The Swimmer Part 5 (Draft)

     Anton rushed through the halls of The Indigo Virgo towards the command deck. There he found his father and Tracy discussing something. “Anton,” his father said as he reached them, “What’s the matter?”

     “The pirates,” Anton gasped, “They’re back. Three ships.”

     “That’s impossible.”

     “How do you know this?” Tracy asked as she moved to her station. “We can’t see outside the Swimmer ship.”

     “I’ve been talking to her,” answered Anton. “To the pilot.”

     “I gave strict orders Anton,” said his father.

     “How do you know she’s not lying?” Tracy questioned.

     “I’m not lying,” the voice broke in on the ship’s intercom. The three of them stood in shock as their computer screens flared to life, showing video footage of three ships heading towards them. Bright light haloed the ships from behind indicating their intense engine output. The voice continued, “The pirates are burning towards our position fast. I estimate 30 minutes before weapon’s range. I suggest you call your crew and disembark before then.”

     Anton’s father stood up straight and addressed the pilot, “This is Captain Smith of The Indigo Virgo. Our jump drive isn’t repaired yet. Judging from those ships, we’ll be run down.”

     “I will hold them off.”

     Five minutes later, the crew of The Indigo Virgo boarded the ship and undocking was taking place. Anton watched the Swimmer from the central monitors as they drew away. From the Swimmer’s dorsal side, he saw a small squadron of twelve craft detach and fly off towards the pirate ships. “Drones,” his father pondered aloud. He snapped his attention away from the monitors and continued to coordinate the repair procedures that The Indigo Virgo still required, putting everything except the jump drives on hold. “Take us away from the Swimmer, we need every second of time it can buy us.” He sat back into the command seat and watched the battle unfold.

     The pirates began to fire immediately as the drones came into their range. Faint glints of light seemed to pulse away from the pirates. It was the rounds from their railguns catching hints of sunlight. From their distance it was the only hint of their deadly fire. The drones darted in and out, converging on the lead pirate ship. The drones began to return fire. Puffs of orange fire blinked to life on the surface of the lead pirate ship. The drones were doing a good job of cutting into the beast, but the pirates continued to burn towards them undeterred. One of the drones exploded, and then another, and another, the pirates apparently coordinating their defensive fire more effectively. Another squadron of drones flew forth from the Swimmer as the first wave retreated. The returning drones docked with the Swimmer. The battle continued with the pirates inching closer.

     Anton unclipped the radio from his belt and held it up. “What’s happening?” He asked, hoping for a response.

     “I’m keeping up the pressure on the pirates,” she replied, at a whisper. “Their ships are tough and my drones need to be repaired, refueled, and rearmed.”

     “You can handle all that on your own?”

     “The interface does a lot of the work, but I’m monitoring a lot of systems at once. Pilots like me learn to split our attention.” She paused. “Hold on.”

     “What is it?”

     A sudden shock of jagged light burst from the face of the Swimmer. In the distance, the pirate ships followed suit with their own twinkles of intense light.

     “We’ve entered range for anti-ship cannons,” she said. “Tell your father to keep The Indigo Virgo behind me.”