying no attention to what we were saying, as she was completely engrossed in spooning food into my mouth every time I opened it.
    “First Citizen Kalana set up a search team to locate all the parents and families and reunite the children with them where