Space Jackers

by Huw Powell

  ‘I’m sure there’s a good reason.’

  ‘Oh yeah?’ she said. ‘So why have they moved me on to a pirate ship?’

  It suddenly dawned on Jake. ‘You must be the cargo.’

  ‘The what?’

  ‘We stopped at Papa Don’s to pick up some special cargo,’ he explained. ‘I assumed it was illegal weapons or stolen goods, but the crew must have been referring to you.’

  ‘Is that all I am to these people? Cargo? Just an item to be delivered?’

  It wasn’t right. Nobody should be treated this way, not even someone as stroppy as Kella. Jake wanted to help, but how? There was no way off the ship and nowhere to hide her.

  ‘Come with me,’ he said, holding out his hand.

  ‘Where?’

  ‘We’re going to see the captain.’

  Jake grabbed Kella’s wrist and pulled her through the air like a human balloon. Ignoring her objections, he towed her out of the room, along the corridor and up the metal staircase.

  ‘I don’t like this,’ she said, when they reached the top deck. ‘We’re going to get into trouble.’

  ‘It’s OK,’ he assured her. ‘I’m always in trouble.’

  Without hesitation, Jake stormed on to the bridge and straight into the back of Kodan, bouncing off the huge man and almost letting go of Kella. Kodan spun round and glared at the pair of them. Granny Leatherhead, Farid and Nichelle also turned to see what was happening.

  ‘Hey,’ said Farid. ‘What are you two doing up here?’

  Jake marched into the centre of the room.

  ‘How can you abduct this girl?’ he asked angrily. ‘I thought you were pirates, not kidnappers.’

  ‘Ah, I see you’ve met our other passenger,’ croaked Granny Leatherhead. ‘Well done, my diddy detective, you’ve managed to stick your nose into our business yet again.’

  ‘Kella’s not a passenger,’ said Jake. ‘I know she’s your “special cargo” and she’s being held for ransom.’

  ‘Stand down, you pocket-sized pest,’ barked Granny Leatherhead. ‘How dare you come on to my bridge and make such accusations? We haven’t abducted anyone. If you must know, the space mafia took Kella away from her family, but before they could collect the ransom, her sister went and got herself arrested by the Interstellar Navy.’

  ‘Jeyne’s been arrested?’ Kella looked shocked. ‘But she’s not a criminal.’

  ‘Maybe she is and maybe she isn’t, dear,’ said Granny Leatherhead. ‘The truth doesn’t matter when you’ve got something that the Galactic Trade Corporation wants. Those manipulative maggots will do anything to get their hands on crystal mines, including making up evidence and framing people.’

  ‘Will I ever see her again?’

  ‘I doubt it,’ said Granny Leatherhead. ‘When old Papa Don realised he wasn’t going to get his money, he wanted you off his spaceport fast, which is why he’s paying us to take you to a distant colony, where you’ll be sold as a slave.’

  Jake was horrified.

  ‘Is this what the infamous Space Dogs have become?’ He turned to Farid and Nichelle, who avoided his eyes. ‘Slave traders?’

  Granny Leatherhead stormed over to Jake and pressed her face up to his, smothering him with her foul breath.

  ‘You insolent space pup,’ she growled, her leather eyepatch rubbing against his brow. ‘Nobody makes demands on my bridge, do you hear me? Nobody. Especially not some purple-eyed orphan boy.’

  Jake held his ground and stared her out. He was half Granny Leatherhead’s size and a fraction of her age, but he was determined not to let her bully them. The stand-off showed no sign of ending, when Farid interrupted.

  ‘Captain, you need to see this.’

  Granny Leatherhead gave a final scowl and pulled away. Jake glanced up at Kella, who smiled at him. For the first time, he noticed how pretty she looked, when she wasn’t frowning.

  ‘What is it, Farid?’ snapped Granny Leatherhead.

  ‘The scanners have picked up an alloy structure on the surface of a nearby asteroid. It’s a shipwreck.’

  The Dark Horse drew closer to the giant asteroid, but keeping enough distance to avoid its gravitational pull. An image of the shipwreck appeared on the computer display. It looked old and derelict, like a metal carcass resting on the rocky surface. The crew were so busy scanning the shipwreck, they forgot about Jake and Kella, who stood silently watching. Jake stared at the damaged hull, wondering if the crew had escaped or if their bodies were still trapped inside.

