Wormbender's Circus
Chapter 17

The police ships fanned out in line abreast and raced at maximum speed across space, their scanners probing the darkness ahead for their quarry. Before long, they had plotted the whereabouts of the James D. Fitzgerald and were rapidly homing in on it. As they approached, four of the ships spread out to encircle the dark, silent wreck, while Prescott’s ship closed in to dock.

“Sensors indicate almost no air aboard her, chief,” said the pilot. “Two occupants. Can’t tell what state they’re in. Doesn’t look good, though.”

“Only two?” said Prescott. “Where are the others?” He caught a glimpse of Zoe’s alarmed expression and turned away. “Okay, men. Breathing gear on, guns at the ready. Dock when ready.”

The ship docked with the hulk, and the policemen raced into the airlock.

Zoe saw her worst fears realized minutes later when the policemen returned, carrying the limp bodies of Casey and Sebastian.

Oxygen masks were clamped over their faces, and reviving drugs pumped into their veins. Zoe stared with horror at their bluish faces. Slowly, however, the blue tinge faded, and their chests began to rise and fall with an easy, regular motion. The face masks were removed. Zoe heaved a sigh of relief.

First Sebastian then Casey opened their eyes, staring incomprehendingly at the ceiling. Then they became aware of the ring of faces around them, and looked from one to another, until Sebastian’s eyes met Zoe’s.

“Zoe? Are you all right?” At the sound of Sebastian’s voice, Casey turned his head.

Zoe nodded, her eyes becoming red and watery. “How about you guys?”

“I think so,” Sebastian said hesitantly.

“Uh huh,” said Casey.

“We’re still alive?” said Sebastian. Zoe nodded. “Where are we?”

“On board Police Unit CO5,” said Prescott. “Woodruff, get onto the salvage boys, give ’em the co-ordinates, tell ’em what we’ve got here.”

“Aye, chief,” said Woodruff and hurried away. Prescott turned his attention again to Sebastian and Casey. “Going to need statements from you two as soon as you’re able.”

“Sure,” said Sebastian, sitting up sharply. He clutched his head and his eyes rolled.

“Take it easy,” said Prescott, laying him back down on the couch.

He turned to his men. “Okay, let’s get out of here. Let’s get after those guys.”

Zoe sat down beside Sebastian’s head. He turned and stared at her.

“Our ship,” he said softly. “We’ve lost the ship.”

Zoe ruffled his hair. “You nearly lost your lives. You can always get another ship. You’re a rich man, remember?”

Sebastian nodded. “I guess so. Still, it seems like an awful waste of time. All that time and effort, just so a bunch of cons could come along with guns and take it away from us.”

When they had rested, Sebastian and Casey each gave Prescott their account of the hijacking of the Semiramis, and descriptions of the six men, which, naturally enough, matched those of the escaped convicts.

“It seems a pretty hopeless task, trying to replace our ship out there,” said Sebastian with a sigh.

“They’ve certainly got a head start,” Prescott conceded. “But it’s not impossible. Our ships have fanned out broadly, so we’re scanning a very wide area.”

“It’s hopeless,” said Casey. “We’ve lost her. They might as well turn for home now.”

They had been on the trail of the Semiramis for six hours, without so much as a blip on a screen.

More hours passed, and Prescott appeared ready to call off the search. “We’ll relay the description to other sectors,” he reassured the crew of the Semiramis. “We’ll get you your ship back. It may take some time, but we’ll get those guys eventually, and we’ll get the ship.”

“Unless they’ve abandoned her and shot her into a star to cover their tracks,” Casey observed glumly.

Woodruff appeared. “We’ve got something, chief.”

Prescott looked up. “What?”

“It’s a ship, heading this way. We think it’s the Semiramis.”

“Heading this way? Can’t be!” Prescott exclaimed. Moments later a more precise fix on the ship confirmed that it was indeed the Semiramis, heading straight towards them.

“Call them up!” barked Prescott, springing to his feet.

“Already did, chief,” said Woodruff. “No reply. Though there appears to be no damage to any of the ship’s major systems. But the wierdest thing of all is, she’s travelling at speed, but her engines are shut down.”

“Completely?” said Prescott.

“Completely, chief.”

Shortly the ship became visible on the police monitors. Casey, Sebastian and Zoe stared intently at a screen.

Casey smiled broadly. “Do you see what I see?”

“No,” said Sebastian.

“No,” said Zoe.

“Keep watching,” said Casey.

As the minutes passed, the image of the ship became larger and clearer. She was surrounded by a distinct blue aurora.

“The erg?” said Sebastian. Casey nodded.

The police ship docked with the Semiramis. Prescott, amazed at the sight of an erg so far beyond the Rann system, was now preparing to board, still wary, still with gun in hand. Sebastian, Casey and Zoe sat aboard the police ship and waited.

Rat, Snow and the rest of the escapees were carried aboard the police ship and dumped in the cells. All had been stunned by the erg.

“Well,” said Prescott when they had all been safely locked away. “All recaptured by an erg. This will be one for the police record books, and no mistake.”

Casey and Sebastian shook his hand and prepared to board their ship. Zoe planted a moist kiss on his cheek and swiftly fell into step behind her partners. She was determined not to be separated from them again.

“Oh, there’s just one thing,” she said, turning on her heel.

“What’s that?” said Prescott.

“Can you make sure Chen Hua gets his suit back?”

“Sure thing.”

They gave a final wave and were gone.