Self-Review – Alien Justice

Let’s Look at Alien Justice

Given that I am a retired attorney, the idea of investigating alien justice was irresistible. In addition, I figure it would differ from ours. Perhaps by quite a bit. And, what we think of as cruel and unusual punishment could very well be business as usual for them.

I wrote this story during the second quarter of 2021.

Background

There’s been an exchange of scientists between Earth and a species called the Tronians. Sharp-eyed readers may realize these are the same people as the hero species in Out of the Work Camp Frying Pan.

But the human scientists don’t take things as seriously as they should.

Plot for Alien Justice

Evelyn Cooper and her colleagues decide to cut loose one evening on an alien world. This includes skinny dipping in what turns out to be the Sacred Spring of Aardsmi.

The host species, the Tronians, are none too pleased about this disrespectful violation of one of their most sacred spaces. But it almost doesn’t matter if anyone’s caught, for the toxicity of the waters will kill the trespassers in a few days.

And death will be so messy and painful that it will basically resemble torture. So, therefore, it could cause a serious interspecies incident.

But when only Evelyn is caught by the authorities, it’s up to her to convince the court to save her and her fellow scientists.

Characters

The human characters are biologist Evelyn Cooper (she studies bacteria), her roommate Tanya, her lawyer Patty Franklin, fellow miscreant Damon, and the resident assistant, Randy. If this sounds a lot like a college dorm, it should.

There are other human characters, but I don’t name them or give them any lines.

The Tronians are birdlike, with names like Feathertail and Blue Down. There’s also a Chief Judge, but I don’t give them a name.

As for the name Aardsmi? It’s for retired baseball player Dave Aardsma. I just think his surname sounds a little alien, so it works for me. Hope you don’t mind, Dave.

Memorable Quotes

The planet was more yellow than green, with orangey-red water that took some getting used to. Mountains had snowcaps, just like Earth, but the orange snow gave the whole area the look of a perpetual sunrise. Or sunset.

It had something or other to do with the bacteria and dust in the air. Evelyn Cooper had been sent to study it, as a part of a cultural exchange program. And, in return, Tronians had been sent to Earth and the rest of the Solar System. It was an even exchange of bodies, for Evelyn was far from alone.

A warm day had given way to skinny dipping in a local pool. The pool was a natural phenomenon, not a human or Tronian-made structure.

There was everything utterly verboten about it. The night, lit by four small moons. The pool, with its metallic-smelling contents. And the hunky geologist.

Rating for Alien Justice

The story has a K+ rating. While nothing untoward really happens, Evelyn and the others really could die. And, they were skinny dipping—but I don’t describe anything in detail.

Takeaways

I loved the Tronians so much that I used them in another story. And I may use them again. In fact, they may even end up in the Obolonk Universe. We’ll see.

---

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then check out some of my other articles about my shorter works.

Short Stories

Finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.