As soon as she hit the floor of the airlock, Anna pushed her way through the hatch and moved straight to the maintenance panel, still open from when she’d been taken. Dropping through, she crawled to the sensor array and began reassembling the unit. Within minutes, the array was secured in place.
“Ah!” Kate’s expression of relief echoed through the maintenance level as soon as the sensors came back online. “That’s much better.”
Anna poked her head through the opening. “What do you see?”
A few seconds later, Kate frowned and pointed outside. “That misreading is still there.”
Anna waved away the report. “Ignore it for now. What else do you see?”
“The area is clear, Anna.”
Anna climbed to the deck through the maintenance hatch. “Good. I don’t expect them for quite a while.”
“Why is that?”
Anna smirked. “Because I took all of their fuel igniters and scattered them in the woods. They are going to have to concentrate on that before they even think about coming after me.”
* * * * *
“Why are we even looking out here?” Hiraku walked through the woods outside the pirates’ ship. “She obviously took them with her, and we need to find a way to get them.”
“Do you really feel like walking over a hundred kilometers to get a handful of fuel igniters?” Michel asked through the headset. “Ahmad didn’t find any spares, and both skycycles are gone.”
Hiraku rolled his eyes. “Don’t remind me. I liked those skycycles. They were fun to ride.”
“I know, right? Remember the time we flew over the USS Barack Obama coming in for a landing on Aldrin?”
“And almost getting shot down? Yeah, I remember that. Good times, Michel. Good times.”
“Enough of the chatter.” James’s voice over the channel brought an abrupt end to their conversation. “Find those igniters, or I’ll be using your eyeballs in their place.”
As Michel’s sigh broke through the airwaves, Hiraku responded, “I don’t think that would work very well, sir.”
“Do you want to find out?”
“Not particularly.”
“Then, shut up and find those damned igniters.”
Hiraku frowned. “Yes, sir.”
Over the next several minutes, the only noise heard was the sound of feet moving through the underbrush, until James called to them again through the communicator.
“Men, I’ve recalibrated the sensors. Scanning now.”
A few seconds elapses before he continued. “Hiraku, move about thirty meters ahead. I have a metal source there.”
Jogging to the spot, Hiraku came to a halt at the base of a large tree. He looked up the length of the trunk into the branches that beckoned him to climb up.
James cut through again. “Well, did you find it?”
“I have to climb a tree first.”
“What? God, damn it! Climb the fucking tree.”
After rubbing his hands together, Hiraku jumped and grabbed the lowest branch, then hefted himself into the tree. He spent several minutes scouring the branches, and returned to the ground empty-handed. Disappointed, he looked at his feet and opened a channel. “Captain.”
As James acknowledged him, Hiraku spotted a glint of metal half-buried in some low-lying plants at the base of the tree. Kneeling down, he picked up one of the missing fuel igniters. “I’ve found it.”
“What do you want, a goddamn medal?” The captain’s facetious tone rang in his ears as if he stood right next to him. “Get your sorry ass up here and plug it into the drive!”
* * * * *
A few minutes later, Hiraku stood just inside the doorway to Engineering, holding the igniter at arm’s length. Ahmad, looking as if he had just stepped out of the ring after participating in a heavyweight boxing match, took the igniter from Hiraku’s hand and shuffled toward the open cabinet waiting for the small part to return home. Hiraku cringed every time he gazed at the cuts and bruises discoloring Ahmad’s visage.
“Are you okay, Ahmad?” The compassion in Hiraku’s voice could not be mistaken.
Ahmad nodded without a word as he reached the cabinet.
Hiraku took one step toward him. “Why did you let him do this to you?”
The igniter slid into place, and Ahmad turned toward the door. “He’d kill me if I resisted.”
“He’ll kill you if you don’t. You should not allow him to do this to you.”
“He’s the captain.”
Ahmad stepped up to the intercom on the wall by the door and toggled the switch. “The igniter’s in place, Captain. Give it a shot.”
