Captured by the Hawk Read online

  “The Captain said you might choose from the clothes in there,” and the crewwoman gestured at the chest.

  When she opened the drawers, Katrina gasped in amazement at the magnificent dresses folded inside. “Captain Hawk is very generous! These dresses aren’t suitable to wear on board a pirate ship.” She brushed a finger over the glittering fabrics. The gowns were more ornate than those adopted by the Solarian elite. They were suitable for the regal ladies who attended the Empress in the palace on the Emperor’s capital planet of Imperium.

  “She owned less formal clothes as well,” the woman remarked. “Check in the bottom drawer.”

  “Who was this lady?” Katrina was filled with curiosity about the mysterious woman who had owned such rich apparel.

  “You must ask Captain Hawk,” The woman said in a stern, repressive tone. “It’s not my place to tell you.”

  “When does the Captain want to see me?”

  “He’ll see you tomorrow at the same time. You can sleep in this room and I’ll bring in your meals.”

  Katrina shook her head in disbelief at her unexpected change of situation. She looked at the crewwoman and asked, “What is your name, or what may I call you?”

  “Call me Mariam, if you wish,” was the sullen reply. “I’ll toss out your old clothes, or if you prefer, I’ll take them to be cleaned.”

  “Please clean them. They are suited for work on a spaceship,” Katrina requested, her practical side coming to the fore.

  After Miriam left, Katrina wriggled her toes in the deep pile of the rug and sat hesitantly on the bed. The bed was soft, yet she felt an unwelcome intruder in another person’s private chamber. Her discomfort did not prevent her from sleeping deeply through the night.

  When she woke in the morning, Katrina opened the chest and searched for the plainest clothes. In the bottom drawer, she discovered a long wooden box with an intricately carved lid. No one seemed to care about the contents of this chamber, so she took the liberty of lifting the lid. She gasped in amazement when she saw what lay inside. The box was full of gold jewelry and glittering gems.

  She pulled out a necklace of sparkling blue stones. On closer examination, she discerned the minute flaws and color variations of genuine diamond-cut sapphires. Other good jewelry held rubies and emeralds, and Kat realized their total worth added up to a generous fortune. She shook her head in bewilderment. Who would leave such treasures abandoned in a chest? She must ask Captain Hawk whose room it had been.

  Returning to the question of her own apparel, Kat discarded the fancy gowns. Finally, she settled on a dark blue top to complement her fair complexion and auburn curls. She had to roll up the bottoms of the jeans, since evidently she was shorter than the original owner. Standing erect, she switched mentally into the guise of her upper class alter ego, Mistress Trina Sligo, dressed for a casual occasion.

  Solitary again, Kat had plenty of time to puzzle over her captor, the enigmatic Black Hawk with his cold arrogant voice and tense, athletic pacing. Why did he hide his face under the Ninja outfit? She longed to peek under his mask. But, gaining his trust was her best avenue to freedom from this gaudy prison cell.

  Later in the day, she was escorted again to the Captain’s cabin. The Black Hawk was seated as usual at his table, examining the star charts. He glanced up when she was ushered into the room. His eyes lingered, registering astonishment at her gleaming red hair and fair, freckled skin.

  The Hawk stood, and paced around her with the supple and deadly grace of a prowling tiger. He spoke in a deep resonant voice, “A dramatic change! Grey Kat is entirely washed away.”

  A thrill of attraction ran through Trina, watching the feline grace of his steps. When he stood still, the image of raw, feral power was replaced by the enigma of the mysterious Black Hawk, concealed in black garments. She raised her chin provocatively, and spoke in the haughty accent of the Solarian upper class. “I am grateful for your kindness in providing me with clean clothes and a luxurious cabin.”

  Black Hawk circled her again, insisting, “I know your face. Where have I seen it?” He halted in front of her, staring at her face with narrowed eyes. She remained motionless and silent, only her eyes sparked with insolence.

  “Wait,” he cried, with a confident glow in his green eyes. “I have it! You are Mistress Trina Sligo, daughter of the Solarian diplomat.”

