The Ranger and the Pirate Princess

By wdhenning

From when a little girl, I'd heard the daring tales of the Sol Commonwealth Rangers and theirruthless efficiency, sometimes told to wayward children to keep them from choosing a life of crime. Obviously, it didn't work for me.

But they can't be that good, can they? Just hyped legends. Besides, there hasn't been a ranger in this remote sector since the Commonwealth withdrew two Earth-standard centuries ago. And even with the fastest starships, it took years to cross the Orion Void that separated us from the core worlds. There were no rangers around these parts.

Until now.

I've never seen my father so spooked by anyone — after all, he was Dahjlonica, the most infamous pirate in this sector. And this ranger had been asking around specifically about little ol' me, not even bothering to be secretive. So, I took notice.

"I'm serious, Daughter," my father had said, narrowing dark brown eyes and pointing a finger after I scoffed. "Don't underestimate him. These rangers are elite operatives, the best of the best.Stay away!"

But since when did I follow orders?

And there he was, legs sprawled out while sitting alone, lazily lifting a mug to his lips. A strange soccer ball sized metallic sphere with little green lights hovered above the round table. The ranger faced away from the tavern entrance hatch where I stood — an elite operative would never do that.

"You sure that's him?" I asked the bartender, a spindly gray-haired man with an old-style handlebar mustache. Bartenders tended to be my most useful informants.

"Yes, ma'am," the bartender answered. "Asked a lot of questions 'bout you yesterday. Said he was a Ranger, even had a shiny badge. Surprised me when he showed up here again today."

The space-station tavern, like the bartender, had a classic cowboy saloon theme, like the ancient vids that became popular recently. Completing the look were wooden accents, such as the long bar, stools, and twin half-length swinging doors just inside the hatch. Real wood was rare enough here that it attracted notice. But being this early on a work-cycle morning, so the ranger was the only customer inside.

"Is he armed?" I asked.

The bartender shrugged. "The scanners didn't pick up anything."

I gazed at the ranger's sandy-brown hair as he took another swig of ale, lost in thought as he twirled a shiny six-pointed badge on the table. But why on my turf, unarmed and alone?

I had defied my father's warnings, but at least I brought extra protection. With my motion, my three masters of mayhem drew projectile pistols. As usual, they were unfashionable and unkeptin tattered drab clothing. Not that I was much more elegantly attired, wearing a comfortable black tank-top and leggings.

I marched right up to the ranger as if I knew what I was doing. Bending over slightly with hands on the table, I gave him my most intense narrow-eyed glare, and growled, "Heard you been looking for me?" My protective detail spread around, guns at ready, but pointing down toward the deck.

Hardly intimidated, the ranger twirled his badge again and returned the warmest of smiles. "Ms. Nova Jones," he said in a lilting voice, "I had hoped you would come by."

Had he expected me? I gave him the once over with narrowed eyes, and couldn't help but notice the trim but muscular physique that quite nicely filled out a tight gray t-shirt and green cargo pants. A scar spanning the right cheek of an otherwise gentle light face told of past conflict, and his hair was trimmed short, almost military style.

Okay, so he's handsome. It's cliché, but I could get lost in those deep, green-streaked hazel eyes, and in another setting, I might have explored more erotic entanglements. But I wasn't in the mood now.

"So, you're a Commonwealth Ranger?"

"Jake Barton," he replied, nodding.

"Are you after me?"

"Yep."

I tightened my glare. "Why shouldn't I just kill you now, Jake?"

Jake shrugged and put on that smile again. "Curiosity?" Then he motioned to the chair beside him. "May I buy you a drink? The ale is quite good here."

For a moment, confusion froze me. How clueless was Jake Barton? Didn't he realize I had the upper hand here? But the invitation seemed harmless enough, and true, I was curious.

"Okay," I answered. Raising my hand, I caught the bartender's attention, then pointed a single finger down. In wordless efficiency, a frothy mug appeared before me, and I took a swig. Jake was right about the ale.

"Who are your friends?" Jake said, circling a finger towards the men surrounding us.

"My crewmen," I answered, then pointed in sequence, "Stinky, Toothless, and Scruffy."Fortunately, after several coaching sessions, Stinky no longer lived up to his name, I took Toothless to a dentist, and Scruffy — well, he was still scruffy.

Jake wrinkled his forehead. "Really?"

