Black-hooded Space Pirate

“Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. Luckily for us all the extra chatter on board this merchant space cruiser is giving their positions away. Since we lost the communication trackers to that thief, but they are fleeing an enforcer ship. What’s weird is the merchant is not carrying any cargo. Do you think it’s Kane? Man, you look tired, still having those bad dreams?” Alex asks David, waiting anxiously for what their next move should be.

“Yes, but never mind that. It is weird that this is out of his jurisdiction and out of his normal routine, he must be getting desperate. Something has changed or happened. What do we know about this merchant space cruiser?” David walks over to see Alex’s screen.

“Nothing, it’s one we are not familiar with. This ship did leave the same ports we were at, but they went through their inspections, and everything was cleared. I bet Kane thinks you're on board, or possibly using the search under your name as an excuse to do an inspection. Should we help these guys out or go after the thief we keep getting blamed for?”

David thinks as he rubs his stumble on his chin. “Let’s go at least check things out, let’s see what this merchant is really carrying and if it’s Kane we can deal with him on our own terms.”

“The planet Ceres is relatively close and has asteroids nearby so we can get a scan and visual without being seen. I don’t think going after Kane right now is a good idea after our last encounter. He doesn’t want to listen to you, just capture you dead or alive. Let me remind you of that little detail. That thief is who we really should be going after right now.” Alex says annoyed, reminding David.

“We also don’t want Kane destroying other people's spaceships or enslaving people in hopes to find me. In that sense he is just as guilty as the thief, and worse he has no consequences for him doing it.” David looks at Alex for understanding. The scans begin to pick up some signals as the two of them look down at the screens.

“The scans are picking up a distress signal from guess who our merchant ship. Alright, you're the captain after all. Course is set and we will be there in one lightspeed jump.” Alex presses his controls to get the spaceship launched.

“Is that so? He wants us to come, maybe he is ready to listen to what I have to say this time.” David thinks to himself quietly pondering the whole situation.

“So do you want the good news or the bad news?” Alex swings his chair around to look at David.

“The good news first.” David responds with a pause.

“The good news is we now have a visual and can confirm it’s Kane’s ship, the bad news is it looks like we are too late to intercept him on his ship. Kane’s troops have already boarded the merchant space cruiser. This is looking more like a trap than a rescue. Are you sure about this? Knowing you're going to walk into his trap?” Alex says concerned.

“More like I’m going to say hello first and maybe leave with him or leave him a note.” David says as he smiles and turns to get ready to leave. Alex lands the spaceship on an asteroid and begins to follow David to the back of the ship.

“Say hello, kidnap him, or leave him what a love note, are your hearing yourself? We don’t even know what his trap is, or what if the thief is there, possibly working with Kane. Are communication trackers were high jacked by that thief, we are flying around blind here. What if I can't get to you? You're going to get yourself arrested or worse killed!” Alex grabs David's shoulder to look into his eyes. David says with a smile. “Or we can take them both. Double bait and switch you know the routine. You get ready to take Kane, I’ll see if our thief is there too. I know just the trick to flush them out. Don’t worry everything will be fine.” David puts his helmet on.

Alex tests their communication devices and pairs it with the unsecure communication channels that are now in range and cameras on both ships. Listening in David and Alex hear Kane questioning the captain. “Now I’m going to ask you one question and if you tell me the truth, I’ll let you all go. Where is the black hood pirate?”

“A voice replies,'' I don't know who that is?” the captain of the merchant space cruiser.

Patch me through Alex “I heard you calling my name did you miss me?” David replies in a smug voice.

“You lied to me; you do know who he is. Punching the merchant captain in his face falling to the ground. Now yelling “Where are you pirate thief? Show yourself or I’ll tear the ship apart and find you!”

“That’s enough Kane, he was telling you the truth like I have been, we have never met. I see your collecting more souls for your army of zombie slaves, following you around. Going a little out of your way to come find me. Using me as your excuse for your search I assume. I’m flattered truly, but you think that gives you the right to search and seize other people and their ships. I’ve lost count how many ships have you failed to find me in?”

“Well, if you would just come and talk to me and stop making me chase you, I wouldn’t have to do this to all these nice folks. So, you’ve been following me, and keeping track you really shouldn’t do that.” Kane says walking around the control panels to see the visuals on the camera screens.

“And I told you to stop your kidnapping of merchant ships using my name.” David says sternly.

“Now how else am I going to find you, and do my job? Start searching the ship and begin shoving them all out into space if they don’t share any useful information.” Kane orders his troops.

“Let these people go!” David demands.

“See I would but I can’t now. Now that I know for a fact, they were hiding a wanted man. But you could turn yourself in and we could be on our way.” Kane walks around speaking out in the open intercom.

“You got the wrong person, and I won’t let you take anyone anywhere? How many times do I have to stop you, and tell you?” David responds

“Ah yes, the disappearing spaceships without a trace, now who is the kidnapper? I offer everyone a way out if they would just give you up, it's simple!” Kane says putting his hands together.

“And leave you alone bored doing your zombie slave duties that you make everyone else do for you, I think not. Besides, no one here has done anything wrong.” David explains as he is getting the smaller ship ready and launches towards the merchant space cruiser.

“Well, this is getting us nowhere. Do you know what happens to a body out in space without a spacesuit? You're about to find out since you're refusing to corporate release someone into the airlock chamber.” Kane orders his troops.

“If you would actually listen, I could tell you everything you want to know. The truth about those dreams you can’t make sense from.” David says as he attaches the smaller ship under the merchant ships backside by the airlock chambers, waiting for a way in.

Alex on a separate communication device says, "The trap has been sprung. They saw you coming in Kane’s troops on his ship are moving in on your location."

David tells Alex, “First bait and switch be ready!”

“You know nothing! Start releasing them now!” Kane orders his troops.

Meanwhile when Kane’s troops opened the closed airlock chamber, they found that someone was waiting for them. He took the troops by surprise, dragging them both into the chamber and hitting the exit hatch button waving at them watching both troops float away. From the bridge everyone watches they see two of their guards floating passed in which confused everyone for a moment. "What is going on?" Kane demands an answer from his troops.

Then everyone sees it. Another spaceship emerges from the distance from around an asteroid heading towards them. It's the notorious space pirate ship with its shimmering camouflage reflecting off the star's light. “Oh, so now you decided to show yourself, well let's see if you can get away this time. Team B Surround them!” Kane announces, smiling knowing his spaceship will trap them.”

"Alex you in position? I’m in and let's see if the thief takes the bait." David tells Alex on his other communication device.

"Actually Kane, I’m here to tell the truth and to all who will listen. Do you really know who you work for and what they do? I can tell you the truth about what you can’t remember, the repeating dreams that make no sense. The guilt and uneasy feelings you must feel. Information so valuable that no one can put a price on it. About what actually happened to class 1A at sector 51.”