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Two more vessels showed up on sensors coming from another direction. There were no known space stations or colonized planets that way. Both were traveling close enough together, making her hope it was Figures and Free.
More beeping signaled yet another vessel coming within sensor range. It was coming from another part of space that was known for nothing being out there. The vessels were far enough away that the readings weren’t very clear about their models or class. They could be a freighter, a transport, or a shuttle. The only thing for certain was that none of them were huge enough to be a pleasure cruiser.
“The authorities have come to kill us!” MC-3 rushed out of the cockpit, fleeing toward the back.
“Is that what is happening?” MC-4 crouched down next to Marisol, her eyes huge with fear. “Did the other pilot you spoke to turn us in?”
“Figures wouldn’t do that.” Marisol ran deeper scans. More information came in. “They are all shuttles.” She frowned. “Neither of the two seemingly traveling together have the same configuration as the previous shuttle we had contact with.”
“What does that mean?”
Marisol started to buckle into the pilot seat. “I’m not sure, but I want you all to belt in.”
“You believe they’ve all come to capture or kill us.” MC-2 threw himself in the other seat, grabbed MC-4, and yanked her onto his lap. He began strapping them both in.
Marisol went over her options. She could make a run for it but it was possible that one of those incoming shuttles was Free. It was a huge risk, but she started the engines and sent out a general communication hail, hoping to find out who was flying those other shuttles.
Seconds ticked into almost a minute before there was a response. It was coming from the farthest away shuttle heading at her. She opened a channel.
“Alpha, Roger form, line six. The two incomings are slightly spaced apart. Do you understand?”
That voice belonged to Figures. At least, she was almost certain that it was him. A.R. forms on Clone World were for stolen property losses. Line six meant a group of thieves. Marisol stared at the two close-together blips on her sensors. He was implying they were pirates.
“Are you sure?” Marisol wanted verification.
“Affirmative. Red, nine, seven, zero, bar, ten.” He took a breath. “Seven, seven, seven on the other inbound.”
Marisol felt terror. R970B10 was the accounting budget they used for everything from security on Clone World planet to the massive ground cannons that could take down vessels trying to land or take off from the surface.
Was he telling her to fight if she needed to? To open fire on the advancing two shuttles if they tried to dock with her? He also wanted her to wait for further input.
No. He’s telling me that the other ship is probably Free. Or at least another clone.
“Understood.” She wanted clarification, though. “Are you saying nine, six, zero?” That would be the first three numbers for weapon purchases.
“Nine, six, zero. Confirmed.”
She ended the communications and brought the weapons for the shuttle online. Insecurity was a terrible thing to feel. The few piloting lessons she’d taken over the years left her ill-equipped to fight a battle. Those pilots sure hadn’t done more than give her a general rundown of how the weapons system could protect the shuttle if the need ever arose.
MC-1 suddenly rushed inside the cockpit, slightly out of breath. “Three said we’re being surrounded. Get us out of here!”
Marisol was in no mood to deal with him. “Shut up, go in the back, and strap in. We have two pirate shuttles inbound, but two more shuttles are the clones we came looking for. I don’t have time to argue with you. I need to learn the weapons system.”
“You need to learn? Don’t you know how to use them already?” MC-1 seemed outraged as he shouted.
“I’m not an actual pilot. It would have been too suspicious if I’d asked anyone to teach me how to target and fire on other shuttles. I made it seem like I wanted to learn how to fly a shuttle for the fun of it. So yes, I need to learn how to use the weapons system. Go in the back.”
“Do it,” MC-2 barked. “Listen to Marisol. You’re not helping. Fill a few syringes with plasma in case the human pirates are able to dock and board our shuttle. That’s how you can help.”
Marisol inwardly flinched overhearing that. Clone plasma injected into humans would cause their deaths. It had been a possibility that they might have to kill or be killed. She just had hoped it wouldn’t come down to that. It seemed like it might be the case.
She didn’t protest that drastic defensive plan, memorizing the weapons controls instead. They had seven laser cannons mounted on the shuttle exterior and eight missiles. That didn’t seem like a lot to her.
Marisol really hoped that the shuttle coming from the Balarian system was Free. Not that she should be thinking about him right then. Their lives were on the line.
Please be him. I hope he still loves me.
The two inbound pirate shuttles were bearing down on them fast. She made a split-second decision, hit the thrusters, changed course, and flew toward the shuttle she hoped Free was on. All she could do was pray that whoever was flying it knew how to fight off pirates and they’d save her and the four medics.
