by Wesley King
He glanced at Sally. “You might want to back up.”
Sally raised her eyebrows. “You might want to back up too.”
Jonah shook his head. “I’m not a baseball player. But I am a bonker.”
He turned to the casing and raised the bonker over his head.
“I just have to let go at the last second.”
Sally took a quick step back. “If you don’t, you’re going to fry like an egg.”
“Thanks,” Jonah murmured.
“Is she really worth it?” Sally asked. “I’ll bat my eyelashes some more if you want.”
“If I give up now, no one will rescue them,” Jonah said tightly. “Besides, these pirates have taken enough Space Raiders. It’s time to hit back.”
With that, he swung the bonker directly at the steel casing. When it was about a foot from its mark, he let go. That was a good thing.
The bonker made clean contact with the casing, and the steel edge cut into the power line. Then it got very bright. A shower of white hot sparks burst out of the power line, and Jonah just managed to close his eyes as he fell backward onto the walkway. He heard Sally shouting in the background, but she was drowned out by the sizzling sparks.
Jonah hit the ground hard just as the shower of sparks ended, and he cautiously opened his eyes to see the last few sparks shoot out of the power line and disappear.
“That was unexpected,” Jonah said. He felt a bunch of small burns on his face.
Sally bent over him. “Are you alive?”
“I think so,” he said. “Did it work?”
Sally shrugged. “Well, that wire is certainly busted, so I’m guessing our pirate friends are currently sitting in the dark. Your fellow Space Raiders, too.”
“Perfect,” Jonah murmured.
She grinned. “You’re full of surprises, Jonah the Now Incredible. Every time I think you’ve reached your stupidest moment, you manage to top yourself. It’s very impressive. Now we better go hide in the service shafts until the crew comes. It’s time to save your friends. Or get shot by a space pirate. Either/or.”
She pulled Jonah to his feet, and he gingerly touched his face. It was stinging.
“I hope that was the hard part,” Jonah muttered. “But I doubt it.”
• • •
He was right. After hiding in a tiny side shaft until four grumbling, very unhappy crew members traipsed down the main shaft, shining a portable light along the power lines to check for damage, Jonah and Sally climbed out and ran toward the crew’s quarters. The dim yellow lighting of the service shaft was still working, but it did little to push back the shadows.
Jonah had been very happy to catch a glimpse of a red eye in the darkness and to hear the brusque, husky voice of the Space Witch. At least they wouldn’t run into them.
When they reached the quarters, he was relieved to see that Pirate Road was completely dark. He was just thinking they’d come up with the perfect plan when he looked down the hall toward the brig. There, guarding the door with a portable light each, were two crew members.
“Wrinkles and Weasel,” Sally muttered. “Now what?”
“I don’t know,” Jonah said.
She glanced at him. “Think you can bonk them?”
“Two of them?” Jonah said. “They’ll just shoot me.”
“Yeah, probably,” Sally murmured.
They stood there for a moment. Jonah had no idea what to do. All that, and they were stuck here. And they didn’t have much time. Once Red Eye and the others fused the power line and restored power, they’d come right back here.
And Jonah and Sally had to be long gone when they did.
“I guess that’s it—”
“We need a distraction,” Sally cut in.
“I can try throwing my bonker down the hall,” Jonah suggested.
“Yeah, that will work for one second,” Sally said. She took a little pink hair tie out of her pocket and started pulling her long black hair into a ponytail. “I’ll do it.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I’ve hid on this ship for long enough now,” she said. “I want to hit back too.”
Jonah smiled. “What are you going to do?”
“There’s a main staircase that leads back down the ship,” she said. “It’s at the other end of Pirate Road. I’m going to shriek and run for the stairs. At least one of them will chase me. Probably both.”
She stuck her hand out. Jonah looked at it, confused.
“Shake it, dimwit,” she said.
He did as he was told.
“If we don’t make it, it was a pleasure,” she continued. “You’re not the brightest Space Raider I’ve ever seen, but you might just be the bravest. Good luck.”
“Meet you at the grate in the Haunted Passage?” Jonah said.
She smiled. “Deal. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to turn into a monster.”
With that, she threw open the door, stepped into the hallway, and let loose a remarkably good impersonation of the Shrieker. It was so good that Jonah almost turned and ran down the stairs himself, and she was standing right in front of him.
It clearly had the desired effect.
He heard Wrinkles and Weasel shout and curse, followed by loud, clomping footsteps as they ran down the hallway. Sally took a quick look back, barely visible in the darkness, and then took off down the hall, laughing and cackling all the way.
Jonah quickly stepped to the side of the door as the two men ran by, and then he bolted down Pirate Road toward the brig. He looked back and saw Wrinkles and Weasel turn down the staircase, chasing the shrieking, cackling Sally. The plan had worked.
Jonah reached the brig and slid the door open. It was pitch black inside.
“Martin?” he asked, stepping into the room. “Samantha?”
“Jonah?” a familiar voice asked, sounding amazed. He heard shuffling and felt Martin’s small hand on his arm. “What are you doing here?”
“Rescuing you,” Jonah said. “You’ve done enough hard time.”
He heard astounded whispers around the room.
