Chapter 2: Shanked

Mihoshi dashed down the central corridor towards the bridge. Another blast hit the ship, throwing her awkwardly against a wall. She fell to her knees, gasping to recover the air that was knocked out of her lungs. With no time to waste, she pushed herself back onto her feet and resumed her stride. As she finally made her way to the bridge, she confronted a dreadful scene laid out on the other side of the viewport. A small fleet of malevolent warships drifted ominously around their vessel. With a quick scan of the panorama, she could count at least five of them. Kiyone sat in the captain's chair, punching frantically away at keys on the control panel, calling off the emergency alert. She glanced back, noticing her partner enter the room.

"Mihoshi, get over here!" she beckoned. "They must be here for the boy! I told you he was a pirate!"

Mihoshi rushed over to her side as Kiyone opened up a communication link with the pirates.

"This is Detective Kiyone Makibi of the Galaxy Police Force! This is a GP patrol ship. What do you think you're doing? I order you in the name of the law to cease and desist your attack!"

A holographic image imposed itself before the two officers.

"Tarant Shank!" Mihoshi gasped, recognizing the silver hair and olive skin of one of the most notoriously bloodthirsty pirates in the galaxy. The red jewel on his forehead glinted like a freshly drawn drop of blood.

"I don't think you're in any position to give orders, Detective," he replied.

"What is it you want?" Kiyone demanded. "Why are you doing this?"

"You ask 'why' but do I really need a reason?" He chuckled. "I'm a pirate. Or are you so arrogant as to think you're immune because you wear a badge? Well, I have news for you. When it comes to me, you're all just meat for the wolves and as it happens, I have a pack to feed. Prepare to be boarded!"

The hull of the ship shuddered as the clank of metal on metal sounded through the interior. Within a few moments, the bay doors slid open, unleashing a flood of heavily armed men. Tarant Shank sauntered in behind them, ushering in an aura of malice.

"Wrong place, wrong time, huh?" He chuckled, gazing wickedly at his prey.

"This is a simple patrol ship," Kiyone reasoned as his crew relieved her and Mihoshi of their side arms at gunpoint. "We don't have anything here of significant value."

"No matter," he shrugged. "Your ship is good enough to be sold for parts on the black market." He looked around. "I take the fact that you have another ship hitched beneath you means that you have prisoners on board. How many?"

"One," Mihoshi answered. "A boy named Cupid. Do you know him?"

Shank guffawed. "Cupid? What did you arrest him for, attempted murder with a magic love arrow?"

Laughter erupted from the other pirates.

"Ohhh… I get it!" Mihoshi exclaimed after a moment, joining in on the laughter as Kiyone groaned and shook her head. She wondered how her partner could find anything funny in a situation like this. Shank must have shared the sentiment as he cut his cold grey eyes at Mihoshi contemptuously.

"Shut up!" he snarled, prompting her to immediately end her giggle fit.

"So, my brothers," he said, turning back to his men. "What should we do with these two piglets?"

"I can think of a few things, Boss," one replied, making kissy faces at Kiyone, which made her look away in disgust.

Shank chuckled. "So, that's how it is, huh? Alright then, I'll let you have your way with them before they're disposed of. Trevik, Gungja…" He flagged two of his men - a menacing brute with long, greasy black hair, and a Wau. The latter caught Kiyone by surprise; The Wau were a generally law-abiding race. To see one among pirates was a rarity to say the least.

"Take them to the holding cell for now," Shank commanded. "You know the rule: business before pleasure."

This garnered another round of sly chuckles from the pirate crew.

"You guys are sick," Kiyone murmured angrily as she was ushered out of the bridge at gunpoint by one pirate, Mihoshi prodded on by the other. "You won't get away with this, Tarant," she vowed. "I've already sent out a distress signal. More GP officers are coming."

"And if they actually gather up the balls," he replied as she left the room. "I'll blow them straight into the next galaxy."