  She made a slight bow, and said, tilting up her chin with a mocking, regal air, “You are correct, Captain Hawk. In this guise, I am Mistress Trina Sligo.”

  “Amazing!” he said appreciatively, shaking his head. “No one would ever guess that you were the dock thief, Grey Kat.”

  She smiled thinly, wondering how long he would stare at her.

  Suddenly, he stiffened and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Are you not betrothed to the Emperor’s younger son?”

  Trina shrugged dismissively. Clearly, Black Hawk disliked the fawning prince. She shared his distaste. “We are not betrothed,” she stated with a strong emphasis on the word “not.” Perversely, she found the masked Hawk a hundred times more attractive than the young prince with his cosmetically enhanced features. She explained, “Prince Alvin courts Mistress Sligo assiduously. It gives her easy access to the Emperor’s palace and much of his imperial sector.”

  “I do not trust the Emperor,” he murmured, “and it seems, neither do the Solarians.” He had guessed she was a spy with the double personas of Kat and Mistress Trina. Stabbing a finger at her, he growled, “Where are the Emperor’s codes? You cannot have concealed them on your person.”

  Flushing pink, Kat guessed he had ordered Miriam to search her clothes while she washed. She tilted her chin and admitted, “I don’t know where the codes are.”

  His eyes flashed. “Mistress Trina, evidently I misestimated your ingenuity in disposing of the codes before my men found you.”

  “You are correct.” Hoping her admission had not been a mistake, she smiled and repeated her gracious thanks, “Captain Hawk, you have been over generous. I am in no need of such luxuries as I find in the bedchamber you gave me.”

  He inclined his head. “You are a noble lady, Mistress Sligo, well fitted for the fine berth.”

  Driven by the bite of her curiosity, she asked hesitantly, “Captain Hawk, whose bedroom have you given to me? It must have been some superior lady, far outranking me.”

  Taking a step backward, he stiffened discernibly. Trina was surprised by his reaction. Did he have a personal interest in the unknown lady with the magnificent gowns? She lowered her eyes modestly, hoping he would reply. It seemed important to learn as much as possible about her captor, Black Hawk, his crew and his ship.

  After several minutes of silence, he said quietly, “She was my wife.”

  Katrina’s gaze shot to his masked face in shock. She could not believe he was married. She asked boldly, “What happened to her?”

  “She is dead.” Abruptly, he gestured for her dismissal, sat down at the table and stared at the maps, clearly desiring solitude.

  “I’m sorry!” she murmured, realizing her response was inadequate and probably unnecessary since he was ignoring her presence. Obscurely, she felt glad he had no living wife.

  When she returned to the fine bedroom, she sat pondering the new information. Her best plan was to win his sympathy and persuade him to restore her to her friends, or at least leave her on a friendly planet. She must discover more about him.

  The crewwoman, Miriam, entered, bringing food on a tray. Katrina looked up expectantly.

  “Miriam, will you help me learn about this ship?” she asked with a quiver in her voice. “Tell me, as one woman to another, should I be afraid? I have just learned that Captain Hawk has put me in his dead wife’s bedchamber. What does he intend for me?”

  “The Captain won’t harm you, Mistress,” Miriam assured her in a sincere voice.

  “You can call me Kat or Trina, whichever you like.”

  A smile crept over Miriam’s weathered face, and she said
, “Kat fits better for someone on this ship.”

  “Why was I put in his wife’s room?” Kat asked.

  “Captain said you were a lady, and we have no spare cabins suitable for a woman.”

  Kat nodded and asked, “Can you tell me about his wife? Was she beautiful? I see she had many splendid gowns.”

  “Aye, she was young and beautiful. I’ve heard she was wild for our Captain Hawk, and would not let him alone, until in the end he succumbed to her desires.”

  “It doesn’t seem very like the Black Hawk I have met,” Kat murmured in surprise. “Was she good for him?”

  “I can’t say. I know he was tormented by her death.”

  “How did she die?”

  Miriam paused, as if recalling events long past. “It was a tragedy. She left this ship unexpectedly to visit her home. The last we heard, she had killed herself. The Captain has refused to enter this cabin since her death.”

