Shepherd's Crook: Omegaverse: Volume 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jordi.
    The Westy spun until it was perpendicular to the direction of the pirate. They’d stopped, relative to their prey, a couple of kilometers ahead and were now ‘floating’, broadside, along with them through open space.
    “Nice pilot shit, dude,” laughed Gray Eagle enthusiastically.
    Eric smiled, grimly.
    “Thank you, Mr. Eagle,” Eric returned to his chair, sat. “Now, if you would, please charge your cannon fully, and target a full missile broadside on that thieving bastard!”
     
    “Captain, we’re receiving a hail.”
    “Thank you, Number One,” said Eric, standing, “on-screen please.”
    The forward view was replaced by the scene of a small bridge. In the captain’s chair sat a man, slow clapping and smiling. He had short, spiked, gray hair. He stood, still smiling.
    “Well done!,” he said enthusiastically, “What gave me away? How did you know which direction I’d run?”
    “You were predictable in trying to be unpredictable,” said Eric. He read the information display that came with the hail. The ship was a standard merchant clipper. Fast, good cargo space. It had even been outfitted with shields. A much nicer ship than pirates usually used. It was named ‘13th Ronin’ and was currently being captained by someone named ‘Kato’. Eric assumed that’s who he was talking to.
    “It really wasn’t that hard to figure out.” said Eric, putting his hands behind his back. “You were too clever by half.”
    Kato shrugged. “You got me. A fair cop, as you’d say. I’m impressed. Are you currently part of a fleet?”
    Eric wasn’t sure how to answer. He was part of ‘Fleet Bigweek’, but that was just a name for his clan. Their entire fleet consisted of the HMS Westy. He decided to assume that the question was more general.
    “No, I’m not,” Eric returned to his seat, “I’m a privateer. A hunter of pirates. A hunter of you ,’ he emphasised the last word, smiling.
    Kato shrugged again, “The ‘Inner Lizards’ are always on the lookout for a good captain, a good crew. Are you interested in joining us?”
    “Become a pirate?” Eric asked incredulously.
    “Not at all,” said Kato, waving his hands dismissively. “This was an anomaly. I had a torpedo we’d found, so I thought to try out the experience, to see if there was a better way to hunt them down.” He laughed, “All we got out of it was a cargo load full of dry ice and a few missiles up the ass.”
    “Ah, I see. So you’re not really a real pirate, then?” Eric asked sarcastically.
    “If that’s the case,” interjected Jordi, “why are you still trying to raise your shields?”
    Eric nodded, but made a mental note to remind the crew that all such observations should be sent to him via a private message. It was the captain’s role to entreat with adversaries.
    “A valid question, sir!” laughed Kato, reaching for his control station. “It was merely a process, an artifact, left running from our exciting game of cat and mouse.”
    “He has turned off shields now,” said Jordi.
    Gray Eagle let out a short, evil laugh.
    Eric smiled.
    “Now, as we were saying. You wish for me to join your completely above board, in no way a bunch of pirates, fleet?”
    Kato raised his hands, palms up, smiled and nodded.
    “Mr. Eagle,” whispered Eric. “A full broadside, if you please. Open fire.”
     
    “Mr. Jordi,” Eric said, “please retrieve our sensor buoys and reload the hedgehog.”
    “Already working it,” said Jordi. “The process shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.” Jordi stood, “The hedgehog status light will change to green once it’s done! Thanks, Eric, that was fun! Let me know when you’ve found another one.”
    “Yeah,” said Gray Eagle, “he blew up real good, dude.” He also stood.
    “Wait,” said Eric, “you’re leaving? I’m going to keep hunting.”
    “And if you find something, let us know,” Jordi said, walking toward the bridge exit.
    “Yeah, dude. See you later.