Martin laughed. “I knew you were incredible, but this takes the cake. How did you turn off the power?”
“Long story,” Jonah said. “Now, everyone, wherever you are, we need to go. The pirates are going to be back soon—”
The words were barely out of his mouth when a glaring light washed over the doorway. Weasel walked in right behind it, holding his portable light up like a lantern.
“Well, well, well,” he said, a cruel grin spreading over his face, “looks like we caught a rat.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
* * *
* * *
WEASEL STEPPED THROUGH THE DOORWAY, his portable light washing over the brig. Jonah blinked against the white glare and saw the other prisoners blocking their eyes with their arms.
Jonah was frozen to the spot, the bonker hanging loosely in his hands. A million thoughts ran through his head. He tried to think of a way to escape, but there was none.
He was trapped.
“Wrinkles ran off,” Weasel said, his dark, beady eyes fixed on Jonah, “but I thought, wait a second. The lights go out and then the Shouter comes to the crew’s quarters for the first time ever?” He smiled, revealing yellow and black teeth. “That would have to be some coincidence. Then I think maybe someone put those lights out. Maybe someone wanted to get us away from the brig. Maybe some little rat is trying to save his friends.”
His thin, calloused hand was resting on his gun. The other Space Raiders all just stood there with pensive looks, eyes darting to Jonah. All but one.
As Weasel stared at Jonah with that evil grin, Martin the Marvelous was slowly edging along the wall. Jonah didn’t know what he was doing, but he had to buy him time.
“You got me,” Jonah said, his voice sounding a bit tinny. He tried to stand up a little straighter. “I’d like you to release my friends now.”
Weasel stared at him for a moment and then bur
st out laughing. “This one’s a comedian,” he said, looking at Leppy. “You never told me how funny they were.”
Leppy spared a dark look at him through his ratty black hair.
Weasel turned back to Jonah. “This batch is getting a little too courageous for my liking. Don’t know what it is. We’ve locked you up. We’ve threatened you. Not sure what else we can do. Can’t have you wandering around the ship, you know. Against the rules.”
Martin was past Weasel now, still sliding along the wall. Jonah wondered if he was planning to run for it and tell the others. At least someone would get away.
He kept his eyes on Weasel. “I guess we’re special,” he said. “We’re not afraid of a bunch of smelly pirates.”
The other Space Raiders looked at him in amazement. Jonah instantly knew he’d crossed a line. Weasel narrowed his eyes.
“Is that so?” he asked quietly, looking around the room. “Is that what you think?”
Leppy was still watching from the corner.
Weasel took another step toward Jonah. “No one knows you’re here, little boy,” he said. “And no one cares. You know what I think? I think we need to make an example of you. Locking you in the brig wouldn’t work. Didn’t work before. No. Someone needs to die.”
His slender fingers were hovering over his gun. Jonah felt his skin go cold. His hands started trembling. Martin was almost at the door now. He could take off and run. Weasel would have to let him go. But Martin the Marvelous wasn’t running.
He started creeping back toward Weasel. He moved as quietly as a mouse, his socked feet padding off the metal floors with tiny, tiptoeing steps.
Weasel smiled even wider. “I think the captain would agree this once. But I won’t ask, just in case. Any last words, hero?”
Jonah wanted to cry. He wanted to drop into a quivering ball and beg for his life and cry out for his parents and ask for mercy. But once again, space had changed him.
He just stared up at Weasel. The bonker was shaking. His knees were wobbling. He couldn’t even bring himself to speak. But he didn’t cry. He just faced his enemy bravely.
“I do,” Martin said. “Good night.”
With incredibly deft hands, Martin plucked the gun out of Weasel’s holster, stepped back, and shot the space pirate in the chest just as he turned around. There was a flash of brilliant blue, and then Weasel fell face-first onto the floor.
The brig was completely silent. Leppy watched with wide eyes.
“Did you kill him?” Samantha asked.
Martin shook his head. “They keep their guns set on stun. Captain’s orders. I heard them talk about it when they carried me up here.” He smiled. “But he won’t feel very good when he wakes up.”
“We better move,” Jonah said, scooping up the portable light. “Thanks, Martin.”
“Least I could do,” Martin replied. He turned the gun around and handed it to Jonah. “Here. The hero takes the gun.”
Jonah smiled. “Then I guess you better hold on to it. Follow me.”
He started for the door, his hands still shaking.
“How do we get back, Jonah?” Samantha asked.
“I know a secret way,” he said. “Just stay close and—”
Leppy looked at him, his dark eyes barely visible through his hair. “What did you say your name was?” he asked softly.
Jonah glanced at him. “Jonah.”
Leppy brushed the hair out of his eyes. “Jonah what?”
He hesitated. “Jonah Hillcrest.”
Leppy stared at him for a moment and then burst out laughing. It was a manic, uncontrollable laugh. His whole body shook and convulsed, and he grabbed his stomach and kept laughing like he’d gone completely mad. Jonah looked at Martin, confused.
“I’m dead,” Leppy managed through his laughter. “I’m so dead.”
“He’s crazy,” Samantha said. “Let’s go.”
