Where Time Stands Still by Dayton Ward

Author:Dayton Ward [Ward, Dayton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Google: 7DmhMGZyyRIC
Amazon: B000FC297A
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2012-07-13T17:38:22+00:00

§ § §

Standing once more before the Elysian Council, Daniel Okagawa allowed himself a brief moment of contemplation. After all, navigating dicey diplomatic waters was not a specialty for which he had ever considered himself well suited.

Where the hell is Ambassador Fox when I need him?

“According to Gorn law,” he said to his audience of twelve, “murder is a crime for which there is no statute of limitations or other comparable legal term of expiration. Even though Glind and his accomplices left their homeworld more than a century ago, they are still criminals in the eyes of the Hegemony.”

“We are aware of this, Captain,” Xerius replied from his seat at the center of the group of council members, “as we have been since their arrival.” He gestured with an open palm to where Glind sat at the far end of the conference table. “It was obvious from the amount of damage their vessel had sustained prior to entering Elysia that they had been in some sort of confrontation, and it did not take long for Glind and his companions to confess to their crimes.”

“The damage was inflicted during our escape from authorities,” Glind said. “Only our falling into the trap that is the Delta Triangle saved us.”

Nodding, the captain said, “When they lost track of you, the Hegemony closed the matter, believing you to be lost forever.” Casting a downward glance toward the floor, he added, “That’s changed now, however, thanks to us. With a proven ability to enter and exit the Triangle at will, they either want you extradited back to normal space, or else they want the technology given to them so that they can come in here and retrieve you themselves. Their concern is that, now a proven method of leaving the rift is available, you and your friends will use that knowledge to escape from here, and from them.”

The corners of Xerius’s mouth turned down in a disapproving frown. “Though we of course do not condone such actions by members of our community, it is Elysian law that citizens cannot be punished for crimes they have committed prior to being stranded here. It is a valued tenet of our society, one that must be preserved if new arrivals are to feel they have any chance of acclimating to this reality. In the case of the Gorn, Glind and his people have proven themselves over time to be valued citizens. We cannot allow them to be taken from here if they choose not to leave of their own free will.”

Okagawa’s attention was drawn to the sound of the doors at the near end of the council chambers parting, revealing an exotic-looking alien woman. Fair-skinned and with flaming red hair piled high atop her head, the woman’s narrow facial features and her yellow, catlike eyes that possessed an almost hypnotic allure easily identified her to the Lovell’s captain as a native of the Omega Cygni system.

“Welcome, Magen,” Devna said from where she sat next to Xerius. “Is something

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