Rapier

By R. A. "Doc" Correa

Kathy Masters never expected to journey to the stars. When she does, she experiences the adventure of a lifetime.
That all changes when she is selected by the prestigious Galactic Geographic Society to photograph and record the flora and fauna of a newly discovered class M planet. Filled with hope and enthusiasm, she boards the S.S. America for the trip to Beta 3 Epsilon to begin her new project. On the way she is abducted and brought aboard the privateer Rapier.
Going from captive, to slave, to induction into the infamous Brotherhood, Kathy finds herself raising the adopted daughter of the crew of the Rapier. Given the responsibility to raise their princess, Cindy, they travel among the stars preying on merchant ships, dodging Chinese warships, fighting pirates, visiting strange worlds, and encountering fantastic creatures, all under the watchful eyes of Commodore James Ulysses Black. Trying to raise a young girl among gunfights, swordfights, ship-to-ship battles, slave trades, deals, and some of the most feared raiders in human space is no small challenge.
The only question is, Is Kathy up to the task?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781684095759

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Copyright © 2017 R. A. Doc Correa

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2017

ISBN 978-1-68409-574-2 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68409-575-9 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

About the Author

Prologue

Shit, I’m going to be late!

Kathy hops out of the bathroom of her tiny flat, pulling up her pantyhose. She looks at them as she does. Damn, I’ve got a run in them, she growls at the streak on her right thigh. Maybe no one will notice. You’d think that with all this new technology, being able to travel among the stars, that someone could invent pantyhose that don’t run. She frowns at the thought. Kathy adjusts her skirt so the patch she sewed will be covered by her coat.

Kathy looks in the mirror. Her dark-brown hair has a graying streak by her right temple, but her deep brown eyes are still bright and full of life despite everything. Everything—space battles, raids, sword fights—and all this time trying to raise a young girl among battle-hardened raiders. It’s amazing that all my hair isn’t gray.

Her white blouse is fraying in places, so to keep it covered, Kathy puts on the leather bustier he gave her. It still fits like the first time she wore it. Her figure hasn’t changed much at all, even after having a baby.

For a moment she thinks of him, a tear forms in her eye. Kathy rubs his wedding ring, which she wears on her ring finger. No time for this! she admonishes herself. Still, she can’t help see the dark-brown eyes, salt-and-pepper mustache, graying hair, and devilish smile—a smile Kathy sees every night in her dreams.

Kathy looks around her flat. It’s small and sparsely furnished, barely enough room for the three of them, and she can’t even afford this. Still, it’s better than the cells the Americans kept her and the others in. The bastards, how dare they. There was a deal, a deal that has given them the edge in the current war, and they didn’t even try to keep their end of it.

Since her rescue (that’s how the Americans touted it in the media when they released her, Cindy, and little James—the Americans rescued them from pirates), she’s been trying to get by. The brothers gifted her almost all their loot. It was washed very clean by it being passed through numerous corporations, off-planet banks, and other entities. But the Earth government, particularly the Americans, has kept it from being released to her, claiming it was the ill-gotten gain from piracy. Piracy, that’s almost funny; it didn’t seem like piracy at the time. Somehow it seemed like justice. Justice for those that were abandoned, justice for those who were senselessly slaughtered, justice for those enslaved.

The truth is, the Americans don’t want it known what happened to the people they wouldn’t fight for and the Chinese definitely don’t want the truth of what they’ve done to come out. They know more colonies will join the war against them.

Oscar looks lazily at her from the table.

If you don’t have anything helpful to say, don’t say anything, she says to the cat. He just rolls over, keeping his eyes on her and answers, Meow.

Thanks, she replies mockingly. Oscar responds with his usual indifference. Kathy hears the cab honk for her and rushes out the door with her bag and coat. She waves bye to little James and shouts, Thanks, Mrs. Fuji. I love you, James.

Good luck, Kathy! Mrs. Fuji shouts in reply. Little James waves and says, Bye, Mommy.

The Galactic Geographic building, she tells the driver as she enters the cab. Yes, ma’am, the cabby replies as he swiftly cuts into traffic.

The cab drops Kathy Masters off in front of the Galactic Geographic building. It’s been over eleven years since the last time she was here. It looks the same as it did the first time she saw it. But she is definitely not the same as when she first was here.

She enters the lobby, walks to the lift, and pushes the call button.

