Queen Maureen
The Challenge
They inventoried their weapons and checked the force field.
These had been of little enough use against the Empire the first time.
But it gave them something other to do than pack.
"What were we supposed to do with the Jupiter?" Don asked."Abandon it.?"
"No." the professor replied. You and I and a couple of Niolani's tech trainees are to fly her back to the Imperial planet Verda's ship is to follow."
Where's the Robot?"
'With Verda." the professor nodded."Where he couldn't help us against the girls."
"They think of everything."
The professor shook his head."I fear they do.
They could just carry us off."Don said.
Why don’t they use force?” asked Will
“Because they’re a lawful people. ”the Professor said." And since we’ve been adopted into Niolani’s house it is now not permissible to use force against us without due process.”
“What can due process be in their dreadful state?” Smith asked.
The professor shrugged. “They have criminal and civil courts. And they have every means of coercion up to and including execution.”
Would it be so terrible to live in Niolani’s palace? “Smith asked. “We should relent now before they do anything unspeakable.”
“Capitulation.” We’ll take that under advisement Smith.”Don said.
“The question is.” He continued. “ just how rough will they get with us?”
“Not too rough.” Penny added, .”If they want us to work for them.”
“Good point,” Maureen said. “Why borrow trouble from the future?”
“We don’t need to borrow.,”Smith said, motioning toward the window “They’re already here.”
He was talking about Niolani's’s women.
Maureen had noticed how well behaved they were. They bivouacked in some interesting inflatable tents. And while the robot reported hearing quiet singing, talking, and giggling, normal ears couldn't’t detect them.
Niloani herself had returned home for instructions
The next day she came back.
"We will fight in Ritual Combat." said Niloani. "the council has ruled that you may go your way if you win."
"And if you win?" the professor asked.
"You will join us on the homeworld" Niolani said.
"We'll need to discuss it." Maureen said.
"Take an hour" niolani said. "But he soldiers have orders and a Telporter is already in orbit."
"I was getting tired of this planet anyway."Don said. "And the ship is ready
tbc