This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/rewt66dewd on 2024-11-05 00:41:41+00:00.

"Have hope," Chor whispered quietly in Alana's ear. "There is a saying: Human air makes free."

"That sounds hopeful, but what does it mean?"

"It means that if we reach human territory, we will be free."

"Why?"

"Because the humans are very opposed to slavery."

"So are the Xarg. But nobody says that Xarg territory makes free - at least, not that I ever heard."

"The humans are violently opposed to slavery. If a slave escapes to Xarg territory, and a slaver follows them, the Xarg glare disapprovingly at the slaver. If the same thing happens on human territory, the humans kill the slaver. The slavers know this. So once you reach human territory, you are free."

"That's all very well," Alana whispered. "But how do we reach human territory?"

"Well, there are things about us that the slavers don't know. Maybe we can do something they won't expect."

Alana nodded. The slavers didn't know that she was a princess among the Alcharon. She wanted them to continue to not know, so she had been very careful not to do anything that would give them any clue. She had education and training in many areas; some part of it might be useful here. And Chor was her servant, her assistant. She also had training and skills that the average Alcharon did not have.

They docked at some space station to refuel. Alana and Chor held a whispered conference.

"If there are any humans here, that might be enough."

"Maybe... but how can we tell?

Chor thought. "Well... we have gone, I think, about two-thirds of the way to Terran Alliance space. That means that there are likely to be some human ships here, and maybe some human residents - but we can't be sure."

"Can we see out somehow?"

"No way that I can think of."

"Is this a risk we should take? What is your best judgment?"

Chor hesitated. "Yes, I think so. It's not going to get better."

Alana trusted Chor's judgment. That's why she asked for it. "Very well," she said, "we will try this evening, when the crew is eating, before they bring us our food. They will mostly be wherever they eat, and the way will be easier."

They used their claws to pick the locks on their chains. Then they picked the locks on the chains of all the other prisoners.

They tried to open the door to their room, but failed. So they waited until the slavers came to feed them. As soon as the door was opened, they dogpiled the slaver bringing them dinner, chained him up, and quickly moved down the hall to the airlock. Since they were at a space station, that was open, with only two slavers standing there. They dogpiled them too, took their weapons, and ran out the door.

They ran down the passage in the space station. The two slavers gave chase. Some of the slower escapees couldn't keep up, and the bigger ones carried them. They were all getting weary, and wondering what to do next, when...

"That's a human!" Chor exclaimed.

They ran to it, calling "Human! Human! Human!"

The human stopped. "Yes?"

"We are escaping from slavers. They are right behind us. Please, can you help us?"

"Let's see," the human said, and stepped past Alana, Chor, and their group. It stepped in front of the slavers as they ran up.

"Do you know what I am?" the human asked.

"We don't care what you are. Those are escaped slaves, and we..."

"I am a human."

"... and we are... you... oh, no."

"Here's the deal. If you run back to your ship, right now, and fly away, you may live. May. If you take one more step toward these, you will die, right here, and right now."

The slavers considered it for a very short period of time. Then they turned and ran.

"Are there more slaves on their ship?" the human asked the escaped slaves.

"We think not."

The human nodded. "Guess I don't have to stop them from leaving, then. All right. Let's get you all taken care of..."