Both men turned their attention to the engine as the start cycle began. A few seconds later, the drive roared to life.
“Good job, Ahmad.” James’s voice over the speaker nudged its way through the roar filling the room. “Strap in. We’re going on a little trip.”
The ship shuddered while the men found seats. A short moment later the shaking ceased, and they felt the floor beneath them rise into the air. The direction of thrust shifted several seconds later, and the vessel lurched forward.
James’s voice came through the intercom again. “Michel. Hiraku. Get to the turrets.”
Turning back to Ahmad, Hiraku rose from his seat. “You must do what you feel is right, of course. But, please remember how he has mistreated you. Do you really want to put up with that for the rest of your life?”
Ahmad remained silent as Hiraku departed Engineering.
Meeting at the forward end of the catwalk, Michel handed Hiraku a pistol and his sheathed katana. After nodding to each other, they walked through the door with a look of grim determination on their faces.
* * * * *
“Anna, I am detecting an anomaly on the sensors to the southeast, approaching at a high rate of speed.”
Slumped in the pilot’s chair, Anna looked over her shoulder at Kate. “Can you lock on it?”
A few seconds later, an image of the pirates’ ship appeared in a display from the front control panel.
“Hull configuration is identified as a Boeing-Lockheed 9469 medium transport.”
Anna nodded. “That’s them. ETA?”
“Four minutes, thirty-six seconds.”
“And, the drones are at the pyramid?”
“The EM field has been up for the past forty minutes. They should be safe.”
Anna straightened her posture. “And, I don’t have time to repair Seventeen. I’m going to have to do this the hard, and apparently the suicidal, way.
She rose from the chair and turned toward Kate. “Thanks for everything, Kate.”
Kate smiled. “It was the least I could do for you.”
After a few seconds, Anna entered the airlock and climbed to the top of the ladder, poking her head out and looking to the southeast. Far in the distance, she located the Resolute approaching. Suppressing her fear, she sucked in a deep breath and secured herself to the ladder with a safety strap around her waist. After confirming its hold, she drew her pistol.
Anna reviewed her situation. “I wish I could turn the ship around and fire the cannons at them. At least then I would stand a chance.”
Her eyes fell to the ship’s hull and the two heavy panels open near the airlock. “Oh, Kate! Close the solar panels, too.”
* * * * *
Michel and Hiraku stopped outside the bridge, firearms in hand. They looked at each other again for reassurance. After a quick nod, Michel hit the switch on the wall.
The door to the bridge opened to show James flying the ship over the trees. He glanced at them over his shoulder, and his face brandished a grimace. “Why aren’t you in the turret?”
“We’re not going.” An air of defiance edged Hiraku’s declaration. “There is no logical reason why you should pursue Angelina. She can’t go anywhere. Leave her alone.”
James touched a button on the control panel in front of him, setting the ship on autopilot. He stood and faced his crew. Michel
and Hiraku aimed their pistols at him simultaneously.
Chapter 31
James seethed through his teeth. “What exactly do you hope to accomplish with this mutiny?”
Michel shook his head while staring straight at him. “That is irrelevant. You won’t be around to see it.”
James took a cautious step toward them. “So, you mean to kill me then.”
“No.” Hiraku stiffened his weapon arm and reaffirmed his aim at James’s chest. “Throwing you in the same room where you kept Angelina confined should be sufficient.”
James smirked and shifted his weight forward. “Is this your attempt to win the lady’s favor? I’ve got news for you. She doesn’t give a rat’s ass about you. She hates you. She hates all of us. She’d rather see us all dead at her feet.”
Michel snapped at him. “I don’t believe you.”
“Why do you think she stole the fuel igniters? She’d rather we remain stranded here and die, just like she’s going to do after she runs out of supplies.”
James noticed their faces relax a fraction. “That’s right. She’s hoping we kill ourselves, so she can steal our food and supplies.”
“You lie!” Michel clenched his open hand into a fist. “She wouldn’t do that.”
