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Pekmae and the Pirate 2

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Pekmae and the Pirate 2

It was not a long walk to the security headquarters, but it seemed long to the pirate. The kid had her face buried against his neck and she would occasionally twist to peek around at the city, but she remained mostly still. When they arrived the pirate and the kid were seated in a holding room just outside of the main cells. There were rows of bunks and loungers along the walls; he sat with his arms around her and she sat on his knee and together they watched the slow filing of the crew into the cells. The pirate could hear the electric sizzle of the force fields and when they brought the droid through he knew he was next.

“Don't put up a big fuss,” he said in her ear while he watched the guards. “We'll figure a way out of this.” She was wearing her brave face and only pouted when he wormed her through his arms and left her on the bunk. They took him and processed him and put him in one of the cells then sealed off the whole room and left Pekmae completely alone. When she was hungry someone fed her and when she was cold they gave her a blanket and then she was hungry again and got another meal. The prisoner crew was also fed and the guards moved steadily in and out of the sealed door. She scowled at them all as they passed her and punched in the door code on the key pad. When they were gone Pekmae stared at the pad and the brightly-colored buttons. When it was night they gave her a pillow and a doll and tucked her in and sealed the door and left her alone again. She could hear the faint rustles from the otherside of the wall to her left, and nothing from her right. Everyone but the night guard and a droid or two had gone home.

Pekmae did not think she'd slept, but maybe she had closed her eyes for a few minutes. When she opened them again there were no sounds. She stared at the glowing keypad then slid out from under the blanket and tiptoed across the room. She kept the doll in her arms. She reached for the panel but it was too high. So she climbed into a chair and reached again. She pushed each button once and a red light buzzed above the panel. Then she closed her eyes and tried again. Each key had a unique tone, one Pekmae had memorized after the many times they opened it. She pressed the keys and the light above the panel turned green and the door slid open. The crew mumbled sleepily or paced grouchily and she stood just inside the door until she saw Pirate. She did not smile as she crossed the room but watched his face and waited for orders.

To say he was shocked would have been too light a description; the pirate was dumbfounded. That kid was the last person he expected to see walk through those doors; he would have been less surprised to see his own mother waltz through. “Heya, kid,” he said softly but she still did not smile and he knew she was waiting for orders. She was like a tiny little crew member. It was her solemn, peculiar manner and he still wasn't quite accustomed to it. “The controls are on that terminal, over there. See if you can't get us out, huh?” He watched her walk to the terminal and reach up but it was too high. She looked around for something to stand on and when there was nothing, she looked back to the pirate.

“Can't see,” she said without emotion. She was waiting, again, and he was thinking. He saw the droid in the corner and grimaced at the restraining bolt on its chest.

“Droid,” he growled and watched it struggle from its seat. “Droid... wake up.” The droid stood and shuffled over to the pirate but did not say anything. “What are your orders?” he asked and hoped for the best.

“I will not take orders from the men in the force cages,” the tinned voice responded. “I will not manipulate any controls in this room.” It stopped speaking and the pirate smirked. This would work.

“Kid, have him read the controls.” Pekmae looked from the pirate to the droid then back again.

“Droid, read,” she commanded and pointed at the terminal.

“Controls for cells 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Controls for cells 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.”

Pirate told her to choose the first one, and she stood on her toes and felt with her fingers until she was on the right button, which the droid helped with, and she pressed it. She had him read the next set of instructions, which was a listing of cells. She chose the first one, and the droid read the list again.

Increase shield level on Cell One
Decrease shield level on Cell One
Deactivate shields on Cell One
Administer shock to Cell One

Pirate again told her which to choose, and she was on her toes and feeling for the button. When she pressed it her finger slipped and there was a second of crackling before the bolt stung one of the crew. He set to cursing and the others chuckled, then all were quiet again. Pekmae was a little worried, and a little embarrassed that she'd picked the wrong one. “Droid, pick me up,” she demanded and felt the cold metal fingers slide under her arms. “Move closer,” she said. She could see the terminal and reach the buttons for herself. The droid read the words, because she didn't know letters and couldn't read them for herself. The pirate hadn't taught her letters, or numbers. Not yet, though he thought the time was probably right. Pirate talked her through, and she opened the cells without further incident. When his was opened to took over at the terminal, then picked her out of the droid's hands and settled her onto his back.

“Hold tight,” he said and looked around the crew. “I will return to my ship,” he said in the tone he used to address them. “Any who are willing are welcome to return. If you do not, then no hard feelings and good travels.” He didn't ask them for answers and rummaged around in the lockers. He found their things and passed them around, then went to the door and blew out his breath. “Droid,” he murmured. “Follow me.” It started to protest but had no argument; he was no longer a man in a cell, so his order was as good as anyone's. Pirate tried to open the door but it was locked. Pekmae squirmed and wriggled and he let her near it; she punched in the right code on her first try, then settled and clutched the folds of his jacket. Stealthily they crept through the holding room and to the other door. The kid didn't know the code for that one, because no one had ever used it. So the pirate blasted through it and rushed through the office outside, startling the droid and darting beyond. He heard shots behind him but did not slow down. They barreled down through the dark streets and to the port. The ship was lightly guarded and where he'd left it; a few shots and it was unguarded. They raced through and up the ramp, where he put the kid down. “Get her ready,” he said and scooted her along.

She ran on her little feet and tripped over a cable and skinned her palms. Tears sprang into her eyes but there was no time; she was the getaway gal. She had to start the ship. It was quiet as she ran up to the cockpit and started the sequences. There were normal pre-flight checks, and there were mad-dash pre-flight checks. She was going through the commands for a quick escape, watching the boards light up and listening for blaster fire when the droid joined her. She put him in his place and got the “go” for the engines. She started them up and heard the blaster fire she'd been listening for and felt the vibration from the cannon through her feet. Her job was done and she got out of the way just seconds before Pirate came barreling into the cockpit, his face flushed and set with the lines and creases of the just in time. He found everything ready and bellowed a three-count then closed up the ship and bolted from the port. Pekmae could hear the crew yelling as they rolled around in the ships belly, not strapped in, and she bumped around in her little hiding-hole. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth and they were out of the atmosphere and making a quick jump, then another, then another. She waited until she heard him breathe, then opened her eyes.

“Kid?” he asked and she came out from her spot. He smiled, the reckless “we made it” smile and settled into his seat. “C'mon, we made it.” She climbed into his lap and listened to the engines and the muffled sounds of the crew and watched Pirate as he closed his eyes and his breathing evened. She settled against him and watched the swirling, starry lines and sank into herself, essentially comatose until they were back in realspace.
A continuation of background for Pekmae Starunner.
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