  ‘We pass wrecks all the time,’ croaked Granny Leatherhead. ‘What’s so special about this one?’

  ‘I don’t recognise the design,’ said Farid, squinting at the display screen. ‘It could be the Altian shipwreck.’

  Jake’s heart leapt. Was it possible that this wreck had come from his home planet? Had they stumbled across his father’s ship?

  ‘Woorak, fetch me Callidus. I want him on the bridge now,’ ordered Granny Leatherhead over the intercom.

  A few minutes later Woorak appeared in the doorway with Callidus, who was now wearing gravity boots. The fortune seeker seemed pleased to be out of his room, but also curious why he had been summoned. He observed the shipwreck with interest.

  ‘Is it Altian?’ asked Granny Leatherhead, getting straight to the point.

  ‘I don’t think so,’ said Callidus. ‘None of its markings look like the design on Jake’s pendant.’

  ‘Where could it be from then?’ asked Jake, his hopes fading fast.

  ‘I don’t know. It could be alien.’

  ‘Alien?’ scoffed Nichelle. ‘It’s been decades since anyone came into contact with a new species, let alone one capable of space flight.’

  ‘In that case, we’re due for another encounter,’ said Callidus. ‘If it’s not a known alien ship, then it could be a species we haven’t met yet. Not that we’ll find any survivors on this wreck.’

  ‘Don’t be so sure, clever clogs.’ Granny Leatherhead pointed to a small flashing light on one of the displays. ‘We’re detecting a faint energy reading and I want to find out what’s causing it.’

  ‘The sensors have picked up a mild heat signature inside the wreck,’ elaborated Farid. ‘It must be something that doesn’t require oxygen, like a computer or a mechanical device.’

  Jake found it incredible that anything could be working on such a lifeless ruin.

  ‘The hull appears intact with no sign of tampering,’ continued the first mate, ‘which means there could still be treasure on board, or worst case, spare parts to salvage.’

  ‘It’s rare to find an unclaimed wreck,’ said Granny Leatherhead. ‘I want to make the most of this opportunity, but it’ll be tricky gaining access and removing the goods from this distance.’

  ‘It would be a dangerous mission even for a trained salvage team,’ agreed Callidus. ‘Who are you sending over there?’

  ‘You,’ she cackled. ‘You and your cowardly companion, Capio. I want you to check it out for us.’

  ‘Wait a minute. That’s not part of our deal,’ said Callidus.

  ‘Tough luck, buddy,’ she croaked, drawing her laser pistol. ‘I make the rules around here and I say you’re going. You can take Jake with you as well. A stroll in space should cool his heels.’

  ‘But we don’t have time for this,’ protested Jake. ‘What about Altus? What about the ISS Colossus?’

  ‘We’ll make time,’ said Granny Leatherhead. ‘Your planet will have to wait.’

  Jake didn’t like the idea of entering a sealed space tomb. Kella tightened her grip around his hand. He looked into her emerald green eyes and found them full of concern.

  ‘It’s OK,’ he lied. ‘I’ll be back before you know it.’

  Chapter 11

  Ghost Ship

  Callidus and Jake were escorted to the airlock on the side of the ship, where Capio was waiting. Maaka ‘Metal Head’ showed them how their spacesuits operated and gave them useful tips for surviving in space, such as how to breat
he properly and monitor their heart rates.

  Jake was too short even for the smallest spacesuit, so Maaka customised one using plastic clips and sticky tape. It looked ridiculous, but at least it would keep him alive outside. Maaka secured the space helmet and gave Jake a thumbs-up through the visor. Jake found it strange breathing in the cold compressed air, though it tasted fresher than the stale stuff they pumped around the ship.

  ‘Have you ever done this before, Cal?’ he asked Callidus, surprised to hear his own voice echoing inside the helmet.

  ‘Yes, I’ve done a few spacewalks in my time,’ said the fortune seeker, securing his space helmet and adjusting the inbuilt communicator. ‘Don’t worry. Stick with me and you’ll be OK.’

  ‘That’s if we don’t get eaten by space monsters,’ grumbled Capio, stuffing himself into his space-suit.

