“No good,” Fandomar replied. “The engines aren’t responding.”
Tash pointed to the asteroids rocketing through space around them. “We’re drifting! One of those asteroids will hit us!”
“Not if the space slug gets us first!” Zak yelled.
They were still in the huge slug’s range. Its head and part of its body twisted wildly from the cave, trying to reach them. The slug turned its head toward them and opened its mouth again to strike.
“Move the ship!” Tash yelled.
“I cannot!” Fandomar shouted back.
The space slug stabbed at them again.
But before it could reach them, the slug recoiled in pain as a streak of light punctured its skin.
Laser beams!
Someone was firing blaster bolts at the space slug.
The slug hesitated. It seemed to be attracted by the rapid movements and flashing lights of three tiny yellow ships that crisscrossed and zigzagged around it. The ships were hardly bigger than a human being and they moved with incredible speed, flying circles around the giant slug. Laser beams flashed from the ships and penetrated the slug’s skin like needles. As the three ships continued to pour fire onto the slug, the creature shut its mouth and coiled back into its hole.
“Cargo ship, this is Starfly One,” said a welcoming voice over Fandomar’s comm. “Looks like you could use a little help.”
The three small craft formed a triangle around Fandomar’s damaged cargo cruiser and locked onto it with tractor beams. One Starfly pulled them and the others pushed the cargo ship forward with their beams. Once they had the larger ship under control, they headed back toward the asteroid field.
“We’re not going back there, are we?” Tash gasped as a huge asteroid flew by.
“Have no fear,” Fandomar explained
calmly.
“The
Starflies
are specifically designed for flight through the asteroids. They’re small and maneuverable enough to get around the rocks. Their tractor beams can push as well as pull. The miners use them to move space rocks out of their paths, but they’ll work just as well at moving us. These miners know how to handle asteroids.”
She was right. The pilots seemed to have a sixth sense for where the space rocks would move. Even hauling the damaged cargo ship, they slipped easily through the gaps in the swarm of asteroids.
In a few moments, the Starflies dropped toward an asteroid that was almost the size of a planet. Tash saw a small collection of buildings clinging to its rocky surface. The Starflies hauled their passengers into a docking bay. Tash, Zak, and Hoole waited until the docking-bay door had closed and oxygen had flooded into the chamber.
They hopped out of their ship and hurried to the nearest Starfly.
“Look how small these ships are!” Zak said appreciatively. “They’re hardly bigger than a landspeeder. I can’t believe they have enough room for life-support systems.”
“They do not,” Fandomar answered. “The pilots must wear spacesuits while flying.”
Just then the Starfly’s hatch broke open and a large human in a flight suit and helmet jumped out. He gave a few orders to his two companions, who hurried from the docking bay. As the big man removed his helmet, Tash saw short-cropped gray hair and a friendly smile. The man shook their hands and said, “Welcome to Mining Station Alpha. I’m the chief miner, but we’re a small outfit here, only me and the other two, so just call me Hodge.”
Hoole bowed slightly. “We owe you our thanks. That slug would have swallowed us in moments.”
Hodge nodded. “The asteroid field’s infested with them. I knew one of those giant worms would get Fandomar one of these days.”
“I was distracted,” the Ithorian admitted, coming up behind.
“So!” Hodge clapped his hands together eagerly. “We don’t get many visitors out here. What can we do for you?”
Hoole told Hodge the same story he’d told Fandomar, giving few details. “We need ethromite to power our ship.”
Hodge nodded. “We got plenty of that. It may cost you, though.”
Hoole nodded. “I am sure I have enough credits-“
Hodge waved his hands and grinned. “Nope, don’t need credits. We make plenty off the Ithorians here.” He chuckled at Fandomar. “I’d rather make a trade. If you’re an anthropologist, you may be able to answer a few questions. I’ll give you all the ethromite you need if you help us solve a little mystery.”
Tash watched Hoole’s expression. She could tell he wanted to get the ethromite as quickly as possible, but she also knew he loved to explore different cultures. “Very well. As long as it will put the children in no danger.”