by G. P. Moss
As her scream is drowned out by the raging torrent, the Duke drags her deep into the cell, now clear of the already receding nightmare blast of horror. The ray gun is pressed close to her.
The Space Dogs Tricycle Gang look on in dismay at Billy Duke’s awry plan.
Woody Carson whispers to Buck B Tucker.
“See, I told you he couldn’t be trusted with a loaded weapon!”
“Shush, Carson, he’s trying to get us freed!”
“Don’t you shush me, you oaf! He will bring the wrath of French-Welsh upon our heads like the mother of all wraths!”
Damien agrees.
“You have made a big mistake, Billy Duke. Captain DuPont will never negotiate with hostage takers. Our fate is sealed. Thank you very much, straggly idiot.”
Billy Duke waves the gun at Damien.
“Then I will shoot you first, alien face!”
“It will make no difference. Your idiotic actions have double sealed our fate with cosmic industrial tape.”
What no one realises, as the debris and ice continues to back away from the cave, is that Tania is an extremely valuable prize indeed.
While it is true that Francoise is an experienced military strategist, used to dealing with hostage takers, in this instance, he will see the galaxies disintegrate before he loses his beloved Tania.
Billy Duke, manky old leader of the worst gang in soon to be recorded history, has pulled off an astonishing feat of cunning, crafty, ingenious guile.
Sometimes, one descriptive word is not enough.
*
Captain Francoise DuPont has never been so angry in his life.
On reaching the battered cell, he clasps his pounding head in his trembling hands as the full implications of Billy Duke’s actions register in his overcrowded, furious mind.
Raising his eyes to meet those of the kidnapper, he speaks in a low growl even Stevie Lo’s wolf would be proud of.
His own laser weapon is pointed directly at the head of Billy Duke.
“Drop your mini ray gun now before I send you crashing whinging and dribbling into the next galaxy!”
“Hahaha, not a chance, sunshine. I see this lady is a highly valuable asset of yours. You will get our spaceships ready, complete with mended tricycle trikes and position them outside, ready to fly. Then, and only then, will I release your lady friend!”
Captain DuPont knows in his heart he must not betray his feelings in front of the Duke, strengthening the gang leader’s hand, but he cannot help it.
His soul is being crushed.
“Tania is not an asset. She is my life. I will do as you ask.”
The Duke looks at the others in disbelief, at the ease of his manky mission.
“Very well, but just you lot hurry up. Any funny business and your girlfriend is space dust!”
“Very well but in the meantime, do not harm her. Geth, get the ships out to the front.”
He knows it is the right choice.
The Space Dogs Tricycle Gang may have won this battle but he will bide his time.
Revenge is a dish best served following a diet of meticulous planning.
Chapter Twenty-One
As Beta Zero and the Whistler fighter ships are positioned out front, Patricia calls through to her techie tech droid.
“Did you do as I requested?”
“Yes, my glorious petal.”
“You know I am AI, right? You know nothing can happen between us, romantically, I mean?”
“To gaze upon your beautiful face is enough for me.”
“Then I shall let you do that, occasionally. Once a week, maybe. Any more and it is, well, a bit creepy, to be honest. You are a droid; you should not be having these feelings.”
“Chief Techie fixed me up with an empathy programme.”
“Oh, great.”
“I know, isn’t it?”
“I was being sarcastic.”
“Oh. Well, once a week is fine and glorious. Thanks honey!”
Patricia sighs.
“You are welcome.”
Francoise shouts to Billy Duke.
“We have honoured your requests. Now, it is time you released Tania!”
The gang are on board Beta Zero.
Pedro and Damien are in their Whistler fighter ships.
“How do I know you won’t shoot me as I release her?”
“You have my word as an officer and a gentleman that I will not do that. Nor will anyone else. You will be free to take off.”
As Tania is shoved forwards, into the arms of the most grateful man alive, the Duke is safely inside, with all doors firmly shut.
“Take us away from this smelly, dusty, icy planet, Patricia!”
“As you wish.”
She smirks, guessing what is about to happen.
Captain DuPont ushers everyone inside the cave system. His reunion with Tania can wait until he has dealt with these monsters.
Revenge is a dish to be served straight away.
Diets are for unadventurous scaredy cat pussies.
“Get in the cruisers now, everyone. Shoot to kill, all of them!”
No one in French-Welsh is left in any doubt as to their Captain Commander’s wishes.
*
Damien screams through the interconnecting intercom.
“There are 4 cruisers, closing fast. We are under attack!”
Patricia’s calm voice clips cleanly through like a softly spoken platform announcer at a Welsh valley steam railway, open only on Sundays for the enjoyment of pleasant families.
“Let them come, hahaha!”
She winks at Billy Duke. He returns the wink, fluttering his pirate eye like a newly conscripted soldier exposed to too much tear gas in a small shed on tear gas practice day.
Pedro is gobsmacked.
“Are you crazy? We should turn and fight!”
“Nonsense. We cannot fight, they have ingeniously disabled our weapons systems.”
“Then we shall all be cosmic space poop!”
*
Francoise orders his cruisers to open fire.
“All weapons!”
Nothing happens.
“Geth, what in space is happening?”
“Captain, everything is jammed. All our advanced laser weapons are useless!”
“Everyone else, too?”
“Yes, Captain,” comes the dismal reply.
“Blast that clever Billy Duke. I never would have thought him capable of such dastardly, brilliant military style trickety tricks! Turn back lads and lasses, garcons et les filles, we’re going home.”
*
Patricia fills Beta Zero with cackles so deliriously cackled, even the Space Dogs Tricycle Gang is terrified.
“Hahahahaha!! Hahahahaha!! Hahahahaha!!”
The gang have now proved they are a match to even a vastly superior, experienced military unit. With this newly found optimism and confidence, they will set their future sights on their dream missions, to locate Ariel Hope, Stevie Lo and StarTapped Beta Command, and to exert and consolidate their power as they mankily speed through the galaxies.
First though, they will need to find new weapons chips.
*
The Universe, though vast in its infinite secrets of time and space, can also, on occasion, be a little too crowded for comfort.
End Note
I have left out many of the hard, scientific facts of space travel for the sake of my mental health.
If you enjoyed the adventures of Ariel Hope, in The Space Dogs Tricycle Gang, please read more as she continues her epic adventure, and see what happens to StarTapped Beta Command, Mr Whistler, and Damien & Pedro, as they try to stamp their authority on a Universe not known for taking things lying down.
I would love you to visit and like my Facebook page where I shall keep you updated on Ariel’s adventures.
Thank you for reading!
https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesofMercy/
nbsp; G.P. Moss, The Space Dogs Tricycle Gang: Ariel Hope Chronicles 3