In less than an hour they were back in space. However, instead of leaving the system, Will brought the ship to a holding position not far from the planet.

“Just want to make sure they get away from Methinal,” said Will, answering Debra’s unasked question.

Debra nodded. “Figured you would.”

Debra bent over the sensor display. “A ship’s leaving the atmosphere. Must be Gwen since the ship design is similar to ours.”

“About time,” answered Will. “I’ll set course for Thadeus Seven.”

“Wait,” cried Debra. “Two other ships have shown up on sensors and are in pursuit of Gwen’s ship. They’ve opened fire.”

Will flipped switches and the tactical display appeared on the viewscreen. “Looks like Methinal space cruisers.” Gwen’s ship was weaving back and forth in an attempt to evade the fire, but with two ships it had suffered some damage. Will gave a nod. “At least this guy seems to know how to fly a ship. Let’s go even the odds.”

Bringing up shields, he pushed the control stick forward and the ship accelerated towards the cruisers. Swooping down on them, Will strafed them with blaster fire before pulling up and moving away.

“Minor damage on both ships.”

One of the cruisers broke off its pursuit of Gwen’s ship to follow Will’s ship and began firing. With his aft weapons damaged, he couldn’t return fire so concentrated on evading the incoming plasma blasts.

“Time to go on the offensive,” muttered Will as he pulled the control stick hard to the left and fired the forward reaction thrusters. The ship swerved to the left and swung down below the oncoming cruiser. Swooping back up, Will began firing and scored several hits before moving past it.

Will looked up at the tactical display. The cruiser began to turn, but it couldn’t match the maneuverability of Will’s ship. He swung around again and strafed the cruiser. It tried to return fire, but couldn’t get a fix and its blasts passed by where Will’s ship had been seconds before.

“Its shields are down,” reported Debra. “It’s veering off and returning to the planet.

In the meantime, the other cruiser continued firing on Gwen’s ship, which had finally begun to return fire.

Will turned the ship and accelerated towards the other cruiser which shifted its firing to his ship as it approached. Several hits reduced their shields to eighty percent, but there was no other damage. Will returned fire, scoring multiple hits to the cruiser as he flew past it. Gwen’s ship followed Will’s ship and scored several hits on the cruiser as well. As the two ships swung around for another pass, the cruiser turned away and accelerated towards the planet.

“Looks like they’ve had enough,” said Will setting a course out of the system. Gwen’s ship followed suit.

Will clicked on the radio. “Not bad flying there, young man. Any damage?”

“Thank you, sir,” answered Gwen’s partner in an almost giddy tone. “Shields are down forty percent and engine efficiency is at sixty percent, but we’ll have no trouble getting back to Earth.”

Gwen’s voice suddenly came over the radio. “Thanks, Will. Good to know you still care, well at least a little,” she said sweetly. “Gwen out.”

Will looked down and pounded a fist on his chair’s armrest. “That woman’s infuriating.”

Will set course for Thadeus Seven and headed out at the peak velocity the ship’s damaged engines could provide. Gwen’s ship soon faded from view and shortly thereafter from sensors as well.

Will set the autopilot and pulled out the scanner he’d taken from Gwen. “Let’s see what’s on this thing,” he said as he connected it to the ship’s computer.

A list of about ten files which used dates as names showed up on the viewscreen. Will nodded. “Those dates correspond to some of the missions Gwen and I were on together.”

He pointed at the first one. “That’s when Gwen and I dealt with the stolen jerlinium.” He opened a file further down the list. “Yes, that’s the weapon we destroyed at Celentus.” The last date corresponded to the mission right before he met Debra.

“Doesn’t look like they got anything while on Methinal,” observed Debra.

Will looked over and shook his head. “Not a big surprise.”

“Well this might be helpful in figuring out what Grandle plans on doing next,” suggested Debra.

“I just hope he’s come to his senses,” replied Will. “I don’t want to see any more people die because of him.”

Debra nodded. “Couldn’t agree more, but I don’t think it’s likely.”

Will nodded grimly knowing she was probably right.

“On a happier note,” offered Debra as she pulled the Amulet of Hrytrin from the pouch on her belt. “What do you think of this beauty?”

Will smiled as the red gem glistened in the light of the cabin. “Even with having to rescue Gwen we still got it.”

“Right, and I’m sure Lestron will pay plenty of credits for it.” She reached over and rubbed Will’s arm. “So, what do you say to a little vacation? Halsned has the bluest and warmest oceans.” She tilted her head and smiled. “Might give us a chance to get to know one another a little better.”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Will couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken a vacation. It might’ve been on one of the school breaks while he was in the academy. The idea of relaxing and not having anything to worry about was quite tempting. As for getting to know Debra better, that was even more tempting.

“You know,” he replied, “that sounds like a great idea. When we’re done on Thadeus Seven, we’ll head for Halsned.”

“Excellent,” exclaimed Debra. “I know just the place for us to stay. A quiet little villa by the ocean that even has its own landing field. You’ll love it.”

“I’m sure I will,” laughed Will.

It would take about three days to reach Thadeus Seven so Will and Debra took turns piloting the ship while the other rested. Otherwise, they spent time together in the control cabin just talking and enjoying each other’s company.

They were about half a day from Thadeus Seven and Will was asleep in his cabin, when Debra’s voice came over the intercom. “Will,” she called excitedly. “Come in Will.”

One thing you learned early on in the hero business was not to be a deep sleeper. He immediately woke up. “What is it?”

“Sensors show two ships on an intercept course. Still too far away to identify.”

“I’ll be right there,” cried Will jumping out of bed and rushing out of his quarters. He dashed up the ladder and within a minute was strapping himself into his seat. He flipped a switch and the tactical display came up.

