by Huw Powell
“The Hacker Jackers cannot help us.”
“Why not?” asked Kella.
“There is only one crew of robot pirates in this galaxy,” said Vigor-8. “Papa Don would spot them long before they reached the prison block. Most of my crew are ex–house robots and they are not built for combat.”
“You might as well face it, Jake,” croaked Granny Leatherhead. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Jake wasn’t listening. “What’s that noise?”
A scratching sound was coming from the door. Were there rats in space? Jake walked across the room and peered through the narrow, barred window.
“Hello?” he whispered.
“Ahoy-hoy,” said a husky female voice. “All right, mates?”
Jake jumped back in surprise as the face of a teenage girl appeared at the window. Her freckled white skin was framed in a nest of flowing pink hair. It was the young pirate girl he had seen earlier that day. Her scarlet lips curled into a broad smile and she winked at him with sapphire-blue eyes.
“Who are you?” asked Jake.
“You can call me Kay,” she said. “Hold tight, Kid Cutler. I’ll have you out of there in a jiffy-tick.”
Her head disappeared and Jake realized that she must be picking the lock. The rest of the crew gathered around the door.
“Come, Vigor-8,” whispered Nanoo. “We busting out.”
A moment later, there was a loud click followed by a scraping sound. The cell door opened and the pirate girl stood in the corridor holding an electronic picklock. Jake could tell that she was a spacejacker by her customized combat suit, tall space boots, and long leather gloves. A selection of weapons hung from her studded kit belt.
“Why are you helping us?” he asked.
“I’m a big fan of the teenage pirate captain who defeated Admiral Nex,” she said.
Granny Leatherhead coughed. “Teenage pirate captain?”
Jake ignored her and stepped into the corridor. “Where are the guards?”
Kay laughed and flicked back her pink hair. “Asleep.”
Jake guessed that the guards had not drifted off by accident. He beckoned the others to follow him.
“What are your orders, Captain Cutler?” asked Granny Leatherhead with a mock salute.
“We keep to the plan,” said Jake. “Get the crew back to the ship while I go for the sword. It won’t take me long to break into Papa Don’s quarters.”
Granny Leatherhead held her walking stick in both hands. “It will be my pleasure.”
“You’re going to fight your way out with that?” Kay smirked.
“This isn’t an ordinary walking stick,” said Granny Leatherhead. “It’s a heavily decorated shotgun.”
Kay looked impressed. “Sneaky!”
“Kay, can you help me pick some more locks?” asked Jake.
The teenage pirate saluted and drew her cutlass. “Aye, Kid Cutler.”
Two guards appeared at the end of the walkway and caught sight of the escaping prisoners.
“Nobody move!” shouted one of them, raising a machine gun.
“Run,” said Vigor-8, standing in front of Jake.
“What about you?”
“I will be fine,” insisted the robot. “Now that I am fixed.”
“Out of the way, tin man,” ordered the other guard.
“I am a free robot and I will not be insulted.”
Vigor-8 gave a mechanical growl and charged at them. A burst of bullets ricocheted off the robot’s chest plate like miniature fireworks before the guards turned and fled. Jake watched the metal marauder chase after them and disappear out of sight. A collection of curious faces appeared at the cell doors and cheered when they saw prisoners escaping.
“Let’s go, Space Dogs,” said Granny Leatherhead, leading her crew to the reception desk.
Jake waited for them to leave, and then he took Kay to a sealed door halfway up the corridor.
“Can you pick that lock?” he asked.
“Better than that,” she said, producing an identification card and swiping it on the wall scanner.
“Hey, that card belongs to Ormos,” said Jake, as the door slid open. “It has Chief of Security written on it.”
Kay tucked the card into her breast pocket. “Well, that’s what he gets for leaving it lying around while he plays Reus roulette.”
“Why didn’t you use it on the cell door?”
“I tried,” she said. “But it didn’t work.”