Jonah nodded and led them out the door, unnerved by Leppy’s reaction. The insane laughter followed them all the way down Pirate Road until Jonah plunged into the service shaft, the twelve freed Space Raiders close on his tail. He flicked the portable light off when he was through the door and put it down. They were safer in the shadows.
Jonah jogged down the staircase, peeked out the service shaft, and hurried out. Then he froze. He’d come to the crew’s quarters through the engine room. He couldn’t go back there.
Samantha stepped up beside him. “Where are we?”
“The service shafts,” Jonah said. “But we can’t go back the way I came. The pirates are down there fixing the power line. We need to find another way back.”
“Have you seen the Shrieker?” Martin asked nervously.
“I’ve heard it,” Jonah said. “It lives in here. Let’s go the other way. Look for ladders and stairs. We just need to get down.”
The group took in off in the opposite direction from the engine room, Jonah at the lead. He wondered if Sally Malik was all right. He really hoped so.
“There,” someone said, pointing at a service ladder that descended through the floor.
Jonah tucked the bonker into his belt and started down the ladder. He took a nervous look below him as he unsteadily felt for the rungs. If the Shrieker attacked now, he was finished. But there were no shrieks or laughs as he dropped to the service-shaft floor, and he pulled out his bonker and waited as the others climbed down with him.
“Two more floors,” Jonah said. “Come on!”
They ran along the shaft until they found another ladder and repeated the same process. Jonah almost slipped on the way down. He really hated climbing.
The group kept moving in perfect silence, no one daring to speak in the heavy quiet of the service shafts. Samantha ran right beside him, looking far calmer than he felt. He could see why she was the most important adventurer. She was fearless.
They found the last ladder to the bottommost level. Jonah had just put his foot on the first rung when they heard it. A piercing, inhuman shriek echoed down the shaft.
Jonah glanced up at the others. “Move!” he shouted.
He climbed down the ladder as fast as he could and dropped to the floor. He looked around, raising the bonker. But he realized the laughter was coming from the second level. Right where the others were waiting to use the ladder.
“Faster!” he said.
Samantha dropped down beside him, brushing the long hair out of her eyes and glancing at Jonah. “They’re not going to make it.”
“They’ll make it,” Jonah said.
More Space Raiders scurried down the ladder. The laughter was growing louder and louder. Eight of them were down when Jonah realized Martin was still up there. The shrieks were close now. The ninth Space Raider had just put her foot on the stairs when a shot rang out. A blue flash lit up the darkness above them, and the shrieking stopped. The ninth Space Raider dropped to the ground, and then Martin climbed down after them.
He grinned and patted the gun tucked in his belt. “I like this thing.”
“Did you shoot it?” Jonah asked incredulously.
“No, just a warning shot. But it took off.”
Jonah just shook his head. “Let’s get you guys home.”
It took a few minutes to locate in the eerie lighting, but they eventually found a door out of the service shaft. Jonah pulled it open and was greeted by the welcome sight of the Haunted Passage. He quickly looked around for Sally. The hallway was empty.
The rest of the Space Raiders hurried out. Jonah felt his stomach knotting up. Had something happened to Sally?
“Shouldn’t we keep moving?” Samantha asked.
“You guys go,” Jonah said. “I have to go back for—”
“The space princess?”
Jonah turned and saw Sally walk out of the service shaft wearing a sly smile.
“I’m touched,” she said. “But I’m fine. Wrinkles never had a chance.”
Jonah heard the others whispering behind him, and he turned to face them. “This i
s Sally Malik, space rat. She’s the one who helped me rescue you.”
“I thought I was a space princess,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“Nah,” Jonah said. “A princess couldn’t shriek like that. Why don’t you come back with us? You can live in the sectors again.”
The smile disappeared from Sally’s face. “I don’t belong there. Sorry. And I don’t think you lot belong there either.” She glanced down the hall. “Speaking of which, time to disappear.” She gave Jonah a mock salute. “See you in the wild.”
With that, she took off down the hall like a flitting shadow, heading back to the Unknown Zone.
“Where did she come from?” Martin asked.
“Long story,” Jonah said.
He started for Sector Three. The others fell into step behind him. After everywhere else Jonah had been, the Haunted Passage almost felt like home.
He turned the corner into Death Alley, and the two guards instantly lifted their bonkers. Their eyes widened.
The first guard turned to her partner. “You better get the lieutenant.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
* * *
* * *
SECTOR THREE FELL INTO COMPLETE silence when Jonah and the other Space Raiders walked down Squirrel Street with a still-shocked Lieutenant Gordon.
The lieutenant had come running down the hall with the guard, and when he’d turned down Death Alley, he looked like he’d seen a ghost. It took him a moment, but then he managed to compose himself enough to formally welcome them all back.
“The commander will want to see you immediately,” he said. “Follow me.”
Ben was the first Space Raider to see them in the hallway. He just stopped in his tracks, his mouth opening in disbelief, his eyes directly on Jonah. Everyone else did the same thing. They ran out of doorways, hearing the rumors, and then stopped and stared.
Even Willona and Jemma had no words. Willona just shook her head in amazement, smiling from ear to ear. Then came the reunions.