The last time Kathy was here, it was just her. A twenty-year-old gifted photographer being offered the chance of a lifetime, to photograph the creatures of a newly discovered planet before full colonization begins. Now it’s Kathy, her son James, and Cindy.

The lift doors open. She enters and punches the button for the thirteenth floor. Her thoughts continue.

Cindy, her adopted daughter, a very brash and creative sixteen-year-old. The two of them have been together since she was five, but she’s definitely not five now. They’ve been back on Earth for just over two years, and she’s proven to be quite a handful. Five times now, Kathy’s been called to school because she’s been fighting. Not the silly girl fights most high school girls have, no. She’s been kicking the butts of the boys in school, specifically the jocks. She likes fighting wrestlers and football players the most. One time, Kathy entered the principal’s office to find she had beaten and tied up three eighty-kilo linemen.

And the capers she’s pulled off—a floating gambling ring at school, the fake-diamond scam, and her favorite, the Gibb switch. That one nearly got her arrested by the Feds. Yet whenever Kathy looks at her, she still sees the frightened five-year-old she shared a cell in the brig of the Rapier with—the young girl she raised among a crew of the roughest raiders in human space. Their princess, their daughter, their lovely child that they entrusted to Kathy to teach how to be a woman.

The lift door opens, and Kathy steps out into the hallway.

Kathy has tried to work as a photographer since she returned, but no one will hire her. They all look at her with the same expression, but it’s their eyes that tell the truth of what they are thinking. She’s a pirate, a thief, and a cutthroat. They all fear her. Good, she likes it that way. Who needs them anyway?

But her heart hasn’t been in it. Still with the Feds holding her money, she’s broke. She can’t take care of little James, Cindy, and herself this way. So she’s decided to play her last card. The pics. I sure hope this is the time the gods spoke of, please let it be.

Kathy walks into the Galactic Geographic offices, walks up to the receptionist, and announces, Kathy Masters for Mr. Baker.

One moment, Miss Masters, the receptionist says coldly. Kathy can hear it in her voice, pirate. She can go to hell!

The pictures, they’re all Kathy has left from those nine years. As difficult as they were, Kathy and Cindy think of them as the best of their lives, and she misses them. She misses all of them—especially him, Commodore Black.

The receptionist says, He’s ready for you, Miss Masters. She points down the hall. It’s there again in her voice, pirate. But she’s not just any pirate—no, indeed. She’s the pirate that caused the war. She survived to tell part of the story—that and what was recovered with her was all it took. And now the colonies of seventeen nations are at war with the Chinese, and it’s been the most bloody of conflicts.

Kathy knocks on the door. A man opens it. Come in, Kathy. Please have a seat. How long has it been?

Eleven years, she replies.

Yes, I remember. I gave you the assignment for Beta 3 Epsilon. That was the beginning of your adventures.

Yes, yes, it was, Kathy says.

Well, what can I do for you? She looks at him and can tell he plans to blow her off, just like the others. But she hasn’t shown him the pictures yet. Pictures and vids of life as a privateer, a life she never expected, a life unknown here on Earth.

I know it’s not your usual fare, Steve, but I have an exclusive for you. One I know your readers will eat up.

Really, and what would that be?

"The exclusive story of my nine years on the Rapier. Logs, journals, and pics, plus vids."

Pics of everyone? he asks.

Yes, everyone.

Even him?

Him who?

You know, him.

Why can’t you people say his name?

I don’t think that’s important.

His name is Black. Commodore James Ulysses Black! She is nearly shouting. And he was the most decent man I ever knew!

Yes, of course he was. But he was a pirate, the most infamous pirate captain since the Spanish Main.

He was a husband, a father, and a good, decent man, she snaps back.

Steve Baker says nothing. Silence hangs between him and her for several moments. Then he says, I really don’t think I can help you.

You haven’t seen the pictures.

He looks at her a moment. Okay, let’s see them.

Her holographic display projects a screen between her and Steve. She starts going through the pictures of life on the Rapier. Tears build up in her eyes. Kathy never realized how many pictures had Cindy in them—Cindy in the pilot’s seat of the Rapier with Captain Gibb at her side, Cindy in engineering learning about antimatter reactors, Cindy flying the shuttle under the instruction of Captain Rawls and Commodore Black teaching her the art of the sword.

