Chapter 5: The Other Ship

"Uh . . . U-uncle, sir!" said Misha in a spooked, stuttering voice. "Six ships are following us. They're coming in fast!"

Uncle took his hands of the pilot wheel and stood from the chair. He moved in front of the row and looked out the glass window. He put his hand to his chin as if he was thinking hard. Maybe he was. "Ash, sit down there," Uncle said as he pointed toward the pilot chair. "Hurry."

"W-what?" asked Asha in a speechless tone. "I don't know how to drive. You kno-"

"Now!" yelled Uncle, cutting off Asha's words. She quickly shifted her standing position into a quick run until she sat at the chair. "Misha, you're the navigator, sit there." Uncle now pointed to the seat on the left of Asha.

Misha nodded in acceptance.

"Put that piece in your ear, that's a good girl. Now, place that sticky chip on your neck. Make sure the chip is on your pulse," ordered Uncle. Misha did all she was told; putting on the chip made a beeping noise. A large grid came into view in front of Misha's chair. A green blinking dot came from the middle and six red dots came into the far off distance.

"Wow," said Misha. "A grid."

"You . . . umm," said Uncle, pointing towards Maaike. "Sit here." He pointed towards a seat in front of Asha. Maaike quickly walked to the seat and sat down.

She sighed, "What do I do?"

"Pray," joked Uncle. "You are the mechanic right?" Maaike nodded. "You do the supplies and make sure the pilot doesn't ruin this baby."

Uncle turned and walked out the cockpit door

"What do we do now?" asked Misha. She turned the look at Asha's face.

"How in the Hell do I know!" yelled Asha furiously. "Uncle! Damn you!" Asha stalled what she was going to say because Nonius started talking.

"Ma'am, the cargo hold is opening."

"What?" asked Asha.

A small ship with a submarine look came out of the cargo hold. Uncle's face came upon a visual screen.

"I'm not staying with you," he said softly as he maneuvered the small ship. "I am a Space Forcer, not an Outlaw. I hope you understand."

"Yes, Uncle," spoke Asha.

"Missile! Coming toward you Uncle!" yelled Misha as she looked at the transparent grid. Blinking yellow lights moved faster towards the small ship as the large ship edged away.

All three girls gasped as two missiles pierced the hull of the small ship. Asha screamed in despair as her best friend died before her eyes. The aftershock of the explosion shook the unnamed ship. Asha, who did not buckle her seatbelt, was thrown from her seat. Her head hit the side of the control panel and fell to the floor. Asha was now lying on the floor, unconscious.

"Asha!?" said Misha as she struggled to free herself from the sticky chip. Maaike stood and ran the Asha. Her head was covered with blood; the control panel was also red by the substance. Misha finally broke loose and hurried over to the two.

"How is she?" asked Misha.

"I don't know! I'm not a medic!" yelled Maaike. "Help me get her up."

The girls struggled to pick Asha as the ship moved away from the incoming ships. They moved the injured Asha to the unoccupied chair.

"I don't believe this!" yelled Misha.

"Damn right!" replied Maaike.

Misha thought of an idea. "Maaike, take my seat."

"What?"

"Do you know how to drive?"

"No," replied Maaike

"Hurry, sit there. I'm gonna kick some butt!" Misha jumped into the pilot seat and fastened her seatbelt. She quickly pressed a few buttons as certain things happened. Misha didn't know what she was pushing, but she found where the window washers were.

"I don't know what to do!" yelled Misha.

"May I give some assistance?" asked Nonius. "Press the reactant grappler arms system."

"What?" Misha asked bluntly.

"The button on the side of the space maps."

Misha smiled as she found the switch. "Put your hands on the stick!" Nonius yelled. "Do not let go!"

A small item, connected to the ships visual appearance, fastened onto Misha's ear. It let out a small light and shined into her iris. "Wow," she smiled.

"Grappler arms!" Maaike said in awe. "Let's go Misha!"

"Do we have any missiles?" asked Misha to Nonius.

"A small portion, but yes."

"Shoot five to the first three," ordered Misha.

"Push the button."

"What?" Misha asked once again. "Where?"

"Beside the joystick," replied Nonius. If anyone listened closely during the chaos, you could hear the machine sigh.

Misha pressed the button with her bloodied finger. Three missiles shot from the stern and soared toward the six incoming ships.