(… continuing)

Dukk and Marr were the last to leave the port doorway. They had waited there for the security people to conclude their inspection and leave. With the security detail gone, Dukk went to close the internal door which would secure the rig whilst they were docked. He was stopped by a voice from the internal passage.
“You can let us off first.” It was Joantyi. Larony was behind her.
Dukk turned around.
“Joantyi, and Larony. Of course,” Dukk replied as he stood back.
They brushed past.
“Goodluck with everything,” Dukk called out as they headed for the lift at the end of the bridge.
They stepped into the lift, turned and forced smiles as the doors closed.

“That is it? You are just letting them go?” Marr asked as Dukk closed the internal door.
“Letting them go?” Dukk asked.
“What about the sabotage?”
“What about it?”
“They did it!”
“Whilst that is likely, I want them off the rig before taking it any further. I will mentioned the situation to the port commissioner, he may be willing to confront them.”
“They nearly killed you and Luna. What will confronting them achieve?”
“Confronting them will allow justice to prevail.”
“What do you mean?”
“This place is a haulier domain. It has its own systems for justice.”
“How is it any different than the EOs and the Rule of Twelve?”
“Fundamentally, haulier justice comes from the place that good intentions are assumed by default. One is not automatically guilty. Guilt must be proven.”
“That sounds great. How will it work?”
“If the port commissioner wants to confront them, it will be done in public and they will be given the opportunity to respond to the accusation.”
“What then?”
“The judges will listen to both sides and pass judgement.”
“Judges?”
“Seven annually elected representatives of the station population.”
“Who elects them?”
“One vote is given to each permanent resident over the age of twenty one.”
“Interesting. Sounds like ancient ways.”
Dukk smiled, “Let’s get things organised on the rig so we can get off and visit the port commissioner. He has even given us an invitation.”
“Sounds good,” answered Marr.

A little over two hours later, Dukk, Marr, Annee, Mentor and the two observers were making their way through the labyrinth of passage ways and enclosed bridges of the station. Their destination was the accommodation quarter and the restaurant bar at it’s centre. Occasionally they came across a large window or walked through an open space.
“Can I ask you a few things about this place?” Trence asked Dukk, as they walked.
“Sure,” Dukk replied.
“Do people actually live here?”
“Of course.”
“How many?”
“Not sure. I’d say a few hundred plus those in transit like ourselves.”
“Oh. Things look a little broken. Is this typical?”
“Maple Tower is like many older hubs. The refineries and much of the plant is now dormant. Mothballed.”
“Why?”
“The mining in this system became uneconomical as more easily accessible locations were discovered further away from Earth. All that remains active are the biosystems necessary to keep it usable.”
“Useable for what?”
“Refuelling, trade and perhaps life style.”
“Life style?”
“Yes, some prefer what is on offer in places like these?”
“What is on offer?”
“The main thing from what I can gather is a greater sense of autonomy. Less control and monitoring.”
“You mean elements of chaos are allowed?”
“They are,” Dukk said in a provocative tone.
“How primitive,” Kimince pipped, having been listening in.
Trence looked confused.

Eventually they exited a tunnel that opened up into a brightly lit atrium.
Plants and greenery were distributed around the floor of the atrium.
The three story high ceiling was painted blue with sections of white to mimic the Earth’s sky.
Around the entire wall were windows and doors, serviced by balconies and stairways. The accommodation pods.
In the centre of the atrium was a small, white building. It looked a little out of place. It was not quite two stories high. It had big windows on the ground floor and dormer windows poking through a tiled roof. And it had a front veranda with rocking chairs either side of a large wooden looking door.
That was their destination.

Dukk led the group across to the building, onto the veranda and through the front door.
Inside was a large brightly lit room, with windows on all sides, except the left wall. Along that wall was a bar, fully stocked with all kinds of beverages. A staircase at the back of the room led up to a mezzanine that contained a large dining table. To the right of the table was a door to some sort of room above the right half of the room.
There were a few people at the bar drinking. A smartly dressed woman sat alone at the back wall, and a few others were sitting at tables, eating. They all looked up to see who had just joined them.
Standing at the top of the stairs was a large man. On either side were two of the security detail they had seen earlier when they docked.
“Welcome friends, join me up here,” Ileadees boomed.

(to be continued...)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 17 - Layover (Passage 2 of 5)]

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