Chapter 7: Pirates

MOMO was true to her word and told no one of his infection. She acted as though she didn't know anything when she was around everyone. chaos noticed though that she was always giving him worried glances when no one was looking. That was just the way MOMO was, caring about everyone's well being.

chaos stretched his slender arms above his head to get the kinks out of his joints. They were in open space now, unprotected space.

"Hey chaos, you got anything?" Hammer asked.

"Nope. Nothing on my screen."

The blonde navigator sighed heavily, "All this waiting around waiting for a pirate ship or a gnosis swarm to attack us is really straining my nerves.

"Well atleast you're not right next to the window where you're most likely to get killed first!" Tony said from up front.

"Uh huh, very true."

"Shut up you two and get back to work. I want to get this trip over and done with in one piece." Mathews commanded as he walked in with a datapad in one hand, and sugar loaded coffee in the other. Tony released his grip on the controls, massaging his soar wrists. Several times he'd grudgingly let MOMO drive when he couldn't take the strain anymore. Still, he was pushing himself. chaos rested his chin on one hand, then noticed something on his screen.

Alan suddenly appeared stretching and yawning, "Morning. Where are we at?"

"Geez Alan, and we thought chaos slept a lot." Hammer joked.

"My alarm clock didn't go off. Not that I really need it or anything. It's really just a habit from the Woglinde."

"A habit from all the way back then? Yeesh, I wish I had your will to keep doing things. And about your question, we're still in open space." Alan didn't seem to pleased with this answer, "How much more before we reach protected space?"

"Should be a few more days unless we run into unwanted company." Hammer replied.

"Be quiet Hammer! Don't jinx us by saying that!"

"I think he already did." chaos interrupted. Everyone stared at him. Suddenly the alarms started going off.

Hammer checked his screen to see an unidentified ship almost within ramming range, "chaos! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

"Sorry." he stated simply.

"Tony get goin before that thing hits us!"

Tony slammed down on the controls and they shot forward. Due to its length and size however, they were unable to clear the other ship in time. The Elsa shook violently.

The rest of the crew came running through the doors, "What is going on!" Shion demanded.

"The other ship is latched onto the catapult sir!" chaos informed.

"What?! Seal it off! Dang it, pirates."

The ship shook violently again. Sparks showered down from a corner terminal.

"Hull breach. They're trying to get inside!" Hammer yelled franticly.

"Tony shake them off!"

The pilot struggled with the controls, sweat running down the side of his face, "I can't! They've somehow attached themselves!"

Ziggy started for the door, "I'm going down there to keep the men from infiltrating the ship."

"Right behind you Ziggy!" Jr. called. The cyborg snapped his arm out straight and lines of energy appeared and materialized his new adomantium armblade.

"Kos-mos, let's go." Pink energies surrounded her left arm and her M.W.S. appeared.

"Affirmative."

The ship was vibrating constantly now. chaos stood and fallowed after them, "MOMO stay here."

"Why? I can fight too you know!"

"Alan take care of her. MOMO, trust me, you'll want to stay here okay?"

Her shoulders slumped, "Fine."

"Captain, lock the doors when I leave."

"You've got it."

Alan took over chaos' station, loading a gun while he was at it. MOMO stood in front of the now locked doors, looking at them with a little annoyance.

The group stood in front of the sealed doors to the catapult, weapons at the ready. The pirates ship could still be heard grinding through the thick metal plating on the ships belly. Air was being sucked out of the chamber but would soon be sealed again when the pirates jumped out of their ship in their space suits. The screen off to the side of the door flashed warnings.

Jr. walked up, pressed a few keys, and a camera activated to show them what was happening. All size crates were being dragged toward the holes in the center of the floor. Four jagged spikes, plus the nose of the ship were jutting out. Robotic arms had appeared out of their tubes and were welding temporary metal slates that would stop the air from being sucked out for a short amount of time.

Finally the air stopped and a moment of silence followed. The arms folded back, oval shaped doors suddenly popped open on all sides of the half seen ship. Pirates in small but dangerously fast A.G.W.S's jumped out. One instantly turned and shot the camera, the screen became static.

"Everyone get ready!" Jr. spun his guns around his fingers, backing away from the door. Shion raised her M.W.S. Kos-mos scanned beyond the door but was interrupted by a blocking signal.

"Shion, I cannot tell approximately when they are coming. My scanners are being blocked."

"Just don't let your guard down."

"Affirmative."

A few minutes passed, and still nothing happened. Jr. fidgeted uncomfortably, where are they?! Quit playing come and find us and come out!

"Everyone get out of this corridor now!" Ziggy yelled. The cyborg scooped up Shion before she could question and everyone else managed to get out of the way before the door exploded in their faces. Shards of metal imbedded themselves into the corner wall they'd just been standing in front of. The door way was obscured from view when a smoke bomb was set off.

Kos-mos fired right into the center of the oncoming cloud. The sound of a dying man and machine reached everyone's ears. More of them could be heard stomping through the smoke.

"Keep them from coming inside!" Jr. yelled as he shot where he thought he heard one.

