by Huw Powell
The Space Dogs had been hunted by Admiral Vantard since leaving Altus, occasionally crossing laser cannon with his warship, the ISS Magnificent. If Nanoo hadn’t used his alien technology to strengthen the cargo hauler’s shields, the entire crew would have been stardust by now. But they could not survive on luck forever. It was only a matter of time before Admiral Vantard captured the Dark Horse and punished them for making the Interstellar Navy appear weak.
What if they were tortured and one of the crew revealed the secret location of Altus? Jake was starting to wonder if he had made the right decision to leave his home planet. He had put his people in danger to search for his missing father, and he didn’t know where to start. If only he knew what Andras Cutler looked like, or why he had stayed away for so long. Jake had not considered what would happen once they found his father. What if he didn’t want anything to do with Altus? More to the point, what if he didn’t want anything to do with Jake?
In the trading station, the Dark Horse rattled and clanked as the crew prepared for takeoff. Jake hurried to the guest quarters, where he shared a room with Callidus and Capio. He climbed into his bunk and listened to the sound of the loading ramp closing beneath the ship. It wasn’t the first time they had launched in a hurry, but he still experienced a rush of adrenaline as the engine roared to life.
“Get yourselves strapped in quick, folks,” Granny Leatherhead instructed them over the faulty intercom, her voice sounding deep and stretched. “We’re leaving as soon as the bay doors open.”
Jake fastened his buckles and lay flat on his bunk, staring at the flashing amber light on the ceiling. It had been good to stop running for a few days, but now it was time to flee the trading station. He wondered how much longer they could keep this up. Weeks? Months? Scargus had once told him that life as a space pirate was mostly hard work and hiding from the Interstellar Navy. It certainly seemed that way.
Nichelle released the thrusters, which thundered like an explosion refusing to end. Jake felt the Dark Horse surge toward the bay doors. His bunk vibrated as the ship gathered speed, bumping him against the bed straps. The bay walls blurred past the porthole until suddenly, without warning, they were replaced by stars as the old cargo hauler hurled itself into space.
“Hello, big black,” whispered Jake, releasing his straps and floating free from his bunk, no longer held down by artificial gravity.
He kicked off the nearest wall and propelled himself toward the window so he could see what was happening outside. Through the scratched glass, he caught sight of the naval warship, its long midnight-blue hull cutting through the stars. The name ISS Magnificent was printed on the side in tall white writing, each letter larger than the Dark Horse.
Jake pushed himself away from the window and back to his bunk, where his homemade gravity shoes were stuck to the wall. He plucked them off the metal surface and slipped them onto his feet, allowing the magnetic soles to drag him to the floor.
“Where are you going?” asked Callidus.
“To the bridge,” said Jake. “The captain might need our help.”
He climbed through the hatch door and hurried down the corridor, past the engine room, up the metal staircase, and along the top deck to the front of the cargo hauler. As usual, Nichelle was piloting the ship while Farid watched the scanners and Kodan stood silently by the door. Granny Leatherhead looked tired as she paced the floor.
“Captain, we’re being hailed by the ISS Magnificent,” said Farid.
“Ignore them,” croaked Granny Leatherhead. “They’ll find out who we are soon enough, once they’ve spoken with the gunship crew. Nichelle, it’s time to try out the new boosters.”
“Aye, Captain.”
The pilot tightened her dark blue ponytail and punched several buttons on her control panel. Jake grabbed hold of the hatch and braced himself for acceleration.
“Wait,” said Farid. “There’s another ship in the way.”
“Who is it?” asked Granny Leatherhead, her single gray eye squinting at the main display.
“It’s an old space cutter called the Loose Cannon, registered to a fortune seeker named Carla Gritt.”
“Not another meddling mercenary,” groaned Granny Leatherhead. “That’s the fifth one since leaving Altus. If the reward for our capture goes up much higher, I’ll be tempted to hand myself in. Is her ship armed?”
“Aye, but it only has a single laser cannon,” said Farid. “I’m more worried about the ISS Magnificent behind us, if our rear shields have not been calibrated.”