Jake led Kay into a long and narrow passageway that took them to a spiral staircase. There were voices and bootsteps a few levels below. Jake held his finger to his lips and tiptoed up the metal stairs, relieved that he had left his magnetic soles aboard the Dark Horse. The steps were grated and he could see two black shapes below.
“Hurry up,” whispered Kay.
Jake climbed as fast as he dared. He could now see the security guards clearly. If either of them looked up, it would be Game Over. Jake was about to make a run for it when Kay stopped and raised her cutlass. He held his breath and waited for one of the shaved heads to appear. Kay’s cutlass twitched in her hands, ready to strike, but the two guards left the stairs and entered the narrow passageway and their bootsteps faded.
“Come on,” said Jake. “Let’s get out of here, before they discover the breakout.”
The pair of them raced up the spiral staircase to the top level, where Kay used the stolen identification card to pass through a series of hatches and passageways.
“This is it,” said Jake, when they came to a polished wooden door. “Papa Don’s quarters.”
Kay squinted at the brass plaque. “ ‘Keep an eye on the stars and stay out of trouble’?” she read.
“It’s okay,” whispered Jake. “I’m always in trouble for something. How do we know if it’s safe to enter?”
Kay held up the identification card and grinned. “There’s only one way to find out.”
Chapter 14
The Sword of Altus
Kay swiped the identification card and stood back expectantly, but nothing happened.
“Does anything work properly in this wretched spaceport?” she complained, and re-swiped the card.
The door slid open and Jake braced himself, but the room was deserted. He stepped cautiously inside and cast his eyes over the dimly lit tables. There was a pile of star charts, a handheld computer, and his gold pendant. His attention moved to the glass box on the wall, where the golden cutlass glistened in the starlight. He felt a rush of excitement as he caught sight of the ancient sword.
“What are you waiting for?” asked Kay.
“Something’s wrong,” said Jake. “This is way too easy.”
“I wouldn’t complain; we’re not in the clear yet.”
Jake walked over to collect his handheld computer and gold pendant. As he picked them up, he noticed markings on the star charts that were shaped like naval vessels.
“It looks as though Papa Don is more interested in galactic war than he makes out.”
Jake turned to the glass box and stopped short.
“What’s wrong?” asked Kay.
Jake pointed to the robot parrot perched in the shadows. Its eyes were closed, and a long wire connected its body to a socket on the wall.
“It must be recharging its batteries,” whispered Jake. “Let’s hurry before it wakes up.”
Kay whipped out her electronic picklock and got to work on the glass box. In a matter of seconds, the tiny lock clicked open and the lid lifted. Jake reached up and removed the cutlass. The polished golden blade was even more impressive up close. His finger traced the three crystals embedded in the hilt. It truly was a sword fit for a pirate king. He held the weapon in front of him and slashed the air experimentally. It was heavier than his other cutlass, but it was well balanced and it responded to his command.
“Magnifty.”
At last, Jake had the lost sword of Altus, the sword that his father had once held, the sword that was going to unite t
he independent colonies. It wasn’t stealing; he was reclaiming what was rightfully his in the first place. As Jake held the cutlass in his hand, he could feel its history surging through this body. It made him feel important and powerful. He felt like a leader.
Kay pulled a feather duster from inside her combat suit and placed it inside the glass box. “We had better get out of here before old Crystal Features turns up.”
Jake nodded, but as they went to leave, a deafening noise pierced the darkness. Had they triggered an alarm? It was either that, or the security guards had discovered the breakout. There was a loud screech behind them, and two glowing red eyes burned in the darkness.
“Run!” shouted Jake.
The robot parrot launched itself from its perch and into the air. Jake and Kay scrambled for the door, eager to avoid the curved beak and razor-sharp talons, but the parrot was fast. Its huge metal wings beat the air, projecting it across the room like a rocket.
Jake could sense the parrot swooping down on them a split second before he saw its shadow in the starlight. He grabbed hold of Kay and pulled her to the ground, but when he turned to face the bird, it hovered several feet above them, squawking and snapping its beak. Why had it stopped?
“It’s still connected to the wall,” said Kay.
