{"id":2816,"date":"2025-09-28T13:28:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T20:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2816"},"modified":"2025-09-28T13:28:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T20:28:07","slug":"noble-lie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/28\/noble-lie\/","title":{"rendered":"Noble Lie"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Center your story on the moment a character realizes their (or someone else\u2019s) intentions aren\u2019t so good or noble.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cAll Hands\u201d alarm blared through the ship three times. Jess stood at the ready in her armor, side-handle baton in hand. The boarding team stood behind her, the breaching airlock in front of her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slight shifts in artificial gravity, along with the hum of the engines increasing, told her that the ship was trying to run. She listened to the inter-ship comms for a few seconds. \u201cWhy do they always run?\u201d she muttered, before switching back to local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt looks like they\u2019re trying to run. Prepare for a forced dock.\u201d She looked at the other troops in their armor. Some human enough to pass behind the armor, others with too many limbs, outlandish proportions, and one that stood no taller than her knees. \u201cI don\u2019t have to tell you to be ready for resistance. Watch for weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye, aye!\u201d they responded in unison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thump of the ship against their prey could be felt through the deck. The sound of the seizure clamps extending and tearing into the hull of the target ship carried through the bulkhead. It was followed by the sound of air rushing against the outside of their ship, cut off in a matter of seconds by the emergency seals inflating around the outside of the breaching device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The light above the airlock turned from amber to green, and Jess pushed the button with her elbow. \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airlock doors opened to reveal the cutter on the inside of the breaching clamp finishing its creation of a round hole in the hull of the other ship. The disc of metal crashed into the floor of the target ship, which was about 120 degrees off from the orientation of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a precision that made it seem like they did this dozens of times a day, the troops poured through into the enemy ship, falling into the differently oriented gravity in such a way that they landed on their feet and on the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the pirates they encountered gave up without a fight. The pirate crew was composed of several different species, but all of them seemed unwell. It was obvious that many of them were on the verge of starvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The troops met no resistance until they reached the bridge. The captain, a beetle-like creature, was communicating in an unknown language on the FTL comm-link, trying to regain control of the ship\u2019s controls that had been taken over by the interdiction vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jess moved without hesitation, wading through the fire from beam and energy weapons to the captain. \u201cInterstellar Piracy Interdiction Police. Step away from the comm and raise all your manipulators.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The captain fired at her with a slug thrower. Through the armor, it was like being punched in the ribs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOw,\u201d she said, as she swung the baton and hit the captain where the head segment joined the thorax. The captain went down and lay unconscious, looking to Jess like a beetle playing dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest of the bridge crew stopped firing as they realized their weapons were having no effect. Her team was binding the last of the bridge crew as the follow-on team made it to the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReport,\u201d the Lieutenant said, pointing a tentacle at Jess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCaptain here needs medical,\u201d Jess said, pointing at the beetle-like creature that was beginning to stir. \u201cNo other injuries we\u2019re aware of, but the entire crew are possibly sick and most definitely starved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNoted.\u201d The Lieutenant looked around the bridge. \u201cWhen did you find the time to question the detainees?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQuestion? I haven\u2019t questioned anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYet you have determined their health?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, Orbil, I looked at them.\u201d Jess sighed. \u201cYou should spend more time around warm-bloods like myself. Of course, I should spend some more time around cold-bloods like you, because I wouldn\u2019t be able to tell unless you were on death\u2019s door.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, as you say, then. I\u2019ll see to it that medics inspect all the detainees.\u201d He slithered over and took command of the scene. \u201cThe breach team is released, except for you, Sergeant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is it, sir?\u201d Jess asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCommander wants to see you in his office.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWill do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commander\u2019s office was decorated with nothing more than the flag of the Galactic Union, the flag Chicago, and a copy of the GU Resolution that formed the Interstellar Piracy Interdiction Police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commander, one of the dozen or so humans on the ship, was an imposing figure, despite his short stature, close-cropped red hair, and ever-rosy cheeks. He nodded at Jess as she entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCommander McKinney, Sergeant Bexley. You wanted to see me, sir?