Chapter 3p5 – Here's Hoping

The voice boomed authoritatively through Pelly's speakers. "Unspool your Origami Engine and return to the spaceport, Galactic Pelican. We will escort." The Orbit Patrol interceptor loomed in the cockpit view screen, a series of red alert lights flashing across its black chrome surface. Deadly vacuum generators encircled the ship's cockpit.

Tic swung himself into the captain seat. "Pelly, do they have a tractor beam on us?"

"Have you been making trouble again?" scolded Pelly.

"Just answer the question," snapped Tic.

A few seconds of white noise from the speakers conveyed Pelly's disapproval. "…No tractor yet."

"Good," said Tic. "Keep spooling."

"I guess you were right," said Milly, settling into the copilot's chair. "The police really have been on my trail."

Tic said nothing: he wasn't sure Milly was the one the Orbit Patrol was really after. Lady Libden might have gotten in touch with Mr. Dunter and learned that Tic had been lying about the Adam Astrobot toy. There was no point sticking around to find out.

"What are we going to do?" asked Milly.

"We're gonna jump," said Tic. "Pelly, we've gotta go."

"Have patience. The Origami Engine has made 90% of the necessary mass-folds."

"Come on." Tic pounded the control panel with his fist. He thought for a quick moment, then said, "Pelly, open the hold."

Pelly practically gasped. "But Mr. Bolter…"

"Do it. Jettison everything."

"Wait," said Milly, "doesn't that cargo have to be delivered to Entulov 5?"

"They're paying me less than you are, kid," said Tic.

The autograv systems flipped off, the ship shook, and they heard a series of clattering bangs. Pelly said, "We are at 100% mass-folds."

Tic looked at Milly. "Here's hoping they still don't have us tractored yet. Pelly: Jump."

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