This is a chapter of a science fiction blog novel. In this chapter, the hero, Tommy, meets the captain of the pirates who have captured the space ship.
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Chapter 43
Tom Meets Captain Stone
"Boss, are you secure?" Bill's voice in Whitey's ear bud crackled as he marched.
"Affirmative, Bill. What's our status?"
"Our security agent, Red, is home with us. Her debriefing is giving us a lot more intelligence than we hoped."
Whitey smiled. Bill is a good man. He knew Red was not their agent or anybody's, but just a kid trapped behind the lines of battle. Bill guessed rightly that Whitey wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to undermine the competition; let Stone think Whitey had been planning something all along and even had operatives on board before the attack. And Bill used an unsecured channel to make an unnecessary report, so the rumors will fly around the ship like angry bees.
"What is your location? I'm sending you fresh bodyguards and calling back the first rotation for rest."
"Heading toward zero, third down at nine o'clock." Whitey and his men had their own grid reference, but giving his location was another ploy since his transponder chip was still active.
"What is the status of repairs to the Stardiver?" Whitey asked.
"Stone's people do not have a clue; they are making more of a mess than anything. Our guys are taking the lead in structure, weapons, power plant, engines, life support, and the environment. The problem is with the computer- it is completely unresponsive, we need an access code, but Stone let Captain Price take it with him."
"Of course, he did. Who do we have with computer skill?"
"Boss, I got bad news. We had two but one fell in the battle, and the other was taken to medical on the station. Stone has some of the most experienced computer hackers from prison with him. If his guys can't get into the brains of this ship no one can."
"I'm on my way to Stone now. We will work it out." Whitey heard distant running. It would be his bodyguards. "I see the boys now. Good work Bill. Whitey out."
"Acknowledged."
* * *
"Back up," He whispered to Ashley.
"What? Why? What are you trying to do?"
"Shish. Just back up, will you?"
"Geeze."
They slithered back to a wider space where Tom turned around and then returned to the vent feet first. He kicked the vent.
"What are doing?" Ashley whispered.
"It's the common room. The rangers are there. I have to let the captain know I failed."
He kicked again, but it did not budge. He kicked harder. Sweat stung his eyes as he kicked again and again. He kicked with one boot then both until there was a crack of light. He kicked with all has might and the vent broke with a snapping sound and began to swing freely. Tom kicked one last time and the vent cover swung up and broke off, spinning into the bright room beyond. It disappeared with a clatter. Bright light stabbed his eyes and blinded him. Tom rolled onto his belly and slid out feet first, then dropped to the floor. He turned around looking for rangers and friends but faced a crowd of men, each with a deadly weapon pointing at him.
“A stowaway!” Shouted Captain Stone.
Tom stared at the figure before him. Stone wore a thick black coat over his space suit like the one sailors wear in old history books about ancient Earth. Tom stared at him in disbelief. The man stood in the center of a half circle of men.
Tom backed against the wall. Every face stared at him with a leering expression. Are these pirates? he thought to himself. Where are the Captain and the crew?
“Who are you, Mister?” Stone demanded, his one eye almost popping out.
“I’m Tom Snow. Sir.”
“Oh, you're Tom Snow. Well, I’m Captain Stone. And what were you doing in the air circulation vent? Are you hiding something up there? Well, boy, you should have come out sooner, because your friends left without you. We can’t call them back to pick up a little runt straggler like you; sun got spots you see. So, what should we do with a useless piece of space trash like you?’
“Captain, let's just dump him off in an escape pod.”
Captain Stone turned. He glared at the short fat man who spoke. The Captain’s one eye was flashing back and forth at the man. His mouth moved as if he was trying to speak and chew at the same time but only managed an animal like sound until the words exploded with spittle. “Obee, You stupid mouse turd! You idiotic, fat, slimey, donkey, snot! That is the most stupid useless idea I've ever heard. Do you want to give us all away? Don’t you think? The pod will automatically go to the nearest port, and while it's on its way it will send a distress signal. That signal will draw every ship to it. We will have a fleet of rangers, marines, and bounty hunters on our butts in no time.”
“No, fat face." Stone raged, "I have a better idea. Take your laser and burn a hole right through his little pink heart.”
Tom felt sick to his stomach. He forgot how to move his feet. There was no way out. He looked at the hard faces of the men in the room for any sympathy or help, but there was none. Some were grinning, others were taunting Obee, daring him to shoot Tom in cold blood.
“But sir,” a young man stepped forward. “Don’t the Articles say a stow-a-way could join if he passes a test? Give him a chance.”
The Captain folded his arms across his chest and gave a hard look at Tom for some moments. His one eye roving up and down and his mouth sucked in like he was sucking something off his lips
One of the crew whispered just loud enough to be heard, “Didn’t we, officers and crew, all agree to abide by the articles?”
“Yes,” said another, “We go by the articles.”
“Well, he’s the Captain.” Muttered another man.
“Yup, he is that, for now. Don't the articles say we can vote for another captain?”
Still looking with hatred at Tom the captain shouted, "Shut up, you bunch of turkey faced bug brains. I got to think." They were watching him, and judging him. He felt he had only slight control over the moment, it angered him. Every decision he made was questioned and every command he gave was argued. Now when he needed to impress the men and give them the fear of god some boy falls out of a hole in the wall.
