Smugger's Virtue (Lathos Galaxy Chronicles Book 2) by Luke Darko Page B

cell with gray walls. A sink and a toilet protruded from the wall to his right, and the cot attached to the wall where the two men were sitting was the only furniture. Matt was wearing a gray prison jumpsuit a shade or two darker than the walls. "This was always going to be your destiny."
    "I know that," said Matt. "I think I’ve always known. I deserve this, but Xandra doesn’t deserve any of it. Just promise me that you won’t let that maniac take her." He was referring to General Kellenar Ragen of Lathos. According to General Weathers, the man was currently leading an entire armada of ships directly to Earth. He had already contacted the leaders of Earth’s General Assembly and Brian Weathers. Ragen was demanding that the leader of the Planetary Defense Force turn Matt over to stand trial for crimes against the Lathonian people, including the alleged abduction of Xandra. He was also demanding that Xandra be returned as well, to be taken back to Lathos.
    Matt knew that if Xandra stepped foot on Ragen’s ship, she wouldn’t live long enough to ever see her home planet again. As he had explained to General Weathers, Ragen was planning to assassinate Xandra’s father, Maxall, and have himself named Chancellor. To do that meant he also had to get rid of Xandra, since she was next in line for her father’s title. Matt had brought Xandra to Earth in hopes that she would be safe.
    "It isn’t as simple as that," the general reminded him, "and once again we have you to thank for that."
    "Oh, come on,General! Do you really believe I kidnapped Xandra?"
    "I have to admit that seemed a little much, even for you. Even if she hadn’t been here to back your story, I would have had a hard time believing it. But you did beat her security guards to a pulp, and you did kill a soldier on Ragen’s ship. You just sat right there and told me all about both incidents."
    "I told you that both times I acted in self-defense," Matt reminded him.
    "Yes, but Ragen doesn’t see it that way. He’s demanding justice and threatening to start a war if we don’t give him what he wants. Since what he wants is you, I see no reason to put the good people of this peaceful planet though any extra grief. You could have been a different person, Matt, a better person. On your father’s name alone you would have been accepted into the PDF academy and had a chance at an honorable career. Instead you became a criminal."
    "Fine," said Matt, "give me to Ragen. At least he’ll kill me quick rather than throwing me in a cell and leaving me to rot for the rest of my life. Just don’t let him get his hands on Xandra."
    "As much as I would like to say it is, none of this is up to me. The General Assembly has been called into emergency session to decide if they’re going to agree to Ragen’s demands. They’re all politicians and they don’t much like the idea of some blowhard from the other side of the galaxy coming here and issuing ultimatums. In the end I think they’ll do the smart thing and give you up. Even though the number of ships he has at his disposal isn’t enough to win any sort of battle against Earth in our own solar system, he can still cause a lot of grief and kill a lot of innocent people. Frankly young man, you just aren’t worth it.
    "As for Miss Torin, I don’t think the Assembly much cares what happens to her. She’s an alien, too, and her plight doesn’t mean much to a bunch of men and women, most of whom had never even heard of her planet until a few days ago. That’s the screwed up nature of politics. They’ll spend days debating whether to protect a no-good criminal as long as he’s one of their own but don’t care a lick about an innocent lady from light years away."
    "General, go to the General Assembly and tell them I'm willing to go with Ragen as long as they agree to allow Xandra to stay here," said Matt desperately.
    "I doubt they’d go for that," said Weathers. "It still comes down to the fact that she’s Lathonian,