Chapter 145 - Pirates Part 1

The next few galactic units passed with no incidents. Zell and Skel got to know each other a bit better, both regaled stories of their past adventures and conquests. It was a peaceful and nice flight, but as with everything, it had to come to an end.

The ship was stopped abruptly, knocking Skel onto the ground, but not budging Zell. The power dimmed and the two of them started to float.

"Veronica!" Skel yelled, his face showing signs of worry as he could tell the air inside the ship was getting thin and the temperature was dropping rapidly. "Veronica!"

Realizing it was a power outage and life support had failed, Zell placed a protective barrier around Skel. It was designed to trap as much air as possible inside with him and keep the cold out. "Something must have happened." Zell said.

"What makes you think that?!" Skel asked sarcastically. "Is it the fact we are floating, well I am floating you seem to be hovering."

"Yes, I can fly." Zell said nonchalantly. "What do you think is going on?"

"If I had to guess." Skel said while crossing his legs and floating upside down. "I would have to say pirates. Cutting off the ship's power through invisible EM burst is their MO. Man did they pick the wrong ship to try and plunder. They literally picked the only ship in the universe that was transporting a god."

Zell laughed a bit at Skel's comment. "I guess it is unfortunate for them." Zell said. "How does this normally pan out?"

"So, after about ten minutes they will force their way onto the ship." Skel said. "They wait ten minutes because that is the amount of time that it normally takes a crew to lose consciousness. Then they take everything valuable, including the crew."

"Why do they take the crew?" Zell asked.

"Sadly, there are many cultures and civilizations in the galaxy that still have slavery." Skel explained. "The captured crew are sold off to a life of servitude or if they are important, they are held for ransom. I can't tell you how many times I stopped a slave ship and saved its passengers.

So, what are you going to do when they break in?"

"I am going to make them regret standing in my way." Zell said. "I do not have the time to suffer such foolishness. The longer I am delayed the more the mortals must suffer under the tyranny of the gods."

"I mean I never felt like I was being controlled or lived under a tyrannical dictator." Skel said. "I didn't even know gods existed until I met you." Skel paused for a moment. "I am just trying to say that maybe you should relax a bit? No one is really suffering from the will of the gods.

Nine times out of time we mortals suffer from our own hubris and mistakes. We make our own lives horrible through greed and laziness. Freeing mortals from the divine whelms of the gods will not save us from ourselves."

"But you will not unknowingly go to war with one another." Zell said. "You will not be coaxed into a life that is not what you truly desired. You will be free."

"I guess." Skel said as he continued to float.

Loud noises could be heard from outside of the vessel.

"Did ten minutes pass already." Skel asked as he looked towards the noises.

Sparks began to fly through the wall as the pirates began to cut through the outer haul of the ship.

"Oh, those bastards!" Skel complained as they hurt his baby. "They could have just used the damn door."

"Yes." Zell said. "They are causing us to make repairs now. It is very troublesome."

They fixed their cutting and entered the ship. The pirates' eyes widened as they saw a fully awake Zell and Skel staring at them from the other end of the room. Zell's armor illuminating the room.

They were dressed in full body suits to protect them from the void of space. They were covered from head to toe in a dense reddish-brown material with a glass plate over their face and tanks of air on their back. On their hips were guns and torches.

"How are you awake?!" One of the pirates asked. Her voice clearly that of a woman. "And is that you Skel?!"

"Wait." Skel said as he continued to just float around bumping into walls. "Yun?! Is that you? What a small universe! To think my ship is being raided by my little cousin."

"I thought they grounded you?!" Yun said. "How are you here? And who is that with you?!"

"Better question cousin is why are you here?" Skel asked. "You should not be pirating! I showed everyone that there was a better way! That we didn't have to rob and steal! We could be heroic space captains that save lives and get rich from good works. Why would you fall back into the life of a pirate?!"

"It's best if you just come with us." Yun said. "Your mother can explain it much better than I can."

"My mother?!" Skel yelled. "Why is she there?!"

"She is the damned captain!" Yun replied. "Like I said, she will explain it."

"No, you will explain why you attacked our vessel and delayed me." Zell said. "I have little patience left."

"Who is this big guy cousin?" Yun asked. "Some sort of big wheel somewhere?"

"You could say that." Skel said laughing. "Little Yun, meet Zell. He is a god."

"Wait the dude from all the news reports?!" Yun asked. "Holy shit. I mean shit, damn it."

"It's okay." Skel said, while his laughing intensified at Yun's reaction. "He just likes being treated like everyone else, even though he is god."

"Shit!" Yun said. "Now you have to come with us!"

"You are in little position to demand anything from me." Zell said. "You have just delayed my voyage and my mission. Why should I go with you anywhere?"

"Come on Zell." Skel said. "Let's hear my mom out. I hope she has a good reason for all this. If she doesn't then Zell help her."

"I really wish you wouldn't use my name in place of god." Zell said with a sigh.

"I mean you are god." Skel said. "Just feels right to say your name." He then turned his attention back to his little cousin. "Alright take us to your leader, well my mother. Also fix the damned hole you put on the side of my ship!"

"Yes." Yun said. "Sorry cousin, we didn't know it was you."

"So, it makes it okay to do it to other people's ships?!" Skel yelled. "Next time use the damned door."

"Right, we just thought it would be cool…" Yun said. "Follow me. The other pirates will see to the repairs."

There was a massive tube that was connected from the hole to the pirate vessel. Zell and Skel entered the tunnel after Yun. As they did, she pressed a button and a gentle suction pulled them to the pirate's vessel.

Once inside they were met with a crew of over a hundred pirates. Each doing a task to keep the massive ship running. "Come with me." Yun said, waving the two men along. "Your mother is on the bridge."

They made their way through the ship and up a lift and found their way to the bridge.

Skel's mother was looking out, there was a view of the void of space and Skel's knocked out ship. "Good to see you again mother." Skel said as he entered the bridge.

She turned to look, knowing that voice was that of her son. "My boy!" She yelled and raised her arms up to rush and give him a hug. Skel did the same and they embraced each other tightly. "I am so happy to see you." She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him away from her to get a better look. "That wasn't your little ship that we just attacked, was it?"

"Yes." Skel said. "That tiny ship is my baby and your crew put a damned hole in her!"

"Ah we will get you fixed up in no time." Skel's mom said. She turned her attention to Zell. And who is this giant mountain of man meat?"

"This is Zell, the god." Skel said. "I am taking him to the Tilites, he has a question for them and a problem that only they could solve."

Skel's mom started laughing uncontrollably. "That is hilarious." She said. "We were hired by the Tilites to attack that ship. They wanted the passengers brought to them at all costs and you were already on your way to them. Oh, that is so funny."

"Mom." Skel said. "Why are you a pirate? I thought after father you would not choose this path. Was the money I sent home not enough?"

"Son, you are a good boy." Skel's mom said. "You always have been. The money you sent was fine, but I needed excitement and adventure in my life. Do you know how lonely it was after your father's death? You never visit, nor does your brother. When your dad's old admiral came knocking, I jumped at the chance.

More importantly you said Zell here is a god?"