Hilarity Ensues Episode 9, part 1.

Dark Danger Hangs Upon the Deed


   The travellers floated around the green room, glumly contemplating the past few hours.  The astroninjas had boarded and confined them upstairs, but had not been cruel to them.  It could have been worse, Ruth thought, shuddering.  It could have been the Pserpentese.

   That said, their plight was still pretty bad.  Once again they were captives, with no idea of where they were going or what was going to be done with them.  Had the astroninjas completed their work elsewhere- presumably organising a coup on Bognor- or had the escape of the travellers from Pserpentese custody forced them to temporarily abandon that to search for them again?  Were they going to be killed?  But if they were, why not do so at once and save the bother of guarding and feeding them?  Perhaps they were some kind of insurance policy for the plotters, a bargaining tool in case things went wrong.  Or at least Will and Zoe were.  The others were only too afraid that they were expendable.  Their usefulness might well be only in ensuring the royals' co-operation.

   Ruth tried to sleep.  She was still tired and weak, but worry and fear kept her awake.  Had she been through all that had happened, and survived, only to be killed a few days later?  She lay with her head facing the wall, so no one could see her tears, and tried to resign herself to captivity again.  

   For two days they journeyed on.  Will and Zoe had no idea where they were going.  Their captors told them nothing.  They gave them food and drink, and allowed them to move along the top corridor between the dressing rooms and green room, but the doors were guarded and the teleport was once more disabled.  They had confiscated the GilBot too.  The only good thing was that Patrick and Ruth were able to rest and continued to recover from their illness, gaining in strength.

   On the third day they arrived at what seemed to be their final destination.  The Hilarity drew alongside a huge space station and moved gently into a docking bay so the main airlock door opened directly onto the station.  The prisoners assumed this was a prelude to their being removed, but for some time nothing happened.  

   Eventually the door opened and a ninja entered.  Like all the astroninjas, he seemed to be able to walk normally even though there was no gravity.  Also like them he was dressed in black clothes that were designed not to get in the way during fighting, although his seemed subtly different, as if to hint that the wearer was still perfectly capable of fighting but didn't expect to have to.  They were decorated with gold and silver embroidery and gave an impression of riches and success.  The prisoners didn't need to be told that he was the astroninjas' chief.  

   He strode into the centre of the room, a ceremonial guard of ordinary ninjas behind him.   

   "The prince and princess of Bognor will stand forward," he said.  

   "Don't," said Ruth, carefully not looking at either Will or Zoe.  "We won't tell them who you are."

   "I am not ashamed or afraid," Zoe said, moving forward.  

   "Nor am I," said Will, joining her, although his looks contradicted his words.

   The chief laughed.  "You need not fear," he said.  "Our instructions are to keep you alive if possible.  You may be useful to our clients"

   "Who is your client?" Zoe demanded.  The chief smiled.  "Alas, our code of conduct forbids me to tell you.  I am to be his mouthpiece in his dealings with you.  He wishes to offer the two of you a choice."

   "Choice?" 

   "My client is currently close to achieving complete control of Bognor.  The parliament, the cabinet will all accept his rule.  Politicians who know how to bend with the prevailing wind.  But in the eyes of the populace he will still lack legitimacy while the heirs to the throne live.  So he needs your assent."

   "Never!" Zoe said vehemently.  

   "He will make you an offer," the ninja continued, "You can return home, declare your consent to his rule, and live as private individuals on Bognor, taking no part in politics.  Or, if you do not choose to return and live under his rule, we are authorised to take you back to the planet Earth, of which you are so fond, and you can continue your lives there in exile.  If you decline both these offers, I am afraid our client has no other option but to have you killed."

   "And what about us?" Ernest said.  "This is not our quarrel.  We didn't ask to be mixed up in the politics of another planet."

   "Your fate will follow that of your leaders," the chief ninja said.  "Freedom in submission, a return to Earth, or death."

   "We didn't choose them to lead us," Emma said.  "We were kidnapped!  It's not fair that we should be the victims in someone else's war."

   "War has many victims, and is rarely fair," said the astroninja calmly.  "Learn to accept your fate stoically."

   The earth-dwellers looked at one another.  Perhaps this was a chance for them to return home sooner than any of them had looked for.  But it depended on Will and Zoe's choice.  

   "So you have a choice," the ninja said, turning back to the royal brother and sister.  "You can either accept my client's succession to the throne of Bognor, submit, make your peace and return home.  Or you can return to planet Earth and stay there.  Or...you will die."  

   Everyone was watching Will and Zoe as they looked at one another.  What would they choose?  How much courage did they have?

   "Tomorrow I will ask you for your decision," the chief ninja said.  "Consider the offer well, consult your friends, for you won't get a second chance."  He turned and left the room.

The story continues...