That’s him? Steve asks.

Yes, she replies sadly.

He doesn’t look all that dangerous. Flamboyant to be sure. Stern certainly and yet grandfatherly, but not dangerous.

Kathy whispers, Looks can be deceiving.

The next pic is Cindy and Kathy looking out the observation dome, watching the great whales near Pi Delta Epsilon. They look like the great whales of Earth, swimming in the gas clouds like it were water. The look of awe was on their faces. Steve stops. You actually saw these?

Yes, yes, we did. As a matter of fact, we swam with them, Steve.

Swam with them? Steve asks.

Kathy brings up the next pic. Cindy sits atop the whale as Commodore Black swims beside them. Yes, Steve, we swam with them.

Then the elusive Dire Wolves of Pi Beta 2. Cindy, in this pic a precocious twelve, sits atop one of the great predators with Commodore Black and Captain Gibb standing beside them. Steve whistles, Your daughter really rode one of these?

Yes, she replies. Actually, we all did. Kathy brings up the next pic. Cindy, Captain Gibb, and Commodore Black race across the plain on the backs of wolves with the whole pack running around them.

People don’t believe they exist.

They do.

We’ll have to verify these aren’t manipulated.

Of course, she says.

Then the next pic. What are those? he says truly surprised.

Those are gods, she says to him.

Gods? he asks.

Yes, the gods of the aquatic natives of Safe Port.

We’ve been on Safe Port for eighty years now. No one has seen anything like this.

Kathy looks at the picture—she, Cindy, and Captain Gibb are in their deep suits, floating before the massive god of the nanchiks, the squidheads of Safe Port. The next pic shows the god sitting on its dais, with Cindy, Captain Gibb, and Commodore Black standing before it. The one after that shows the city of the gods as they approach it. She softly says, No one has dived in the right place or deep enough to see them.

He thinks hard.

There’s more, you know, Kathy tells him.

Okay, okay. I’ll pay you two hundred thousand plus half a percent of net sales, but that’s for the whole story.

Of course, she replies.

Steve turns on his transcription bot then asks So how did it begin?

Begin? she mumbles. Kathy looks at him and says, It began right here. It began when you offered me the job, gave me the tickets, and drove me to the shuttle port.

Chapter 1

The SS America

Kathy Erin Masters had never been off Earth before. Having lived in a rural area in Australia for all her life, she never expected to get off-planet. But then she did some photography in the outback and made a name for herself. So the Galactic Geographic Society hired her to get pics of the flora and fauna of a newly discovered class-M planet all expenses paid. She’d have a year to finish the project before colonization begins. Steve Baker, then senior VP of the Galactic Geographic Society, drove her to the Sydney shuttle port. Kathy remembers that they talked but doesn’t remember what was discussed. She was too blown away with her new job to be able to focus on talk.

Kathy took the shuttle from Sydney to the Congo, then rode the beanstalk to the orbital platform. Being on the orbital platform was breathtaking. The view of the Earth was indescribable, and the view of the moon, Nowhere on Earth can you see such a view. She filled a memory card with pics.

Plus there were so many ships from all of human space. The great passenger liners, the boxy freighters, and the sleek deep-exploration ships, they were all there.

She boarded the SS America to travel to the newly discovered planet, Beta 3 Epsilon. Not its usual route, the America would drop off Kathy and some scientist explorers and their families, after which it would carry Chinese dignitaries to their Imperial Capitol.

The trip is a three-week journey, and the three weeks are the most fun of her life—first-class shows, gourmet meals, dancing, a casino, and the mysterious Jim.

Kathy was playing blackjack for the first time in her life when the tall redheaded man sat beside her. She chanced a glance at his face and saw the most incredible green eyes and that devilish smile.

The third hand she played gave her a pair of queens. That’s when the stranger leaned over and said, You know you can split those and play two hands.

Kathy blushed but said nothing. She didn’t take the strangers advice, played the hand, and won because the dealer only drew a nineteen. The stranger nodded his approval and focused on his hand. Four hands later, Kathy draws two nines. She asks the stranger, How do you do a split?

He faces her and says, Tell the dealer you want to split your hand.

So Kathy flips up both cards and tells the dealer, I’m splitting my hand.

Now bet on the card on the left.

Kathy puts down fifty dollars on the left card.

Tell the dealer to hit the left card.