Stone turned to look at the young man who spoke first. He raised a finger like a parent scolding a child and spoke with a growl. “I’ll not forget you interfered with my orders. Bring the Red Book. Let's see what she says.”
The young man was prepared and ready with the book. He put it on one of the tables. It was a large old looking book bound in real red leather. It had a strap around it with a buckle keeping it closed. As Captain Stone pushed the button on the buckle the strap released and it opened with a muffled clap.
“Book,” He commanded, “Index anything on the subject of Stow-a-way.”
The book looked like any other book but it spoke in a man’s voice. “Section 23, subsection 8. Shall I read it for you?”
“No, you pulp scrap. I can read. What page is it on? And call me, sir, you recycled toilet paper.”
The book sounded resentful, “Page 48.” After a pause, it added with a sneer. “Sir.”
Without picking the book up the Captain turned the huge gray and silver pages. The second paragraph on page 48 was lit up as if by a light inside the page. Stone read it to himself.
“Kid,” The Captain snarled. We go by the Articles here, you see. It says you must be given a test. So, what test shall we give you before we shoot you? I wonder, did you ever kill anyone?’'
Tom was horrified. His father taught him that life was sacred and a gift from God. Only God had the right to take it. It was a truth he believed in with all his heart.
“I asked you a question.”
“I am not a stow-a-way. I do not want to….”
“Silence you. You don’t talk to me like that. I am the Captain. I’ll ask you just one more time, you diaper rash. Did you ever kill anyone?"
“No sir.”
“Well,” The Captain said. “That’s your test. Somebody give the brat a weapon.”
No one moved. No one was willing to give away his own weapons. The young man came forward with a big gray cloth bag. “Look, here are some weapons we took from the rangers.” He dumped the lasers. tasers, and blasters on the table.
“Kid, pick out a gun.”
Tom could not bring himself to speak. He would not touch a weapon. It was wrong. He shook his head.
“Devil’s eyes!” The Captain swore. “I’ve had enough of this milk toast kitten.” His face was red. “Fatso, I thought I gave you an order. Kill the little snot.”
“But he’s just a boy.” Obee was a coward; his face was melting with sweat. He was afraid of the Captain, afraid of the men, afraid of guns, and afraid for his life.
Someone else spoke up from the edge of the room, "Young man…”
The Captain turned to glare at the tall thin man with the smooth voice. He wondered how Whitey and his two men got into the room without being seen.
Whitey stood there leaning one shoulder against a wall with his thumb casually looped in his holster belt as if he was bored while waiting for a bus. His cunning face was framed by his long white hair. Though he stood with lazy half closed gray eyes, he gave the aura of one who saw everything. “We are giving you a chance. Take a weapon or give a good explanation why you won’t.”
“Sir, my parents taught me that life is a holy gift from God; and to take a person’s life is wrong. They told me to never touch a weapon except in self-defense, or in the defense of another who is helpless.”
“There you are, Captain.” Whitey seemed to be the only person in the room who was at ease. Like a cat, he stretched his long lanky arms arching his back and looking at the ceiling. “I say he’s passed the test. He has character, and he held to his beliefs. If you don't want him then he can join my Raiders. We value men of character."
“Oh. No. Old man.” The captain hissed. “He said he would only act in self-defense. Let's give him a real test.” The Captain slowly picked up the worse looking weapon from the pile on the floor. A beaten up taser that was patched and the charge light was out. He tossed the gun down at Tom’s feet. “There you go. Pick that up Diaper Britches.”
Tom stood still. By an act of will, he refused to feel. His parents taught him to believe something but he was being forced to go against it. He would not. He shook his head slowly.
“Fatso,” The Captain bullied, Obee, "Shoot him now.”
Obee was a true coward. He was afraid of the Captain, but more afraid of looking weak in front of the men. He took a breath and tried not to whimper. Slowly he raised his arm and carefully aimed his laser gun at Tom.
A gray and black blur came from somewhere above, snarling and growling, Ollie flew like an avenging demon out of the vent over Tom’s head and collided with the fat man. Obee’s laser gun discharged a crackling blue beam that seemed to dance like a ribbon waving toward the ceiling. He stumbled backward knocking over a table.
Ollie threw the weight of his body against the man trying to bring him down. Like a machine of rage, he snapped at the man’s fat throat, hands, and face. Ollie tasted blood. His wolf spirit felt good. Ollie charged again and Obee fell on his back.
“Ollie! No Ollie! Ollie stop!” Tom's cries were useless. The wolf side of Ollie was in control, and would not stop until the enemy of his pack was defeated. Obee rolled under a table, his big rear end sticking out. Blood smeared the floor red as he crawled. Ollie would not stop, and even under the table, he kept on tearing at the man’s face and hands.
“Get him off! Call him off!” Obee cried, “My eyes, my face!”
The fight was a relief. The entertainment was like a prize to the tired men. They all yelled as they teased and bullied Obee.
“Help, help!” Obee whined like a baby. It took two pirates one on either side to pull Ollie off. They held Ollie by his computer collar. He tried to bite them and to shake himself free. Ollie wanted to walk over and lick Tom’s face. He would never let anyone hurt his Tom.
“Kid!” Hissed the Captain. “This is your last chance, and since I am a man of compassion, I am thinking I won’t order you to kill anybody. Just kill the damn dog.”
(c) Adron
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Adron
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