“We have important cargo onboard and have suffered some damage. A battle isn’t in our best interest.”

Stag glared at Veller, getting irritated with his constant opinions. “I’m in charge. Shut up or leave Control. I refuse to argue with you.”

Veller appeared stunned.

Stag hated being questioned as captain but it was no excuse for snapping at his crew. He cleared his throat. “We’ll target the ones in front of us and leave a wide spread debris field in our wake. It will slow the other pirates while we increase speed, get out of sensor range, and change course.” He dropped his gaze to his pad. “Then we’ll head home. They’ll lose us and won’t be able to communicate our location to others.” It would mean he had a few more days before he could hand Nala over to the council on Garden.

“Agreed but I think we should attempt to speed past them without firing. They are slower than we are.” Veller faced forward. “They’re usually bad at targeting us.”

“I’m not willing to chance it in case they get lucky. We target the two ships coming at us before they get too close to fire upon us. Stow your suggestions, Veller. Enough.”

Stag fumed. He understood Veller believed it was his duty to point out other solutions to any problems they faced, but he currently wasn’t in the mood for it. He hadn’t slept much in the past five days, his mind on Nala far too often.

* * * * *

Nala sat up on the bed when she heard a slight rumble. A few seconds later, another one followed. She climbed out of bed, walked to the panel next to the door, and pressed her hand on it. “Maze? Is this connection still active?”

Seconds passed before the medic answered. “I never revoked it. Is something wrong, Nala?”

“What’s that sound I just heard?”

“Weapons fire.”

“We’re being attacked?” Dread hit fast and hard. “The skin droids?”

“Pirates.”

She flinched. “Shit.”

“Do not worry.” His voice sounded calm enough. “We’ve had to deal with plenty of pirates over the years. We’ve never suffered any losses.”

“Why not just outrun them? That’s what we always did on the Pride.”

“We completed engine two repairs but the seals are new.”

She understood what that meant. “We can’t full burn. The pressure might blow them out until they have time to fully set.”

“Yes. I’m in engine room two at this moment watching them.”

“Any leaks?”

“None yet.”

“Where is Stag? At the helm?”

“Of course.”

She hung her head, knowing that had been a stupid question, but she hadn’t seen him for more than a few minutes in quite a while. He would come in to get a fresh uniform, then leave. She’d lost track of the days. “Are we going to be okay? I mean, are we in danger?”

“From pirates? No. It’s more of an annoyance.”

A rumble sounded and she lifted her head, staring around the small quarters. “Did we just fire again?”

“Yes. I’m monitoring Control. One pirate ship has been completely disabled and another damaged. We will fire on it again as we pass.”

“Pass?”

“Stag’s plan is to fire upon the two in our path and allow the rest to trail us until we can full burn safely. That should be in about five hours. Relax, Nala. Stress is bad for you and we have this situation in hand.”

Another rumble sounded. “How many more ships are out there?”

He paused. “Six now, minus the two we’ve disabled.”

Eight pirate ships? She felt fear, despite what Maze told her. “They’re attempting to swarm us?”

“I’m not familiar with that term.”

“Can you connect me to Stag? I need to talk to him.”

He hesitated.

“Damn it, Maze!” Her temper flared. “I get reports regularly from other ships that are attacked by pirates. Mass attacks are something they’ve been doing lately. Chances are, that’s what’s about to happen. If that’s the case, a hell of a lot more of them are going to show up. They even connect their ships together so on sensors it reads as one large ship, then they undock and spread apart. They’ll attempt to net us in and then open fire once we’re surrounded. Get it? Connect me with Stag.”

“We had a ship witness that behavior once. Pirates attacked a carrier. It was thought to be a singular occurrence.”

“It used to be, but not anymore. Connect me to Stag.”

“I’ll give him the information you’ve shared.”

“I want to talk to him. I know what to do.”

“He will contact you if he wants your input. Maze out.”

“Don’t disconnect!” she demanded. Seconds ticked by. “Maze?”

She cursed, jerking her hand off the panel. He’d cut her off. “Goddamn cyborgs! They think they’re so smart.” She paced the floor, hoping Stag would com her. Minutes passed by and she realized he wouldn’t. She stepped over to the door and placed her palm on the panel. “Maze? Answer.”

“I’m busy, Nala.”

She felt relief that he didn’t block her. “Listen to me. Tell Stag he has to risk blowing the new seals. There’ve been at least ten freighters who have been attacked in a swarm pattern over the past few months. We’re talking twenty-plus pirate ships that show up. Do you hear me? They’re transmitting our location to all the pirates in surrounding areas and they will come at us from all sides if they’re able to! We have to get off their sensors and change course as fast as possible. Those bastards are working together now.”

“I’ll relay the message. Maze out.”

She fumed when he cut her off again.

Nala continued to pace, hoping Stag would take her advice. Otherwise, they might be in a world of shit.

Stag ended his conversation with Maze and grimly read the sensors. Two more blips showed up on long-range. Seconds later, another ship registered. It seemed Nala knew what she was talking about. He leaned back in his chair. “Prepare to full burn.”

Veller turned in his seat, his mouth opening.

“Don’t say a word. New information has come to light. We need to get out of this sector now. We’re being boxed in and more pirates are on their way to us. They plan a full-scale attack.” He opened up the charts of the sectors around them, scanning for a place to disappear. A belt of asteroids caught his attention. He adjusted course to the sector next it and opened coms to Maze. “Watch those seals closely.” He cut coms and did an override to Yammer’s quarters, ordering the male to get out of bed and rush to engine one to watch for any problems.