I shrugged. "Don't know their real names." I should after all this time, but they never objected tomy nicknames.

"I see." Jake swiveled his head around. "Fellas, could I get you some ales?" After two moments of awkward silence, Jake said, "They don't talk much, it seems."

"Never have." I pointed at the silvery sphere hovering motionless above the table, emitting a barely audible hum. "What's with the floating ball?"

"Oh, that's Bob, my personal droid."

I wrinkled my forehead — must be some new Commonwealth tech. "You named your droid Bob?"

Jake tipped his head and countered, "You named your crewmen Stinky, Toothless, and Scruffy?"

"Point taken." I narrowed my eyes and demanded, "Why are you here, Ranger Barton? The Sol Commonwealth abandoned us long ago."

"Aw, yes. The matter at hand." He took another swig. "The Commonwealth has recovered since the Downfall, and they are coming to reclaim lost territory. They sent me ahead."

"Okay. What does that have to do with me?"

Jake leaned back in his chair. "The thing is, the Commonwealth is all about law and order, and as such, they have no appreciation for piracy. And you, Ms. Jones, are the most successful pirate in this sector, and therein lies my interest."

I grinned. "And here I thought you came to ask me for a date."

Jake grinned in return. "A date of sorts, I suppose." He lifted the mug, draining the remaining ale in two glugs, then set it down with a clunk. Eyes gleaming, he said, "You are under arrest for piracy, Ms. Jones."

My jaw dropped, and I stared in disbelief. My three surrounding men, still holding guns at ready, furled brows and glanced back and forth at each other. Jake was clearly delusional — so much for the ranger legends. A grin slowly returned to my lips, changing to a string of chuckles.

Jake tilted his head and lifted an eyebrow. "You gonna come along peacefully?"

"Hell, no. Does anyone ever?"

Jake shrugged. "Usually not, but it's good manners to ask first." His eyes flashed toward the droid. "Go, Bob."

In a whir and flash of tiny lights, Bob jumped straight up. Dazzling streaks of blue bolts shot out from round holes, striking Toothless, Scruffy, Stinky, and the bartender in their chests. First jerking as if an electrical shock, the men then slumped to the deck unconscious. It was over in two seconds.

"What the..." I muttered as my heart sped up.

With a clenched teeth growl, I sprang up from my chair, snatching at my sidearm. But the gun didn't even clear the holster before Jake flung a small silver disk, which stuck to my shirt. Jagged blue-white bolts erupted from the disk, spreading. I grunted as my body shook, then seized as if electrocuted. As I collapsed, darkness overtook me.

*****

'Damn, that hurt,' was my first coherent thought as the brain fog cleared. Every muscle in my body ached. My eyes fluttered open, then snapped shut against a bright overhead light. Blinking, my squinting eyes eventually adjusted to the brightness. I tried to move, but found myself restrained to a narrow platform bed by several black straps. The small cabin, with walls painted bland gray, also included a desk with chair, a padded storage bench along one wall, and a narrow open door leading to a compact head. As per standard starship design, all secured to the deck in case of artificial gravity failure.

A pretty teenage girl with long, thick honey-blonde hair and light skin came alongside and peered down at me, then tilted her head up and called out, "Dad, she's awake."

My eyes widened. Did she just say 'Dad'?

A smile laced with young innocence appeared on her face. "Hi, my name is Astraea. Pleased to meet you."

"I'm Nova," I replied, eyes narrowing. "Where the fuck am I?"

Astraea jerked at my curse-word selection, but recovered quickly. "On my dad's ship," she said,"the Templar Star. Are you really a pirate?"

"Yup, that's me, a dreadful pirate, curse of the galaxy." I scrunched my forehead. "So, are you Ranger Jake's daughter?"

"Yeah. Sorry about the stun thing. Dad gets intense sometimes." Astraea gazed at me for a moment. "I like the red highlights in your hair. Do you think they would look good on me?"

The cherry-red streaks in my dark-brown hair were a signature look. My enemies claimed it represented the blood of my victims, but I didn't tell Astraea that. I scanned her face and hair, then answered, "Hmm, with your skin tone, pink might be better. Or green to match your eyes."

"Green!" the girl exclaimed. "I think I'll go with green."

Jake leaned against the oval hatch frame with muscular arms folded in classic bad-boy pose. A gentle, unassuming smile appeared on his lips. Why did he have to be so attractive? But he gotnegative points for arresting me.