  “How tragic!” Kat said with a surge of empathy for the Black Hawk and his unhappy wife. “I can understand how he would be distraught over her suicide.”

  She shook her head and glanced at Miriam. “Thank you for telling me. I suppose your Captain Hawk is lonely. But, I hope I don’t resemble his wife too closely.”

  Miriam examined Kat critically before replying, “His wife was taller than you and she had long blonde hair. She was a delicate lady, child-like and capricious. She could be merry and then sorrowful by turns. You have a stronger mind, from what I see.”

  Noting the possible implication, Kat asked, “Is that why your captain hides his face? Because of his wife’s untimely death.”

  “No, Miss Kat. Captain Hawk has always worn the head mask.” A puzzled frown fleeted across Miriam’s face and she said, “Leastways, I never knew anybody who’d seen his face.”

  “How strange!” Kat exclaimed, wishing she could peek under his mask. “Well, I shall enjoy the comforts of this cabin without guilt, and think of Captain Hawk with greater sympathy in future.”

  3 Com Thief

  THREE DAYS LATER, KAT proved the value of her skills. While she waited patiently for her regular meeting with Black Hawk, she noticed an unwelcome change in the cabin. No fresh air circulated through the bedchamber and the lights dimmed perceptibly. What was happening? There must be a problem with the electrical systems on the ship. It would be even more serious if the engines lost power. She paced the room, nibbling her lower lip and feeling helpless. No one came at the usual time to escort her to Black Hawk’s cabin.

  The room’s lighting fluctuated wildly and the temperature dropped to an uncomfortable chill.

  After several miserable hours, Miriam entered with the usual tray of food and water. By this time, Katrina was frantic with inaction in the face of peril. “What’s going on, Miriam?” Kat blurted.

  “The power is low. Engine’s okay. Captain’s checking the com circuits for the fault.”

  “Let me speak to Captain Hawk,” Kat urged, believing she had the skill to trace the breakage.

  Miriam shook her head. “The Captain doesn’t want you on the bridge. I’m sorry.”

  “You speak to him then. Tell him I’m the Grey Kat and an expert code thief. If I can break into coms, surely I can help repair them.”

  The woman stared at Kat’s eager face, and replied slowly, “We could do with a good com tech. Our old expert was killed a year ago in a dock brawl on Aajaos port.”

  “Take me to the bridge. I can help,” Kat insisted, eager to fix the problem with the power.

  Miriam nodded in agreement. “We need help. I’ll take you up there, even if the Captain doesn’t like it.” She grabbed Kat by the hand and led her out into the narrow passage. They trotted along several passages and climbed the ladder to the upper level. Finally, they emerged on the ship’s bridge, and saw the stars scattered over the wide screens.

  Black Hawk knelt by the open panel in the base of the control console, tinkering with the internal circuits. Two other men were on the bridge, also clad in black. One sat by the controls, leaning over the displays. The second crewman leaned against a wall, a frown on his wrinkled face.

  The Hawk swung round as they entered. “Why is she here?” he barked. To her surprise and delight, his headdress was in disarray. His turban was askew, exposing an unruly lock of black hair. The black scarf had unwound from his chin to reveal a short black beard and mustache. A good pirate’s chin, she thought. But, his upper face was still masked.

  Miriam took a deep breath before replying, “Kat said she’s a code thief and can help repair the com.”

  His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Kat’s face. “So, Grey Kat admits she can hack into coms and steal the secret codes.” He stood up, stretching his arms as if they were cramped from working too long in a tight space.

  Kat noticed a tremor in his left hand. She stared in fascination at his exposed chin and the grim curve of his lips. Hawk was not a young man. His black beard showed a few threads of grey. Noticing her stare, he rewound the scarf around his chin, and sent her an antagonistic glare.

  He gestured to the central panel. “Go ahead, Kat, you can try your skills.” Then, he flopped into the nearest chair, leaned back and closed his eyes.

  She sat down at the main console, ignoring the flashing red lights. She tapped a few keys and listened. There was no reply from the central com. Kat asked, “Did you switch off the Rogue Star’s CC voice?”

