The doors to the bridge slide open and everyone instantly turns to look at us. Brenda’s returned now and is the first to speak up. “The others said you were in a meeting, how’d it go?”

I close my eyes and rub my forehead as I walk down to my seat. “Not well, it seems it’s not just the kids who are crazy. Apparently the whole civilian group agrees that cyborg’s are evil and that killing them can free their soul.” As I sit in my chair I turn my body to face Brenda. “So now we try and figure out how to deal with that since Simon isn’t the only cyborg on board.”

Shauna chimes in, forcing to turn my body back to the front of the bridge. “Alright, how’re you gonna do that?”

I let out a long sigh. “I don’t know yet. Our plan was to call Corporal Galvin to see if he has any insight on this. It’s a tough situation and I don’t want to create a political disaster on my first mission as Captain.” Turning to my right, I give a smile to Yuki. “Speaking of, Yuki can you please try and call the Corporal?”

She gives a little hop in her seat in surprise and turns around. “Oh! Of course, Captain!” I put up a finger and open my mouth to correct her but I decide that ‘Captain’ is fine for now. “Alright, it’s ringing. I assume you want him on the main screen?” She turns back to me with doe eyes.

“Yes, I do. Thank ya.” Once again facing the main screen, it goes black with a little phone icon in the center. The speakers in the room play a ringing tone while we wait for the Corporal to pick up. Everyone sits in an awkward silence. Any of us could say something, but what if he answers right when we do then it’ll be really awkward. We’re trapped in this quiet limbo. Are we here just to suffer?

A few more painful seconds later and he finally appears on the screen. The giant image of Corporal Galvin greets with a small grin. “Ah, Captain Henley. Good to see you and your crew. I read your report on the incident from yesterday. Terrifying stuff.” He glances his eyes up a tad. “Simon, I see you’re still active though. I’m glad to see that no one can keep you down!”

“Yeah, about that Sir,” I readjust myself in my seat to prepare for the hard part of our conversation, “First Officer Tenlow and I just had a meeting with the children’s parents. What we discovered is that it seems all the civilians share the kids’ anti-cyborg sentiments. The parents are also pretty upset that we have their kids in holding, understandably so.”

“Hmm…” Galvin strokes his chin and looks down pondering. “This is quite the predicament you’ve found yourselves in.”

Well this is helpful… I give him a more prodding look before continuing. “What do you think we should do with these kids? They confessed to attempted murder. Do we hold them until we get back to port?”

Corporal Galvin looks up confused which only serves to confuse me more. “Oh, you can’t do anything with them.” What?! “You can keep them in holding but once you reach Verreth you have to let them off.”

The bridge is in silence once again. What did he just say? We’re gonna have to let them go. No. He’s joking right? Shauna breaks the silence. “Sir, what are you saying? We’re not about to-”

“Shauna!” I cut her off and hold a hand out to tell her to stop. “Sir, you’re telling us that we have to let three criminals go? They tried to kill one of crew members! You’re not-”

“Captain Henley.” It’s the Corporal’s turn to cut me off. “You’re transporting these families as part of a contract the Union made with a mining company. Once you reach their destination, they are out of your jurisdiction. Once there you can tell their leader of the children’s crimes and ask them to be locked up.”

“Corporal! Did you not hear what I just said?!” I’m standing now, boiling in anger. “These people agree with the kids! They’re gonna be treated like heroes down there! And you’re telling us to just accept that?!”

“I’m afraid I am, Captain.” I don’t waste a second. I turn around and hit the end call button on my chair’s panel and Galvin disappears from the screen.

“Fuck!” Everyone looks to me as I pace in a small circle running my hands through my hair over and over. “Fuck!”

“Clark…” Brenda sounds worried.

“Fuck this, I’m the Captain of this ship! Maybe we can’t keep them here, but I’m in charge until then.” I walk back to my chair and sit down.

Lance says something for the first time since we got back. “What are you going to do?”

“This.” I reach down and with a few button presses later, I’m ready to broadcast to the whole ship. “No one say anything.” Here we go. I initiate the broadcast and speak confidently. “To everyone aboard the Watanabe, this is your captain speaking.” The whole bridge crew’s eyes explode in surprise. “Effective immediately, all cyborgs on board living on decks with civilians are to move on to crew-only decks. Accommodations will be made to switch you with non-augmented crew members. Additionally, no cyborgs are to go onto civilian decks and no civilians are allowed to be on non-civilian decks without an escort. If you work on a deck with civilians, consider this a vacation. Thank you.” With that I end the call and stand up. “I’ll be in my room.” I start to walk off the bridge.

“Clark-” Selai starts to speak but I’m too angry to hear.

“Leave him be for a bit.” Brenda stops Selai short as I walk through the door. She knows better than anyone that I need my space.