Pirate Ambush by Max Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

betray his crew. ‘I think that the capsule got damaged in a Zespa attack, sir.’
    ‘What about Jaxx? Have you caught him yet?’
    In the corner of his eye, Peri saw Jaxx trying to comfort Selene – as much as he could with his hands still cuffed behind his back. He certainly looked more like a concerned father than a sneaky villain. Peri had to trust Selene. If she said he was innocent, he believed her. It wasn’t right to force them apart especially if they could find proof he wasn’t really a pirate.
    ‘Jaxx slipped away, sir, but we’re on his trail!’ Peri said.
    The general sighed. ‘Maybe I was right about the pair of you being too young to be Star Fighters,’ he muttered. ‘You have one more chance to complete your mission. If you fail again, you will return, and we will review whether you should be demoted back to cadet level. Terminate message.’
     

     
    As the screen whirled back into the control panel, Otto stomped away from behind the captain’s chair. ‘You Earthlings are too soft! Meigwors don’t give anyone a second chance!’
    Selene jumped up. ‘Thank you,’ she said to Peri as she helped Jaxx up. ‘I knew you would do the right thing.’
    Peri looked at Diesel and knew he was thinking the same thing. They had taken a big risk for their friend, but they were going to prove General Pegg wrong. He and Diesel were not only old enough to be real Star Fighters, but they were the best Star Fighters in the entire Intergalactic Force. They would return the Heart of Mars to the emperor and bring the real pirates to justice!

Can they trust Jaxx? Who really stole the Heart of Mars?
     
    Will Peri and Diesel survive an encounter with a terrifying Trojan Crab?
     
    Find out! In . . .

    Turn over to read Chapter 1

 
    Chapter 1
     
    ‘Wow!’ Peri gasped. Through the 360-monitor, he could see a comet whooshing through outer space like an old-fashioned firework – the kind he had seen in Did They Really Do That?, a film about ancient Earth customs. The comet was going to miss the Phoenix by only a few hundred kilometres.
    ‘We don’t have time to admire the scenery, you voidoid,’ Diesel said. ‘Have you forgotten our mission? We have to recover the Heart of Mars.’
    ‘And then hand over this criminal!’ Otto grunted. He flicked his long black tongue in Jaxx’s direction. Their official Star Fighter mission was to capture the space pirate, but the emperor had also secretly commanded Diesel find and return the Heart of Mars.
    Selene moved closer to Jaxx, her father. ‘He’s no pirate!’
    ‘That’s right, I’m not,’ Jaxx said. His voice was mild, polite, friendly – the exact opposite of how Peri imagined a space pirate would sound.
    Jaxx had escaped from prison and Peri and the crew of the Phoenix had finally chased him down in the rings of Saturn. They had rescued him from his stealth ship only a nanosecond before it blew up, and then arrested him. Only Selene’s pleading had spared him from being turned in to the Intergalactic Force immediately.
    Jaxx held out his hands. ‘Perhaps you could take these handcuffs off me now?’
    ‘We did agree to trust him,’ Peri said, as he saw Otto eyeing Jaxx suspiciously.
    ‘ I didn’t!’ Otto boomed.
    ‘Come on! He is our friend’s dad,’ Peri said. He touched a section of the wall and the Bits and Bobs drawer slid out. He pulled out the Universal Release Gun and pointed it at Jaxx’s wrists. There was a sizzling sound and the handcuffs melted into a silvery goo that dripped on the floor of the Bridge.
    ‘Hey!’ Otto protested. ‘Those handcuffs are my property!’
    ‘ Were y our property,’ Selene said with a grin.
    ‘Thanks,’ Jaxx said, shaking the goo from his hands.
    ‘So, you say you know where the Heart of
    Mars is?’ Diesel demanded.
     
    The Heart of Mars was a priceless, glowing, orange orb of pure chrysolite from Mars, the size of a Meigwor’s fist. It belonged to the Martian royal family. Diesel’s father, the