Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode 8: The Sting #11

Fox had a spring in his step. He couldn't help it. The last four days had been exciting, more like his childhood dreams of being a cop than the real-world experience had ever been. The Personal Service Bureau was proving a rousing success. They'd had a few women show up on their own, including at least one undercover reporter, but mostly they came in small groups led by two or three men.

Out of the fourteen men, one had been a boyfriend to his "girl." He was no peach and admitted to beating his girlfriend on at least one occasion, but he seemed to genuinely think of his actions as protective rather than simply to use his woman for a free ride. The other thirteen were almost exactly what Fox had expected from men involved in human trafficking—angry men who thought little of women.

Last night, one of his melee units had raided the nearest hotel to stop a beating in progress. Fox wished he could have been on shift to be a part of that. It had turned in a short free-for-all brawl. Intellectually, arresting and prosecuting these men, seeing them shipped away where they would never again rule the lives of these poor women . . . that was the best thing. Emotionally, though, he would have loved the physical release of a good knockdown brawl with even one of them.

Judging from his expression at this morning's debriefing, Lannister was far more torn about the experience. Then again, he had a harder part to play, Fox reflected. He was under enormous pressure from activist groups. He was being pestered at every press conference to "do something" about the situation.

They had been forced to make concessions. The collective said the business license was only "under discussion." It was a ruse; they would approve it in time, they told Leela and her employees, who were also investors in the space. They simply wanted to wait for the attention to be drawn away before doing so.

Lannister emphasized that the bureau was only a "pilot program" and not set in stone yet. The courtesans license . . . well, that was different, wasn't it?

Women's rights activists, concerned about trafficking, and conservatives who didn't like the notion of sex work made temporary allies of both sides. Fox didn't envy Lannister his position.

The door to the bureau slid open as Fox approached. Leela stepped out with a young woman at her side. She was scantily dressed, covered in tattoos and piercings. She turned to Leela and smiled. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes," Leela said. "I have you down for second watch. We'll continue the exam then."

"Awesome."

The woman started to turn away. Leela caught her elbow and turned her back into a kiss. The younger woman let out a tiny giggle and returned the kiss with heat and affection. Fox froze, shocked as the two women shared a deep erotic kiss in front of him.

When they broke, the younger woman smiled and repeated, "Tomorrow? Can't wait." She turned and gave Fox a smug look as she strolled down the hall past him.

Fox approached Leela. She laughed at the look on his face, her eyes following the other woman down the hall. "What can I say?" she said. "Call it instinct. Only did the first part of the interview, but I will guarantee that one will pass all her exam." Her expression turned serious. "I should offer her a scholarship, perhaps. Or at least an employment agreement for when she graduates. I think she'll do well." With that, she turned back into the office, leaving a bemused Fox to make his way around to the far end and the security main entrance.