The Protector
Nancy Tart
Paperback
(Independently published, March 26, 2017)
Brantley Station is an underwater mining community where hundreds of scientists, technicians, and their families live while they research, explore, and mine minerals for export to the surface. Occasionally hit by pirate raids, this station has one of the best security systems and has yet to be infiltrated or successfully raided. One of the early pirate raid attempts resulted in the capture of Ethan, an assumed pirate child. Ethan's story is the story of Brantley Station; this child who grows up in the depths as an outcast has more mystery than truth in his background. Follow Ethan and the natives of Brantley Station in a series of stories as Ethan uncovers more of his mysterious past, one sliver of memory at a time. As time has passed, Ethan has become a silent authority on the Grenadan regulations he must abide under and the Civilian Democratic-Republic legal system to which he longs to belong. Though he has few friends and it appears to newcomers that he is ignored or loathed by most, the majority of the civilians on Brantley Station know and admire the pirate child. Ethan forms a friendship with Corey Skitter, a Grenadan Guard Lieutenant with his own strange story. Ethan has been accused of stealing something of great value - and the council listened to the advice of a man who doesn't understand Ethan - so the law has been pushed to its limit in an unprecedented escalation. Unfortunately, there is no way to undo this error in the complex legal system without presenting new evidence. Ethan keeps looking for the item. Corey discovers this dilemma and, as Security Chief, makes it his mission to find the item and prove beyond a doubt that Ethan was not the thief. So much of Ethan's true personality comes to light in this incident that the entire station marvels at him; how can such strengths come from a pirate child?