"Nova, you're awake," he said. "Hopefully, no worse for wear?"

Despite my whole-body ache, I shrugged. "I've had worse hangovers."

Astraea stood with hands on her hips and drew her eyes to slits. "Dad, did you have to stun her?"

"Yes, I did," he replied with a head nod. "She was uncooperative. Would you excuse us, Starlight? We have some things to discuss."

Astraea struck a defiant pose with hands on her hips. "So, if I'm uncooperative, would you stunme?"

Jake let out a long, exasperated breath. "Not my first choice, but it is on the list. Go finish your schoolwork."

"Fine..." With an eye roll, Astraea slunk out the hatch as Jake made way.

"Daughters..." he grumbled with his own eye roll. "What can you do?"

Fairly sure my father asked the same question about me.

Jake gazed directly into my eyes. "Astraea is at an impressionable age, and I would appreciate if you didn't glamorize piracy or any other criminal occupation. And watch your language around her."

"Then why did you bring her along?"

He sighed. "Let's just say there were custodial issues with an ex-wife and leave it at that."

"Okay..."

Jake came close and, to my surprise, unbuckled the restraining straps. Sitting up and stretching a stiff neck and shoulders, I asked, "Is this how you pick up women?"

He grinned. "Only dangerous pirate princesses." Jake sat on the bed an arm's length away, close, but not too close. "My orders were to assassinate you."

I raised an eyebrow, but inside, my heart jumped into my throat. "And yet, I am still alive?"

"I'm not sure who the true villain is anymore — you or the Hahn family that accused you. They absolutely hate you."

"Yeah, well, I recently killed one of them. But he--"

"I know," Jake interrupted. "I witnessed your raid on the Hahn's cargo hauler — the Vega Merchant, was it? — and what you did for all the people onboard you rescued, probably saving them from human trafficking. By my assessment, killing Regeous Hahn was justified."

My eyes widened. "You were there? We detected no other ship."

"The Templar Star is really stealthy."

"So, what do you want of me, Ranger Jake?"

A sly grin rose on his face. "I need a date for the Hahn Christmas gala."

*****

The long party dress, created to my exact measurements, fit like a second skin. Thigh and cleavage baring cuts enticed. The shimmery fabric, which changed color from silver to violet depending on view angle, also had tactical properties, able to block most projectile and energy weapons while confounding security scanners. Black, dangerously high-heeled pumps completed the outfit.

Astraea helped braid my hair into stylish swirls, now colored platinum-blonde, which contrasted nicely with my tan complexion, since going in with my signature red-streaked dark hair would give me away immediately. I turned in front of the mirror, satisfied with the results. "How do I look?"

"Like a fairytale princess," Astraea gushed.

Her compliment warmed me — I still clung to childhood princess fantasies. "Maybe, a pirate princess, though."

Jake whistled from the hatch, eyes scanning me up and down. Coming closer, he took up my hand and placed a wispy kiss on my fingers, leaving behind a pleasant tingle. "You look r-r-ravishing, my dear Nova," he said, rolling the r in melodramatic fashion. "But given the venue, best we not mention the pirate part."

"You look rather dashing yourself, my daring ranger."

Jake wore a silky black collarless shirt under a charcoal-gray suit with purple trim that complimented my dress. It also had tactical properties, and in addition, hid specific tools andweapons.

Despite his elegance, I frowned. "Shouldn't I carry weapons, too?" Going in with guns blazingwas my usual style, not this spy subterfuge thing.

"In such a form-fitting dress, how could we hide them?" he replied, eyeing me. "Besides, you're a dangerous pirate and still my prisoner."

Astraea sighed. "Why can't I go, too?"

"We talked about this, Starlight. This is a mission, not a social event." Jake answered, drawing down eyebrows. "And if you sneak off ship again, I actually will ground you for life."

"Yes, father," she grumbled with an eye roll.

"Oh, come on, Jake," I pleaded. "Let her have some fun."

"It's not up for discussion," he said curtly, with a dismissive hand wave.

Once we landed and the thrusters wound down, Jake escorted me across the spaceport tarmac to a waiting hover-car, leaving his ship and vexed daughter behind. I got her — I was once a more troublesome teen than Astraea — but Jake was the protective father I never had growing up as an orphan. Only a few years ago had my pirate father found me.