  “Yes, the repetitious alarms are annoying,” Black Hawk said.

  Kat activated the com voice. A fruity female voice said, “Warning, malfunction! Warning, power outage detected in life support systems.” The warnings droned on monotonously. Delving inside the unit, Kat keyed a set of commands. Abruptly, the voice changed, calling, “Error. Unauthorized access. Error!”

  Grinning, Kat reassured the computer, “You are under repair. I’m searching for the breakage.” She looked at Black Hawk. His head was raised alertly. “Captain, I need to access the com’s administrative shell. Please enter your password.” She swiveled her chair round so he could reach the console.

  Hawk glared at her, evidently reluctant to give her the password.

  Speaking softly, she urged, “It’s easier for you to input the code. Otherwise, I’ll waste time cracking your security before I can probe the fault in life support.”

  He shrugged, stepped across and typed in the password. The central com voice stopped complaining about unauthorized access.

  “Thank you,” Kat said absently. She queried the CC brain, “What is your name, central com?”

  The female voice said, “HON5Y029.”

  Kat reassured the CC brain, “Sorry, Honey, you’ll feel a tickle in your circuits when I look for the breakage.” She probed into the network extending throughout the ship. Sending a test pulse down each connection, she listened for the pinged response. The link to the engine drive was fine. She smiled at that welcome news. “Engine links all clear,” she reported.

  After searching patiently into the complex network, she found one unresponsive link. She rechecked to make sure it was faulty. “Got it!” she cried in triumph, pointing to the left panel. “The short to life support is in that section.”

  Captain Hawk knelt by the panel and unbolted the cover. He reached inside, sorting out the tangle of wires and connectors.

  “All right, Honey, we’re going to fix you,” Kat spoke soothingly to the computer brain. Meanwhile, Kat continued checking the com codes. She patched some loose code and buffered the CC brain. On her left, she heard the snap and sizzle of wire repairs from Hawk’s work under the panel. At last, Kat smiled as the signal pinged clear from the link to life support.

  The voice of central com chirped, “Life support power is restored.”

  Black Hawk eased out from under the panel, pulling the black glove back onto his right hand. Kat spotted the flash of metal before the glove covered his hand. She remembered the rumors about the space pirate. He had an artificial hand of steel. Now, she suspected his s
teel hand could cut wires and also weld new connections. She frowned in bewilderment. Why did he keep the hand covered by a glove? Surely, his crew knew about his artificial limb. She did not believe his black garb and gloves were donned for her benefit.

  Hearing a soft footstep, Kat glanced up. Black Hawk stood in front of her, holding out his right hand. He said curtly, “I thank you for finding the loose wire. Come with me!” His green eyes glinted under his black headdress.

  She took his hand, feeling the hard steel under his glove, and he pulled her to her feet.

  He barked a command, “Jake, you’re in control!” Then, he marched her quickly along the passages to his cabin. She was bewildered. What did he want with her?

  Captain Hawk waved her into a chair and sat in his usual place at the map table. Stretching his long legs under the table, he gazed at her with narrowed eyes. “So, Kat, you admit to stealing the secret codes from the Emperor’s Revenge.”

  Kat nodded, “Yes, I took them.”

  “What did you do with the codes? Where did you hide them?” He hammered out the questions imperatively.

  She stared coldly into his eyes, “I passed them to a compatriot. By now, I trust they have reached the correct destination.”

  “The Solarian Intelligence Agency?” he queried.

  She shrugged, knowing he would not believe any other story.

  He tapped his fingers on the table, and was silent for a few minutes, while scrutinizing her face, “Those private codes are valuable. They can unlock any ship in the Emperor’s fleet.”

  “Perhaps not,” she murmured. “Once their loss is discovered, the security keys will be changed.”

  “They cannot quickly change the secure keys in all their ships,” the Hawk said. He placed his gloved hand on top of her small hand, resting on the table. His voice was eager. “Kat, can you remember the codes?”

  She tensed, staring at him in sudden alarm. What was he planning? Hesitating a moment, she sighed, “I’m not sure, maybe some of the codes. Why do you ask?”