Toben took the ship into a sudden dive and then brought it around. Jahv was in the co-pilot seat, programming the hyperwarp drive for the flight to Earth. "You ever think about settling down on a planet for a while?"
"Aw, vketh!" swore Toben. "Somebody sold those morons a sub-light drive. They're on our tail and gaining! How long until I can take us into hyperwarp?"
"Forty seconds." said Jahv.
Two more blasts hit the ship. Keyro was coincidentally seated at the ship's engineering and status station, and noticed a few warning lights. "Aft shields down to seventy percent! Minimal damage to port nacelle. We're all right, but keep that side away from them!"
Another blast and the console one over from where Morik was seated exploded. Morik was thrown back, more scared than hurt. Davy got up and helped Morik out of the way, then yelled, "We've got a fire back here!"
"Grab an extinguisher!" said Toben.
"What's it look like?" asked Davy urgently.
"Blue cylinder, about a foot long. Point the white end towards the fire. It's thermally activated."
Davy found one of the blue cylinders attached to the wall. He grabbed it and pointed the white end towards the fire. Nothing happened. He got a little closer. Suddenly a blob of green glop sprayed out and covered the small electrical fire, smothering it.
"Jahv…" said Toben. The question didn't need to be asked.
"Eight seconds." replied Jahv, not looking up.
"Keyro, check the console directly behind you." instructed Toben. "It's external sensors. Scan the Soluan ship. See if they have hyperwarp capabilities."
Keyro pivoted the chair around and scanned the attacking vessel, even as their ship was rocked again by another blast. "Negative!" he called back a few seconds later. "Just sub-light drive. No wonder they're being so persistent."
"Course plotted!" said Jahv, as the ship was hit one last time. "GO!"
"Hang on!" yelled Toben, activating the hyperwarp engines. The stars screamed past, everyone gripped the arms of their chairs, and the ship vanished from the space around Garboris. If anything could have been heard, it would've been two Soluans swearing.
Once Toben's ship was in hyperwarp, everyone began to calm down. Toben had Keyro run a surface scan of the vessel to make sure that the Soluans hadn't planted any sort of tracer or homing beacon on the ship. They hadn't. The group was free and clear. "Well, I hope this 'Earth' of yours is interesting, because after all of that, I don't think the spacelanes are going to be especially safe for me for a while." remarked Toben.
"Assuming you can even get this ship to be spaceworthy again." added Keyro. "It's taken a lot of damage."
Toben nodded grimly. "I'd better check that out, too. Jahv, I could use an extra pair of eyes and hands. Will you assist me?"
"Sure." replied Jahv. "But even once we get to Earth, we've got problems. We lost our dome-tent. And all of our supplies."
Toben laughed aloud. "Supplies!? You're worried about supplies!? Come on, all of you if you want."
"Can't we get something to wear first?" asked Keith.
Toben gave him an odd look, then glanced at Jahv. "Do they all worry about that like that?"
"Well, not always, but they are more used to being clothed more often than we are." replied Jahv.
Toben shook his head. "Oh, well. If that's what's customary for you. Spacesuits of Botaran style good enough?" The group nodded. "Come on, then, that'll be the first stop."
Toben led the group into the cargo section of the vessel, and pointed at one particular container. "Take your pick."
Davy opened the lid. There were several dozen spacesuits in there in a wide range of color schemes. No one was inclined to be that picky, although Keith's first grab brought him a suit that was bright pink with lavendar trim, and he stuffed that one back in the box as quickly as he could, and found one of more agreeable colors.
"You need supplies?" proclaimed Toben, almost laughing. "I've got dome-tents, computer systems, food replicators, transmats, medikits, blasters, protective clothing, you name it!"
"Dang, we could make a fortune with this stuff on eBay." remarked Keith.
"Yeah, and get every security agency and every Trekkie on the planet on our cases." added Davy.
"Yeesh!" shuddered Niklas. "I wonder which would be worse."
"Do you have any idea what they're talking about?" whispered Toben to Jahv.
"Not always, but I don't worry about it. They're a good bunch."
"Hey, uh, speaking of FOOD replicators…!" said Keith in a loud voice.
Toben turned. "Hmm? Oh, yes, of course. I don't imagine that you've had much to eat for a while. I have a replicator in my quarters, but I'm not sure it can make anything you'd find edible."
"I'll go with them." offered Keyro. "I can probably get it to do something."
"Toben and I will survey the damage to the ship." said Jahv, and the others headed out of the cargo bay as soon as Toben gave them directions to his quarters, which were right off the bridge.
The boys entered the spacious but rather untidy rooms a few minutes later. "Sheesh. Mr. Clean he's not." commented Keith. Indeed, assorted machine parts were scattered on a large table and on the floor, the bed was distinctly unmade, there was a boot draped over one chair, and there were several datapads tossed rather haphazardly on another chair, and even a few Botaran action figures scattered on the floor.
"This Toben is a most atypical Botaran." remarked Keyro.
"Maybe that's why I like him." said Keith. "At least he seems to know what he's doing with the technology he's got."
Suddenly there was a whining sound from a large box in the corner. "What was that?" asked Davy.
It was Martin, oddly enough, who approached the box. "Sounds like there's an animal in here!"
"I thought you people didn't keep pets!" said Davy.
Keyro shrugged. "We don't — usually."
Niklas went over to the box and opened the lid just a fraction. "Whatever's in here isn't very big."
"Yeah, and it's probably venomous." argued Keith. "Look, unless it's edible, I'm not interested right now, okay?"
"I tend to agree." said Arion. "Where's the replicator?"
Keyro walked over to a wall unit and checked it carefully. "I can't adjust the programming too much, but I think I can get it to deliver some decent enough hot dogs. Does that work for everyone?" There was immediate an unanimous agreement.
It was about fifteen minutes later and getting into the second dozen hot dogs when Jahv and Toben entered the quarters carrying a large cargo container. Toben saw the hot dogs and raised an eyebrow. "What in the world are you people eating!?" He walked over to the plate and picked one up. "Tubular meat sandwich?"
"They're called hot dogs." said Davy.
"Hot — dogs?" asked Toben. "Jahv…"
"Don't ask me. I've never been able to figure out that one. There is an animal species on Earth called a dog, but their meat is not used in these. Generally, in most cultures, dogs are kept as household companions."
Toben shook his head. "No wonder your world's been declared off limits. I doubt a translator field could handle the language."
"Speaking of household animals — " said Niklas, "What's in the box?"
Toben suddenly brightened. "Oh, that's Skerby."
"You have a pet?" asked Jahv, eyeing Toben slightly skeptically.
"I needed SOME sort of life form on this ship besides myself." argued the blue-skinned youngster. "And plants don't really make it. Besides, I'm no gardener."
"What's a Skerby?" asked Martin.