  ‘It’ll be fine,’ insisted Callidus. ‘Think of it as an adventure. Who knows what we might find.’

  Jake was trying his best not to imagine what could be waiting for them aboard the wreck. He liked the idea of discovering treasure, but his mind kept producing images of dead crewmen and alien monsters.

  ‘What does space smell like?’ he asked.

  ‘No one knows for sure,’ said Callidus. ‘A few people claim it has a salty odour similar to ocean water, while others reckon it’s more sulphurous like gunpowder. But if anyone tried exposing their nose to space, they would freeze to death before they smelt anything.’

  ‘Right, it’s time,’ interrupted Maaka, stepping outside the airlock. ‘Keep an eye out for each other and don’t let go of the tow cable.’

  He closed the inner door and winked at them through a small window. The tow cable had been fired from the Dark Horse to connect the ship to the giant asteroid. Callidus, Capio and Jake would use the thick wire to pull themselves across to the shipwreck. As a safety precaution, they had to clip themselves to the tow cable using thinner wires, known as lifelines, which were attached to their spacesuits.

  Jake turned to face the outer airlock door, his heart thumping in nervous anticipation. The space boots were too large for his feet, but they were far more effective at keeping him grounded than the home-made gravity shoes. He was starting to wonder if Granny Leatherhead was playing a joke on them, when two amber lights flashed on the ceiling.

  ‘Warning, airlock door opening,’ announced a speaker on the wall.

  Jake’s pulse doubled and his eyes wedged open, refusing to blink. All he could think about was the lack of air outside the ship. There was only ice-cold empty space.

  The huge outer door cracked open, allowing all the oxygen in the airlock to escape, along with a layer of dust and some bits of rubbish. Jake’s body was pulled forward by an invisible force, but his boots remained firmly anchored. Callidus and Capio used wall straps to steady themselves, while waiting to exit the ship.

  The door finished opening and Callidus walked over to the edge of the airlock. He located the tow cable and signalled for the others to join him. Jake took a deep breath and stepped forward, wrenching his magnetic soles from the metal floor. In a few paces, he was standing face-to-face with outer space, his purple eyes bathed in the light of a billion stars.

  ‘Magnifty.’

  The universe was vast and spectacular. It made him feel small and insignificant, like a tadpole about to swim in the ocean. His legs weakened as he thought about leaving the airlock. He knew there was no gravity outside, but he couldn’t help feeling as though he might fall. The trick with heights was to avoid looking down, he told himself – except there was no such thing as up or down in space.

  ‘I’ll go first,’ said Callidus through the helmet communicator. ‘Jake, you follow next, and, Capio, you can bring up the rear.’

  ‘Do we have to do this?’ whined Capio.

  ‘Yes,’ said Callidus, clipping his lifeline to the tow cable and stepping out of the airlock. ‘Unless you want to try it without a spacesuit?’

  Jake waited until Callidus was clear before reaching up and attaching his own lifeline to the tow cable. His hands were only just able to grip the thick wire through his bulky gloves, but he was determined to prove himself. Ignoring the sick feeling in his stomach, he leant forward and stepped out of the airlock, his heart now beating like a machine gun as he drifted into space.

  ‘Keep hold of that tow cable,’ instructed Callidus, checking behind him. ‘That’s good, Jake, very good. Just watch out for stray asteroids.’

  Jake moved along the wire one hand at a time. He wasn’t as fast as Callidus, but he did his best to keep up, while Capio followed behind, still complaining.

  ‘It’s not ethical to do favours for space pirates,’ muttered Capio. ‘My mother would be so ashamed.’

  It was surprisingly hard work and Jake’s arms soon grew tired. He was also feeling space sick, but resisted the urge to throw up inside his helmet. This was a common reaction to floating in space, brought on by the strange sensation of having nothing beneath your feet and still not falling. Jake tried to focus on the crumpled shipwreck ahead.

  ‘Watch out,’ shouted Callidus.

  Jake looked up and saw a small rock hurtling towards him. He dived out of the way and lost his grip on the tow cable, tumbling backward into space. The rock shot over his head, missing him by inches as he turned a full somersault. Jake reached back for the cable, swiping at it with both hands, but it had already slipped beyond his grasp.