“So let’s turn around and face them.”
“But then our exhausts will be exposed to the Loose Cannon.”
Callidus and Capio entered the bridge.
“What’s going on?” asked the fortune seeker. “Why have we stopped?”
“Carla Gritt.” Granny Leatherhead pointed a wrinkled finger at the main display. “Is she a friend of yours?”
“Gritt?” Callidus swept back his dark, wavy hair, revealing two metal studs fixed to the sides of his head. “I’ve only ever heard of her by reputation. Carla Gritt would sell her own parents for a fistful of crystals.”
“Captain, the ISS Magnificent is still hailing us,” said Farid. “I don’t think the new registration plates have worked. They’re preparing their laser cannon.”
“Blast it,” cursed Granny Leatherhead, holding her forehead. “Nichelle, get us out of here.”
“I can’t,” said the pilot. “The Loose Cannon is matching our every move.”
“Then ram her out of the way.”
“No,” said Jake, watching from the doorway. “We’ll rupture our hull.”
“Who asked you?”
“He’s right,” said Callidus. “A collision is too risky, even with our strengthened shields.”
“Okay, fine,” snapped the captain. “Blow her to stardust.”
“If we do that, the naval warship will open fire for sure,” said Farid.
“So what in the name of Zerost can we do?” Granny Leatherhead scowled at Callidus. “This is all your fault.”
“Me?”
“Aye, you and your idiotic ideas. I can’t believe you talked me into spacejacking a naval gunship. Was it worth it? Did its computer tell you anything useful?”
“No, but—”
“I knew it!” she barked. “I must have been mad to let you join my crew.”
“Captain,” urged Farid. “Both ships are preparing to fire.”
“We should surrender,” said Capio. “Before it’s too late.”
“Ha!” shrieked Granny Leatherhead. “How long have you been on this ship? It’s not in a Space Dog’s nature to give up without a fight. Nichelle, turn the ship around to face the ISS Magnificent. We’re going to blow a hole in its horrible hull, before Ms. Gritt tears open our rear.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Are you insane?” said Callidus. “That’s suicide. I know we defeated the ISS Colossus, but it was already damaged and we were helped by a black hole. Capio’s right, we have to surrender.”
“Stand down, Callidunce,” warned Granny Leatherhead. “I’m the captain of this ship and I say we fight.”
“Surrender,” insisted the fortune seeker, reaching for his pistol.
“Fight,” she yelled, grabbing her own gun.
The two of them stood inches apart, weapons drawn and eyes fixed on each other.
“Stop it!” shouted Jake. “Don’t we have enough enemies?”
“Captain,” interrupted Farid. “There’s a third ship.”
“Fine by me,” she said, not taking her eye off Callidus. “Let’s see how many it takes to bring down the Space Dogs.”
“It’s a pirate ship.” Farid tapped feverishly on his display. “A star frigate called the Divine Wind. It’s heading straight for the ISS Magnificent.”
Granny Leatherhead almost dropped her pistol as she turned to look at the display screen. Jake caught sight of a bright yellow ship with a space pirate emblem painted on
its hull, only the crew had used crossed feathers instead of bones. There was also a blood-red letter K painted on the side, and several pink laser cannon jutting out of its gun ports.
“It can’t be the Divine Wind,” muttered Granny Leatherhead, her face whitening. “Not after all these years.”
The yellow star frigate opened fire, catching the ISS Magnificent by surprise and scorching its hull, before it veered sharply and accelerated in the opposite direction. Jake could make out the words Kiss My Cutlass written on its rear. He watched the naval warship change course to pursue the pirate ship, its own laser cannon blazing.
Granny Leatherhead turned her back on the screen. “Now’s our chance. Nichelle, head straight for Carla Gritt. Kodan, prepare Nanoo’s latest invention in case she refuses to budge. It’s time we left the fifth solar system.”
“Aye, Captain,” said Nichelle, tugging at her controls.