As Jake assisted me into the car like a gentleman, the true situational reality overcame the fairytale glamor, tightening my gut. Here I was, heading to a Christmas party hosted by the Hahn— the powerful family that promised deadly vengeance against me. And if they discovered my true identity... Well, not a good outcome. Jake seemed like an honorable man and maybe he would protect me, but he was only one ranger with limited firepower. And I was unarmed.

The Hahn flaunted their wealth. I marveled at the expansive gardens and huge columned mansion, modeled after an ancient Greek temple. Did they think themselves gods?

As the auto-piloted car came to a stop beneath an expansive overhang, a golden android wearing a tuxedo opened the door. "Welcome to the annual Hahn Christmas gala," it said in a monotone voice.

With my arm looped around his, Jake led me into the den of my enemy. "Try not to act like a pirate," he whispered.

"Arrgghh, aye, matey," I whispered back with an old-time pirate accent.

"Be serious, Nova."

"Right," I said, adding extra swing to my hips. "I'll be your airhead bimbo girlfriend that you picked up at some disrespectable establishment, and definitely not a dangerous pirate."

"Just don't overplay it."

The setting sun painted high clouds in reds and oranges as we entered the wide arched doorway, then walked through a forest of old-fashioned Christmas trees decorated with styled ornaments and twinkling lights.

Another android greeted us at a flowered archway leading to the grand ballroom. After scanning our DNA, it said, "Welcome, Ranger Jake Barton and Ms. Candice Green. Please enjoy the festivities."

My heart calmed, and I blew out a silent breath of relief. The thin film coating my hands worked, spoofing the DNA scanner.

The ballroom was beyond opulent, and no-doubt meant to impress. Ornately carved marble columns supported a tall domed ceiling with skylights. Classic Christmas carols played on old-style acoustic instruments and elaborate decorations set the mood while the countless twinkling lights floating above provided a magical ambiance. Tables filled with fancy and expensive treatslined one side while roving android servers offered the finest drinks. Anyone important who wanted to suck-up to the Hahn family was probably here, all dressed in their finest.

As I snatched a crystal glass of bubbly wine from a robotic server, Jake narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't get buzzed."

"Just playing the party girlfriend part," I replied, taking a sip.

Jake paused for a moment, touching his neck below an ear and closing his eyes.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Checking in with the ship to make sure Astraea hasn't wandered off again."

"You can do that?"

Jake tapped his head. "The com implant in my head connects directly with the Templer Star AI."

"You've got all the cool toys, Jake." I'd really like to get my hands on some of that Commonwealth tech.

We wandered through the crowd, who collected themselves in small conversation groups,making our way toward the orchestra stage, while not looking like we actually doing secret spy stuff. I played the starstruck and not-particularly-intelligent girlfriend part to perfection, perhaps too well, given Jake's eye rolls.

With styled combed-back dark hair and wearing a classic black tuxedo, Gideon Hahn, grandson of Mirrihk, the old family patriarch, and brother to Regeous, who I recently killed, blocked our path. I held my breath as he eyed me suspiciously with narrowed, dark eyes. If he recognized me...

But then he turned to Jake. "Ranger Barton," Gideon spat, scowling, "shouldn't you be out hunting Nova Jones?"

"After your ill-advised assassination attempt, she went into hiding," Jake hissed in reply. "I have spotters out. Nova is enough of an attention whore that she will soon reappear. Then I will have her."

The explanation seemed to satisfy Gideon. "Very well." Putting on a lecherous grin, he turned back to me. "And who is this lovely creature?"

I put on a ditzy smile and held out my hand, fingers down. "Hi, I'm Candi."

Gideon bent and kissed my hand, inducing a twinge of nausea. "Of course you are," he said before moving on to other guests.

I blew out a breath as, hand-in-hand with Jake, we slipped behind the stage to a rounded metal door. Using some sort of pen-shaped device, he manipulated the electronic lock, changing the little light from red to green with a faint click. Pulling it open, we slipped away into a plain gray hallway, closing the door carefully behind us.

"Attention whore?" I hissed, narrowing my eyes at Jake.

He shrugged. "You have that reputation with the Hahn."

Putting hands on my hips, I huffed, "I am not--"

A motion caught my peripheral vision as a tall, white-uniformed guard rounded a corner further down the hallway, gazing down at a hand com-viewer. We had nowhere to hide.