Kathy says, Please hit me. She is indicating the left card. The dealer turns up a ten of hearts for her.

The stranger says, You’re most likely to go bust here if you take another card so hold on the left. Now bet on the right card.

Kathy puts down another fifty dollars on the right card. Hit me.

The dealer turns up a four of clubs.

Excellent, says the stranger. You’ve got a good chance of winning on that one. Increase your bet and take another card.

Kathy adds another fifty dollars and says, Hit me.

The dealer turns up an eight of spades. Twenty one, the lady wins, the dealer says.

Kathy squeals in delight.

Great, says the stranger. Most of the rest of the table fold, but the stranger, that has a seven of diamonds and a two of clubs, takes another card. The dealer turns up a ten of clubs for him.

I’ll hold, he says to the dealer.

The dealer turns up his cards. Seven of hearts, six of spades, five of clubs. Then the dealer turns another card. Four of hearts, dealer is busted. He nods to Kathy and the stranger. Winners, he says.

Kathy squeals loudly and hugs the stranger. Thank you, thank you.

He smiles. You’re welcome.

I’m Kathy, she says after a moment. She’s surprised at her being so forward. She’s normally standoffish around men.

Hi, Kathy, I’m Jim. He flashes that smile, and she feels warm inside.

I’m pleased to meet you, Jim, she says blushing.

Jim gathers up his winnings and puts them in his pockets. Then he gathers Kathy’s and hands them to her. Let’s dance, he says. Before she can react, he takes her hand and leads her to the dance floor. Though Kathy never danced much, she finds that Jim is such a good dancer she feels she’s floating around the dance floor. You dance well, Kathy, Jim says.

She blushes. No Jim, it’s you that dances well. I’m just following your lead.

They spend the night on the dance floor. Soon it’s very late, so Jim walks Kathy to her cabin. It’s been a pleasure Kathy. May I meet you for dinner tomorrow night?

Yes, I’d love that, Jim.

* * *

Jim Gibb enters his cabin. He sits on his bed and opens his briefcase. He moves the files out of the way to reveal his comm unit. Jim checks the message log, nothing but the keep alive signal. He presses a button and sends a prerecorded message out. Once the transmission verified light comes on, he secures it and places it under the bed.

Jim lies back on his bed. He smiles as he thinks about Kathy. She’s a delight. If his life were different, perhaps she could be part of it. Attractive, talented, smart, and in many ways innocent, she very much reminds him of his aunt. But his life is what it is, and he has no interest in romantic entanglements. Nonetheless, it will be nice to have some company for the trip. I hope she’ll be okay when it’s time.

* * *

For the rest of the voyage, Jim picks her up for dinner every evening, then a little gambling, a couple of drinks, and dancing late into the night. The two of them spend every free moment together. The whole time, Jim is a perfect gentleman. He’s always interested in what she thinks. He asks about where she’s from, if she has a boyfriend, whether she goes to college, and why she is on this trip. When Kathy tells him she’s working for the Galactic Geographic Society to photograph the life on Beta 3 Epsilon, Jim replies, How wonderful. Do you have any of your previous work?

Kathy pulls out her holographic projector and shows him her work from Australia.

Those are awesome! Jim exclaims. I bet you’d like these. He pulls out his projector and displays pictures from various worlds he’s visited. Kathy is totally fascinated.

Though my work is not as good as yours, I thought you’d like to see these. I’ve visited twelve different worlds and had a chance to take pics of all sorts of animals most don’t get to see.

Kathy is fascinated, especially by the pics of the elusive Dire Wolves of Pi Beta 2. Wow, they look dangerous, she says.

They are vicious predators, but amazingly, they are very docile with humans, Jim replies. Most people don’t believe they exist, because they are very elusive. My uncle and I spent several weeks looking for them. When we did find them, we spent several days among the pack. It was fascinating.

Kathy is impressed by his passion for these creatures. I’d love to be able to do that, Jim, spend all that time among such creatures.

Perhaps you’ll get your chance on Beta 3 Epsilon. The one thing we didn’t find on Pi Beta 2 was the rumored native tribes. Though humans have been there for over a hundred years, no one has seen them. That would be truly exciting.