\u201d Jess stood at attention, out of her armor but still in the undersuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave a seat, Jess. We can drop the formalities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Mac?\u201d she asked as she sat in the chair. \u201cDid the state of those guys bother you as much as it did me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a damn shame,\u201d he said, \u201cand it gives some idea why<\/em> they\u2019re pirates, but that\u2019s not what I wanted to see you about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is it, then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLieutenant\u2019s exam is coming up. You ready for it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. Piece of cake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood. Because when you pass, you\u2019re taking Lieutenant Orbil\u2019s place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jess stiffened. \u201cWait. I\u2019m off the boarding team? Screw that, I\u2019ll skip the exam.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, no. You\u2019ll still be on the boarding team. We should<\/em> have a Lieutenant there anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jess relaxed. \u201cSo why doesn\u2019t Orbil lead?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIPIP rules require armor for all boarding team members.\u201d Mac shrugged. \u201cNobody makes armor that works for a squishy, tentacle-having, no-bones, squishing through tiny holes, canaramian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jess tilted her head. \u201cMac! That sounded incredibly speciesist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mac laughed. \u201cHe knows what I think about him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do,\u201d Orbil answered from the door, \u201cyou stiff-jointed, topple-walking, non-stretching \u2026 uh \u2026 human. Damn, I ran out quick on that one. We still on for drinks later?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. See you then.\u201d Mac waved as the lieutenant slithered out as quietly as he had entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Orbil going?\u201d When Mac looked confused, Jess clarified. \u201cIf I\u2019m taking Orbil\u2019s spot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOrbil\u2019s being promoted to commander and taking my spot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat the hell? They can\u2019t fire you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mac sighed. \u201cThey\u2019re not. I\u2019m leaving to run for office on Earth. We\u2019ve done some good work, and it looks good for my resum\u00e9, but\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to move on to greener pastures?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomething like that.\u201d He pulled a pair of rocks glasses out of a drawer and poured them each a finger of Scotch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jess downed her drink and set the glass on one of the coasters on the commander\u2019s desk. \u201cJust like that? I thought you were a cop for life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to ask you a question, but I don\u2019t want you to answer me, just yourself. And be honest.\u201d Mac poured them each another shot. \u201cWhy did you become a cop, and why did you apply for the interdiction team?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNope,\u201d Mac cut her off. \u201cDon\u2019t answer me. Just keep it to yourself. The real<\/em> reason. Every cop either says they joined because it\u2019s a family tradition, or to \u2018help people.\u2019 I know your family isn\u2019t a cop family, and if you think you joined to help people, consider how you felt when you thought you wouldn\u2019t be leading the boarding team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jess sipped at the drink and let the thoughts swirl. \u201cHmm. I always thought of being a cop as noble somehow, like the protector of others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mac leaned forward. \u201cLet me guess. Given the choice between protecting others from behind a desk and jumping into the fray to nab the bad guys, you\u2019ll always choose the latter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. Not the greatest of motivations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey,\u201d Mac\u2019s voice was soft. \u201cSometimes why<\/em> we do a thing, isn\u2019t as important as that we do it. Every pirate we catch, every ship we capture, reduces risk for civilians. The job itself can be noble, even if we who do it, aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess \u2018helping people\u2019 is a convenient lie to convince myself that I\u2019m still a good person,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are, Jess. If you weren\u2019t, you wouldn\u2019t have been worried about the condition of the pirates.\u201d Mac chuckled. \u201cHell, if you weren\u2019t a good person, you could get the same rush in the ring, fighting for money.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

prompt: Center your story on the moment a character realizes their (or someone else\u2019s) intentions aren\u2019t so good or noble. available at Reedsy The \u201cAll Hands\u201d alarm blared through the ship three times. Jess stood …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[208],"tags":[210,228,209],"class_list":["post-2816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trunk-stories","tag-fiction","tag-science-fiction","tag-short-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pxT7i-Jq","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2816"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2817,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2816\/revisions\/2817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}