“She already has. In fact, she’s now set up to attack us when we arrive.”
“Lies!” Hiraku’s scowl accented his accusation.
With a flourish of his arm, James directed the men to the bridge door. “See for yourself.”
The two conspirators looked at each other for a few seconds, as if contemplating the captain’s statement. James could tell a seed of doubt rested in their minds.
Hiraku pointed at James. “Cover him.”
Michel nodded and asserted his position by adjusting his aim at James. With the way clear, Hiraku entered the bridge and stared out the forward viewport for several seconds. “She’s really there.”
Michel stepped onto the bridge and looked over Hikaru’s shoulder. “Really?”
Hiraku pointed out the window. “Yeah. See her?”
As they stared out the window, James stealthily maneuvered behind them and withdrew his knife from its sheath within his jacket. Holding his breath, he plunged the blade into Michel’s back. Michel cried out in pain. James snatched the pistol from his hand. Hiraku turned and raised his sidearm. A shot lanced through the air, but missed the captain by centimeters. James pulled his knife out of Michel and threw him to the deck before jumping out of the doorway.
Hiraku emerged in the doorway, his eyes landing on James in an instant. James fired back, but his haste skewed his aim. The blast impacted against the wall next to Hiraku, who fired and ducked back for cover. The rushed shot flew wide and hit the wall at the far end of the corridor. James sidestepped and fired again. Hiraku found cover behind the wall in time. James backed away several steps and fired again, shooting through the doorway and smashing one of the bridge’s control panels.
Hiraku’s head appeared around the corner and James loosed a couple shots, one of which slammed into the wall near his target. A groan resonated from Michel, drawing James’s attention away for a brief second. As he returned his gaze to the doorway, Hiraku fired one true shot and shattered the weapon in James’s hand.
Dropping the ruined weapon, James winced and growled from the shards of heated plastic and steel embedded in his hand. He sheathed his knife inside his jacket. He knew he stood little chance of surviving without a firearm, and formulated a plan.
“Hiraku!” James stepped toward the bridge. “Cease fire. I’m unarmed.”
Poking his head out, Hiraku raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? You always carry a backup firearm.”
“Only during boarding actions. I didn’t think I’d have to after the last mutiny. But since you have me at a disadvantage, I see no point in prolonging the inevitable, and surrender.” James raised his empty hands in front of his chest.
Stepping through the doorway into the hall, Hiraku pointed the pistol at the captain’s chest. “Turn around and put your hands on your head.”
James slowly placed his hands atop his head, but did not turn. “I have to hand it to you, Hiraku. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Hiraku cocked his head and looked at James, skeptical.
“I’m impressed. You’ve certainly proven you’ve got the balls and can obviously stand up for yourself. How would you like to be my first mate?”
James stepped forward and extended his injured hand with an expecting smile, waiting for Hiraku to respond.
Hiraku glanced at James’s hand and snorted. “Seriously? Why would I trust you?”
As his smile melted away, James retracted his hand and inched toward him. “I know exactly where you’re coming from. That’s how I reacted when I took command of the ship from the previous captain.”
“Step back.” Hiraku pushed his pistol toward James’s chest.
“If you are going to take over as the new captain, your first responsibility has to be taking care of the crew.”
Still lying on the floor, Michel groaned as he stirred.
“And, it might be a good idea to see to your medic as well. You don’t have another one.”
Hiraku turned to look at his compatriot on the floor next to him. Blood pooled on the floor from beneath his shoulder.
“Michel? Michel, are you all right?”
In a blurring motion, James drew his knife and plunged it into Hiraku’s hand. Hiraku screamed in pain, and his hand relaxed its hold on the pistol. James snatched the pistol away. Turning the weapon around, James aimed it at Hiraku’s eye and pulled the trigger. The back of Hiraku’s head splattered on the wall behind him. The captain casually retrieved his knife as Hiraku’s mutilated body twitched and dropped to the floor.