  ‘Help!’ he cried, powerless to stop himself drifting away.

  Was this how his father had felt all those years ago, when he’d been lost in the asteroid field?

  ‘Keep calm,’ said Callidus, his voice clear inside Jake’s helmet.

  Keep calm? How was he supposed to keep calm when he was spiralling out of control?

  ‘Cal –’ he began, but then something tugged at his side.

  Jake looked down to find a thin wire attached to his spacesuit. His lifeline, he was saved!

  He used it to guide him back to the tow cable, which he hugged like an old friend.

  The rest of the journey seemed to take forever. When they finally made contact with the shipwreck, Jake was ready to collapse.

  ‘How are your arms?’ asked Callidus, clearing a patch of space barnacles with his boots.

  ‘Twice as long as when we started, but I’ll be OK.’

  Callidus disconnected himself from the tow cable and explored the damaged outer surface, searching the scarred metal for a way inside. It didn’t take him long to locate the doors and open them with laser cutters. The three of them entered the ship and activated their helmet lamps.

  ‘What peculiar writing.’ Capio shone his light at a sign on the wall.

  ‘I don’t recognise it at all,’ said Callidus, wiping a layer of condensation off the sign with his glove.

  There was something eerie about entering the shipwreck. It was like disturbing a grave or raiding a tomb.

  ‘That’s strange,’ said Callidus, as they ventured deeper inside the wreckage. ‘The internal doors have all been manually opened, but there were no signs of forced entry outside.’

  They entered a wide corridor, which contained more writing, this time etched on to the wall. Jake was relieved that there weren’t any monsters waiting for them. He wasn’t the only one feeling spooked.

  ‘Do you believe in ghosts?’ asked Capio. ‘You know, shipmates who die in space and endlessly roam the cosmos in search of a decent burial.’

  ‘Be quiet,’ snapped Callidus. ‘There are no such things as ghost ships.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Cal, but I can’t help it. This wreck is giving me the creeps.’

  ‘Capio –’ Callidus stopped and listened. ‘What was that noise?’

  No one moved.

  ‘I didn’t hear anything,’ whispered Capio. ‘Are you trying to scare me?’

  ‘No, I definitely heard something moving,’ said Callidus.

  ‘The energy reading?’ guessed Jake.

  ‘It’s probably something
mobile, like a guard robot or maintenance android.’ Callidus shone his light up the corridor. ‘I just hope it’s friendly.’

  The three of them listened for further clues, but there was nothing except silence. Jake longed to be back aboard the Dark Horse.

  ‘Ahoy there,’ echoed Farid’s voice inside their helmets. ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘Fine, thanks,’ said Callidus softly, turning down his helmet communicator. ‘But this isn’t a good time.’

  ‘What’s going on?’ asked the first mate. ‘Why are you whispering?’

  ‘We heard something moving,’ said Callidus. ‘We’re going to investigate.’

  ‘We are?’ choked Capio.

  A loud crash up the corridor made them all jump.

  ‘What was that?’ asked Farid.

  ‘Ghosts,’ whimpered Capio. ‘I knew this wreck was haunted. Let’s get out of here.’

  ‘Over there,’ said Callidus, catching something green moving with his light.

  ‘What is it?’ asked Jake, unable to make out the shape before it disappeared through a door-way.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Callidus, storming up the corridor. ‘But we’re going to find out.’

  ‘Are you crazy?’ hissed Capio. ‘I’m not going after that thing.’

  ‘Fine, stay there.’

  Jake shared Capio’s reluctance, but decided that it would be safer with the fortune seeker. He clomped up the corridor after him, struggling to keep up in his oversized suit. It wasn’t long before he lost sight of Callidus. Jake stopped in a circular room containing three doors.

  ‘Cal?’ he called out in the darkness. ‘Are you there?’

  Nobody answered.

  ‘Capio?’

  Nobody answered.

  ‘Farid?’ He fiddled with his helmet communic­ator, hoping to hear a familiar voice.

  Nobody answered.

  Jake was lost again, only this time in a shipwreck on an asteroid. He stood in the centre of the room, staring at the three doors, when something moved behind him. Jake turned and came face-to-face with the green shape.

  Capio was right. They had boarded a ghost ship.

  Chapter 12