Pirates.

Can’t say I know much about them outside picture books from my childhood or the racy novels before highschool. In short, I was horribly unprepared. And something nagged me about paying attention when your best friend says “Oh yeah, pirates!”

Hayden was in a different world in his intense staring contest with the floor, unsure if he should acknowledge the growing awkwardness bubbling up to the surface, as a whole fleet of pirates were preparing to kill us with...whatever space pirates have.

“Should we surrender? If you want to do that, totally fine.” I won a glance from him, only to lose it again to the floor.

“I think they’re the ones who attacked the ship already.” Before I could ask why, he continues defensively. “I don’t know, just a gut feeling.”

“Noted. And the blaster. It overheats, so if you plan to use it a lot, just be careful with it.”

“I should go get it.”

“Sure. If that makes you feel…” My voice trailed off, letting him leave. I bit my lip, tapping my own thigh to keep myself from panicking.

They’re just bloodthirsty pirates, right? I could throw something while Hayden blows off their heads, or someplace else.

I found myself wanting to pick him up and carry him around, to keep him close and safe. A stranger among the stars became the only thing I cared about in the void.

I imagined ourselves looking like any gay couple on t.v, wearing the latest trends-- quick to arch a brow when our child’s babysiter isn’t Miss Sue from work.

I have weird fantasies.

“So a game plan,” he returned to my side a short while later just as the ship alerted us about a break in the shell a few levels down.

“Simple. We kill them all.”

“With a finicky blaster.”

He took hold of his chin in thought, “Of course. I have a feeling that never stopped me before. Pirates bleed like anyone else.” Poor bastards, they won’t know what hit them.

I followed him to the elevator, selecting a safe floor to start. In that small box of horrible decor, worse than the carpet (believe it or not), awkwardness filled every inch of the space. We were about to face pirates and all that occupied my mind was what to do now that Hayden and I became something more than acquaintances.

I tapped my leg as he leaned away from me to take the pressure off his leg.

"About last night," I tried but the opening doors cut me off with its ding!

"Stay close," Hayden said, leaving the elevator first.

He drew the blaster and I fancied myself an old pipe I walked by.

It was quite, giving us a clue that the pirates weren't close by.

Then a voice took over the intercom.

Hayden:

“They always watch...and to play their game, you must submit to their will…”

“We give you one more chance to surrender,” it said in English, thicker than my accent and some of the words were drowned out by a sound the intercom picked up. “I know...a human is here. Come to us and we take you…”

“Not a very flattering offer,” He snorted, obeying and staying behind me. I cocked my head to hear the background sounds that were so loud. Where were they?

“Hayden...Captain knows.”

I didn’t know a Captain. Not right now at least. And I didn’t plan to meet a pirate one anytime soon.

I took Kohl’s hand to ensure that he stayed close, hurrying as fast as my leg allowed me to.

The engine room. That’s where we were headed. And it should be on this floor. By the time we turned a corner of the pure white hallway and rooms, the voices were close.

Kohl:

Hayden stopped. I knew why the moment I hear them.

We pressed ourselves against the pure white to stay out of their line of sight as they searched every single room they passed. There has to be more.

They spoke in their native tongues, giving up on mine, calling out with it ending in Hayden’s name.

“What are they saying?” I whispered, but Hayden hushed me and peered around the corner again. His dots flared, fading in and out in long breaths.

I squeezed his hand and those eyes of vivid blue looked up at me through the wave of blond hair.

The voices drew closer, cursing now in between searches when a room came out empty. And like any typical pirate would do, they stuffed their pockets with valuables, dropping them as they go as if they’re too drunk to care. When one wondered to our spot, Hayden whipped around, aimed, and the most horrific sound echoed into the air.

The sound of a skull exploding.

The sound of flesh peeling away.

The sound of a man screaming his final words.

I recoiled, falling back on my ass in a scramble to escape the sudden gore I was definitely not ready to handle.

The friends reacted, rushing Hayden who fired with discipline, aiming true and giving them all a matching set of craters.

I covered my ears until it finally stopped.

