My birth name is Alakon, though not many call me that anymore. I was born a stable slave in service to Lord Lanok’s estate with Jamal as my only friend. I was orphaned from birth, and raised by an aged Noramian healer woman called Brena until her death.

The other slaves despised me because Mother was a Noramian slave girl, and my father Wazzaran. Anyone who wasn’t pure Wazzaran was considered inferior. I even lost my right leg from the knee down because of this and picked up the nickname Peg for obvious reasons. That’s the name most people call me anymore.

Jamal has stayed stubbornly by my side throughout my life. We even joined the loyalists in service to the king at the same time. That’s when we gained our freedom along with every other slave in Palador. In time, I earned the rank of captain, but only because no one else would lead a unit comprised of offworlders. It was near the end of the Rebellion when I learned my father was the slave owner who’d murdered my mother the day I was born.

“Excuse me, Peg, but I’d just like to say a few words?”

Sure, Crystal, go ahead.

“I found some notes in my files that I thought might be of interest so everyone can better understand what kind of a man you are.”

Now, you’re not going to embarrass me, are you, lass?

“Oh, come on. You don’t have anything to be embarrassed about. Don’t you roll your eyes at me, mister. And don’t you dare think about sneaking out. I’m sure these nice people are just dying to ask you all kinds of questions.

“Now, where was I? Oh, yes.

“Peg is a caring man with a generous heart. His deep baritone voice has a tendency to carry and can be loud, boisterous and rowdy. He has a reckless fearlessness that borders on the dangerous but he’s completely loyal and dedicated to his crew and their cause.

“Okay, it’s all yours.”

I wasn’t going to explain about our cause, but now that Crystal’s brought it up, my crew and I are in charge of the anti-slavery underground, which covers most of the known galaxy. Palador is just one small country on the desert world of Wazzar. The rest of the known galaxy still deals with this despicable trade in one form or another. All the underground does is help return enslaved loved ones back to their families.

Are you still a captain? Do the men under your command comprise your "crew"? Do you have a cover while you're working with the underground? Is a correct assumption that when you joined up with the king for the rebellion, he wasn't king yet?

Any ladies in your life?
What do you do for fun?
What is your relationship with Jamal like?
What are you afraid of?

Why did the king decide to abolish slavery (or did I misunderstand that part?)

Is your father still alive? How do you feel about him?

How long did it take you to get used to that peg leg of yours? Do you find it hard to keep your balance? What kind of prosthetic do you use?

Aye, lass. My ship is the starship Scalawag in service to Guran, king of Palador. Guran's a good man. He cares about the people of Palador enough to put them above his own welfare.

Do the men under your command comprise your "crew"?

You must understand that we have operatives all over the known galaxy, and this covers several star systems. The Scalawag's crew consists of me, Jamal, and five outworlders. They were the ones that comprised my unit during the rebellion.

Do you have a cover while you're working with the underground?

King Guran supplies us with whatever ships we need, and my unit was well known for our unorthodox methods that don't always go by the book, if you know what I mean. We try to hit our targets before they're even aware they are under attack. We haven't been in operation very long, and there's not a doubt that it will get tougher to free those in bondage the longer we stay in business.

Is a correct assumption that when you joined up with the king for the rebellion, he wasn't king yet?

I was wondering when that would come up. The anti-slavery law had been under heavy debate in King Guran's court for quite some time. Once there was enough support, it was brought to the attention of the major Lords of Palador. Several of these Lords rebelled against the king when it became law and for good reason. Many of them couldn't afford to run the estates if they had to replace their slaves with paid laborers. They were the rebels. Those that fought on the side of our king were the loyalists.

Any ladies in your life?

I'm in love with a very special lady. Shallan was the only female in my unit. We still think of her as our warrior princess. She's Katopian and my science officer. The Katopians are one of the more highly advanced societies of the known galaxy. Now, I just have to get up the nerve to ask her to be my mate. No easy task since I'm half Noramian and half Wazzaran. I'm not all that sure how well that will cross with her if we're ever to have children.

What do you do for fun?

As I stated earlier, I have very little free time. I enjoyed caring for the kogoties when I worked in the stables as a boy. So, I do go riding with my friends on occasion. And there's nothing better than a good mug of ale at the local tavern. Good food, good drink, and the scenery's not that bad either.

What is your relationship with Jamal like?

We were just young stable slaves when we met, and many times our very existence relied on us looking out for each other. You see, Jamal's what can be termed a runt. He was knocked around by the other boys because of it. I was big for my age but a prime target due to my mixed heritage. It was only natural that we became friends. He's the closest thing I'll ever have to a brother even though he's a purebred Wazzaran. I'd be lost without him, and he's my first officer.

What are you afraid of?

Now that's a tough one. Hmmmm. Let me think a bit. I'd say my biggest fear would be that Shallan and I won't be compatible to be mated for the rest of our days. By the Spirits themselves, I love her more than anything.

Excuse me, lass, but what language is that salutation? Well, I'll just try to overlook it until I can ask Arjon to translate it for me. He's my communications officer. The starship Scalawag is a battle cruiser, but we've made a lot of modifications on her to better suit our needs. It's takes about 20 to man her along with me and my six officers.

Why did the king decide to abolish slavery (or did I misunderstand that part?)

No, you have that right. Slavery never did set well with King Guran and those Lords closest to him. I think it was a leftover from his father reign. I'm sorry that I can't tell you anymore, because you now know as much as I do about it.

Is your father still alive? How do you feel about him?

Ah yes, my father. The stable master was more of a father to me than he was. The man was a slaver. He beat up Mother, had her flogged, and then raped her all in one night. Then when I didn't take after his side of the family the day I was born, he murdered her. After all, she was just a piece of property to be used, and he was her master. The man was killed at the end of the rebellion. Good riddance to bad rubbish as you Earthers say.

How long did it take you to get used to that peg leg of yours? Do you find it hard to keep your balance? What kind of prosthetic do you use?

I was still a boy when I lost my leg, and it took several months before I could get around on it without falling flat on my face. I can still bend that leg at the knee, which helps. It's become so much a part of me that I rarely think about it anymore. Brena had it made specifically to fit me, and it's one of the few items I have to remind me of that dear lady. It's just a round wooden post with a cup that I strap onto the lower part of my right leg.

Where do you live when you're not shipping around? Is there any place you return to when you have time?

First, you have to understand that Wazzar is mostly desert, but there are pockets of lush vegetation. The largest of these is the Seraneya rainforest. It runs twice the length of Palador's border. This is where we're headquartered, but what's nice about the whole thing is that our enemies wouldn't dare to start blasting away the largest rainforest on the planet. To do so would upset the entire ecological balance of Wazzar, which just happens to be home to the large slave market in the galaxy.

I'm just wondering about your slaves. What do these refugees do once rescued?

It's probably just an oversight on your part, but the people we free are not "our slaves". We never think of them as slaves but as individuals to be returned to their homes or family or wherever they wish to go. Those that have no place to go will sometimes join our cause or help keep things running smoothly at headquarters in the Seraneya. We're always in need of extra hands to keep the fleet in top shape. There's always something to do around here.

Do you have an organization that sets these people up after your job is done?

Guran has helped prepared those that have no place to go in a trade so they can make a living. But the majority usually have family somewhere who will take them in.

what do you do for fun when your in port? How do you handle cabin fevor among your men?

Non of our voyages are very long. Maybe a week or two at the most. Light speed makes short work of the distance between most of the known worlds. Also, you don't live with a group of people without developing deep ties with them. My crew has become my family, and we rarely pull rank on each other except in a command situation.