Will stared at it a minute and shook his head. “Those are Ormecra long range fighters. Have no idea why they’d be out here.”

“Ormecra is a close ally of Earth,” noted Debra. “Could they be after us?”

“Let’s find out.” He flipped on the radio. “Ormecra vessels, please state your intentions.”

The only reply was static.

“Weapons range in fifteen minutes,” said Debra.

Will tried again. “Ormecra vessels, I repeat, what are your intentions? If you don’t respond, I will have no choice but to assume you are hostile.”

There was still no response. Will looked over at Debra. “Looks like we’ve got our answer.”

Will flipped a switch and a violet haze surrounded the ship as the shields came up. “We outclass them on weapons and shields, but they’re faster and more maneuverable than we are,” explained Will as he turned the ship away from the fighters.

He brought up the star chart and shook his head as there were no planets or any other objects with an hour of them. “Looks like we’ll have to fight them in open space. How long till they’re in weapons range?”

“About a half hour now,” answered Debra.

They flew on, the fighters pursuing them drawing ever closer.

“How’d they find us?” asked Debra.

“Gwen,” growled Will through gritted teeth. “She must have radioed our heading.”

Will glanced over at Debra. “So much for doing the right thing,” he muttered angrily. “We should have just left her there.”

“You know …” began Debra, but she quickly stopped. “Sensors just picked up two more ships, dead ahead.”

Will looked at the tactical display. “More fighters.” He again adjusted the ship’s heading.”

“Fifteen minutes till the first pair intercept,” reported Debra.

If the ship were at full strength, Will knew they’d have a chance. However, the aft weapons were out, the engines had suffered damage, and although he’d repaired them, the shields could go at any time. He looked over at Debra.

She shook her head. “I know what you’re going to ask and the answer is no. I’m staying here.”

Will gave a sigh. He hadn’t expected any other answer. “Okay then,” he said in a firm tone. “Let’s give them a fight they won’t soon forget.”

“Right!”

Will swung the ship around and headed for the closest pair of fighters. His only real advantage was that his weapons had a longer range than theirs and he planned to take advantage of it. As soon as the fighters were in range, Will began firing.

They swerved to avoid the plasma blasts with one fighter moving to the left and the other to the right. He’d fought with the Ormecrans during the Trelent War and knew their tactics. If he followed one of them, the other would attack from behind.

Will maintained his course and flew between them. Firing the forward and aft reaction thrusters, he spun the ship around and took off after them. He only had a chance for a few shots before they flew out of range. He hit one of the fighters and it spiraled away, its engine smoking.

“Second pair will reach us in five minutes,” called Debra.

“Wait,” she cried. “Two more have shown up on sensors.”

Will looked up at the tactical display. “Short range fighters,” he said shaking his head. Will finally understood. Those long range fighters had been herding him this way. There was a larger ship somewhere close. They needed to get out of there.

“Hold on,” shouted Will as he swung the ship around headed back the way they’d come. The fighters set out in pursuit. It didn’t take long for them to get close enough to begin firing on the ship. Will’s ship darted side to side and randomly swerved to try and evade their fire. However, with five ships after them, it was a futile endeavor. The ship shook and bounced as multiple plasma blasts hit the ship. Smoke began to fill the cabin. And without his rear blasters, there was nothing Will could do about it.

“Shields down,” reported Debra in a low voice. “Engines too.”

“I’m sorry,” said Will unable to look at her.

She reached over and took his hand. “I’m not.”

They sat there waiting for the plasma blast which would destroy the ship, but it never came. “Another ship’s coming this way, a large one,” said Debra in an apprehensive tone.”

Will tapped a button and a large ship appeared on the viewscreen. “An Ormecra space frigate,” he said looking down and shaking his head. “I should’ve realized those fighters were forcing us in this direction.”

“Snap out of it,” shouted Debra. “Aren’t you the one who told me that as long as you’re alive, there’s always a chance.”

For a moment Will just sat there, but he knew she was right. Now was not the time to wallow in self-pity. They had a lot to do. “Give me the amulet,” he said in a firm tone.

Debra handed him the pouch containing the amulet. He knelt on the floor and pulled off the covering to a compartment under the control panel. “When we get out of this,” he said, “I want to make sure we still have this thing.” Reaching into the compartment, he shoved the pouch behind a mass of wires and electrical components.

“What about Gwen’s scanner?”

Will took a moment to think. “You hold onto it so they can find it. When they see what’s on it, maybe they’ll listen to what we have to say.”

Will considered wiping the ship’s memory to protect the people they’d interacted with, but it also contained evidence of Earth’s attack on Celentus. They’d need that to clear their names.

The frigate stopped several hundred feet away from Will’s ship, dwarfing it. A voice crackled from the radio. “Captain Will Power, in accordance with our treaties with the planet Earth, you and your partner are being arrested for treason. You will be returned to Earth where you will face those charges in accordance with their laws.”

“But, Debra’s innocent,” answered Will.

However, the voice ignored him and continued speaking. “Prepare to have your ship brought into our landing bay. You and your partner will be held in confinement until arrangements can be made to return you to Earth.”

A massive door on the side of the ship opened and dozens of small craft shot out towards Will’s ship. There were loud clangs as each craft attached itself to Will’s ship using magnetic clamps. Once all were in place, they started moving back to the door, bringing Will’s ship with them.

They lowered the ship to a platform in the middle of a large landing area. Then releasing themselves, they flew back to docking ports located along one of the walls. There was a loud grinding sound as the door began to close and floor of the landing bay shook as it finished closing.

Looking at the massive door, Will and Debra knew they were trapped.