Naomi and the others choked down rations so foul they were nearly inedible, then revived themselves with tea that had been aged for over a century.
"Ahh, I feel alive again. Who knew food could nearly kill me?" Naomi said.
"My apologies," Serena answered, wincing. "It truly tasted like a cruel joke. Were my ancestors utterly tone-deaf when it came to flavor?"
Beeeep. Beeeep.
The alarm howled through the ship's interior.
"Oh no, that noise again? I'm sick of it already. So, Osaka—what broke this time?" Naomi asked.
"Captain, hustle to the bridge! Something's closin' in, and it sure ain't friendly!" Osaka yelled.
Naomi was too distracted by the words "something's approaching" to notice that Osaka had, for the very first time, called her "Captain." She and Serena bolted from the mess hall, racing to the bridge.
"Princess, can you read the radar? Captain, plant yourself in that chair!" Osaka snapped, his tone sharp and urgent.
"Yes, I learned the basics of radar and Luminous Chart Navigation," Serena replied, her hands flying over the console. "One vessel, just warped out nearby... desuwa."
"Figures. They're jumpin' right on top of us—that's flat-out against space law. Pirates," Osaka muttered.
BOOOOM!
The blast shook the ship as something registered on their monitor.
"Pirates!? There they are! Put them on maximum magnification!" Naomi ordered.
Osaka complied, and the forward screen filled with an ominous warship, its prow painted with a spread-winged skull.
"This is bad. Our main gun's still busted—we're sittin' ducks. Since when do pirates stalk common trade lanes like this!?" Osaka growled.
Almost on cue, a warning message lit the monitor: the enemy had locked fire-control radar onto them.
"Ahoy! This is the Pirate Ship Abyss! Hand over that vessel! A vintage warship fetches a fine price," a rough voice growled through the comm.
"Well that's... straightforward," Naomi muttered. "Buy me some time while I think of something!"
"Roger! Princess, grab those frozen torpedoes we rigged earlier. Bring the tablet from beside the control seat!" Osaka urged.
Serena darted off. Naomi switched on the mic.
"Heeello! This is the good ship Grim. What can we do for you today?" Naomi asked sweetly.
"What the—why's a brat answering!? Get the captain! Don't mess with me, or I'll kick your ass!" the pirate snapped.
"Oh, but I am the captain," Naomi said brightly. "Name's Naomi. And you are?"
"Don't screw with me! A kid can't captain a vintage light cruiser! Bring me a real adult!"
The pirate's voice was practically shaking with rage. The monitor split—on one side, Osaka's face appeared, laughing uproariously, while a text bubble popped up:
—They want the ship intact. They won't shoot to sink us.
"Well, since you won't tell me... Oh! What's your name, Mister Pirate?" Naomi teased.
"What!? No pirate just gives out his name! Do you have no sense of decency!?"
"Oh dear, my parents taught me it's rude to ask someone's name without giving your own," Naomi said sweetly.
"Gaaah! You little—fine! I'm twenty-seven, not some 'old man!' My name's Baroque! Happy now!? Now hand the mic to an adult!"
Another bubble from Osaka popped up:
—Subspace torpedo ready. Lock him with fire-control radar.
Naomi toggled the console and activated the fire-control radar. A piercing beam locked on, data scrolling across the panel.
"What the—fire-control radar!? You brat! You think you can slug it out with me without engines online? Shut that noise off!" Baroque's voice broke with panic, warning klaxons wailing behind him.
"Oops, I touched something. Um, mister, how do I turn this off?" Naomi asked innocently.
"You little—are you kidding me!?"
—Target locked. Torpedo ready to fire.
Naomi's hand hovered over the launch button.
Beeeep. Beeeep.
"Huh? Another contact? Something's closing fast—it's... pirate reinforcements!?" Naomi gasped, pulling up detailed radar instead of firing.
"Empire IFF code confirmed," Serena reported. "Vessel name Étoile, Seventh Fleet cruiser."
"Captain, don't even think about firin' on them—that'd make us the criminals," Osaka warned.
Even as he spoke, the Abyss's image warped, then vanished with a thunderous crack.
"Whew... saved," Naomi sighed in relief.
A new transmission blinked in. The monitor filled with the stern face of a middle-aged officer, golden tassels draped on his shoulder. His manner was imposing, yet properly courteous.
"This is the Empire light cruiser Étoile. We confirmed the pirate ship Abyss and rushed to intercept. Is your vessel unharmed?"
"This is the Grim Reaper. We thank you for your support, Étoile. Thanks to you, we are safe," Naomi replied formally.
"My apologies, but... are you the captain, young lady?" the officer asked.
"Yes," Naomi said, straightening. "I am Captain Naomi. Our vessel is en route to Luna Beta."
"Understood. Safe travels. We will pursue the Abyss. Farewell."
With that, the Étoile altered course and slipped away into the stars.
Naomi kept her eyes on the radar, watching as Etoile warped away, leaving the Grim Reaper at a cautious distance.
"Haah... my nerves were shot. I really thought that was the end," she said, her breath unsteady.
She drifted slowly from the captain's chair, lost in thought, when the bridge doors slid open and Serena entered.
"Naomi, I heard the comm exchanges. That was incredible," Serena said, her voice trembling with excitement. "To stand against pirates... my heart is still racing, truly."
Serena, flushed with energy, clasped Naomi's hand.
"Hey, Serena. Tell me again—the Empire's full name," Naomi asked softly.
Serena blinked, unsettled by the request, but obliged.
"Eh? Very well then. The Valdis Galaxy Empire, of course... Why do you ask?" she said.
"Are there... other Empires?" Naomi asked.
"What are you talking about? In this galaxy, there is only the Valdis Galaxy Empire," Serena answered, though Naomi's intensity left her uneasy.
"Do you recognize the name Nei-Vald?" Naomi pressed.
The moment the words left Naomi's lips, Serena's expression shifted.
"That name... it is my uncle's house. Duke Glanz Nei-Vald—Glanz being his formal name."
"Osaka!" Naomi called out sharply. "That warship identified itself as the Nei-Vald Galaxy Empire. What does that mean?"
A rough laugh came over the comm. "Heh, just checked the comm logs, Cap'n. Sure enough, they called themselves that. Well, no wonder you kept mum 'bout the princess. But this? This ain't good. Not good at all. Princess, while you were catchin' some shut-eye, reckon there might've been a whole dang power swap."
"What?!" Serena gasped. "Even if something befell my father, my brothers, my sisters... and my mothers—they should still be there. Don't tell me..."
The bridge fell still. Only the soft whisper of the ventilation system and the faint vibration of the auxiliary engines filled the silence.