Staring at the screen, Val wondered what she would do next.

She knew now where she was, so she could theoretically go back to the wrecks and finish what she’d started... She snorted and shook her head. What she had been about to start, more like.

On the other hand, whatever had happened there could happen again, and she did not like that thought one bit.

Of course, there was no guarantee it couldn’t happen anywhere else. Not until they knew exactly what had happened.

She was about to ask Nim if he’d discovered anything further when she remembered Kaine was sitting next to her.

Val didn’t want him to know about all that stuff. Not that she considered it confidential information, but it was none of his business. She’d have to have a chat with Nim when she was alone. It could wait. It wasn’t like she could go anywhere she wanted right now.

First, she had to get rid of her passenger.

She glanced at him.

The man was lying back in his seat, feet lifted to rest on the console before him, hands behind his head, staring at the starry display on the screen.

She leaned over and pushed his legs.

“Don’t put your feet there,” she grunted, “you’ll break something.”

Startled by the shove, he straightened in his seat and grinned at her.

“I’m touched that you’d worry about my health.”

She snorted. “I meant the dashboard, you dolt!”

“I know, I know... But if the ship is as sturdy as you like to claim, it shouldn’t be an issue. These things are built to last.”

She shrugged. “It’s still old. You gotta treat it with respect.”

He snickered as he ran a hand through his hair.

“If you say so.”

Ignoring him, she turned her attention back to the displays.

A blinking dot caught her attention.

She frowned and pointed at it.

“Nim, what’s that?”

She felt Kaine pulling closer and leaning to look.

“I’m not sure, Val. I... Wait.” There was a brief pause. “I think it’s a ship.”

“A ship? Out here?”

“What are the odds?” whispered Kaine.

Again, she ignored him.

“Where is it headed?”

Another silence.

“Toward us,” came the AI’s answer. The voice sounded startled.

Kaine tensed. “What?”

“Why would it do that?”

“I don’t know,” said Nim. “But it is fast approaching.”

She could see that, as the dot had grown on her display.

“Has it tried to hail us?”

“I would have told you if it had.”

There was a tone of reproach in Nim’s voice.

“Of course, sorry.” She frowned as she slid her hand across the dials. “Open a channel, please.”

“Done.”

“Unknown ship, please identify yourself.”

Only silence responded.

She tried another approach.

“Unknown ship, are you in need of assistance?”

Kaine snorted.

“They seem to be moving just fine—faster than us, even. Bet you it’s a more recent vessel.”

She couldn’t wait to get rid of the pest.

“Unknown ship, please copy!”

Again, silence.

But still, the ship approached at full speed.

They would soon catch up with Starrider... then what?

“How long until they reach us?” she asked out loud.

“At their current speed, two minutes. They are, however, constantly increasing their speed.”

“I don’t like this,” muttered Kaine.

Neither did she.

“Put the shield up,” she said.

“Done.”

A few seconds after it’d gone up, she saw the dot—now a large circular icon—blink red, and Starrider shook under the blow.

“They’re shooting at us!” cried out Kaine.

“Nim...”

“On it!”

The ship swerved right, then left, then right again, to avoid the constant barrage of fire they were bombarded with.

“That’s enough!” she said, as she ran out of patience. “Turn us around.”

Starrider suddenly stopped and spun on its axis, now facing its attacker.

“Full blast!”

A powerful ray shot out and hit the enemy with full force. The smaller vessel exploded.

“Not that recent after all,” muttered Kaine.

She turned and glared at him, pointing an accusing finger.

“Why did that ship come after us?”

He blinked. “How would I know?”

“I’ve been working in this part of the Imperium for the last ten years and have never been attacked like that. It has to be about you.”

“That’s insane! No one even knows where I am. Heck, I don’t know where I am.”

She squinted.

“They knew.”

He shook his head, but she could see the doubt in his eyes.

“That’s it,” she said as she turned back to her console. “I’m dropping you off on the first world we find.”

“Wasn’t that the plan?” he asked.

She said nothing.

Nim’s voice rose.

“Val?”

“What?”

“That ship that came at us... it was not trying to damage us.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’ve been analyzing their shots, and all of them were carefully aimed at non-vital parts of the ship. The most they could have done—if they had pierced our shield—would have been to immobilize us.”

Immobilize, then board...

“Probably pirates,” muttered Kaine.

She looked at him, then back at her screen.

Pirates would have wanted to capture the ship to scrap it for spare parts, so it was a fair assumption.

Except, she knew the pirates who roamed at the rim.

And these, most definitely, had not been pirates.