Episode 3. Closing Time

A missile ripped into the sails of Tom’s ship, narrowly missing the mast.

“That was too close,” Tom said.

He swung his ship around for better position—readying to fire another round at his enemy. He had earlier traveled to the calm, quiet space near Pluto to intercept the coming invasion. It was now the location of a cosmic storm that was continuously pelting the fleet of alien battle cruisers and the hull of Tom’s ship.
Tom charged his weapons and fired a volley at the fleet. It damaged nearly one-third of the fifteen ships and completely disabled an additional two.
“This will be too simple; I want a fight not a dance!” Tom chuckled as he began to reload.

A small alien ensign approached his much fatter, blue skinned commander. It fearfully asked for permission to speak.

“Lord Vordek, we have reason to believe that our current weapons can’t penetrate the hull of The Maiden. The engineers think that Tom is using a new alloy that we have no knowledge of currently. Your crew wishes to retreat.”

“I should have you castrated for such insolence,” Blubbered Vordek. “All is not yet lost. Tell me peon, what is the exact time where Tom makes his home on Earth?”

“Well sir… it’s exactly seven fifty-three in their post meridiem or PM time. But I don’t see what that has to do with anything your Lordship.”

“You shall see fool… for I shall still win this day!” He laughed, causing his whole body to jiggle.

Tom decided he was growing bored of this weak assault from a clearly unworthy enemy. So he moved to his main cannon—aiming it toward the alien command vessel—he charged it up. Just before firing the crippling blow to the fleet, an alarm began blaring throughout his ship. Tom froze, just shy of hitting the launch button. He looked down at his watch and his eyes widened.

“Oh Crap!”

Tom went and raised the damaged—but still functional sails and turned the ship to make a full retreat.

“We have him now,” Vordek said. “Fire everything we have left at his main engine. He mustn’t get up to warp speed!”

Having placed his full focus in retreat, Tom noticed the incoming attack too late to dodge it. The impact knocked him off of his feet and jolted the ship violently. Though the ship received no heavy damage from the attack, the engine sputtered, coughed, and then finally died. Tom rose to his feet. He looked around his ship with a look of shock on his face.

“You stalled? You’re a Pirate Ship; you’re not allowed to stall!”

Mumbling to himself he walked over to the steering column of the ship. He sat and placed his foot on the brake pedal. He turned the key to the ship. The engine argued at first but finally gave in and started again. Tom then looked down at his watch.

“No!”

Tom, now furious, turned to once again deal with his foe; he went back over and fired the main cannon at its intended target.

Direct hit!

The command vessel exploded; spewing out wreckage, small blue chunks of viscera, and one small escape pod. The pod—along with the other remaining ships began their full retreat.

Inside the pod were Lord Vordek and his feeble ensign.

“Master,” The ensign asked, can you please explain to me what just happened?”

“I thought it would work.” Vordek mumbled.

“You thought what would work sir?”

“You imbecile, you worthless fool! Everyone knows that that idiot Captain Tom has an eight-o-clock curfew. He has to get home or else he’ll—“

Just then, a very large chunk of what used to be the ship hits the escape pod. It sends it flying off course.

Even Captain Tom could hear the screams of the two inside of it.

Captain Tom saved the day once again!

Will the evil Lord Vordek get out of his situation? Why does Tom have such a strange curfew? Will the author of this story ever become rich? Only time will tell!