Rated T because pirates are violent and bloody people.
2. Pirates
"Engines to full ahead," ordered Zuko, heir to the Agni Kai Empire, sitting back in the captain's chair. He felt the hum of the engines increase in intensity and allowed himself to relax momentarily. They were in Agni Kai territory now, and he didn't have to worry about pirate bands. He was also looking forward to returning home - he'd been inspecting military outposts at the far reaches of the Empire for the last two weeks, and he was more than ready to be done.
The science officer's console pinged. "Sensors indicate unknown ship approaching," he reported. "Their shields are up."
"On screens," Zuko said. The ship - a large freighter - appeared to be damaged. "Hail them," he ordered. The Code required Agni Kai to offer assistance to any ship that needed it. Even if the freighter wasn't in trouble, he would certainly give them an escort to the edge of the Empire's boundaries - surely they knew outsiders were not welcome this close to the Agni Kai homeworld.
"No response, Captain," the communications officer reported.
"Ship still approaching," the science officer warned.
"Try again," said Zuko. "Shift engines to reverse, but hold position. Arm laser cannons," he added. The helmsman slowly shifted the engines into reverse. The weapons officer relayed the order through his comms unit.
"Receiving reply, Captain," the communications officer said.
"On screens," Zuko said, sitting up a little straighter. The image of the freighter was replaced with the smoky interior of a ship's bridge.
"This is the Agni Kai ship Blue Spirit," Zuko said. "Can we be of assistance?"
"This is - the Ba Sing Se ship Heart of Glass," the Oma man slumped in the captain's chair coughed. "We were set upon by pirates not far from here, but we managed to get past them. They gave up the chase a little while ago, though I don't know why."
"You are currently within the borders of the Agni Kai Empire," Zuko said dryly. "The pirates know what happens if we catch them here. Honorless scum," he added, almost as an afterthought. "Is your ship damaged? Do you have any injured crew?"
"Our ship has sustained some damage, but nothing major," the other captain replied. "No injured."
"Then we will provide you with an escort to the border," said Zuko, in a tone that brooked no argument.
"I really don't think - " the Oma captain started, but Zuko cut him off.
"Outsiders are not allowed within 100 klicks of the Agni Kai homeworld," he said, a cold edge in his voice. "And you are dangerously close to that range. We will escort you to the border. And if you continue to refuse, we will open fire, in accordance with the Code's specifications for defense of the homeworld."
The Oma captain swallowed. "It will be as you say."
"Good. Blue Spirit out," Zuko said, and the communication was shut off. "Engines back to forward," he ordered. "Tell the gun crews to stand down."
Outside, the Heart of Glass was turning slowly. The Blue Spirit fired up her engines and kept pace, heading back to the border.
Suddenly there was a deafening explosion that rocked the ship. "Shield status!" Zuko roared, furious. Someone was firing on his ship - while still in Agni Kai territory!
"Eighty-three percent and falling," the helmsman reported.
"What hit us?" Zuko demanded.
"Unknown, sir," the science officer replied. "Sensors aren't getting anything."
"Stealth ship," Zuko growled. Stolen pirate tech. "Arm laser cannons!"
There was another explosion. "Shields?" asked Zuko, gripping the arms of the captain's chair so hard his knuckles turned white.
"Sixty percent," said the helmsman.
Zuko had to make a conscious effort to keep from swearing in front of his crew. If only he could see the attacking ship! Then an idea occurred to him. "Arm EMP," he said.
"Captain, at this range it'll knock our shields out as well," his first officer said cautiously.
"If they hit us again, it won't matter," Zuko replied firmly. "Launch."
There was a moment before the explosion, a slight lull, and then the EMP's blinding white light shone out through the screen. Zuko shut his eyes.
When he opened them again, the Heart of Glass was still visible on the front screen, but there was no sign of the mysterious attacker.
"Shields disabled," said the helmsman. "Five minutes until they're back online."
"See if you can find them," Zuko directed his science officer, who was already bent over his console, adjusting the sensor arrays.
An alarm screamed out. "Hull breach!" the helmsman cried. The bridge doors slammed shut, sealing them in.
"Where?" Zuko demanded.