Grabbing Jake by the suit-jacket lapels, I shoved him into a shallow alcove of a locked door. Then, pressing my body against him, I locked onto his lips in faux-passion. Jake took the hint, circling arms around my waist.

But as lustful flames ignited deep within, the faux-passion became, well, not-faux. Feeling no resistance, I pushed in, demanding more, and Jake responded in kind. I could get used to this, ranger or not.

Lost in the burn, I jerked as the guard shouted, "You there! This is a restricted area." But as I separated from Jake's lips, the guard's tone softened. "Oh, I see. If you wish, the concierge will provide you with a suitable private location where you may..." His voice tailed off.

That was really tempting.

"An excellent idea, my good man," Jake said as I hung on him, not at all pretending an attraction. "Would you escort us back to the ball?"

"Of course, sir," the guard replied, extending a hand. "This way."

But as the guard turned, Jake pushed the pen device against the man's back and pressed a button. Jagged blue sparks danced as the guard's body seized, then folded unconscious to the floor.

I caressed Jake's shoulder and cooed, "That was some kiss, ranger. What do you say we try that again later and see where it leads?"

"You're still my prisoner, Nova," he replied flatly. "That would be unethical."

"I'm a pirate. What do I know about ethics?" My hand trailed across his hip toward the growing bulge that made itself known during our kiss, gently stroking it. "Hmm, and what are the ethical implications of this?"

Jake glared, but, interestingly, did not immediately remove my hand. "Are you always this direct, Ms. Jones?"

"I'm a pirate, Ranger Barton. I don't do subtle."

"Let's focus on the urgent matter at hand, shall we?" He said, pulling my hand away.

Jake didn't object when I took the guard's hand-stunner from a holster, keeping it for myself.After stuffing the unconscious guard awkwardly within a small unlocked storage room, we continued toward our objective — a data backup center further down the winding hallway.

"How did you know the mansion layout?" I asked.

"I surveyed it when I visited earlier to discuss your gate."

"So, you captured me specifically for this little scheme?"

"Yup. Couldn't think of a more motivated partner."

I grinned. "You're a bad boy, Jake."

With his little pen-sized gizmo, Jake made quick work of the Data Center lock, and the gray door opened with a click. Our entry startled a white-uniformed woman sitting before a view-screenwith feet up on the angled transparent interface panel. Two empty seats flanked her within the otherwise drab gray room.

Her eyes widened as she swung around and pointed a finger. "You shouldn't be--"

A silvery blast from my stunner gun interrupted her words. Trembling with eyes rolling up, she slumped to the floor.

"Not subtle at all, Nova," Jake muttered as he took the woman's seat and inserted a data crystal into a terminal.

"You sure this will work?" I asked, watching command code flash across the screen too fast to read.

"It should," he responded, his eyes also on the screen.

The next few tense moments seemed to take forever as the hacking code churned, but finally, a green text box flashed 'transfer complete.' "Yes!" Jake exclaimed, pumping a fist in the air."Now we'll know all the Hahn's dirty secrets."

"So, what's your exit plan? How do we get back to the ship?" I asked.

Jake manipulated several icons on the angled interface panel, changing them from green to red. "First," he replied, "I shutdown the mansion robotic security system." He stood while retrievingthe data crystal. "Then I bring the ship to us. Closing eyes, he touched his neck again, obviously contacting the ship via his implant. But then he frowned, and grumbled, "Well, crap..."

Tingles crawled down my spine. "Saying 'well, crap' didn't fill me with confidence."

"I can't connect. All com frequencies are being jammed."

So, they're on to us. "Then, 'crap' wasn't a strong enough word. What now?"

"We improvise."

I smirked. "Welcome to the Hahn naughty list, Ranger Jake."

"Knew you were a bad influence," he replied while peeking out of the hatch. "But if we don't get out of here soon, my life of crime will end prematurely. Let's go."

I loped along awkwardly in high-heel shoes as we paced down the hallway, away from the ballroom. Around a corner, the corridor ended at a metal door. Distant shouts echoed from behind.

"Here they come," Jake said, stating the obvious.

My heart dropped as I tried the door handle and it would not budge. It had an old-fashionedmechanical lock. "You wouldn't happen to have a key, would you?" I asked, pointing.

"Yes, I do," he answered, while extracting a rod-like device from his suit jacket, then touching a button to activate it. "Avert your eyes."