The robot parrot twisted in the air and attacked the wire that held it back. Jake and Kay scuttled across the floor, not daring to take their eyes off the bird for a second. As they reached the door, the wire broke and the parrot tumbled free.
“Close the door,” shouted Jake, climbing to his feet.
Kay swiped her identification card at the wall scanner, but the door remained open. The parrot turned in the air and flew toward them.
“Curse this nebula!” Kay cried, striking the wall scanner with the hilt of her cutlass.
The door slid shut and there was a loud thump on the other side as the parrot crashed into the polished wood.
“That was close,” said Jake. “I hope that thing doesn’t know how to open doors.”
Jake and Kay raced back to the spiral staircase, but as they descended the metal steps, Jake realized that they were not alone. There were voices coming from below, and one of them rumbled like thunder. He caught sight of Ormos a few levels below, leading a squad of security guards. The huge man looked up and their eyes met. His face was red and blistered from the boiling oil.
“Stop!” roared Ormos.
A shower of bullets rattled off the wall above Jake’s head.
“This way,” cried Kay, pulling Jake through a hatch door into a dark passage.
“How are we going to get past those guards?” he asked.
“We’ll have to find another way,” she said, sealing the door.
Jake looked down the passage, which was cluttered with garbage. “Is there another way?”
“It’s okay,” she said, venturing into the shadows. “I grew up in this spaceport.”
Jake hurried after Kay, stepping over scattered crates and broken chairs. He could smell something spicy cooking nearby.
“Down here,” she said, grabbing hold of a spindly ladder.
Jake tucked the sword into his belt and jammed the handheld computer into his mouth. He gripped the ladder and clambered down after Kay. The next level was much wider and brighter. Jake could hear music and voices coming from the surrounding walkways. Kay led him through a network of side passages and maintenance shafts.
“We’re almost there,” she said. “Not far now.”
The two of them spilled out onto a walkway full of people. Kay pointed to a low archway on the other side. Jake nodded and followed her through the crowd. A couple of traders waved fake crystals in his face. He pushed them aside and continued toward the opposite wall, where Kay was waiting. Jake could tell that something was wrong by her startled expression.
“Cutler,” snarled a savage voice.
Jake turned to find Scarabus Shark standing in the walkway. The oily-skinned pirate was holding his space helmet and a thick-bladed sword, which resembled a meat cleaver. His scarred face showed a mixture of surprise and anger. The crowd scattered around them, not wishing to stand between Scarabus and his prey.
“I don’t want to fight you,” said Jake, drawing the golden cutlass and backing toward the archway.
“I don’t blame you,” laughed Scarabus, raising his weapon.
The space pirate captain attacked, swinging his sword like an ax. Jake dodged the thick blade and fought back with a thrust of his cutlass. Scarabus used his helmet to deflect the strike before lashing out again with his sword. Jake blocked the blow, but the brute force of it knocked him off his feet.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Scarabus stood over Jake with the sword lifted above his head.
“Not so fast, fish face,” said Kay, whipping out a strange-looking pistol. “Kid Cutler is with me.”
Scarabus bared his metal fangs. “You dare to point that thing at me?”
“Aye,” she said, her finger stroking the trigger. “Now drop your sword, before I blow your ugly head off.”
“You’re messing with the wrong spacejacker.” Scarabus threw his weapon onto the metal grating, and the walkway shook. “I’ll make you suffer for this, you little wretch.”
“Kiss my cutlass,” said Kay, pulling the trigger.
“No!” shouted Jake, scrambling to his feet.
But instead of bullets, a cloud of bubbles squirted from the end of the barrel and popped on the pirate captain’s face, leaving it covered in small wet circles. Scarabus looked furious at being tricked. He yelled with rage and lunged at them. Jake pulled Kay to the side and raised his cutlass.
“No you don’t,” he said.
Scarabus glared at the blade pointed at his chest. Jake held it firm and kept his eyes on the pirate captain, as Kay tugged his arm.
“Come on,” she whispered. “Let’s go.”