"Shion, you and the others move further back." Kos-mos commanded. They nodded and retreated to the end of the corridor.

"Charging," Kos-mos' right arm began to glow hot white. The android snapped it forward, "R-Canon!" A huge bullet shell was pushed out of her arms and the first wall of pirates was obliterated in a shower of bright rainbow energies. With lightning reflexes, Kos-mos ran away from the extended shockwave the tight hallway had created. Shion, Ziggy, Jr. and chaos waited until she reached them before they too started to run.

Skidding to a halt suddenly, chaos looked over his shoulder. More of the pirates were pilling with energy shields that protected them from the R- Canon's leftover blast. The pirates spotted chaos and two by two they rushed forward. The young man thrust his hand forward, "Chain Blast!"

Neon green chains appeared out of nowhere and wrapped themselves tightly around the robots. They began cutting through the armor and then cut through the man inside. Blood and sparks of electricity leaked out of the first two. Instantly they were trampled by another pare and another.

chaos brought his hands up on either side, gathering blue balls of energy, "Heaven's Wrath!" Bright blue energy traveled all the way down the corridor but didn't damage the small A.G.W.S.'s much since it was energy. But they were overloaded with excess energy, so they couldn't move at the moment.

Ziggy grabbed chaos' shoulder and jerked him out of the way. He lunged at the pirates, his adomantium armblade slicing through them like they were hot butter. Jr. shot with perfect precision, hitting each right in the visor. Suddenly a blast of invisible energy rocked the ship, causing Ziggy to be pinned under a demobilized pirate.

"Ziggy!" Jr. tried to lift the A.G.W.S. but it was in vain. Kos-mos suddenly appeared and started making the difference. Her machinery could be heard straining against the weight, "Shion hurry!"

The Vector employee and chaos used all their strength to drag the heavy cyborg out from under the robot. Kos-mos let it drop, brought out her gun and shot at the visor. Blood splattered against the glass.

Shion quickly examined Ziggy, then put her hand over her chest as a strange symbol appeared under her feet, "Open Ether Circuit!" Light enveloped Ziggy, his flesh and broken bones healed over instantly.

Something flew down the corner aimed for Kos-mos who didn't notice it. She suddenly heard electricity sparking madly right behind her. chaos had taken the blow.

The device was latched to the youth's chest with long black 'tentacles'. Electricity jutted freely all around chaos' body, freezing him in place.

"chaos!" Shion screamed. She watched as chaos stiffly fell over, his eyes glazed. Before anyone could move, another stunner flew through the air and attached itself to Kos-mos' chest. The android tried to resist but her systems crashed and she was forcefully shut down.

What looked like a biggie sized version of the stunners, climbed along the ceiling. It's many arms keeping it in place, a few stretching out to grab Kos-mos.

"Oh no you don't! Take this!" a giant eye surrounded by strange symbols appeared in front of Shion, "Spell Ray!" To her astonishment, the machine absorbed the concentrated Ether beam. It swiped Shion out of the way along with Jr. Sending them both against the wall.

It turned and scanned for the deployed stunners. Their signals were picked up. The Shocker recorded data.

"Look! The pirates are leaving!" Hammer pointed at the window at the departing ship. Mathews turned on the intercoms, "Miss Vector? Master Gainun? Anybody?" He swore when no reply came, "Alan, are the security cameras working?"

"Ahrg, no. Or atleast not in the lower level where they were."

Mathews loaded a gun and jumped down from his chair, "Come on, lets see if they're okay."

"I'm coming too!" MOMO piped up. Alan didn't object, the little realian had the better healing abilities than they did.

"Tony, keep a tab on which way that thing goes." Mathews ordered.

"You got it boss."

The trio hurriedly made their way to the lower level to find it a mess. Burn marks were all along the walls and floor, including blaster holes. Alan dismissed all of this, he walked through a column of smoke without hesitation.

"Alan wait! Dang it." Mathews said, they had no idea what had been left behind. After a few tense minutes Alan's voice reached them, "MOMO! Captain! Come here quick!"

The two jumped through the smoke to find Alan holding an unconscious Shion, Jr. was right next to them, so was Ziggy and chaos.

"Jr!" MOMO ran over to her friend. He groaned, "I'm fine MOMO. Help chaos, he's in worse shape." MOMO did what the red head said. He was right, chaos was burned with second degrees and was out like a rock.

Alan shook Shion, trying to wake her, "Chief? Chief, are you okay?" he chanted over and over.

"I'll go and get a med kit." Mathews left the way they'd come. Alan started to lightly slap Shion's smoke smeared cheek till finally she came too. He sagged over her in relief, "Gosh chief, don't scare me like that." he hugged her close, all his shyness gone.

Shion murmured something.

"Huh? What'd you say chief?"

"Kos-mos, where's Kos-mos?"

Alan glanced around the ruined hallway, all he saw was them, and shattered A.G.W.S's. But Kos-mos was nowhere to be seen.

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Myahahahahahaha! Cliff hangie! I actually finished this chap on the same day as "Observations". But I decided to wait. Review please!