Ignoring the sputtering and smoldering controls, James stepped over to Michel and pressed his boot against his wounded shoulder, pinning him to the floor. Screaming from the pain, Michel rolled onto his side, attempting to get away from the source of his misery. Aiming the pistol at Michel’s head, James squeezed the trigger.
Throwing the weapon down the corridor, the captain stepped over the dead body at his feet. “Goddamn crew. Always got to do it myself.”
* * * * *
Anna’s heart raced within her chest as the rusted pirate vessel came to a halt in midair and shifted to vertical thrust to hover in place. Afraid the ship would unleash something that could kill her in seconds, she prepared to drop into the airlock for some semblance of protection.
But, nothing came. The ship floated in place as if it was staring her down.
Anna stared hard at the ship, expecting something to happen. A second later, a brief flash of light from the front of the vessel caught her eye. The light flashed again several times a few seconds later, but dimmer than before. Not recognizing what may have caused them, she grew more and more nervous with each passing second. She figured the captain would have done something by now. With her palms moist with perspiration, her pistol nearly slipped out of her hands as she flexed her fingers around the grip of the gun again and again.
A panel opened on the side of the pirates’ transport on the same level as the bridge. Out of the new opening came a transparent globe with some sort of nozzle on one end, all of which was held within a dark gray circular frame. Sitting at a small control panel inside the clear orb was the captain, staring at her. After the sphere had extended out all the way, it rotated around to point the nozzle in her direction. James appeared to be laughing.
It suddenly hit Anna what he was doing. “Oh god!” Fear overtook her bravado and she dropped into the airlock.
A split second later, a rapid barrage of energy bursts slammed into the upper hull, exploding on impact and shaking the entire ship. Anna screamed as one of the last shots smashed into the hull just outside the airlock.
Kate’s voice came through the wristcomp. “Anna, the hull is withstanding the attack. The white hull plating appears to be not just for aest
hetics. It seems to have a quality that reflects a good portion of the shots’ energy away.”
“No wonder Ryan was so attached to this ship,” Anna whispered to herself before responding to Kate. “Does that mean that he can’t do anything to us?”
“No, Anna. Although the energy is harmlessly reflected away, the impact of each shot is damaging the hull. If he keeps it up, the energy will eventually get through.”
Anna looked skyward through the open hatch and prayed for a miracle as she climbed back to the top of the ladder. Just before she poked her head through, another volley of energy bolts rained across the top of the ship. She held fast to the ladder as it shuddered.
Kate called to her again. “Anna, we are being hailed.”
“Patch him through to my wristcomp.”
A split second later, James’s voice filled the air. “Anna, I find you in a rather precarious situation. Tell you what. I’ve got a deal for you. Surrender and join my crew, or be destroyed. It’s your choice. You have sixty seconds.”
Anna’s jaw dropped open, and the ache in the pit of her stomach returned in full force. She dreaded the idea of returning to his ship in any capacity, and didn’t have the power to properly defend herself. Her resolve sank into despair, and she slid down the ladder and walked onto the bridge, probably for the last time. “Kate, I…”
Kate raised her hand. “Anna, I know this is difficult. Whichever decision you make, do it for yourself. Do not concern yourself with me. I’m only a computer interface. Your life is far more important than mine, this ship, or anything else here.”
Speechless, Anna stared at Kate for several seconds, unable to respond. “Thank you, Kate. For what it’s worth, you’ve been the best holographic friend a person could have.” She took a deep breath and let it out as a thin stream of air. “I know what I have to do.”
Anna ran back into the airlock and clambered up the ladder, pausing at the hatch long enough to look outside at the ship floating nearby. Several seconds passed with no visible action coming from the ship.
“Anna,” Kate said from the bridge. “The minute has passed.”
Looking back at the pirate’s ship, she saw it continued to hover. No announcement came, no weapons fired, nothing happened.
Alone in Paradise (The Chronicles of Anna Foster Book 2) Page 23
