Chapter 101: Diplomatic Immunity.
"Slavery under whatever fancy name you give it is still slavery, nobody should be treated in such a manner non-human or human alike, taking slaves is the domain of tyrants and dictators, it has no place among the civilized races and yes before you mention it I know humans in the form of raiders take slaves but surely our job here is to show that we are better than the lowest of the low, not act like them?" Raymond said passionately as he sat at the table before the Valkyrie elders.
"How is this any worse than simply imprisoning him? At least in service, his life has value?" one of the elders said and Raymond ran his eyes over the faces of all of them while in his mind he heard Zixxy's voice.
"Keep pushing they are beginning to waver and to question their position," she said.
"It is not for you or anyone else to decide whose life has value or what value it has, we are all children of this world and we are all born into it in near enough the same way with a few notable exceptions in the way of my kind for example, but just because I was created does that mean my life is of less value than say one of your own?" Raymond said.
"That is not the issue at hand here......." the owl elder began turning his feathered head to focus on Taymond but Raymond cut him off quickly.
"Isn't it? We are discussing the value of sentient life as I see it, my life began as a human and I was kidnapped and transformed into the being you see before you now, but does my existence such as it is mean that my life or remaining days are of less value than somebodies who have spent their untouched?" Raymond said.
"Well no I would say that is not the case," the owl elder conceded.
"Why not?" Raymond asked catching the elder owl by surprise and he could see him searching for an answer to that.
"Well because you are sentient as anyone in this room and you conduct yourself with respect and civility, you seek not to harm life but to preserve it," he said after some considerate thought.
"Ahh but that's you assigning my life value based upon your preconceptions of the value of life itself, the answer is actually quite simple, my life has value because it exists, a group assigns value based upon contribution to a whole, does this person pull their weight, do they help out, are they contributing to the society, but an individual assigns value very differently, in truth all life should be important but we all know that cannot happen with the way the world is unless we change it," Raymond said.
"I am confused what does this have to do with Adam?" the swan elder asked lifting her head on her long neck to look over Raymond's head at the human man sitting in the rear of the chamber and now flanked by his group protectively.
"Simple, yes this man wronged your people, he is a soldier from an opposing army, his people attacked yours and you have killed theirs as they have killed yours, taking prisoners is one thing, it is an act of mercy lifting them from the field of battle when you could have quite easily cut them down, but taking slaves is quite another, how would you feel if you were to find out that the Brotherhood had been taking your warriors and forcing them to work as slave labour, carrying produce or toiling under the intolerable circumstance?" Raymond asked.
"Well we would be outraged obviously, but we did no such thing, this man was treated fairly and his honour in this very room spared his life!" the swan elder protested.
"I'd hardly called being forced against his will treated fairly honoured elder, how would you feel if you were to learn that your people had been taken and used as nothing more than comfort men and women for a hostile force?" Raymond asked and that really set them talking as an angered murmur rose.
"Got them," Zixxy said in his mind.
"We'd be outraged and would seek vengeance for such a thing," the owl elder admitted and Raymond nodded.
"Exactly and how is this treatment of him any different? Yes Jewel freely admits her mistake and she has sworn to make amends for it even if it costs her her life which given the circumstances is all one could ask for, rape is rape regardless of gender or species, she acknowledges what she has done and is prepared to pay for it, she has clearly stated her intentions to join our group after the conflict between your people and the Brotherhood is done, but in the meantime, as a gesture of goodwill we ask that Adam's sentence be commuted and treated as served due to what he has suffered, we will arrange to have him returned to his people and will make this gesture count for something," Raymond said.
The elders deliberated and argued among themselves for a few long moments totally unaware that Zixxy was translating everything they were saying for Raymond to understand, from what he could overhear the group was split with some arguing that Jewel had done nothing wrong under their laws, while others were arguing the point that Raymond was indeed correct and no prisoner should be treated in such a manner regardless of their station.
Eventually, the group came to a consensus and voted on the matter, the owl elder turned to Raymond, "You have pleaded an interesting and compelling cade Raymond of the free peoples, you are a shrewd negotiator and we hope that you will be as passionate at the table when both ourselves and the Brotherhood are seated on either end of it, Adam's sentence is hereby quashed and he is freed into your custody know that we bare him no ill will and wish him a speedy recovery," the owl elder said.
"Thank you, honoured elders you have made the right decision this day, we will begin working on establishing a line of communication to the Brotherhood immediately, but may I ask what of Jewel?" Raymond said glancing back at the eagle genus woman who sat among his people at the rear of the room.
"She has expressed her wishes to us to resign her commission after the hostilities between ourselves and the Brotherhood is ceased if she wishes to travel with yourselves after that she is of course free to do so, for now, we will attach her to your people along with young Oliver so that you will have immediate access to a diplomat authorised to make decisions on behalf of our people should the need for rapid negotiations arise, now if this matter is settled this session is adjourned," the elder owl said as all rose from the table.
Raymond bowed to the elders and turned to nod at Oliver as he walked over to join him, "That went well, I never expected you to be able to reach the elders so easily Raymond, you really do have a talent for this," Oliver said ruffling his feather happily.
"Let's just say I play my cards close and have good friends to guide me," he said shooting Zixxy a knowing smile and nod as the little alien sat swinging her legs on Lia's broad shoulder happily.
Adam looked up as Raymond approached him and he saw the momentary look of fear cross his face before he realised who it was approaching him, that reflex action to his kind was going to be a hard one to shake for him and Raymond know it.
"So good news Adam, the elders have quashed your sentence, you're a free man, and you've been released into our custody for the time being while we arrange to have you returned to the Brotherhood," Raymond said.
"What about Jewel?" Adam asked glancing at the young woman sitting on the bench with him.
"The elders have accepted her resignation as of the cessation of hostilities between their people and the Brotherhood, so the quicker we get the guns down and people talking the quicker everyone is free, infact we were kinda hoping you could help us out there," Raymond said.
Adam looked at him in confusion, "Me? What can I do?" he asked and Raymond smiled.