Kodan nodded and marched over to a small panel beneath the main display, which he slid aside to reveal a secret compartment in the nose of the ship. Jake had watched Nanoo working on the multibarreled laser cannon, which they had nicknamed Old Lizzy after the captain. He knew that the crew were itching to try it out, especially Kodan, who now squeezed into the tight space.
Granny Leatherhead glared at the space cutter. “Your move, nasty nickers.”
The Dark Horse drew closer, gathering speed, but the Loose Cannon held its position.
Jake spotted a hatch opening on its hull. “Captain, she’s up to something.”
A hose with a sprinkler attached to the end slithered out of the hole.
“That’s no laser cannon,” said Farid.
“What is it?” asked Jake.
“That, my lad, is trouble,” said Granny Leatherhead. “Brace yourself for an acid shower.”
“But they’re illegal!” exclaimed Capio.
“So is spacejacking,” pointed out Callidus. “Will the shields hold?”
“Let’s not find out,” said Granny Leatherhead. “Avast, Nichelle, pull back.”
“It’s too late,” cried the blue-haired pilot.
Jake was shocked to see globules of green liquid spray from the sprinkler head, creating a web of acid in front of them. The Dark Horse plowed straight through the toxic rain, which splattered across the front of the ship, burning holes in their shields and scarring the hull. At the same time, Carla Gritt opened fire with her single laser cannon.
“My lovely paint job!” screeched Granny Leatherhead. “What are you waiting for, Kodan? Kill that sneaky space witch.”
Kodan pulled the trigger and a string of laser bolts fired in rapid succession, like splintered lightning exploding from the nose of the ship. His huge arms shook violently as he tried to control the multibarreled weapon. If Jake had thought the sawed-off laser cannon were loud, they were nothing compared with this booming beast. It used up so much power, the bridge lights dimmed and the computer displays flickered.
“Missed,” reported Farid.
Kodan grunted, took aim and fired again, this time scattering laser bolts like flaming buckshot. Jake watched as several of them exploded on Carla Gritt’s shields.
“That’s it,” said Granny Leatherhead. “Keep shooting.”
The fortune seeker knew that she was outgunned and changed her tactics. Her ship circled around the Dark Horse, targeting its exposed rear. Jake felt the hull shake as the cargo hauler received yet another battle scar.
“Maaka, Woorak, roll out the stubbies,” ordered Granny Leatherhead through the intercom, which now made her voice sound high-pitched and squeaky. “Nichelle, turn us around; don’t let her get a clean shot at our exhausts.”
Nichelle turned the Dark Horse, while hidden gun ports scraped open on the side of the hull to reveal a row of sawed-off laser cannon.
“Now, boys,” croaked Granny Leatherhead. “Fire!”
Maaka and Woorak unleashed their cannon, spitting out laser bolts and forcing Carla Gritt to abandon her attack. As her ship peeled away, Nichelle swung the nose of the Dark Horse around and Kodan pumped out a third stream of laser bolts, penetrating the space cutter’s shields and rupturing its hull.
“Direct hit!” Farid cheered. “Her systems are down, finish her off.”
“Don’t waste the lasers,” said Granny Leatherhead. “Let space have her.”
Kodan ceased fire, leaving a ringing silence in the air. Jake watched the Loose Cannon on the computer display, damaged and adrift. He felt a sudden pity for the fortune seeker. What if that had been Callidus?
But Granny Leatherhead showed no remorse. “Nichelle, get us out of here before that naval warship returns.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Nichelle accelerated away from the trading station, putting as many stars as possible between the Dark Horse and the ISS Magnificent.
“Captain.”
“Yes, Jake?”
“Who owns the Divine Wind?”
Chapter 3
Wild Joe Jagger
It had been three hours since the Dark Horse had left the trading station. A rumor was spreading through the ship that they had run out of places to hide, which was fueled further when Granny Leatherhead summoned the crew to the dining area on the first deck. Jake strapped himself into a seat next to Kella and Nanoo. The captain stood on a table, clutching a star chart in one hand and rubbing her forehead with the other.
“Okay, folks, let’s start with the good news,” she said. “There’s no sign of the ISS Magnificent on the long-range scanner. It looks as though we’ve made a clean getaway.”