The two of them darted through the archway and disappeared into the shadows before Scarabus could recover his sword. As they ran, Kay returned her pistol to its holster.
“Are you crazy?” exclaimed Jake. “Who carries a toy gun in an illegal spaceport?”
“It’s a semiautomatic bubble gun,” she corrected. “And it was the first weapon that came to hand.”
Inside her jacket, Kay carried twin laser pistols with matching pearl handles, a cutlass, a stiletto dagger, throwing stars, a string of palm grenades, and two feather dusters.
“Hey, this is where we left the ship,” said Jake, as they burst through an emergency exit in front of the docking bays.
Kay closed the door behind them and smashed the lock. “We’re not safe yet.”
Jake scanned the bays for the plump hull of the Dark Horse, but his eyes were drawn to a damaged space cutter, which had recently been patched up.
“That’s the Loose Cannon,” he said, recognizing Carla Gritt’s ship.
“This way,” urged Kay, dragging him toward the bay where the Dark Horse was waiting.
The cargo hauler’s loading ramp was down, and two security guards lay sprawled at the bottom. Jake spotted Nichelle on the bridge and knew that the crew were preparing to take off.
“Come with me,” he said. “I’ll give you a lift.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got my own ship.” Kay pointed to a neighboring bay. “Its hull is a little bashed, but it’s still spaceworthy.”
“The Divine Wind?”
“Yes, I’m its captain,” she said proudly. “My crew calls me Crazy Kay Jagger.”
“You’re Wild Joe Jagger’s daughter?”
Kay winked at him, and Jake realized that the blood-red letter K must stand for Kay. It had been her ship that had attacked the ISS Magnificent, allowing the Dark Horse to escape.
“I’ll race you to the stars,” she said. “The last one to leave the spaceport has scabby scurvy shorts.”
Before Jake could say another word, Kay ran off toward the Divine Wind. He shook his head in disbelief and headed for his own ship,
but as he made his way to the old cargo hauler, a squad of security guards emerged from a different exit, led by Ormos.
“Get him!” roared the chief of security.
Jake sprinted toward the Dark Horse as a shower of bullets sparked off the bay floor around him. Amber lights flashed on the cargo hauler’s hull and its engine rumbled. Kella and Nanoo were waiting on the loading ramp with Woorak, who provided cover fire with a machine gun.
“Hurry, Jake,” cried Kella.
“They coming fast,” warned Nanoo.
Jake could hear heavy bootsteps stomping closer. A bullet clipped his handheld computer, leaving a dent in its casing. He glanced across to the Divine Wind and was relieved to see Kay disappear inside the yellow star frigate. Woorak shouted something and pointed in the air. Jake looked up and saw that the robot parrot had escaped. It swooped down on him, its beak open wide.
Jake lashed out with the sword and clipped the bird, but it wasn’t enough. The parrot sunk its razor-sharp talons into his chest. Jake cried out in pain and fell to the ground. The parrot sank its talons deeper and flapped its metal wings, scratching Jake’s face with the serrated edges. In the background, the bootsteps drew nearer.
“Get off me,” shouted Jake, hitting the parrot with his handheld computer.
A shadow passed overhead and something collided with the robot, knocking it over. Jake swore out loud as the razor-sharp talons ripped away some of his flesh. He caught sight of two birds fighting behind him. Squawk the parrot had come to his rescue in a flurry of colorful feathers.
Ignoring the pain, Jake scurried across the floor with his head down. He reached the loading ramp and threw himself onto it. A second later, Squawk flew through the opening and landed on a container, cursing.
“It’s t-t-time to go,” said Woorak, raising the ramp.
Kella and Nanoo helped Jake through the cargo hold and down the corridor to the guest quarters. As they leaped into their bunks and secured their straps, the Dark Horse pulled away from the docking bay. Jake heard bullets bouncing off the hull, like hailstones on a window.
“Is everyone okay?” asked Jake, the cuts on his chest making his eyes water.
“Yes,” said Kella. “Kodan led us back through a series of secret security hatches.”
