Only a few more moments elapsed before a woman strode out of the opening in the side of the ship, a bag slung over one shoulder. "What's the deal?" she asked Talese Groveen, displaying what Kira thought was just enough disdain for Jason's mother to get away with.

"Get a sample from her and a statement of unconditional release," Talese Groveen ordered, pointing at Mari.

But before the woman could approach Mari, Alain spoke. "As the partner of Lady Mari, I have a say in this. It is important that we are clear on the bargain being agreed to. You, Talese Groveen, will grant us custody of this boy Jason?"

"Yes! If there's nothing else, we need to get moving."

"This will be done in exchange for Mari giving you a sample and her agreement that you can use it?"

"Yes!"

"This sample is valuable, we have been told," Alain observed, his voice Mage-calm. "To restate, you have agreed to sell your son to us in exchange for the value represented by the sample from Lady Mari."

For a long moment, the only sound was once again that of the wind sighing through the grass.

"Is that not correct?" Alain said. "Is that not what this transaction represents?"

Kira, noticing that Talese Groveen appeared torn between fear and anger, finally understood. "Urth has laws against selling people. Jason told us that! And you were about to sell your son to us! You had agreed to sell him to us!"

Jason grinned. "I can't wait to get back to Earth and tell the authorities about it. They'll scan me while I testify and they'll know I'm telling the truth. What's the mandatory minimum jail sentence for human trafficking? Is it a life sentence?"

Talese Groveen finally found her voice. "What do you want?" she asked Alain as if every word was being dragged out of her.

"Let your son decide whether or not to stay here," Alain said.

"In exchange for?"

"It would be improper, as well as illegal by the laws of Urth, to put a price on your son," Alain said.

"I can't testify against you back on Earth if I'm here," Jason said. "Just let me stay. If I go back, I will testify. About that, and about a lot of other things."

"We will take good care of him," Mari repeated.

"You haven't won!" Talese Groveen snapped at her. "You can have him! He's never been anything but a useless burden. And you can keep your genes! I have something far more valuable." She held up the Invictus Drive, then spun on one heel, pausing to look at the other woman who had come out of the ship. "Give him a clearance physical and sign him out!" Talese Groveen paused again. "Take your time and do it right. Make sure there's a clean statement of a desire to stay here. Be sure to repeat it for him."