Kathy hears the passion in his words. He must be a great explorer. The two of them spend hours comparing pics. To Kathy, he’s the most interesting man she’s ever met. Kathy is fascinated with Jim and wants to know more about him. At first, she’s too shy to ask him any questions. But after two weeks, she feels so comfortable with him she decides she’s going to ask him about where he’s from and what he does. At dinner, she says, Jim, it’s obvious you’re not from Earth. What colony did you grow up on, and what is it like?

Oh, it’s no place you’ve ever heard of. Way out of the way, and nothing interesting ever happens there.

No, really, I’d like to know.

Seriously, Kathy, it’s an out-of-the-way place, and nothing goes on there. I’d just bore you to death talking about it.

Well, what do you do for a living?

I’m just a space bum, Kathy. I take odd jobs where I find them, and that’s pretty much it.

"They must be good-paying odd jobs. I mean, traveling on the America isn’t cheap."

That’s true, Jim says. But odd jobs can be very profitable.

How? Kathy asks.

Well, take this job. My employer pays all my expenses, gives me a stipend for meals and gambling, and all I have to do is take a trip on this ship.

That seems strange. I mean that much money to essentially take a vacation.

Well, it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it, Jim says with a grin. Besides, what you’re doing is far more interesting than anything I do.

I don’t think so. All I do is take pictures.

And what pictures, Kathy! You have an amazing eye that catches aspects of what you’re photographing that others simply do not see.

Kathy blushes and says, They’re not that good.

Oh yes, they are. Few people have such talent.

Over the next few days, Kathy tries again to ask him about his childhood and where he’s from, but he always changes the subject and dodges the questions. He never tells her much at all. Still, he’s so fun to be with she lets it go as a strange quirk.

* * *

Jim lies on his bunk. He’s worried. Did we miss contact? The America arrives at its destination in just two days, we are out of time.

Kathy is too curious. It’s hard to hold back telling her about his home. Perhaps that’s because he feels so comfortable with her; she is so much like Aunt Jenny. Perhaps too much.

The signal alarm sounds from his comm unit. He pulls the case from under his bed and opens it, then checks the unit. There’s the message: In position, signal when ready.

Jim gets his bag out from under the bed. He removes the pistol from inside and checks the magazine. Then he checks the charges, all ready. He stands and exits his cabin.

Quickly he moves down the passageway to engineering. Jim carefully opens the hatch. Looking inside, he sees the night crew; they are playing cards. Good. Jim slips inside unnoticed. First, he finds the main power coupling. Jim sets a charge on the line and sets the timer for three minutes. Next is the ship’s gravity generator. He links it to the first charge so they’ll detonate simultaneously. He moves to a safe location and signals the Rapier. Now it starts. Good.

* * *

Captain, I’m receiving Mr. Gibb’s signal.

Excellent, Mr. Garrett, all ahead flank.

Aye, Captain. The Rapier moves away from the comet it was hiding behind and speeds toward the America.

* * *

On the bridge of the America, the sensor alarms sound. Captain, there’s a ship closing fast on us. The captain looks at the sensor readout, then at the view screen. Pirates! Sound the alarm, get the security teams ready.

* * *

Two days out from Beta 3 Epsilon, the ship’s alarms start sounding. The captain says over the intercom, All passengers to the lifeboats. Crew, prepare to repel boarders! But Kathy decides to look for Jim first. She goes to his cabin, and it’s empty. Jim, are you in here? she shouts. There’s no reply, so Kathy heads to the lifeboats. Where can he be?

* * *

Cindy looks about as Mommy and Daddy rush down the passageway. There is an alarm sounding in the ship. It’s so loud.

Mommy, what’s wrong?

I don’t know, baby. But we’ll be okay.

Daddy trips and falls down, hurting his ankle. Mommy sets Cindy on the deck. Run, baby. We’ll catch up.

Mommy, I don’t want to.

Run, baby, now!

Cindy starts running down the passageway as Mommy goes to help Daddy. While Mommy helps Daddy up, there’s an explosion. Cindy starts to float down the passageway, her golden tresses drift about her head. Suddenly, there’s a loud explosion next to Mommy and Daddy. Cindy watches her parents fly across the passageway, smashing against the bulkhead. Then blood, so much blood. Cindy screams, Mommy!

There’s a hole in the side of the ship now. Men start moving through it into the America. They spread out and rush down the passageway, several running past Cindy. Cindy thinks, Why can they run while I’m floating?

One of the men wears a