CHAPTER 31
TOM'S NARROW ESCAPE
Tom huddled in the dark escape pod holding his breath as he stared at the hand holding the blast weapon in the portal beside him
“Hey you.” An angry voice yelled. “What are you two lazy layabouts doing? There will be time to plunder later.”
“Well, you don’t see anything, do you, Stupid?
A squeaky voice spoke up, “Well, uh it is just that, No.”
“What unit are you guys with anyway?” The angry voice demanded
. “We are with Stone.” Said the deep voice.
“Sir.” The angry voice was so loud Tom almost jumped, Ollie fought to get away and attack.
“What?” Said squeaky sheepishly.
“I am an officer, and you say, sir when addressing me. You say, 'We are with Stone's bunch of diaper dressing girls, SIR!' Do you understand?”
“You want us to wear diapers?” Squeaky wondered aloud. “But we didn't bring any.”
“No, you idiot. Come on, you clowns, we need help with the prisoners.”
“Aye, aye sir. Oh, do they need diapers?” Said the squeaky voice.
“Tom listened as they walked away. Ollie crouched beside him, “It’s been quite a day boy,” Tom whispered, “and it’s not over yet.”
Holding Ollie back was hard; his muscles tensed and he was straining to get at the men. Tom held him and waited to make sure the pirates were gone. Slowly he touched the door pad. The door slid shut with a hiss that seemed so loud that he was sure the whole ship heard it. With arms around Ollie, they waited a few more moments without moving.
Ollie felt at home. He liked the cozy den they were in. He began to explore all the smells. After a moment, he jumped into a chair.
The viewport was covered and Tom resented not being able to see out. He sat in the captain’s chair. As he sat down several monitors slid up out of the command console. The desk shaped console tilted up to face him, and buttons in rows with lights emerged from its surface then switches in more rows; a keyboard and a steering rudder stick moved forward from under the console.
"OK. Now what?" Tom turned dials until the monitor brought up an image of the corridor where Dr. Johnson and the nurses were carrying the injured away, Pirates in black space uniforms watched with weapons ready. Tom changed his view to see space. It showed the Ranger’s battle cruiser. The scene shocked him, the once beautiful ship drifted in a debris field. Its white hull was marked black in many places. Smoke spewed out of its side. "Look, Ollie, the lights are out, they must have lost life support. It looks lonely doesn't it boy?"
With a resigned sigh, he added, “Yea, Ollie it looks like we lost.”
On the console before him was a large green button with words, “Auto Launch.” glowing on it.
“After we launch and get clear, I’ll send a message to Ranger Command. They could send a rescue ship. First, we need to get away from here." Slowly drawing a breath Tom raised his hand and hovered over the green button.
“Okay, Ollie old pal. Here goes.”
But the ship lurched bending Tom forward, his hand froze above the button. The monitor showed the round shape of another escape pod. It was quickly moving away growing smaller on the black background of space. A laser beam reached up from one of the pirate ships. Two rockets raced after it from another. The pod was already far away and small. It became a flash and a cloud of smoke. More flashes followed as the rockets made fatal contact. The pod was gone. A million pieces glittered in every direction.
“You know Ollie, maybe it’s not a good idea to launch just yet. That could have been us.”
Turning off the monitor, he touched the radio: and listened as it began to scan for any signal. The communications center began to relay bits of the pirates talking, a team reported the capture of the last rangers, and there were damage reports from all the ships, reports of casualties, repair teams reported on progress. Tom listened with interest. These men were disciplined, organized and obeyed their leaders. He began to feel admiration for them.
A voice caught his attention. It was Commander Marx. “Tactical Assault Team, what is your report on the escape pods?”
Tom froze. "Ollie, they must be searching the escape pods.”
“This is Assault Team Leader." Another voice replied. "We finished the pods at passenger quarters and crew quarters. We are on our way to the one by the sick bay, then the others at engineering and cargo.”
“Be quick about it. You are needed on the Defiant. It is going to support the attack against the other rangers’ ship.”
"Uh oh, they are coming here." Tom touched the pad. The door opened with a woosh, he didn't care about the noise anymore. He jumped through.
“Come on Ollie! We can’t win against these guys.”
Ollie leaped through the door. His paws skidded on the smooth floor.
Tom looked up and down the corridor. "Which way now, boy?" He heard voices coming from the right so he ran to the left. The corridor went about thirty feet then turned right. Once around the corner Tom stopped. It was another short hall that turned again after ten feet. Standing still He could hear the assault team.
“Quiet!” a voice ordered. “I hear something.”
"Oops, I left the radio on." A peek around the corner revealed five men in black armor with large weapons. They were pressed against the walls about to attack through the pod door, each held his weapon ready. Tom smiled, “It will be funny when they charge in and find no one except the radio.”
Together they crept toward the end of the short hall. As they neared the next corner Ollie began to growl. Ollie could hear footsteps, and he could smell men coming.
Tom stopped; he heard the sound of marching boots- someone was coming. He couldn't go on. He could hear the yells and weapons of the Tactical Assault team as they charged into the pod. Tom began to panic, the men around the next corner were getting closer and the assault team was behind the last corner. He was caught between the two groups of trained killers.
“Okay, guys.” A voice from the Assault said. “There’s no one in the pod. Let’s get going.” Tom could hear steady boot steps coming closer.
(c) Adron
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Adron
