“So, how long do you think you can keep me here?”

“Until your trial.”

“Which would be when?”

“When we arrive.”

“Yes, about that.”

“Yes?”

“I’m in the airlock.”

“Yes, you are.”

“The only airlock.”

“Yes.”

“The one we’ll be docking with.”

“That is what airlocks are for.”

“And when we dock, the doors will have to open.”

“Why?”

“How else will you be able to get off the ship?”

“You have a point.”

“I’m glad you see that.”

“We can’t dock without opening the airlock.”

“Exactly.”

“It’s a shame, but regulations are regulations.”

“Too true.”

“At least my sacrifice will be commemorated.”

“What?”

“As you said. We can’t dock without opening the airlock, opening the airlock would mean releasing you from the brig, we can’t release you from the brig, therefore we can’t dock.”

“You’re serious.”

“I’m always serious.”

“You’re going to strand us in space forever rather than let me out of the airlock.”

“The end doesn’t justify the means.”

“I’ll say.”