Will pushed a lever and pushed some buttons. The ship accelerated off on a new course.
"Pirates?" asked Rachel, incredulously. "In space?"
"Why not?" said Ernest.
Zoe interrupted them. "My watch, come with me to man the defence systems." She led the way up the steps and those who were in her watch followed as fast as they could.
"Is there anything the rest of us can do?" asked David.
"You and Nick strap yourselves in and take over the control desk," Will said. "Follow my instructions and do exactly what I tell you. We might have to do some tricky maneuvering to get out of this. Tom, keep an eye on those monitors over there. Tell me if the levels start dropping. The rest of you, keep a look out on all sides and standby to repel borders if they get through the airlock."
"But what do the pirates want?" Rachel asked.
"This part of the galaxy is poor, and there's not much security, no police or effective anti-piracy action," Will said. "Pirates flourish here, preying on the ships that pass through to trade. They'll take anything on board that's useful to them- spare parts, trade goods, money of course, and prisoners to ransom."
"A sort of galactic equivalent of Somalia," said Patrick.
"If it wasn't for the fact that our main sonic cannon has been turned into a work of modern art outside Wentworth College, we'd be fine. They'd never dare attack us if we still had that. But now...we're in real danger."
Zoe's voice crackled over the communications system. "All ready at our posts," she said. "But honestly, Will, I don't think we've got much chance."
"We've got to try," Will replied. "Good luck everyone."
By now their opponents were coming into view behind them, chasing. Ruth and the others looked back.
"They're catching us up," she said quietly. The enemy ship was getting larger. Painted on its side was a burning rocket, and beside that a black area with a skull and crossbones. It seemed this was the universal symbol of piracy. But the paint on the skull and bones wasn't white. It appeared to shimmer, like silver.
"Oh no," said Will quietly.
"What?" asked Zoe anxiously, over the comms.
"We've got no chance," he said. "Not just pirates, but the worst pirates of all- the pirate queen!"
"Pirate Queen?" Agnes said incredulously.
Zoe swore. "Well, I'm not giving up without a fight," she said. "Open fire!"
The automated guns mounted on the balcony outside the ship burst into action. Ruth and the others watching saw the cloud of weaponry reach the other ship and burst across its surface. Yet when they were able to see clearly again there was little damage visible, some scratched paintwork and a few tiny pits in the metal surface.
Then Ruth saw one of the guns on the other ship moving. "I think they're getting ready to fire," she said, sounding more calm than she felt.
"Hold on, everyone," said Will. There was a last moment or two of peace, then the ship rocked violently, as if something had hit it, but no missile was visible.
"Sonic cannon," Will said, reaching for some controls.
"Any damage?" came Zoe's voice over the comms.
"It doesn't look like it," Will replied, studying a screen. "Nothing major as yet. But we can't take many more hits like that before the atmospheric shield's at risk."
"Returning fire," she said, and again their weapons burst into life. But they were no match for the other ship's bigger cannon.
"It's no good," Will said. "We can't get away and we can't hit back. We've got to surrender. Once the shield's down we'll suffocate!"
The others were exchanging looks of horror and fear.
"Isn't there anything..." Adam began.
"No. It's no good."
A loud voice came through over the comms. "This is Argent, Pirate Queen, feared for light years around. You have no choice. Surrender yourselves and your ship now, or you will regret it!"
"She speaks English?" Rachel said, incredulously.
"That's hardly the most pressing point, is it?" Will snapped. "Zoe, we've got no choice. I'm going to surrender."
"I suppose you're right," Zoe said. "I've scratched some of the silver paint off her skull, anyway. I suppose that's the best we can do, missing our cannon."
Will turned a dial in front of him, and spoke into the microphone in the computer. "This is Rawerkj Rdircahpaerrds, currently captain of the ship Hilarity. We surrender."
"I'm sorry," he said to the others, looking around.
"It's not your fault," Ruth said. She wondered why she felt pity for him- it was he who had kidnapped them and got them here. Really, it was his fault they were there. I'm just too nice, she thought.
"What will they do with us?" Tom asked. Will shrugged.
"Keep us for ransom, I guess. It depends what mood the Queen's in. When she's mad...there are stories. Ships that put up a fight and she killed the whole crew, other ships that put up such a good fight that she set them free as a mark of respect. Ships that surrendered, and everyone survived, ships that surrendered and no one survived. It all depends on what she feels like- and how much she can ransom her prisoners for. You guys are rarities, genuine Earth-dwellers, so she could claim a lot for you, but will she think anyone will pay it? I don't know."
"And you and Zoe? I suppose as royalty you'll be fine," Adam said. Will shrugged again.
"She can ask a high price for us, it's true, but some ships from our world nearly destroyed her last year. She may decide that revenge is sweeter than cash."
Zoe's watch had made their way back to the bridge now. Everyone stood around, watching as shuttles left the pirate craft and made their way across. They docked, and the first pirates emerged into the airlock.
"She's come herself," muttered Zoe. Everyone shrank towards the back of the bridge as the doors opened and the Queen entered Central Hall.
The story continues...
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