Seventeen.

“Du borde ha dödat mig när du hade chansen, Joanna.”

Confused, Sylver leaned over to whisper a few words to Andromeda. “What language is that? I don't recognize it.”

“Maximus is from X-R. They still have many of the old Earth dialects there. I don't know what he just said... but it seems they've met before.”

It did. Maximus kept his rifle trained on the woman who stood in the airlock, holding a weapon of her own. She was tall, lanky, with a friendly-looking face – even now, held at gunpoint. Andromeda noticed, that there was a man behind her – a blond guy, but she couldn't tell much more about him.

“Lugn, Max. Vi är här för att förhandla. Kapten vill ha betalt, sen lämnar vi er ifred.”

“Vi förhandlar inte med pirater.”

“Ni har inget val. Ni kommer inte härifrån, och vårt skepp är beväpnat.”

Suddenly, there came a loud clang from the control panel. Everyone looked over to it: Sylver had hit it with Selma's wrench. Andromeda blinked as she watched the little lamp indicating that the neutrino drive was once again functional.

Joanna blinked. “What was that?” she asked, speaking in a recognizable language for the first time. “Did... did you fix it?”

“Sure did!” Sylver replied. “Me and Selma learned to override these silly traps back when we were in Galactic Help Center. It doesn't surprise me she has forgotten, though. I'm in charge for a reason.”

She adjusted her glasses. “Whatever you two are talking about, I'm pretty sure it has been rendered irrelevant by my awesomeness. Andy, would you like to take us up to full speed again?”

Joanna looked a little awkward. She stared at Maximus' rifle.

“I guess... me and Sonny will just return to our ship, then?”

“No.” Maximus said flatly. “We're not taking any chances. If you warn them, they could still open fire. You're coming with us. Andy, full speed. Now.”