As I turned away, the device popped, and a bright light painted the nearby walls. Orange sparks bounded across the floor.

Jake kicked the door open to the outdoors with a thump. In the fading twilight, I made out the intricately trimmed hedges and statuary of a formal garden. After closing the door behind him, Jake used the plasma device to melt hinges and latch, sealing the door shut.

"That won't hold them for long. Let's go." He pointed toward a maintenance shed in the distance. "We should find transportation there to take us to my ship."

I carried the stunner gun in one hand as we sprinted across the manicured grass. Multiple thuds and knocks came from the door we left behind.

"Oww!" I blurted out as the spike heel of my left shoe sunk into a muddy spot and twisted.Grimacing as I hopped and stumbled along on one foot, I might have fallen if not for Jakewrapping an arm around my waist. "Damn, that hurt."

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied with tight lips while kicking off my pumps, electing to continue barefoot. "But next time we do this, I'm wearing more sensible shoes."

The shed drew closer as multiple shouts pierced the relative silence, and flashlight beams bounced among the hedges. Jake steered me along a tall hedge, using it to hide from the advancing guards.

Rounding a brick landscape wall, we nearly ran headlong into a wide-eyed young guard, asstartled as we were. As he reached for a sidearm, I snapped up my stunner gun and fired. He jerked as the stun-bolt struck him square in the chest, then folded to the grass. Before we continued, I snatched up his projectile handgun and discarded the stunner, choosing a more lethal weapon.

"There they are!" a voice shouted from the distance.

Flashlight beams briefly illuminated us until, hand-in-hand, we dashed behind a tall fountain for cover. Multiple bullets pinged off the bricked pool wall or splashed in the water.

"They are on to us," Jake muttered.

"Ya' think?" I responded with more irritation than I intended.

When we reached the shed, I stopped and leaned over to catch my breath, while Jake continued a few steps rounding a flowered vine draped corner.

Upon peering inside, Jake threw his head back and let out an exasperated moan. "Well, crap..."

"I really hate it when you say that," I retorted. Upon joining him, I understood why. The shed was nearly empty, certainly not containing any vehicles with which to make our escape. "So much for improvising."

I opened my mouth to make a few cruder situational assessments, but only yelped as Jake yanked me aside. Whizzing projectiles ricocheted off the brick walls. Jake flashed up his rod weapon and fired. The orange plasma bolt burst upon a guard's shoulder with a flurry of sparks, knocking the guard back. I followed with two sharp pops from my handgun, taking down another guard.

Jake peeked out, but quickly ducked back in the shed as an orange plasma bolt from another direction blasted against the shed wall. I ducked my head as sparks and brick bits rained down on me.

"Well, this sucks," I muttered, stating the obvious as I crouched beside Jake.

A guard rounded a nude woman statuary with hand gun raised. I aimed and fired two projectiles. One bullet shattered a chunk from the statue's arse, but the other bullet hit the guard's thigh.Crying out, he collapsed and crawled back to cover.

Jake fired a plasma bolt at the feet of two charging guards, forcing them to change their strategy and retreat. Then, more bullets from several directions pinged off the nearby shed walls, forcing us further within the dark building.

Jake turned to me with moistened eyes. "I'm sorry, Nova."

I leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "You're a good man, Jake, but this was the worst date ever."

With a half-grin, he chuckled. "I hope I have the chance to make it up to you."

Gideon Hahn's amplified voice broke our moment. "Ranger Barton, you are surrounded. Come out with your hands up. There is no need for further bloodshed."

No way would I surrender. For my crimes, my penalty would be death: slow, painful, and public. But Jake... I checked my gun — only four needle-like projectiles remained.

I turned to him, gazing into concerned eyes. "When I draw their fire, you take off and get to your ship."

Jake steeled his expression. "I'm not leaving you, Nova."

"You have a daughter that needs you," I replied, stroking his cheek. "And if you get the chance, avenge me."

As I rose from a crouch, Jake pulled me down again and glared at me. "Not acceptable. We both go together--"

The hum of the floating silvery sphere took away Jake's remaining words, and a broad smile rose on his face. "Bob! Glad to see you. Protective cover, Bob. Lethal force authorized." Standing, heheld out a hand. "Ready, my pirate princess?"

Heart lifting as I did, I accepted his hand. "Ready, my daring ranger."

