by John M. Ford
—1987—
What was that all about? They were lost, and you pointed them the wrong way. Those rocks aren't near anything but the old caves.
They were alien invaders...or hadn't you noticed?
Who do you want to be, then?
Aramis.
Aramis? He doesn't even want to be a Musketeer. He wants to be a bishop!
Yeah, and he also lives through all the books.
"There is…a certain logic to your position." It was what Macmain said when he was outmatched in a fight, which usually required the Empire to be holding at least eight phasers and an innocent hostage. It was not by any means an admission of defeat.
Okay, Aramis, let's go find that starship.
'Starship,' mon amie? Je ne comprends pas your strange speech.
A vessel that sails 'pon the black tides of night, my friend, laden with booty from lands past your imagining.
…it smells like peppermint and cream cheese. And there's this…stuff all over.
Some of them do not breathe the air we breathe, my friend.
Uh-huh. But it kinda looks like they barf just like us.
Somebody give the captain a pie!