“Kohl?”

I looked up to see Hayden covered in blood of our enemies, extending his hand to me to help me back to my feet.

“You’re shaking.”

“Not every day I get to experience gore.”

He looked apologetic, pulling me along again, which unfortunately meant stepping over the mess he made.

We continued on, finding no more pirates on the floor (thank gods), and slipped into the engine room.

There were no lights, only glowing parts of the main engine (and Hayden with his scattered dots). A greenish hue, it patched over our faces as if we were villains from a cartoon. It sounded like it had better days the way it squealed its metal parts together.

I tapped my trusty flashlight on, arching my brow ever so curiously, “Is there something you need to tell me?”

“I’m thinking of hurting the engine. To cause more levels to drop.”

“Are you insane? We are still stuck here, pirates or not.”

“Well, do you have any better ideas? There’s only the two of us.” He lifted the overheated blaster that started to cool down. “This only does three shots.”

“We’re not blowing up an engine.”

“So we wait for them to put bullet holes in us?” He was answered by the DING outside, knowing exactly who ordered the elevator.

The blaster was cooled down enough for a shot.

Hayden placed a finger to his lips, listening close to the new number of our guests. A pair of steps were heavier than others, slow and purposeful. Clearly the leader.

“Where are you, human?” The voice boomed, making both of us jump out of surprise. Never thought it would be the day that I’m popular enough for pirates. Still in horrible English. “Come out, and we cut a deal. One of you will come with us alive.”Hayden stole a peek as always, looking paler when he turned back to me. His eyes told it all. “Yu’da Ba…”

“Meaning?”

“What do you say when you see a very large man ready to snap our necks like twigs?”

I leaned over him to get a glance myself.

Sure enough, a being twice as large as one should allow to be, filled the wide hallway and the small sitting area it opened up to. He wore mismatched clothes with blasters hooked to his chest and side, but he didn’t need those. His fists were monstrous, able to take down a pillar or two without much effort. Dots trailed down his arms that he left bare to show all his muscles.

“Huh.” I moved back. “That’s...unfortunate.”

Hayden racked his hair out of his face for the billionth time in thought, watching as the blaster clear for two shots.

But before he could use it, I stepped out with my hands raised, knowing that our odds of living was close to none. If one was going to walk away, I hand it over to Hayden.

The same Hayden who grabbed at my shirt, not in passion like before, but in determination to strangle the daylights out of me.

“Kohl,” he hissed, a fist full of the fabric, dragging himself out in the open with me.

We both looked over at the pirate who called us out, watching him frown in disappointment on how unamusing this was for him. As if hunting us down like deer was a highlight to his day.

But seeing my dotless skin relit his intrigue. “A human, yes? Captain was right.”

“Hey,” I gave a nervous wave.

He stepped close, prompting Hayden to step in front of me, the blaster aimed at the massive’s pirate’s head.

“He’s mine.”

“Aw, Hayden.”

“Shut it.” He was standing a foot or two shorter than the guy he was threatening, having the crane his neck just to look at him.

The pirate snorted, cracking his knuckles in delight that he had a reason to swing a punch or two. “Small child stands no chance with me.” To make his point, he slapped at Hayden’s wrists without warning, making him drop the blaster and landed a slap across his cheek that cracked through the air like thunder.

Hayden froze like a statue in shock with the rest of us, his body forgetting how to be animated.

“The Captain sends his regards,” says the Pirate, pulling out his own blaster from his chest.

I pushed Hayden out of the way before the shot could hit him, feeling heat graze my arm like a burning pick branding my skin. I let out a cry, gripping where my flesh began to blister. Hayden looked to be okay, scrambling to check on me, his eyes narrowing as the pirate aimed again.

“Hold still, princess.” he chuckled, ending it in a gasp when Hayden had other ideas, kicking the alien where a man shouldn’t be as hard as he could.

The other pirates figured that now was the best time to join in, aiming at Hayden and I, ready to kill.

The alien swung, hitting Hayden the jaw that flew him to the floor with a THUMP and no air left in his lungs.