Holding hands, we sprinted toward dark woods, away from the mansion. Bullets struck behind us, but Bob, flying above, quickly suppressed the fire, shooting blue streaks in all directions with deadly accuracy. Panicked shouts rang out from the guards.

As we climbed over a chest-high retaining wall, I looked up. Some sort of moving shadowblotted out the stars. I caught Jake's attention and pointed. "Is that...?"

"The Templer," he said with a grin.

"Were you able to call your ship in?"

"No," he answered, "wasn't me."

The stealthy starship swung around, flying overhead and landing in a partial clearing ahead, smashing a flower bed in the process. How it moved without the deafening thruster roar, I did not understand. Must have some other sort of high-tech propulsion.

As we ran closer, a rounded port hatch opened. Light silhouetted Astraea, holding a plasma rifle. "Come on!" she shouted. As we neared, she shouldered the rifle and fired off four bolts that zipped past us and exploded in bright flashes behind, providing cover fire. Her steeled expression bore a striking resemblance to her father.

When we reached the elevated hatch, pausing for but a second at the extended ladder, a guard jumped out from behind a tree with a plasma rifle.

"Look out!" I yelled, pushing Jake aside.

The plasma bolt struck me in the lower back, blasting a halo of orange sparks. My body shook, then stiffened as I screamed out from the searing pain. Fortunately, the tactical fibers of myslinky dress prevented a fatal wound, but it hurt like hell. A plasma bolt also packed a potent electrical shock.

Mind swirling, I barely noticed Jake swinging around to fire his weapon. Then he collected me in his arms. Dizziness overtook me as I leaned my head against a strong shoulder.

*****

Coming full circle, I regained my wits on my bed within the Templer Star, but this time without restraints. Two sets of eyes and a droid's blinking green lights overlooked me. Astraea stood with a father's protective arm around her. A burned odor tingled my nose, probably coming from my now ruined dress.

"So, we made it?" I asked, wrinkling my forehead.

"Yes," Jake answered, pulling his daughter tighter against him. "Thanks to my Starlight."

"How did you know we needed help?" I asked her.

"Figured you two would get in trouble," Astraea replied, "so I sent out Bob to check. Good thing I did."

Jake smirked at her, "Although I had told you to stay put."

"You said to stay on the ship," she retorted with a genetically similar smirk. "You didn't say I couldn't move the ship."

"She has a point, Jake," I said.

With a groan, I rose to my elbows. Jake released his daughter and helped me move to a sitting position with legs dangling over the edge. "How do you feel?" he asked.

"Sore and stiff," I responded while rolling my shoulders. "Let's never do that again." With further assistance, I stood on wobbly legs. "I think I'll be okay."

Opening my arms, I offered the girl a hug, which she accepted. "Total badass, Astraea," I whispered in her ear.

Not leaving Bob out, I grasped the floating droid and placed a kiss on its silver surface. "Thank you, too, Bob." Green lights blinked in reply.

"Hungry?" Jake asked. "I can fix you something."

I nodded, then let him escort me toward the galley while Astraea retreated to her cabin. Walking slowly, I leaned into him as he wrapped an arm around my waist, reveling in the surging internal warmth. I was hungry, yes, but not for food.

I stopped him as we passed the rounded open hatch to his cabin. He turned to me, and with hands on my shoulders, lifted his gaze to mine. "Nova, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have risked you like--"

"Am I still your prisoner?" I asked, interrupting.

"No," Jake answered, shaking his head. "We are long past that."

"Good."

I shoved him inside, closing the hatch behind us with a clunk. Jake did not resist my intrusion at all. His cabin was neat and orderly, with an emphasis on functionality over style, like him. But I wasn't here for decorating ideas.

Spinning, I grabbed his jacket lapels and pushed him back against the hatch, hard enough that hegrunted. Sparks appeared in his deep green eyes, and a hint of a grin rose. Moving in, I pinned him to the hard metal, molding my body to his. With an urgency that surprised even me, I pressed my lips onto his lips. Jake reciprocated in full, wrapping arms around my waist. Tongues and lips dueled while the kiss lingered, and the fire within my core became an inferno.Eventually, we had to come up for air. Breathing deeply, I leaned my forehead against his shoulder.

"Wow," he whispered, holding me tightly. "You really aren't subtle at all."

"Shut up," I hissed between breaths, "and fuck me."

"As you wish, my pirate princess."