“Take your hands off me, you filthy brigand!”
“Suit yourself.” A jolt of electricity slammed her side, and Aria passed out.
***
“Unknown pirate, you have kidnapped a passenger of my ship,” said Captain Belis, her voice harsh.
“I know, darling,” the pirate replied in a bemused tone.
“This is unacceptable!”
“You say that, but I don’t think you really have a choice, do you?”
Silently.
“I do, in fact,” said the captain quietly.
Griggs closed his eyes and began a traditional Palamaran prayer.
“You’re a bit of an iron lady, aren’t you?” said the voice, with more than a hint of admiration. “You wouldn’t be interested in a job with us, by any chance?”
“I have a job.”
“Captain!” murmured the XO. “Our cargo hauler has detached and is heading toward the pirate ship!”
“What?”
It was true. She could clearly see onscreen, as theArgus’cargo hauler made its way through the vacuum to the waiting corvette.
“Ah,” said Captain Belis tiredly. “You had members of my crew in your pay already. This whole conversation has been nothing more than a delaying tactic.”
“Yes,” replied the voice. “I’m rather afraid that you fell for it, Captain.”
“Well, you have your prisoner, and you have your cargo. There is nothing we can do. Do your worst, pirate.”
“Darling,” admonished the voice, “really, who do you think we are? Itoldyou we would rather accomplish this without wholesale murder, and we’ve gone to great lengths to avoid bloodshed. We’ve got what we want, and we’ll be on our way.”
Captain Belis watched as the two smaller ships, one with the Lady Aria and the other with the precious mandalum, were absorbed inside the largerKingfisher-class ship.
“The hell you will.” Belis turned to her command crew. “Ready weapons.”
“Ma’am?” said the XO.
“You heard me.”
Even as the XO relayed the order, the pirate corvette was warming its warp engines.
“Honestly, Captain Belis,” said the voice, “you’re a great loss to the pirate community.”
Then, with a wink of its warp drive, the pirate ship was gone.
