Star-Pirates of the Golden Moon: Chapter 4

Into the belly of the beast!

Captain Starlock and Kesh the Farfarer turned then from the melee that raged on the Archer. The Kite-Fighters were strong and well-armed but the Archer's crew, no strangers to close fighting themselves, found that the wings on the soldier's armor while graceful in flight, made them clumsy and vulnerable on board the ship.

Hold fast men! We make for the freighter's ShipChip. With it she'll follow us like a puppy back to Arclight.

Confident in the crew, Starlock and Kesh dove from the star-sloop down into the inky blackness that separated them from the freighter below. Two Kite-Fighters swooped in to intercept their plunge. One hurled his explosive tipped spear at Kesh. The Farfarer caught the weapon in his left hand while with his right he flung back a missile of his own. The dagger spun through space curving at the last second to sever the man's hand at the wrist. The blade continued its arc until -like a boomerang-- it found again the hand of its owner. Starlock drew from his belt a finely engraved brass dueling pistol with three revolving barrels. The weapon hummed softly and with a muted metallic clink sent a slug towards the other Kite-Fighter. Red destiny closed the eyes of Starlock's foe and the next barrel rotated into place with a click. The body of the slain Kite-Fighter drifted slowly towards the Captain who took from him the bomb-tipped spear. He pushed the body away into space giving it a brief salute with his dueling pistol.

A Comrade of yours? asked Kesh, eyebrow arched.

All dead soldiers are my comrades. replied Starlock.

They landed near the point of the pyramid wherein they stuck the spears. They retreated as the explosion from the twin bomb-points ripped an opening in the freighters hull. Starlock entered first. Kesh spared a glance upwards at the now-distant Archer then joined his Captain in the breach.

We're in some kind of service duct Kesh, but we should be close to what we seek.

The sooner we're free of this ship the better. I despise the unnatural vessels of your countrymen, vessels that cramp men and keep them from the light of the stars, giving them only walls to look upon.

Not all men are born in space Farfarer. It is... hard... for those who are not to feel comfort in the vast darkness that you call home. The ship gives them a feeling of safety against the void beyond.

And what of you Captain? Do you feel safe in this tin-can?

Nothing will be safe until Auram is destroyed and his reign of horror ended.

Starlock kicked loose a grate and the two men dropped into the hallway below. A red light flickered in the narrow passage.

This way. Starlock said. The bridge should be just ahead and in it the electronic brain that commands the ship. We'll soon lead this freighter home by its nose.

Rounding the corner at a run they came to a large room. The floor was square but the triangular walls met at the ceiling forming the inside of the pyramids point. The room was empty and made of bare polished steel except for in the center which stood a clear dome. Within the dome was a large rectangular device some two feet tall. Its length was studded with intermittently flashing lights. Behind the dome, on the wall was a replica whose lights shone in an order synchronizing with its twin.

That one, Starlock indicated the device on the wall, we smash. That one we take.

As Kesh and Starlock reached forward to shatter the wall-mounted control there was a voice from the doorway.

Not so fast Farfarer. You too Starlock.

The two men turned to see a blonde woman who wore the white and gold armor of a Kite-Fighter although minus the wings. She raised a signet ring-mic to her mouth and spoke,

All units converge.

She held on them a long pistol of the kind Starlock himself carried. It hummed with menace. The woman took a step inside the door, the hint of a smile forming at the corner of her lips.

How dreadful of you to drop by. A pity you'll have to stay.