Chapter 11
Civil War and change of policy
Colorado, Earth-side Frask palace
After the domes were built, Earth became a vacation spot. Nuphies had led the tourism push with the idea of "camping" and seeing fire. As well as the wildlife, and gigantic trees.
The human slave market value dropped further still, when Gork Families began to move to Earth for the job opportunities. Now middle class Gorks could afford a frask or two and even low income Gorks could afford a female.
A massive agricultural boost spread across the planet with human foods being replaced by hybrids of Gorkian vegetables. These would be able to live in the Earth soil and suck CO2 from the polluted atmosphere. That was counterproductive for my adopted race, but it was what needed to be done for Earth to get stabilized.
It was my 36th birthday. 4 years had passed since I found myself in that black room. I had my fourth child two months prior, and I knew Nuphies had something planned. She was all about Earth culture. Just now "birthdays", was her new thing.
I was sitting at my desk talking to the Minister of Foreign affairs over a long distance wave.. He was on a tirade about how the mass emigration to Earth was hurting Gork business. He even inferred my husband was getting upset about it. I shook my head.
"Minister, If King Ramah has a problem, he'd have sent a wave by now. I assure you that the subsidies, and tariffs are keeping the budget balanced for both economies. The Queen double checked herself!"
"No offense my Frask, The population sees it differently. You are losing favor. You were once a savior, now you are seen as a absentee ruler!" He warned. The pine green Gork looked serious. (I need to call Ramah.) I thought.
"Check the numbers and reassure those on Gork Prime that all is well. Go on news shows. Get famous. Minister, the Imperial family is trusting you." I said and slapped the green square on the wall. It turned red.
I went over the numbers. The only people losing money were in the slave trade. Yet when it began they had made a killing. They had to know it was going to level off, or possibly decline at some point right?
I touched the wall.
"Comm, get me Director Milin at the human affairs office." I said.
"Immediately Frask."
Ha! "Human Affairs"... It was a slave registry. Only it did have a financial arm. Myself and my chef Gregg were the only "free" humans alive, even then Gregg was technically my slave.
"Yes Imperial Frask, this is Milin" The dark green monster said. "(This Gork should be on my guard, not behind a desk!)" I thought.
"I need a way to increase the price of slaves, I want to know your thoughts." I opined.
"Well Frask, that is something we all want. But you may not like my ideas, and I don't want to get atomized when you hear them." He said carefully.
"Not a chance, I do not punish for ideas, I punish for lack of action." I assured him.
"Your wife has stopped the shipping of Cow over here, and some of the nobles are wanting meat. They do not care for the chicken, but love the pig meat." He stated.
"Beef and pork." I said quietly.
"Frask?"
"Nothing, continue." I sighed.
"You should know that I have issued 30 permits for human breeding farms just this week. That will drive the price down harder. There is a meat source right here. Human females." He said and stared at me.
I had laid down a law, two years prior, that said that humans would never be consumed as meat. I hated what he said. I wanted to strangle him. Had I been on the wave so much, every Gorkian forgot I was human...in appearance at least?
"The law says no." I answered. "Find another solution and get back to me."
"Yes my Frask."
"I already know what Nuphies will say to this, and I'm against it, best call Ramah." I said to no one.
He answered right away. I explained everything. He took a tone of understanding, yet I think he missed the big picture.
"Demoja...I like meat, you like meat. Anyone with a sky sled can afford meat. This is all our wife's fault." He said.
"Not placing blame, I need to get the average price of a frasks back up to 22k, and breeding females up to 4k." I pleaded.
"I'll wave you back in a bit." He said and cut the feed. He had scowled at me. I knew the minister at the Human affairs office was right. Yet I could not pull the trigger. I had to fix this. I knew what it would take for me to remember who I was.
"Track down General Jerra, and have him report to my throne room." I said to the wall.
"Yes my Frask."
I sat thinking everything through. The nobles were unhappy from losing money The middle class took some losses on investments, but the lower classes were happy as hell. Cheap slaves meant that humans that operated farms on earth had slaves to themselves.
So, I would lose the lower classes if I did this, as the price of slaves would go up and cannibalism was still a major sin. Unless....
I slapped the wall.
"Minister, cut prices on all females still on Earth. Let the human grain farmers buy a bunch en-mass, and then in two weeks I will announce a new law that will help the Gorkian population." I told him.
"So no press tour?" Milin asked.
"Yes, but on the press tour, explain that slave traders and breeders will be better off in two weeks. No further comment after that." I pressed. "If you do well, I will reward you."
"Yes my Frask." Milin cut out.
I felt guilty, at the moment. I would feel better soon.
Jerra was let in by my guard.
"Gonna have to go home for a couple weeks Jerra." I informed the General.
"You want me back on your personal guard?" He looked at me curiously.
"No, I just need you and the Admiral to arrange safe travel."
"Done my Frask. Anything else?" He looked disappointed. Perhaps he wanted a war?
"Yes. You will report to the Queen and Prince in my absence."
"Yes my Frask." He saluted and left.
That night at dinner Daniel and I sat at one end of the table, while Nuphies sat at the other end. Daniel had taken to meat just like his frask, and father. Nuphies hated the smell. I had taught human manners to my son, and he ate quietly. Never talked with his mouthful and used silverware instead of his hands.
I waited till he was finished eating and asked him to go study for his class in exobiology. He moped a bit, but listened to me. I finished my dinner and swished a beer in my mouth before walking toward Nuphies.
I knelt next to her chair. This put me at eye level with her thigh, which was a sexy deep blue, and smooth as silk as I laid my hand on it.
"What is this?" She smiled down at me. Her English was better everyday.
"Jullo heckth ned lea frask binna cullet." I said softly.
"Oh Demoja, does Ramah know?" She asked smiling.
"Figured we call him, I already arraigned the ride." I explained.
I had spoken Gorkian so the human slaves would not know what I said. This was not something they needed to know about. Only the guards knew what was said.
