Part 7: Sam and Emma Defenders of Earth

Be sure to read parts 1-6 first.

The following day Sam and Emma were preparing to meet Jaryk, when Harold responded to Emma's email. He sent only an image. It was a painting of a large spider. It held a star in each of its eight legs. Around it's neck hung a web sack holding dozens of worlds. Below the spider were characters Emma could not read.

Sam was surprised when he saw it. "Hey! I saw that on one of the doors on Rula Vala III."

"Hmmm..." Emma mused out loud. " I wonder what was behind that door."

Sam snapped his fingers. "It will have to wait Emma. Jaryk wont like it if we are late."

Sam and Emma climbed aboard the pod to fly to Jaryk's ship. Emma remembered the kitten.

"Sam, we forgot the kitten." she said.

"Don't worry. They are on the pod already."

Emma raised an eyebrow at Sam. "What do you mean, 'They'?" she questioned.

Sam kept looking out the pod's computer screen. "I didn't want him to get lonely so I got a girl kitten also."

"A boy and a girl? Do you realize how many cats they will have in a year?" Emma said.

"Gee, your right. Who will supply them with all the tuna and fuzzy balls they are going to need?" Sam snickered.

Emma had no words. Sam was too smart for his own good.

Sam new Emma was troubled and offered, "Jaryk will probably trade one of them away. They all have mice remember?"

"Where did you get two kittens anyway? Emma asked.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Craigslist, duh."

Emma laughed. Sam had always been a little man. Even when he was two, he was never afraid to be by himself. he was always first to touch something wiggly. He was always first to run through a door or crash through the bushes. Now here he was trading goods with space pirates. What an amazing year they've had.

The pod rumbled into orbit. Jaryk's ship did not show on the pods docking radar.

Emma leaned against the window and asked, "Where is he?"

Sam looked out of the windows and smiled. "He's there." he said. "Jaryk is good at hide and seek."

Emma saw a shadow pass over the window and when she looked up she saw Jaryk's ship. It looked dangerous and fast. There were burns and cracks and little craters on it's sides. As it slid over the pod Emma could see a tentacled beast painted on the craft's belly. The beast was dark green on the black hull, except for the eyes. The eyes were blood red and fierce.

Emma looked at the pods docking radar. No ship was detected.

"How does he do that?" she asked.

Sam only shrugged.

Jaryk's ship sank to their level. Two robotic arms sprang from their hiding places on the nose of the vessel and seized the pod. As they were drawn towards the pirate ship, Emma could see Jaryk standing in the forward air-lock. He wasn't alone.

Stay tuned for more.