Chapter 15p2 – Take Over

Tic killed the engine, shoved the control stick forward, and dropped the Pelican into a steep downwards dive. The Liberati ship below them found itself squarely in the Pelican’s crosshairs.

“Let ‘im have it!” cried the curator. He blasted away with his turrets, while Jeffries riddled the sky with vacuumized air pockets, tossing the ship around in heavy turbulence. But the enemy recovered and peeled off, and the Pelican went plummeting past.

Tic’s stomach jumped into his throat as the cratered plains rose towards them. He yanked back on the control stick and fired the engine again, and they levelled out at the last moment. Puffs of dust and sand kicked up all around them under a hail of Liberati lasers.

“Did we land any hits?” asked Tic.

“Seemed to, but it didn’t do much good,” admitted the curator. “Those things have too much energy shielding! We need physical ammo, something explosive or acidic… Jeffries, boost the power on those vac gens if you can! Bolter, get us another pass.”

“I’ll try,” said Tic. “Pelly, where are they?”

But before Pelly could answer, the Pelican was rocked by a heavy impact. The ship nosedived towards the sand, but Tic fought off the dive, skimming the rim of a crater.

“Shields are down!” reported the curator.

“Pelly,” said Tic, “how are we doing? Pelly? Pelly!?”

There was no response.

“We’re sitting poultry!” said the curator. “We need that cloaking device, now. Jenks, Cogs, how close are we?”

The curator’s handset crackled. “We need more time, sir! It’s these Gyrian fittings…”

The curator sighed. “Anyone got any bright ideas?”

Something twigged in Tic’s subconscious. “I know who can help! Jeffries, take over.” He scrambled for the passenger cabin.

Somehow, Dr. Fester was still in a deep coma.

About Tim Sevenhuysen

Tim Sevenhuysen writes sci-fi and other genre fiction. He is a microfiction expert, having written over 600 fifty-word stories. He is also a noncertifiable lunatic.

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