The Ripper was on its way even before the two passengers it off-loaded had met Maaz. By the time Dr. Fedli and her assistant Dr. Bran entered the Phoenix from the airlock Ripper was already more than a 100 miles away and accelerating. The four ships temporary disabled by the Blitzer were silent and dark, hovering in limbo.
Dr. Fedli saw the thin boy coming towards her, raising a hand in formal greeting.
"Dr. Bruna Fedli?"
"Yes. Who is in charge of this ship? We need to work fast."
"I am."
For a moment Dr. Fedli was to surprised to react but then her face hardened.
"We don't have time for jokes or whatever you are doing. I need to get control of this ship."
She stepped to the side and forward. Maaz stepped away and let her walk ahead, following two steps behind her after a nod at the tall guest who had accompanied Dr. Fedli. The chamber was empty. While Dr. Fedli wrestled with the fact that the boy may actually be the only person in the ship. Tank reported over the PA.
"Codes needed for sub-light prep routines."
Dr. Fedli automatically approached the console but stopped and turned to Maaz.
"OK, we can sort things out later. Now we need to get away from here, so I am taking charge."
She punched in a few lines of code and waited for the ships response and then tapped in another code. Tank responded
"Engines online. Sub light prep at 10%"
Two seats rose besides the one Dr. Fedli was sitting in. Shortly an exo-suit rose
beside each seat and Maaz along with the other two arrivals started to get into the suits.
"Sub light prep at 85%. One of the attackers is recovering power."
Dr. Fedli ordered: "Divert enough power to raise shields to 60% and continue prep. I am punching in the co-ordinates now. Go sub-light without delay."
"Laser targeting detected. Other ships recovering."
"Short laser hit. Shields intact. Going sub-light."
Maaz had blacked out in face of the massive acceleration. When he was woken up by a stranger he tried to sit up in a hurry only to jolted by the exo-suit still strapped to the seat.
"Relax. We got away. The phoenix is fine."
"Who are you?" Maaz asked slumping back and taking a deep breath.
"I am Ned. I work alongside Dr. Fedli."
After nearly half an hour when everyone was showered and were sitting around the remnants of a meal. Maaz asked.
"What now?"
Dr. Fedli replied. "We will head for Uranus orbit."
"Go back to EC. Why?"
"We have a facility there. A colony of about 3000."
"A rebel outpost!" Maaz gulped from his cup trying to digest the fact. And then replied.
"I don't want to fight the EC all my life."
"What do you want to do?"
"Trade, Study Mech, look at the universe, earn creds."
Ned answered this time.
"But you are already marked by the EC. And they did attack the Phoenix."
Dr. Fedli added. "You can stay at the colony if you want. The Phoenix is what I need."
Maaz felt he was being cornered. "But this is my ship and I am not giving it up."
"You are not getting a ship. Do you know how much even a small ship costs?"
"Then I am not giving up the Phoenix."
"And how do you propose to keep it."
Maaz gave a small smile. "Tank shut down engines to hover."
Dr. Fedli was not fazed. "I typed in the overrides and changed the voice control protocols."
There was a slight shudder and Tank reported
"Engines at hover."
Now both Dr. Fedli and Ned were looking at each other, both surprised. Then an agitated Ned asked Maaz.
"What did you do?"
"I am not talking. In fact I suggest you get off my ship at the nearest Free port."
Ned stood up and Maaz pushed his seat away but Dr. Fedli intervened. "He has command of the ship. And there are emergency measures available. Sit down."
"First tell me how?" Dr. Fedli asked.
"I have Tank."
"The AI..but the override is universal."
"Not anymore. Tank can intervene."
"Impossible. That advanced an AI was never built."
Tank responded. "Dr. Fedli you are right. But there was latent programming and an extensive array of algorithms which I could assimilate thanks to my versatile platforms developed by Maaz."
Maaz now relaxed back into his seat . "So Phoenix is ours."
Dr. Fedli said. "OK. But the military potential of this ship is vast. Nothing you can use. What will you do with it, just waste all this much needed tech."
Maaz was ready with the answer. "I need a decent ship, where I can transfer Tank and some of the stuff I like. You can keep the Poenix."
Ned was the one to answer. "We can't afford a good ship right now. We are fighting for survival you...."
Dr. Fedli intervened again. "But there is brand new ship. An EC long range scout. Just launched last month to survey the Comets passing the Freezone at Sirius A. We can take it easily. And may be modify it for Maaz."
"What do you say Tank? this sounds good."
THE END FOR NOW