Pirate Ambush by Max Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

Meigwor’s arm.
    Otto screamed and dropped his weapon to cradle his arm. ‘What was that for? He was trying to hurt you!’
    Selene snatched up the electro-prod and pointed it at Otto.
    ‘He was hugging me!’ Selene panted. ‘Jaxx is my dad!’
    ‘Hugging?’ Otto boomed, the splotches around his eyes darkening. ‘Awful . . . Terrible . . . Disgusting human behaviour!’
    ‘Your dad?’ Peri let go of Jaxx and stared at him. He could see the family resemblance now. Selene had his eyes and chin. They even had matching smears of grease on their cheeks.
    ‘Is that why he was always ahead of us?’ Peri asked.
    Selene looked embarrassed. ‘We worked out how to send coded messages from one electro-pulse to another. Mine got damaged and I’ve been trying to fix it ever since. I could send messages, but I couldn’t receive any from him.’
    ‘Why did he leave his electro-pulse behind in the IF ship?’ Peri asked.
    ‘I wanted Selene to know I’d received her messages,’ Jaxx said softly.
    ‘Enough of the sappy reunion!’ Otto boomed. He grabbed Jaxx and pulled his hands behind his back. With his other arm he slipped a handcuff around Jaxx’s wrist. ‘We arrest him and finish the mission!’
    ‘But my dad is innocent!’ Selene protested. ‘He’s not a space pirate. Just give me a chance to prove to you that he isn’t guilty of any crimes. Don’t you want the truth? My dad didn’t steal anything from the emperor!’
    ‘Are you calling my dad a liar?’ Diesel said. ‘Jaxx is the liar here – and the thief. He stole the Heart of Mars. That’s treason!’
    Peri put his hand on the gunner’s shoulder. ‘Calm down, Diesel. Listen, if we want to recover the stolen gem, we need to hear Jaxx’s side of the story.’
    Jaxx cleared his throat. ‘Someone stole my IF identity chip and used it to steal the jewel. I wasn’t even on Mars when it happened. The IF wouldn’t believe me. And what’s worse, when they decided I was a space pirate, they started blaming me for other crimes.’
    Peri studied Jaxx’s face. He didn’t look as though he was lying. ‘So why did you come here?’
    ‘I knew the only way to clear my name was to get the Heart of Mars back for the emperor, so I took an IF ship to go and find it. I think I’ve discovered where it is and I want to return it to prove my innocence.’
    ‘It’s true,’ Selene chipped in. ‘Peri, if we get the Heart of Mars back, we can catch the real pirates and still complete our mission. You have to trust me.’
    ‘I’ve had enough!’ Otto said. ‘His innocence or guilt is not our problem! We should take him back!’
    ‘My dad is telling the truth,’ Selene pleaded. ‘Who do you think taught me to be an engineer? A pirate or this man?’
    Diesel let go of Jaxx. Diesel whispered in Peri’s ear, ‘I can’t fail my father. We’ve got to do whatever it takes to find the Heart of Mars.’
    Peri had one huge cosmic dilemma on his hands. Should he arrest Selene’s dad or could he let him go? And if Jaxx didn’t steal the Heart of Mars, then surely it was Peri’s mission to find the real villain? Wasn’t that what the IF creed was really about? And he’d promised to help Diesel recover the Heart of Mars too – didn’t friendship come before orders?
    ‘ Incoming message from General Pegg ,’ the Phoenix announced as a monitor whirled from the control panel.
    Instantly Selene shoved her dad to the deck. Otto threw himself behind the captain’s chair. Peri pulled Diesel closer so that they blocked the view of the rest of the Bridge.
    ‘What are you two up to?’ General Pegg said as he appeared on the screen. ‘I want a report now!’
    ‘Umm, sir, we . . .’
    ‘There is a problem with your Mission Capsule,’ Pegg continued. ‘Why has it stopped sending data?’
    Selene and her dad were huddled near Peri’s feet. He glanced down and saw the Mission Capsule in Selene’s hand. She smiled guiltily.
    Peri looked up, knowing he couldn’t