There was a ripple of halfhearted cheers from the crew. Jake knew that everyone was thinking the same thing.
“We would have been history back there,” said Farid, “if it hadn’t been for the Divine Wind.”
“Yeah, who were those spacejackers?” asked Maaka.
“I’ve already told you,” croaked Granny Leatherhead. “I don’t know.”
“But you recognized the ship,” said Callidus.
Granny Leatherhead stiffened. “I haven’t seen the Divine Wind for over a decade. As far as I knew, that old star frigate was sold for scrap when its captain died. Has anyone heard of Wild Joe Jagger?”
Most of the crew shook their heads.
“I have,” said Scargus. “His crew used to take on the most dangerous jobs that no one else would touch. He was responsible for the Ranko prison break and the Cortis gold heist.”
“Aye, that’s him,” said Granny Leatherhead. “Wild Joe earned his reputation as one of the most daring and reckless spacejackers in the seven solar systems.”
“How did he die?” asked Jake.
“Not well,” said Scargus. “His body was found strapped to the hull of his ship. The crew were floating nearby, having been made to walk the air lock without spacesuits.”
“Interstellar Navy do it?” asked Nanoo.
“Unlikely,” said Granny Leatherhead. “If they had caught a space pirate, they would have wanted the whole galaxy to know about it. No, I reckon he was killed by someone he knew. Wild Joe was quite a character, but not everyone liked his style. He had his share of enemies, the same as the rest of us.”
“What are you saying?” asked Callidus. “We were rescued by a ghost?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. “The Divine Wind must have a new crew. At least they were prepared to fight. If it had been up to you, we would all be prisoners by now.”
“If it had been up to you, we would all be dead by now.”
“Please don’t start that again,” said Jake.
Farid pointed to the star chart in Granny’s hand. “Where are we heading, Captain?”
Granny Leatherhead looked down, as though she had forgotten what she was holding. “Ah, yes, that’s the bad news. We need to find somewhere for Scargus and Manik to finish repairing the ship. It would also be nice to stay in the same place for a while.”
“What about my dad?” asked Jake.
“What about him? We c
an’t keep stumbling around the galaxy hoping to bump into your father. The crew needs some proper rest. You can use the time to come up with a plan to find him. He’s been missing for eleven years, so a few more weeks or months won’t do any harm.”
“Where did you have in mind?” asked Nichelle.
“That’s the problem. I’ve trawled the charts, but there aren’t any safe ports nearby and we’ve used up all of our best hideouts. Does anyone have any ideas?”
It appeared that the rumor was true and they had run out of places to hide.
“Papa Don’s illegal spaceport?” suggested Maaka.
“Too far,” said Granny Leatherhead. “Besides, I don’t think the space mafia would be pleased to see us right now. Not while we’re the most wanted crew in the galaxy.”
“How about the t-t-trading station?” stammered Woorak. “Admiral Vantard w-w-won’t expect us to d-d-double back.”
“Nice idea, but for all we know the ISS Magnificent might still be there.”
“How about you, Callidus?” asked Farid. “What did you learn from the naval gunship?”
“I found out that Admiral Vantard has warships searching for us in every solar system. There were also files about fleet deployments and Gorks, but I was unable to access them.”
“Fleet deployments?” said Nichelle. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Who is Gorks?” asked Nanoo.
“Aliens,” said Jake. “Gorks are the last known ‘intelligent’ species to be discovered, but they’re not what I would call intelligent.”
“They first made contact about fifty years ago,” explained Callidus. “Their planet had become unstable, forcing them to leave their galaxy on space rafts to seek out a new home. Gorks are large and strong, with rubbery blue skin and fins on their heads, but they are also simple and clumsy. The United Worlds planet uses them as cheap labor in factories and shipyards. Not many people like Gorks living on their planets, because they tend to be violent and messy.”
Granny Leatherhead cleared her throat with such force, it sounded like a hover-bike taking off.
“As much as I enjoy gabbing about those witless goons, it’s not going to help us to fix this ship or find a place to stay. There must be somewhere we can go?”