"Engineering," replied the helmsman, frantically trying to isolate the leak. Zuko hit the intercom.
"Engineering! What's going on?"
No reply. Zuko scowled.
"Lieutenant Chan! What is going on?"
The comm crackled. "The lieutenant can't speak to you at the moment, Captain. He's currently a bit occupied with trying to survive outside the ship without a suit." Zuko heard rough laughter in the background. Pirates. He'd just been boarded by pirates. This whole thing was a setup.
"What do you want?" he asked, barely controlled fury in his voice.
"We've been hired to make sure you're dead, Prince Zuko," said the man. "So once we finish with your engines, we'll - "
Zuko didn't let him finish. "Security!" he barked, switching to a secure channel.
"Yessir?"
"Send three units to Engineering."
"On our way, Captain. Chief of Security ou- " He was interrupted by a tremendous explosion that sent half the bridge crew flying.
"Engines inoperable, Captain," said the helmsman, sounding shaken.
The comm crackled again. "Engineering to Bridge. You're next. Out."
There was dead silence on the bridge. "Battle stations," Zuko said finally, then hit the intercom. "All hands to battle stations!" he roared. "We have been boarded! Shoot to kill!" Then he stood, drawing his laser pistol. The other officers on the bridge did likewise.
It wasn't long before the pirates began trying to break through the bridge doors. "Come on," Zuko snarled. They were here to kill him, were they? So be it. He wasn't afraid of death - no Agni Kai was. His only concern was taking as many of them down with him as he possibly could.
The door was glowing red-hot - they must be using laser cutters, Zuko thought. Then the section they had carved out fell forward with a crash, and a veritable army of pirates swarmed through the gap.
"Open fire!" Zuko yelled, though he was sure his officers needed no such encouragement. They laid down a blanket of laser fire; the oncoming row of pirates fell. Zuko bit back a surge of pride. You didn't mess with a ship of the Armada, even a smaller one like the Blue Spirit.
But there were too many of them. The pirates continued pouring through the bridge doors- probably reinforced by the freighter, Zuko thought dimly, as he fired again and again.
By some terrible luck, he was the last man standing on the bridge. He was exhausted, and his arms ached, and his shoulder and thigh stung where laser bursts had grazed him. He knew he couldn't hold out much longer. He had ducked behind the helmsman's console for cover, and now stood to fire off another shot. A sharp pain blossomed in his side, and he heard rough laughter as the pirates abruptly ceased firing. Zuko looked down, uncomprehending, and saw the handle of a vibro-knife sticking out of his side.
The pirates began to head out. Zuko lifted his pistol to shoot them, show them he wasn't dead yet, that they shouldn't write him off, but it wasn't honorable to shoot a man in the back, so he tried to move forward, to chase after them - then they'd turn and fight - but his feet were heavy as weights. He sank down, his back to the helmsman's console, his legs suddenly unable to hold him up. He was panting; he couldn't get enough air into his lungs. His side was in excruciating pain, but he couldn't pull out the knife or he'd bleed out. He was dizzy.
The last pirate turned to look at him. "I'd shoot you, but I was told to show no mercy," he said, and Zuko recognized his voice - he was the one from Engineering, who'd thrown Lieutenant Chan into space.
"Who - " he started, then coughed. He tasted blood.
"Wouldn't you like to know," the pirate leered. Zuko tried to get his pistol up high enough to shoot him, but couldn't seem to manage it. The pirate looked him over disparagingly. "Pull the knife out. You'll die faster." And then he left.
A few minutes later, Zuko felt the ship moving. They were towing the Blue Spirit out of Agni Kai territory. Clever. He coughed into his hand and watched the blood run down his wrist.
He finally allowed himself one panted curse as the bridge began to fade in and out before his oxygen-starved eyes. He could barely stay upright. He felt weak, and hated himself for it - but what was that Uncle was always telling him? Never give up without a fight. He could stay conscious until help came. He would.
In the end, it wasn't up to him. The ship, which had been gently drifting behind the freighter, was released from the tractor beam with a jerk that jarred the whole ship - and the knife in Zuko's ribs, sending another surge of pain through him.
He blacked out.