Page 44 of My Alien Pirate

Shara's scales flickered rapidly, a sign of internal conflict. "It's not that simple. Krothar would have my hide if he even suspected I was talking to you like this. And even if I wanted to help, our comms are barely functioning in this nebula."

Before I could press further, a distant explosion rocked the ship, and we staggered into each other. Alarms began blaring, and I could hear shouts and running footsteps in the corridor outside.

Shara cursed in a language that my translator didn't interpret. "I have to go. But listen, Nova - keep your head down. Things are only going to get worse before they get better."

With that cryptic warning, she slammed her hand against the electronic lock and slipped out of my cell.

"Wait! Don't leave me in here!" I cried out, reaching for her as the door slid closed in my face. I was about to pound on it and demand she release me, but my hand froze midway to the metal.

A small sliver of light was coming from one edge of the door. Could it be? Moving closer, I studied the area. The pneumatic closure hadn't sealed. Placing my ear against the thin opening, I listened intently. The only voices I heard were far away and indistinct.

I sucked in a breath, suddenly feeling slightly lightheaded. Biting my bottom lip, I worked the tips of my fingers into the slit, praying the door didn't come to life and amputate them all. I gave it a little pull, then snatched my fingers away in case the door was reactivated. Nothing.

Sweat began to drip down the center of my back and my palms grew damp with nerves. Wiping them on my dirty pants, I took a deep breath before sticking my fingers in the space again and pulling. The metal gave just the barest bit. I whipped my hands out of the opening again and waiting. No movement.

Glancing at the rectangle where the aliens placed their hands to work the automatic door, I saw that the normally dim red light there was black. There was no power to the door. I grinned.

30

Closing In

The Zenobia Nebula was a churning sea of gas and debris, a maelstrom of colorful clouds and stellar remnants that made our navigation a daunting maze. The Stryker crept through the nebula, our shields flaring against the relentless barrage of particles and gravitational anomalies. On the bridge, the tension was palpable, each crew member focused intensely on their tasks.

Sitting in my chair, I was lost in my thoughts of Nova and what she might be going through when Lyra's melodic voice cut through the chaos. "Captain, I believe we have a lock on the Crimson Claw. They're approximately 10 light cycles ahead. Their energy signature is erratic. I believe they're struggling."

Hope surged within me, but caution quickly tempered my excitement. "Hold steady," I ordered, fighting to keep the desperation out of my voice. "We can't afford a mistake here."

The ship rocked violently as we hit a particularly dense cloud of gas, our shields flickering dangerously. Jorrixx growled fromhis station, his hands working rapidly to stabilize our course. "Shields are holding, Captain, but we're taking a beating."

Across the bridge, Manny's dark eyes never left the navigation console, his concentration full. "I see them, but we need to be careful. One wrong move and we'll end up just like them—lost in this mess."

The respect I felt for the human captain grew with each moment. Despite his injuries, being thrown into a completely alien circumstance, and overwhelming odds, he stood resolute, his determination as unyielding as my own. We shared a common goal now—saving Nova—and that bond was beginning to bridge the chasm between us.

Grixxa chimed in. "Zhar, we can't afford to push the ship too hard. The nebula is unpredictable, and our systems are already strained."

I acknowledged her concern with a nod, though my mind raced with the urgent need to close the gap between us and the Crimson Claw. "I understand your concerns, Grixxa, but we must keep pushing. We can't afford to lose them now."

Jorixx grumbled under his breath, his frustration growing more apparent with each passing moment. "Our resources are spread thin, Captain. We can't maintain this pace indefinitely."

I shot him a warning glare, though I understood his apprehension. Jorixx's opposition was a complication I couldn't ignore, but for now, I needed his expertise more than his approval. "Keeps us on course, Jorixx. We'll deal with the fallout later."

Manny's voice broke through the mounting tension. "Zharrox, we're making progress, but we need to consider the state of our shields and engines. Pushing too hard could cripple us right when we need to be at our best."

I ground my teeth, wrestling with the dilemma. I hated that he was right. We were indeed walking a fine line between necessityand recklessness. "Fine," I conceded. "Dial back our engine output by 10%. But don't let up on the navigation adjustments. Lyra, keep tracking their signature."

"Yes, Captain," Lyra responded, her ethereal form pulsing in rhythm with her words.

I took a moment to assess our situation. The nebula was an ever-changing landscape of hazards and opportunities. To my right, a massive asteroid tumbled through space, its jagged edges glowing ominously in the diffused light of distant stars. Directly ahead, a swirling vortex of gas and debris threatened to pull us off course.

"Jorixx, increase power to the deflector array by 15%. We need to maintain a stable path through this vortex," I ordered, my gaze locked on the threatening corridor of chaos ahead.

Manny nodded in approval. "Smart call. We can't afford to get pulled into that."

Jorixx grumbled but complied, his hands moving fluidly across his control panel. "Deflector array enhanced, Captain. Let's hope it holds."

The ship shuddered as we entered the outskirts of the vortex, the gravitational pull testing our limits. Each twitch and groan of the Stryker resonated through me, a testament to the strain we were under.

"Bridge, this is Chief Medical Officer Dasonix," came Daz's steady voice over the comms. I fought against the eye roll that threatened to escape. Like I wouldn't know the old Centuri's voice. "Yes, Daz. What do you need? We're kind of busy here."

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